Noah Lau
ASU Student Journalist

South Mountain seniors leave it all on the court

October 30, 2018 by Noah Lau, Arizona State University


South Mountain takes the court. (Photo by Noah Lau/AZPreps365).

82.

For most, this number means little.

However, for seniors Janae Gwan and Cyerra Taylor, the number represents an impressive achievement.

The duo has combined to play in 82 games over their three-year varsity career at South Mountain.

Their experience has been up and down.

In 2016, the Jaguars hovered around .500 and finished 15-18. The following season, their record jumped to 21-6. In Gwan and Taylor’s senior season, the squad ended 6-16, failing to make the 5A playoffs.

With all the triumphs and tribulations Gwan and Taylor have faced, it’s easy for the duo to be frustrated. However, the two captains are thankful for what the program has given to them

“Eye-opening,” Gwan said as she described her overall varsity experience. “Volleyball teaches you so much throughout high school and stuff that you’re going to need in life.”

Taylor added: “I love it here. Me being here I can do something to make us better. I want to always have the opportunity to have my team do better.”

Gwan first started playing volleyball in middle school when she joined her eighth-grade team. Her love for the sport stemmed from her mother, who pushed her to be active in high school.

“I got into high school and I felt like that’s what I wanted to do so I started doing that,” Gwan said. “I didn’t really do anything before, so my mom really pushed me to do something and sports just assumed to be there”.

Gwan recalls her first game at South Mountain. The nerves, intimidation and excitement were all on display in her first match as a Jaguar.

“I was really nervous just because I knew it was something so new,” Gwan said. “I’ve practiced with girls who are senior. I’ve had continuous pointers on stuff. Getting a lot of information and taking that in and applying it to the first game just kind of made me nervous just because of what I was going through.”

For Taylor, volleyball started with a different path.

“At my middle school seventh and eighth graders were supposed to be only playing sports,” Taylor said. “If you were good enough in sixth grade you can play. When I was in third grade I would watch them and that’s when I thought fourth grade year I have to try and work hard and be as good as them.”

Their paths didn’t cross until the sophomore season when both were promoted to varsity. Both overcame off the court issues to compete as varsity players.

“Off the court when Cyerra (Taylor) and I made this breakthrough in math, which I am totally so bad in and I finally got something and I lowkey managed my way through math,” Gwan said. “It’s weird to say but it was really cool thing to bond about.”

Now as the leaders of the team, Gwan and Taylor hope they have left a lasting impact on the returning players for next season. The team returns four freshmen who are slotted to make a significant impact for coach Paula Spratlen-Mitchell. Gwan and Taylor leave a lasting picture of leaders for Sierra Rosales.

“If I were to be walking around the hall during class hours and I would see Janae or Cyerra they would give me a whole speech and they would always be on me about getting good grades,” Rosales said.

One thing has remained constant for Gwan and Taylor: Spratlen-Mitchell.

Spratlen-Mitchell, the director of Gwan and Taylor’s club team, has been with the duo for all four years. The long-time South Moutain head coach is not only is a coach to Gwan and Taylor, but something much bigger.

“I almost feel like a parent or a grandparent and just watching them grow not only as volleyball players but as people,” Spratlen-Mitchell said. “How they mature how they handle adversity how they deal with disappointment and just watching the ways in which they grow up.

“I’ve watched Janae over these four years. The young lady is improved version of the girl she came in as a freshman. She’s conversant, she carries herself well, she’s confident and that type of thing.”

Like every parent, Spratlen-Mitchell hopes the two take away much more than anything they’ve learned on the court. When describing her seniors in one word, Spratlen-Mitchell used “creative-genius.”

“They are quick with insight and just very creative in the way that they share themselves and welcome others to share in that creativity,” Spratlen-Mitchell said.

She is also looking at the big picture.

"I will always be concerned about their well-being,” Spratlen-Mitchell said. “I want them to be content individuals and that is something that they saw in me and will continue to just blossom.”

As they move on, the two will always look back on what was an unforgettable experience.