Coupeville Sports

Mindy Horr

Mindy and part of her extensive fan club.

Makin’ magic in Korea.

They don’t come much more talented than Mindy Horr.

A truly standout athlete at Coupeville High School, the 2005 grad was a four-year star in volleyball and tennis, claiming second at state in doubles with Taniel (Lamb) Proctor as a senior.

But it’s been the eight years since that moment in which she has shone at her brightest, taking a message of hope and love literally around the world.

Always on the move, her mega-watt smile and graceful heart lighting up the world around her, Horr is changing the world, one student at a time.

After graduating from Biola University in Southern California with a BA in English and a minor in Biblical studies (appropriate since her father, Cliff Horr, is a pastor), she has traveled the world.

Along the way, she found her calling, teaching English in South Korea.

Recently she made the jump to Director of Marketing and Admissions Supervisor with the company which brought her to Korea — Adventure Teaching — but, regardless of what position she holds, her joy in helping others spills out on a daily basis.

“I love what I do, and I still think teaching English in Korea is one of the coolest opportunities around!,” Horr said.

“As my life has turned out very different from what I imagined back at graduation in 2005, I don’t tend to make extensive future plans,” she added. “I never would’ve guessed where I am today, and I like the unpredictability of it.

“Loving Jesus and loving people. That’s what my future looks like.”

She still finds time to stay active, enjoying the sports she dominated in as a high school athlete.

“I still get out and play tennis and volleyball whenever I get the chance,” Horr said. “Shortly after moving to Portland in January with my sister Bethany, we made sure to find the nearest tennis courts, and hope for sunny days.

“My volleyball has changed from hard court to sand, which presents a whole new set of skills to learn,” she added. “But I play whenever I get the chance!”

As a Wolf, she learned her tennis game from her father, who guided the CHS  team for many years.

“Tennis has been a life-long love of mine, and getting to play for Coupeville with my dad as coach seemed pretty natural, seeing as he’d been my coach my whole life,” Horr said. “I learned a lot about the importance of consistency and attitude – though I have to say, some of the lessons weren’t that fun to learn. You can definitely beat yourself in tennis.

“I think the final game where Taniel and I won at Quad-Districts to make it to state was a really incredible feeling,” she added. “We had worked so hard over the last four years to get to that point. It was definitely worth it.”

As a setter for Toni Crebbin’s Wolf volleyball squads, Horr was part of a golden era for female athletes in Coupeville. One which included the young woman who is replacing Crebbin at the helm of the program this year.

“That final year of volleyball was a highlight – we had a great team and a lot of fun,” Horr said. “Coach Crebbin pushed us, but made sure we still enjoyed playing. Losing at state was disappointing, but I look back on my time playing volleyball for Coupeville as some of the best memories of high school.

“Super proud (and also slightly jealous) of Kirsty Croghan, who is joining the long line of amazing Coupeville volleyball coaches – up there with Crebbin and (Kim) Meche.”

Wherever her life takes her, and for Horr, that can change at a moment’s notice, the lessons and skills learned while wearing the red and black help guide her through adult life.

“Lessons from sports have shaped the way I look at life, for sure,” Horr said. “In high school, each game was everything – we put our hearts into those seasons. That’s what life should look like – you leave it all on the court.

“My advice for current athletes at Coupeville is to enjoy it,” she added. “It will end, and you’ll move on to other fun adventures. But this time at Coupeville, being a part of something small but great – you’ll never have a time quite like this again.”