Our Gophers just recently added another transfer, fifth year senior Nava Gros, from Michigan State. A four-year starter for the Spartans taking advantage of her covid-bonus year to play for the Gophs. Gros averaged 1.8 kills and 1.2 blocks per set over a career 386 sets, leading the Spartans in blocks all 4 years, and in kills this past season, finishing fifth in the Big Ten in total blocks, including 11 matches with five-or-more blocks. In 2019, Gros was a member of an all-Big Ten team competing in Japan. Gros will compete with returning starter Ellie Husemann, transfer (from Ohio St.) Arica Davis, and incoming freshman Carter Booth, for playing-time at Middle (I’m betting Booth #1 and Husemann #2 as the leading candidates, but we’ll see.)
BOYS HS VB VOTED DOWN AGAIN
Reader G.N. calls our attention to the fact that, for (at least) the 3rd year in row, the governing body of the MN State High School League has voted down Boys Volleyball as a sanctioned sport – this time by the narrowest of margins: 31 in favor, 17 against. (32-16 would have been the necessary two-thirds majority.)
My thoughts:
- Minnesota is a VBall hotbed, and, reportedly, 36 other states have sanctioned Boys HS Volleyball – so this is just stupid.
- Regardless of what people say publically, the opposition is based entirely on “Title IX,” the federal rule that requires high schools to provide “equal sports opportunities” for boys and girls. MN has Girls HS Volleyball, of course, but the girls don’t have Football, which is a lot to offset in terms of funding & numbers of participants.
- I continue to consider “Title IX” a good thing. Both my daughters played varsity sports, and granddaughter Leah will be out for the Washburn Volleyball Team in the fall. But even great ideas can have negative implications.
- But it’s not like we don’t have Boys HS Volleyball anyway. The Strib reports there are 55 “Club Teams” currently competing — with a State Tournament and everything. It just isn’t MN State High School League sanctioned. Sanctioning would lead to even more teams, and certainly more media coverage (both good things), and the boys could earn “varsity letters.”
- If you ever read the “John Who?” button on this blog, you know that I coached Boys H.S. Club Water Polo for 10 years, Girls (age-grouped) Volleyball for 10 years, Gopher Mens Club Water Polo for 9 years, and Gopher Womens Club Water Polo for 7 years – including Big Ten Tournaments.
At the collegiate level, there are two significant differences between Varsity and Club Sports: Club Coaches get paid a negligible “stipend” which is a fraction of the salaries paid to Varsity Coaches (but guess what, ”minor-sport coaches like McCutcheon don’t make half of what I was making at my “day-job);” and more importantly, scholarships! Most Gopher Women Volleyball players are on scholarships, none of the Mens Club players get scholarships. But in high school, we’re just talking about a “letter.”