Clarion Area Volleyball Honors Coach Campbell For 400th Victory At Lady Cats Helm (Posted 11/07/20)

(Above image) Coach Shari with the team. 400 Wins!!!!

The Volleyball Team and Clarion Area School District honored Coach Shari Campbell in a post-match celebration recognizing her 400th win as Lady Cats Head Coach, following the Lady Cats District Nine semifinal victory, at home against Oswayo Valley on Thursday, November 5th.

The celebration began as various fans were handed small signs with 400 on them and then the team gathered on the scoreboard side of the gym and unfurled a banner recognizing the milestone, along with a number of accomplishments from Coach Campbell and her Lady Cats Teams. Various players also held placards recognizing the milestone. Coach Campbell was presented with nice bouquet also.

Volleyball Booster President Tracy Girvan was the emcee. She shared some nice words about Coach Campbell and mentioned others who have contributed to the team and the ceremony. It is really easy to sense the great bond she and Coach Campbell share, as well as the bond the Coach shares with the school and present and past teams, and assistant coaches.

Pennsylvania State Representative Donna Oberlander (63rd District), was on hand to present a special certificate to Coach Campbell commemorating the milestone. She lauded Coach Campbell and her teams and players, past and present, who have contributed to this successful program.

In part, Representative Oberlander stated, “…Today we celebrate Coach Campbell’s 400 hundreth win which is cause for excitement and congratulation. In addition, CoachCampbell coached the 2012 PIAA State Class-A Champs, (of which I had the opportunity to honor in the chamber of the House of Representatives)…”

Booster President Girvan then shared so fine comments and presented Coach Campbell with a congratulatory proclamation from the Clarion County Commissioners.

Then Coach Campbell spoke. She mentioned that the celebration was a surprise and shared her thanks and congratulations to many.

Also in attendance were Clarion Area School Superintendent Joseph Carrico and Athletic Director Nancy Mills.

After the presentation, everyone gathered in the lobby where a display was set up to honor Coach Campbell’s and the Lady Cats’ milestone. The display included cupcakes arranged in the number 400 as well as a commemorative volleyball signed by this year’s team.

There are a number of highlights in Coach Campbell’s stellar twenty-two year (and counting) career as the Lady Cats’ mentor.

Coach Campbell’s Lady Cat Teams have won 18 Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Championships, 16 outright (including this season) and two Co-Championships. They have won 9 of the last 11 KSAC Championships.

Under Coach Campbell the Lady Cats have now won 15 District Nine Titles, including 9-of-10 from 2006 to 2015 and three straight from 2018 through the Title they won earlier this afternoon, Saturday, November 7th. They have won 8 Regional Titles and reached the State semifinals 5 times.

The 2010 and 2011 Lady Cats were PIAA State Runners-up. Then in 2012, in the highlight so far, Clarion Area won the PIAA State Championship. They were undefeated at 23-0 that season. During the three year span from 2010-2012, the Lady Cats were 62-7.

The Lady Cats have finished in the Top 5 of the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s final rankings five times. They also had a 6th place finish.

A large number of Coach Campbell’s players have been named PVCA All-State. A number have also been named All-Conference in the KSAC, with a number being named to other All-Star teams.

Even with all of these great accomplishments, Coach Campbell’s and her Assistant Coaches’ number one quality is the way she and her coaches work to develop these young women as ladies of character and class on and off the court.

I caught up with Coach Campbell after the Ceremony, and she shared these words, “Tracy mentioned some people. There are so many people that I’ve coached, that are so impactful. To have the opportunity to coach such wonderful young women, who become wonderful adults, who are really striving in their lives, to see that as they go forward is awesome.

“I have been so blessed to work with some great people. Erika Cathcart was my Assistant Coach for fifteen years and she’s still so supportive. And I have Tracy Durish by my side. Both of them are head coach caliber volleyball coaches.

“Sam Beichner has been with me for nine or ten years as a volunteer. Who gets that? She’s so dedicated and a great coach, in her own right. I rely on her so much for her stats and all that she does for us. She played for me, so it’s really wonderful to see how much everybody’s giving back to the current girls.

“It’s just a great sport. But it teaches people about relationships and how to treat each other, and be there for each other.

“My Booster Club, we’ve worked hard to empower them to support us. My goal has always been to support play to get better, to go to camp and they do a phenomenal job supporting our girls and the program.”

Anyone who knows Coach Campbell, knows she absolutely shuns the spotlight, giving credit to her team and assistant coaches. But this time, Coach you deserve all the accolades you can get.

Daughter Brenna said, “She deserves everything. She’s an amazing coach. She doesn’t get recognized as much as I think she should. But, that (the celebration) was really great for her. And the Boosters really helped a lot with that.”

(Congratulations and thank you to Coach Campbell, the Lady Cats and to everyone who has made the Clarion Area Volleyball Program such a long running success!!!! What great accolades for a fine, fine lady!!!!)