Volleyball Girls

Finish the Season Strong

and Proud

            With a new coach and a fresh look, the Lady Cat volleyball team went into their new season hopeful of growth and improvement. Come to think of it, that’s basically all you can look for in a sport that’s not even spent a decade in Tom Bean’s athletic program. Some may be critical of the Lady Cats; saying that they haven’t performed well because there’s not much in the win column. Well, if winning is all you are concerned about, then go right ahead. But, I will tell you that high school sports are not just about the amount of W’s on the board. It’s about building character and respect for yourself, your teammates, and your school. If you watched these girls play, then you could not question the heart and determination they have.

            I have always been taught that if you can get something out of the sport you play, then you have won. This year, the volleyball girls continued to grow and gain experience in the newest sport at Tom Bean High School.

“Well, the entire season was a building process. We installed the basic components of fundamental volleyball. We’re just going to continue to build for, probably, the next three years; that’s before we get to a position where I think we’re stable,” said Coach Karen Hodgdon when asked what she could take out of this season that was positive.

            This is very positive for an entire athletic program that is working towards the future. All of the coaches are striving to build not just one individual program, but all of them. Coach Hodgdon knows volleyball, and is the ideal candidate to coach a program that needs an experienced leader. As the years progress, watch for young, seasoned players to rise up through each grade as they improve their volleyball skills.

            So, how do the current players feel? What was the season like for them?

“This year, I thought that we played more as a team, which got us a lot farther because we won five more games than we did last year. We also won more matches in district, so there was definitely some improvement,” said senior Lindsey Lacy. It is always important to come together as a team. Individual performances are important, but they do nothing if there’s no team chemistry. Again, this will improve with growth. As younger players grow in the sport, they will form bonds with others. Sustaining these bonds will be a huge task if the Lady Cats are to have a better future.

            With volleyball gone, the focus shifts to basketball. I think its safe to say that as far as growth is concerned, the volleyball girls are district champs.