Varsity girls volleyball has won the State title again in November, and after three consecutive years, they’re drawing a lot of attention.

The Missouri State Congress credited the team for their hard work and determination on Jan. 14, 2014 in an open session. Local Wildwood Representative Don Gosen invited the team to the Capitol.

“It’s a tremendous honor… we are very excited for this trip,” team captain and senior Lily Johnson said.

Once they arrived, Gosen took them to the House floor. “The girls got to go sit in the Speaker’s chair and hit the gavel. They really got a kick out of that!” Head Coach Zachary Young said.

The girls met State Senators, traveled to the “Whispering Room” at the top of the capital and meet the State Speaker of the House. To finish the day, Gosen took the girls to his office and gave them their declarations and pizza.

 “It was a great experience that we are very thankful for.  Representative Don Gosen and his office staff were very nice and went the extra mile to make us feel welcome and recognize our accomplishments,” Young said.

The honors are not stopping after the Jefferson City visit, however.

On February 7, the team is being honored during the halftime of the varsity boys basketball game with the televised National Guard award, and along with that, their state ring ceremony. Invite your friends and pack the stands!

On February 20, the Board of Education has also invited us to be recognized prior to the meeting.

Webmaster and varsity volleyball player Hannah Marshall shows us a Day in the Life as a State Champion

It seems like forever ago when we were playing in Cape for the State Championships in our last match of the season. We thought the season was over, but here we are on Wednesday, January 15 heading for Jefferson City, Missouri. It’s such an honor being invited to the state capitol (and getting out of school for a day isn’t so bad either!)

8:15 – All of us meet in the Gym to talk to our coaches, Mr. Berry, and principal Shaughnessy before we depart to the buses. Also, we have to take some pictures!

8:30 – We get on the bus and leave Lafayette for the day. Peace out, LHS! Here we come Jeff City!

9:45 – It’s snowing outside!

10:30 – Finally we get to the capitol; it’s snowing and absolutely freezing, but we suck it up and hurry into the capitol building.

10:30-12:15 – During this time, we were introduced to many capitol officials, given a tour of important offices, we traveled through the bowels of the capitol and went not just above the hall, but also to the very top, outside of the building! The view of the entire snow covered city was breath taking.

12:15-1:20 – At this time we walk over to lunch, which is just across the street. All of us were starving; to the point where you could hear stomachs growling towards the end of our tour of the capitol. Arris met all of our needs; an unlimited pizza, salad and pasta buffet.

1:25-145 – A short bus ride away is some of the most delicious ice cream I have ever had! Central Dairy had, I swear, at least 60 different flavors (I recommend chocolate chip cookie dough).

2:00 – Alas, we must depart Jefferson City. Some of us had prior club volleyball commitments we had to get back to.

4:15: We arrive at school. All of us were exhausted and most of us slept soundly on the bus ride back to school (I know I did!).

After all of our adventures together – babler overnight, tournaments, sand volleyball, inside jokes,  districts, sectionals, state, and now Jefferson City – it’s amazing to think that we are not over after all of that!