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Shayla Rautenberg is special, precisely because she doesn’t specialize.

Sure, Milford’s sophomore unicorn — 6-foot-4, able to dunk a basketball, member of the USA national volleyball program — likely has a future in the sport that strings a net across the court rather than hanging one from a rim.

But it’s Rautenberg’s willingness to live in both worlds, not to mention run a little track in the spring, that set her apart as much as her vast athletic ability.

“It is refreshing, because I think that was a concern everybody has had. The trend is to try and specialize. And I think if you look at all the stats that show that people that are playing at the highest levels, they’re not specializing,” Milford girls basketball coach Bryce Roth said. “They’re all people that have played two or three sports. 

“(Specializing) is an illusion people are being sold. All these clubs are making money hand over fist trying to trick people into a reality that's not really helping (the athletes).”

That’s not to say there isn’t value in the club system. But for Rautenberg, who could play for any club volleyball program anywhere in the country, using her gifts in more than one arena isn’t really that big of a deal.

“I would say it’s been a pretty easy path. People are always asking me what my favorite sport is, and if you asked me that in sixth grade, I probably would have told you basketball,” Rautenberg said. “But I’ve switched that to volleyball. But doing both sports growing up, it’s just been easy to transition into high school doing both.”

She does just fine, too. Milford heads into this week’s state tournament 25-1, the only loss coming by single digits to Class B top seed Norris in a game the Class C-1 Eagles led at halftime.

Rautenberg averages 19 points, 14.2 rebounds, and four blocked shots per game while drawing the full attention of opposing defenses and anyone else who happens to be in the gym on a given night. 

This after leading Milford to its first state volleyball title in the fall, with the last of her 30 kills in the state final delivering the Eagles their championship.

Without turning a 16-year-old high school sophomore into too much of a cultural touchstone, Rautenberg’s ability to compete at an elite level in multiple sports shows, quite simply, that it can be done.

“I’ve heard other coaches that talk to me about, that’s a great example for little girls growing up here, and trying to buck that trend (of specialization),” Roth said. “I sure hope (she’s an influence). I do know that, all the following that we have with our younger players, they’re wanting to be active in whatever sport it is. And I think our community does a good job of promoting all the sports that we offer.”

In training and competing with the U.S. girls U19 national volleyball team that won the NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup over the summer, Rautenberg stood out even among the best young volleyball players in the country.

“I think (playing multiple sports) just comes with the territory of being in a small town,” Rautenberg said. “All of the other Team USA girls, they’re shocked when I tell them that I do three sports. They all just play volleyball.”

Wait, three sports?

Yep, once the basketballs are put away, Rautenberg will head to the track. Last year she competed in the high jump and 4x400 relay. She’s hoping to negotiate her way out of running the 400 this spring, because, have you ever tried running a 400 at a full sprint?

In the summer, there will be more club volleyball, more club basketball, and offseason training with Milford’s basketball and volleyball teams when she isn’t doing her club sports or training with USA Volleyball.

She wouldn’t have it any other way, either.

“She handles it really well. It's basically, if she doesn't have something, she gets bored; she doesn't know what to do with herself,” Lisa (Reitsma) Rautenberg, Shayla's mom and former Nebraska volleyball All-American, said last summer. “Luckily, she does love it. If she wasn't into it and didn't love it, we wouldn't be doing as much as we are.”

Rautenberg has found a good situation, with a supportive family, and coaches at both the high school and club level willing to work together to make sure she can spend the time she needs with each pursuit.

“Our coaches are really good about working with me being a multisport athlete,” Rautenberg said. “I know a lot of girls that might do only volleyball, or some of them quit basketball because they just didn’t have the time. So that’s a lot of credit to my coaches.”

It’s a credit to Rautenberg, too, for being willing to take on such a busy schedule. Her basketball coach isn’t surprised.

“Her competitive spirit is pretty unmatched. I mean, she hates to lose. Yes, she’s a .01 percenter (athletically). But what really sets her apart is, she just absolutely hates to lose and will compete at a level that just really helps raise everybody’s play, whether it’s practice or even just playing a goofy game of cards or something,” Roth said. “That’s infectious, and it sets the tone.”

Before You Go

Here is everything you need to know about this week’s Nebraska girls state basketball tournament. A historic 50th edition of the championship. Read our preview for the NSAA website here.

Also if you missed any of our other recaps you can catch them at the following links: state dual wrestling, bowling, girls wrestling, boys wrestling and last weekend’s swimming and diving championships.

“Discipline, drive, and dedication. Competitive spirit. A commitment to constant improvement. These qualities make great athletes and coaches. They also make great financial advisors. Northwestern Mutual advisors educate clients to make important decisions to live differently and achieve their goals of financial security. Learn more about joining our team. Karges Financial Group and the Great Plains District are proud supporters of Nebraska high school athletics.