Macomb Township

Board, state senator honor Dakota volleyball champs

By Robert Guttersohn
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Robert Guttersohn The Dakota High School volleyball team poses Dec. 17 for pictures after being honored for winning their first state title in November. The Chippewa Valley Schools Board of Education honored each member of the team with a certificate of achievement. Photo by Robert Guttersohn The Dakota High School volleyball team poses Dec. 17 for pictures after being honored for winning their first state title in November. The Chippewa Valley Schools Board of Education honored each member of the team with a certificate of achievement.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Chippewa Valley Schools Board of Education and state Sen. Tory Rocca, R-Sterling Heights, paid special tribute to the newly crowned volleyball state champs of Dakota High School at the Dec. 17 meeting.

The team, dressed at the meeting in identical warm-up jerseys worn over state champion T-shirts, clinched the title in November, defeating Temperance Bedford at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

Superintendent Ronald Roberts, who attend the championship game, said he learned life lessons while watching the team play.

“The first thing I took away was these girls’ endless positive thoughts,” he said.

He discussed one moment, when a Dakota volleyball player knocked a ball into the net and, instead of sulking, she ran to the sideline to receive high-fives from her teammates. “I’m just thinking boys would not do that,” Roberts said, as the volleyball players laughed.

Secondly, he learned how team-focused the volleyball girls were throughout the season. “I just think the joy of winning something as a team is magnified when compared to winning it as an individual,” Roberts said. “I was just blown away by watching these girls play volleyball.”

Roberts listed the team’s accomplishments, including an all-state team academic award and overall record of 59-5.

“My question to this team tonight is, how did you lose five games?” he asked, jokingly. “Did you all just feel sorry for someone over there?”

He also listed off several individual awards but added it would all be for naught without coach Tracie Ferguson, who kept the team cohesive.

“When I watch this team, I’m not sure I could have picked (the best players) out because they played their roles so well,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of talent out there, but it has to be put together.”

The school district presented each team member with certificates of achievement.

Rocca said he was very proud of the team’s accomplishments and called them “ambassadors of the community.”

“We’re all very proud of you,” he said, before presenting the team with a special tribute from the state Senate honoring the team.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Robert Guttersohn at rguttersohn@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.