Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 10-26-18

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018
Mother And Daughter Square Off In Game As Volleyball Coaches
Madeilynann “Cookie” Mitchell and her daughter, Mercedyz coached against each other during a volleyball game at Brooks De- Bartolo Collegiate High School.
Cedrick Washington and Jack Frost were referees for the game.
SENIOR NIGHT - Those on the King High roster are: Amaia Modolo, April Chukwueke, Cheyanne Ratliff, Elise Banea, Elizabeth Branch, Isabel Bailey, Julia Martin, Mary Kommareddy, Rachel Epstein, Seren Sahin, Sidnea Stanley and Stephanie Mohler.
Brooks DeBartolo team members are: Allie Sellers – Captain; Ri’gyn Humes - Co-Captain; Cameron Drysdale, Dalia Quilles, Alexia Johnson, Nina Shortt, Diana Ruiz, Selia Bennett, Morgan Britton, Hai- ley Terry, Isabella DiCecco, Megan Richards, Jazmine Jackson, Victoria Mitchell, Kaden Okin – Man- ager; and Daniela Jorge – Manager.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Mom won this first competition, 3-0
A mother and her daugh- ter squared off to coach their respective volleyball teams during a recent game. One is the head Girls (and Boys) Vol- leyball Coach at Brooks De- Bartolo Collegiate High School, while the other is the Girls Head Volleyball Coach at C. Leon King High School.
Mrs. Madeilynann “Cookie” Mitchell is into her 2nd year of coaching the girls’ team and 3rd year of coach the boys’ volleyball team at Brooks DeBartolo.
Mercedyz J. Mitchell, the daughter of Coach Cookie and Mark Mitchell (Asst. Coach), is a first-year coach at King High School, her alma mater.
“Coach Cookie,” as she is known, won the first match between the two, 3-0. “How- ever,” Coach Cookie said,
“King played a tough match.” It was Senior Night for Brooks DeBartolo and the team was celebrating: Allie Sellers, R’iGyn Humes, Dalia Quiles, Cameron Drysdale, Alexia John- son, Daniela Jorge (Man- ager), and Kaden Okin
(Manager).
Mom and daughter love
the game of volleyball. Mer- cedyz grew up around the game, was a standout in high school and earned a volleyball scholarship to play the game at the next level.
Mercedyz graduated from King High School in 2015. She attended Ave Maria University on a volleyball scholarship, later changed majors and transferred to Full Sail University. She gradu- ated from Full Sail University in March 2018 with a degree in Show Production.
Mercedyz was immedi- ately hired with Rhino Stag- ing, one of the nation’s leading companies in Live Event and Technical Staffing
Solutions. She works out of the Orlando regional office, although she lives in Tampa. She specializes in Pre and Post Audio Visual Produc- tion, but also works Lighting and some Pyro.
She has worked several large live events in the Tampa and Orlando areas, such as Taylor Swift, Justin Tim- berlake, Kenny Chesney, The Eagles and Pyro for P!NK. She also has worked audio with major corporate events in Tampa, St. Pete, Gainesville, Orlando and Daytona.
Her love of volleyball led her to apply for the Head Vol- leyball coaching position at her alma mater. While at
King, Mercedyz was a 4- sport Varsity Athlete, where she competed in District com- petition in Volleyball, Swim- ming, Basketball and Flag Football her Senior year. That same year she advanced to Regional competition in Volleyball, Swimming and Basketball. She graduated with a total of 14 varsity let- ters as she was also a member of the Orchestra.
She was also awarded the Rose Diaz Award by the Hills- borough Officials Associa- tion, named Female Athlete of the Year by TBO Sports, in addition to other senior awards for the class of 2015.
Mercedyz is following in her mother’s footsteps.
“Coach Cookie” coached at King from 2010-2014, ending with a 21-3 record. She had 7 King High signees to play at the next level. Her teams have won Regional and District championships, and she was named Western Conference Coach of the Year in 2013. Four of her players at Brooks DeBartolo have signed to play at the collegiate level.
In addition to coaching and working, Mercedyz does private volleyball lessons for the Tampa Bay Raptors (AAU Team), and will be coaching with her mom start- ing next month. (Photos by Frederick Harris, Brooks DeBartolo and King High Schools)
B