Over the past two seasons, one of the most consistent players for the Cerritos College volleyball team was Brooke Winquist. The versatile Winquist played all six positions on the court and finished third on the team in kills (127) and second in total blocks (25). She is the third Falcon player to sign with a four-year school, as she inked with NAIA York (NE) College. She joins the duo of Mirka Granoble and Sierra Hernandez-Hardy, who both signed with Providence Christian (CA) College.

Winquist chose the NAIA school for more than just the volleyball program, which is indicative of her goals from the moment she stepped on the Cerritos campus.

"I am a future nurse and I am excited about the way York's biology program prepares me to transfer into a nursing program upon completing my bachelors in biology," stated Winquist. "I also chose York college because of the family atmosphere that the volleyball team pushes for. I am looking forward to the way their small class sizes will allow me to better connect with my classmates, professors, and the school's staff."

Winquist, who was also recruited by Warner Pacific (OR) University, impressed Falcons head coach Kari Hemmerling with her improvements from her freshman to sophomore seasons.

"Brooke became much more confident in her abilities and consistent in her play," said Hemmerling. "Her ball control improved a ton, giving her an opportunity to play all six rotations instead of just three. She is also a great blocker with a quick arm swing."

Winquist agreed with Hemmerling's assessment and added, "During my seasons at Cerritos, I was able to further develop my defensive skills and to transition from a middle dominant volleyball player to a versatile outside. I also gained more aggression on the court and became a louder and more durable player."

Winquist (pictured, right), a two-year starter, was third on the team in total kill attempts with 393 and was also effective in the back row, as she contributed 60 digs. Over the course of the season, Winquist posted five double-digit kills, which included a season-high 13 kills against Los Angeles Harbor College. She also added 12 kills against Santa Ana College and had a remarkable game in the back row against East Los Angeles College, turning in a career-high 16 digs.

Her time with the Falcons will be remembered with great fondness by Winquist. Not only did the two years enable her to become a better volleyball player, she also utilized the college's resources that helped her to be a better student as she prepared to transfer to the next level, both athletically and academically.

"My experience at Cerritos enabled me to grow as a player and captain," stated Winquist. "From my experience at Cerritos, I learned how to make the most of all the resources a college offers to students and to athletes. This allowed me to make my college experience as suitable as possible for my education and my future, which better prepares me for life as a student-athlete at York College. There are many things I will remember about Cerritos, as I am very fond of the school. A few things I will remember most are the incredible staff and coaching in our athletic department, my experience learning ASL and helping restart and run the ASL club, and the Leadership Retreat that Cerritos offers its students."

Moving to the next level is one that Winquist feels completely prepared for and anxious to get started. She will be joining a team that lost five seniors to graduation and will look to improve on a frustrating season that saw them start 2-1 on the year but win just three more matches the remainder of the campaign.

"I think Brooke will be able to be an offensive spark for them (York College) and give them a lot of different options while in the front row," added Hemmerling. " She will also surprise them with how capable she is in the back row."

"I will be majoring in biology and then transfer into nursing," added Winquist about her academic career. "After nursing school, I plan to become a travel nurse so I can see the world while helping the people in it. Travel nursing may eventually lead to a slightly different career, but I will always be helping others wherever I end up."