Player Spotlight: Isabella Bunders – Leading with Energy, Heart and Joy

Great athletes are often remembered for their stats and accomplishments. But the ones who leave a lasting impact are also remembered for something more—how they make others feel, how they lead, and how they show up every single day.

Isabella Bunders is that kind of athlete.

Her leadership, her joy for the game, and her commitment to others make her a role model worth following—not just for what she accomplishes, but for who she is.

At Ball to Life, we believe sports are about more than wins and losses. They help shape young athletes into leaders, teammates, and individuals capable of making a positive impact in their communities.

The Beyond the Play – Player Spotlight recognizes high school athletes who demonstrate character, leadership, perseverance, and dedication both on and off the field. Each year, Ball to Life selects a small number of athletes whose stories represent the values that sports are meant to teach—hard work, integrity, service, and resilience.

Isabella’s story is a reminder that the true impact of sports is found in the joy you bring, the energy you give, and the way you lift others along the way.

Isabella – A Role Model Worth Following

There are so many aspects to cover when it comes to Isabella – including her leadership and her impact on those around her.

As I got to know her, I kept coming back to a core principle that makes her stand out: she is a role model for many, and she is truly a role model worth following.

Isabella is involved in so many areas within her community. She serves through community projects, volunteering, and mentoring younger kids. She is consistently described as someone who is always willing to support her community and the people in it.

She understands the role athletes play within a community – how younger kids look up to them – and she embraces that responsibility. In her words, “I just try to be a person that others can look up to.”

She carries herself with humility and compassion, and I’m confident any parent would be proud to have their child look up to her.

Mrs. Reichman, a teacher at Wauzeka-Steuben High School, described Isabella as “a genuine, kind, and wonderful human.”

Balancing Excellence Across School, Sports, and Community

To fully understand Isabella, you have to look at everything she is involved in.

• Community awareness project on mental health
• Lead role in the school musical
• Mentor to younger students (in music, athletics, and beyond)
• Volunteer for community vision screenings
• Completed requirements to become a CNA
• Multi-sport athlete: basketball, softball, and cross country
• Strong student in the classroom

I’m confident this list doesn’t encompass all of her activities but just the ones that were mentioned directly to me.  The one thing missing from the list, is perhaps the most important, her family activities. Coaches, parents, and teachers often talk about how difficult time management is for student-athletes.

Isabella may be the standard.

Maintaining strong grades while being this involved in school, sports, and the community is an accomplishment in itself—and one that deserves recognition.

Leading With Energy, Heart, and Joy

As a fan of sports, it always stands out when I watch someone play with joy. When an athlete can maintain that joy as part of their game, the energy and heart tend to follow.

I had the opportunity to watch Isabella play basketball this season, and the first word I wrote down in my notes was “joy.”

She appreciates the game, her teammates, and the opportunity to compete. Because of that, she has held onto why we play in the first place—the joy of it.

And as expected, with that joy comes the heart and energy that go along with it. She brings all three.

She constantly lifts up her teammates, communicates, and stays positive. When her team needs a play, she steps up – but what stands out even more is that her energy never wavers.

Her body language and presence are a steadying force. And because of that, her teammates played with a little more energy and a little more joy alongside her.

Appreciation for the Support System That Shaped Her Path

When you watch Isabella compete, it’s clear she has a deep appreciation for her teammates. When asked what she will miss most about sports, she didn’t hesitate—her teammates.

She values the relationships, the shared experiences, and the time spent together. As she looks ahead, she knows she will miss not only the competition, but the people she shared it with. That connection is what made the experience so meaningful.

When it comes to her growth as a leader, she also credits her teammates—especially the older players who supported her early in her high school career. That support helped build her confidence and allowed her to grow into the leader she is today.

She also spoke highly of her parents, family, teachers, and coaches—relationships that have supported and empowered her along the way.

From Isabella – Parents, Family, Teachers, Coaches, and Teammates: Thank you for everything.

There Is Power in Adversity With the Right Mindset

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Isabella has excelled in cross country throughout her high school career. During her senior season, she suffered an injury that ended her season early.

She could have stepped away.

She didn’t.

Instead, she showed up every day and became a positive presence for her team.

This response to adversity reflects how so many describe Isabella – as someone who maintains a positive mindset no matter the situation and consistently leaves a positive mark on those around her.

She credits those she looks up to for helping shape that mindset—but what stands out to me is this: That mindset is a choice. Everyone has a choice in how they respond to adversity, and Isabella has consistently chosen positivity.

She deserves that credit.

Keep building on that mindset every day, and it will take you far.

She also shared with me the impact that setting goals has had on her career. Season goals, practice goals, and game goals all helped keep her focused and allowed her to persevere through difficult moments.

When things didn’t go well, those goals gave her the ability to reset – to not get too high or too low—and simply get back to work.

In Isabella’s Words

1. What is one of your favorite sports memories, and why does it stand out to you?

One of the hardest things is choosing just one favorite sports memory because I’ve been fortunate to experience so many amazing moments throughout my athletic career. If I had to choose, though, some of my favorite memories are the moments shared with my teammates while celebrating our successes together.

There are countless moments I remember — celebrating both big and small victories, the excitement after scoring or making a big play, and the way my teammates and I always connected and supported one another. Those are the moments that will always stand out to me when I look back on my time in sports.

2. What lessons has sports taught you about life, leadership, or teamwork?

When playing sports, all you do is learn—you are learning at practice, in games, and even on your own. Balancing school, practice, games, and other responsibilities taught me how to manage my time and stay balanced. I also learned that improvement does not happen overnight—effort and practice make a huge difference. Your willingness to put the work in determines how well you succeed.

Success also isn’t about one person. You need to communicate, trust, and put the team first. Being a captain my junior and senior years pushed me to encourage my teammates and be a role model.

Lastly, I learned respect—respecting my teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials, even when things don’t go the way I want them to. The experiences I gained from athletics have helped me not only grow as an athlete, but as a person

3. What are you most proud of about yourself as a person outside of sports?

Something I am most proud of about myself is how much I have grown and changed over the years. I believe I’ve become a better person by learning not to let other people affect the way I live my life.

I’ve grown from someone who was unsure and hesitant into someone who is confident and willing to work hard for the goals I want to achieve. That growth means a lot to me because it reflects the effort I’ve put into improving myself and becoming the person I want to be.

4. How do you think your experience in sports will influence your future or adult life?

I believe that my sports participation will impact my adult life because of how much it has taught me over the years. Sports have definitely built my discipline and work ethic. Waking up early for practices, pushing through hard workouts, and staying committed to a team helps you develop great habits that will carry over into adulthood.

5. Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you—your values, goals, or what motivates you?

As a person, I try my hardest to help others and stay involved in my community. I enjoy volunteering through my school and different organizations at events such as blood drives, community cleanups, church, youth sporting events, and concessions. Even with my smaller community, I am very fortunate that it offers so many opportunities to stay involved.

Looking to the Future

Isabella plans to attend a UW university, though she is still deciding which one. She plans to major in Biology and pursue a career in the Health Sciences.

While she looks forward to what’s ahead, she knows she will miss the competition and relationships that were such a big part of her high school experience.

She plans to stay involved through intramural sports in college, continuing to compete and stay connected to what she loves.

Advice for Younger Athletes

“Have confidence in yourself, don’t let others’ words or opinions get to you, stay positive, be coachable, and work hard – especially when no one is watching. You only get four years—enjoy it!”

“Always remember how important it is to pick up your teammates, stay positive through everything, and stay calm” – that’s the Ball to Life Next Play Mentality.

Congratulations Isabella!

We are honored to recognize Isabella Bunders as a Beyond the Play – Player Spotlight recipient.

Her impact has come from her positivity, her leadership, and the way she consistently shows up for others. I am confident she will carry those qualities forward and continue to make a difference in everything she does.

Isabella leads with heart, energy, and purpose—and that will serve her well as she continues to pursue her path.

She represents exactly what the Beyond the Play – Player Spotlight was created to celebrate: athletes who lead with character, compassion, and purpose.

It is an honor to recognize Isabella as part of the Ball to Life Player Spotlight Class of 2026.

Congratulations, Isabella.

BtL