Shadow Ridge High School’s very own men’s volleyball team has won the State Championships for the 5A Division twice in the last three years. This year they are hoping for another win as they have evaluated and scouted the best players at Shadow to help them accomplish their goal.
The head coach, Luke Wilson, a teacher at Shadow, is committed to making each and every one of the boys in the program a better player and person all around. He has been the head of the boy’s program for multiple years and has had experience in how to teach the players how to use the best of their abilities.
“Perseverance, dedication, and a lot of hard work is what it takes to make it to the end. Building a culture of winning takes time and dedication from all members of the program. The players grow up in the program and dedicate themselves year round to winning. I truly always believe “this year” will be the year we win it all. Not every year works out like that, but our seasons in boys volleyball, at Shadow, are always graded on championships. This year is another special group of young men that I think can pursue anything they set their minds to,” comments Coach Wilson.
Competing in these events takes a person who can have a positive attitude, perseverance to do their very best at all times, and the knowledge of volleyball. However, the sport is not all about having a good mindset or being the best on the court, sometimes it is about the connections a player makes and the trust that comes with playing with a group of people. Allowing oneself to be confident and have fun while competing is something that could build up to small wins that grow into big wins.
Coach Wilson mentions, “I am always nervous about things that we do not have control over, but confident that our guys will develop the skills to improve all season. There is no secret formula to be confident about, but I know we will put the work in to give ourselves a chance to get better. Winning has to do with more things that anyone can calculate. There is determination and skill, but that is never enough in the biggest of games. You have to be disciplined, selfless, and confident in your abilities and game plan as well.”
As the team is going into the 2024-2025 volleyball season, Coach Wilson is proud of who has been selected to join all three teams. He believes that many of them have potential to learn better volleyball at Shadow Ridge. Kylee Shraft is the head coach of the junior varsity team; she is excited to see how the season turns out as she coaches a new group of players. She is confident the season will go as well as previous years.
Shraft states, “Every season presents new challenges, but the expectation remains the same: compete at the highest level, outwork opponents, and uphold the legacy of success. It’s about fostering a championship mindset everyday, from practice to game day. We coach our boys to be student athletes. The student part always comes before the athlete, keeping the boys disciplined in the classroom and on the court. I believe the JV boys will grow a bunch this season, we have a strong foundation of ball control, height, and potential. The opportunity is there, but the work has to be put in.”
