Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 5-18-18

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Local Volleyball Club Has 6 Teammates To Sign College Scholarships
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Couple makes sure athletes learn the game of volleyball, and have an opportunity to go to college.
Six teammates of the Tampa Bay Raptors Volleyball Club have signed scholarships to continue their educa- tion and to play the sport they enjoy – volleyball.
The Tampa Bay Raptors was founded by husband/wife team, Mark and Madeilynann (better known as Cookie) Mitchell. They have been instrumental in the lives of 30 young athletes having the oppor- tunity to go away to college.
The 2018 Tampa Bay Raptors, who will be attending several colleges on scholarships are: Nelly Del Valle, Lexie Kirschner, Kayelyn Salley, Kierstin Salley, Kiara Lugo and Thalia Cabrera.
Nelly Del Valle, King High
The 6 signees are seated: Nelly Del Valle, Lexie Kirschner, Kayelyn Salley, Kier- stin Salley, Kiara Lugo and Thalia Cabrera. Standing: Marcus Byrd, Mark Mitchell, Cookie Mitchell, Keanna Lockridge, Sasha McGlothin, Jelani Richards, Shannon Gor- don and Shikina Wright-Byrd.
ticed the lack of diversity in the club volleyball world. They took it upon themselves to do their research and realized that the club volleyball scene was limited to a very specific socioe- conomic group.
The Mitchells decided to change that by offering the club experience at a rate that was not cost prohibitive and also opening it up to be more eth- nically diverse.
They began their quest of starting the then Temple Terrace Raptors by getting girls volleyball started at the Temple Terrace Recreation Center, where they were coaching basketball at the time. The rest is history.
The coaching staff of the Tampa Bay Raptors includes: former colle- giate athletes, former professional athletes, former All-American ath- letes, international athletes, veterans and teachers.
The Raptors offer training all sum- mer and welcome the opportunity to introduce players to the game or to help experienced players stay sharp during the off season.
At Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, the Mitchells have helped 4 players receive college schol- arships for volleyball within the past year.
(Learn more about the coaches in Tuesday’s issue, May 22nd.)
School, will be attending the Univer- sity of Mount Olive. Lexi Kirschner, of Strawberry Crest, will attend Pasco Hernando State College. Twins Kayelyn and Kierstin Sal- ley, from Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, will both attend Touga-
loo University. Kiara Lugo of Wes- ley Chapel High, will attend Brewton Parker University; and Thalia Cabr- era from Gaither High School will at- tend Gulf Coast State College.
The Tampa Bay Raptors organiza- tion is for girls and boys. It focuses on instilling the love of volleyball along with helping young ath- letes acquire college scholarships. T h e Raptors were estab- lished back in 2009 when Cookie and Mark Mitchell no-
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