![\"Charlee](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/02\/03\/NSTJ\/6cb03dae-1550-4592-8ee3-945ba8f2e6c8-Charlee.jpg?width=660&height=481&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Charlee](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/02\/03\/NSTJ\/e1103925-2f17-460e-922e-a2e83a3c5056-Balcom_action.jpg?width=660&height=616&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")
<\/figure>\nCharlee Balcom, senior at Constantine, is excited for her future.<\/p>\n
Back in January, Balcom signed on to continue her academic and basketball careers with Southwestern Michigan College in Niles. The school is bringing back the athletics program after 25 years and Balcom was one of the first official members to sign on for the ladies\u2019 basketball team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a really good connection with coach (Jeanine Wasielewski) and let her know I was really interested in it. I reached out to her, she came to one of my practices and we just kind of connected when we first talked,\u201d Balcom said. \u201cIt just went on from there. We stayed in touch, then she asked me to play for her. I\u2019m looking forward to being on the team and starting up the new program. I just felt like it would be really cool to be a part of that and help build the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Charlee is currently playing her senior year at Constantine for her coach, and dad, Jeff. He said he\u2019s proud of Charlee\u2019s accomplishment to reach the next level when it comes to basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a hard worker, she pushes her teammates to be better as well,\u201d Jeff said. \u201cShe\u2019s a leader on and off the floor, in the classroom as well. She has been a part of the All-Academic teams for volleyball, softball and basketball. We\u2019re very proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The Balcoms love being in the gym. Jeff said Charlee has been spending time getting up a ton of shots, sometimes three and four hundred a day, to continue to get better.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s really worked hard on her outside game,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s come along well. I\u2019m ecstatic for her, she has worked so hard all summer long to get here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Charlee said she enjoys being a point guard and pushing the ball up the floor. To her, helping get the offense running is important in basketball. But she\u2019s also willing to step out and take a perimeter shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been getting out and shooting more and I think that is something that will help me in college,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m going to keep shooting and perfecting and working on my shot, though. I want to continue to build more confidence with it. I think seeing the ball go in and building on that confidence is a big thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlee also was a part of the volleyball team and is going to once again be a member of the Constantine softball team. She said choosing to continue to play basketball, once the offer was provided, was an easy choice for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played basketball since I was a little kid and this has always been my favorite sport,\u201d Charlee said. \u201cI think it just helps me get a break from everything. I really enjoy playing and I think it will be a good thing for me to pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeff said he believes Southwestern is a good spot for Charlee.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good fit for her,\u201d Jeff said. \u201cThe 25-year hiatus, she\u2019s excited about that part and being able to start the program up again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlee said she expects to pursue a career in criminal justice.<\/p>\n
She plans to potentially be a police officer, but has even higher aspirations than that.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cI want to start by being a cop, but then I really want to be an FBI agent because I feel like with today\u2019s world, people\u2019s views on cops have kinda changed a lot,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel like I can help change people\u2019s opinions on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlee said she will also play softball this year. She\u2019ll miss the people of Constantine, her friends and those she sees on a daily basis at school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to miss the people, 100 percent,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll miss my dad coming into the gym with me every day to shoot because he doesn\u2019t have to do that, but he pushes me to be better and I appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n
That confidence, whether coming from dad or other people in Charlee\u2019s life, has made a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot of people that believe in me, I think that helps me believe in myself even more,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n