We Have Your Back Mom

by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

Lloydminster, AB - Sometimes, when Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) student/athletes take to their respective fields of endeavour, the chance is that mom or dad, or perhaps both parents, are in the stands cheering on their 17 or 18 year-old son or daughter.

When Lakeland College Rustlers women's volleyball star Chelsea Steinely is on the court, not only are mom and dad in the stands, but her children Maddux 10 and Shae 9.

At a youthful 31 years-of-age, this mom may be one of the oldest competitors in ACAC ranks for 2016-2017.

A graduate of Holy Rosary High School in Loydminster, where she was an all-around athlete, the world of modelling was part of the early journey for the statuesque 5-foot-10 Steinely, with time spent living in Montreal and Europe.

"It wasn't something that I enjoyed too much," recalls Steinely, of her spin in the fashion industry. "I had enough of that lifestyle."

Later marrying former Rustlers' volleyball player Quinton Steinely, who also played post-secondary baseball south of the border in California along with a stint at Mayville State in North Dakota, Chelsea would keep busy by not only raising a family but also having a business venture in clothing retail.

Last year she decided she would like to return to school, in this case Lakeland College, to "get an education degree."

Playing volleyball for the Rustlers was the last thing on her mind.

"Back in Grade 12, I was voted MVP on the (girls volleyball) team and my high school coach said that he could help me possibly get into college or university to play volleyball but I did not know what I wanted to do back then.

"I've always loved volleyball and loved playing. I had been playing some competitive volleyball with women's teams and co-ed volleyball but with my husband...I was playing about twice a week.

"And then he (Quinton) said..."You should play volleyball at Lakeland?"

"I told him "Not be be silly." Then I told a friend (Desiree Gatin, Rustlers women's volleyball payer 2010-2013) what Quinton had mentioned and she said I should do it.

"So we started to go out to games (2015-2016) to watch. I still kind of sat on the fence not to sure of myself. So I thought, "Why don't I contact the coach (Austin Dyer) and see what the schedule is like and the time commitment and if I made the team, then I would sit down with the family and see if we could work it around family life."

Well, Steinely made the team and in 10 ACAC matches of this writing, she has managed 19 kills in seven matches along with four service aces and 15 solo blocks which leads the Rustlers.

"I had been fairly inactive for couple of years before joining up. So I got on with a weight training program right way. (ACAC) Preseason was a test for sure. Now I have settled in pretty well. I feel that I am in the best shape of my life."

Of the age difference between her and teammates: "The girls were really good and I am not too sure if they knew at first that there was that much of an age gap at the start.

"Obviously with the age gap you are in a different place in life and sometimes some of them come to me for advise as I have been someone who has been there and done that. Hopefully I am able to give them good advise."

Steinely admits that the life of a student/athlete is not easy with classes, study, practises and weekend games...let alone being a mom to two energetic kids.

Without the support of her husband along with her parents and sisters in Lloydminster, she would not able able to juggle her current situation: "It is a bit time commitment for sure. Plus my kids need to get to their own activities, so I am blessed to have such a strong support system.

"Plus my kids are independent little spirits and well-behaved children, so that helps out. They said "We have your back Mom, so you can do it."