Cara Syers, the head varsity volleyball coach for Arapahoe High School, has been the head coach for 15 years, and 18 years coaching total. This year, Syers won the volleyball Coach of the Year award for the Centennial League. She was voted on by the other schools, coaches, and players.
She started coaching at Arapahoe in 2005. In 2013 Syers led her varsity team to the state championship and took second place. After the state championship, Syers took a break for a few years to focus on her family. After focusing on her family she returned to coaching at Arapahoe for her oldest child’s senior year season.
Taylor Hamilton, assistant varsity coach, played for Syers on the 2013 state runner-up team. Concerning her transition from going from a former player to now coaching alongside Syers Hamilton said, “It was a really easy transition because I think very highly of Syers and I know that she’s an amazing coach and runs a really good program, so I wanted to coach for her.” Hamilton said, “Working with Syers Is a dream come true.” When Hamiton thinks of Syers with three words she thinks of “Dedicated, Supportive, and Empowering.”
Varsity Captain Ella Rael (24′) spoke about how coach Syers always pushes the team to be the best they can be. Rael said, “Coach was very good at challenging all her players and pushing them to be the best they can be.” Syers is a very hardworking and caring coach. She pushes her players, and they push each other.
Along with pushing the team skill-wise, Syers thought it was important to have good relationships within the team. One of the team’s favorite things she did for the team was to make a scavenger hunt for the team to work together and find the prize. Sophomore Kinsey Copple said, “One of my favorite things coach did for the team was when she made a scavenger hunt for us as team bonding, it was pretty awesome.” Not only does Syers care about the skill asset of volleyball, but she also has a high degree of caring about team bonding.
Another Varsity Captain Rowan Huges (24’) talked about how Syers manages her volleyball life and her teaching career. Rowan had the gift of being in Syers Health and Bio classes. Rowan commented, “She not only shows up on the court but also in the classroom, I’ve had the gift of her being my coach for the last 2 years and I’ve loved having her as a health teacher and a bio teacher as well.”
Cara Syers is a very hardworking and deserving coach of this award. She always puts her team and Arapahoe volleyball’s needs in front of her own. Arapahoe is proud to have someone like Syers to be such an amazing coach and role model for the Volleyball program.
