This year, Park enters the boys volleyball scene by sending kids to Hopkins to participate on their team. Many would think that two schools combining to make a sports team would be difficult. Despite that, numerous volleyball players are heading over to display their talents on the court.
Senior Cayden Kuss said he began playing volleyball at a young age at his old home in California.
“I started at the beach because it was something familiar from home,” Kuss said. “I used to live in California and I did it a lot. That’s why I joined indoor volleyball as a sport”.
Junior Owen Barnett said he likes the attention and support that the boys program is receiving, but there is still work to be done.
“I like the respect the program is receiving,” Barnett said. “For the future of boys volleyball, I hope for more funding and gymtime. Right now it’s more of a Hopkins thing, so if Park could be more involved that would be great.”
This year John Hochstein, an elementary teacher at Eisenhower Elementary in Hopkins, is taking over the team. Hochstein said he has a lot of experience in the sport; he grew up in Illinois, which has a strong support for boys volleyball, then continued into college playing and managing at the University of Minnesota.
“I grew up playing boys volleyball in Illinois, and then I played on the college club team at the University of Minnesota,” Hochstein said. ”While I was there, I was a manager for the women’s NCAA team. I then started coaching at a local club, and found that I really enjoyed it, and kept doing it.”
Kuss said conjoining with Hopkins was different, but he adjusted quickly and found love for it.
“It is a little strange because you don’t get to know them before sports, but I played with them last year and they’re all really nice,” Kuss said. “I’ve gotten to know them a lot better. I couldn’t imagine playing with anybody else.”
Barnett said the adjustment wasn’t as bad because he knew most of the Hopkins players.
“It wasn’t tough playing with a different school because I know a lot of them and a lot of them are my friends,” Barnett said.
Hopkins-Park has their next volleyball game at Eastview high school on Apr. 15 at 6 p.m.
Hochstein said building a community between two schools will be unique, but the team will get through it.
“It’s a little bit harder than if they were all from one school, but the guys have been super awesome about it. The players from Park mesh really nicely with the Hopkins players,” Hochstein said. “I would also like to add that if players are interested, they should totally join.”
Hopkins-Park’s next game will be held at 6:00 p.m. April 15 Eastview High School.
