Jackie Gehringer, DSHA '20
DSHA Bumps, Sets, and Spikes a Record
“Imagine how cool that would be!” Mary Klement exclaimed to her mother. “A girls’ volleyball team! Imagine, just imagine, winning a tournament!” After Title IX was passed, allowing girls to play school-supported athletic teams, Mary was constantly daydreaming of winning a real championship.
“Dream on,” John, Mary’s younger brother, said. “I can guarantee no one would want to watch you guys play.”
Mary ignored him. There was no way anyone could bring her down. She had never been more passionate for anything like this before.
“John, knock it off,” Mary’s mom said, sliding a pancake onto his plate. “I’d love to watch her play!”
“That’s just because you have to, you’re her mom.”
Mary laughed, said her goodbyes, and went outside to wait for her friend Kris to pick her up. They were both juniors at Divine Savior Holy Angels, and they both loved volleyball, almost as much as they loved Neil Young. For the past few weeks, all they could talk about were their plans for their new team, a tournament, and the upcoming Olympics in Munich.
“Are you nervous? I’m nervous!” Kris said rapidly, bouncing her legs. Ruth Wiedenbeck, or as everyone knew her, Coach, was supposed to meet with the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association to fight for the girls’ right to play. This meeting would determine whether or not the girls would play.
“Are you kidding me? No one can say no to Coach!” Mary meant that. Coach gave the inspiration and fight the girls needed, and Mary admired her in every way.
“I’m serious! Who’s going to watch a bunch of girls play volleyball? Let alone sponsor them?”
“Kris! Don’t be such a spaz! And have some faith for once!” Mary said, knowing that there was some truth to Kris’s fear. A lot of the girls on the team felt the same way— hopeless. Coach, Mary, and Mary’s best friend, Judy, were the only ones who really believed in the team.
The school day couldn’t have gone by any slower. In almost all of her classes, Mary had a test, and if she didn’t have a test, it was a pop quiz. In Mary’s last hour, English, it seemed as though the discussion on Hamlet was never ending. When the bell finally rung, she raced to the library, meeting up with everyone else.
Terry, Kris, Jody, Barbara, Carol, Ann, Judy, Linda, Krista, Lisa, and Mary were all in the back of the library, waiting for Coach. Everyone was either anxiously biting their nails, rapidly clicking pens, or violently tapping their shoes. Everyone but Mary and Judy, who calmly sat still in their chairs. They were undoubtedly the driving forces behind the team. If it weren’t for them, there wouldn’t be a team in the first place.
About half an hour passed before Coach came. When she entered the room, the whispers and taps amongst the girls disappeared. She carefully placed her clipboard onto the table and sighed.
“Girls,” she started. “It has been an uphill battle for all of us and I wanted you to know that, no matter what, I’m proud of you.”
“Oh, don’t say it!” groaned Terry. Every girl gave a heavy sigh. Kris nudged Mary and gave her an I told you so look.
“That’s why,” Coached paused for a dramatic effect, “it’s my pleasure to announce that Divine Savior Holy Angels will indeed have an official girls’ volleyball team!” Everyone cheered as Mary returned the look back to Kris.
“That’s so groovy! What was it like?” Carol asked.
“It wasn’t easy, but that was expected, wasn’t it. Of course, everyone at the WISAA is a man, so imagine convincing them to agree with me. But, I was able to change their minds!”
Judy piped in, “Finally!”
A murmur of agreement was said amongst them. “Yes, I know. There is, however, an . . . obstacle that we’re faced with.”
“Shocker,” Ann and Jody sighed in unison.
“What is it?” Kris said, expecting the worse.
“It’s not as bad as you think, ladies. It’s just that we won’t be able to get enough sponsors. Like I said, the WISAA was reluctant to even agree with having a girls’ team. Just think about the businesses who won’t agree. I mean, the idea of a girl sweating is still frowned upon.”
Everyone groaned but Mary. “Are you guys serious? That’s fine! We’ll raise our own money!” Barbara laughed at the idea. Linda rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what we’ll do!” Judy said, standing up for Mary. “We can ask our parents, neighbors, grandparents, cousins. The list goes on!”
Krista put her chin in her hand. “How do we know they’ll want to help us? What if they’re against the idea?”
Mary was blown away. “Who wouldn’t want to help in this historic event? Plus, there’s so much more we can do!”
“We can have a bake sale!” Lisa chirped.
“And a car wash!”
Coach’s smile grew and grew. “There we go ladies! I knew we could figure something out!” The girls spent hours in the library that night, overjoyed and excited. They talked about the uniforms they’d have, the cheers the cheerleaders would perform, the tournaments they’d be in. “I think you know what this means, girls,” Coach said. All the girls looked at her in confusion. “I’ll see you at practice tomorrow!”
Spring that year went by quickly. No matter how awful Mary’s day was from the essays and equations she’d have to labor over, she would always have volleyball to look forward to. She practiced all year round, but this time it meant something more. However, she wasn’t practicing for a ragtag team that was organized by everyone’s parents. No, this time, she was practicing for a team that could win championships, that could make history.
The day after the very successful bake sale, Coach shouted, “Mary! Judy! I need to talk with you girls!”
The two hustled over to her. “What’s up?” Judy asked. Mary nodded.
“You see, I’ve spent some time thinking about it, and I realized we’ll need some captains on this team,” Coach grinned.
“Really? You mean it?” Mary said, shocked and honored.
“You two are the ones that lead this team already. The girls look up to you.”
Mary and Judy looked over their shoulders to see the girls stretching. Terry and Ann were staring at them, but stopped once they were caught by the new captains.
Coach winked, “So, I take that as a yes?”
“Yes!” the two said in sync. They then ran back to the team.
Soon, summer came. Although some girls were going on vacation, Mary didn’t stop. She practiced for two hours every day, and if she wasn’t practicing, she was fundraising. The newly founded Parent Athletic Club was kicking off to a great start, and Mary predicted that by August, they would be past their goal of $1,100.
One night at the dinner table, John brought up the team. “So, you still think people are going to want to watch girls play volleyball?”
“You still think I care what you think?”
“Didn’t answer the question.”
Mary rolled her eyes, “Shut up.”
“Mary! Watch it!” her father said sternly.
“Oh, Dad,” Mary whined. “Come on! He started it. And weren’t you listening to him?” Mary looked at him with big eyes and her eyebrows raised.
After some silence, her father finally spoke up. “It’s just that I don’t completely disagree with him.”
“You’re kidding!” Mary looked at her mother for some reassurance, but found none. “You guys are a joke!” Mary threw her napkin on the table and stormed upstairs, putting her Joni Mitchell album on. She then grabbed her volleyball.
Weeks passed by and anticipation grew in not only the team, but the whole school as well. Even the principle, Kenneth Grover, became excited. The first ever statewide all girls’ volleyball tournament was going to be in two weeks.
“Are you okay?” Mary asked Kris. She smiled and nodded, just her typical nerves. Jody and Barbara talked about braiding everyone’s hair for the big day.
Judy and Mary walked over to Coach. “You ready?” Coach beamed.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Judy responded. Even her nerves had gotten the best of her. “Do you think we can pull this off?”
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