Molly Keshin, Reporter
@mollykCourant
Just five years ago, boys volleyball was not even a sport at NCHS. Now flash forward to 2015; the Rams are dominating the sport as they hold one of the top spots in the FCIAC. Some may ask how this is even possible, but those involved with the program seem to have a similar answer to the question: Tyler Edwards.
As one of the three senior co-captains, Tyler is leading the boys volleyball team in another strong season alongside Mike Dayton and Cory Hall. As for head coach Todd Kress, he feels that the three captains have not only lead the way on the court, but also they have helped him adjust to the program as a new coach alongside Assistant Coach Amy Warren. “When I came in, Coach Warren said that there were senior captains in place in Mike, Cory, and Tyler,” Mr. Kress said. “As a group on the court, they do the all right things, and off the court they excel in the classroom, so they’re just all around good guys.”
Even though Tyler may be the commanding force on the court, he had not picked up a volleyball until his freshman year. “I used to play three sports, but I got too many concussions, so I had to start playing a non-contact sport,” Tyler said. “Since my brother Zachary started the program here, I figured I should try it out. I ended up playing with him a few times and it turned out that I was better at volleyball than I was at any other sport I had played.”
While Tyler hasn’t played volleyball for a very long time, his teammates, especially fellow captain Mike Dayton, feel as though he is the most experienced and therefore very influential. “Since Tyler’s been on varsity all four years, he knows how hard you have to play and how determined you have to be at this level,” Mike said. “He sets a bar for everyone to reach, and if you don’t, he definitely makes sure that we’re all striving for it and helps us get there.”
For most, volleyball is a game to be played on the beach in the summer with your friends. But for Tyler, it is a year-round commitment, as he plays beach volleyball as well as for a club team during the off season. According to Coach Warren, Tyler’s dedication gives him a better understanding of the sport, which is what makes him such a special part of the Rams program. “Tyler truly understands the game of volleyball and that in volleyball, mistakes can be made, so he’s always there to help the guys realize that it’s happened, it’s over, move on,” Coach Warren said. “He really listens and takes in any advice he gets because he doesn’t think that he’s the best, even though he probably is one of the better players in the area. He understands that there’s always room for improvement.”
While Tyler recognizes that he is a significant contribution to the team’s success in the past few years, he also feels that the NCVB program is truly beginning to develop. “I’ve been here ever since the program pretty much started, so I feel like I’ve always been an anchor on the court,” Tyler said. “I was worried that when I graduate, we wouldn’t have any offensive weapons to put the ball down and score points, but now that these younger kids are starting to step up and show themselves, it makes me feel a lot better.”
Tyler also feels that along with the team’s skills, the chemistry and morale has also changed for the better. “In the past, we’ve had problems with players that were more invested in themselves than the team,” Tyler said. “This year, everyone’s in it for the team and everyone wants to have fun and it’s just so much better because in volleyball, like in most sports, if you’re having fun, you’ll be more relaxed, so you’ll play better.”
While the boys continue to enjoy their season and see their hard work pay off, the coaches are beginning to dread the day when the season comes to a close. “I’ve been dreading this for four years,” Coach Warren said. “I remember the first year Tyler came in and thought, ‘Yeah he’s only a freshman!’ and now he’s a senior. It’ll be different without him next year because he was a lot to this team, but I think we’ll be okay because we have a lot of younger guys that are really going to step up.”
Mr. Kress agrees that while Tyler will be a huge loss, the team will have to keep working hard in order to keep succeeding. “Tyler is one of the better players in this region and in the state, so those are huge shoes to fill,” Mr. Kress said. “Looking at the JV there’s a couple of guys out there now doing a nice job, we’ve got a couple of juniors that will be rising seniors that will step into that role, but you really can’t replace somebody that provides so much because he point scores so much for us both offensively and defensively.”
Even though Tyler will not be taking his volleyball skills to the college level, he wants to keep playing because he feels as though he has made a deep connection with the sport. “Volleyball has definitely had a huge impact on my life, and it has changed me for the better,” Tyler said. “It has taught me to work really hard for the things that you’re good at and to always keep improving because you can never be good enough.”
