Lew Worthington named Shawano volleyball coach

Young out after four years
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Lew Worthington was named the new varsity volleyball coach at Shawano Community High School.

Worthington replaces Breanna Young, who served as the team’s head coach since 2016. Joel Wondra, Shawano’s athletic director, confirmed the hiring.

“Volleyball has always been a big part of my life, and I love working with and teaching young people,” said Worthington. “As a newcomer to the community, this was an opportunity that I could not pass up.”

Worthington, who moved to Shawano in February to serve as the pastor at Peace United Church of Christ, has helped lead several club volleyball teams over the years, including ones at Iowa State, Vanderbilt and Anderson universities. He was an assistant coach for the Anderson University women’s team and has also conducted workshops and skill development sessions for players in grades 7-12.

When asked about what he was most looking forward to in becoming the next Shawano volleyball coach, Worthington couldn’t single out just one thing.

“I love the whole experience of building onto a program with a strong tradition of excellence,” Worthington said, “but I do love working with people committed to a common goal.”

The new coach cited how the foundation of all his relationships are built by “mutual, unconditional respect” and that the same will apply when working with his players.

“We need to respect and honor young people as they are, rather than seeing them merely as future adults,” he said.

“In addition to his rich background in the sport of volleyball, coach Worthington demonstrated a clear understanding of the role of interscholastic athletics in our educational setting,” said Wondra on what made Worthington the right coach to hire. “He has a clear vision of how he will build team chemistry, and his disposition will make him an effective leader who is able to develop meaningful relationships with his players.”

Young, who started on the Shawano varsity volleyball team for all four years in high school, has served as a coach in the program ever since. She started as the coach of the freshmen team before eventually taking over the varsity team in 2016.

“We were able to build a program that had great success, a heavy winning record, always had tons of fun, and I’ve had the opportunity to form many great relationships with the athletes and their families,” said Young.

“We appreciate coach Young’s contributions to our volleyball program during her tenure as our varsity head coach,” said Wondra. “She built upon a program with a history of competitive success, and participation in our program has grown under her leadership. We wish coach Young all the best.”

Young helped guide the Hawks to successful regular seasons and strong postseason runs. Shawano made it to the regional finals in 2017 and 2018.

The 2019 season was the only one in which the team did not win a playoff game under Young, as the team was upset by Clintonville.

“The girls often talked about the bonds that were formed and how our team felt like a family. I have put my heart and soul into this program,” said Young. “Coaching these athletes will definitely be something I miss spending so much time doing.”

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