OREGON, Ohio — With an outright Northern Lakes League Cardinal division title on the line, Clay volleyball knew it had to secure it by beating Bowling Green.
The team accomplished that on Tuesday night, but for one of the Eagles' captains, this feat meant something more.
“It honestly means so much to me because one of my parents is an alumni and he went to Clay and my grandma went to Clay and my sisters went to Clay," said senior captain and right-side hitter/setter Natalie Karrick. "Everybody went to Clay and I just want to at least put some sort of imprint left on the team.”
Karrick has been a part of Clay athletics since freshman year, following in the footsteps of her family.
Her father, David Karrick, is a part of Clay High School's class of 1988 and played baseball and football for the Eagles.
“Never in a million years would I have thought that I’d have three girls that graduate from there and play sports there at the same time, so it's humbling," David said. "I grew up with three brothers so we did not pay attention to girls sports but when you have three daughters, it was all girls, girls, girls.”
While fulfilling her family’s legacy, Karrick has managed to make her own way, notching four years on varsity and a college commitment to Clarion University in Pennsylvania.
“Being in this position means a lot because since I was a freshman I’ve been looking to be at where I am right now and I’ve finally accomplished it so it’s like a weight’s lifted off of my shoulders," she said.
David added that it is fulfilling to see his daughter accomplish what she has put all her time and effort into. and that the resemblance with how he was as an athlete is uncanny.
“She does not like losing and will do anything to not lose," he said. "And I’m big on the team aspect of things and I would do anything for anyone that was on my team and she would do the same.”
Karrick said when moves on after jer senior year, the green and yellow roots will always run deep as she will always have a piece of Clay with her.
“Playing Clay volleyball has had a huge impact on me because the standards overall are already set so high," she said. "So I feel I set myself at a higher standard and it makes me better and ready to play in college.”