VOLLEYBALL MOM PUTS HEALTH & WELLNESS FIRST FOR HER FAMILY
NAPERVILLE–When Terri was figuring out what to do with her life as a young mother and wife with very little in the bank, she focused on Proverbs 31, and founded her life around that: A wise woman takes her talents and provides for her family.
Applying the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Silly) principal, the answer kept popping into her head: volleyball; after all, Terri led Penn State to two Big Ten Conference titles and a national runner-up finish in 1997. She was the only player in Big Ten history to record more than 1,500 kills, 1,000 digs and 600 blocks and go on to lead the USA National Team around the globe, eventually becoming Team Captain for the Chicago Thunder USPV professional volleyball team.
Health and wellness were important not only to Terri but to her growing family, so she took her expertise and put pedal to the metal and opened Mettle Volleyball Academy in Naperville in June 2012. She continues to train players at the beginner level up to the collegiate level while balancing work and home life with her husband, six children, and the best dog ever.
“I don't know if I am ever perfectly in balance, I first make sure I am taken care of so I can take care of everyone else; eat right, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water,” Terri says. “I have to wake up before the kids or it's a disaster and I also have to get some kind of workout in the morning before we really get cranking on our day.”
Terri also meal plans to reduce her stress of scrambling to make meals or having to manage hangry kids. Since weekdays are so busy, bedtime prayer time is her only guarantee for quiet quality time. She typically does not run classes on the weekends so she can attend her own kid's sporting events who are extremely active: Bryce (18) plays football, rugby, and is a wrestler; Sophia, (15) plays volleyball; Alayna (12) is a Level 8 Gymnast at Premier West Gymnastics Academy; Veronica (8) is homeschooled with her sister Alayna hones multiple talents; Beaux (5) is the family’s main form of entertainment with his active energy; and their first born Jacob (20) is a United States Marine Corp. in San Diego.
They are a competitive and active family by nature so when life gets overwhelming, Terri remembers that God is in control.
“When things are humming along, I praise God for it,” she says. “What I love about Proverbs 31 is that it encompasses so many good things about a wise woman, not just from a business perspective…. I have to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to take care of my family and be an example for them. Its just what we do as moms.”
There were times when the family was broke and barely scraping by, but God always took care of them when least expected.
“Every time we had another baby, something amazing would happen, bills would get paid, promotions at work, opportunities out of the blue would pop up. We worked hard and sometimes wondered how we would make ends meet. It was an exciting time.”
Along with her family, Terri thanks God by attending Saint Peter Paul Catholic Church in Naperville and supporting many local charitable organizations, such as Waterleaf Women's Center in Aurora. She is eternally grateful for all the wonderful people in the community that have supported her along the way.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy…” Psalm 28:7
