Athlete Spotlight: Brooklynn Felchle

BISMARCK –  It wouldn’t take more than one or two trips down the basketball court to see how Legacy senior Brooklynn Felchle makes an impact on the game. 
Just watching the intensity in her eyes tells a lot.
“She is fiery and most of the time plays with a high level of passion that brings confidence to her teammates,’’ says Legacy coach Jim Petrik.
And her effort can be seen all over the stat sheet. The two-time all-state selection averages a double-double (points and rebounds) per game and is among the conference leaders in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
But those stats don’t happen without first possessing a competitive nature.
“”The part of basketball I enjoy the most is being able to compete,’’ Felchle said. “I’ve always been very competitive and sports have been the best way for me to express that side of myself. Basketball is my home-away-from home. It’s where I go when life gets hectic or stressful. I can’t imagine where I’d be without it and I feel bless that it impacts my life every day.”
Basketball began at an early age for Brooklynn, playing on a Y-Ball team her dad coached in third grade. From there it was travel basketball competition and eventually moving into middle school and high school. She got her first taste of varsity competition as a freshman. 
“When I came in as a freshman, it was a 50/50 chance whether I’d play both halves and my playing time wasn’t consistent,’’ she recalls. However, I learned so much during that time from my teammates and coaches and it gave me a solid foundation for the next three years.”
Her role and confidence certainly grew. 
She was predominately stationed at the block that first season, but now she makes plays at the top of the key and that forces defenses to account for her all over the half court on offense.
“She knows she will see a lot of different coverages and has gotten better at being deliberate with her decision making,’’ Petrick said. “Depending on where she catches the ball helps guide her into either passing or scoring. We like to use her where she can score, obviously. But we also know we can use her to facilitate a great open shot for a teammate.”

However, she’s still at her best near the basket where her size, strength, foot work and touch are seldom matched by a defender. She said one of the best feelings  is when she can fight through contact and score a basket and draw a foul. 
While she has proven to be steady offensive contributor, Felchle is just as valuable on the defensive end. 
One of the areas of her game that has improved is her shot blocking. “She keeps distance and rises up to make the block without fouling,’’ Petrik said.
And sometimes a defensive play like that can rally a team.
“You can feel the energy shift from everyone on the court (from blocking a shot),’’ Felchle says. “It’s such a big way to bring energy into a game and it’s easily one of the most dominant things you can do as a defender.”
Felchle has benefited from her natural abilities, but reaching her maximum potential must come from offseason training.
“Between my freshman and sophomore year, I focused a lot on footwork and post moves during the summer,’’ she recalls. “I think that work showed in the growth and success I had during my sophomore season. That was also when I started spending more time in the gym. Our school provides strength coaches and workout routines that helped me improve my speed and overall strength. My strength, paired with my height, has become one of my biggest advantages on the court.”
Felchle already knows where her next chapter of basketball will be written as she is committed to South Dakota State University.
“I built a strong connection with their coaches early in my recruiting process, and they even guided me through parts of the process,’’ Felchle said. “SDSU’s culture is something I really admire, and it’s one of the main reasons I’m so excited to go there next year. Coach AJ (Aaron Johnson) has built the program piece by piece, and his coaching staff and players all work toward a common goal.”
Over the past couple summers Felchle competed at SDSU’s summer camps which enabled her time to meet some of her future teammates and even compete against them on the court. 
“Next year, I’ll have the incredible opportunity to learn under arguably the best post in the Summit League, Brooklyn Meyer, while being surrounded by a team that will help me make the transition from high school to college,’’ she said. “That’s why I’m beyond excited to have the chance to keep playing the sport I love.”
However, there is still plenty of exciting things ahead this season. Felchle and her teammates are playing for another opportunity to reach the state tournament and vie for a championship.
Postseason success has been a trademark of the Saber program since it joined the varsity ranks in 2015-16. The school has qualified for every state tournament since then and won the 2017 championship.
“It’s become part of our team culture to use the regular season to create a team that can succeed in the postseason,’’ she said. “ I remember the seniors from my freshman year always pushing us girls on the JV team to be as competitive as possible during practices to help the varsity team grow and develop. There’s so much more to a team than just the five girls on the court at any given time. It’s easy to overlook the girls who are putting in the work behind the scenes.”
Heading into the season Felchle set two main goals to attain. The first was to make sure to slow down and enjoy the remaining time with her teammates.
“This year, I’ve made a deliberate effort to slow down and appreciate every game and every practice, taking time to smile and laugh with my teammates,’’ she said. “That’s one of the reasons why this has already been my favorite season.”
And the second goal is to advance past the quarterfinal round at the state tournament. A feat that was finally reached during this past volleyball season. And hopefully  can be duplicated on the basketball court.
But to reach that second goal there is still work to do. The squad has to continue sharpening its play and performing at a high level against the top teams in the WDA.
And Felchle will again play a key part of the squad’s success.
“She does her best to lead by example and makes sure her words match her effort,’’ Petrik said. “Our team feeds off of her confidence and we really need her to continue to step up each game for us to be successful.”