Tharptown volleyball eyes 2017 season

By Bart Moss for the FCT

As the fall volleyball season approaches, the Tharptown Lady Wildcats are among county teams preparing to show their stuff on the court.

About the Coach:

Tracey Fretwell graduated from Phillips High School in Bear Creek. She attended Bevill State Community College in Fayette on a volleyball scholarship. She graduated from the University of North Alabama in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in education. She earned her master’s degree in education from UNA in 2010 and is currently working on another master’s in instructional leadership. She began teaching in 2005 and came to Tharptown in 2008. She launched the first volleyball team in Franklin County at THS in 2010. She coached for four years, attending Super Regionals two of the four and advancing to the Sweet 16 the fourth year. She then took a brief hiatus to teach at the college level, but her heart was always with the volleyball program. She took the team back in 2016, and the team went 10-11 after 1-14 seasons the two years prior.

Share some details on your pre-season practice:

“We have had very intensive and successful pre-season practices. The team began in June working out, lifting weights and practicing. We have participated in play dates as well as attended a four-day camp at the University of North Alabama. The camp gave the team a sense of togetherness that I believe as a coach has created a family atmosphere.

“The team has made huge strides in improving their teamwork and honing their skills on the court. Our outside hitter, Erica Gray, has really stepped up to be a great leader, as has sophomore right-side hitter Brooke Daily. Both have really been inspirational to the younger girls. The team consists of three seniors: Breanna Gasque, Ameliah Dawson and Cara Ergle, who have all become more passionate about playing and are eager to improve each day.

“The JV team is made up of many new faces. It is led by veteran players Perla Chavez, Bailey Nipper, Bethany Gasque and Leslie Staggs. Newcomers Taylor Cameron, Macy Petree, and Abi Sanchez have come on strong and have shown great promise, as have the other members.”

What are your team’s strengths going into the 2017 season?

“We have made huge progress within the last year. Many on our team had played before but were still learning the game. I believe they have found a passion for the game they didn’t have before, and that has made them even stronger contenders. We have a very good serving team, and we have improved dramatically on our hitting game.

“I love to see the heart these players have for this game and believe it will translate on the court.”

Highlight some of the individual players you will be relying on this year to have a successful season.

“I rely on all of my players to play their positions as hard as they can. They each have a job to do whatever position they play, and they know what I expect of them. We are running a 4-2 this season with MaKensy Hester, Kasey McCormack, and Olyvia Ergle rotating and setting the ball. The setter is one of the most important positions on the team, and I have every confidence that these three will work hard. I suspect hitter/setter Annslee Bottoms will also play a big role in our successes.”

What do you think are the keys to your team’s success this year?

I try to instill in my players that making mistakes comes with the territory in this game. The mistakes aren’t to define them or their game, but the way in which they react to those mistakes will. Girls have such a tough time not being their own worst critics. We have the skill this year to do some pretty great things as long as they continue to know and understand that to mess up just means they need to make up.”

What is something special about this team that stands out to you?

“The thing that stands out the most to me is the team’s eagerness to learn and just overall excitement about this game. We have so much potential, and this is the first team I’ve had where it seems everyone wants to play their part well. They all worked so hard, as did a great group of parents, to raise money for camp because they want to learn so badly and improve so much. It’s really inspirational to me as a coach and very encouraging to see such an eager and determined group of wonderful young ladies.”