“Those five minutes I was on the court were some of the best moments of my life,” Senior Jackson Rupp told Spark.
Rupp is a defensive specialist on East’s Varsity Boys Volleyball team. Rupp has played for East’s volleyball program for all four years of high school. In his junior year, he made his varsity debut during the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Tournament game versus La Salle High School. He continues to give his all on the court because of his team.
“My motivation for playing stems from the relationships I have built since freshman year,” said Rupp. “I just wanted to be there for them, even in support of them or alongside them.”
Fellow defensive specialist and junior libero Carson Berling enjoys his involvement in each play, mentally and physically. Within the game, Berling likes that he sets the tone for the court through serve receive.
Due to Little Miami High School not having a Boys volleyball program, Berling decided to transfer to his sophomore year. Berling has played at the varsity level both seasons he has played at East.
“Being able to be a part of a [public school] program that is the best program around is just really something special,” Berling told Spark.
East’s Boys Varsity Volleyball team is the reigning champions of the Greater Miami Conference (GMC), as well as the current leaders in the GMC. Head Coach Bryant Kuhlman hopes to make it far into the OHSAA District Tournament this season.
Kuhlman began coaching the varsity program in 2019, where he wanted to carry the culture that predecessor, Brittney Billiter, had established. He played for varsity as a setter in 2011-2015, which plays into the reason he decided to coach.
“It means a lot to me to be able to give back,” Kuhlman told Spark. “As a kid growing up, I always wanted to be a coach and be able to make a difference that way.”
Kuhlman loves East’s Boys Volleyball program because of the people, players and parents alike. Rupp knows that all the players have a good time on and off the court. The team’s goal is to have fun and be successful at the same time.
“I honestly consider it like a mini-family in terms of what Lakota East Boys Volleyball is,” said Kuhlman. “It’s a really good group of kids and families in our program.”
Kuhlman continues to present a hard working and reliable culture on and off the court with his whole program.
“We have a very good culture,” Berling described. “We have people you can rely on and teammates you can trust.”
Berling explained their culture as a reason why East’s program is able to compete with the skilled Catholic schools that are often tough competitors, such as Elder High School, St. Xavier High School, and Archbishop Moeller High School. This is why Kuhlman insists his players give their all everytime they are on the court.
“Whatever you do, you do it with the utmost confidence and effort,” said Kuhlman.
For incoming players, Berling suggests building confidence and being outgoing because that is what coaches look at more than skill. Along with that, Rupp emphasizes that the “East Way” is very important in being an East player. With all this being said, Kuhlman is excited for the future of the program.
“It’s very much a growing program,” said Rupp. “We get better and better every year.”