Clear Brook’s Newsome goes national
Senior to perform in USA Volleyball summer program in Florida
While many high school volleyball players’ summers are slowing down with the conclusion of last week’s AAU National Championships, Jaden Newsome’s is about to pick up in a big way.
A senior at Clear Brook, Newsome is competing with Dickinson-based Absolute Volleyball Academy’s top 17-under team this summer. After finishing up in Orlando last week, she will spend a couple of weeks at home in Houston before going back to Florida to join USA Volleyball’s Junior A1 National Training Team Program.
Newsome is one of 22 athletes across the nation who have been invited to the USA High Performance Championships in Fort Lauderdale. The 10-day program begins on July 14.
“It is a really big deal,” Newsome said. “By making A1 you get into the pipeline and get your name out there with potential to play for the national team. I am looking forward to playing against high competition and getting training from national team coaches.”
The athletes will train as a group for five days before splitting into ability-tiered teams of 11 for the HPC immediately following training. It is an international tournament hosted by USA Volleyball. In the last two years teams have come from Canada, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and Puerto Rico.
The USA A1 teams typically play up an age group for the tournament.
Newsome has been good enough to play up a level for most of her teenage years. College coaches began contacting her around the time she was in the eighth grade. In March of her sophomore year she committed to Colorado and remains solid with the Lady Buffs.
The setter has used constant hard work to make a strong name for herself. Ryan Ripple, her coach at AVA, said it is normal for Newsome to take extra repetitions and extra lessons. Even when she is not playing she is at the gym watching.
Ripple said she has excellent coordination. Her vision in the front row is second to none. She always seems to know where opponents are on the other side of the court so she is better able to exploit the holes.
“She is an amazingly talented athlete,” Ripple said. “She really has made the most of what she has in terms of athleticism and skill.”
One thing she has been focusing on this summer is her jump setting. Ripple has been working with her to get her body set up in the right position.
“She is faster than she thinks,” he said.
Although she has been successful with AVA and now on the national level, Newsome hopes to bring something to her school that it has not had in a while.
Playing in District 246A always is tough with powerful teams like Clear Creek, Clear Falls and Clear Springs in recent years. Even Friendswood, a perennial power in Class 4A, has not made the postseason since moving up to 6A.
Clear Brook has struggled in the lower half of the district standings. Newsome hopes to change that this fall.
“A lot of people say Clear Brook is (an) easy (opponent),” Newsome said. “I have never been to the playoffs so that is a really big thing this year.”
AVA to hold tryouts
Newsome is just one of the success stories produced by AVA. Since it opened in 2006, every one of its graduating seniors has earned a college volleyball scholarship.
Tryouts for next season begin July 5 and go through July 9. Questions can be directed to info@avatexas.com.