Team bonding more memorable than winning matches

The Shield : When did you first get involved in volleyball?
Greta Colombo: I started playing in fifth grade. I went to a private school so I started playing through school.
TS: What is your favorite part of playing volleyball for McCallum?
GC: I think my favorite part is just getting to meet people, like I’m friends with a lot of people I wouldn’t have [otherwise] been friends with. I guess it’s just a fun way to spend my time.
TS: What is your favorite memory from volleyball season?
GC: I think my favorite memory would probably be last year, so junior year, we took a trip to Victoria and played in a tournament. We all got to stay in a hotel; it was just a really fun bonding experience.
TS: How do you want to remember playing volleyball in high school?
GC: I just want to remember that it was a really fun experience, and that it was a good thing that I got involved in it?
TS: How has the varsity team changed throughout the past two years?
GC: Last year we were definitely a team made up of juniors. We only had two seniors, so we were working to be better because we didn’t have a lot of older girls. This year we have a lot of seniors; so it’s really fun just getting to help out the younger girls.
TS: With the new teams in district, what has changed for you guys?
GC: I think that it isn’t as hard of a district because Bastrop and Cedar Creek, two of our really good rivals, left. We played Austin High, and we beat them, which I’m glad we did because that way they can’t walk into our district thinking they can just walk over everyone.
TS: What has been your favorite game this season?
GC: I think the Austin High game. It was really fun and really exciting.

Being king for a day was great, but Taco Shack was better

The Shield: When did you first start playing football? Why?
Griffin Garbutt: I think it was sixth grade, I played Pop Warner then and I started playing for school in seventh. I played before that, just never tackle football. Texas and football always seemed like a big deal, so that’s why I started playing.
TS: What makes your position different than any other?
GG: I play holder and wide receiver. The holder is different because no one else does that; I basically just hold for a field goal and [for] extra points. I’ve always been kind of quick and good at catching, so I think I just thought that I would do OK at wide receiver, but other people play that too.
TS: What is going through your head at the beginning of a game?
GG: Well, at the first game, I was pretty nervous, but after that I guess it’s kind of the calm before the storm. Everyone is just getting ready to go out there and play.
TS: How was the Taco Shack Bowl for you?
GG: It was awesome! It was so great that we won my senior year.
TS: What is a normal week of football like?
GG: Monday morning we come in and watch film, then we practice during the period and after school. Tuesday morning we lift, then practice more. Wednesday, same thing as Tuesday. Thursday we have off in the morning, and we just walk through during the period and no practice after school. Friday is game day, so we just hang out and make sure we know where everyone is going.
TS: What is your favorite field?
GG: Definitely House Park because it is just so central and downtown near the buildings.
TS: What is your favorite memory of football at McCallum?
GG: For sure [it was] when I caught a touchdown at Taco Shack.
TS: How did it feel to be homecoming king?
GG: I was pretty excited, I didn’t think I was going to win. I thought Ronald or Andre was going to win, but it would have felt a lot better if we would have won [the game].
TS: How do you want to McCallum to remember this years football team?
GG: 10-0