Newberry volleyball teammates sign letters to play in college
BY CLIFF TUMETEL
NEWBERRY, Fla. – From David Schmidt and Ian Hubbert to Hollie Pabst, Newberry High School has seen a lot of their Panthers sign their way to the next level this year.
Tuesday was no different, as not one, not two, but three volleyball players signed on to the collegiate level.
Hailey Tharp, Hanna Templeton, and Sarah Watson took to the stage one more time as their family, friends, and loved ones celebrated their accomplishments.
Tharp heads to Florida State College at Jacksonville, Templeton will be taking her talents to Webber International University, and Sarah Watson, the Class of 2024 Valedictorian, will be going to William Paterson University.
No doubt, their last season was something special, going as far as the final four in the 2023 Class 1A State Championships, but now that chapter is over for the three of them, and a new one begins.
When it comes to searching for the right team and the right school, many factors play into the decision, but for these Panthers, one thing comes to mind: family – and they all said they found their new home because of that.
“They just welcomed me in like a family. It’s really what I looked for in volleyball. It’s not just a game; it’s also the team and the family atmosphere, and they had all of that,” said Tharp.
“The atmosphere with the players as a whole, just how they connected and how we all connected and me being a setter, to really try and be that leader,” Templeton said.
“William Paterson really seemed to foster that ‘we take care of each other’ kind of environment,” Watson said.
Being persistent, working hard, always improving – those are just some of the things Head Coach Hank Rone focused on when talking about the trio and how proud he’s been to see those things on the court and in the classroom.
“The one thing all three have in common is, they all work hard, and not only in the sports arena but in the classroom. When you heard Mr. Sheppard say [that] their GPAs were all over 4.0 and this is – for the volleyball program, this is our second Valedictorian in a row, so it’s pretty awesome to have back-to-back Valedictorians, and Sarah kept that torch going,” said Rone.
Rone said they were fun to coach, and he can’t wait to see them continue to grow their volleyball careers.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these three. Hailey and Hanna have been with us from freshmen year on; Sarah came in mid-sophomore year – she did some stay-at-home during the COVID stuff, but once she got here, she blossomed,” said Rone.
Now it’s time for all three to get ready to play some college volleyball, and each talked about their goals when they step on a new court.
For Templeton, it’s all about improving herself even more: “Just to be the best that I could be, and I’m still improving, obviously, but I don’t ever think that there is a limit to your potential. I think you can always still improve and grow, but once I step on the court it’s the next play, next level.”
Tharp wants to keep her confidence up at an all-time high: “Have confidence. If I lose confidence, then it’s not going to be a really good experience for me, so if I keep my confidence up and just play with my team like they’re a family, I’ll be good to go.”
And Watson keeps it simple but important: “Help my team and play for the people on the court or on the sideline.”