Right here in Henderson, GV Christian School is making an impact in the world of high school athletics. With a commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes, this private K-12 institution is seeing an impressive number of its graduates move on to compete at the collegiate level.
Mr. Eric Rolwing, GV Christian School's Athletics Administrator, beams as he recounts recent success stories. "We've been incredibly blessed to have quite a few student-athletes pursue college athletics in all levels: NCAA (D1, D2, & D3), NAIA, and NCCAA," Mr. Rolwing shares.
The school's volleyball program has been particularly successful, culminating in a 2A state championship victory in Reno last November. The team's captain, Ellie Thurman, named 2A State Player of the Year, is set to play Division 1 volleyball at The University of Nevada-Reno this fall.
"We could not be more excited to cheer her on in the coming years," Mr. Rolwing enthuses.
Other standout senior athletes include Judah Withey, a 2A state champion in track & field, and Thomas Pulcini, who earned 2A All-State honors in football. Both are expected to compete at the collegiate level, though they remain uncommitted at this time.
The list of recent GV Christian alumni finding success in college sports is impressive. It includes Terrance Turner (Northwestern Ohio, Basketball), Deomani Loveland (Southern Oregon, Football), and several athletes at the University of Nevada-Reno, including Brennan Killoran, Olivia Pecoraro, and Mason Sosa in cheer.
GV Christian School's approach to developing college-ready athletes is holistic. "Our athletic department is designed to be a part of the whole student experience at GV Christian: body, mind, and soul," Mr. Rolwing explains. "We strive to make sure our student athletes have a well-balanced life with family, friends, academics, extracurricular activities, and God."
This comprehensive approach seems to be paying dividends. The school's motto, "The Pursuit of God, Knowledge, Compassion and Leadership," underscores its commitment to developing not just great athletes, but well-rounded individuals.
Mr. Rolwing believes that the school's structure and overall experience prepare students well for the demands of collegiate athletics. "Obviously, a college-level student-athlete has to be operating at a high level and have clear organization of not only his or her athletic pursuits, but all elements of life as well," he notes.
For aspiring student-athletes considering GV Christian School, Mr. Rolwing offers this advice: "Understand that athletics is just one part of the experience at GV Christian School. We really look for our student athletes to excel across the board academically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially."
He adds, "We find that our most successful student athletes on the court or on the field are ones that excel in many areas of the student experience at GV Christian."
What sets GV Christian's athletic program apart, according to Mr. Rolwing, is the strong sense of community support. "Our GV Christian Community is incredibly supportive of our student athletes," he says. "This allows us to have well-attended home games from not only our student body, their families and our staff, but also our church members are often found in the crowd at a big football game, or state championship volleyball game."
This community backing creates an environment where young athletes can thrive, pushing themselves to new heights with the knowledge that they have a strong support system behind them.
GV Christian athletics director, Danny Robertson, emphasizes the lasting impact of the school's athletic program. "I have been working with student athletes from GV Christian for almost a decade and one of the most gratifying parts of this job is seeing our alumni after they graduate. We always have a great turnout at our homecoming football games, but even just having the former student athletes show up during their Christmas break or our summer workouts, because they want to give back. And it seems to be a process that is feeding on itself. The class of 2024 comes back to be a part because the class of 2019 did the same for them and, God willing the class of 2030 will be doing the same thing because the class of 2026 keeps the tradition going now."
As GV Christian School continues to produce college-level talent, it's clear that their approach - focusing on the whole person rather than just athletic ability - is paying off. By nurturing not just athletes, but well-rounded individuals, GV Christian is setting its students up for success both on and off the field.
With a track record of success and a commitment to holistic development, GV Christian School is proving that even small schools can dream big when it comes to athletic achievement. As more of its graduates move on to compete at the collegiate level, the school is cementing its reputation as a nurturing ground for future sports stars.
"We strive to make sure our student athletes have a well-balanced life."