SPORTS

Going Out on Top: Nichols retiring as Mountain Brook volleyball coach after backto-back state titles. Page 22

Winter Sports Playoff Recap. Page 23

‘BEST ALLAROUND’ Versatile McKinnon Earns OTM Volleyball Player of the Year Honor

By RuBin E. GRant

The stream of accolades coming in for Hoover junior volleyball player Rya McKinnon has become a flood. Recently, VolleyballMag.com named McKinnon to its high school All-American first team. The Over the Mountain area high school volleyball coaches also just voted her the 2020 OTM Player of the Year. Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry

So, what does McKinnon think of all these honors that have come her way?

“It makes me feel really good and it really humbles me,” McKinnon said. “It makes what I put into it worthwhile.”

McKinnon, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, recorded 594 kills, 267 digs, a 2.32 passer rating and 50

‘I heard someone say when your best player is one of your best people, you’re in good shape.’

HOOVER COACH CHRIS CAMPER TALKING ABOUT RYA McKINNON

aces while helping Hoover post a 50-1 record and capture the Class 7A championship, the first state volleyball title in school history.

“I heard someone say when your best player is one of your best people, you’re in good shape,” Hoover coach Chris Camper said. “Rya is a great human being. She is very unselfish and as a volleyball player, she’s the best at whatever she’s doing on the court at that moment. She’s the best passer, the best setter, the best server, the best hitter and the best defender. She’s the baseball equivalent of a fivetool player. I think she’s the best all-around player in Alabama.” Thursday, January 28, 2021 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Hoover junior Rya McKinnon, 5-foot-9 outside hitter, recorded 594 kills, 267 digs, a 2.32 passer rating and 50 aces while helping the Bucs post a 50-1 record and capture the Class 7A championship, the first state volleyball title in the school’s history.

2020 OTMJ ALL-OTM VOLLYEBALL TEAM

OUTSIDE HITTERS Rya McKinnon, 5-9, Jr., Hoover Audrey Rothman, 6-4, Jr., Spain Park Cecile Field, 5-9, Sr., Mountain Brook Sydney Melton, 5-8, Sr., Hoover Landry Frisch, 5-10, Sr., Oak Mountain

MIDDLE HITTERS Gabrielle Essix, 6-3, Sr., Hoover Greer Golden, 6-0, Jr., Mountain Brook Olivia Brown, 6-0, Jr., Homewood Kalia Todd, 6-0, Sr., Altamont

SETTERS Aly Durban, 5-7, Sr., Hoover Hannah Parant, 6-0, Fr., Mountain Brook

LIBERO/DS Evelyn King, 5-7, Sr., Mountain Brook Amelia Regusa, 5-6, Sr., John Carroll Catholic Sarah Smith, 5-6, Sr., Homewood

Player of the Year — Rya McKinnon, Hoover Coach of the Year — Chris Camper, Hoover

Camper was voted the 2020 OTM Coach of the Year for leading Hoover to its state title after the Bucs lost their first match of the season and then reeled off 50 consecutive victories.

“I appreciate it,” Camper said of the honor. “It’s a great feeling for myself and all the girls. We had a talented team and they dedicated themselves and put everything they had into the season.”

That last comment certainly describes McKinnon, who has been on the Bucs’ varsity since she was in the eighth grade. Her motor never stops running when she’s on the court.

“I play with a lot of passion and aggression,” McKinnon said. “I love to hit and get a kill and see everyone get excited. I’m not the tallest player, but I play like a big player.”

McKinnon has been playing volleyball since the third grade. She also plays for the NASA Volleyball Club.

“I used to do gymnastics, but I was way too tall for that,” she said with a laugh. “I just love volleyball.”

McKinnon is thrilled the Bucs finally won a state championship, especially for Hoover’s eight seniors.

“This season was mostly about our hard work and dedication,” McKinnon said. “We See ALL OTM, page 22

Sean Calhoun

Following a Legend Calhoun Ready to Start Journey of Replacing Anderson as Vestavia Hills Football Coach

By RuBin E. GRant

Sean Calhoun wasn’t thinking about replacing a legend when he began the process of becoming Vestavia Hills’ next head football coach.

“My wife, Kellie, and I follow the Lord, and the Lord put Vestavia Hills in our lap,” Calhoun said. “It was not something on See CALHOUN, page 22

From Cheering to Soaring Spartans’ Scott Reaching New Heights During Indoor Track Season

By RuBin E. GRant

Mountain Brook senior Grayson Scott literally went from cheering to soaring.

After being cut from the Mountain Brook cheerleading squad toward the end of her freshman year, Scott jumped right into track.

Two months after her cheerleading days ended, Scott won the Class 7A state high jump title, clearing 5 feet, 4 inches in the 2018 Alabama High School Athletic Association

Journal photo by Jordan Wald Grayson Scott cleared 5 feet, 8 inches in the high jump in the Icebreaker Invitational indoor track meet on Jan. 8 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The mark tied the school’s girls record and broke the CrossPlex record.

Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

“After I got cut, I had to throw myself into track,” Scott said. “Getting cut turned out to be the best thing that happened for me.”

Scott has continued to soar since then. She cleared 5 feet, 8 inches in the high jump in the Icebreaker Invitational indoor track meet on Jan. 8 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The mark tied the school’s girls record and broke the CrossPlex record. At the time, it was the top girls mark in the event in the nation, but now it ranks third.

“That was pretty cool,” Scott said of having the top jump in the nation for a while.

She also won the triple jump at the Icebreaker with a jump of 33 feet, 1.5 inches. Five days later, she won both events at the Hump Day Octameet, hosted by Mountain Brook on Jan. 13 at the CrossPlex. She cleared 5 feet, 4 inches in the high jump and went 32-10 in the triple jump.

“So far this has been a good season for me,” See SCOTT, page 23