JCHS BOYS VOLLEYBALL

HITI GUPTA, staff writer

The Boys Volleyball Team has been at Johns Creek for eight years and, since its formation, has become a force to be reckoned with across the state. In 2014, Ms. Clowe and former coaches Pia and Stephens set out to start the boy’s volleyball team. The club was started to address the lack of a boys team and to help boys in the school find their niche. Since early on, the club has connected with boys volleyball supporters across the nation and locally. An example of this is A-5 club volleyball, which provides practice space to the team and connects them with teams across the state to provide “high-level competition.” The club is now overseen by Coach Clowe and has about 20 members. Like many other sports, the Boys Volleyball Team took a serious hit during Covid. Many schools shut down their teams and players stayed home due to online school. However, the team made a comeback and was back at state, earning second place two years in a row. The Boys Volleyball Team is the only one in the Fulton County school system and, over the years, became one of the best teams in the state,competing in the state finals nearly every year. In 2017, the boys volleyball team won the state championship and were runner-ups in 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2021. The team practices three times a week during the season and starts competing right after the basketball team finishes up their season. Gladiator Army and the Girls Volleyball Team were key supporters of the team last year. Oftentimes during practice, Coach Clowe reminds her team “ how you practice is how you play.” When asked what she hopes for the team to achieve she stated “my biggest hope for achievement is to get sanctioned by the Georgia High School Sports Association”, by getting sanctioned the team can start receiving funding. Another goal Coach Clowe has is to go back to the state championship.When asked what motivates the team to continue, Coach Clowe mentioned that for her, it is the importance the club has to many players. As for the students, it is often their first home at school. Over the years, the team has become a second family to many and for Coach Clowe, the players are like her children. Some of her fondest memories are seeing players getting recruited for something they are passionate about. The team is open to those familiar and unfamiliar with the sport and is open to anyone looking to join.