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Park
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The
Beach: Sun,
Sound and Sand
Four and a half years
ago a young lady, tall, slender and athletic walked into The Beach
Volleyball Complex with her boyfriend to ask if they could practice.
Turns out he was a professional player and she was a new student
at the University of Toledo on a full volleyball scholarship.
She came from Pataskla Ohio (near Columbus), he played volleyball
for Ohio State. Soon, other professional players came, but this
young lady named Lindsey Kretzmann was special. She had energy
and talent. The league players loved her. She was MAC Player of
the Year 2002. She helped teach the children from Toledo Community
Recreation Program and brought many of her teammates down to practice
at The Beach.
In the fall of 2002, she traveled overseas to try out for the
European leagues. She loved Europe but went shortly after 911,
a hard time for a young girl to be overseas. Nonetheless, in May
of 2003, she proudly announced she was accepted to play professional
volleyball for the country of Holland. She left in September of
2003 and will remain there for for the next nine months.
Lindsey was appreciative of her time at The Beach, acknowledging
it as a contributing factor to her success, since playing in the
sand ‘builds’ indoor court players. Lindsey loves The
Beach and all the people that have maintained it . In August of
2003 the Professional Volleyball Tournament sponsored by Jeds
and Lindsey finished in second. The tournament brought in more
teams than could have been hoped for. Lindsey also helped organize
the women’s brackets.
The Toledo Community Recreation League also brings great personal
joy when you see young talent come together as a team and pull
off a victory. Sometimes that victory isn’t the win, but
the 8-year-old that finally makes the serve over the net.
Everyone should have the experience of seeing the good things
that come from hard work and team work down at The Beach. Come
down to The Beach and witness the up-and-coming players for next
season. All the work is worth it when someone like Lindsey can
realize their dreams. Thank you Mike Snyder and Kathy Harwick
for holding the program together.
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