Meet Sarine Tomarci & Ava Wolfe

Q:  Welcome, girls. Let’s start by asking how you got involved in volleyball?

Ava: I got into it through gym class in 6th grade, but I didn’t really enjoy it at first. Then in 7th grade, I joined a team because a lot of my friends were doing it, and it seemed fun. After that, I realized I loved it!

Sarine: I started volleyball in 7th grade, when I was introduced to it in gym class. Once I realized how much I liked it, I noticed something: we didn’t have a volleyball court in our area. It made me think that a lot of people, especially kids, might not even get the chance to try volleyball or develop a skill for it if they don't have a proper place to practice. 

Q: So what led you to start this project?

Sarine: Well, it started as part of Civics Action Project, in 8th grade. Student teams are supposed to identify an issue we're passionate about and take action to solve it. We thought about how volleyball was something that had impacted our lives and how, if we had access to a proper volleyball court, we would have had more chances to improve and play.

Ava: Yeah, and it was also because we saw that other towns had volleyball courts, and we thought “Why not Watertown?”  Advocating for a volleyball court in Watertown felt like a good, achievable project, and we were passionate about it, And volleyball is not only the second most popular girls’ sport in high school, it’s played by people of all ages and genders, including adults. We were hoping to create something for all ages, not just students.

Q: What did you do for your school project? 

Ava: To start, we researched a lot of information to support our proposal. We gathered statistics on the popularity of volleyball, especially how many young people, teens, and adults play it. We learned that volleyball is the second most popular sport for high school girls and that it’s also widely played by people between the ages of 20-30. This showed us that a volleyball court would not only benefit students but could also attract adults and create opportunities for everyone to enjoy the sport. We also researched potential locations for the court and looked into the cost of construction. 

Sarine: We also created an Instagram account to spread the word. This was one of our most important steps because social media is a quick and easy way to engage with the community. It allowed us to share updates, post about volleyball facts, and connect with local residents who might be interested in supporting the idea. Our Instagram became a space for people to learn more about the project and get involved, whether through following us or sending us messages with their support. The final step for our project was creating a slide presentation sharing our research and making the case for Watertown to create a volleyball court.

Q: And since graduation?

Sarine: We’ve kept on working on this over the summer and into the fall, because for us, this project wasn't just about presenting an idea to our classmates – it was about making real change. We wanted to show our school, town, and even local government that there was a demand for a volleyball court in the community. After all, if you have the space, why not use it for something that can bring so many people together?

Ava: Right – we’ve been working on it since we graduated 8th grade because we really want to see this happen. We’ve done deeper research on costs and logistics of building a volleyball court, and what other towns have. We wrote to the City Council, and heard back from a couple of you, which was great. We also are talking with the Recreation Director, Ernie Thebado. These slides describe where we are now. 

Sarine: We’re also still working on getting more attention for the cause. We also created a website for the project, making it a more professional platform to keep track of our progress and communicate updates. We also started printing posters with QR codes that lead people directly to our social media pages. We plan to put them up around town.

Q: How has the response been so far?

Ava: The response from the community has been good, especially from the youth. We know a lot of middle schoolers are interested in volleyball but don’t have a place to practice. Last year at tryouts, we had over 70 people show up, but only about 30 made the team. A lot of those kids don’t have the opportunity to practice outside of school, and we think a court would really help them improve.

Q: What are your next steps?

Ava: Our next goal is to gain more recognition for the project from the residents. We’re thinking of putting up posters around town with QR codes linking to our Instagram, so more people can follow the project and show their support.

Q: What challenges do you see with this project?

Sarine: The biggest challenges are probably budgeting and finding a location. Location is tricky because there’s not a lot of space. However, the high school captains have set up temporary nets at Case Park for practice, so maybe it could be an option. We’re still exploring, though. 

We haven’t discussed finances in depth yet, but we know building a court won’t be cheap. But we’re committed to making it happen.

Ava: We’re also looking at ways to fundraise and keep the project moving forward. Our next steps include hosting clinics for younger students to teach them the basics of volleyball. We’ve talked to the Boys & Girls Club about using their gym, and they’re open to helping us out. This will not only help build interest but also raise some of the funds needed to create the court. We are also thinking about reaching out to local businesses to see if they would be interested in sponsoring the project or making a contribution.

Sarine: Maybe we could even set up a GoFundMe page to raise more money and keep the momentum going. The more people get involved, the more likely it is that we’ll reach our goal of building a volleyball court. We know that a strong community behind this project can really make it a reality.

Ava: Yeah, and with our fundraising ideas, we think we can overcome those challenges. I really hope that we can create a space where people of all ages can enjoy volleyball. Having a local court would be a great way to build community and give people a place to practice and have fun.

Q: So, how can residents get involved and support the project?

Ava: They can follow us on Instagram @outdoorvbcourt to stay updated. We also have a Google form on our website where they can submit ideas or offer support. The more people involved, the better!

Sarine: And honestly, just spreading the word helps too. If people see our project on social media or in person, they might be more likely to get involved.

Q: Thanks, Sarine and Ava, for taking this project on, and good luck!

Sarine & Ava