Three years ago, a new coach and a group of young athletes set out to rebuild boys volleyball. This year, nine seniors leave behind a legacy of trust, leadership, and resilience.

Head Coach Tom Scherrer set out to create a program that valued person-first narratives, a contrast to what he grew up with.

“I had some coaches that did not get to know me or my family, I had some coaches that never explained my role, and I had some coaches that just told me to shut up and play,” Scherrer said.

“The ones who were the most impactful were the ones who treated me like a person first, and an athlete second.”

But that approach did not just change how the players were coached; it changed how they led each other.

“The strongest quality of this group this year was probably leadership… there was never a lack of leadership,” he said.

This was not a sentiment that Scherrer alone shared. Alex Konon, junior and outside hitter, mentioned the lessons his teammates taught him.

“I learned how to be a good leader on a team, especially from our on- court captain this year, Will Gefke,” Konon said.

But that growth wasn’t one-sided. Gefke, too, changed throughout the season, as he “learned how to lead a team,” Gefke said.

That leadership translated to on-the-court success. The team surpassed 20 wins this season, finished in 2nd place in both their Whitefish Bay and Waukesha tournaments, and made it to the sectional finals.

But between the wins and inevitable losses, the team was brought together by the little moments.

“My favorite memories this year were probably just the in-between stuff, whether it be laughing together at practice or on the bus to and from events,” Scherrer said.

For these players, those memories carried lessons beyond volleyball.

Cooper Krueger, senior, said: “This season taught me a lot about being grateful for all the opportunities I have.”

In the end, their greatest victory wasn’t a trophy, but the lessons learned, the laughs shared, and legacy earned.