Inside The Blue And White
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Hello and welcome back to Inside the Blue and White! It’s another great week on the campus of Water Valley High School! This week was busy for all of the students.
Volleyball had a hard week, taking on Grenada last Tuesday. We played well but ended up coming up short, as Grenada won against us in all three sets. On Thursday we played against Myrtle for district. We played great but lost. Myrtle was a hard team with good coverage and serving.
Lucian Lindsey lines up a putt during the tournament against Grenada High School on Sept. 4.
We play Strayhorn on Sept. 9, and then Thursday, Sept. 11, is senior night. Our seniors are Jayla Jones, Kristaney Reed, Mariah Wilson and Bella Humphreys. The ceremony is going to be after the junior varsity game. It starts at 5, and varsity starts at 6 after our seniors are recognized.
I asked Coach Michael Howland a couple of questions. Since district play has started, how do you think we will perform?
“Each time you switch districts, it means ‘learning’ about new teams before you can determine how you will do,” Howland said. “Still, as a long-time coach, I know that focusing on wins and losses is not a positive way to think. To be successful, I focus on long-term consistency and not short-term results. Good teams always assume every team they face is good, and so I work to ensure that our team is practicing in a way that focuses on the basics and executing as a team to be successful in any district.”
Next I asked what are we doing in and outside of the gym to prepare for district?
“When you get into the season, the amount of time you spend practicing is less important than the quality of practice. The focus is to practice the things that we showed weakness in from the game prior, to be better prepared for the next game. It is a process,” Howland answered.
Lastly, I asked him, what are you most looking forward to as we wrap up the season?
Jayla Jones and Kenley Pullen stretch to block the hitter in volleyball action last week.
“Just the opportunity to see the program continue to grow and give more girls the opportunity to play a game they love. Short-term success is fleeting, but the lessons you learn from hard work will ensure that players succeed in anything they choose to do,” he said.
As the ladies are wrapping up their season and moving closer to playoffs, support them and cheer us on!
Another Friday, another Blue Devil kickoff! The theme for last Friday’s football game was “Cap the Cougars.” The boys played against South Pontotoc and won again –29–23, with South Pontotoc following very closely behind. Dai Freeman, Zae Bradford and Derion Gale all scored for Water Valley.
The boys play against Coffeeville Friday night and the theme of the game is “Put the Pirates to Sleep!” Wear your PJs and come out to support your football team as they play this rivalry game.
The golf tournament was last Thursday after it was canceled the previous week due to rain. They played at the Yalobusha Country Club, and the boys trailed Grenada by only six strokes, ending with Grenada at 167 and the Blue Devils at 173. The top three scorers were Allen Paysinger with a 36, Bowen West with a 46 and Levi Bryant with a 47.
The girls beat Grenada on the same day, with Baleigh Camp shooting a 52 and Amelia Thomas shooting a 61. The boys played Monday at the Yalobusha Country Club, hosting Houlka. A tournament is scheduled Thursday at Mallard Pointe near Sardis Lake. The boys will play their first 18-hole match in this tournament.. Wish our boys and girls luck going into their last few tournaments of the season.
Thank you for reading this week’s news from Water Valley High School! I hope you check back next week and catch up! Next week is filled with volleyball, golf and football again. Stay tuned, and make sure you go support your Blue Devils!
