By Brylee Beckley
A new school year brings a new sporting season for the Delta Eagles.
Now it’s finally time for the Eagles to prove that their hard work from the offseason has paid off.
Second-year volleyball coach Kylie Johnson’s coaching position will be hugely different this season. Johnson went on maternity leave last week in the middle of the volleyball season, leaving the team without their head coach. Johnson gave birth to her baby girl, Joli James Johnson, on Saturday August 27,2022
Coach Josh Collins has taken over the varsity team. They have already won their first match without head coach Johnson against Greenfield Central in three straight sets on Tuesday August 30.
“He has a great resumé and a good amount of experience coaching at a high level,” Johnson said. “I am confident he will do a great job and we will keep the momentum going forward.”
Collins was the assistant coach at New Castle High School where he helped guide the team to consecutive state championships in 2018 and 2019. Collins has coached all age groups from 11 to 18-year-olds.
He has also been the assistant coach for three national championships, two runners-up, and two third-place finishes at the Munciana Volleyball Club in Yorktown.
Senior Braelyn Fleck is confident the girls will continue to succeed.
“With Coach Johnson on maternity leave, it will definitely be a different atmosphere,” Fleck said. “We all know her expectations and we plan to achieve them even when she is gone.”
Boys Tennis
The boys’ tennis team has won the past 29 consecutive sectional titles. Now embarking on their potential 30th sectional title, head coach Tim Cleland is preparing with hard work daily.
“Every day, you’ve got to focus on what you’re doing well and what you aren’t doing so well, and not assume that just because you did it well once that you’ve got it all down,” Cleland said. “You have to work on it again and again.”
Junior Dalton Royal has played varsity since his freshman year. Royal believes that they will be able to get the job done and win their 30th consecutive sectional championship.
“We have a lot of potential this year, with new full-time varsity players,” Royal said.
The team is currently 2-5 for the season with four of the losses to teams in the State Top 20 Rankings
“Our goals are still achievable,” Cleland said. “We just need to keep working hard to get better.”
Boys Soccer
Boys’ soccer is experiencing a brand new opportunity this season. The team will be able to play on the Indy Eleven Field on Sept.10 against Yorktown High School.
The Indy Eleven team is a Division II Professional soccer team. Senior captains Levi Griffis and Mason Lynn are most excited for this game.
“We play Yorktown at Indy Eleven, then we get to stay to watch Indy Eleven play at 7,” Lynn said. “The team’s never played there before so we’re pretty excited.”
Head coach Kurt Griffis’s goals and senior Phoenix Butrum’s goals for the team are aligned.
“I want to win sectionals really bad. It’s my senior year and we’re hosting,” Butrum said. “That’s my biggest goal.”
Coach Griffis has the same thoughts.
“I would really like to see my team be able to beat Yorktown at sectionals on our home field,” Griffis said.
Junior David Trimmel was the team’s starting goalie last year, though this year he plays on the wing. A player who plays on the wing is on defense and helps create scoring opportunities.
“I asked David if he would play the field to fill in for the loss of senior starters from last year. His answer was, ‘I will play wherever the team needs me’,” Griffis said. “Players like David don’t fill highlight film or stat lines, but are the reason teams win games. I am hoping David’s commitment to selflessness is contagious.”
