Lela Parker '23 Recruiting Profile

        Being a student athlete pushes me to do and be my best on the court and in the classroom. When I decided to try out for the varsity volleyball team my 8th grade year, I knew that playing would be fun but I also knew it would be challenging. I thought of it as a challenge because having after school, and morning, practices and games would give me less time to work on my school work. Academics have always been a priority for me, when I started playing volleyball I grew as a person because I then had to become better at time management. Playing volleyball I have learned that it is just as important to put in just as much effort into the sport you play as the classes you take. 

        After a pretty  good 8th grade and club season I was mentally ready for high school tryouts. I walked in thinking I was going to make JV because I was just a freshman. Knowing that the JV games were basically right after school, I started working harder and harder just to make Varsity. I wanted to make the Varsity team so my mom and dad could come to my games. Since they both work and wouldn't get off in time to make it to my games if I made JV. I wanted my parents to be there for my games because they both are such big influencers and supporters of me.