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| THS senior Madison O'Leary celebrates a point after serving an ace during the Tigers match last week with state-ranked Camanche. Photo by Darren Miller. |
Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative
Time is winding down on another successful fall season in Tipton and for Tiger athletics. Last Thursday, the Tigers volleyball team hosted Camanche for senior night, looking to finish the 2018 season unbeaten in the regular season against RVC teams. The Indians came to town ranked No. 7 in Class 3A. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 in 3A. Tipton had already clinched their third straight RVC South title the week before. This night was also special because it was senior night.
Seniors on the Tipton team are Jamie Kofron, Blake Ehler, Amanda Smith, Emily Hermsen, Laken Hermiston, and Madison O’Leary. Another senior, Victoria Haydu is a foreign exchange student.
This senior group has been special, taking the program to new heights. In their four years, they have collected 106 match wins against 33 match losses. That is a winning percentage of nearly .700. They have led the program into being a regular in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s rankings and helped lead the program to its first state tournament last year.
Last Thursday, senior night was a little extra special for one Tiger, libero Madison O’Leary.
O’Leary spent her freshman and sophomore seasons on the junior varsity teams. She was a middle hitter her freshman season and then switched to the setter position. In getting ready for her senior season, the coaches made another position change, making her a libero.
She has put up modest stats as a Tiger playing in 24 sets at the varsity level going into this week's River Valley Conference tournament. That could be tough to take as a high school athlete. The prevailing thought is that by the time you are a senior, varsity teams are led by seniors who have put in their time, did the work and sacrificed for the program. That is the case this year, however, a deep senior class and a spattering of juniors, has shuffled conventional wisdom. O’Leary is a backup player and doesn’t see the court much. Being around though to see this run of success was in part to a decision she made, and really every athlete at some point has to make. It was a decision that would define her career as a Tiger.
After looking at the landscape of the depth chart in her grade and the grades coming up the choice was cut out for her. Quit, stay and be a cancer to the team culture, or stay and accept that she wasn’t in the regular rotation and work hard and make others better. She chose the latter.
“I was raised that if I wasn’t going to give 110-percent that I shouldn’t be out for the sport,” she said.
“I could have been a team cancer and sulk about it or I could choose to be a leader that works hard at practice and gets everyone hyped up to make my teammates better. I chose that,” said O’Leary.
It hasn’t always been easy despite that choice. Senior teammates have had successes in volleyball and other sports. Kofron is a Drake Relays and State Champion in track and field. Ehler has over 800 career kills, Hermiston is a multiple-year starter at catcher on the softball team, Hermsen is the star point guard in basketball, and Smith is the best athlete among them. O’Leary doesn’t have something like that to her athletic resume. Still, O’Leary stayed worked hard, and it has paid off.
“If you would have told me my freshman year that I would be part of a team that is ranked #2 as a senior I would have said you are crazy. It’s pretty special. Even though I am not a starter, it’s special knowing that I am making the girls that are on the floor better. It’s just awesome. This has been an awesome year,” she said.
O’Leary has found an important role with the varsity team the past two seasons. She is the captain of the bench squad who now famously has more fun and cheers louder than most opposing fan bases that attend the matches. It’s a role that O’Leary loves.
“I’m the captain of the bench crew,” said O’Leary with a smile. “It’s a matter of attitude. If I had a bad attitude that I wasn’t going to be a starter I would regret it. There is value to what I do. I am just as much of a Tiger as any of us,” she said.
Last season, the Tiger bench was as animated, rowdy and just plain having fun after every Tiger point last year. The now-famous ‘heal click’ after a successful ace serves by a Tiger player was introduced as was the contagious enthusiasm the bench had last year.
Last Thursday, being a senior started to hit O’Leary when her name was called during the pre-match ceremony. Waiting to have her name called and her parent's name read, it started to hit her. Walking out to receive her senior gifts from teammate and best friend Kamryn Chapman it really hit as both had tears in their eyes.
“It really hit me that this is it. Time is running out to play on the same team as her and my teammates,” said O’Leary.
O’Leary came in to serve last Thursday on the rotation to serve for Kamryn Chapman. Waiting to come in for the sub, she smiled, got a “Let’s go” from Chapman, who she subbed in for, then took the ball and took her serving position. On the floor with her were senior teammates Laken Hermiston, Jamie Kofron, Blake Ehler, and Amanda Smith and junior Sommer Daniel.
O’Leary served and the ball came in low, over the net and the Indians could not receive it, falling harmlessly for an ace serve. Hermiston and Smith saw it first and then O’Leary as hands raised in
celebration of the ace serve. O’Leary raised both hands and a wide smile came across her face. It was a sweet moment. This time, her teammates on the bench clicked their heals for her, instead of the other way around.
O’Leary finished the match, playing in a season-high four sets and was fourth on the team in serving in the match, going 11-for-12 with two ace serves. All career highs. On defense, she had two digs. She had a photo of her going after a ball on the Quad-City Times website, something that most athletes see as pretty cool.
“I didn’t know I was going to play tonight,” she said after the Tigers dispatched the Indians 3-1.
“Coach told Kamryn before, but not me. When she called on me and said, ok, you are serving, I was a little nervous. Camanche is ranked No. 7 and you see Madi parsons coming out of the back row hitting so hard, it was crazy to think that I was going to be in there,” said O’Leary.
O’Leary’s ace came at the expense of the Indian's best player, Madi Parsons. Parsons leads the RVC and is second in Class 3A in kills with 349.
“We have been working in practice about being aggressive and trusting yourself. I did and the ball got over. I knew that their (Camanche) passing wasn’t strong, so I was able to place the ball where Coach wanted me to and it fell in,” said O’Leary.
Tipton head volleyball coach Amy Calonder said that O’Leary is a great leader on the team.
“Madison is a great server. She doesn't get a lot of playing time, but she is an outstanding leader. She is an aggressive server and got a couple aces tonight. I was happy with how she came in and served tonight,” said Calonder after the Tigers win against the Indians.
Though her time as a Tiger is ending soon, she said it was all worth it and she has no regrets.
“I made a choice. I didn’t quit. Sure I would like to have more stats behind me, but I wouldn’t trade my four years. I am thankful for what has happened. My teammates mean so much to me, they are like family to me,” she said.
O’Leary will attend the University of Iowa, one of three Tiger senior volleyball players to do so next year. O’Leary is the daughter of Gary and Michelle O’Leary of Tipton. She will major in business and politics. She was involved in basketball, wrestling manager, band, choir, speech interact, NCYL, FBLA, and NCYL. She is also on the honor roll.
Time is winding down on another successful fall season in Tipton and for Tiger athletics. Last Thursday, the Tigers volleyball team hosted Camanche for senior night, looking to finish the 2018 season unbeaten in the regular season against RVC teams. The Indians came to town ranked No. 7 in Class 3A. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 in 3A. Tipton had already clinched their third straight RVC South title the week before. This night was also special because it was senior night.
Seniors on the Tipton team are Jamie Kofron, Blake Ehler, Amanda Smith, Emily Hermsen, Laken Hermiston, and Madison O’Leary. Another senior, Victoria Haydu is a foreign exchange student.
This senior group has been special, taking the program to new heights. In their four years, they have collected 106 match wins against 33 match losses. That is a winning percentage of nearly .700. They have led the program into being a regular in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s rankings and helped lead the program to its first state tournament last year.
Last Thursday, senior night was a little extra special for one Tiger, libero Madison O’Leary.
O’Leary spent her freshman and sophomore seasons on the junior varsity teams. She was a middle hitter her freshman season and then switched to the setter position. In getting ready for her senior season, the coaches made another position change, making her a libero.
She has put up modest stats as a Tiger playing in 24 sets at the varsity level going into this week's River Valley Conference tournament. That could be tough to take as a high school athlete. The prevailing thought is that by the time you are a senior, varsity teams are led by seniors who have put in their time, did the work and sacrificed for the program. That is the case this year, however, a deep senior class and a spattering of juniors, has shuffled conventional wisdom. O’Leary is a backup player and doesn’t see the court much. Being around though to see this run of success was in part to a decision she made, and really every athlete at some point has to make. It was a decision that would define her career as a Tiger.
After looking at the landscape of the depth chart in her grade and the grades coming up the choice was cut out for her. Quit, stay and be a cancer to the team culture, or stay and accept that she wasn’t in the regular rotation and work hard and make others better. She chose the latter.
“I was raised that if I wasn’t going to give 110-percent that I shouldn’t be out for the sport,” she said.
“I could have been a team cancer and sulk about it or I could choose to be a leader that works hard at practice and gets everyone hyped up to make my teammates better. I chose that,” said O’Leary.
It hasn’t always been easy despite that choice. Senior teammates have had successes in volleyball and other sports. Kofron is a Drake Relays and State Champion in track and field. Ehler has over 800 career kills, Hermiston is a multiple-year starter at catcher on the softball team, Hermsen is the star point guard in basketball, and Smith is the best athlete among them. O’Leary doesn’t have something like that to her athletic resume. Still, O’Leary stayed worked hard, and it has paid off.
“If you would have told me my freshman year that I would be part of a team that is ranked #2 as a senior I would have said you are crazy. It’s pretty special. Even though I am not a starter, it’s special knowing that I am making the girls that are on the floor better. It’s just awesome. This has been an awesome year,” she said.
O’Leary has found an important role with the varsity team the past two seasons. She is the captain of the bench squad who now famously has more fun and cheers louder than most opposing fan bases that attend the matches. It’s a role that O’Leary loves.
“I’m the captain of the bench crew,” said O’Leary with a smile. “It’s a matter of attitude. If I had a bad attitude that I wasn’t going to be a starter I would regret it. There is value to what I do. I am just as much of a Tiger as any of us,” she said.
Last season, the Tiger bench was as animated, rowdy and just plain having fun after every Tiger point last year. The now-famous ‘heal click’ after a successful ace serves by a Tiger player was introduced as was the contagious enthusiasm the bench had last year.
Last Thursday, being a senior started to hit O’Leary when her name was called during the pre-match ceremony. Waiting to have her name called and her parent's name read, it started to hit her. Walking out to receive her senior gifts from teammate and best friend Kamryn Chapman it really hit as both had tears in their eyes.
“It really hit me that this is it. Time is running out to play on the same team as her and my teammates,” said O’Leary.
O’Leary came in to serve last Thursday on the rotation to serve for Kamryn Chapman. Waiting to come in for the sub, she smiled, got a “Let’s go” from Chapman, who she subbed in for, then took the ball and took her serving position. On the floor with her were senior teammates Laken Hermiston, Jamie Kofron, Blake Ehler, and Amanda Smith and junior Sommer Daniel.
O’Leary served and the ball came in low, over the net and the Indians could not receive it, falling harmlessly for an ace serve. Hermiston and Smith saw it first and then O’Leary as hands raised in
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| Madison O'Leary serves during the Tigers home match against Camanche. Photo by Darren Miller. |
O’Leary finished the match, playing in a season-high four sets and was fourth on the team in serving in the match, going 11-for-12 with two ace serves. All career highs. On defense, she had two digs. She had a photo of her going after a ball on the Quad-City Times website, something that most athletes see as pretty cool.
“I didn’t know I was going to play tonight,” she said after the Tigers dispatched the Indians 3-1.
“Coach told Kamryn before, but not me. When she called on me and said, ok, you are serving, I was a little nervous. Camanche is ranked No. 7 and you see Madi parsons coming out of the back row hitting so hard, it was crazy to think that I was going to be in there,” said O’Leary.
O’Leary’s ace came at the expense of the Indian's best player, Madi Parsons. Parsons leads the RVC and is second in Class 3A in kills with 349.
“We have been working in practice about being aggressive and trusting yourself. I did and the ball got over. I knew that their (Camanche) passing wasn’t strong, so I was able to place the ball where Coach wanted me to and it fell in,” said O’Leary.
Tipton head volleyball coach Amy Calonder said that O’Leary is a great leader on the team.
“Madison is a great server. She doesn't get a lot of playing time, but she is an outstanding leader. She is an aggressive server and got a couple aces tonight. I was happy with how she came in and served tonight,” said Calonder after the Tigers win against the Indians.
Though her time as a Tiger is ending soon, she said it was all worth it and she has no regrets.
“I made a choice. I didn’t quit. Sure I would like to have more stats behind me, but I wouldn’t trade my four years. I am thankful for what has happened. My teammates mean so much to me, they are like family to me,” she said.
O’Leary will attend the University of Iowa, one of three Tiger senior volleyball players to do so next year. O’Leary is the daughter of Gary and Michelle O’Leary of Tipton. She will major in business and politics. She was involved in basketball, wrestling manager, band, choir, speech interact, NCYL, FBLA, and NCYL. She is also on the honor roll.
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| Tipton senior Madison O'Leary gets her photo taken on senior night with her mom, Michelle left, and dad, Garry right, before the Tigers match with state-ranked Camanche. The match was the final home regular-season match for the Tigers seniors and matched the winners of both divisions of the River Valley Conference. Photo by Darren Miller. |
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