Author: Kate Riley
Photographer: Karen Oglesby
Oconee High School Volleyball Region 8 AAA Champs
Coach Mark Oglesby moved to Oconee just two days before the start of the 2019-2020 school year. It was “Faith and Family” that led him to the area as he wanted to relocate his family to be near his mom. Mark took on the role of teaching social studies at Oconee High School and was asked to be the Varsity Volleyball coach. No stranger to coaching, he had coached five different high school sports and had coached volleyball at each of the four previous schools where he worked.
Coach Mark and his assistant coach Rachel Ritchie, a former UGA player, were determined to have an aggressive season and scheduled matches against tougher competition than in the previous year. “Last year, we only played ten Georgia top 100 teams. This year, we played 27 matches against Georgia’s top 100 teams. This increased competition helped us improve our overall play and gain a greater understanding of the level of play, the focus, and the overall mindset we needed to be successful. So, when we headed into the state tournament this year, we were again the #1 seed from our region but with much more experience.”
Coach Mark and his assistant coach Rachel Ritchie, a former UGA player, were determined to have an aggressive season and scheduled matches against tougher competition than in the previous year. “Last year, we only played ten Georgia top 100 teams. This year, we played 27 matches against Georgia’s top 100 teams. This increased competition helped us improve our overall play and gain a greater understanding of the level of play, the focus, and the overall mindset we needed to be successful. So, when we headed into the state tournament this year, we were again the #1 seed from our region but with much more experience.”
The effort of the team has been tremendous the past two years, but especially this year. A message I have preached repeatedly the past two seasons is TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More. The idea behind this is only together can we accomplish great things collectively and individually.
On the road to the state playoffs, Oconee got to host an exciting showdown game against Westminster, the defending AAA State Champions, in the Elite 8/quarterfinals. “We had a great crowd for the match, and it was great competition. We came from behind to win the first set 25-23. In the second set, we started off strong and executed the plan completely, winning 25-13. They jumped out ahead of us in the third game, but our team battled back and actually had a chance to win the match before losing 24-26.
Westminster opened up an eight-point lead two different times in the fourth set, but we tied it up at 22, 23, 24, and 25 before falling 25-27. In the fifth and final set, we focused on coming out strong, playing with urgency, winning the net and serve/receive parts of the game, and did so on our way to a 15-9 win. The girls were so excited and emotional after that match!”
With the win, the team advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2016. The matchup against the number one ranked Sandy Creek ended the incredible season for the Warriors with a tough 22-25, 23-25, 17-25 three-match run.
A special season for an extraordinary group of players. “The girls all get along with each other and are enthusiastically supportive. They worked extremely hard in preparing for each match and fought during each match to come out on top. They have overcome obstacles individually and collectively. They set a school record with 42 wins playing against much stronger competition than the previous years. The senior leadership – Captains Grace Wenrich and Sydney Freeman in particular – make this team special.” Coach Mark reflects. Thankfully Coach Mark’s wife Karen, a photographer, has these amazing moments all caught on camera.
Player Highlights
Grace Wenrich: A four-year starting setter, Grace was a fighter on the court and led by example. Her passion and performance willed us to victory a couple of times. She is the GVCA AAA State Player of the Year and will play in the GVCA Senior All-Star Match. She led the AAA in assists and aces. In fact, she had 1000+ assists on the season and 3000+ for her career – both tremendous milestones. She was also Player of the Year for our 8AAA region for the second year in a row.
Braeden Koch, Junior Opposite, is a 1st Team Region 8AAA player and has excelled all the way around. Braeden is in the top 25 in kills in the AAA and top 30 in aces. Marilyn Whitener, Junior Middle Hitter, is a 2nd Team Region 8AAA, after splitting time in the middle for a large part of the year, came on strong at the end of the season and finished #16 in blocks in the AAA and in the top ten in blocks per set.
Brinely Bartlett, a Sophomore Outside Hitter, is 2nd in the AAA in kills and is GVCA AAA 1st Team All-State. Sophomore Outside Hitter Bailey Bartlett more than doubled her output this year and is ranked 11th in Kills.
Isabel Miller, Sophomore Libero (a setter by training), is third in digs in the AAA and is GVCA All-State Honorable Mention. Brinley, Bailey, and Isabel all were also 1st Team Region 8AAA.
Freshman Olivia Miller is second in the AAA in hitting percentage. She was 2nd Team Region 8AAA.
Braedon Koch, Marilyn Whitener, Brinely and Bailey Bartlett were all invited to play in the GACA Sophomore/Junior All-Star Match.
