THIS 'BUD' BLOSSOMED IN DEED

Dreams are like the sugar that sweetens a cup of coffee, the lone star that guides the Magi, the cool breeze on a steamy-hot summer night. Joliet Catholic Academy's Brittany Budimier embraced that type of dream.

A 5-foot-11 middle hitter and right-side hitter, Budimier tried out for the Angels' varsity as a junior in 2007 -- and was cut. After playing for the Uno volleyball club's 17-under Elite team last winter and spring, Budimier tried out again, bringing back a resolve.

Quitters never win.

Winners never quit.

"I could have easily given up," Budimier confirmed. "But there was something inside me that said, 'No, I want to keep doing this.' And if I wanted to keep doing this, I knew I had to keep working harder, and I knew only then would I continue to succeed."

Success comes in all shapes and forms. Budimier's blockbuster senior season continued in the aftermath of Joliet Catholic winning the Class 3A state championship with her recent commitment to play volleyball in '09 for NCAA Division III Aurora University.

As the key backup behind D-I middle recruits Claire Randich and Lainey Wyman, Budimier boosted JCA (39-3) to its second state title in the past six years, contributing 10 attack kills, 10 blocks, 4 block kills, 4 digs, a couple of set assists and an ace off the bench.

Beyond those numbers,

however, Budimier represented the best of what the word teammate means. Although considering both Saint Xavier and Quincy in her collegiate search, she decided on Aurora because of the coach, the girls, the fit, the level and something intangible.

Her dream.

"Yes, that was one of my main reasons for going to college," said Budimier, who plans on majoring in history, criminal justice or computer science. "I wanted to go to college not only to get an education, but to play volleyball, too."

"I think she's somebody who can step on the floor and make an impact right away at that level," JCA coach Christine Scheibe said. "She wasn't a starter here, but she could have started at half the schools we played. And she played on a top level team for a very good club, so she is used to playing great competition every day."

Understandably, it is the kind of signing that earns a line in agate size under a recruiting heading in newspapers like the Chicago Sun-Times. Stories as inspiring as the one lived out by Budimier this fall tend to fall by the wayside -- not an all-stater, not a starter, not going Division I.

Still, the reality for national powerhouse programs from the Joliet area like JCA in volleyball and Lockport in softball involves talented players toiling behind better, more talented players. Tryouts are held, and sometimes, oftentimes, those who don't make the roster are left holding that horrible bag, of shattered dreams. 

"Cut day is always the worst, and it was very difficult in Brittany's case because she's a great kid who works so hard," Scheibe said. "But her skills at the time were lacking, and we didn't feel like we had a spot where she could make an impact or see much playing time."

"It was really tough," Budimier acknowledged. "But it got me even more motivated to improve and to try out for the next year."

Before the next year rolled around, Budimier did her homework. She sat down with Scheibe and was told to increase her foot speed and vertical jump. She then signed up for speed training at Get Fast and played at Uno, co-directed by Christine Beltzhoover-Klingler and Terri Hibner-Baranski with a stable of coaches like Brie Isaacson (Naperville Central) and Chris Hoelscher (Rosary).

"I did encourage her," Scheibe said. "I remember telling all of the girls at cuts, 'If you don't want this to be the end, it doesn't have to be.' But it's to Brittany's credit that she saw an opportunity to be a part of this team this year, a team that had a lot of potential, and she wanted to be a part of that. She did what she needed to do."

"She stuck with it," said Gina Vera, JCA's all-state senior setter and Butler recruit. "Ultimately, playing in college is everyone's goal, and I think it shows a ton of character on her part to get cut as a junior and work harder in club to make her high school team."

As the coach of both state championship teams at JCA, plus a pair of teams that placed third and fourth in Class AA, Scheibe understands the predicament Budimier faced in the days following a cutdown.

"It's hard for the kids, it's hard for the coaches," she said. "It's something they start playing in fifth grade and it has been a part of their lives for many years by the time they get to the varsity level. I think it's a credit to Brittany that she was not willing to let me or anyone else make the decision that volleyball was over for her.

"I've had kids go both ways. I've cut kids where it's the end for them, but she decided she wasn't going to accept that as an answer and that she was going to do whatever she could to try and come back as a player."

Every preseason, JCA puts on an intrasquad scrimmage featuring the freshmen, sophomore and varsity levels. Brittany Budimier, guaranteed nothing but a shot during summer camp, showed up 30 minutes early for the opportunity to wear the Angels' columbia blue.

"I worked hard at club and I felt prepared," Budimier said. "And I was very happy, very excited, when I made it. It made me proud to represent the school and the team. I love the girls, it was a great group, and putting on the jersey meant a lot to me, knowing it was my last year, my senior year. It was a thrill."

Those thrills carried over throughout the season. She initiated her highlight reel with 3 blocks in a 25-13, 25-13 win over Morris. She debuted on the right in a 25-10, 25-6 over St. Joseph and had 2 kills and a block kill in a 25-18, 25-14 victory over Marian Catholic on Senior Night.

During the regionals, a 25-2, 25-3 win over Chicago Maria and a 25-6, 25-8 win over Richards, Budimier and senior outside Stephanie Barichello, also a reserve, provided as much of the offense as JCA's regulars.

"You know, Brittany paid her dues and she deserves it," Vera said. "I think she's going to fit in very well at Aurora, and I give her all the credit in the world. You can go all the way back to July, and I never saw her scowl on the bench. Never selfish. She was the first one to high-five you coming off the floor."

"Being a supporting player, Brittany was awesome," Scheibe said. "She and 'Bear' were the first girls off the bench encouraging the team, cheering them on, yelling and screaming. They would look for holes on the floor and read the defense. She understood her role and did a great job with it."

Regardless, the job required her to be ready to play the middle or on the right, whether the opponent was the caliber of conference cellar-dweller St Joe's or as prominent of a program as Wheaton Warrenville South.

"It was an adjustment, but I felt comfortable in each spot," Budimier said. "Gina has been my setter in club for a long time, so I knew her and she knew me. I stayed mentally prepared and I was good for anything. I just said to myself, 'Hey, if I get set, I'm going to hit the ball and I don't care what anybody thinks. I'm going to try my hardest.'"

The hardest thing for Budimier might not have been getting cut. It was reacting to the cut that sliced her cake like a knife.

Quitters. Winners.

"I'm proud of myself for sticking things out and working harder and harder," Budimier said. "I know some people might have given up right away, but I just kept working hard and I'm proud of myself for that."

On Nov. 15, five years to the date that JCA won its first state volleyball title, Brittany Budimier held the hands of her teammates on the Illinois State University bench, waiting to celebrate on the Redbird Arena court. An Angel team touting at least seven Division I prospects then completed the 25-19, 25-14 blowout of Burlington Central.

"It was unbelievable," she said. "It was really exciting to win state, knowing I could get cut one year, work hard, make it the next year and win state."

"Despite the fact that she got cut as a junior," Scheibe said, "she played club, definitely improved her skills and she came back with so much to offer. And she leaves here a state champ."

In the end, Budimier's tale portrays a universal theme. Across America, high school athletes are cut -- the most famous being Michael Jordan. It can be a beginning for the best.

"I'm glad she came back out because she's a great kid and a role model for others to follow," Scheibe said. "She set the example of what hard work can do for you and how it can pay off. Brittany is someone others can learn from as far as not letting somebody else determine what you can be and what you can't be."

That is not her dream.

That is her legacy.