The Buff and Tuff tournament took place on Feb. 2nd. Students from all around Grand Ledge High School (GLHS) have entered the tournament in hopes to win.
Buff and Tuff is a boys volleyball tournament breaking off into teams based on grade. This has been Grand Ledge High School’s Winter Homecoming tradition for years. In the past, seniors have been known to take home the win.
“Last year we won our first game then lost to the seniors because they were cheating and not rotating.” a current senior at GLHS, Tieson Cooper said.
The seniors strive to win the tournament by applying what they learn in practice onto the court. Brynn Gollehon, Annie Grew, Akria Laing, and Kyile Goodman are the coaches for this year’s senior Buff and Tuff team.
“We have been working in practice and I think the seniors have learned the rotation and skills very well.” Gollehon said.
Although the coaches have stressed the importance of learning the rotations, the boys on the team had another plan in mind.
“I think our best strategy this year will have to be not rotating.” Cooper said.
Though the seniors thought that they were going to win, many underclassmen felt differently about the situation.
“I think this is our year to win, we didn’t win last year or the year before that and I think it’s the juniors game this year.” junior Brandt Underhill said.
The juniors have had a consistent team going since freshman year. They feel they know how to play the game at the pace they want.
The coaches for this year’s junior team are, Kamsi Weajunwa, Hannah Fredricks, Jade Queen, and Hailey Ellis.
“I feel very confident we are going to do well, the team as a whole has a good atmosphere and I feel the team has very good chemistry.” Fredricks said.
For the freshmen this will be their first year playing buff and tuff.
“I’m just excited to do it with my friends, It will be exciting to do something like this.” Freshman Mason Lipsy said.
The Freshmen hoped to win their first year. Coaches Reese Rebec, Mia Kanaby, Tessa Lake, Sloan Daley, and Isabell Castle worked with their team during C3 to prepare them for their first game, prepping them with drills and skill techniques the coaches feel as if the freshmen are prepared to take on the competition.
“We are doing a few different drills, the butterfly drill, serve receive drill and hitting lines. I think this covers a good basis for them to understand what they’re gonna be doing.” Rebec said.
Despite each grade’s hopes for a victory, the seniors won this year’s Buff and Tuff tournament. “I’m glad we won this year especially because of the loss we took last year, so it was really nice to go home with the win our senior year.” Cooper said.
