Why the impact of Penns Valley’s Hannah Montminy extends beyond the basketball court, soccer field
Penns Valley’s Hannah Montminy doesn’t like the spotlight.
When she scored her 1,000th career point in girls’ basketball, when her parents embraced her on the court in December, she asked if they could settle on taking a single photo — so the game could resume quickly. And when she set a school record this past fall in girls’ soccer, by scoring 201 career points (80 goals, 41 assists), she declined to add the soccer ball to the Penns Valley trophy case — even after she was told the school could just put a different ball behind the glass.
It’s not important, she would tell her friends with a shrug. And, after four years of being by her side in high school, that’s the kind of response her peers came to expect.
“She didn’t want people to see it and be like, ‘Wow.’ She just does things and doesn’t want recognition for them,” said junior Kylie Auman, who plays both soccer and basketball with Montminy. “She’s an amazing person, in school and on the court. She’s amazing.”
Montminy, always the last girl to exit the gym, texts those who leave late to make sure they get home OK. When she’s ill or ineligible for practice, she still leans forward from the front row of the bleachers to watch her team. And whenever there’s a break in game action — halftime, free throws or timeouts — she’s quick with an encouraging word.
The all-state soccer player and two-time all-conference hoops athlete has just two regular-season games and a district basketball tournament left before the end of her decorated athletic career. She’ll leave the school “as one of the all-time Penns Valley greats,” her basketball coach said, and she’ll finish with memories from a 2018 district basketball championship, two league basketball titles and a soccer league championship.
But, while discussing Montminy’s legacy and impact, her coaches and teammates believe it’s everything she’s done off the court that will make her so missed.
“When you talk about a team player, her name should be in the lights,” basketball coach Terrance Green said. “If I ever had a daughter, I would want her to be like Hannah. That’s the type of person she is.”
When Auman was upset after not being named a soccer captain, Montminy pulled her aside and told her that she’d give up her spot because Auman deserved it more. “She’s so humble,” Auman said. “I’ve never met someone else like her.” When a teammate struggled in a recent game, Montminy told her with a smile, “You can do this.” And when another nailed the first of two free throws, Montminy added, “Good job; you’re doing great!”
“If someone falls down, she’d be the first to help them up,” said senior Cassondra Ulmanic, who plays both soccer and basketball with Montminy.
At the start of the basketball season, the Lady Rams were asked to anonymously vote on the team captain. To no one’s surprise, every one of the 20 girls on the roster voted for Montminy.
According to Green, most of the explanations were the same: “All they said was, ‘I want to be like her.’”
Added Ulmanic: “A lot of people look up to Hannah. I do, too.”
Montminy’s demeanor, combined with her ability, is hard to top. But she doesn’t just rest on her laurels. The future Penn State student — who plans to play sports at the club or IM level — sets the tone for her team with her work ethic, too.
She stays after basketball practice every night to take at least 100 shots. When the point guard recently felt her long-range shots could be better, she focused on shooting 100 3’s. “I put in the work when no one’s watching,” Montminy said, “so, when people are around, it pays off.” During the offseason, in the summer, she would spend hours shooting hoops in her driveway or lugging orange cones for a 10-minute walk to a local park to practice soccer.
Sometimes, she’d call Auman — the goalie — and the two would practice together, often for nearly two hours. Auman was always struck by Montminy’s conditioning, how she never seemed to need a water break.
But Auman also remembers the selfless approach that Montminy took toward those extra practices. Most times, Montminy would ask her what types of shots she wanted to see.
“She always worked hard, but it wasn’t just for herself,” said Auman, who’s now being recruited to play soccer in college. “She doesn’t play for herself. She plays for other people.
“Yes, my coaching has been great. I love my coaches. But because of her — she’s the reason that I’m going to be pursuing (playing in) college.”
Montminy’s list of accomplishments is as long as any graduating Centre County senior. She was a four-year starter in soccer and a three-time all-league selection, and she was a three-year starter in basketball — Montminy was the sixth man as a freshman — and will likely finish this season with her third straight appearance on the all-league team.
She has more than 1,000 points in basketball and 80 goals in soccer. She’s already taking college classes. And she plans to major in biobehavioral health at Penn State’s main campus. In short, those who know her best said, she’s done everything right.
“She’s instilled those principles, and those girls want to be like Hannah Montminy,” Green said. “She’s a name the girls talk about. They want to be the next Hannah Montminy.”
Added Auman: “I look up to her. I know a lot of girls look up to her.”
For Montminy’s part, she’s not trying to finish out this season by hitting other milestones or adding photos and memorabilia to the trophy case that lines the hallway outside the gym. She doesn’t need to be remembered for her accomplishments; in part, she wants to be remembered for her impact away from the gym.
And, for Montminy, it’s hard to think of a more appropriate goal.
“I want to be remembered as a team player and someone who always gave it their all — and who cared for their teammates,” she said.
Few would argue: That’s exactly the legacy she’s leaving behind.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
