Joey Payeur
Move over, Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders.
Cassandra Moffitt plans on making her own mark as the next two-sport star.
The Fort Frances resident put her name on the dotted line last Thursday to officially become the newest member of the Rainy River Community College Voyageurs women’s volleyball and basketball teams for next season.
“I thought about coming here before but had decided not to,” noted Moffitt, who was a key player on both the Muskies’ NWOSSAA champion volleyball squad and NorWOSSA-winning basketball crew.
“I was looking at going to Bemidji [State University].
“But the coaching is good here, they’re very competitive teams, and they want to win,” added Moffitt.
“It’s going to be a good place to play.”
Moffitt also was influenced by past high school friends who moved on to take part in RRCC athletics.
“Katrina Wreggitt came here and loved it, and everyone I’ve talked to says it’s been a good experience,” said Moffitt, referring also to former Muskie hockey player Katie Sinclair, who now plays for the Voyageurs.
RRCC volleyball coach Mel Millerbernd said Moffitt has been on her radar for quite some time now.
“Today is a really exciting day for me,” noted Millerbernd. “I’ve been watching Cass since as a Grade 9 she came to a camp I was running and I could tell the talent she had even back then.
“She has the height, which is nice, and it was a good decision by her [high school] coaches to switch her to being an outside hitter,” Millerbernd added.
“Cass is powerful with a good swing and she really pounds the ball,” she remarked. “[And] she’s not against trying to do a bit of blocking, which at our level is huge.
“She’s one of those all-around players you’re excited to get.”
RRCC women’s basketball head coach Dieter Humbert is back at the helm after a year away to spend more time watching his son, Ben, play in his final year of high school sports with the Falls Broncos.
He also is anxious to see how Moffitt can handle playing at a higher level.
“She’s a strong player, a leader, and had a confidence so essential to succeed at the college level,” Humbert lauded.
“She’s a versatile forward that we could play anywhere from point guard to power forward.
“I’m inclined to see her as an athletic forward,” he added.
“She’s going to enjoy her supporting cast and we have some good players for her to play with.”
For her part, Moffitt plans to toe the line and absorb every ounce of advice she can gather from those on the team with experience.
“I can be coachable and I try my hardest when I’m out there,” she remarked.
“I’ve got to listen to what the older players on the team know.”
Moffitt also is thrilled with the idea of playing in front of family and friends.
“It’ll be great to have all those people only five minutes away and be there to support me,” she reasoned.
