The Saint

Story by Mary Zielke, Guest Writer

Samee Teachworth, a senior at Aquinas College, is awarded with First Team Honors in association with the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). As a middle hitter on the Aquinas Women’s volleyball team, she tries to keep the ball on the other side of the net. Being on the court for three rotations for each game, there are six people on the court. Teachworth has been an athlete for all four years of her college career. 

She has been a volleyball player since 5th grade, and has appreciated the sport for a long time. “Quitting was never an option,” Teachworth comments. Visualizing before a game is a big part of how she prepares before a tournament, making sure she can imagine how to hit the ball, planning how she can get a good block. 

Practicing for 5-7 hours a week, with six hours of games included, volleyball is a main part of her life. With the Women’s volleyball team making second place in the conference, by winning against Siena Heights, they are going to nationals as a team. Teachworth has proven how consistency and dedication play a part in pushing forward as an athlete. 

The group’s dynamic throughout her years at Aquinas has shifted, yet Teachworth said that the 26 players have made this year fun, as the team is closer than they were in the past. 

She goes into depth on how the off season is actually more stressful than the team’s season. They have to workout three times a week, on top of conditioning and practice, which can be difficult to balance between other areas in her life. 

Most of the time, she says there are many skills and abilities that contribute to playing volleyball. “I not only try to hit the ball down… but also I need to see the court while watching the ball. I need to use my peripheral vision to see the whole court,” she states. She works on hitting, tipping, blocking, and footwork, in which these areas need consistent work no matter how well she does throughout each game. 

When asked what is the most valuable lesson she has learned through volleyball, she responds honestly. “I would say selflessness…this aspect matters a lot due to the fact that there are six people on the court, and almost every person touches the ball,” Teachworth states. Even though she sometimes is more tough on herself than needed, she is able to celebrate other people’s wins as well.

Explaining that volleyball is initially a game of errors, “I need to be grateful for what I do, and what I do impacts other people,” she explains. By being positive and caring for each other, the team is able to grow strong in their wins and loses. 

Looking to the future, she wants to focus on coaching highschool kids in volleyball, excitingly claiming that this sport has been such a large part of her life. She cannot imagine the years she has put into this sport without helping others in return. 

One piece of advice that Teachworth would give to her younger self revolving around volleyball is to enjoy the moments. She has changed her mindset since freshman year. She realized that she should have cherished the seasons more, and since getting mono her sophomore year, this held her back from the potential to accomplish more throughout her season. 

Now as a senior, in her final year of college, Teachworth is taking this time in her life very seriously. “This could be over at any second,” she states. Any game or practice could result in an injury, limiting herself to growing as an individual and athlete. 

Teachworth is appreciative at how much effort and work her mother put into her volleyball career. “She helped me grow as a player in all my sports. Either signing up for lessons, or showing me different moves from YouTube, she helped me out,” she claims.

By balancing her school work and sport, she can afford some time for herself. With long bus rides in between games, she is able to accomplish homework assignments and tasks. Since volleyball is a high commitment sport, she does not have time to be involved in many other clubs or activities, but she is trying to be more involved in other activities on campus when she is able to. 

Overall, being active is something that she is grateful for. “I love being active and doing anything to keep my body moving,” Teachworth said, as she finds that being a part of a team motivates her to continue to push herself physically and mentally. Teachworth is honored to achieve a major award, proving that hard work and consistency play a large part in being able to push herself as an individual and college athlete. 

Aquinas Women’s volleyball team listed nationals against Corban University. On November 18th, the teams faced each other for the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament in Oregon. The Aquinas team concluded with an impressive season, continually proving their dedication and teamwork throughout the fall semester.