MV Athletics in general is one of the most prestigious overall programs in Southern Illinois. The student-athletes and our coaches here at MV are some of the best to come out in recent history. Just to name a few MV grads that have gone to college in recent years, NJ Benson, ‘22 (Missouri State University Basketball), Roman Harrison, ‘22 (Quincy University Baseball), Jacob Morrison, ‘23 (Southern Illinois University Carbondale Track), Justice Malone, ‘23 (Dartmouth College Softball).
MV coaches are the reason all this can happen, it takes good coaching, dedication, mature young adults who want to be involved, and lots of time. A lot of these coaches are teachers on top of being a coach of their specific sport. Here are a few people who can maintain being a teacher and being a successful coach as well, Coach Pierce Borah (Baseball), Coach Tim Holloway (Basketball), as well as anybody with the last name Turner is a coach as well.
Space in MV is also somewhat limited considering how many sports we have and how many sports we have to practice including, cheer, dance, baseball, boys and girls basketball, wrestling, track, and other sports. During the winter it can be hard for coaches to get time in the turf room, gym, and Aux Gym. Just for the fact of how many sports are trying to practice at once in so many different time slots throughout the afternoon and into the evening. As well some sports have to even practice on the weekend to get some extra reps and make up time missed during the week.
As an athlete who was previously in two sports and currently in one (basketball and baseball), I’ve seen a lot of the same philosophies that the coaches teach. It is called the “Rams Vision.” The Rams’ Vision is “To demonstrate a PROCESS of Excellence in everything we do, to create successful students, men, husbands, fathers, and citizens.” This also came with some core values that were stated in both of my sports as well and they were, “Represent your school & community positively”,” Excellence is our standard,” “Out Hustle,” and “Out Execute.”
I believe that our coaches strive for us to not only be good athletes but also good men and women who understand responsibility and take care of business.
