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Hinsdale South’s Jessica Brezwyn accepts coaching from sister Stephanie
Sisters Stephanie (left) and Jessica Brezwyn now have an assistant coach-player relationship for Hinsdale South's girls volleyball team. | GEORGE M. WILCOX~Sun-Times Media.
Updated: October 21, 2012 2:22PM
DARIEN — Jessica Brezwyn’s senior season with Hinsdale South’s girls volleyball team should become a little more special.
The Hornets’ kills leader from Darien already made a verbal commitment to play next season at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Now her older sister, Stephanie, has a front row seat watching Jessica as the first-year varsity assistant coach to veteran coach Lisa Martinez.
“It’s different when I call her Coach Brezwyn during volleyball season,” said Jessica, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter. “I like it. I’m working with my sister and she’s my coach at the same time.”
The sisters are the only children of Steve and Donna Brezwyn. Stephanie graduated in May from St. Francis University in Joliet and still lives at home while looking for full-time work. She has been employed part-time by the Darien Park District since 2009.
If the sisters didn’t spend much time together in the past, they do now. The only time Jessica doesn’t see Stephanie is during the school day. There are not too many high school volleyball players living with their assistant coach.
However, there are a few daughters playing for their coach-mother this season, such as Taylor Holder for coach Natalie Holder at Marist and Rachel Iverson for coach Patty Iverson at York.
There has been no signs of strain between the Brezwyn sisters after nearly a month of the season. They still hang out and go shopping together.
“At practice, I do not treat her as my sister,” Stephanie said. “I look at her as my player and I’m her coach. It’s time to do work and it’s time to do my job. To her, it’s her job.”
Martinez gave Stephanie Brezwyn a promotion after serving as the freshman B coach last season. Martinez’ previous assistant took another teaching job out of state.
Stephanie played for Martinez and graduated from Hinsdale South in 2008. She played two seasons for Martinez and went on to play her freshman season at St. Francis before quitting to focus on her nursing major.
Brezwyn started coaching at Hinsdale South during her senior year at St. Francis.
“That was very tough,” Stephanie said about coaching and going to school. “It was even more difficult when we lost our grandfather that fall.”
Their grandfather, Robert Choate, died at age 80, and several members of the volleyball team attended his funeral services in support of Stephanie and Jessica.
In the winter, Martinez started a new Hornets Jrs. club for 14-year-old players through the 1st Alliance/Lions Jrs. club program. Stephanie Brezwyn served as the club team’s first assistant coach.
The sisters were together as usual last week as Hinsdale South (11-3) placed third at the 24-team Wheaton Classic to crack the Chicago Sun-Times’ Top Ten poll at No. 10 for the first time this season.
After stunning Marist to open the season, the Hornets lost to the RedHawks 25-15, 25-23 in Saturday’s semifinals at Wheaton Warrenville South. Hinsdale beat Sandburg 25-19, 12-25, 25-24 for third.
