Cheery senior year for Carmel's Schofield
Former Carmel Catholic star golfer Tommy Schofield had a little sister who followed him around from sport to sport.
Well, maybe not cheerleading.
That's what his younger sister, Grace, wanted to do.
Can you imagine? That terrifically strong girl could twirl her fellow cheerleaders and toss them into the air. However, it might get a little scary when she might be tempted to spike those girls.
“My brother was very athletic,” Schofield said. “So I played softball and basketball growing up. But one of my dad's friends noted that I was athletic and said I should try volleyball. But I didn't go to any camps.”
She did manage to give volleyball a try her freshman year at Carmel.
“By the second day, they were telling me I was very talented,” she said. “And that I was destined to be a star.”
Those guys were right. A star was born at Carmel.
For her terrific senior season, Schofield is the Daily Herald captain of the Lake County girls volleyball team.
Now, the 6-foot senior, who has turned her skills into a college scholarship to Drake University, can look back at a high school career in which she broke a number of school records.
“Grace is a player that every team focuses on and tries to come up with a plan to slow her down,” Carmel coach Dave Pazely said.
The Carmel slugger made the varsity team as a freshman. She's been a starter since she was a sophomore and every season, she's added to her own record for kills. Heading into Thursday's Class 4A Glenbrook North sectional final against Libertyville, Schofield's record for kills in a season at the Mundelein school stood at 323. Her 62 aces are also a record at Carmel.
In the rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference, she's been an all-conference selection both her junior and senior years. After this stellar campaign, she was named MVP in the league, a first in Carmel history.
It hasn't been all roses, however. When she tried club volleyball for the first time, those folks decided she belonged on a weaker team.
“I'm competitive,” she said. “I've very competitive. So I did jump training and weightlifting.”
At Carmel, she went along as a freshman with a Carmel team that reached the supersectional. Her sophomore season wasn't as successful, but fortunes smiled on her junior season.
“We had such a great group of seniors,” Schofield said.
Of course, as her team battled this week, she could relax about her college choice. She was spotted hitting by the coaches at Drake, and one thing led to another.
“They set up a visit for me,” Schofield said. “I liked the campus and the coaches.”
She also has enjoyed her experience at Carmel.
“I love Carmel,” she said. “I love going to all the functions. That's the best part.”
Carmel saw Schofield's best all season.
“Grace is able to impact the game both offensively and defensively,” Pazely said. “She makes clutch plays and is a consistent performer.”