By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
Tonja Westmoreland has spent the past 15 years turning the volleyball program at Woodruff Middle School into a feared Foothills Conference powerhouse.
Now, she will have the chance to do the same at Woodruff High School.
Westmoreland was chosen as the next head coach for the Woodruff High School volleyball program after Heather Abrams resigned to concentrate on her work as a guidance counselor. For Westmoreland, earning the varsity head coaching position is a dream come true.
“I was absolutely thrilled to be named the new head coach of Woodruff volleyball,” said Tonja. “I have been working toward this goal. I have coached at the middle school for 15 years and the club level for the past nine years. I have always challenged myself to be the best coach I can be and always said I would love to coach in our community. I’m so excited and thrilled.”
Westmoreland’s credentials speak for themselves.
Under her tutelage, the middle school program has grown by leaps and bounds. The Lady Cubs have won seven Foothills Conference regular-season championships, won the conference tournament four times, finished as runner-up twice, and finished tournament runner-up once.
Tonja says the reception she has received from her former, and now current players have been tremendous.
“They have all been excited to have me back again,” she laughed. “These young ladies are a joy to coach, and we have already been busy this summer. We have been busy with summer practice, and everything has just flowed so well. I am seeing them push for a higher level of play. We challenge them to reach their full potential, but the transition has been easy. I know all of these girls very well and their strengths and weaknesses.”
One of Westmoreland’s first teams at Woodruff Middle would lead the Lady Wolverines to their first and only appearance in the state championship match in 2010. Tonja wants contending for championships to be the norm for Woodruff High, and she said that starts with a challenging schedule and making each day exciting and fun for her players.
She made the expectations clear from day one.
“I have already shown the team the schedule, and I have it filled out all the way to the state championship,” said Westmoreland. “I don’t go small. I plan for us to go all the way. Even during our practices, we constantly change things, so nothing is the same every day.”
Westmoreland’s plan to build Woodruff volleyball into a powerhouse starts from the outside in, she says, and keeping older players involved at the youth level is a crucial ingredient to that success.
“I started a volleyball camp my very first year as a coach and saw the potential,” added Westmoreland. “A lot of Woodruff players were not familiar with club volleyball, so the Woodruff Pride Volleyball Club was established. Our motto is “Family.” Our older players go back and help with volleyball camp and give back to our young players. They are excited to continue helping build the program.”
Author: Tracy Sanders
