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Shardonee Hayes
In this Issue
7
10 Questions Blair Brown
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Off to Arizona Shardonee Hayes
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On the Cover John Broussard
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Sister to Sister Helen Snavely
Alabama Alumni Chapter
Columbus High School
Central High School
Brookstone School
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Three Star Lineman Has Bright 22 Future TJ London Carver High School 24 Cross Country Gaining Ground in Popularity Smiths Station High School 26 Coach Recognizes Talent in Young Athlete 28 Kedrick Harvey Chattahoochee County High School
Change of plans pays off for Jordan football player Markus Wright Jordan High School
Sports Zone: Cedric Ware Kendrick High School
Rising Star Jordan and Haley Sturla
Aaron Cohn Middle School
Coach’s Corner Cassia Roper
Calvary Christian School In the Game | 3
October/November 2015
From the Editor
Read more about Markus Wright | page 22
Tell us your thoughts! Email us at info@inthegamemagazine.com to let us know what you thought of the August edition of itg!
While making a purchase recently at a local bakery someone said they couldn’t wait for good football weather. I laugh about it because although high school football games have been going on since late August, it isn’t until this time of year that football fans can begin to trade in their shorts and tshirts for jeans and long-sleeves as game day apparel. Finally, “good” football weather is here! To match the good weather, In The Game High School Sports Magazine has some good stories and features about local fall sports and high school athletes. This may just be a bumper crop year for talented football athletes and in this edition we have three of those guys featured. Seniors John Broussard of Central, Markus Wright from Jordan and TJ London of Carver all have earned a spot in the limelight. Kendrick has a new head football coach who gained
quite a reputation as an outstanding football player himself back in the day. Former Hardaway Hawk Cedric Ware has taken over the reins of the Kendrick program and he is excited about the future of the Cherokees. Be sure to read their stories inside. Fall isn’t all about football. Female athletes are hard at work in the sports of volleyball and softball around the Columbus Valley. Calvary Christian School’s head volleyball coach Cassia Roper runs a successful program at the school which is why ITG is featuring her in this edition. Another volleyball story centers around the unbelievable journey Columbus High School athlete Shardonee’ Hayes has been on which led her to committing to play Division I sports at The University of Arizona. Both coach and athlete are worthy to be featured this fall. In the category of interesting stories, ITG has not one but two articles in this edition about siblings playing sports together. Brookstone senior and pitcher for the Lady Cougars Helen Snavely has been playing softball for most of her life. Along the way, her younger sister became her steady catcher and together the duo is a force for good at Brookstone. The area’s newest middle school, Aaron Cohn Middle School, has another pair of siblings playing sports but this time it is a brother and sister, Jordan and Haley Sturla. While they play on separate teams for the Bulldogs, the Sturlas are soccer athletes who
have played in other places and even in other countries. Soccer is a fall sport for middle schools and these rising stars are taking full advantage of the season. One other fall sport that doesn’t get a lot of attention but is gaining in popularity is Cross Country. ITG offers a special feature this fall on one of the best high school XC programs in our area, the Smiths Station High School Panthers. Ron Peters and Cassidy Stecenko have young athletes this season but both coaches are confident it will be a great experience as they guide their teams in hopes of continuing the winning tradition of the school. Switching back to football for a moment, don’t miss 10 Questions with Blair Brown about the local alumni chapter of the University of Alabama. The organization has raised thousands of dollars in scholarship money for local students as well as gained national awards for excellence. It’s a lot to take in, I know! Because ITG only gets to scratch the surface for local high school sports, maybe it would be a good time to enjoy the great fall weather by taking in a local high school event. It’s always good to be In the Game!
Beth Welch
Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Editors Mark Dykes Sarah Turner Area Editor Beth Welch Graphics Sarah Turner Cover Photography Jerry Christenson Feature Photography Jerry Christenson Feature Writers Robert Preston Jr. Beth Welch Copy Editor James Washington Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes mark@inthegamemagazine.com Rachel Thrasher rachel@inthegamemagazine.com Website Manager Cole Parker
For advertising information call: 888-715-4263
Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, GA 31603 In the Game Columbus Valley is published bimonthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 19451458.
In the Game | 5
October 2015
written by Beth Welch | photos courtesy of Blair Brown
:10 Questions With:
When was the CVBC formed?
Blair Brown | Alabama Alumni chapter
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The Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club was recently named the University of Alabama-National Alumni Association’s National Chapter of the Year (Out-of-State; Large Division). It is the second time in two years the local alumni chapter has received the award. Columbus native and chapter president, Blair Brown, along with Rick Smith, chapter treasurer, accepted the award on behalf of the chapter at an awards dinner this summer sponsored by the University of Alumni Association in Tuscaloosa. In the Game asked Brown ten questions about the local alumni chapter and its role in the community. In the Game: What is the Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club? Blair Brown: The Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club is an official University of Alabama Alumni Chapter. We represent nine counties on behalf of the University. They are: Muscogee, Harris, Troup, Chattahoochee, and Stewart in Georgia; Russell, Lee, Chambers and Randolph in Alabama. We manage nine scholarship endowments with another $1,000,000 endowed. ITG: When did you become involved in the organization? BB: I was asked by the current Board of Directors to come on their team in 2008.
ITG: Did you attend the University of Alabama? BB: No, funny thing is I’m a CSU Alumni (1993). When I was first asked to be the president of this organization, that was my initial response. The reply that I received back from our board was that it made no difference to them. They could see I love the University of Alabama, and that was good enough for them. One thing is that I am heavily involved with UA Athletics and was made an Honorary A-Club Letterman in 2011. It was and is a true honor that the University of Alabama bestowed upon me, and I will always be grateful.
ITG: How many people are members of the CVBC? BB: We have about 400 active members. It’s one of the largest chapters in the country. ITG: Who makes up the Officers and Board of Directors for the organization? BB: We have an awesome team of folks. President: Blair Brown Vice President: Jeff Ezell Treasurer: Rick Smith Secretary: John Freeman Officer-at-large: Sam Ruffner Officer-at-large: Bob English
Officer-at-large: Bill Smith Social Media Manager: Jeremy White The great thing about our group of folks is that our titles are pretty much meaningless. We all work together as a team, and everyone pitches in to get it all done. ITG: What are some of the events the local alumni chapter sponsors each year? BB: We have two primary fundraising dinners each year—one in the spring and one in the fall right before football kicks off. Our chapter also did something unprecedented last year; we
The chapter was known as the Russell/ Muscogee County University of Alabama Alumni Chapter from 1949-2014. In early 2014, our Board of Directors made a request to the University of Alabama for a name change to the Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club. We did this for three main reasons: A) We wanted to truly represent the entire Chattahoochee Valley, including the surrounding counties, because we have folks attend our meetings from all over the Valley area. So, in essence, we went from representing just two counties to nine. In fact, we are the first Alumni Chapter in the history of the University of Alabama to consolidate and represent multiple counties. B) Our chapter wanted to incorporate more scholarship endowments. With the move from Russell/Muscogee UA Alumni Chapter to the Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club made it possible to go from managing one scholarship endowment to now nine scholarship endowments. This is exactly why we do what we do—raising funds for local students to attend the University of Alabama. So it made perfect sense to grow our base and thus increase how many scholarships we can give out to local kids. C) We made the name change because we wanted to be inclusive. Even though we’ve always been open to both UA Alumni and UA fans, the name Russell/ Muscogee UA Alumni Chapter itself suggested that was for alumni only (which is far from the fact.) The Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club name proposes a more open and welcoming name, in our opinion.
In the Game | 7
hosted a reception for all area high school guidance counselors in conjunction with the UA Admissions office. It was a great success. Many area counselors attended and UA Admissions was able to share with them the complete package of everything UA offers students even including the Early Admissions program. Rick Smith (our treasurer) single handedly put this program together, and it is something that we are going to
do every year going forward because it was such an achievement. We also promote game-viewing parties for the local Alabama fans that want to get together and watch the games here in Columbus. ITG: What criteria are used to select the National Chapter of Year (Out-of-State; Large Division)? BB: There were many elements involved, but the main ones were participation, fundraising, com-
munity involvement, promoting the University of Alabama, and scholarship disbursements. ITG: Do alumni members attend many of the Crimson Tide football games as part of the organization? BB: Yes, on occasion of a big game, we will promote a gettogether, either on the quad as a tailgate or a game-viewing party here at a local restaurant.
ITG: What is the best part of being President of the Chattahoochee Valley Bama Club? BB: There have been so many rewarding parts, but if I had to narrow it down to a couple, it would be the community involvement that our group has with Ft. Benning and the awarding of scholarships to local kids.
Personal Bio Name: Blair Brown Hometown: Columbus, Georgia Education: Columbus State University, 1993; Bachelor of Science, Pre-Law Family: Wife, Ashley; daughter, Abby (15); son, Evan (13) Job title/career: Selfemployed. Owner of AllAmerican Recycling, Inc., in Columbus; Executive Secretary for the National Ranger Memorial Foundation, Ft. Benning, Ga. Hobbies/ Leisure activities: Running, reading, and spending time with my family Person you most admire: My wife. She’s pretty much right about everything, and I usually have to admit that (after I’ve knocked around and learned the hard way).
Community involvement: When we have either a spring or fall dinner meeting, we always invite our guest speakers to go over and visit Ft. Benning and our soldiers earlier in the day. This has been nothing but a big win-win for both our guests and the troops! We’ve taken Coach Stallings to the Ranger Training Brigade for the day; Coach Saban visited the National Infantry Museum; AJ McCarron, Kevin Norwood, Blake Sims, and Brian Vogler have been to Bush Holl and got to drive the Bradley tanks; Lee Roy Jordan and Siran Stacy visited the Warrior Transition Battalion Hospital and Airborne School (they even jumped off the 30-foot towers!). Scholarships: This past spring, we not only raised $60,000 for our local scholarship endowments, but we also were able to give out nine scholarships to local kids. To me, there is no better feeling than when we call a parent for one of the kids who is going to receive a scholarship. It really warms your heart to know that you are making a difference in the life of that student and their family. 8
written by Beth Welch | photography by Jerry Christenson
So far, Columbus High School senior Shardonee’ Hayes hasn’t met a challenge she couldn’t eventually master. In a few weeks, Hayes will sign on the dotted line, confirming her verbal commitment to the University of Arizona to play volleyball for the Wildcats. The road to Tucson may have been bumpy at times, but Hayes’ maturity and steady resolve made the journey possible.
Shardonee’
Hayes In the Game | 9
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n order to understand the excitement surrounding Hayes’ signing with a Division I school in the Pacific-12 (Pac-12) Conference, it should be noted that the talented athlete only began playing volleyball four years ago. Although she had been a member of a middle school team prior to her coming to Columbus High, Hayes did not see real playing time until she was a freshman at CHS. Standing 6’3” when barefoot, the 17-year-old has almost always been taller than her peers. She gravitated toward playing basketball because of her height, but the engaging and outgoing young woman quickly acknowledges her heart was not in the game. “I played basketball, but I didn’t really like it. I guess in some ways I kind of got pushed to it because I was tall. When I was going to be a freshman at Columbus, at the volleyball tryout day, the JV tryout day, I fell in love with volleyball,” Hayes says with a smile. It may have been love at first sight, but Hayes’ relationship with volleyball required a lot of work. She made the junior varsity team but quickly realized she was woefully behind with the sport. Every other athlete on her team had skills developed by serious training and hours of court experience. Hayes is something of a maverick when it comes to her life. She specifically chose to attend Columbus High School for two reasons. The first was the academic structure the school is known for, and the second was to separate herself from most of the people she had grown close to in middle school. “I had narrowed it down to two high schools. Most of my friends chose one school. I decided I needed some new experi-
ences. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I liked the challenge of starting over,” she says. That unusual and perceptive decision brought Hayes directly to the door of Columbus head volleyball coach Donna Fleming. Hayes was testing the waters again for something different when she showed up at the JV volleyball tryouts. Fleming, who has a reputation for a successful volleyball program, recognized potential in the inexperienced freshman. “She has really grown into herself. She worked hard. She has tremendous work ethic. She has been fortunate to be surrounded by very talented players. It is very exciting to see her get to this point,” says Fleming. In addition to that maverick spirit, Hayes also possesses a hard-driving competitive streak. Feeling the challenge of playing with more experienced players, she spent hours in the gym on her own time working on her game. Hayes quickly advanced. She played JV her freshman year, but was a starter in the middle position on the varsity team by her sophomore season. The Lady Blue Devils captured the state championship in 2013. And Hayes played every single game along the way. Today’s serious high school athletes often take private lessons or play on traveling teams to enhance skills and gain exposure. Hayes has been a member of a volleyball club in Atlanta for several years. She keeps up an exhausting schedule of playing volleyball almost year-round. During her club season, she will spend three nights a week on the road between home and the Atlanta area. It is a challenge, yet Hayes manages to keep up with the rigorous academic requirements at Colum-
When Hayes gets to Tucson, the former Georgia resident will have family in nearby Phoenix. Her grandparents are making a move to the area for health reasons. The decision to attend the University of Arizona came before she knew about her grandparents’ relocation, but it is just icing on the cake for Hayes, who will not only have family in the area, but will offer her mother a place to stay so she can watch her daughter’s collegiate experience on the volleyball court. 10
bus, maintaining an impressive 3.85 grade point average. Her efforts paid off her sophomore year when she began to garner attention from colleges and universities that sent representatives to volleyball club events. Eventually, she came on the radar of Coach Dave Rubio of the University of Arizona. Last year, Hayes flew to Tucson to visit the campus and check out the Wildcats’ volleyball program. “From the first conversation, I felt comfortable. It was just comfortable. When I went out there, I loved everything about it, and everyone made me feel like I was part of a family,” says Hayes. During her junior year, Hayes verbally committed to Arizona. It was a banner year for her. She was named to the Class AAAAA All-State and 3-AAAAA All-Area teams. She recorded 68 blocks, 29 aces, 451 kills, and 84 digs. She was also named to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s 2014 Bi-City Volleyball Team. The only thing missing from the season was another state championship. The Blue Devils ran all the way up to the playoffs, but came up short in the end. Being state runner-up is no small accomplishment, but Hayes is really looking for a chance to help her team claim the victor’s trophy this season. With her decision about college squared away, Hayes can focus on enjoying her senior year and playing volleyball for the sport. Her plans to head to the Southwest near completion, Hayes acknowledges the journey wouldn’t have been possible if it had not been for those who assisted her along the way. She cites her mother, teammates, and a few others who have been in her corner. One person in particular holds a special place in her heart. “Coach Fleming. She has done so much. She is the one who helped me get on the Atlanta team. She has been there through so many of the struggles and challenges. She was very patient with me as she instructed me in the game,” says Hayes. Stopping for a minute to gather her thoughts, she offers up another thought. “She saw something in me.”
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In the Game | 11
Four-star defensive back from Central-Phenix City is focused on a state title
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written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Jerry Christenson
Things are looking good for the Central High School Red Devils. They’ve got a head coach with a championship résumé in Jamey Dubose. They are coming off their first region championship since 2011. And they’ve got a true game-changing Division I prospect patrolling the secondary, the kind of player who can shut down an opponent and give the Red Devils offense an opportunity to score and score big. John Broussard, a four-star cornerback and one of Alabama’s best players in the state, has started for the Red Devils since he was a freshman. That year, while playing Carver-Montgomery, he ripped a pass out of a receiver’s hands in the end zone to help secure a win for Phenix City. The quarterback who threw the pass? Auburn’s Jeremy Johnson. It’s that kind of playmaking that grabbed everyone’s attention. And he’s been making
big plays ever since. Next year, Broussard will join Johnson at Auburn. He chose the Tigers over a pile of other schools. He had a number of reasons why he decided upon Auburn, but one of the main ones is new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. “He’s a really cool guy. We’ve got a good relationship. He and the rest of the coaches have told me that I could get in there and compete for an opportunity to play early. It’s going to be up to me,” he says. As a junior, Broussard was named All-State and All Bi-City Second Team. According to Max Preps, during the regular season, he totaled 25 tackles and one interception, a pick he returned 67 yards against Smiths Station. So far in 2015 (at the time of this writing, the Red Devils had only played two games), Broussard hadn’t seen much action on his side of the field.
Even though John Broussard has been a starter since he was in the ninth grade, he didn’t realize he could play college football until a year and a half ago. That’s when letters started pouring in from all over. Despite all the offers he had, it was his almost-hometown school that grabbed his attention. “It just feels like a family over there,” he says.
“Nobody has really thrown it my way. I haven’t been targeted yet,” he laughs. Broussard is on a team loaded with top talent. Still, he knows that he will be one of the leaders his teammates will count on. It’s a job that he takes very seriously. The younger kids look up to him, opponents try to neutralize him, fans all want a little of his attention. Broussard, however, just wants to play football. “I know I need to lead the young guys, to encourage them. I also know that I need to play my best and shut down my side of the field,” he says. Writing a story like this isn’t easy. I’m sitting at my computer writing for an edition of a magazine that won’t come out until
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the leaves start changing. And it’s not even Labor Day yet. Broussard doesn’t have many statistics or much game experience in 2015. But neither do his teammates. However, those who have watched him play over the years know how good he is. And they know how driven and determined Broussard is to make the most out of his senior season. A lot of eyes are on him and expectations are high. However, he is more than ready to handle anything that comes his way. “You’ve got to worry about what’s important. You’ve got to keep your head on straight and know what your goals are. And right now, that’s guiding my team to a state championship,” he says. ITG
John Broussard Central High School
In the Game | 13
"
Helen is a very valuable part of our softball program. A lot of our team’s success these past two seasons can be credited in part by her outstanding performance in the circle as well as in the batter’s box.” —Nate McConnell, Brookstone School Head Softball Coach
Helen Snavely
written by Beth Welch | photography by Jerry Christenson 14
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n the world of sports, the relationship between a pitcher and catcher covers more than the distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. The link between the two athletes can often mean the difference between winning and losing. At Brookstone School, Lady Cougars pitcher Helen Snavely, 17, places a lot of trust in her catcher. Their bond is rock solid. That’s because Snavely’s catcher is her younger sister, 15-yearold Katherine Snavely. Both girls got their start playing ball with coach-pitch and t-ball. They moved up through the levels of play until softball took over the top spot of their list of sports. Helen found such an attraction to softball that she has played some form of softball since grade school. Eventually, she signed on to play travel league fast-pitch softball and later joined the softball program at Brookstone. Even then, Helen continued to play with a travel team and still does. Softball is her passion, and it shows. The senior has a lengthy list of accomplishments related to her talents as a fast-pitch softball athlete. She missed her freshman year of play for the Lady Cougars due to a painful injury she suffered in tournament play just prior to the beginning of softball season that year. “I tore the tendon off the bone (of her ring finger) and broke the bone sliding back into first base. I had surgery and rehab from August to about Christmas. It was hard, but I used it to make me work harder to get back in it. My sophomore year, we went to the Elite 8,” she says. Snavely more than made up for it the next two years. Because of her successful comeback and leadership, Snavely was selected the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s 2013 All Bi-City Pitcher of the Year. She was also named All-Region Pitcher of the Year and All West Georgia Pitcher of the Year. The following year, as a junior, Snavely led her team to the Final Four. She once again received numerous awards and recognitions and ended the season with a 7-5 record. The 5’6” right-handed pitcher started out softball career playing third base. During an all-star game when she was younger, she was given the opportunity to try her hand at pitching. It definitely wasn’t the kind of pitching she does today, nor was it particularly pretty; she describes it as a “tossing thing” motion, but it gave her an idea of what she could do. Once she developed into a serious pitcher, Snavely encountered a problem that was remedied by her sister taking over the role of becoming her primary catcher. “Everyone one else was afraid of her. Her breaking pitches hurt their finger, so I was the only person who would catch her,” says Katherine. Together, the two are quite a force to be reckoned with on a softball field. They work well together and have expanded the bond they shared as sisters to include the one they share as
teammates. A pitcher and catcher by definition are completely two different types of athletes with two completely different responsibilities on a field of play. Yet they must work in conjunction with one another in order to be successful. “I think she (Helen) enjoys being able to work with her sister each day. They definitely push each other to work hard and be their best,” says Brookstone softball coach Nate McConnell. Now in his third season as head softball coach and fifth year with the Brookstone program, McConnell thinks the senior’s natural talent and strong work ethic are a winning combination. “Pitching and hitting are her physical strengths. What separates her from other players is the hard work she puts in each day to play this sport at a high level,” McConnell says. The Snavely sisters have taken the pitcher/catcher relationship to heart. While they are close, both on the field and off, the girls are quick to point out everything isn’t good all the time. “Oh, we can be competitive. We get mad about things, but we get over it,” says Helen. When asked if she gets a little tired of hearing the praises of her older sister, Katherine nods her head in agreement. “That’s all I hear is ‘Helen this’ and ‘Helen that’,” she says with a good-natured smile. Softball is not the only sport the elder Snavely participates in at Brookstone. She is a multi-sport athlete with basketball on her play list in the winter and track dominating her spring. Snavely is a long jumper and runs the 100-meter, the 200-meter, and first leg of the 4x100 meter event. When she passes off the baton to the second runner in the 4x100 race, she does so to her sister. All this athletic activity, including travel softball with the Georgia Renegades, leaves Snavely with little free time. She has learned time management is key to maintaining her very active lifestyle and holding up a high academic standard. The senior sports a 3.67 grade point average. Although there has been no decision made about her college plans yet, she has narrowed down her fields of study to either pre-med or veterinary science. Academics have always been important to the Brookstone student, and she feels her school has prepared her well for the pursuit of a college education. She would like continue to play softball and is confident she could manage both classes and sports at the next level. Offers are on the table, but Snavely hasn’t made up her mind about leaving the area or staying close to home. When Snavely graduates, she will leave behind her loyal catcher. The sisters know it will be a difficult transition, but Katherine is at least addressing the inevitable separation with humor. “I may just miss her a little bit,” she says with a laugh. ITG In the Game | 15
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It’s hard to pinpoint T.J. London’s exact weight. He told me he weight 340. However, he has weighed as much as 400 pounds. At that weight, he takes up a lot of real estate but carrying that much weight isn’t good for his long-term health. For much of the year, he’s been working on getting his weight down to a more manageable level, somewhere in the mid300s. No matter how much he weighs, he’s going to be one of the biggest players – if not the biggest – on the field. And that alone gives him a huge – pun intended – advantage.
Three Star Lineman has Bright Future TJ London Carver High School written by Robert Preston | photography by Jerry Christenson The Carver High School Tigers in Columbus are loaded with talent again this year. We’ve already spoken with two of the Tigers Division I prospects – Javontay Smith and Jawon Pass. They aren’t alone in the circus that is major college recruiting. They’ve got a teammate – a really big, really strong teammate – who is ready to take a bite out of opposing offenses. T.J. London, a senior, has been a hot commodity this year. The big defensive lineman has had the attention of college scouts for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is his enormous size. But London is more than just a big kid. He’s fast, athletic, and plays with tremendous intensity. Carver is poised to make a deep playoff run this year and London is one of the reasons why. T.J. London plays on Carver’s defensive line. At his size, he’s almost Carver’s entire defensive line. And yet, he almost wasn’t. London had an eventful summer, transferring for a very brief period to Central High School in Phenix City. Before school began, he decided to return to Carver. The Georgia High School Association ruled him eligible because he never attended classes at Central. So now he’s back with the Tigers. A 6’4”, 340-pound tackle, London is, believe it or not, a former basketball player. “When I got to high school, I played basketball. But I figured that football would take me farther than basketball. I had been playing football for a long time growing up and I loved it. So I concentrated on it,” he says. That was a good move on London’s part. He grew – and I mean really grew –
into an elite-level defensive lineman. A three-star recruit on most recruiting boards, he’s a big, strong kid who moves well and can disrupt the entire offensive line on his presence alone. He finished last year with 68 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, eight forced fumbles, and 13 sacks. London originally committed to Louisville but has since stepped away from the Cardinals. He remains uncommitted to a university and doesn’t have plans to make an announcement any time soon. However, he still has at least eight offers on the table, all from Division I programs. At the moment, he isn’t worried about where he will play in college. He wants to win and he’s willing to do anything it takes to see that happen. “My role this year is to lead my team, do my best, and do whatever it takes to win,” he says. Where does he look when the workouts get tedious and routine monotonous? To the other two young men featured in this space. “They make me work harder. I don’t want anybody outworking me.” A lot has been made of London’s de-committal to Louisville and his flip-flop from Carver to Central back to Carver. In spite of those distractions, London remains committed to Carver’s cause this year, and that’s winning a state championship. Last season was the only year since 2006 that the Tigers played fewer than 13 games. London and his teammates didn’t like the way last year ended and they want to make the most out of their senior season. Especially London, who doesn’t want anything to shift his focus from what he feels is his most important task this season – winning in Week 15. After that, he’ll worry about where he will play his college football. Until then, he wants to win each game each Friday night. All the way into December. ITG
In the Game | 17
Cross Country Gaining
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The week before school starts, many high school seniors’ last-minute “to do” list includes sleeping late, eating way more junk food than usual, and just hanging out. It probably doesn’t include spending time in the broilinghot sun, unless a pool or beach is part of the picture. Jacob Crouch of Smiths, Alabama, spent the week prior to the start of school doing just the opposite. In fact, Crouch, 18, spent many weeks over his summer vacation rising early, eating properly, and running in temperatures that started off in the 80s and raced to the 90s by 10 a.m. Crouch is a member of the Smiths Station High School Cross Country program. One of only three seniors on the boys’ team, Crouch has been running for the Panthers since the seventh grade. “I guess I really got started running because of my brother. He ran cross country, and I saw him doing it and wanted to try it for myself. I used to play soccer, but I gave it up to run. It was that important to me,” says Crouch. Some schools are known for particular sports programs. While high school athletic departments strive to build strong programs in every sport, somehow, some schools gain the reputation of having the best (fill in the blank with a sport)_______ team in the area. When the talk turns to high school cross country teams, Smiths Station High School is one of the leaders in
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in popularity @ Smiths Station High School written by Beth Welch | photography by Jerry Christenson
the pack. Located outside of Phenix City, Alabama, in the small rural town of Smiths, SSHS earned its early bragging rights with its cross country and track programs under the direction of J.D. Evilsizer. When he accepted a position with Columbus State University’s athletic department as head of the cross country and track and field programs, the leadership of the Panthers’ boys program was handed off to Ronald Peters for the 20062007season. Since that time, Peters has produced a program that has made great strides in the sport of high school cross country. Under his watch, his teams were cross country sectional champions or runnersup every year from 2006 to 2014, have had 40-plus AllSection team members, and qualified for every state championship in that same time period. The boys’ teams have
had two third-place teams and five top 5 teams with 10 AllState individuals. In addition, the SSHS boys cross country teams have been invited and participated in important meets in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. This season, SSHS boys and girls XC programs are topheavy with young runners. According to Cassidy Stecenko, head coach for the girls cross country team, the returning runner on her team with perhaps the most potential is only in middle school. “I’m returning Saache Ensley, who is an eighth-grader, and I believe that she will be a dominant runner this year. She has worked hard all summer and I think she will surprise a lot of people,” says Stecenko. Now in her 12th year as a coach at the school, 11 of which she has been head of the girls’ program, Stecenko is a product of the Panthers cross country program herself.
She began running as a senior under the guidance of Coach Evilsizer and says she fell in love with the sport. Her passion for cross country is only heightened by the fact that she gets to coach at her former high school. Stecenko has approximately 30 athletes in her program. Some are mid-distance and sprinters but she plans to have each one compete in some cross country races this season despite their young age and inexperience in the sport. “We are a very young team. The girls have been training hard over the summer but because they are young, they lack experience. I believe that they will grow as an athlete as the season progresses, and gain the confidence needed to be a successful runner,” she says. The boys team has three seniors, two of which are experienced XC runners. Crouch’s best time last year
was 17:01, and he is hoping to shave off a few seconds for a lower personal best before the season ends in November. The 6-foot-tall runner is also a
member of Peters’ track and field team. Crouch normally runs the 800-meter, mile, and two-mile events. This past spring, Crouch missed participating in track and field due to an injury all too common among runners: stress fractures in his foot. He
ran for weeks without any pain or knowledge of the injury, but once the damage was discovered, it was severe. “I was basically one step away from having to have staples. It was multi-layered breaks that kept me out from February to June,” says Crouch. Getting back to running was a slow, deliberate process. Basically, the best way to heal stress fractures is time. According to Peters, the character of Crouch was revealed during this recovery period. “He has determination, endurance, and mental toughness,” says Peters of Crouch. Other seniors are Kole Kellerman and Brannen Long. Kellerman ran varsity last season, while Long will have his first season on the varsity team this fall. Filling out the ranks of the team are seven juniors, nine sophomores, and 12 freshmen. “We have a lot of young talent that will just need to be ‘seasoned’,” Peters says of his 2015 program. Peters doesn’t deny the
Panthers have a reputation for producing good runners, but he quickly attributes the success of the program to one important factor. “Work. Hard work. We have instilled an attitude of reaching greatness through hard work. To keep the tradition alive, we all must practice and do all the little things necessary to allow us to achieve our best. We train using a combination of the latest techniques and tried philosophies of distance training. We also incorporate lots of medical and technical knowledge to allow the athletes the opportunity to train properly. Sports science, biology, and anatomy are the base of our training philosophy,” he says. Stecenko attributes the reputation the SSHS cross country programs have for being successful to following some basic principles. “Commitment and discipline. In order to be a great athlete, it takes commitment and discipline. I think that our athletes know what we expect from them, and in order to be
successful, they have to be willing to put in 110 percent every day,” she says. Both coaches feel the sport of cross country running is a good fit in athletic programs for high schools. Many schools in the area are seeing an influx of students participating in the sport, making it another option for athletes who do not try out for traditional fall sports. “It is probably one of the purest sports, using your entire body and mind. It allows for kids who don’t ‘fit’ the typical power sports body (i.e. football, basketball, baseball). We can help mold a kid into a very healthy and athletic individual. Runners can be doing this sport for their entire life,” says Peters. Stecenko agrees, adding, “I think that all sports teach you discipline, commitment, and teamwork. I believe running is considered a lifelong sport. No matter your ability level, running is for all ages.” ITG
Coaches assisting with the Girls XC program are Katie Dougherty and Markita James Coaches assisting with the Boys XC program are Jonathon Fischer and Tim Loreman. In the Game | 19
Coach recognizes talent in young athlete 20
Kedrick Harvey//Chattahoochee County High School written by Beth Welch| photography by Jerry Christenson
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ne of the benefits of having a middle school on the same campus as a high school is the chance to transition students to the next level in an already familiar environment. An interesting aspect of this process sometimes allows high school coaches a preview of athletic talent coming from middle school sports programs. That is what happened last year at Chattahoochee County Middle/ High School in Cusseta. Josh Kemp returned to the school where he had coached in previous years. He took over the reins of the football program at the high school, which also included a junior varsity team. At ChattCo, sometimes middle school athletes are allowed to participate on junior varsity teams. That is how Kemp first noticed eighth-grader Kedrick Harvey, who was “playing up” on the JV football team. “We knew right from the beginning that he was going to be something special. He is a great kid and has the right things to be something really good for us,” says Kemp. Harvey has played football for just about as long as he can remember. Standing 6’0” tall and weighing 254 pounds, the freshman says he has always been a big kid, and for this reason, he has spent most of his time on the gridiron playing guard. For the 2014 football season, he played on both the middle school and JV teams, where Kemp and his staff used the opportunity to take a good look at Harvey’s abilities. What Kemp discovered is that Harvey is coachable beyond measure. “He has great feet and is very
smart, but his work ethic is what made him stand out. He is smart, and he is ready to do whatever we ask. You couldn’t ask for anyone better to be on your team,” Kemp says. The Panthers’ head coach moved Harvey from guard to center this fall. Kemp’s reasoning behind the move is that Harvey is a “leader and intelligent.” While the freshman is young and inexperienced as a center, leadership and intelligence are two qualities Kemp feels are necessary for an athlete to be effective at the position. When asked what he loves about football, Harvey grins broadly. He has a warm, engaging, and affable nature. This easy-going personality belies a true offensive lineman’s heart. Harvey is willing to play wherever his coach tells him to play, but he doesn’t deny that he absolutely loves the physical side of the offensive line. “Hitting. Blocks. Just the contact. That’s the thing I enjoy most of all. At guard, it was the blocks. Pancake blocks…yeah, those,” he says, smiling. With the move to center, Harvey had to research the position a bit to become more knowledgeable. He knew what his role would be, but he wanted to be ready to take on his new job. Harvey’s father also offered some advice by telling his son the center was everything the name implied and was a big role to undertake. “I have to focus more being at center. (Team quarterback) CJ (Afoa) and I are friends, so that’s good. I’m comfortable with him,” says Harvey. The freshman has played baseball and basketball in addition to
football, but no other sport means as much to him as football. He has already decided to focus solely on football in order to continue to improve his game. Harvey doesn’t like to talk about himself too much. He prefers to give credit to other talented and more experienced players on his team. When pressed, he knows he has some qualities that will be helpful to his team as he grows into his high school football experience. “I am strong. I’ve got pretty good strength. I guess I am steady under pressure, too. I don’t usually get upset when things are not good. I guess that helps. And I like Coach Kemp’s way of coaching. I can understand what he is telling me, so I can do what he expects me to do out there,” Harvey says. Kemp recognizes those same strengths in Harvey, too. He also adds his starting center has great size for someone his age. Harvey just turned 14 in July. It’s safe to say he probably has some more growing to do over the next few years. Kemp hopes to capitalize on Harvey’s “great hands and great feet” on the football field during that process. This football season is an exciting time for the freshman. He isn’t looking ahead too much, because he feels his team has some real challenges among some of the opponents they will face this fall. Learning his way around the varsity program is all that he has plans for right now. The future will take care of itself, but according to Harvey’s coach, it looks pretty promising. “He has the chance to be the greatest offensive lineman I have ever coached,” says Kemp. ITG
In the Game | 21
Markus Wright
Jordan High School
For the past two years Markus Wright has been asked basically just one question. “Why Jordan?” To understand the reason for this, a little background is in order.
Change of plans pays off for Jordan football player
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written by Beth Welch | photography by Jerry Christenson Wright is a senior at Jordan Vocational High School. The 18-year-old has made a verbal commitment to the University of California (Berkley) to play football beginning next season. According to Jordan’s head football coach, Jim Brown, Wright is the first football athlete from the school to commit to play for a Division I college in years. “We are not sure but it has been decades, we think. There was a player who went to junior college and then went on to Division I play but straight from high school, it may have been close to 50 years. At least since the 70’s or 80’s,” says Brown.
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To say that Wright has created a lot of buzz is an understatement. It has been a wave of excitement for the Red Jackets’ football program ever since Wright arrived on the scene as a rising junior. Knowing that the promising college prospect specifically chose the school among many other options has only added to the interest. Back in middle school, Wright played football at Arnold Middle School. He probably would have moved on to Jordan as a freshman since he resides in the Jordan High School zone but a close family friend was planning on attending a local private school. Wright went there, too. Always an excellent student, Wright found the academic standard at the school suited him. He played football on varsity as an outside linebacker and defensive end. He even tried a season of basketball as a freshman. Wright had no issues with the school or athletic programs but he kept having a feeling he wasn’t in the right place for him to be seen as a viable football recruit. During his sophomore year Wright made a decision to leave. He had come to realize he had the talent to play football at the college level and he wanted to be in a program where he would not only be groomed for that end but also be a major contributor to a team. He finished the school year with a pretty good idea of where he wanted to start in the fall. Wright had done his homework and after gaining the support and approval of his mother, he started a new chapter in his life at Jordan High School. There are always rumors and speculation when a promising
athlete changes schools and athletic programs. Wright’s situation was no different in that regard. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound exceptional student athlete had a world of opportunities available to him including schools with established winning football programs. So, the question then and even to this day, is, “Why Jordan?” “People, like have this messed up perception about Jordan. They think it’s a really bad school but then when you get here, you find out they have these amazing teachers, amazing faculty and these amazing students and everything. People don’t know that I take all college classes here. I take all advanced classes. I’m dualenrolled through Columbus Tech so I am already like a college sophomore now. I’m still getting my education,” says Wright. For the record, Coach
Brown says no one from Jordan ever approached Wright about attending the school. Brown had noticed Wright and the athlete’s exceptional gridiron capabilities during “7 on 7” with Wright’s previous school but had no idea he was looking for a change. “We never recruited him,” states Brown, simply. As far as Wright was concerned, Jordan was the school closest to his home and he had heard about the football program under Coach Brown’s direction. Wright felt the Red Jackets football team was on the verge of growing into something special and he wanted to be a part of it. “It’s harder to get recruited from a one A private school than it is to get recruited from a AAA school. I knew playing at the next level was what I wanted to do and playing at a small school wouldn’t get me there. And, I knew that the
program was developing and I wanted to be a part of that so I would be known as the guy who helped develop it,” he says. Once the move was made and Wright was officially a student at Jordan, he began to search for a college which would be the right fit for him. He had been gaining notoriety on the football field during his junior season, especially after Brown shifted Wright to offense. That move did more than change Wright to another side of the ball, it gave him a whole new perspective. Wright says he had always wanted to play offense but ever since he was the overweight kid playing rec league football, he had been cast as a defensive player. Brown sought to change that because Wright was just built for the Red Jacket offense. “He has big hands, soft hands for catching the ball.
He’s a natural for it. Initially, he was nervous but I think it was at Hardaway when he caught a touchdown that he knew he could do it,” says Brown. From the beginning, Brown says Wright has had no desire to be the center of attention but has worked tirelessly to improve. The payoff for that effort has been 10 college offers. Wright chose to play in the PAC-12 Conference as a middle linebacker, outside linebacker or strong safety for the UC Berkley Golden Bears but the primary reason for the selection, he says, is the school’s education standards. It was a big decision over two years ago for a young athlete to leave a comfortable environment in the hopes of securing a better chance for a future of his own design. Looking back, does Wright have any regrets? “Not one,” he says, smiling broadly. ITG
In the Game | 23
October/November 2015
Kendrick High School
Interview & Photography by Beth Welch
Sports Zone The beginning of the school year introduced some new coaching faces around the Columbus Valley. All sports have seen a few changes in coaching personnel at local high schools, but it seems none more so than football. Long-time Kendrick High School head football coach Jerry Dukes announced his retirement before the end of the previous school year. Dukes’ successor was named in April, and those who have followed high school football in this area for a number of years might recognize the person who has taken over the reins of the Cherokees’ program. Cedric Ware, a 2002 Hardaway High School graduate and collegiate athlete who spent a little time with the Columbus Lions organization, is Kendrick’s new head football coach. In the Game asked Ware a few questions about his first season at Kendrick.
In the Game: When did you begin your coaching career? Cedric Ware: I began my coaching career in 2008 at Opelika High School. ITG: When did you officially take over the position of head coach at Kendrick High School? CW: I officially accepted (the job) to be the head football coach at Kendrick High School on April 1, 2015. ITG: Do you coach any other sports or teach any classes? CW: I coach football and teach health and physical education. ITG: Where did you coach prior to Kendrick? CW: I coached football, track, and one year of basketball during my three years at Opelika High School. I coached football and track at Fort Middle School for two years, and I also coached football and track at Aaron Cohn Middle School for two years. ITG: Who are the coaches who make up your football coaching staff? CW: Collins Jones, Antron Murray, 24
Tommy Casciaro, Kadale Jenkins, Sheldon Mays, Demetrius McClellan, and Art Thompson. ITG: How many returning starters do you have on the varsity team? CW: We have four returning starters. ITG: Do you have some athletes to watch this season? CW: Walter Boze (RB/WR/DB), Kayleem Bonds (LB/RB), Rickey Owens (FB/DL), Cincere Sellars (SS/WR), and DeAndre Singelton (OL) ITG: What do you feel sets your program at Kendrick apart from other high school programs? CW: My vision for the Kendrick High School football program is to create an atmosphere and environment for all players to be successful. Our program will provide academic support for each student-athlete and prepare young men for life after football. Our program will teach young men how to give championship effort on the field, in the classroom, in the weight room, and in the community. The players will have a sense of ownership to the program and hold
themselves and teammates accountable for their actions. Being a part of a team is being a part of something greater than themselves. When the team is successful, our young men are successful, and when our young men leave they will remember those important values and display them for the rest of their lives. ITG: Did you set any goals prior to the beginning of football season? CW: Have the highest cumulative GPA amongst all sports teams at Kendrick High School. 100% graduation rate for all football players. Create a competitive mentality and winning attitude amongst our players. Have a winning record for our varsity and junior varsity Football. Qualify for the 2015-16 Georgia 3-A State Playoffs. ITG: What is the best thing about coaching and teaching at Kendrick High School? CW: I have only had the pleasure of working with our principals, fellow coaches, and student-athletes throughout the summer. But the best thing about them is their competitive edge and their willingness to help.
Personal Bio Name: Cedric Ware Age: 30 Family: Wife, Dr. Nylvia Ware and daughter, Gabriella Ware Hometown: Columbus, Georgia Education: Hardaway High school, Fort Valley State University, Concord University and Columbus State University B.A., Health and Physical Education M.A., Health and Physical Education Past Sports or athletic history: Coaching Highlights Opelika High School Football: Region 6-AAAAA Playoffs (20082011) Opelika Track: Boys Sectional Champions (2008-2010) 8 Boys Track and Field State Champs 2.100 meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, 4x100-meter, 2x Long Jump, 3200-meter run 2 Girls Track and Field State Champs 100-meters, 3200-meter run Fort Middle School: Football Divisional Champions (2001, 2012) Fort Middle School: Track and Field Boys City Championship (2013) Fort Middle School: Track and Field Girls City championship (2013)
Aaron Cohn Middle School: Track and Field Girls City Championship (2014) Aaron Cohn Middle School: Track and Field Girls City Championship (2015) Football/Track Career Profile as an Athlete AFL 2, Columbus Lions: 32 Tack, 5 Ints, 12 Pass break-ups, 1 TD Fort Valley State University: 113 Tack, 13.5 TFL, 4 Sacks, 5 Ints, 7 Pass break-ups, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recovery, PreSeason All-Conference (2004-2005) 2x SIAC Defensive Player of the Week, East Coast Senior Bowl Concord University: 56 Tack, 3.3 TFL, 1 Int, 9 Pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble, 6 Punt returns, 1 kick return, WVIAC All-Conference, WVIAC conference freshman, WVIAC All Conference Track and WVIAC Long Jump Champion Positions you hold at Kendrick High School: Teacher, Head Football Coach Favorite Pastime: Playing with my daughter, Gabriella Person you most admire: The person I admire the most is my father (Stan Ware). He has always been someone I look up to because of his determination, his work ethic, and his commitment to his family. He is a Godly and respectable man, and I pray that I can be the same.
In the Game | 25
Siblings find soccer to be worldly venture
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occer is a sport that is growing in popularity, even in places where football and other traditional sports are more prominent. For Haley and Jordan Sturla, soccer is the sport in their lives, which may be due in part to the fact that the two middle-school athletes have lived in countries where soccer was the sport to follow. Haley, 12, and Jordan, 13, are seventh and eighth-graders (respectively) at Aaron Cohn Middle School in Midland. As the older of three children in a military family, the Sturlas have been fortunate to travel to many places outside of this country due to their father’s service in the U.S. Army. Croatia and Indonesia are just two of the stops the teens have called home. Soccer in those countries, and other foreign places, is not just a pastime.
“In Croatia, they are serious about soccer,” says Haley. Nodding in agreement, her older brother adds that soccer isn’t just a game, it is the national sport in many instances. “People follow it like football here. You go in places to eat and soccer is always on the television,” he says.
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written by Beth Welch | photography by Jerry Christenson The Sturlas began playing soccer before they ever lived abroad. When Haley was 3 years old and her brother was 4, they had their first experience with the sport while living in North Carolina. According to both of them, it was something they loved from the beginning. “Back then, you were basically just running around after the ball and learning a few basics, but it was what I wanted to do,” Haley says. She tried softball and gymnastics, but never felt the same way about those ventures as she did about soccer. Even though she was young, she decided soccer was going to be the focus of her athletic endeavors, and she has stuck to that plan. Jordan Sturla also has made soccer the sole sport in which he participates at this point in his life. The 5’9” athlete is a left striker for the Aaron Cohn Bulldogs boys soccer team. He confesses he loves his position on the field for one particular reason. “I get to score,” he says with a smile. The Sturla siblings moved outside of the United States for a few years and later returned to North Carolina. From their time on foreign military bases, they both had a desire to delve more into the techniques of soccer because of the passion they saw firsthand for the sport in other lands. They worked on their skills by playing club soccer, but did not play on school teams until they arrived at Aaron Cohn Middle School for the 2014-15 school year. Haley, a bit shorter than her brother at 4’9”, plays center mid for the ACMS girls soccer team. She feels the position is perfect for her, because she gets to control the center and help her teammates. While Jordan is a talented athlete who has a self-imposed dedication to the sport, he says he has found soccer to be more than just a physical game. “When I am playing soccer, it gets my mind off of everything. I can forget whatever else is on my mind and focus on what I need to be doing with the ball; where it needs to go, what I need to do to help my team. I just focus on that,” says Jordan. The Sturlas have played together on co-ed teams in the past and with prompting, admit a little sibling rivalry might have existed. Laughing, they acknowledge they are brother and sister after all, and it is normal to get on each other’s nerves occasionally. These days, they play on separate teams, and often at the same time, which doesn’t allow for much cheering for one another. Close together in age, as well as being part of a family who has made multiple moves over time, has produced a bond between the two siblings. This aspect of their relationship is evident when asked about the strengths each has on the soccer. “Jordan is better at passing and shooting the ball. When I watch him play and see his mistakes, I tell him, but I learn from them and try to do better by watching him,” says Haley. “She is faster. Haley is a faster runner. I try to watch her game if I am not playing, but most of the time my games are the same time as hers,” says Jordan. As if playing soccer at the middle school level didn’t provide enough of the sport, the Sturlas are members of Columbus Futbol Club (CFC) Red Star. The young athletes play soccer for the Bulldogs while simultaneously playing with Red Star, and their soccer experience also extends past the middle school fall sport season. The Sturlas expect to remain in the area for a few more years
before their father receives another military posting. Exceling in the classroom as well, they have given a little thought to high school but know they are looking for a school where they can continue to develop their skills and pursue their passion for the sport of soccer. For now, they are more interested in the soccer season at hand. “We really like it here. The coaches help us a lot, and I have found that my teammates are willing to pass the ball around. I just want to represent my school and do a good job,” says Jordan. Waiting for her brother to finish speaking, Haley Sturla then adds her sentiments. “The coaches encourage us. I have found my teammates don’t argue among each other. We work together. We’ve found it to be a good program here,” she says. ITG
In the Game | 27
Calvary Christian
Calvary Christian Volleyball Coach Has Championship Résumé as Player and Coach written by Robert Preston Jr. | photos by Jerry Christenson
Coach Roper played with three of her four sisters at some point during high school. What about the fourth? She won’t get the chance to play with her youngest sister. But she is coaching her. Leah, 15, is a sophomore at Calvary and one of Roper’s players. Leah is in her first year at Calvary and being able to coach her sister is something very special to Coach Roper. With the uncertainty surrounding her future, there’s no telling where Roper may end up coaching and teaching. But if she has it her way, she’ll be at Calvary for at least two more years. “I’d love to see my sister graduate. I hope that will happen,” she says.
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hampionships. They aren’t the end all, be all for high school players and coaches. Plenty of great athletes and those who coach them never win a title of any kind. Then there are few fortunate souls who seem to be title magnets. They win no matter where they are, no matter what they do. Calvary Christian head volleyball coach Cassia Roper is one of those individuals. During her playing career, she won three state championships and one national title. As a coach, she has won a fourth state title and finished runner-up three times. That’s not a bad resume, especially considering that Roper isn’t even a fulltime volleyball coach. Her daytime job? She’s a cosmetologist at a local salon. Her resume is impressive for a coach who has been in the sport for 20 or 30 years. But for a part-time coach who works as a cosmetologist – you’ve got to be kidding, right? Coach Roper grew up in Columbus. For her first three years of high school, she attended Christian Heritage Academy, where she had the privilege of play-
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ing with three of her four sisters. While at CHA, she picked up two state titles and a national championship. Her senior year, she moved to Calvary Christian School, where she helped guide her new team to a state championship. Coach Roper received a scholarship to play volleyball at Queens University in Charlotte. During her club season before she reported to college, she blew out her knee and was unable to continue her career. Instead, she opted to attend Auburn University, where she began coaching at Calvary Christian School. After three years at Auburn, she transferred to Columbus State to be closer to her volleyball team. Roper graduated from CSU in December with a degree in English literature. She is about to begin working on her master’s degree and she hopes to one day teach. At the moment, though, she is working at a local salon and coaching the Calvary Christian volleyball team, something she has done for the last six years (two as an assistant, four as head coach). The key to Calvary Christian’s consistent success is, according to Roper, the
work ethic of the kids in the program. “We don’t have the tallest or fastest kids out there. But our kids want to work. Almost all of them play club ball and are on the court year ‘round. That’s really benefitted the program,” she says. Calvary Christian won its last state title in 2011. In 2010, 2012, and 2014, the team finished runner-up in the state. At the time of this writing, Calvary Christian was 9-3 and competing favorably with the other teams in the region. “I feel like that, as much as our girls push themselves, we will have a chance at the end of the season. Our team is young but driven. We’re going to have a shot,” she says. Over the years, Coach Roper’s approach to coaching has changed. Of course winning is definitely a goal but that’s not necessarily what she stresses. Instead, Roper approaches her craft with a point of view that she learned from former Auburn volleyball coach Liz Underwood. “I heard her say something two years ago. She said that coaching is about teaching the kids to compete at their best and to perform on the court. I tell them that I want them to go out there and play their best and give it everything they have. If they can walk off the court satisfied with how they played, I’m OK with that win or lose. But if they go out there and play as hard as they can, the wins will take care of themselves,” she says. As for what the future holds, Coach Roper takes things year by year. Given her work and class schedule, everything is up in the air and subject to change at any minute. However, she loves being at Calvary Christian and would like to stay for there for as long as possible. “It’s like a family here. They welcomed me as a senior and they’ve done the same thing for me as a coach. I’m not at all opposed to staying here at all,” she says. ITG