Calvary Christian Volleyball Wins GISA Championship
by Aimee Green and McKenzie Bragg

For the second time in three years and the third time overall, the Calvary Christian School varsity volleyball team won the GISA state championship!  The tournament was held in Augusta, Georgia, on the weekend of October 22-23.  Calvary Christian quickly won the match against Christian Heritage to advance.

On day two, Calvary Christian played in the semifinals against Augusta Prep, a team that they had beaten twice early in the season.  However, Calvary Christian started the game feeling nervous and anxious, contributing to their first loss(17-25) in the tournament.

Coach Chris Akers gave the team an encouraging pep talk.  The girls calmed down, focused, and went on to win the next two games.  Finishing on top in the semifinals, Calvary Christian was more than ready to play in the upcoming championship game and bring home another state title.

After a thirty minute break, Calvary Christian played LaGrange Academy in the final game.  LaGrange was tough competition and Calvary Christian had to fight to win each game. With close scores, it became important for Calvary Christian to connect with and encourage one another as a team to get through this tough match.

The 2010 state title was earned with help of senior libero Caytlin Merritt, who dug the ball and saved the team on many occasions.  Sophomore Megan Wall played great defense alongside Merritt and will most likely be the replacement for the libero position next year after Merritt graduates. Junior Alana Roper was responsible for several kills that led to victory.  Junior Karli Brown had some great serves including the final point of the match.  Sophomore Mary McCarty and senior Megan Eldridge contributed many great blocks and junior McKenzie Bragg led the team in blocks and kills in the final match.

“Individually we have all the right abilities to accomplish our task, but together we unite as a whole team.  Our talents, encouragements, and uplifting chemistry made it possible to win the final game,” Roper says.

Although the varsity team will lose four seniors this year, the remaining players are hoping and praying for the talent and commitment of younger players to result in another state title next year.  This year’s state championship was an amazing end to a great season that also included a region championship and first place in the Augusta Prep tournament in October.

The Calvary Christian volleyball team is thankful to God, their parents, coaches and everyone who supported them this year.  Their hard work paid off and they look forward to an exciting season next year.

Lady Knights Volleyball Team Prepares for State

The Calvary Christian School Lady Knights varsity volleyball team has had quite a season.  The team has succeeded under the leadership of coach Chris Akers, a USA Volleyball certified instructor with 15 years playing experience.

Akers began his coaching career at Columbus High School in 2003 and in four seasons led the Lady Blue Devils to three Area championships, two Elite Eight appearances, a Final Four appearance and a state championship. In four years, the program produced 17 All Bi-City players, three Area Players of the Year and an All-State top 24 Seniors Award.  In 2006, Akers started Columbus Juniors Volleyball Club (CJVBC) and won a region championship in his first season. CJVBC has sent eight players over its first four years to play at the next level.

Akers started working with Calvary Christian School in 2007 and took over the program in 2009.  In 2009, his Lady Knights team produced one All Bi-City player and four All-State and All-Region players. Calvary has won four consecutive region championships.

The team’s record is 27-1 as of October 15.  They competed and won the Augusta Prep Fall Classic Tournament in September and the five-team Lee-Scott Invitational in Auburn, Alabama.  They also won the Region 3 championship title this year.  

Varsity standouts include junior McKenzie Bragg, who leads the team in kills with 316 and has 45 aces, 44 blocks and 75 digs; senior Caytlin Merritt, who currently leads in digs with 250 and has 50 aces and 20 assists; sophomore Leslie Dupree, who is the setter and assist leader with 603 and has 30 aces and 28 digs; sophomore Mary McCarty, who leads in blocks with 60 and second in kills with 167; junior Alana Roper, who is second in digs with 160 and third in kills with 108; and junior Karli Brown, who is a great all-around player with 80 kills, 55 digs and 25 aces.  With their impressive statistics, many Lady Knights are planning to continue playing volleyball in college.

Even though Calvary Christian School is a small, private high school, many players have the potential to win athletic college scholarships if they choose to pursue one. According to Akers, the players who have expressed interest and have an excellent chance of receiving an offer to play at the next level include Merritt, Bragg, Brown, McCarty, Dupree, Roper, and sophomore Megan Wall.

There are many CCS junior varsity players showing great potential for the future, including Brittney Bruce, Alexis Mickle and Haley Hamm, who will have a chance to contribute next season as freshmen on the varsity team. Hannah Kirkland and Tessa Burns are a few years away from varsity competition but Akers is looking forward to them moving up through the ranks.

Attending a CCS varsity volleyball game will prove that not only are these girls amazing athletes but they are also a great team, who work together and are united like a family.  To foster team chemistry, Akers says that summer camp, watching videos before home matches, three car wash fundraisers in the summer, a “Back to School” party, and a trip to watch the Auburn volleyball team play are just a few examples of what they did together as a team this season outside of practices and games.  

The team is looking forward to the state championship in Augusta, Georgia.  If they win, it will be Calvary’s third state championship volleyball team, having won in 2000 and 2008.

Calvary Christian School Cheerleaders Excel At FCC Camp

Varsity and middle school cheer squads participated in FCC camp at Columbus State University during the summer.  This was the second time Calvary cheer squads attended camp and their growth and improvement was evident.

Varsity had the option of competing in Cheer/Transition or Varsity All Music.  Coach Heather Kersey was confident in their ability in either division but left the decision up to the girls, who chose to compete in Varsity All Music.  Learning the choreography and cleaning up the routine was difficult and sometimes frustrating, but they came together as a team and pushed themselves.  After their first evaluation, they made it to Camp Champs, which is the highest level of varsity competition.  The girls placed third in Camp Champs Varsity All Music.

Kersey says, "It was an amazing opportunity for them to become the united sisterhood I always pray for with new squads, and for this to happen so early in the year will pay countless dividends this season."

Calvary's middle school cheer squad placed third against other MS and JV squads in one large camp competition.  Their final member joined the squad two weeks before camp, and they all worked hard to learn cheers, transitions and jumps.  Their third-place finish qualifies them for Nationals, after a six-year absence.  
Coach Tiffany Shiver says, "I am honored to work with and coach such a wonderful group of girls.  They push themselves and want to achieve so much.  It inspires me!"

The Calvary cheerleaders put Hebrews 12:11 in action, which says, "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening - it's painful. But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of righteousness for those who are trained in this way."

New and exciting things are happening at Calvary Christian School this school year! Joining the faculty as athletic director and head football coach, Brian Osborne will lead the first-ever Knights football team.

“Over the course of about seven months, we had the privilege of interviewing about 10-12 prospects for the position of athletic director/head football coach,” headmaster Len McWilliams explains. “The job description was comprehensive and we found some impressive candidates who met most of the criteria. In the final analysis, we are so pleased that we waited for God to bring the person who filled all of our expectations – Brian Osborne.

“Brian has a passion for all sports and what can be accomplished in young people through athletics, but his real heart is for leading students to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We have been blessed with some great coaches in our various sports. Some are on staff at CCS and some are community coaches. Brian sees his role as serving the coaches and students and leading Calvary to its full potential in all sports.

“Coach Osborne has the enthusiasm that comes with youth, while also having the maturity necessary to earn the respect of students, parents and coaches. We are excited about the future and are thrilled to have someone with Brian’s track record to lead this essential part of our school program,” McWilliams says.

Osborne grew up in Columbus and attended Brookstone School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. After graduation, he attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Rhodes is an NCAA Division III school that boasts many nationally and regionally ranked sports teams.  Osborne played football and baseball at Rhodes, leading the football team in sacks for two years and making the 2002 Southern Collegiate Athletic All-Conference team.

After college, Osborne had an opportunity to coach football, basketball and baseball at his alma mater, Brookstone. He served as assistant football coach for seven years and defensive coordinator for three years, posting a 30-6 record. He was also an assistant coach for the varsity basketball and baseball teams as well as head coach for the junior varsity programs. During his Brookstone career, he earned 2006 Assistant Coach of the Year, 2004 All Bi-City Coaching Staff and 2006 Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

“My favorite part of coaching is watching the students perform during their games,” Osborne says. “Coaching at Brookstone, we were hardly ever the bigger team compared to our opponents but once the game started, it was amazing to watch them play and win.  As a coach, when you are able to get the maximum amount of effort from your players every contest, there is no greater joy. It was an honor coaching at Brookstone because the students knew what it took to be victorious on the football field and they wanted to learn, which makes it fun as a coach.  I want to see that attitude at Calvary and I know that it can be achieved.

“I believe that there is no greater team sport than football. One person cannot win a football game – it takes all 11 guys working together.  Football is a game of trust. You have to trust your teammates to do their job because if you try and do it yourself, you will not be successful.

“Football is the sport that has taught me the most life lessons from respect, responsibility, punctuality, work ethic and attention to detail.  Football has been the instrument through which God has directed my life. Because of football I was able to go to Rhodes College, where I earned a college degree and met my wife, Rosie.  I was able to start working at Brookstone because they needed a middle school football coach right before the season started in 2003,” Osborne says.

Osborne and his wife have two children, Leanne, 15 months, and Lawrence (Larry), a newborn.

Calvary Christian School is looking forward to the future of their athletic program and watching their students grow and prosper under Coach Osborne's leadership. And for the first time, they are especially looking forward to Friday night football.