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 Yay!! Junior High arrived and made
possible the opportunity to play
organized sports and finally she would
be on a real team and not just a
ballgirl. Emily played at the
middle position on her 7th and 8th grade
team. The Mason coach,
who would have many competitive years
trying to get past Lakewood at the
Varsity level, would ask "who is the
stud playing middle and how does
Lakewood grow them like this year after
year?" She thought Emily reminded
her of a young Heather Mitchell that
went through the system in previous
years and would play for a Final Four
ring while at Michigan State.
After Emily's
7th grade season, Em was asked to be
apart of an AAU team put together by the
Varsity Volleyball Coaches (the Rowlands)
who saw much potential in a group of Jr.
High athletes. What a thrill for
Em! Not only would she ballgirl
for them, she would be under their
direction as a "real" player. This
Blue Power team would prove to be very
talented and Emily would now be playing
right
 side. (After
Emily's 8th grade year, the Rowlands
would resign from years at the Varsity
Volleyball helm as they had a talented
son who would be coming up through
athletics of his own and they wanted to
be devoted to him.) These girls would
become very successful and would also
become very close as friends. They
not only competed together week in and
week out, but they had many
get-togethers after tournaments.
They also would travel to Chicago with
their families and compete at an Asics
tournament. It was kinda the big
time for such young girls from our small
community. They also vacationed
together when the team and their
families would go to Cedar Point for a
few days for a year end wrap up trip.
Emily would play Blue Power with this
group while in the 7th, 8th and 9th
grades.
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Emily would make the Varsity Volleyball team
as a freshman and how incredibly honored she
felt. She would now be a teammate with
her other Blue Power teammates and many of
those that she looked up to. She
worked hard with the hope of possible
playing time the next year. Em always
said her most favorite game ever was when
she was a bench/practice player her freshman
year when Lakewood beat a talented East
Grand Rapids team. Lakewood was a huge
underdog and would win their Regional before
going on to the Quarter-finals with all the
fun and fan fair it provided. The
medal she received that day would be her
most prized possession (and is with her now
along with other treasured volleyball
memorabilia). ***
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Emily's sophomore season with volleyball
would be a year that allowed her to play
right side and also left side. She
excelled that year athletically and at
age 15 was awarded 1st team Barry County
and, more importantly, 1st Team
All-Conference. She would wear the
#5 uniform. It was the
 number she loved and many
predecessors that she had ballgirled for and
looked up to had worn that beloved number. That
year Lakewood would lose to a talented South
Christian team in the Regionals. Em would
maintain her focus and continue weight lifting
as she had alot of excitement about what was yet
to be achieved and looked forward with anticipation
of what 2 more additional years of competition
could bring her, her teammates and her beloved
Lakewood community (volleyball is a big deal
here). Emily decided to try out for an USAV
team after her sophomore season. There
would be extensive traveling and
sacrifices to make. She was willing to
do this with the hope of more exposure
and the possibility of playing at the
college level. She achieved that
goal and made the National Team.
She was thrilled!!
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Emily's high school years of Varsity
Volleyball proved to be short but
blessed. She loved the game and
loved her teammates and also loved
that her dad was her coach. Her home
#5 jersey was retired and given to
the family and the other jersey
would be displayed in the trophy
case at the high school. Her
teammates would honor her and play
for her. They kept her close
in thought and in their hearts.
With each time out or start to the
game, her teammates would shout
"Just Du-its" and a t-shirt sporting
her name and # would be on the bench
to acknowledge her part on the team,
if not physically then in spirit and
to keep her memory with them.
*** (After
Em's passing, Heather Mitchell, who
we only knew because of her
accomplishments as a volleyball
player years before we became
involved with volleyball, came and
talked to our family. She
wanted to give Emily her Final Four
ring that she received while playing
for Michigan State. She told
us that she herself had never really
appreciated her own opportunity and
took for granted her own athleticism
and that Em was worthy and deserving
to have this ring because it's one
thing that Em wanted to work towards
and achieve. Our family was
very, very humbled and
honored....and so would have Em.
The ring was placed on Em's finger
and is still with her now.*** |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Photos and
Quotes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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"Hard work and
togetherness ... they
go hand in hand. You need the hard
work because it's a tough atmosphere ...
to win week in and week out. You need togetherness
because you may not always win and you gotta hang
together." |
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"Desire is the key to motivation,
but it's the determination and commitment to an
unrelenting
pursuit of your goal - a commitment to
excellence - that will enable you
to attain the success you seek." |
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"All successful people have a
goal.
No one can get anywhere unless
she knows where she wants to go
and what she wants to do." |
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"If winning isn't everything,
why do they keep score?" |
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"We are told that talent creates it's own
opportunities. But it seems that heart and desire is
what determines the outcome of the opportunity." |
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"To succeed ... you need to find something to hold
on to,
something to motivate you,
and something to inspire you." |
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"The will to win, the desire to
succeed,
the urge to reach your full potential ... these
are the keys that will unlock the door to personal
excellence." |
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"Em's freshman team." |
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"Em's sophomore team. " |
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