Strong And Steady Colfax’s Thiele Wants To Send Her Message To Pregnant Teens

Lindsay Thiele tells her story not because she’s proud and not because she’s ashamed.

She tells her story in case anyone in the same situation needs encouragement.

Thiele learned she was pregnant two years ago, during volleyball season of her sophomore year at Colfax High.

To Thiele, there was no option but to have the baby. She left town when she started showing, continued her schooling at home, and delivered a healthy baby girl.

She chose to put the newborn up for adoption.

“I got something beautiful out of it,” Thiele said. “I was able to give a family a miracle.”

Thiele returned to school and sports, determined to learn from her mistake and make herself a better person.

Telling the world the truth isn’t easy. Thiele said she knows many people judge her by the pregnancy, and many likely talk behind her back.

“If people are curious, I wish they’d come up and ask me,” she said.

Thiele wants to send a message to other young women, and not one with a preacher-on-the-soapbox tone.

“I’m sure this is happening to other girls,” Thiele said, “and I want to say, ‘Things will pass as long as you have strength and perseverance.’ Look at what happened to me.”

Good things have happened to Thiele in athletics and academics.

This year she made the Colfax honor roll for the first time.

On the court, her Bulldogs won the State A volleyball title last year. Colfax is ranked No. 1 by the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association heading into this weekend’s state tournament at Chelan.

With accomplishments have come other setbacks to confront.

Thiele, recently diagnosed as anemic, prepared for state by taking iron pills. Before the diagnosis, she said she feared a return of the mononucleosis that dragged her down as a freshman.

That bout developed into bronchitis and hospitalized Thiele for three days. Thiele missed the basketball season, meaning last winter was the first time she played.

She quit basketball for one week, claiming she couldn’t match her teammates’ skills, but returned and promised to stay committed.

“She’s kind of had one thing after another,” said Colfax volleyball coach Sue Doering.

“It would have been easier to not do this (play sports) and go do something else, but she’s stuck with it.”

Thiele struggles with a shoulder problem that originated during club volleyball. She also sprained her ankle during the Crossover Classic in Spokane.

Her warmup routines take care of physical discomforts, but her mental preparation provides as much support.

“Sometimes I get really worn out and think, ‘Why am I doing this?”’ Thiele said. “But sports is more than half my life. I love the competition and I love my team.”

Thiele, at 6-foot-1, is the tallest player on the team. Other starters are seniors Angie Hall, Tracy Tribbett, Michelle Mellor, Alison Harder and Jessica Blevins, who rotates in with junior Laura Widman.

Doering said last year’s state tournament had a perfect ending, with Thiele providing the final two kills in the championship match.

EV returns to state

East Valley drew a tough pool in the State AA tournament at Tacoma, but the Knights say their second consecutive state trip could be lasting.

“I think we have a good chance to be playing on Saturday (the final eight),” EV coach Jim Dorr said.

In their pool, the Knights face three-time state participant South Whidbey, Blanchet, with three players taller than 6-foot, and Hanford of the Mid-Valley League, a consistent foil of Frontier League teams.

The Knights are led by Deb Asbury and Lescia Myers, front-liner Christie Grochowski and setters Jenny Kann and Jennifer Tilton.

Colville, No. 2 out of District 7, has a tougher road, with top-ranked Kennedy, Capital and Jackson in its pool. Kennedy finished second last year. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: STATE VOLLEYBALL Facts about Friday and Saturday’s state volleyball tournaments:

State AAA Site: The Arena Times: Friday’s sessions begin at 9:30 a.m., Saturday’s at 10 a.m. The championship match is scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Returning placers: Prairie fifth, Bethel sixth, Ferris seventh Local teams: Mead, Ferris

State AA Site: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Times: Friday’s sessions begin at 8:30 a.m., Saturday’s at 8 a.m. The championship match is scheduled at 7 p.m. Defending champion: Fife Local teams: East Valley, Colville

State A Site: Chelan High School Times: Friday’s and Saturday’s sessions begin at 8 a.m. The championship match is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Defending champion: Colfax Local teams: Colfax, Newport

State B Site: Eastern Washington University Times: Friday’s sessions begin at 8 a.m., Saturday’s at 8:30 a.m. The championship match is scheduled at 8 p.m. in the Arena. All placing matches are at the Arena. Defending champion: Wilbur-Creston Local teams: Wilbur-Creston, Ritzville, Davenport, St. John-Endicott