Kate Zimmer Selected for Next Level of USA Volleyball
CHRVA is proud
to recognize the achievements of one of it’s Juniors members. Kate
Zimmer of the Tri-State Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Volleyball
Club has been selected to the next level of the USA Volleyball (USAV) Olympic
High Performance Development Program. Zimmer, 13, is one of 48 girls
in the nation (17 years and younger) selected to participate in the USAV
National High Performance Holiday Training Camp in Austin, Texas in December.
Toshi Yoshida, Head Women's Olympic Volleyball Coach will coach the Blue
Squad, and Kevin Hambley, Assistant Head Coach of the USAV Women's Olympic
Team will coach the Red Squad.
Last summer, Zimmer (6' 3") was one of only five
thirteen year-olds in the country to be selected in the High Performance
Program, participating in the USAV High Performance Olympic Development
Camp in Colorado Springs. Her selection in the Holiday Training Camp
was based on her performance in Colorado Springs. Zimmer just completed
her middle school season, leading North/Western Middle Schools' 8th Grade
Travel Team to the Washington County championship, coached by her parents
Chip and Barb Zimmer. She will begin her fourth season of club volleyball
with the FCA this winter, playing for the 15U Halos coached by Alexa (Robertson)
Keckler and Kim Malphurs. Last year, her Tri-State FCA Saints 14U
team, coached by Dennis Stoner, finished second in the Chesapeake Region
with four tournament championships en route to an 85-22 record. She
led the team in kills with 208 and added 174 service points. The
Saints were second only to Free State Tigger 14U of Delaware.
"I am so honored and speechless. I never thought anything like
this would happen to me." Zimmer said. "In 3rd grade, I just picked
up a volleyball one day in the gym, and now here I am going to Austin!
I am just so flabbergasted that this opportunity has come to me.
It is such an honor. I owe most of my success to my coaches, Alexa Keckler
and Denny Stoner, and to my parents for supporting me, encouraging me and
being with me all the way. I'd like to thank God for this awesome
blessing and FCA, my teammates, church, friends, and school for all their
encouragement and support."
Despite her age, Zimmer has already been contacted by many Division
I volleyball programs, including top ranked University of Southern California,
as well as others participating in the NCAA tournament that begins this
week. The Region wishes her all the best in her pursuit of volleyball
excellence. If you know of anyone whose volleyball achievements beyond
the Region level have yet to be recognized, please let us know. We’d
love to turn the spotlight towards many many more individuals making the
Region proud! |
