As spring defrosts the chill off of FHS, sports are back in full swing. Boys baseball, girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer and track and field are some sports you’d sit in the stands for around this time of year. However, one boys sport is turning a new leaf as the sun comes out. After three years of being a club, the boys volleyball varsity team finally takes the baseline as an official Michigan High School Athletic Association sport.
The boys volleyball varsity team started in 2022 after Athletic Coordinator Mike Cahill received interest in adding the sport. However, the team couldn’t function without a coach, so FHS parent Dan Engelhardt returned after a twelve-year long retirement of coaching volleyball.
“I’ve coached volleyball in the past– baseball, softball, basketball; volleyball was my playing passion,” Engelhardt said. “So when my son [Charlie] got interested in it, it was the deciding factor to say, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’”
Engelhardt had played volleyball at Michigan State University from 1999 to 2002, and had coached volleyball up until 2010 when his children were born. After four years of coaching the boys volleyball at FHS, the team has gathered a handful of outstanding players.
“Charlie [Engelhardt] is up for Mr. Volleyball in the state,” Engelhardt said. “Then we have [Benjamin] Ball, and we’ve got two transfers in that are twins, Levi and Luke Rebandt, that play club volleyball; along with Zion Mills is a track superstar that also plays volleyball at a high level.”
Mr. Volleyball of Michigan is an award that is given to a nominated, deserving senior athlete that has excelled on the court and also embodies the spirit of leadership and integrity, according to Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association. Senior Charlie Engelhardt plays the position of setter with the jersey number three, and has been playing volleyball for four years.
“I love being able to have control [of] each play,” Charlie Engelhardt said.
As students new to volleyball pile into the varsity team in its infancy, a player as seasoned and passionate for volleyball as Charlie Engelhardt has advice for newcomers and those aspiring to join.
“You need to be coachable,” Charlie Engelhardt said.
Luckily, the weight of the boys volleyball team isn’t just on the shoulders of Charlie Engelhardt. As returning All-Conference first team player Benjamin Ball has joined the varsity team, and has quickly risen to the occasion.
“I like how everyone is non-judgy,” Ball said, “When you make a mistake it’s like, ‘Okay.’”
Junior Benjamin Ball plays the position of middle with the jersey number zero, and has been playing volleyball for over a year. As the middle blocker, Ball handles both the offensive and defensive position in the front row of the court.
“[What I like most is] probably [hitting the ball] right and left,” Ball said.
As of March 16th, Farmington ranks5th place in division one boys volleyball for the state of Michigan. The first contest is on April 6th at 5:00 PM at Northville High School, be there to support the new stars of FHS.
“I think it’s a really good sport,” Ball said, “And it gets you in shape.”
