Prep sports can teach life lessons

After Waterford lost to Delta in the second round of the 3A state volleyball tournament, senior setter Missy White had some things to say to her teammates.

The players were sad and disappointed that their dreams of state title ended in just their second tournament match. As they consoled each other and reviewed what happened and why, White offered her perspective.

"I told them that the game is also a life lesson," she said. "It's about preparedness. The game isn't always played in the match. It's played in how you prepare as well. In practice you work hard and prepare for the games, in the preseason you condition and get ready for the season. It's about being prepared. You can look back and say, 'Could've, should've,' but if you're prepared you won't have those regrets."

White's perspective is slightly different than that of her teammates. She transferred to Waterford, a private school she attended before high school, last year for more academic options. Before that, she was a three-year starter for Brighton High's volleyball team. As a junior, the two-time all-state setter helped the Bengals earn their first volleyball title in school history. And while she savors the experiences she had at Brighton, she said she's grateful for the opportunity to experience something different at Waterford.

"I'm happy that I got to teach what I had to give," she said. "We all learned lessons this year. It was hard to be so small, our first year in 3A, but it was also really fun to play with those girls."

White has committed to play for a small private school in St. Mary's, and volleyball will pay for that education. But even with that, she doesn't believe her high school volleyball career, which included breaking the career assists record, is defined by the honors. She cherishes most what she calls "valuable life lessons" about how to accomplish her goals off the court.

The interesting aspect of my discussion with Missy was how it compares and contrasts with many of my other discussions with parents and players. In the last three days, I've spent a lot of time at tournaments discussing everything from strategy to family tragedies. One thing that became very clear to me during those conversations — besides the fact that I really love to talk to people — was that the offerings of sports are different for each person.

For some players, it's about earning a college scholarship. Maybe what motivates and moves one player is the competition, while for another it's about camaraderie and being a part of something. Some may just want to have a good time, while others relish the chance to learn new skills.