One of South Salem High School’s coaches recently took a step forward as he began pushing for Boys Volleyball.
Coach Leichty recently began encouraging the idea of South Salem High School’s first boys volleyball team since it opened in 1954. The idea came to Coach Leichty when he was asked about starting a team last year. He wasn’t able to make it work, but this year he plans to change that!
“I grew up in Oregon, so I didn’t have the opportunity to compete at the high school level, but was fortunate to learn the game from my uncle who was a coach. Not a lot of guys have had the chance to see what volleyball at a high level looks like, but there is a ton of interest in playing. Volleyball is a great lifetime sport, and is something that people can play at all levels throughout the lift.” Said Leichty.
So, why is this important? Volleyball started around 1895, since then it has been on the rise. However, Volleyball has been stereotyped as a “women’s sport” and High Schools have steered away from all-boy teams. In the fall of 2022, a Carolina mother began advocating for an all-boys volleyball team after the coaches meetings told her no boys would be allowed to play on an all-girls team. She then took it into her own hands and helped create an all-boys volleyball team that ended up winning championships.
“I can’t say it enough, but I’m so proud of this team and this senior class with the leadership they’ve provided,” Head Coach Drew Copeland said. “They are starting something new and creating a legacy. I can’t wait to see how (boys’ volleyball) continues to grow and unfold.”
With the help of the girls volleyball staffing team, they plan their first practice for March 13, 6:30pm at South Salem High School.
“Boys Volleyball in high schools has been growing rapidly across the country, and many states have been adding it as an officially sanctioned high school sport. It is also one of the biggest men’s sports being added at the college level in the US, so there is a lot of opportunity for high school athletes to go and compete at the next level.” Coach Leichty said.
Those who are interested in joining can enter into the team’s Remind by texting “@saxonmenvb” to 81010.
