While Wrangell High School’s cross-country program prepares for its final meets, other sports are just starting up for the new school year. Wrestling begins next week, and on Sept. 16 volleyball players began practicing for the season ahead.
Nineteen girls have signed up for the team so far, and the team is currently holding six practices a week before its first games begin.
“We have strong seniors this year,” commented Jessica Whitaker, Wrangell’s coach for the past decade. Five new freshmen will be joining the varsity and junior varsity squads, and Whitaker said the season began on a positive note.
Last year also ended on a positive note for Wrangell’s volleyball program. The team was awarded the Sportsmanship Award and placed third at Region V in Haines last December. Members of the varsity squad were also chosen for the All-Academic and All-Conference teams.
“We’ve always had a strong program,” Lisa Nikodym commented. An assistant coach for the past seven years, this year she is also the activities director for Wrangell Public Schools.
She said the girls have kept up with practicing over the summer, and the team is looking forward to some competitive play.
“It’s nice when the kids have that positive attitude,” Nikodym said.
The team’s first games will be on Oct. 9 at the annual Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza (JIVE), at the Juneau-Douglas High School gymnasium. The weekend after that, the North Seeding Tournament will be held in Petersburg, whose team will have moved to 2A this year.
“It’s nice to have another competitive team in the same ranking,” said Whitaker.
Wrangell is also excited to be hosting the South Seeding Tournament on Nov. 6 and 7. Following that, this year’s Region V will be held in Skagway Nov. 20 to 21.
“I’m always optimistic we can do it,” Whitaker said.
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