High School Volleyball

When football season finally arrived, I found myself on the varsity team. I thought it was going to be a repeat of my past two seasons of me just being another benched player. But I actually started for more than half the season as defensive linemen. Even on games where I didn’t start, I was getting a lot of playing time. That really pushed me to be even better for my senior season.

The softball team has gave me unforgettable friendships, the ability to play with such inspiring athletes, and has given me skills that I can carry on due to coach Sal. The first year I had started on West High’s softball team was sophomore year. I remember going to the try outs, feeling awkward, due to me not being close to any of the girls since we were twelve and eleven. All the girls that were my age, the ones I was friends with when I was younger, were all on varsity. Since it was my first year back as a Falcon, Sal placed me on JV.

The last four years of my high school career have flew by, especially my Girard soccer career. Many memories were made throughout my career from making playoffs my sophomore year to playing my last soccer game on senior night. The endeavor of striving to make playoffs for the first time since the 90’s. I knew after playing my very last soccer game, that I contributed to something that was outstanding for this program. That’s something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Our athletic director got wind and personally drove and picked me up and dropped me off at the site with the rest of my team. It was incredible to see someone go that far out of their way for some scrawny little sophomore who might have gotten moved up to varsity a little too soon. But, I wasn’t the only one would could tell a story similar to that one. That man instilled the passion inside me to try to be close to the man he

Then, tragedy struck the team; three of our fastest girls were injured and out for the season. Now, I wasn’t happy about them being sidelined, but it did finally give me a chance to recover my placement from the beginning of sophomore year. I wanted to help lead the team to state, and with what my coach had previously said, it didn’t appear to be too far out of my reach. However, “too far” should have been followed by an asterisk, as my season soon spiraled out of my

I was so excited for basketball season to come around, I just couldn 't wait! While I was waiting for our instructor for my Phys Ed class, I overheard a conversation between two girls. They were talking about how excited they were to start practicing volleyball, I suddenly got a lump in my throat from being so nervous. I knew nothing about volleyball, but one thing I did know was that the Phys Ed class I was in, wasn 't only for basketball, it was for all sports and because volleyball was the first played sport in our school season, that 's what we would

“Bump, set, spike!” These are the sacred words I longed to yell. I can still remember when I decided to try out for the volleyball team; and on my first ever practice, and I knew then that it wouldn’t be easy to make the team. I was intimidated by all of the taller, and more experienced girls, who played like their lives depended on it.

He is the reason why I became the player I am today. He gave me a shot at something new. Mr. Minnich, I met him the first day of school in 5th period, Freshman English. He was kinda different from Coach Minnich.

But I 've tirelessly played everyday to gain the necessary skill for school volleyball. Different brown hardwood courts, varying bright lights, tall nets, and

With the encouragement of my dad, we decided that it was time for me to move to a team that would face better competition and have players of a similar mindset to myself. In the beginning of 8th grade, I had moved to my first club team after being on a town travel team for four years. While this was the right move for me, it was definitely a shock for me to realize that I was no longer the best on my team. I struggled through multiple winter training and conditioning workouts before the season had begun, though I tried to remind myself that this was only helping me in the end. When the first game of the summer season arrived, I was somewhat surprised to find that I was not in the starting lineup or in the field.

Fortunately, I have seen a lot of success with two school state championships and competing at the nation’s highest level for the club. But this year, having graduated the majority of our school team, we began the season without much collective experience or talent. As the team captain and only returning starter, I knew that leading the team would be a challenge. Previously, I only had to do my job, but now, my maximum effort and personal commitment to perfection were necessary for our team’s success. My integrity on the court in practice and games had to grow this season, and I am incredibly grateful for this team that is so different from others on which I have played.

To make things a bit more complicated my high school coach had been my coach my entire softball career. He knew how I thought, how i played, and really molded me into the player I am today. I soon graduated from my little league summer softball to the competitive nature of highschool ball. As a freshman I knew I was going to be overlooked. Too much of my surprise I was placed on varsity for my pitching abilities.

I will never forget that encounter the intense sun, the endless horizon, the infinite shades of blue that dissolved any boundary between sky and trees. The views were like swimming into a kaleidoscope, deceptively plain "Lake Winaukee" sign on the outside, but a show of colors on the inside, waiting to shock and, mesmerize me. Those colors! Sails on the horizon covered the lake; streaks of sunlight illuminated them, the swaying wildlife creating a dance of rhythm. Beautiful, preserved life synchronizing every movement with the camp sight creating one living entity.

Morgan combined both his love of sports and his creative mind to conjure up a new sport for fitness and fun. In the creation in this sport there has been some ups and downs, but it was executed very well and is now one of the most popular sports in the world because the first two decades following the origin of the game were marked by its rapid spread to Canada, South America, the Orient, Cuba, and Europe.. He has left a legacy because of the sport. It has been played in middle schools and fitness centers. He has earned many achievements such as the William G. Morgan Award that recognizes continuous support and promotion of the national and international growth of the sport of volleyball and the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

The season started out like any other, one week of pain staking agony and push-ups. The constant workouts, sweat, and two hour practices were completely worth the outcome of my last volleyball season. The past four years of my high school career I spent being a member of the volleyball team. But to me, this is not just a team, this is my family.