BROWNSTOWN
When Jennifer Shade took over the Brownstown Central volleyball program nearly 20 years ago, she had a vision.
Shade wanted a group of athletes that represented the community to the fullest inside and out of the classroom.
In 2017, Shade feels that those goals were met.
“We decided we needed to re-vamp our program and start something new,” Shade said. “These girls represented the vision I had 20 yards ago. They are the class-act program I wanted to have. They’ve been respectful to the coaches, bus drivers, officials, administration and their teachers. They’ve been a class-act in the community. These girls have shown dedication.”
The Braves celebrated their fall campaign Monday in the school’s auditorium with their season-ending banquet.
Brownstown’s varsity finished 19-15 overall. In the postseason, the Braves advanced to the Class 3A Silver Creek Sectional championship, where they fell to the host school in five sets.
Junior libero Brooklyn Snodgrass took home an armful awards on the evening.
Snodgrass was selected to the Class 3A All-State team, with a total of 14 players from the class making the team.
She was named All-Mid-Southern Conference and took home Brownstown Central’s awards for Most Valuable Player, Outstanding Defensive Player and Leading Passer.
Other statistical awards were presented to Riley Nuss (assists leader, leading server) and Addie Wilkerson (blocking).
Claire Pace got the leading hitter award and was named to the All-MSC team.
Keeli Darlage was All-MSC honorable mention.
The mental attitude award was presented to Grace Jaynes, and Kendra McCory took home junior varsity most improved.
For their efforts in the classroom, Pace and Jaynes — the two Braves seniors — were named Academic All-State.
Pace, Darlage, Nuss, Heidi Booher, Halle Hehman and manager Maddie Huber all received letter jackets.
Nuss, Darlage, Snodgrass and Pace will play in the Don Shondell’s All-Star Games on Nov. 25.
Snodgrass and Pace also were invited to try out for the junior and senior IHSVCA All-Star teams for Class 3A/4A.
Manager Sam Pace, Wilkerson and Madisen Polly all received their first varsity letters.
The Braves’ JV team finished 13-6, and the freshman squad went 14-5. Cassidy Wurtzberger headed the JV, and Abbi Young led the freshmen team.