Schools

Jefferson Girls Volleyball Volley for the Cure

Both seventh and eighth grade teams will raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation

The Jefferson girls' volleyball teams won't just be volleying to beat Gower on Oct. 5. They'll also be volleying for a cure for breast cancer.

Both the Gower Middle School and Jefferson Jr. High School seventh- and eighth-grade girls volleyball teams will collect donations for the Susan G. Komen foundation in the days leading up to the game. On game day, the girls will wear pink T-shirts and even play with a pink volleyball.

Troy Johnson, the coach for the eighth-grade girls volleyball team, said Jefferson will be one of the few junior high schools who participate in the program. Volley for the Cure started in 2006 when two rival volleyball teams in Ohio decided to work together to honor the fight against breast cancer.

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 "Junior high is about rounding out character," Johnson said. "They should be learning how to give back. It's a great opportunity for them to do that."

He said he wanted both the seventh- and eighth-grade teams to participate in a cause that affects so many.

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"When they're going out and collecting money, they're going to hear so many interesting stories," Johnson said. "These girls are from all different background and cultures, and this allows them to come together for one cause."

The seventh- and eighth-grade teams have already come together to support each other.

"That's one of my favorite parts," said seventh-grader Haleigh Schulz. "We practice a lot together. The eighth-graders support the seventh-graders and we support them, too."

Faculty at Jefferson have already pledged their support to the teams, as well. Johnson said some Jefferson teachers have already offered to donate. Some have even offered to match the donations the girls collect.

Gower and Jefferson will pool the donations from both schools. Though the two teams will work together to raise money, both games will still be competitive. The seventh-grade girls volleyball team came second in conference last year to Old Quarry, and they're expecting to do as well this year.

"Last year was a really good year," said eighth-grader Kacey Ford.

"This year we're trying to get first in conference," said eighth-grader Mia Chudzik. "We're working on overhand serves and making three hits in a row. We're trying our hardest for every play."

The eighth-grade team is currently 2-1 after beating Butler Jr. High School Monday night.

The seventh-grade team is also looking to do well. After beating Butler Jr. High School Monday night, the team is undefeated with a 3-0 record.

"We have a lot of really athletic girls on the seventh-grade team," Johnson said.

While the game is competitive, seventh-grader Jaida Green said she likes the dynamic of junior high volleyball.

"In high school, there's a lot of emphasis on winning," Green said. "But in junior high, if we win, we win, and if not, we'll get it the next time."

Want to make a donation? Contact Troy Johnson at Jefferson Jr. High School.


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