Children filled the stands, overseeing the sea of red and white. Melrose prepared to battle its neighbor Wakefield in volleyball combat. The wind whips at the top of the mountain.
Banners decorate the wall with Melrose displaying 22 league titles, 10 sectional titles and one state championship in the past 24 seasons.
Wakefield fans filled their section with dreams of banners in the future. The Wakefield players didn’t disappoint, showing athleticism, enthusiasm, and toughness.
The event showed the continuum of MVB - state champions from 2012 (Rachel Johnson, Wakefield coach Kayla Wyland, Sydney Doherty), MVB 24’ and youngsters whose future is the future of Melrose volleyball.
Before the game, players celebrate tradition as they emerge through a tunnel of humanity to warm up. Wakefield warmups resemble those of Melrose as Coach Wyland is the fruit of the Coach Scott Celli coaching tree.
I dismiss warmups because hitting against air differs from hitting live against the trees in the forest. That reminds me about ‘dueling’. “How do you shoot with a pistol aimed at your heart?”
Some call Melrose, “vanilla.” MVB rarely uses ‘pipe attacks’, shoots, and backsets to opposites. Not a problem. “Do well what you do a lot” and “do more of what you do well and less of what you do not.”
*This piece was experimental, in response to a MasterClass challenge from author Salman Rushdie to write a piece of 200-300 words, painting a picture without adjectives. Stress active verbs and nouns. Not saying it is a success. It's tough.
No comments:
Post a Comment