Nine Republic volleyball players earned Academic All-State honors for the 2019 season. To earn a spot on the team, players must have played in at least 75% of varsity games and have a 3.6 cumulative GPA. Kaemyn Bekemeier, Megan Decker, Kailey Manes, Abby McKee, Rylee Moseman, Emma Pearce, Avery Riggs, Ella Riggs, and Carle Ward all met those qualifications.
Coach Allison Davis said academics have always been important to her as a coach.
“A lot of these players may not get the chance to play at the collegiate level, so I want to help them, along with their parents and teachers, to prepare them for their future. If they can’t get an athletic scholarship, I want to help them hopefully get some of their
college paid for academically,” she said.
Davis said it’s also important to her and her staff that her players are positive representatives of “our team, their families and this community.” And she says a player’s attitude in the classroom is often reflected in her contributions to the team.
“If athletes care about their grades and their performance in the classroom, it usually carries over on the floor. They want to work hard, they want to be motivated to do well, they want that accountability. Bottom line – they care. I’ve seen that carry
over from the classroom into the gym for sure,” she said.
