CHASE VAIGNEUR
Taking Her Game to Young Harris College
story by ROBIN COKER
photos by JOHN WOLLWERTH
One of the most beautiful things to see, and often rare, is a young woman stepping out onto the court (literally) to pursue her dreams. Beaufort native Chase Vaigneur is currently a senior at Beaufort Academy. Last month, she signed her letter of intent to play collegiate Division II Volleyball at Young Harris College in the mountains of North Georgia. This will be her first time out of Beaufort for an extended period. When asked how she feels about leaving the comfort of her hometown, she says, “I think everyone needs to do it. It’s part of growing up.”
Before finding her affinity for volleyball, Chase grew up on the basketball court and did not start playing volleyball until she reached Beaufort Middle School. When asked why she chose volleyball, she laughs and jokes, “I was tall for my age, and I was told I would do well.” It turns out not only was she “tall for her age,” but also a natural and loved every second. Once Chase stepped onto the volleyball court, she never left. Playing volleyball in college during a national pandemic will present a much different adventure for her and quite a few obstacles than what Chase is used to overcoming. She is not allowing the world’s current state to hold her down from taking her next step toward growth, and we should all take a life lesson from this young woman. “Covid has put a damper on things, not an end,” she says. To mask up while playing will be an entirely new experience. However, it is very worth it to her to keep herself and others safe. This is a chance to pursue the gifts she has been given and to continue to shine as an example for the younger women to follow.
This year has been one for the history books for our community at-large. Chase and her teammates have taken the opportunity to use volleyball as the catalyst to spread positivity among their peers. She shares that this year they had the largest roster of freshmen and players coming onto the court that had zero experience. They made the goal of having fun, learning, and just showing up rather than basing their success on wins alone. “Playing for the love of the game, to get involved, to laugh and cheer each other on — no matter their experience or abilities — is where the magic happens, what makes it worth it,” she says.
Beaufort Academy’s Athletic Director Nick Field shares, “Chase is the model student-athlete. She is highly academic and fierce on the court. Chase is also very kind to everyone around her and more than happy to help others. Her work ethic, academic efforts, and innate kindness will undoubtedly help her lead a very successful career at Young Harris and beyond. I count myself extremely lucky to have had Chase in our athletic program these last two years.”
Heading off next year into the literal wilderness, Chase will not only bring her love for team sports with her but will also be arriving with her strong desire to learn and grow in the area of elementary education. Her affinity for learning is rooted in her enthusiasm for how the mind works and her aspirations to be a psychologist, specifically for the population of children with special needs. She was given the privilege of being a leader for “Project Unify” at Beaufort Middle School, working with children with special needs. Her love for this project and the opportunities she was given at such a young age has grown into a zeal to work with all children across the board, as she feels at home with the ability to communicate, connect, and make a difference in their lives.
When asked if she had one message to share with her community and her peers, Chase had one clear and concise word: positivity. “Positivity changes everything you do on and off the court, staying positive in everything I do. We are surrounded by so much negativity, especially in social media. You must weed through to find the light. Be the light, lift others up, lift yourself up always. Being involved in a team sport has made all the difference, and attitude is everything.” To Chase, knowing how to communicate with others is a life skill she attributes directly to having the opportunity to be part of a team sport, and one she will carry with her on and off the court as she takes her next leap up the mountain and continues to make a difference in the lives of others.
