Jennifer Shade has seen a lot of great volleyball teams come through the gym at Brownstown Central High School.
Multiple sectional titles, Mid-Southern Conference championships, plenty of long postseason runs and even more victories.
Earlier in October, Shade reached the 600-win milestone as the 2019 edition of the Brave volleyball rattled off another big win over MSC rival North Harrison in Ramsey, Ind.
They followed up the victory with win No. 601 and wrapped up an another undefeated league season with a win over Salem.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallerySo far this season, the Braves have notched 29 wins and it’s the second year in a row they’ve netted this many victories.
When reaching 600 wins is so tough for any coach to achieve, it gets a little bit easier when you’ve had teams as high quality as Shade has had over the years.
Last Saturday, the Braves earned their first sectional since 2013 after spending years in a loaded sectional that included perennial powers Providence and Silver Creek.
The Pioneers bumped up to Class 4A a few seasons ago and sectional realignment vaulted the Braves up north to a new sectional.
Trying to prepare for several new teams appeared to be tough on paper, but the overpowering Braves proved they were going to be too much for whoever they faced.
Still even as good as the Class 3A third-ranked Braves are, the new venue provided some challenges.
“This first year has been hard because our [regular season] schedule is already set,” Shade said. “So, it takes a little bit more work scouting and getting more game film.”
That extra work, and extra drive to learn from her players, is why Shade has earned more than 600 wins in her career.
Pressed on whether this group of players was one of the best she’s ever had, Shade agreed they were towards the top, but qualified the statement saying each group has been great in their own way.
She did say, however, there is no weakness with this team.
“What I can say about this team is that it is very talented,” Shade said. “I don’t have any role players, I have true volleyball players out here and you don’t get that all the time as a coach.
“It’s a blessing this year to have this group of girls.”
Many of this year’s Brownstown Central volleyball team has had Shade as their coach prior to their high school season.
That’s not uncommon for someone like Shade, who has been heavily involved in all facets of the program for several years.
The four seniors of this year’s team; Keeli Darlage, Addie Wilkerson, Halle Hehman and Riley Nuss, have played together for a long time and to finally win a sectional title was something Shade was overjoyed to see them do.
“They started when they were really young, they’ve worked together, played together for so long and they deserved this before they played their last season,” Shade said.
Saturday’s win over Edgewood was win No. 608 for Shade.
Darlage, who was voted the Tribune’s volleyball player of the year last season, has played for Shade since at least the fifth grade when she was her club coach.
Saturday’s win was an emotional moment for Darlage and the rest of the Brownstown Central volleyball seniors.
Trying to put into words what the sectional championship meant to her was tough in the heat of the moment.
However, Darlage was able to perfectly sum up her feelings for her coach.
“She’s an amazing coach,” Darlage said. “I’ve had her since fifth grade when I played club ball with her. She’s always been there for me, she’s taken care of everyone on the team and she’s just been a great coach all around.”
Don’t think for a second that the Braves are done with just a sectional title.
They want to end their year in Muncie, Ind. and give their coach win No. 612 on November 9.
They’ll open up regional play at Danville High School against Speedway at noon on Oct. 26.