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Independence, MO —
Denise Craig was doing her best Energizer Bunny impersonation Tuesday morning in preparation for the second day of her first Truman High School team camp.
The Truman volleyball coach was making sure there were scorekeepers at each table and that each team’s coach knew the day’s schedule.
“This is so cool,” said Craig, who realized that a low-cost team camp would benefit not only her Patriots, but other metro area volleyball teams.
“This camp is $10 per player,” she said, “and we don’t want to make any money off it. If we do make some money, we’re going to buy team shirts for the championship team next year.
“We just want to give every area player the chance to get some touches this summer and participate in a low-cost camp that’s also a lot of fun.”
Officials are getting into the spirit of the camp as they aren’t charging Truman for their time on the court.
“I talked with (area official) David Thompson and told him we’d pay the officials with a hot dog, chips and a cold bottle of water,” Craig said, “and he said that was fine. Isn’t that awesome?”
Eleven metro area teams are participating in the camp, and they all give a big thumbs up to Craig and the Truman staff.
“It’s nice, real nice,” Chrisman coach Vanessa Jones said. “We can use this time to evaluate the girls and we get the chance to see some teams we haven’t seen in the past. With the conference realignment, we’re getting the chance to see, and play against, some teams we’ll be playing this year.”
Raytown South coach Mike Espinosa was enthusiastic about Craig’s camp.
“This is the best,” said Espinosa, who coached at St. Mary’s for 28 years before taking the job at South in April. “Since this is my first year with the girls, it gives me a chance to see them play, and for them to get more comfortable with me. It’s a great camp and you can’t beat the price. Denise is doing a great job.”
Krista Daniels, a former player for Espinosa who is now the Trojans head coach, agreed.
“The camp is close, you get the chance to play a lot of matches and it gives the chance to play as a team during the summer. We’re also playing in a league out at Oak Grove, so the girls are getting the chance to play a lot of volleyball right now.”
Craig hopes to expand the camp to 20 teams next year, and has been in contact with coaches from St. Louis and Lawrence, Kan.
“When I talked to Eric (Holm, the Truman activities director) about starting a camp, he was as gung ho and excited as I was,” Craig said. “If it’s something that is good for the kids, Eric is going to be on board.”
The varsity camp ran Monday and Tuesday and a junior varsity camp will run today and Thursday.
Denise Craig was doing her best Energizer Bunny impersonation Tuesday morning in preparation for the second day of her first Truman High School team camp.
The Truman volleyball coach was making sure there were scorekeepers at each table and that each team’s coach knew the day’s schedule.
“This is so cool,” said Craig, who realized that a low-cost team camp would benefit not only her Patriots, but other metro area volleyball teams.
“This camp is $10 per player,” she said, “and we don’t want to make any money off it. If we do make some money, we’re going to buy team shirts for the championship team next year.
“We just want to give every area player the chance to get some touches this summer and participate in a low-cost camp that’s also a lot of fun.”
Officials are getting into the spirit of the camp as they aren’t charging Truman for their time on the court.
“I talked with (area official) David Thompson and told him we’d pay the officials with a hot dog, chips and a cold bottle of water,” Craig said, “and he said that was fine. Isn’t that awesome?”
Eleven metro area teams are participating in the camp, and they all give a big thumbs up to Craig and the Truman staff.
“It’s nice, real nice,” Chrisman coach Vanessa Jones said. “We can use this time to evaluate the girls and we get the chance to see some teams we haven’t seen in the past. With the conference realignment, we’re getting the chance to see, and play against, some teams we’ll be playing this year.”
Raytown South coach Mike Espinosa was enthusiastic about Craig’s camp.
“This is the best,” said Espinosa, who coached at St. Mary’s for 28 years before taking the job at South in April. “Since this is my first year with the girls, it gives me a chance to see them play, and for them to get more comfortable with me. It’s a great camp and you can’t beat the price. Denise is doing a great job.”
Krista Daniels, a former player for Espinosa who is now the Trojans head coach, agreed.
“The camp is close, you get the chance to play a lot of matches and it gives the chance to play as a team during the summer. We’re also playing in a league out at Oak Grove, so the girls are getting the chance to play a lot of volleyball right now.”
Craig hopes to expand the camp to 20 teams next year, and has been in contact with coaches from St. Louis and Lawrence, Kan.
“When I talked to Eric (Holm, the Truman activities director) about starting a camp, he was as gung ho and excited as I was,” Craig said. “If it’s something that is good for the kids, Eric is going to be on board.”
The varsity camp ran Monday and Tuesday and a junior varsity camp will run today and Thursday.
