HS Volleyball: Ring Ceremony Honors Back-to-Back Championships for Grand Oaks

SPRING, TX -- The Grand Oaks Grizzlies took the time to honor and celebrate their achievement of back-to-back state championships by holding their ring ceremony in the school’s auditorium on Friday.

Families, friends, and fans filled the Grand Oaks High School auditorium to join their respective players and coaches for the occasion. Flashes of cameras and rolling recordings heightened the sense of overwhelming pride that flowed from the seats toward the faces on stage.

Beaming with pride was Grand Oaks Head Coach Morgan Rogers, who had to fight back occasional tears while addressing the groundbreaking achievements of her team and players.

“Tonight is more than just a ceremony, it is a chance for us to stop, reflect, and honor a season that will live on in the history of our program and in the hearts of everyone here,” said Rogers. “What this group of young women accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary.”

As each player was given a chance to soak in the joy of the moment, time was given to the two captains of the Grizzly program to give their thoughts on two seasons of historic success.

Halle Thompson and Samara Coleman addressed the crowd to give their perspectives on the journey that they had helped headline. Their thanks to teammates, coaches, and training staff highlighted the complete feeling of togetherness within the Grand Oaks program that had pushed the team to such heights.

Coach Rogers then expanded on the team’s most recent season, reflecting on how the team had to re-tool for another run at the title while coming fresh off the heels of the first in program history.

“It’s probably not something that many of us thought we’d be able to accomplish,” said Rogers. “After the graduation of such a strong senior class, the question in so many minds, whether we said it out loud or quietly, was, can we really do it again?”

The proof of another fantastic season and another unbeaten run through the brutal 13-6A was enough to show that the Grizzlies had enough in the tank to run it back in Garland and return to the mountaintop for a second in a row.

Rogers pointed out that the team's focus had been slightly shaken during the early runnings, but a return to form for the girls came through their ability to complement one another and fit the team's mentality.

“One of the most powerful parts of the team’s success isn’t just talent or strategy,” explained Rogers. “It’s the ability to understand, accept, and fully embrace our goals.”

Heartfelt cheers rang out as the girls stood and took their dual championship rings that they and the rest of the Grizzly program had fought so hard to get. Training staff, administrators, and Head Girls Basketball Coach Shiakiea Carter were all equally honored for their participation in the team's efforts by receiving rings just like the players and coaches they had helped along the way.

While there were no rings for the media, it felt just as satisfying to be a part of Grand Oaks’ journey over the last two years. Following the team through their brightest moments and their newest achievements was enough for two years of historic highs.

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