The Midway High School Athletics Department has been busy to close out the 2016-17 school year as three coaches announced their departures, leaving holes to be filled. Men’s basketball head coach Matthew Creech, cheerleading coach Lindsay Creech and volleyball head coach Whitney Poper all put coaching duties aside as they explore other career and life opportunities.

The Raiders sports staff has wasted little time with their search as they have announced the hiring of a new head volleyball coach. They didn’t have far to go as former assistant coach and current business teacher, Brandy Wrench, will lead the 2017 Lady Raiders.

Coming off of a stellar 2016 campaign in which the Lady Raiders went 22-0 before falling in the third round of the playoffs at Farmville Central, Wrench knows that expectations for the upcoming season will be high.

Still, however, she is optimistic about the possibilities.

“I am very excited about accepting my new role as the head coach of Midway Volleyball,” she said. “The group of ladies we have coming into the program have already made my job easier by being exemplary athletes on and off the court. These ladies have a lot to offer the program.”

The tradition of Midway Volleyball has seen an upswing in recent years. Since the 2014 season, the Lady Raiders have finished well above .500 in each season, including a Four County Conference championship and two second place finishes. Wrench recognizes the tradition and hopes to continue it.

“Coming into a well-established program such as this already makes my job easier. I have high hopes of following in the footsteps of many great coaches before me that have made this program what it is today. I hope the ladies coming back have as high as hopes in me as their head coach as I do in them. While the high school level is very competitive, our ladies showed the desire last year to be the top team there is and I will push to continue this drive on and off the court for my players,” Wrench asserted.

The new coach will have the luxury of experience returning to this upcoming year’s team. Only two players – Autumn Byrd and Hailey Brooke West – were lost due to graduation.

One thing she hopes to instill into her players is the sense of family.

“These years spent together and the lessons learned throughout their time as teammates should carry far beyond high school. As being a part of the continuing tradition of the Midway family, these are my goals. I want my athletes to look back on these years as times they enjoyed with their family. That’s what Midway volleyball is – Family. Values. And winning,” Wrench concluded.

There’s also a sense of new beginnings coming with the start of the 2017 season as the Lady Raiders will also shift into a new conference. For the first time since moving up to the 2A Division, Midway will be in a pure 2A conference. Joining Midway in the new conference are familiar foes Clinton and Wallace-Rose Hill, historically top competition for the Lady Raiders. Also joining the new conference will be Goldsboro, East Duplin, Spring Creek and James Kenan.

The Lady Raiders already have plans to hit the ground running. Just like last summer, they will host a youth camp June 13-15 followed by a camp of their own with Matchpoint, a volleyball club out of Ohio that has worked with the Lady Raiders in previous years. Wrench also says that Midway is already planning open gym workouts and scrimmages throughout the summer to help sharpen their skills.

Outgoing head coach, Whitney Poper, says that her departure is bittersweet, but she too is excited for what lies ahead for her former team and associate.

“The decision to leave the classroom and coaching was definitely bittersweet for me. I love teaching and I love coaching, but my new job as an instructional coach for the county combines both of my loves. So while I am sad to leave, I am excited about what the future holds,” Poper began.

“When it came to choosing a new volleyball coach, my recommendation was an easy one. Brandy Wrench had only coached with me for a season, but she did a great job. She learned a lot about the game as it has changed quite a bit since we played back in high school and did an excellent job with the girls. They respect her and she brought new drills and ideas to the program. I am so glad that I am able to leave the program in good hands with her as the new head coach.”

Building on the subject of the arising Midway volleyball tradition, Poper reflected back on her time spent with former coach Jennifer Naylor and what their vision was for the program. Poper believes that Wrench has what it takes to continue that vision, especially when combined with the talent and drive that the Lady Raiders have on their team.

“When Jennifer Naylor and I started coaching together our goal was to build a long standing next level volleyball program at Midway. Of course that comes with hard work from not only the coaching staff, but also dedication from the players. And our girls have taken the coaching staff changes in stride. They adapted to the change last year and I know they will adapt again this year. There are no words to describe how proud I am of the girls I have coached while at Midway. They are wonderful young ladies in the classroom and on the court. They are hard working, talented, and highly competitive. From our rising seniors to our upcoming freshman, the love of the game shines bright in them. It is this combined with Brandy’s guidance as their new coach that will make another great year for Midway volleyball,” she concluded.

Midway Athletic Director Best Best echoed similar optimism.

“Midway High School is excited to give Brandy Wrench the opportunity to serve as head volleyball coach. She has spent her life as an athlete, serving the community in athletics and volunteer coaching. We look forward to mentoring her in this new position and watching her succeed on the court just as she already has in the classroom and hallways of Midway High School,” Best said.

With the support of the school behind her, the skill and determination of returning players, and the support of friends, family, and the community, the ingredients are in place for Wrench and her team to have a strong 2017 season.

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https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Wrench.jpgWrench
Successful program undergoes leadership transition

By Daron Barefoot

Sports Editor

Reach Sports Editor Daron Barefoot at [email protected].