Rosters set for Pinellas Senior All-Star volleyball match

24 Pinellas County players have been selected to participate in the Senior All-Star volleyball match hosted by Indian Rocks Christian December 2 at 7:30 p.m.   

The team coached by Keswick Christian head coach Lindsey Crosby and assisted by Lauren Kaminski (Boca Ciega) features: Karly Gilchrist (East Lake), Morgan Kosterlitz (Palm Harbor University), Allison Shirley (Osceola), Marissa Hamilton (St. Petersburg), Kenzie Reynolds (IRC), Erin Hughes (Northeast), Rebekah Morgan (Calvary Christian), Stephanie Juergens (Osceola), Michele Gentry (PHU), Erica Ramos (Dunedin), Brooke Owen (Shorecrest) and Megan McClean (Dunedin). Olivia Hopper (Bogie) and Lauryn Tarvin (Northside Christian) are alternates.

Making up the opposing squad are: head coach Sean O'Flannery (Lakewood), assistant coach Patrick Sneed (Tarpon Springs), Evan Ligon (Lakewood), Taylor Whaley (Lakewood), Madison Truluck (Countryside), Callie Hasko (Northside), Mercedez Wilgus (Countryside), Natalie Mahy (East Lake), Alix Bigley (Tarpon), Adaisha Rutledge (Lakewood), Bianca Ianello (Bogie), Emily Long (Tarpon), Macey Hall (Canterbury) and Hannah Smith (PHU). Sarah Bash (IRC) and Gia Tomossone (Countryside) are alternates.

-- BRYAN BURNS 

Comments

[112233aa]

I agree with Sandy and Mike. Coach K had plenty of time to play all the girls in a match that went 4 games. One girl never came out while 3 sat the bench for almost the entire night? If the match was during states or even in the regular season there is nothing wrong with playing the best and sitting the others but this was a showcase exhibition. Something was deffinitely wrong with her judgement. Coach K should not coach in this event, put in another coach with more appreciation for the players. Those girls were robbed of a great experience.

[Sandy G]

Getting all of the players in is important but to play a few of the girls for only a few points does not seem fair. One player played the entire match? Sounds like Coach K definitely lost sight of what the match was about. 4 games and she couldn't rotate more? Thats unbelievable, she could have played every girl 2 complete games. I don't agree with parents being obnoxious, but it sounds like that guy had a point. Coach K took away something from some of the girls that they will never get back. Perhaps the county coaches should put a policy in place so that this sort of thing does not happen again. It's sad that a policy would would have to be expained to a high school coach.

[.....]

What were the coaches thinking about the MVPs, did anyone happen to realize that Evan Ligon played in every position and DOMINATED at them all! SETTER, LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, and BACKROW!

[Vball]

Funny thing is, at least Coach K got all her players in. As I recall, I don't think the other side can say the same.

[mIKE s]

What a sad story this turned out be. One parent needs a time out for being rude and one coach needs training in sportsmanship. I certainlty do not condone parents or fans being rude and obnoxious but it does sound like the coach lost her vision on what the game was supposed to be about. It does sound totaly unfair not rotate all of the players and give them all a chance to play and have fun, after all it did not matter who won the match. In the end it sounds like some of the kids lost out. I feel for the players that did not get to play much, this game should have been about them. It sounds like the coach lost her vision and really let some of the players down. With 4 games, there should have been plenty of time for all of the players to play, not just some of them. Parents and coaches should be adults as well as good role models. Shame on both of them.

[Larry J]

What was truly horrible was that a coach would let her own ego get in the way of what should have been a terrific night for my daughter. Coach K was so bent on trying to beat the Lakewood coach that she lost her judgement. She played 1 girl for every point of all 4 games, rotated in in a few other subs, and played my daughter and 2 other girls for less than 10 points the entire night. This was not states, this was an exhibition. My daughter cried after the game, but not because of what I did. But because she practiced and looked forward to the match with great excitement, then sat for almost the entire night. She told me that she would have rather not been selected than to waste her time like that. She was embarrassed to sit on the bench during a match that should only have been about having fun. My daughter did not see MY inappropriate behavior (she was so upset that she left almost immediately) but she what she did witness was inappropriate actions of Coach K. I realize that coaches put in time for free and I appreciate that. But to justify bad judgement just because someone volunteered is ridiculous. My only hope is that other coaches that participate in events like this show the common sense that Coach K lacks and play all the girls so that it will be a night to remember for all. After all, an event like this should not have been about winning.

[Coach]

The problem with the above comment about Coach Kaminski is the parent. The way he handled himself after the game cursing in front of players, fans, and other coaches was completely uncalled for.

These coaches give up their time to help coach these matches. There is no money associated with the game. It is a pleasure for the coaches of Pinellas County to be a part of this. Every coach tries to get the players in. It's not about equal play time all though we try to get all the players exposed to the college coaches in attendance.

I am aware of the person who posted the comment above. As an association, we are very disappointed in the way you behaved, especially after the AD of Indian Rocks told you to leave the gym and campus if you were going to continue to behave the way you were.

I sincerely feel horrible for your daughter who had to witness this in front of her team and friends. I feel you have done more damage to your daughter than anyone else.

[Larry J]

The allstar game was a great experience for most of the allstars but unfortunately Lauren Kaminski didn't make it feel that way for all of the allstars. This should have been an excellent opportunity to let the allstars have fun and show sportsmanship in a showcase event. The match was well played with many exciting long volleys. However Kaminski got caught up in the moment of trying to win the match. She played the same girls for most of the match that went 4 games. One girl even played every point of all 4 games, never coming out while she played 4 girls for only a few points in just 1 game. This demonstrated a total lack of respect for the effort the girls put into practice and sitting for almost 4 entire games. She turned what should have been a very positive experience for my daughter into a terrible one. And for what? Did she just a have a mental lapse of judgement? Or was she all about winning at any cost? Kaminski was a disgrace to sportsmanship.

Hey 'Coach', do you suppose the same applies for the north/south football all stars? We had a good season but only 2 players were selected as all stars. Several others contributed to our success and were hurt by the announcements. Then we heard our coach declined the head job, sounds familiar to your comments agree?

[Coach]

The whole "All-Star" game is political, but really all the after-season awards are. As stated by 'Simple', it is run by the Coaches organization and has nothing to do with Pinellas County Schools. They have rules stipulating that if the coach is not at the meeting, no girls from that school can be on either team. (Maybe Clearwater's coach had a really good reason to not be there--I love how we all jump to the most negative conclusion.)

The picking of the teams is the funniest part! The only way to guarantee your players are on a team is to be the head coach. Because sometimes no matter how much a coach "supports" and advocates for their players, they are not picked. While at the same time, there is an unwritten provision to try and have representation from as many schools as possible. This begs the question-is that really an all-star line-up? So the example given by Mom Pos could happen. Clearwater had 5 seniors last year and 2 made the teams, eventhough the arguement can be made that all of their seniors were better volleyball players than others that made it.

The All-Star game is a wonderful culmination to a high school career. Nothing is going to be perfect and just because someone isn't selected doesn't mean the end. No coach sets out to "throw players under the bus". Per hour of time they invest, coaches probably get paid somewhere around $0.50/hr. They do it because they love their sport and passing it on to a new generation of players. Yes, some decisions may be questioned or not understood but it takes a strong person to even want to coach these days....just read the blogs!

[Mom Pos]

Pay attention young CHS players who hope to get a college scholarship playing volleyball. You will be on your own....the coach at CHS will not help you. Five seniors last year received scholarships and I know for a fact that this coach did nothing to help 3 of those players...we did it in spite of this coach.

In fact right now Kristi Posnak is playing in the National Tournament in Iowa for Hillsborough Community College. Hillsborough Community College is ranked #2 in our state and #6 in the Nation. Pasco Hernando is ranked #3 in our state and almost made it to Nationals. Both of these programs are very competitive with outstanding players where former D-I players transfer to because they realize that they didn't like their particular D-I school and chose to play at the community college level.

It's been great fun watching former CHS players continue to play because of their love for the game and the coach at CHS could not take that away from them.

JB and Leigh you are in good company ... Katie, Kristi and Kaitlin did not make the All Star team (lack of support from the coach) and each have each done very well despite these "life lessons." Don't let anyone take your passion or love of the game away from you...we all have "difficult" people and things that happen to us in life and when things like this happen it can make you more determined and a better person and player.

We always tell our girls....don't get too high and don't get too low.

Congrats to all the players that have made the All Star team.

why didnt jimbo make the team?

[Enquiring Minds]

Mr. Reporter,

What's the story here? Do the area coaches have an ax to grind with Clearwater and took advantage of the situation or did the Clearwater coach throw her girls under the bus? Take a break from the fluff pieces and report a real story please.

[Simple]

The answer is simple. These all-star games are put together by the coaches and paid for by the coaches and NOT the county. So, when coaches refuse to go to a meeting or pay dues, it's not fair to players whose coaches do pay for the game to be played.

According to the post above by Joe -the reason JB (or any of the other CLW seniors) aren't on one of the all-star teams is because the coach didn't go to the All-Star Coach's meeting. Is that true? Does anyone know? Since she didn't attend the meeting - no Clearwater Senior was eligible to play? How is that for fair to the girls? I think it is a shame that a coach would do that to her players. The players didn't do anything wrong and they are ones who are being punished. I wonder if there were any consequences for the coach if she truly failed to show up to the meeting? I am glad my daughter doesn't play there.

how is gods name could they leave JB from clearwater off this all star team. Private schools should not be included in this process..all private schools should have their own league in all sports...it is called..RECRUITING..

[hahahahahaha]

CT What? CT What? CT You Know you got screwed.

Not having anyone from Clearwater high is ludicrous. Last year Megan Aguirre from Clearwater now at Pasco Comm. College (and getting heavlily recruited by D-I schools) stole the show with MVP honors.

Clearwater always has some of the best players. What a JOKE!

[Agreed]

I agree. It's time to recognize those coaches who go above and beyond.

[Joe]

It is a travesty that JB and Leigh were not on the team. Their reward for working hard for so long was the coach couldn't even go to the meeting. There seemed to be a lot of behind the scenes drama going on like JB not playing the 3rd game at Lakewood or the first game against East Lake in our gym. I watched the girls come off the court at Lakewood in tears not only because they lost but because of what the coach had said to them. It's time to move the JV coach up to varsity. Good luck at USF JB.

There were 4 seniors on Clearwater High's team and one player earned a scholarship to USF for volleyball.

[Former CHS fan]

Clearwater's Coach didn't show up for the meeting. If she couldn't make it, why didn't she send the JV Coach with her recommendations? Clearwater NOT being represented in the All Star game is a first in a very long history of former great teams. Clearwater's program used to be something that the school and community was very proud of. It is very sad to see a GREAT program go down the tubes. I thought that part of a Coach's job was to promote her best players? What's up with that?

[What?]

Why no girls from Clearwater? Maybe you should do some actual investigative reporting, Bryan.

wow there is no one from clearwater!

Maybe there are no seniors at Clearwater?

[Very Interesting]

There is not one Clearwater senior on either roster - how can that be?

[Very Interesting]

There is not one senior from Clearwater - how can that be?

Sean O'Flannery lol