To the editor:

Did you see Thursday’s paper (10/21)?  The front page of the sports section had ALL the pictures featuring girls and women’s volleyball! Three of the 4 articles reported on volleyball.  This may mean nothing to anyone, however, there was a time we did not even have girls high school volleyball in this area.  Many of these young ladies play a sport that’s always been available to them, unaware of the humble beginnings of it.

Athletic Director Wayne Sickler, always a big supporter of opportunities for girls, made the decision to add volleyball at Calumet High School. He got Lake Linden-Hubbell to do the same so there would be 2 teams close by.  In the ensuing years other schools started to add it, too.

Unfortunately, Wayne passed away recently, but I would encourage all our local teams to make his initials, W.E.S., a part of their uniform in memory of the person who gave them the opportunity to play volleyball.  Better yet, name your conference trophy in his honor so it will be known for years to come.  Who knows how long it would have taken had Mr. Sickler not had the courage to act?  He is the William G. Morgan of volleyball in the Copper Country! (Mr. Morgan invented Mintonette that later became known as Volleyball.)

Thank you, Mr. Sickler, and thanks to the Daily Mining Gazette for good coverage on girls volleyball, and women’s sports, in general.