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Post by David Crowder on May 7, 2008 18:05:07 GMT -4
Okay lets vote for the 8 finalists.
Dave
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Post by David Crowder on May 7, 2008 19:07:27 GMT -4
Crowder's Comments on the State Tournament.
Me thinks this tournament is more about the great coaches that will be there than the players this year. The most notable player "IN" (Nick WIlliams) the state tournament won't play.
In no particular order these are my thoughts.
Spanish River. 2 time defending champion. New coach but a championship coach several times with the Spanish River girl's program, Lori Eaton. No one gives them much of a chance to 3-peat. I have only seen them once at Spring Sting this year but should be a better fundamental team all around than the two past state champions.
Southwest Miami. Coach Mauricio Diaz. Runs a tight ship and is very successful running it. If you want to be the best team in Miami you must beat Southwest and Coach Diaz. Coach Diaz won the first state tournament and has been back severals times since. Typical of great programs they reload each as oppose to rebuild. Faces change but the success is the same.
Cardinal Gibbons. Arguably the best volleyball high school in Florida. Like Spanish River has won both boy's and numerous girl's state championships. Coach Marci Myer has been part of several championship programs with both the boy's and the girls. To be the best team in Broward you must beat CG.
Lake Mary. Coach Brown though he is stepping down this year and has not won a volleyball championship has won a state championship in girl's basketball. Volleyball may not be his first sport but you could not tell that from the success of his teams. This will be his second state tournament apppearance. Since the inception of boy's volleyball in Orlando Lake Mary year in year out has been the team to beat. No "OFFICIAL" state championships but several unofficial FALL state championships when the Lake Mary Volleyfest was the big tourney in Orlando. Will ride their star Robbie Rowe in this tourney.
Cooper City. A new kid on the block. Coach Warren Denise has done a great job of bringing a team out of no where to contend for the state title. Star player Travis Nichols' father is Dave Nichols new head coach at Florida Gulf Coast College and former two time national championship coach at Barry University. I am not taking any credit away from Coach Denise but he has a heck of a resource in Coach Nichols.
Olympia. Is a team that wants to win it all Thinks that can win it all. Coach Troy Helton has put the time and effort in with this group. Pushing them through club and high school practices. Sometimes volatile but has shown he can win and is driven to win. Will see how he coaches against the wiley veterans mention above.
Jupiter. Sorry I do not know much about the program or there Coach Julio Halty but I am expecting some fans in the volleyball community to help us out with a bio. Jupiter as a team was a very quiet surprise last year being the last undefeated team to go down last year. They have received a lot of press this year by being brietly ranked #1 in the FloridaVolleyball.com poll. Top player is JM Plummer.
Columbus. Last but not least Coaches Rene Rodriguez & Greg Villare. I have been chatting via email all season with them but know very little about them. I reffed there team in their first appearance in the state tourney two years ago. Columbus may not be considered one of the contenders but they did place well at the Dr. Phillips Invitatitonal and won the Southwest Maimi Invitational.
Okay sports fans, fill in the rest on the stuff that I have missed. Will be a great tourney down south and I do not believe there are any clear cut favorits.
My thoughts the winners will be either Olympia, Soutwest, Cardinal Giboons and maybe Spanish River.
Dave
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Post by question on May 7, 2008 20:41:49 GMT -4
are you a coach Dave
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Post by kalnich on May 7, 2008 22:54:54 GMT -4
I really like your analysis of the teams but I have one thing to say. CCHS' Coach Denise and the boys on the team deserve all the credit. While I have to say my husband is an amazing coach, he had absolutely nothing to do with the CCHS team other than as a spectator. He has never, ever even attended a practice. Dave Nichols has actually worked with players from 6 six of the eight teams in the State tournament and I think has absolutely contributed to the progression of Volleyball in this state but has not directly worked with the CCHS team at all.
Kudos go to Coach Denise and all of the boys on the Cooper City team. Congratulations on a spectacular season and good luck in the tournament!
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Post by David Crowder on May 7, 2008 23:07:56 GMT -4
Dave is a referee.
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Post by GUEST23 on May 7, 2008 23:20:26 GMT -4
I really like your analysis of the teams but I have one thing to say. CCHS' Coach Denise and the boys on the team deserve all the credit. While I have to say my husband is an amazing coach, he had absolutely nothing to do with the CCHS team other than as a spectator. He has never, ever even attended a practice. Dave Nichols has actually worked with players from 6 six of the eight teams in the State tournament and I think has absolutely contributed to the progression of Volleyball in this state but has not directly worked with the CCHS team at all. Kudos go to Coach Denise and all of the boys on the Cooper City team. Congratulations on a spectacular season and good luck in the tournament!
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Post by nichols players on May 7, 2008 23:23:16 GMT -4
who has coach nichols worked with and on what teams?
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Post by David Crowder on May 7, 2008 23:46:25 GMT -4
Coach Nichols was the USAV Florida Region Boy's High Performance Coach last year.
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Post by stevennorton on May 8, 2008 14:22:07 GMT -4
southwest and their coach have the most tough minded team out there... they dont get rattled anymore... if they get down they rally behind each other and get it done. not to mention they have a middle who is deaf and it is a special thing to watch this team communicate with him and embrace him. it has brought them closer than a lot of teams would dream about. not to mention they have a great floor leader in jonathan roldan. south florida is going to bring it home!
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Post by marsh on May 8, 2008 18:02:08 GMT -4
coach nichols is an amazing coach, he did great with the florida high performance team
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Post by RedBear23 on May 8, 2008 19:45:01 GMT -4
Coach Dave Nichols is the best coach in Florida. hands down. He's the man, and he's always teaching me something new and better. ;D
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jhen
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by jhen on May 9, 2008 22:36:14 GMT -4
river in 4 southwest in 3 olympia in 5 lake marry in 4
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