Senior leadership takes volleyball to new heights

By Tanya Hannaford

This time last year, according to senior Grace Bushman, the volleyball team was quarantined early in the season for about two weeks. Things are definitely looking up this year, having already grabbed conference wins against Nevada and Seneca at home and admirably holding up against bigger schools like Webb City and Republic.

Bushman is grateful that the team is healthy this year but feels uneasy in her newfound role as one of six senior leaders on the team. She said that though last year’s senior group was smaller, they were “confident” and “strong.” She says this year she and other seniors have learned that the key to being a good leader is to “not look down on the freshmen but to pick them up and help them.”

Senior Raegan Boswell, who serves as the team’s center, plays all six rotations, and never leaves the court, feels the heavy pressure of leadership in every game. Her role is direct hitters in “what to run, when, and when to come up.” She explained, “It’s very stressful because [I] touch the ball every single set, every single play.”

Boswell explained her main leadership goal is “keeping the energy up on the court, because all our girls are so competitive, when one thing starts going downhill, it just slowly starts crashing.” She says her greatest struggle in her leadership role is “to keep everyone’s heads up and the energy [up].”

For the most part, Bushman stays pretty neutral and prefers to express her leadership through her improved performance on the court. Because she is the tallest member of the team, she said, “I’m the biggest block that we have.” But more than that, she’s gained confidence in her skills at the net, particularly with regard to her timing and her hitting placement.

A big motivator? For Bushman, it’s been that loud student section on the bleachers. Bushman says “we really, really, really appreciate” their support.

Young football team spurs new leadership

By Tanya Hannaford

After a string of winning seasons in recent years, this year Mount Vernon football has found itself in unfamiliar territory as the team has struggled to find its groove with an especially young team.

“Dominic Dawson is our only senior playing right now because of injuries to Isaac Burks, Alvin Reid and Jonathan Lingo,” explained Head coach Tom Cox. “He's doing a great job of leading our young players!”