By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
Engaging in sports can become a significant part of one's life, demanding numerous hours dedicated to practice, tryouts, off-season training, games, and more. Being a part of a sports team is both an honor and a challenge, offering substantial rewards. Each moment invested in your sport becomes a cherished memory, growing more meaningful as you reminisce about your passion for the game. On Thursday, October 19, the Walpole girls' volleyball team, along with friends, family, and loved ones, gathered to celebrate the achievements of their ten seniors on senior night.
The evening turned into a joyous celebration, culminating in a perfect moment when the Timberwolves secured a 3-0 shutout victory against the Milton Wildcats. This victory not only marked a win on senior night but also extended their winning streak to five games, positioning them well for the upcoming post-season competition.
Elm Street gymnasium was adorned with blue and orange streamers, senior posters, and an infectious atmosphere as the crowd's energy reverberated off the walls. The spirited ambiance fueled the girls' determination as they faced Milton, not yielding in the face of the opponent's efforts to secure their first set win.
The Timberwolves remained positive and supportive of one another, drawing inspiration from the crowd's cheers. They celebrated every point earned in the competition and offered encouragement when the Wildcats made their mark. The girls' enthusiasm was evident, amplified by the spectators' cheers.
Head coach Zack Okolowitcz expressed his admiration for the girls' performance in the match and commended their composure throughout the entirety of the game.
“I think the girls got on the court tonight just really wanting to be there, some seniors aren’t necessarily starters but it being senior night, I started all of them, and they really held their own and showed they can hang on the court. I would say that was probably one of the best energetic games we’ve had in I would say both my years of coaching. I don’t think people realize how much the girls actually feed off of it really does help them push themselves a bit more and play even harder,” said Okolowitcz.
The Walpole Timberwolves will be graduating ten seniors, Ashley Niak, Diza Girhotra, captain Carly Schlittler, captain Maddy Melish, Meghan McNeil, Rachel Harrington, Ciara Foley, Caroline Donnelly, Kaitlyn Holland, and Kayla Kilroy. Coach O spoke on what these seniors have brought to the team this season.
“The seniors have brought great amounts of energy to the team this year, both my captains are seniors and I’ve been working with them for a couple of years now, before I was the varsity coach… They always have positive energy like you’ve got the girl who’s the jokester who loves to bring the comedy, the one that’s serious and wants to get every play, they just bring each of their qualities to the team that adds to the team at the appropriate times,” said Okolowitcz.
