Forged by tragedy: Sisters lead Bulldogs
they never would have thought realizing their long-time goal of playing together would mean so much.
“Going through that really difficult experience last year … They’re both very competitive and it helped them a great deal,” Queen Creek coach Erica Crismon said. “It brought clarity that when they’re on the court they give 100 percent. I think they just take advantage of every moment, and having shared this experience now we can share a positive experience in playing together.”
For Jada, having the chance to finally play on a team with her sister has already been an experience she won’t forget.
“I was really trying hard to make the team,” Jada said. “It’s always been our goal because it’s her last year and we’ve always been pushing each other. It feels really good because I’ve always wanted to be as good as her. I wanted to show people that I could play with my D-I volleyball sister.”
After everything that’s happened between them, Claudia — who is committed to play at Sacramento State — couldn’t imagine a better way to spend her last high school season.
“For years we’ve worked hard to be great players ... The goal was to be on the varsity team together before I went off to college,” Claudia said. “Now, we’re closer and cherish every moment. We tell each other he’s here and that we can get through this together. It made us mentally tougher, which helps on the court so we can keep steady with our emotions.” pairs of sisters playing for the Bulldogs this season. Cameron and Jaelyn Hodge have their own unique relationship.
Jaelyn, a sophomore and University of Arizona commit, has been involved in volleyball since she was young. But for Cameron, a senior, it’s just her first year playing the sport.
“I think it’s interesting because with Jaelyn, she’s been involved in volleyball a little longer,” Crismon said. “For Cameron it’s her first year playing, so there’s a huge support with both of them. She’s very happy Cameron made the team.”
If there’s one thing the Bulldogs have, it’s camaraderie. After last weekend’s BGHS Tournament, Queen Creek stands at 4-5 thus far in 2017 — but they have yet to be shutout this season.
“There’s stuff to work on, but we have similar personalities and click well on and off the court,” Claudia said. “We have five D-I commits on our team so we’re very competitive and young girls coming up just make us better. I think we can go very far this season. We’re a big and fast team and I think we can beat teams with our offense.”
But regardless of this season’s outcome, the Wilson sisters have achieved an important accomplishment.
When Claudia and Jada set their goal years ago, they had no idea how much volleyball would bring them closer.
“We’re with each other more, we’re way closer and we help each other through what is happening,” Claudia said.
“I think we’ve gotten stronger and gotten way closer and it’s awesome to have that experience my senior year.”
Richard Morin can be reached by email at rmorin@arizonarepublic.com and by phone at 480-316-2493. last week’s 52-14 loss to Chandler Hamilton in a game that quickly got out of hand. First-year head coach Mike Peterson said he kept Lawson out in the second half because the game was not close. The rough start isn’t a direct result of Lawson’s nagging ankle injury. Peterson said that he suspended four starters “in one form or another for violations of team, school and community norms.” “As coaches and the experts in our field, we need to be better teachers of the game, its fundamentals and our scheme,” Peterson said in an email. “We need to demand excellence from every student-athlete for every rep. We need to coach a student-athlete every snap in practice, film, etc. We need to demand they play as a team with 11 playing as one team who trusts their teammates and their coaches. “All of this will be a process due to the fact that at any one time during a game there are six, seven or eight underclassmen starting or filling major roles in our offense and defense. It simply takes time for those players to gain experience.” Mike Briguglio retired as athletic director at Fountain Hills, where he also re-signed as baseball coach, and is now the head baseball coach at Phoenix Bourgade Catholic, who lost its beloved coach, Greg Henke, last season when he died at age 52. Briguglio brings a 752-287 record with four state titles in 35 years as a baseball coach. “The next chapter of my coaching career at Bourgade Catholic brings me full circle as my first coaching job in 1983 was at a small Catholic school, Gabriel Richard, in Ann Arbor, Michigan,” Briguglio said. “I look forward to the challenges presented by coaching at Bourgade Catholic as the program is in a rebuilding process and the players are eager to learn.”