The Wheatley Girls Varsity Volleyball team proved that volleyball is more than just a sport at Wheatley, it’s a community. A community that went through immense change this season, yet still pushed through to win the Nassau County Championship and the Long Island Championship for the first time in Wheatley history.
At the heart of that success was the trust between long-standing relationships. Five of us have been together since freshman year, growing up side by side on the same court. For three months every year, we see each other almost every day. We push each other through each two-hour practice for six days a week. Sweat, frustration, laughter, exhaustion. When life pulls us in different directions during the rest of the year, we know those three months belong to us. Our bond never really disappears. It just waits.
Though those bonds remained strong this season, our roles began to change. This year, we had two freshmen on the team. I saw myself in them: the nerves, the excitement, the overwhelming fear of messing up. Seeing the team through the eyes of the younger players reminded us all why we play. We play not only to win, but to grow and connect as one team. These freshmen have taught me that leadership doesn’t have to be loud. It can be a quiet support, a care to fall back on, a whisper of encouragement. Supporting them helped me understand what the older girls once did for me. Our only senior, Shruti Singh, who has filled the role of being a big sister since my freshman year, stated that “I’ve connected with so many different people in different grades and that wouldn’t have been possible without volleyball.” Now, as an upperclassman, I’ve realized what she means. I’ve realized that I will soon be that senior. I’ll soon be the one graduating, leaving the amazing younger players to lead.
This season marked a turning point for the program with a coaching change that brought new energy rooted in tough love and true care. Coach Christy Herring did so much more than make us better players: she made us better people. She invested in us as individuals and recognized our hard work, even stating “I’m incredibly proud of this team’s achievements. I’ve had the privilege of coaching for over 20 years across high school, club, and the collegiate Division I level, and this group stands out for their character, grit, and genuine love of the game.” Coach Herring took time to write personal notes, to organize gift exchanges, to give us things to look forward to. She shared her life with us, even bringing her family and friends to support us at games. Coach Herring will never know the true impact she had on each and every one of us. She turned our team into a family. Alongside her, our assistant coach, Ryan Dooley, grew closer to the team than ever. He helped to create an environment built on accountability, care, and connection. New roles, new faces, and new leadership meant we had to become a family all over again. With just one senior on the roster, leadership wasn’t assigned–it was shared. Upperclassmen had to step up not only as players, but as examples of what this team means to us. Despite all the change, or maybe because of it, the team grew closer than ever.
That closeness became evident when it mattered most. After falling short in the county championships for two consecutive years, we worked for this season to be different. Coach Herring agrees that “Wheatley’s road to greatness was marked by resilience, trust, and a refusal to back down in the biggest moments.” Shruti Singh emphasizes the role of friendship in our success. When asked what she will miss the most about the program, she stated, “The community. Every single girl on the team is so sweet and caring and I will miss having such a sweet group of girls to rely on. I know I have my team forever, but college won’t be the same without practice with these girls after school.”
We pushed through adversity, trusted one another, and finally broke through, winning The Nassau County Championship and then the Long Island Championship for the first time in Wheatley history. And we did it as one sweaty, sobbing family.
The support from the Wheatley community made those moments unforgettable. The student section filled each gym, bringing energy that reminded us we weren’t playing for just ourselves anymore, but for all of Wheatley.
This season wasn’t just about banners or trophies. It was about navigating change, embracing new roles, and building something special together. As a team made up of returning players, one senior, new freshmen, and new coaches, we proved that family isn’t about how long you’ve been together, it’s about how you show up for one another.
One day, we’ll all leave our familiar court. But the lessons learned and memories made will stay. A part of us will always remain on the Wheatley volleyball team, a team that taught us how to grow, how to lead, and how to let go. Wheatley volleyball didn’t just adapt to change this year—we grew in it, together, as one family, and made history along the way.
“The 2025 Wheatley Girls Varsity Volleyball season will forever be remembered as one of the most remarkable eras in program history.” ~Coach Christy Herring