In just its third year the Junior Olympic (JO) volleyball program has drawn more than 40 kids to come out for Sunday practices, said Kelly Roberts, one of several volunteers heading up the program.
It’s a big increase over last year and the enthusiasm has been rewarding, Roberts said.
In fact, so many girls came out that some cuts had to be made.
“We had to let some of the younger players go, but we are going to run a summer league, a fun league, and all of the kids can come out and play. No cuts, just a lot of fun,” Roberts said.
This year the county will have four teams with eight girls on each team. There will be an 18 & under team to go along with a 16 & under team and two 14 & under teams.
The emphasis of the JO program is to create a passion for volleyball, build skills and build teamwork, said Roberts.
Besides Roberts, the other volunteer coaches include Jennifer Sutton, Sharon Dorr, and soon Sue Prom will join with them to lead the program.
“Pam Taylor also stops by and gives us encouragement,” Roberts said.
Taylor, the head volleyball coach for the CCHS girls’ volleyball team and a teacher and the school’s athletic director, is on leave while she fights breast cancer.
Although practice is just once a week, it will soon expand to two or three sessions per week beginning April 15.
Because of the distance from other schools and the cost to join the Junior Olympics league ($400 per girl), Roberts said the kids would play only in the Star of the North Tournament in St. Paul on June 22-23.
“We can’t afford to travel to the weekly games and the cost to join the JO league is prohibitive,” said Roberts.
Because the program isn’t funded by the school the kids will get out and raise money through car washes and host a pancake breakfast, Roberts said.
“There is a $275 team entry fee to play in the St. Paul tournament. Then there will be two nights lodging, gas and meals to pay for,” she said.
The pancake breakfast will be held April 27 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Grand Marais Fusion store located above Blue Water Cafe. Fusion store owners Carl and Beth Foster are also donating $1 off each shake to give to the program.
“So far Carl and Beth have raised more then $200,” said Roberts.
Although there aren’t weekly games the girls are getting a chance to hone their volleyball skills and build teamwork, and steady progress has been made. The first year the girls placed third in the 14 & under bracket out of 22 teams at the Star of the North tournament and last year they finished second in the 16 & under bracket.
“I’m hoping a lot of girls play in the summer league. There won’t be any pressure and if a girl can’t make games because of a busy schedule; all they will have to do is call a teammate to let them know. So far it looks like a lot of the girls will participate,” said Roberts.
“Pam’s [Taylor] excited by what she has seen. The girls seem to be enjoying themselves and it’s been rewarding for us coaches to see them learning the sport and having fun on the court,” Roberts said.
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