Highlands volleyball team will start practice July 31.
Highlands School has been conditioning its athletes over the summer in hopes of building on a strong foundation for the upcoming athletic year.
Highlands offers high school boys and girls golf, volleyball, boys soccer, swim, boys and girls basketball, and boys and girls soccer. Depending on enrollment and coaches, they also offer cheer and track and cross country.
For middle school, Highlands offers boys and girls soccer, co-ed golf, boys and girls basketball, volleyball, and co-ed swim, as well as track and cheer depending on enrollment and coaches.
Some of Highlands School’s sports saw important seniors graduate, leaving behind some gaps that Brett Lamb, athletic director and head coach of varsity girls basketball, believes the younger players are able and eager to fill.
Highlands School also saw success last year, which Lamb hopes to capitalize on and continue.
The Highlanders were conference champions last year in varsity and JV volleyball, boys soccer was the conference co-champ along with Blue Ridge School and Early College, and girls golf won their first Smoky Mountain Conference golf championship.
“I think we have a good foundation for the next couple of years,” Lamb said. There are still some big players that the school is missing and some changes that may need adjustment.
Golf is bringing in a new coach. The school is also looking to bring a track and cross country coach on board and they are also in the process of getting a new cheer coach. Golf lost the number one golfer. Lamb said boys soccer lost three key seniors who played in different spots on the field, one in the front, one in the middle, and one in the back. Lamb said girls basketball lost all five starters. The team is keeping its two leading scorers, but their roles are different.
“There’s some high expectations. There’s some big shoes to fill, but once those fall into place, I think we have opportunities in multiple high school and middle school sports to win championships,” Lamb said.
Despite some changes on staff, Lamb encourages his coaches to have patience with the programs and trust the growth. It takes time to build a winning program, whereas some coaches may change their plans by the year. Lamb’s goal is to win the conference and make some noise in the state playoffs.
“Sometimes there are teams that are better than us, but if we go out and compete and give it everything we have, and we do it the right way with sportsmanship, playing together, and good behavior, then I don’t have a problem with that,” Lamb said.
Lamb said the athletes at Highlands School, many of whom may play multiple sports, want success and understand their roles, so they do what they can to achieve that success. He said that while there is youth, the older kids realize they are leaders and some kids organize practices and other activities outside school to foster team bonding. He is appreciative of the work they put in, but also of the parents of kids that don’t drive who help them get to practices.
Lamb said teams have been working over the summer to prepare for the upcoming season. For instance, girls basketball has been to three team camps and had a scrimmage with another high school. Volleyball has been hosting workouts in the early mornings. The first official date for fall sports practices is July 31.
The school tries to instill Highlander Pride in all the kids so when the athletes hit the fields or courts, “they love their school, they fight for their school, they battle for their school,” have a great experience and hopefully earn a championship, Lamb said. This pride is one that impacts students, faculty, and the community. Lamb appreciates the support, saying the school feels very fortunate for what they have.
“I feel like we’ve put a good product out there and kids really enjoy being a part of it. It’s something they can take with them forever,” Lamb said. “Just because you come from a small place doesn’t mean you can’t do big things. We set goals high."