With nearly the entire student body in attendance inside the packed gymnasium, the state champion Warhill volleyball team watched as Athletic Director Dan Mullen hoisted four banners marking its achievements over the season.
The MaxPreps Girls Volleyball Tour stopped by Warhill High for a ceremony Friday morning to honor the Lions’ volleyball squad with the Army National Guard trophy. The 2014 award was given to 10 schools nationally ranked in the top 100.
The Lions won the school’s first state championship in any sport when it defeated Cave Springs in the Virginia High School League’s Group 3A title last fall to finish off the season with a 30-1 record. Their historic season led to a ranking of 63rd in the country out of more than 17,000 high school volleyball programs.
“It’s beyond cool,” said Greg Koon, the volleyball head coach and 3A State Volleyball Coach of the Year. “To be ranked 63rd nationally, number one in the state out of all conferences — it’s an incredible accomplishment.”
Williamsburg native Sgt. Emmanuel Nicolis of the Virginia Army National Guard presented Koon and the Lions volleyball team with the Minuteman trophy.
“We really didn’t expect to get it,” senior captain Megan Harrigan said of receiving the award. “It’s an amazing feeling. You can’t really compare it to any other feelings you’ve felt before. It’s just a huge honor. We’re all really excited to get it.”
After receiving the MaxPreps trophy, Mullen called the volleyball team together for a surprise hoisting of their state championship banner, which drew roaring applause from those in attendance.
“It’s bone-chilling,” Koon said about the outpouring of support for his team. “I had goosebumps until it was over. It was very exciting.”
The ceremony was preceded by a Black History Month recognition video, a reading of an original poem by a Warhill student and musical performances by the Warhill orchestral group and pep band.
While the celebration was happening in the gym, Koon admitted he was already looking ahead to next season.
“Every year we’ve improved a little bit each season,” Koon said. “Now I’ve found myself trying to figure out how we improve on a 30-1 season with a state championship. To go 31-0 — that would be nice, but it doesn’t really matter as long as you end the season on a win.”
