ANNA FALTERMEIER/The Smithville HeraldLeah Wall takes over as the head coach of the Smithville High volleyball program this fall. Wahl served as the head freshman coach in 2007.
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Warriors enjoying youthful spark under new coach's direction
By Scott Tittrington
Busy with her own responsibilities as a member of the Smithville High varsity volleyball team a season ago, Allie Daraban didn’t have much need to get a read on the school’s new freshman coach.
So it was that Daraban didn’t know what to expect when that coach — baby-faced newcomer Leah Wahl — was handed the varsity reins earlier this year after longtime boss Debbie Smith resigned from the position.
“When you look at her, she just seems so timid and quiet, so I was worried about that,” Daraban said. “Then she gets out here our first practice, and she’s the exact opposite. I was nervous at first, but it’s turned out better than what I thought it would be.”
That should be good news to Wahl’s ears. Because she admits she had her own nerves when the Smithville administration chose her to take over the program — at the ripe old age of 23.
It was just two seasons ago Wahl was finishing up her own playing career as a defensive specialist at William Jewell College in Liberty. After graduation in the spring of 2007, she arrived at Smithville, kick-starting her dual careers as a high school biology teacher and a volleyball coach.
Now, she is THE volleyball coach for the Warriors, in charge of youth-laden program that returns just two seniors this fall.
“I knew it would be a lot of hard work, but I wanted the job,” said Wahl, who had to wait two months after applying for the opening before receiving word that the position was hers. “I knew the girls had the talent, but needed someone to push them. And I push them.”
Daraban can vouch for that. The unquestioned team leader, she was crushed when she learned Debbie Smith and her husband, Greg Smith — the JV head coach — were not coming back for her senior season.
However, it’s taken just two weeks of fall camp to already buy into the new coach’s approach.
“It’s awesome,” Daraban said. “She makes it so much fun because she’s easy to relate to. She knows how to talk to us.
“And she knows how to work us. And the thing I like about her is she’s new, so she has a lot of new drills. I just love it.”
Whether the good preseason vibe will translate into positive results on the court is the current question. On one hand, Smithville is extremely young, as Shelby Richardson joins Daraban as the lone returning seniors.
However, only three seniors graduated from last year’s team, so that means those young players in the fold already have a wealth of experience. Among the key contributors will be juniors Lauren Catlett and Lauren Occhipinto, and sophomore Emily Ready.
“We’ve got a lot of athletic girls, and lot of girls that know it takes a lot of hard work to get to the next level, and they’re willing to do it,” Wahl said. “They’re very motivated, so that’s good.”
They’ve also got an admitted chip on their shoulder.
“I think we’re prepared. I think we can do it,” said Daraban, referring to a list of preseason goals that includes competing for conference and district titles.
“I think we’re underestimated, and I think people are going to be blown away when we get out there and play to our full potential.
Sports editor Scott Tittrington can be reached at 389-6632 or scotttittrington@npgco.com.
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So it was that Daraban didn’t know what to expect when that coach — baby-faced newcomer Leah Wahl — was handed the varsity reins earlier this year after longtime boss Debbie Smith resigned from the position.
“When you look at her, she just seems so timid and quiet, so I was worried about that,” Daraban said. “Then she gets out here our first practice, and she’s the exact opposite. I was nervous at first, but it’s turned out better than what I thought it would be.”
That should be good news to Wahl’s ears. Because she admits she had her own nerves when the Smithville administration chose her to take over the program — at the ripe old age of 23.
It was just two seasons ago Wahl was finishing up her own playing career as a defensive specialist at William Jewell College in Liberty. After graduation in the spring of 2007, she arrived at Smithville, kick-starting her dual careers as a high school biology teacher and a volleyball coach.
Now, she is THE volleyball coach for the Warriors, in charge of youth-laden program that returns just two seniors this fall.
“I knew it would be a lot of hard work, but I wanted the job,” said Wahl, who had to wait two months after applying for the opening before receiving word that the position was hers. “I knew the girls had the talent, but needed someone to push them. And I push them.”
Daraban can vouch for that. The unquestioned team leader, she was crushed when she learned Debbie Smith and her husband, Greg Smith — the JV head coach — were not coming back for her senior season.
However, it’s taken just two weeks of fall camp to already buy into the new coach’s approach.
“It’s awesome,” Daraban said. “She makes it so much fun because she’s easy to relate to. She knows how to talk to us.
“And she knows how to work us. And the thing I like about her is she’s new, so she has a lot of new drills. I just love it.”
Whether the good preseason vibe will translate into positive results on the court is the current question. On one hand, Smithville is extremely young, as Shelby Richardson joins Daraban as the lone returning seniors.
However, only three seniors graduated from last year’s team, so that means those young players in the fold already have a wealth of experience. Among the key contributors will be juniors Lauren Catlett and Lauren Occhipinto, and sophomore Emily Ready.
“We’ve got a lot of athletic girls, and lot of girls that know it takes a lot of hard work to get to the next level, and they’re willing to do it,” Wahl said. “They’re very motivated, so that’s good.”
They’ve also got an admitted chip on their shoulder.
“I think we’re prepared. I think we can do it,” said Daraban, referring to a list of preseason goals that includes competing for conference and district titles.
“I think we’re underestimated, and I think people are going to be blown away when we get out there and play to our full potential.
Sports editor Scott Tittrington can be reached at 389-6632 or scotttittrington@npgco.com.