Plenty of Reasons to Celebrate the Volleyball Community in Wisconsin
The obvious headlines of the weekend in volleyball was Arrowhead taking first place at the Charger Rally at the Milwaukee Sting Center, as well as the matchup between a sold out crowd to see Wisconsin take on Marquette which the Badgers won 3-0. I was fortunate enough to spend Friday night and all day Saturday at the Charger Rally and I guess I couldn’t help but think how this was really a weekend to celebrate volleyball across the state, which I consider the village or community of volleyball in Wisconsin.
The Charger Rally featured 28 teams scattered across the state with Luxemburg- Casco being the furthest out of the North, Northeast of Green Bay and the gateway to Door County, River Falls in the West bringing a team just 30 minutes from St. Paul Minnesota, Waunakee and Sun Prairie from the Madison area, and a combination of teams from the Fox Valley, Lakeshore, Milwaukee area all the way down to Kenosha. This really was a sample of some of the top volleyball from all across the state.
This article isn’t about the top players, standouts playing Division 1 volleyball, rankings for teams, but rather the stories and people surrounding the volleyball community that make it so great.
Hats off to Sussex Hamilton who hosted this tournament at Milwaukee Sting. This facility isn’t only one of the best in the state, but one of the best in the country with 8 courts of plenty of room on teraflex style courts that allows plenty of room for spectators. As for the workers that go into the organization from Hamilton High School Volleyball program with volunteers in the concessions to the players of Hamilton being the first at the facility on Friday to set up, to the last ones there Saturday keeping score for the championship game and helping put the tournament to bed. Tournaments like this don’t just happen on their own, so many people and hours go into the preparation of a first class event like this one.
I really have to compliment the dynamic between the officials to coaches to athletes and parents. Were calls in question? Of course, it’s part of the game. But I never saw a coach blow up at a referee, a parent get hostile, or a player “lose it” on the court. We’ve all seen or heard of the stories of conflict on plenty of occasions, but I really did not see any of that this weekend in a highly competitive atmosphere. Why? Wisconsin has great officials who are experienced, know the game, and commit their time to bettering their craft. As for coaches, players, and parents they are knowledgeable of the game. Some of these players have been together since the volley lite days when serving the ball overhand across the net was a victory. They’ve been through it all, they know the game, and respect the game too.
How’s does all this happen? This isn’t just one coach, one person, one school or one club, it really does take a village and the village of Wisconsin Volleyball is a really great one to be a part of. Coaches and parents start investing, not in the sport, but in people. Providing a chance for kids to play the game, how to be a good teammate, and learn the basics. Plenty of Saturday’s starting from 5th or 6th grade in youth leagues which continue into tournaments as junior high athletes to eventually the “big kids” in high school. This past weekend was the “Badger Region Open House” and in Wisconsin, there are so many great opportunities for youth and parents to be involved in the sport. This past weekend was evidence of that. Playing at an elite level doesn’t just happen, once again it takes a village with support.
For me personally, to say I’m a volleyball geek is probably an understatement. I have friends who joke they can ask me about any player and the chances are strong that I will know what high school, club, and college they may be committed to through my work at Prep Dig. I love the sport, but more importantly I enjoy all the people involved. This weekend at the Rally I was able to reconnect with so many people I have the utmost respect for in the Wisconsin volleyball community from coaches to parents to players. I saw players I hadn’t seen play since Badger Region in March and the progress they’ve made in that time since is amazing. Again, those things don’t happen by chance. Lots of long car rides, hours in the gym, and a support system of family coaches and teammates all are a part of that process.
Leaving the Sting Facility early Saturday evening after hours of volleyball the past two days. I couldn’t help but smile. Everyone wants to be part of something, and luckily for me I get to be apart of this volleyball village you can call a community. Everyone has their role, I am just lucky enough to tell the story of the coaches, parents and athletes apart of it.