Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
Gary Stanglewicz has had close to three decades of success as a high school volleyball coach, and in his 29th year of coaching, he continues to churn out great teams at St. Louis High School.
And the proof is in his record.
As of last week, Stanglewicz has posted a 1166-422-112 record and has led the Sharks to Battle Creek and the final four four times, winning titles in 1999 and 2001. The team was runner-up in 2010.
He says it’s been a simple formula. “When we have a good match between players and system, it works out,” Stanglewicz said. “I think our system makes good volleyball players. And when we have good athletes, that makes great teams.
“And I think there is some consistency in our program, number one,” he added. “And then there is a buy-in with a our athletes, parents, and administration. Everybody has to be on the same page.”
All of this is in place this year, as the Sharks have posted an impressive 27-7-1 record as of press time.
“We do have some athletes on this team,” Stanglewicz said. “This is a group, when they were freshmen, I knew they would be special. When they were freshmen they would play on their own; they love to play. They play out of season, so do a lot of things on their own to make themselves better.”
Senior Allison Smith, a setter for this year’s team, says it’s easy to go over and beyond to get prepared for seasons when playing for Stanglewicz.
“He is extremely fun to play for, but he definitely knows how to put us in our place when we need it,” Smith said. “He never lets us think that we are too good that we quit trying to get better. He always makes sure we have a humbleness about us.”
Stanglewicz says that if it has the humble attitude and is willing to work, any team can become successful, and he saw that just two years ago.
“In 2010, I don’t think that was a team with superior athletes, but they worked extremely hard,” Stanglewicz said. “It was a close group, and they supported each other. We made it to the finals, and that team did not win a tournament all year. When you don’t play for yourself, and each other, its hard to give up. You just have to have the right mental outlook, and people will fight for each other.”
This year’s team has a good mix of great athletes, like Smith, and other players who play key roles. That’s why Stanglewicz believes this team has a bright future as the season moves on.
“The difference between winning and losing, the star players cancel each other out, but it’s the role players that make the difference,” Stanglewicz said. “It’s those fifth, sixth, and seventh players, and that has helped us over the years and will this year.”
Smith likes her team’s chances moving forward. “I think this is the best team I have ever been on,” she said. “We have the ability to play for each other. We genuinely love each other, and that is important.”
And the team loves Stanglewicz, as does the St. Louis community – a community that doesn’t want this great coach’s run to end.
“It’s still fun,” Stanglewicz said. “If I don’t screw them up too much, as long as I don’t hurt them, I’ll be around.
“And I have great help,” he added. “My assistant, Jennifer Jaeck, she does an outstanding job of working with the kids. And she sometimes balances out my over-passionate responses. She has college and high school experience and has been a big help to me.”