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Thursday, November 1, 2007
Gold Standard
Eastern Oklahoma, OK
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HSSTM: Another state title for the Lady Comets. How does this compare to the others?
Wadsworth: All State Championships are sweet in their own right- they all have special qualities about them that separate them from the others! This particular championship team is special for the work and growth that took place for the past two seasons. Our team was very young and very green last year and as a result, we took some lumps. However, this year, a more experienced, older and motivated team took the floor. We steadily improved all season and played some of our best volleyball at the end of the season… just the way it is supposed to be. And after a rocky first round match against Carl Albert, we came out and played two very good matches in the semi’s and finals. I am very proud that this team started the season ranked #1 and stayed there the entire season. I have thoroughly enjoyed this team and I believe that they deserved to finish where they did!
HSSTM: Each group of girls is different, what was this team really good at?
Wadsworth: Accepting roles on the team, being flexible when line-up changes occurred, being focused, wonderful work ethic both in the gym and in the weight room and eventually became the disciplined team that we sought to be.
HSSTM: Is Bishop Kelley a volleyball factory or do the kids really buy into the program and the school?
Wadsworth: At Bishop Kelley High School, we have some of the best kids around…and some of them happen to play volleyball! They are outstanding students, they are active in our school and their own church communities, they have wonderful and involved parents, and they are just all-around good kids. Bishop Kelley High School seeks to better the entire student and/or student-athlete. I am just really proud that volleyball can be a vehicle to nurture that personal growth and give a different and competitive environment in which to practice those life skills that I/we are seeking to instill in our kids.
HSSTM: How much of a role does the school play in the lives of its students?
Wadsworth: A huge part. Our volleyball kids are only a part of our program because they are first a member of this school. Most of our kids grew up in Catholic schools. That is because their parents believe in a Catholic school education. Our lives generally revolve around the Church and the school, therefore, the school itself, serves as a critical element in the development of the student.
HSSTM: What were a couple of the biggest surprises during the season this year?
Wadsworth: The number of young ladies who contributed to our success; at the State Tournament, we played 11 kids per match. We felt comfortable playing that many kids as they had earned the playing time by performing strongly in practice situations. In addition, halfway through the season, we made a line-up change to better utilize our personnel. It was not due so much to anyone performing poorly, but rather as a need to make the most of the evolving abilities of the team as a whole. I was very proud of the number of people who stepped forward, accepted their roles and adapted when they were initially, easily upended with change. Our best performing line-up was not necessarily the same from match to match.
HSSTM: What can we expect from BK volleyball next season?
Wadsworth: Next season, we will be a veteran team peppered with a few younger faces. We will return 4 starters (3 of whom will be 3-year starters; uncommon for Bishop Kelley volleyball), all seniors-to-be, who, should be ready to pick up where we left off this season and bring the younger players along in a hurry and with relative ease. There is no replacement for the experience gained by winning a championship. When recognized and utilized correctly, a team begins the season mentally ahead of everyone else on that experience alone.
HSSTM: Now you start to prepare for basketball season, how do you handle the transition from volleyball to basketball?
Wadsworth: Actually, I no longer coach basketball. I am engaged, hope to get married sometime in the near future and so I need NOT to work so much! Although, since I am also an Assistant Athletic Director, one of my best friends is the Head Girls Coach and I love all of our Comet teams, I still spend plenty of time in gyms during basketball season!
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