The title of being a varsity captain isn’t something that can be earned only by a person’s skill level in their sport. A captain needs to have strong leadership qualities that not every person has, including being able to create connections with their team even when out of the season. Having qualities like this is why junior Claire Egnash is coming up on her third year of being a varsity volleyball captain. 

Determination, accountability, encouragement, Egnash has them all. These qualities make her a great captain in and out of season. The things that captains do behind the scenes are things that you don’t often hear about but are vitally important in keeping the teams ready for the upcoming season and continuing the growth of the program.

From the moment the season ends to the start of the next, Egnash is always making efforts to create and maintain strong connections with her teammates and coaches.

“I try to encourage the team to come to the open gyms and work out programs at the high school, so they can get reps and be with one another to keep them connected and comfortable working together while on the court,” said junior Egnash.

As captain, it is Claire’s responsibility to not only show up herself, but to also hold her teammates accountable for their attendance in off-season activities. 

“Choosing to participate in the strength and conditioning program and open gyms as often as her schedule allows her demonstrates her commitment not only to her personal improvement, but also the team’s growth,” said head coach Kristin Riesgraf. “It helps us build a culture of dedication and consistency.”

Everything that Egnash does in the off-season is for the benefit of the team. Whether that’s attending open gyms and strength and conditioning or creating a varsity level team for a league throughout the summer, Claire is behind it all. 

“When I came in last summer, she really stepped up by taking the lead during open gyms and offering valuable insight into what the team was like before my arrival,” said coach Riesgraff.

No matter the challenge she is faced with, like getting a new head coach, Claire is always there with a smile on her face, ready to give help to her community wherever needed.