The Badin High School community gathered inside Mulcahey Gym to celebrate the boy's volleyball team's first state championship on Wednesday night. The trophy is the first boy's team title since the baseball team won the state championship in 1996.
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Badin Director of Admissions and Media Relations Dirk Allen emceed the event, introducing the players and coaches.
Head coach Anitra Brockman was the first to speak. She expressed her gratitude to the families and friends of the team, as well as to the high school staff, from the administration all the way down to the cleaning staff.
"That just means a lot to us that the school embraced this sport even before OHSAA sanctioned us. I just think that it will continue to get better and stronger." Brockman said.
With boy's volleyball becoming an OHSAA-sanctioned sport next year, the number of teams in the state will go from 92 to 184. Brockman hopes with the increase in teams, the sport as a whole will get more attention.
Players Sam Vornhagen, Zach Wagner, Jordan Brockman, Patrick Ray and Luke Dwyer spoke on behalf of the team. Each regaled memories from the season and thanked those around them.
Wagner's words were particularly poignant, calling this title "a product four years in the making." He also spoke of the consistent culture and energy within the program as they built off of a 2-16 record in the team's first season of 2016.
Eli Halverson, the division II south region player of the year, was named to the all-state first team. He was one of eight seniors to lead the team to the title.
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"I couldn't ask for better leaders for the program this season at all. They literally stepped up to the plate and did what was asked of them and more." Brockman said.
The seniors were the ones to refocus the team after a loss to Beavercreek just two weeks before the start of postseason play.
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The Rams got over the state semifinal hurdle exactly one year after falling to Bishop Fenwick, advancing to their first state title match by defeating St. Francis DeSales.
"I told the boys, regardless of the outcome on Sunday, that I was super proud of them." Brockman said.
It was previously announced that Brockman is set to become the men's and women's volleyball coach at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Her son, Jordan, will remain at Badin, part of a core of young players to lead the team in the coming years.
"The growth and development of this program is not dying. Each year, we've gotten better." Brockman said.
Allen read a proclamation from Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller, in which he commended the Rams on a 'dominant' season. Allen noted that such a proclamation had only been read seven times before in Badin's 56-year history, once for each previous team championship.
At the end of the ceremony, Brockman unveiled a commemorative sign that will hang on the gymnasium wall, and a video montage with memories from the season was played.
The feeling of winning the title hasn't gone away for this team. Every member of the team has contributed memories to a team-wide group chat over the past few days.
"I don't think (the feeling) is going to go away for a while. I'm very excited and very happy and proud of these boys." Brockman said.
Highlights from the season include a 21-game winning streak and the team's first Greater Catholic League co-ed championship, a second straight appearance in the state semifinals and, of course, the state championship.
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