WAYNE, Neb. -- Today, home feels like the Wayne High School basketball floor.

There are few places that Wayne High Junior Frantzdie Barner would rather be, than playing the game she loves in front of the people who love her. 

But Wayne, Nebraska wasn’t always home. Born in Haiti, at only age 5, Frantzdie’s biological parents placed her up for adoption, in hopes for a better future for their daughter. 

“I was too young to like really understand what was going on,” she said. "At first wasn't very hard. But now that I understand the true meaning, like the reason behind it, it like really...it really hurts."

Although Barner doesn’t keep in touch with her biological parents, she’s grateful for the opportunity that adoption gave her. 

After more than two years in multiple orphanages, Frantzdie met Wayne natives Becky and Todd Barner, who began the adoption process to complete their family. 

“We felt like our family wasn’t complete yet,” Todd Barner said. “So, we decided to start the process.” 

The Barners first met Frantzdie and her brother Wanso in June of 2013.

“Meeting Frantzdie and her brother Wanso was one of the most intense experiences we've ever had,” Becky Barner said. “Then the hardest thing I ever have done in my life is walk away, and leave them to come home to the United States, to wait for the paperwork to be complete.” 

Then, on Jan. 24, 2014. The Barner family became complete, with two additional members. In the Barner household, Jan. 24th marks an important holiday on the calendar, family day. 

Each year, the Barner family bring together their five children, three biological, Frantzdie, and Wanso, to celebrate the anniversary. 

Frantzdie began basketball in grade school, shortly after arriving in Wayne. Todd says her athletic ability was always apparent, but that learning the new game proved a challenge. 

Todd recalls a story from her very first game, when at halftime Frantzdie learned she could steal the ball from the other team.

“The second half she had like a dozen steals! It was just a changed game,” he said.

Over years of practice, her work ethic combined with natural athleticism to craft her game into one of the irreplaceable parts of coach Aaron Carlson’s roster.

Shortly after meeting Frantzdie, coach Carlson was quickly impressed. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, he challenged his players to put up 10,000 shots by the end of the season.

Frantzdie reached that goal in three weeks and tallied over 80,000 shots by the end of the year. 

“She’s one of the hardest workers we have,” Carlson said. “Sometimes she’s the first in the gym putting up shots, and sometimes I have to kick her out.” 

Now with every bucket that goes in, Frantzdie’s Wayne Blue Devil’s family, and her adoptive family cheer together, to celebrate everything she’s earned. 

“They always support me, they always love me, and they’re always always there for me,” Frantzdie said of the Barner family. “I’m really thankful.”