Dirty Dozen 3-peat
By Coach Kate Wood
“Grow Up!” “We need to grow up.” “Grow up and focus!”
The 2024 Dirty Dozen is composed of 2 seniors, 5 juniors, 8 sophomores, and 1 Freshman.
Grow up. A version of this phrase was repeated throughout the summer, early season, mid season and right up to the post season, the staff was consistently working to help this young team “grow up." For our two seniors who had been part of the past two state championship teams, the dynamic of this young team was completely different from what they had experienced previously.
Being a part of a storied program like the Dirty Dozen is an honor, but for a young team, who doesn’t know what they don’t know, growing up was not an easy task. Growing up requires you to show up and train when you don’t feel like it. Growing up requires you to focus on the right things before and during the match. Growing up requires you to make sure your words match that focus when you are not on the court. Growing up takes time, and by the end of the season, we wondered as a staff if we had run out.
I have only been in Alabama for 11 years so I cannot speak on the history of AHSAA volleyball championship matches. But I have been told by many at the state level and by other coaches who have been around, that last Wednesday’s night 5 set epic title match between McT and Bob Jones might be the best volleyball championship the AHSAA has had in its history.
After what this group of girls gutted out that night vs. Bob Jones, which consisted of 7 seniors and 6 juniors and 1 sophomore, they grew up.
McGill-Toolen Catholic Congratulates Coach Kate Wood, her coaching staff, and the 2024 7A State Championship Dirty Dozen!
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