Many high school athletes struggle with the decision on whether or not to continue their athletic career at the collegiate level. Choosing a college is a stressful burden in itself without dealing with the typically long recruiting process. However, with the right support, these crucial, tough decisions can be made with ease.
Grand Valley graduate Bailey Holmes understands and appreciates the support her family and coaches have given her through the years. After deciding to pursue volleyball at the next level, Thiel College became the obvious choice through assistance from her parents, Shawn and Laura Holmes.
“(My family) really liked Thiel because it’s closer and they can make it to most of my games,” she said. “They want to be able to make as many as possible.”
Choosing Thiel for Holmes — a first-team Star Beacon All-Ashtabula County selection — meant keeping the solid support system she knew and depended on her entire life.
“(My parents) have been to every single event they could, along with my grandparents,” she said. “They took me everywhere before I could drive and always pay for everything.”
However, family wasn’t the only supportive force in Holmes’ life. Holmes found guidance playing for Mustangs varsity girls basketball coach Kim Triskett.
“(Triskett) was always trying to boost my confidence,” Holmes said. “She was my biggest supporter besides my family.”
“(Triskett) was like a second mom to me. From academics to on the floor, she’d do anything for me. She would open the gym for me on weekends and took me to a lot of camps and college games.”
While Holmes’ family enjoys Thiel for its locale, Holmes found her own reasons for becoming a blue and gold Tomcat.
“It was a hard decision, but I like (Steve and Amanda Brewer’s) style of coaching,” she said. “When I met the coaches at Thiel, I really liked them. They came to watch me play my senior year and they liked what they saw. Steve talked to me all the time and kept checking in. They were just really cool.
“(The Brewer’s) are going to run a new offense next year, and it sounded like it would work pretty well and I was excited to try it. He sounded excited and I started to get excited, too.”
The future Tomcat understands the difficult transition from high school athletics, but is eager to get on the collegiate court.
“I know that varsity is a quicker pace, but college is an even bigger step up,” she said. “I’m excited to start volleyball and play at that faster pace and see where I stand with college athletics. Going into college, I won’t be the best, but it’ll be fun.”
Holmes was not the only 2012 graduate who found Thiel’s volleyball program fitting. The Grand Valley graduate was one of the 12 freshmen recruited this year. The 12 frosh, along with the returning players, can seem intimidating, but the intense competition only make Holmes more determined to work harder.
“We’re going to be pushed a lot harder,” she said. “Thiel has a pretty strong upper class, but I want to see the floor a few times. I don’t think I’ll be starting, but I hope I play some.”
College is about new experiences, and the same is true for Holmes on the court. Most comfortable as a middle hitter, Holmes will begin to work on becoming a right side and focus on perfecting her “swing block.”
Besides new strides on the court, Holmes is anxious to find out how she will manage living on her own. Balancing her conservation biology major and volleyball, Holmes is confident she will have a successful first year, academically and athletically.
Clark, a 2012 Jefferson graduate, will head to Franklin College in the fall, where she will major in journalism and play volleyball.
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