Following a girls dream

Tiffany is my child that is very athletic.  As much as I would like to say I am surprised, I am not.  Her father, Joey played basketball and baseball in high school and was fairly good at it. I played volleyball and softball in high school as was fairly good as well.  It is nice that Tiffany was blessed with her own athletic ability.  She is the type of person that no matter what it seems to be if it is a sport or art work and you take the time to teach her the basics of it she takes that and runs with it in no time flat.

Tiffany started playing volleyball three years ago when her sister showed and interest and played in school.  At the time Tiffany really wanted to play, but her school did not have a team for sixth grade.  So Tiffany practiced with her sister a few times and then asked me if I would coach her since I used to play.  So began Tiffany's start in Volleyball. I would spend at least 3 days a week coaching both Heather and Tiffany and although both girls can play Volleyball, Heather would rather do cheer-leading and dance than to play volleyball.  Heather can play volleyball, but it is not her strongest sport. Tiffany on the other hand really took to the sport.  After working with me for a year, she decided to go out for the 7th grade team.  I was really happy to see that all the time I spent working with her really paid off when she was chosen for the varsity team in her 7th grade year. Tiffany did really well in the 7th grade and was given more training and encouragement by Coach Begley.  This past year we missed the try-outs for the Copperas Cove Jr High 8th grade team, but this did not discourage Tiffany.  She kept practicing on her own and did not let that stop her at all.  In February she went out for the Copperas Cove Spring League and again made the team.

We are now nearing the end of the Spring League and she has been doing so well.  Not only is she playing spring league Volleyball, but she is also made the Copperas Cove Jr High Tennis team as well.  It seems like there is not a day that goes by that we aren't at either Volleyball tournaments, Volleyball practice, Tennis practice or Tennis Tournaments.  Tiffany even has most of her Tennis Tournaments on Saturdays, which means for her that Saturday morning start for her at about 530am and she doesnt normally get home until about 6pm from the tournaments.  She really has been working hard.  To top it all off she is playing two sports at the same time and is still keeping her grades at A's and B's.  I have been really impressed with her.

Last week while we were at a volleyball tournament I was told that the High School Coaches had been watching Tiffany during the games.  I did not think much about it until tonight.  Tonight Tiffany's team was the last team to play tonight and half way through the team I saw all four of the high school coaches come to the side of the court that she was on and start watching the game. Again, I tried not to think about it and kept on cheering for Tiffany and giving her encouragement and guidance.  Towards the end of the game Tiffany was up to serve and she had been doing well all night then she missed her serve.  I could tell that it really upset her.  The head coach for Copperas Cove High yelled out to her and said,"No biggy Tiff, next time just toss the ball a little higher."  I saw this smile come across her face as she shook her head yes at the coach.

Later, after the game, I asked Tiffany about this, she told me that she was upset because she knew the coaches were watching her and she muffed up her serve.  I asked her how she knew that they were watching her and she told me that last week and today during UIL the Jr High Volleyball Coach had pulled her aside and told her that she really wanted Tiffany to make sure she did well at the games and to really pay attention to her techiques because the Head Coach at the high school was asking about her and really watching her for one of the teams next year.  Rumors are now comfirmed. 

This all really means a lot to Tiffany because she really wants to go to college on a scholarship.  Even though we are no longer in the Copperas Cove School district, I have decided to keep Tiffany in this district for several reasons.  Copperas Cove ISD is a one high school town, therefore, there is a larger opportunity for Tiffany to shine when it comes to her abilities in sports.  Next, CCISD has a fantastic Volleyball and Football program.  It is the only school in the area that offers Volleyball and Football training and practices all year long for the members that make the program, meaning that there will be a lot of opporunity for her to really get good at her sport.   CCISD also is not as large as the schools in Killeen and really has the ability to focus on education and sports.  Tiffany has a better chance at getting a sports or art scholarship in the CCISD system then she would in KISD.  So even though that means I have to drive her back and forth to school daily it is all going to be worth it in the end as she is working towards that dream of getting a scholarship to Harvard.  Next week I will have pictures of Tiffany playing volleball for everyone.