JayLynn Sherred is a senior at Struthers High School. She has been playing volleyball since 7th grade, turning it into something she’s very passionate about. Now as she leaves high school, her volleyball journey continues at Westminster University.
Sherred fell in love with volleyball right at the start. She started teaching herself in sixth grade and played from there on. The athlete has been playing for Struthers for 6 years and has played club for 5. Now as she finishes her last year of high school, she is slowly moving into becoming a more advanced player and teammate. With all the work she’s put into this sport, Sherred also learned a lot about team work. She came to the conclusion that trusting your teammates is all you can do.
Sherred has learned to understand that each player has a job on the court, meaning she has to trust that they have her back just as much as she has theirs.
“Over the past few years, I have definitely learned to trust my teammates more. I came to a realization that I shouldn’t feel the need to do everything myself and all six people on the court have their own job for a reason; moreover, I learned that I needed to trust them and that they’ll play the absolute best they can,” said the volleyball player.
When Sherred was trying to decide if she should play in college, she was very indecisive about if she was good enough or not. She felt as if she wasn’t at the same level as other college volleyball players. As her high school season came to an end, she knew it wasn’t her time to retire from volleyball for good. She is anxious but more excited about playing in college. Soon, she will no longer be a Wildcat but a Titan.
Sherred was uncertain about playing in college, but as time went on, she realized her time wasn’t over.
“I am a little nervous to play in college, but I am much more excited. I’ve always wanted to play in college, but I never really thought I was ever good enough, so when Coach Swearingen kept responding back to me I reassured myself. Towards the end of school volleyball season, I knew that I didn’t want my athletic career to come to an end so soon, so I’d say around that time was when I wanted to play in college,” said Sherred.
While she was going through her volleyball career, her one major supporter was her dad. Her father was the person who kept her going when things weren’t the best. When times were rough and she felt as if she wasn’t good enough, her dad always made sure to remind her that she is one of the best players. If her dad wasn’t someone who helped her during volleyball, then it would have to be Mr. Day. Sherred freshman year she thought of quitting, but Mr. Day helped her make the right decision and stay. Who knows if it wasn’t for that conversation with Mr. Day, she might have not made it this far with volleyball.
Sherred’s dad was the person who helped and trusted her to be the best player she could be.
“My dad is one of the major reasons I kept going in volleyball. After any bad game or practice, he always reassures me that I was one of the best ones out there, even if I didn’t think so myself. During my freshman year, I actually wanted to quit because of how chaotic it was from all the drama, and I have Mr. Day to thank for allowing me to rethink that decision,” said the senior.
