Submitted photo – Breann Winingham at her recent letter signing ceremony.

By Ray Hamill — Del Norte senior Breann Winingham is looking forward to a new chapter in her life, a new challenge on the volleyball court and better tacos.

The multi-sport Warriors standout recently signed a letter of intent to play college volleyball for the Santa Rosa Bear Cubs after graduation this year, becoming the second player from a dominating 2023 Big 5 championship team to take her talents to the college courts, after two-time Big 5 MVP McKenna Curtis also recently committed to play for Feather River.

And Winingham is excited about the move for a number reasons.

“It is really exciting,” she said. “I’m a little nervous because I’ve never lived outside of Crescent City, but I want to see what it’s like living in a city. And I like (Santa Rosa JC). I really like the vibe there, and I like that it’s only six hours away.”

She also likes the fact that Santa Rosa is one of the biggest community colleges in the state with an enrollment of close to 20,000.

“I love how the campus is,” the Del Norte senior said. “It’s a community college, but it doesn’t feel like it. I like that it’s not tiny. It feels like a real college.”

And if that wasn’t enough to entice her to play for the Bear Cubs, there is another important reason that helped convince her to make the move to Santa Rosa.

“They have the best taco trucks there,” she said with a laugh. “I love it.”

Winingham also loves playing sports, and in particular volleyball, but it’s something she admits she has had to work hard on.

She began playing the sport in sixth grade and has never lacked motivation.

“Once I got to high school I felt I wasn’t that good,” she admitted. “But I really wanted it and I really pushed myself.

“Any opportunity to play or go to the weight room or go to practice, I went. I forced myself and it’s really paid off.

“I train myself and I push myself, and I feel the weight room is a huge part of why I got better.”

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Breann Winingham in action for the Warriors during the fall season.

That work ethic is something the Del Norte girls are well known for and something that helped them secure back-to-back Big 5 championships in Winingham’s junior and senior seasons.

The Del Norte coaches have said that last year’s team was one of the best weight-room rosters they’ve ever seen.

“It’s a really good program,” Winingham said of Del Norte volleyball. “I love it. It’s a really good mix of being disciplined, but having fun at the same time. The drive is there.”

After deciding she wanted to continue to play in college, Winingham put her video highlights online and received interest from a number of schools, including some on the East Coast as well as several community colleges around California.

But after a visit to Santa Rosa, she was quickly sold on joining the Bear Cubs.

“They gave me a tour and I met all the girls and I got on with all the girls, and it was just a very good environment and seemed to fit my personality,” she said. “Going to Santa Rosa will push me and motivate me.”

Submitted photo

Going to Santa Rosa will also give Winingham the opportunity to play beach volleyball, a program the school recently added, and that’s something else she’s looking forward to.

She was first introduced to beach volleyball during the COVID years when indoor practices were limited or completely suspended and she would go to the beach to play with her teammates.

“It’s really fun,” she said. “It helps you become a better athlete.”

Winingham also has played basketball at Del Norte, as well as competing in track and field.

And she’s keeping busy this spring, competing for the Warriors in the throwing events and lifting weights with longtime Del Norte coach Pablo Lorenzi three times a week.

Pablo Lorenzi, along with longtime Del Norte volleyball coach Debbie Lorenzi and the entire Warriors coaching staff have been big influences for Winingham, as have her parents Heather and Manuel.

“My parents, on days I feel like I can’t do it, they’e the ones who remind me you’ve got to keep going,” she said, while adding of the coaches, “without them I would not be nearly as good.”

Winingham also believes the close bond she has built with her Del Norte teammates paved the way for their incredible success on the volleyball court over the past two seasons.

“At Del Norte I feel like we have really good chemistry,” she said. “We’ve all grown up with each other and know each other so well, and it’s easy to push each other because we know each other so well. And I like that tight bond.

“I think what I’ll remember the most is how close we are. Everyone’s so supportive.”

Winingham plans on majoring in nursing and says she would like to continue her playing career after her time at Santa Rosa, if her studies allow.

“That would be something I would like to do,” she said. “It just depends if it’s possible with my schooling.”