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Hot Start: Coach King has young Patriots girls basketball team sizzling in his first season. Page 39

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THE 2021 OTMJ ALL OTM HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM DEC. 16, 2021

SPORTS

Thursday, December 2, 2021 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Members of the 2021 OTMJ All OTM Volleyball team are, front, from left: Coach Kellye Bowen, Spain Park; Olivia Brown, Homewood; Kathryn Smith, Oak Mountain; Lilly Johnson, Spain Park; Audrey Vielguth, Vestavia Hills; Brooklyn Allison, Spain Park; and Angelica Vines, Vestavia Hills. Back: Hannah Parant, Mountain Brook; Greer Golden, Mountain Brook; Jayni Thompson, Oak Mountain; Audrey Rothman, Spain Park; Mackenzie Yoakum, Homewood; and Lily Janas, Homewood. Not pictured: Rya McKinnon, Hoover; Bella Halyard, Spain Park; Poppy Moellering, John Carroll; and Stella Helms, Briarwood.

Special Talent

Spain Park’s Rothman Tabbed OTM Volleyball Player of the Year After Dominating Season

By RuBin E. GRant

While watching a replay of the Class 7A volleyball championship game against McGill-Toolen Catholic, Audrey Rothman’s emotions got the best of her, especially during the final blow that sealed Spain Park’s first state title.

Rothman, an athletic 6-foot-4 senior outside hitter, delivered the kill to complete the Jaguars’ 3-0 sweep (26-24, 25-23, 25-23) of the legendary Dirty Dozen.

“It was bittersweet, honestly,” Rothman said of seeing the decisive kill again. “I was filled with a lot of emotions.

“It still feels unreal that we actually won it. It’s something I’ve always looked forward to when I was younger.”

Rothman had 24 kills and 12 digs in the final match of her high school career, earning Class 7A MVP honors. For the season, she had 709 kills, 249 digs, 71 blocks and 35 assists while leading Spain Park to a school record for wins with a 47-4 record.

Her dominant performance earned her the 2021 OTM Volleyball Player of the Year honor in voting done by Over the Mountain coaches.

“I feel very blessed,” Rothman said. “I am thankful for everything this season gave me and for every single girl on my team. We have a special bond.”

Rothman is one of four Spain Park players voted to the 2021 All-OTM team. Senior right side Bella Halyard, junior setter Lilly Johnson and junior libero Brooklyn Allison also were selected.

Class 6A state champion Mountain Brook landed two players on the team, senior middle hitter Greer Golden and sophomore setter Hannah Parant.

Class 6A semifinalist Homewood had three players chosen, senior outside hitter Olivia Brown, senior right side Mackenzie Yoakum and senior middle hitter Lily Janas.

Vestavia Hills had two players selected, senior outside hitter Angelica Vines and sophomore libero Audrey Vielguth.

Oak Mountain also had two players voted to the squad, senior right side Jayni Thompson and senior setter Kathryn Smith.

Rounding out the team are Hoover senior outside hitter Rya McKinnon, John Carroll Catholic sophomore middle hitter Poppy Moellering and Briarwood Christian sophomore middle hitter Stella Helms.

Spain Park’s Kellye Bowen was the unanimous choice as 2021 OTM Coach of Year.

Spain Park’s Bowen earns Coach of the Year Honor. PAGE 38

2021 OTMJ ALL-OTM VOLLYEBALL TEAM

OUTSIDE HITTERS

Audrey Rothman, Senior, Spain Park Rya McKinnon, Senior, Hoover Olivia Brown, Senior, Homewood Angelica Vines, Senior, Vestavia Hills

RIGHT SIDE

Mackenzie Yoakum, Senior, Homewood Bella Halyard, Senior, Spain Park Jayni Thompson, Senior, Oak Mountain

MIDDLE

Greer Golden, Senior, Mountain Brook Lily Janas, Senior, Homewood Poppy Moellering, Sophomore, John Carroll Stella Helms, Sophomore, Briarwood

SETTERS

Hannah Parant, Sophomore, Mountain Brook Kathryn Smith, Senior, Oak Mountain Lilly Johnson, Junior, Spain Park

LIBERO

Brooklyn Allison, Junior, Spain Park Audrey Vielguth, Sophomore, Vestavia Hills

Player of the Year

Audrey Rothman, Spain Park

Coach of the Year

Kellye Bowen, Spain Park

See ROTHMAN, page 38

Mountain Brook’s Jake Thompson works to break a tackle in the Spartan’s semifinal loss to ClayChalkville Friday.

End of the Run

Mountain Brook Season Ends With 6A Semifinal Loss to Clay-Chalkville

By Solomon CREnShaw JR.

Sims Brown lingered on the field at Spartans Stadium Friday night after his No. 3 Mountain Brook team lost 24-18 to No. 1 Clay-Chalkville in the Class 6A semifinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association football playoffs.

The wide receiver might have hung around after any game, but this one was different because it was his last one as a high school player.

“It’s pretty much all I’ve known for 18 years of my life. Well, half of it,” the senior said, choking up a bit. “I’m sorry. We put so much into it. We put so much into it. It’s tough but I think we left these younger guys with something they can learn from and hopefully they’ll get it next year.”

The Mountain Brook roster shows 27 12th-graders. That total pales when compared to the 46 seniors who were on the 2020 squad. That loss of veteran experience could have made the 2021 season a rebuilding campaign for coach Chris Yeager.

Instead, his Spartans finished the regular season ranked No. 3 by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and came within one win of earning a berth in the Super 7 this week at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.

Yeager admits that he was pleasantly surprised by this year’s Spartans.

“These guys rallied. They led. They pulled this team together,” he said of the seniors on the squad. “They trended upward every week. They improved every single week. It’s a tribute to them that we’re even here.”

Four teams reached the Class 6A