John Garrelts on Team Growth, Season Goals and District Preparation

Junior+John+Garrelts+goes+up+for+the+block+against+Francis+Howell+on+4%2F5.+

Credit to Josie Santel

Junior John Garrelts goes up for the block against Francis Howell on 4/5.

By Jamie Sneed

Q: What is the most rewarding part of playing volleyball?
A: This year it’s been getting to see everyone get better, so getting better and winning.

Q: What do you do to stay active in the offseason?
A: I play all year round. This summer I’ll be on a team then over the winter I’ll be on another team.

Q: Who do you look up to on or outside of the team?
A: On the team, I look up to Thomas and I also look up to my coaches. Off the team, I look Up to my dad.

Q: What were some of your goals heading into the season?
A: Going into the season we wanted a winning record. We also wanted to beat central and DeSmet, we didn’t get to beat DeSmet, but we can still have a good record.

Q: What has been the biggest struggle with having majority new players on varsity this year?
A: The biggest struggle is getting us all to play together, obviously, we haven’t all played together before. We still have time to improve; we have all of next year.

Q: What are some of the team traditions you have this year?
A: Before games, we sit in a room all together and stay quiet for five minutes to focus up.

Q: What has your transition to captain been like?
A: It’s not much different I just can’t mess around as much in practice and in warm-ups I have to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Q: How have you been preparing for districts?
A: We have been focusing more before games, trying to make sure everyone stays focused and in practices same thing, just trying to get focused.