Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • March 20, 2020 17 Spotlight on Schools Meyers’ Crescent sets on OLA volleyball Longtime OLA volleyball coach Mike Meyers recently announced to his players that he was retiring from coaching the sport that he made his own throughout the state of Mississippi. OLA head coach Mike Meyers gives instruction to his squad during a tournament in 2019. The mascot of Our Lady Academy is a crescent moon which is always a rising moon; however, there always comes a point in time when these celestial objects we adore must set. And, for perhaps the most successful and well-known volleyball coach, regardless of classification, the time has come for Mike Meyers. He stated, “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach at OLA for the last 20 years and get to work with the incredible young ladies who have made our pro- gram so successful. They recognized what we were trying to accomplish, totally bought in to the program and have established a tradition second to none. I will always be indebted to these young ladies for their hard work, dedication and loyalty to OLA Volleyball and to me. What makes it so satisfying is that their on-court success pales in comparison to what wonderful young ladies they are.” Under Meyers’ tutelage, the Crescents have won 20 division titles consecutively, played in 17 state title games and won 14 state championships, including the last eight in a row. Meyers’ teams have won classifications at every level as the sport has grown. Meyers added, “There are way too many peoples who have helped make our success possible to try and mention here, but I would be remiss not to acknowledge Coach Steve Reboul who has been my good friend and assistant coach through all the years.” Last year there were over 450,000 girls playing volleyball in the United States and it is still growing. In fact, it is the fastest growing sport in the country, regardless of gender. The biggest lessons Meyers taught the girls on the court had nothing to do with the sport. He taught them how to prioritize goals and have a plan for later when the court is not around. His effect on his players reached beyond the court. That is a true coach, in every sense of the word. Eleven women became the most recent Cursillistas as they completed the Women’s Cursillo #285 Feb. 27- March 1 at the Retreat Center at Sacred Heart, Dedeaux, which was sponsored by the Catholic Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi. The women were: Lisa Callais, St. Bridgit, Shriever, LA; Kacee DeMers, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Stacey Loftin, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Angelle McQueen, Sacred Heart, Hattiesburg; Kendra Necaise, Sacred Heart, Dedeaux; JoAnne Nunez, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Nicole Roberts, St. Joseph, Gulfport; Magaly Correa Ruiz, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg; Kimberly Ryan, St. Alphonsus, Ocean Springs; Rachel Ryan, St. John, Oxford; and Teresa Taylor, St. Charles Borromeo, Thibodeaux, LA. Spiritual advisors were Fr. Braxton Necaise, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; and Deacon Mike Butler, St. Elizabeth Seton, Ocean Springs. Team members were: Shelby Miserendino, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lumberton, Rectora; Dorena Caraviello, Sacred Heart, Pascagoula, Co-Rectora; Megan Bermond, Most Holy Trinity, Pass Christian; Laurie Blue, Sacred Heart, Hattiesburg; Carolyn Bourg, Immaculate Conception, Laurel; Aida Creel, Our Lady of Fatima, Biloxi; Cindy Duplessis, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Kathy Gowland, Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis; Karen Henderson, St. Joseph, Gulfport; Candace Leach, Christ the King, Latimer; Mary Ellen Lee, Sacred Heart, Hattiesburg; Elizabeth Lingenfelder, St. Mary, Woolmarket; and Karen Necaise, St. Matthew the Apostle, White Cypress. The next Men’s and Women’s Cursillos, the leaders, and their locations will be announced shortly by the Secretariat Board of the Catholic Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi. SEE CURSILLO, PAGE 18 Eleven women become new Cursillistas at Dedeaux Cursillo #285