Building for the future

CEDAR RAPIDS - When people think about the future success of a high school sport, all eyes turn to the freshmen and sophomore athletes.

For each talented group of freshmen, especially ones playing at the varsity level, to thrive requires strong leadership. It is not easy to play with older athletes instead of your classmates, and it takes a special kind of leader to bring everyone together.

'At first I was a little nervous that I couldn't play with the girls,” freshman Ellie McDermott said about playing on varsity, 'but teammates like Kayla Torson gave me the confidence I could by helping me during the summer and so far this season.”

It is difficult to be a good leader and role model while competing at a high level, but Torson embraces the opportunity, showing it is possible to overcome any obstacle.

'I don't remind them that they are a freshman,” said Torson, a senior. 'I treat them as my equal because if I keep telling them they are a freshman, then they will keep acting and playing like freshman. I always tell them they can talk to me about anything, and I give them rides to team dinners and team bonding. I just try to be a positive role model in their lives.”

If the role model is good enough, they leave an impression that sticks forever.

'When I was a freshman, the whole senior group was so amazing to me,” Torson said. 'Kelly Biermann was a stud, and my goal was to get more kills than her by the end of my senior year.”

Continuing the mentoring tradition, Torson hopes to be the role model McDermott and other underclassmen need to help the team succeed.