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Wiescamp sisters share special bond on and off volleyball court

Josh Carney
Post Independent

Three years ago, the Wiescamp family moved to New Castle from Pueblo County for job opportunities, but at the time the Coal Ridge High School volleyball program didn’t know the type of volleyball players the family was bringing with them.

Flash forward three years and senior Alexa Wiescamp and sophomore Taylor Wiescamp are playing key roles on a Titans team that won its third league championship in four years, and second in a row in the 3A Western Slope League, going 9-0 in league play once again.

Coaching siblings is nothing new for fifth-year head coach Aimee Gerber, who coached the Harlow sisters, Kaitlyn and Paige, in recent years, as well as a number of sisters in Michigan during the start of her coaching career.



This set — Alexa and Taylor — might be the most unique, though, considering they play different positions, are on the court at the same time, and play key roles for the Titans, who are bound for the 3A state playoffs once again.

“It’s been fun to have them together these last few years,” said Coal Ridge head coach Aimee Gerber. “They’re both very sweet girls on and off the court. They love their team, and love their teammates, and they love the game of volleyball.



“Sometimes, people worry about siblings and the rivalry in sports, but what’s been really cool with these two is not they’re not that way,” Gerber added. “Alexa has been a huge support to Taylor and pushes her beyond what most sisters would be willing to do as the older sibling.”

Through 23 games, the younger Wiescamp leads the league in hitting percentage (.358), sits second on the team in kills with 157, and leads the team in blocked shots with 83, providing the Titans with a dominating presence at the net.

The older Wiescamp fills a number of roles for the Titans and is comfortable playing all over the place, sitting seventh on the team in kills with 38, seventh on the team with 12 assists, second on the team in blocked shots with 33, sixth on the team in digs with 62, and fifth on the team in serve receives with 53. She’s the Swiss Army knife the Titans have needed the last few years.

“I love it,” Alexa said. “It’s nice knowing that I can go wherever the team needs me to fill in, and know that I won’t have the same job every night. Pretty much every game I have a different spot or job where I’m needed; that’s a lot of fun for me.”

The two sisters have been pretty competitive with each other for as long as they can remember, but it’s not the cutthroat type of competitiveness.

According to the sisters, it’s a friendly competitiveness, which they said helps them drive each other to new heights, whether that’s in sports or in the classroom. The Wiescamps picked up volleyball in kindergarten, and really started to take it seriously in middle school while playing for a competitive middle school program, as well as Colorado State-Pueblo camps throughout the summers. The love of volleyball came from their mom, who played in high school.

That love has stayed with the sisters throughout middle school and into high school, but the realization for the sisters is that their time together as varsity players for Coal Ridge is quickly coming to an end.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing volleyball, but playing with my sister at the varsity level has made it that much more enjoyable,” Taylor said. “When we push each other and have success, it’s a ton of fun for us and brings a great sense of joy. It’s been really awesome to share this experience with her on varsity, but I’m just making sure I cherish every moment with her now, enjoying practice with her and all the other little things as teammates.”

The “Wiescamp wall” hopes to make a run to the state tournament after falling short last season at home in the regional tournament. That, Alexa said, is what she wants most out of this final season with her sister as a teammate.

“It’s been amazing to be able to play with her; she’s my best friend,” Alexa said. “But I really just want to get her to state and go as far as we can together being on the net. Honestly, that’s what we’ve been talking about all season. To get there and have it be with her, that’s what it’s all about for us right now.”

The Wiescamps join the rest of their Titan teammates waiting on the release of the 3A Colorado High School Activities Association’s regional playoff brackets on Sunday afternoon.

jcarney@postindependent.com


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