Spike in Tension

Mishawaka Volleyball Struggles Through a Season of Transition 

By: Gavin Franks, Ethan Flowers and Brayshawn Echols

The Cavemen volleyball team has had a season of change: new coach, new ideas, and talented players lost to graduation.These growing pains have affected attitudes and challenged the team in ways not seen in recent memory.

With Mishawaka’s storied volleyball history and a string of record setting head coaches, sometimes there is a tough transitional period between coaches for returning players.

Mishawaka Athletic Director Evan Fras said, “Every program is going to experience graduation, coaching changes, injuries, roster turnover and different levels of talent from year to year. Those are natural parts of high school athletics.” 

The senior players agree this has been a difficult transition.“I feel like previous head coaches have given us more instruction and have bonded us more as a team. Mishawaka used to be a family and now it’s, like, everything’s super divided.” said Senior Addy Keen.

  Senior captain Amelia Amos said, “Previous head coaches… actually took time to get to know the players,and they helped us whenever we needed help. No matter if it was in volleyball or outside of volleyball.” “Previous head coaches at Mishawaka actually believed in their players and were never afraid to give direction,” said a volleyball player who wished to remain anonymous.

However, Fras viewed the season differently, “ We have a new head coach, and there is naturally a transition period whenever a program experiences a change in leadership. There are new expectations, new systems, new relationships and a different way of doing things.”  Fras continued,”Those situations can create growing pains, but our focus is on supporting our coaches and student-athletes and continuing to move the program forward. We are interested in the long-term health and development of the program, not reacting to every emotion that may occur during a season.”

New coaches require additional support while setting a foundation for a program.  Fras said, ”… We help them navigate scheduling, FinalForms, eligibility, transportation, facilities, purchasing, fundraising, parent communication and the many administrative responsibilities that come with running a high school program.” 

When a program is used to winning, wins and losses can become the focus but Fras explained that the final record is not the most important part of the program,“ We look at communication, organization, student-athlete development, relationships with families, sportsmanship, compliance with school and IHSAA expectations, program culture, off season development and how they represent Mishawaka High School.”

Fras explained how the community can best support the program,”The best thing our community can do is continue showing up for our student-athletes, communicate concerns appropriately, allow coaches an opportunity to build their programs and remember that high school athletics should ultimately be about developing young people.”

Coach Wildrick refused to comment and said the questions from the reporters were “inappropriate” despite the administration reviewing the questions and calling them “fair and easy to answer.”