12 SportsUnion | SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
high school
Volleyball
It’s easy to take things
grant it, especially if you
are talented enough where
things come easy. That type
of thing might be seem
more when seventh and
eighth graders make the
varsity rosters of their re-
spected sport.
By Matt Ondesko
Managing Editor
Making varsity is hard
enough on its own, but
when a middle school-
er can crack the lineup
it shows that they have a
special talent. With tal-
ent, however, comes re-
sponsibility. It’s not easy
to expect a 12-year-old to
take things seriously all
the time. They are usual-
ly worried about others
things than what the team
or coach might saying.
What the middle school-
ers doesn’t realize it that
time flies back pretty
quickly. One day you are
a 12-year-old playing on
the varsity, and the next
you are getting ready for
your senior season and
graduation. Time does go
back pretty quickly when
you’re having fun.
“I became more focused
over the years, because
when I was younger I took
it almost as a joke and
didn’t appreciate the true
art of the sport,” stated
Williamsville East High
School
outside hitter
Nikki Polokoff. “That mo-
tivated me to grind hard-
er and push myself to ap-
preciate what I have.”
What she has it a stellar
career being a top per-
former for the Flames, a
team that went 35-5 last
season en route to a run
Flame
Burning Bright