With the new school year rapidly approaching, Putnam County High held volleyball tryouts for the fall.
The volleyball coach, Francisco Aguire, was also able to find two assistant coaches for the upcoming season, both ready to make an impact.
Sarah Magnan will be head coach for junior varsity as well as an assistant coach for varsity. Kristin Grebel will be an assistant coach for junior varsity and varsity.
Magnan, a new inclusion teacher, has been playing volleyball since she was in 7th grade. Magnan has received numerous accolades for her accomplishments in volleyball.
While playing in high school at Long County, she was named the best player in her region as a senior. She attended Georgia College, where she joined the club team as a junior. While on the team, she broke the record for most blocks in a single-season.
She hopes to share her love of the game with her players.
“Volleyball has given me so much during the time I’ve played. From mentors to friends to life lessons. I really wanted to give back to a sport that truly made me who I am today,” she said.
She hopes to inspire these young girls to have confidence and believe in themselves as an individual and an athlete. She understands that volleyball in middle school and high school does not provide many opportunities, but she wants her players to form good work ethic and become better athletes.
Mangan stated that being a good teammate is a crucial part of the game.
“I think the number one thing is being a good teammate,” she said. “This is definitely a sport where you can’t do it alone. The better person you are to your teammates, the more successful you and the whole team will be.”
This is Magnan’s first time coaching in a professional position. She has coached summer camps leading up to this point, however she feels they are not the same.
“I’m so excited to grow with the girls this season,” she said.
Grebel works in the technology department of the Putnam County Board of Education. She’s a Georgia Southern graduate, and she played in high school. She decided to focus on academics once she got to college.
Grebel was awarded the most improved player at Lee County High her freshman year.
When asked why she chose to be a coach, she said, “I have always had a passion for helping youth learn, grow and develop. I think learning a new sport and interacting as a team can be both beautiful and challenging, and it holds a special place in my heart to help them through that. Coaching isn’t just teaching them skillsets; it is helping them grow as people and learning positive traits for all areas of life. There are so many quality traits that can come from spending time on a sports team that will carry them long into the future. That is why I had such a persistence in trying to coach - these students succeed with passionate people on their side whether it be a parent, teacher, family member, neighbor or coach. I just want to be able to have a positive impact on them and be one of those people who they look back on as someone who truly was there for them.”
She hopes to instill students with team building so they can be proud of themselves and each other, whether they win or lose.
“A good volleyball player to her is one with character,” she said. “The girls need dedication, positive attitude and coachability to improve in the sport.”