Making history: Westfield boys volleyball joins the IHSAA
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Westfield High School is making history this season as its boys’ volleyball program officially joins the ranks of Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) sanctioned sports. With an electric buzz surrounding the team and the sport growing rapidly, Head Coach Pat McAndrews and his squad are eager to hit the court and showcase their talents.
Boys’ volleyball has been a club sport in Indiana high schools since the 1990s but only recently gained official recognition. For Westfield, this marks its fifth season as a program and Coach McAndrews鈥� second year leading the charge. 鈥淭he last two seasons, boys’ volleyball was considered an emerging IHSAA sport,鈥� he explains. 鈥淭he key factor was having enough schools participate. This year, we鈥檝e surpassed 150 schools fielding varsity teams, double from just a couple of years ago. It鈥檚 the fastest-growing boys鈥� sport in America right now!鈥�
As Westfield prepares for its inaugural season under IHSAA, the biggest challenge has been spreading the word and drawing more student and community attention. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working hard to build awareness, get people in the stands, and continue to grow the sport,鈥� says McAndrews.
Fortunately, the team is returning a powerhouse roster from last year鈥檚 impressive 25-5 campaign. 鈥淲e only graduated one senior and are bringing back a core group of 11 experienced seniors. We have the talent and drive to be one of the top teams in the state.鈥�
McAndrews, a seasoned coach with nearly three decades of experience, initially started on the basketball sidelines before transitioning to girls鈥� volleyball at both high and middle school levels. His experience coaching boys’ basketball made for a smooth shift to leading the boys鈥� volleyball program. 鈥淚t was an adjustment, but coaching boys again felt familiar. We play fast, jump high, and bring an explosive style of play that makes us a lot of fun to watch!鈥�
Westfield鈥檚 team is stacked with talent, led by standout senior outside hitter Carlo Huisden, who ranked 5th in the state last season with 364 kills. Huisden, an All-State honoree, has committed to playing at Purdue Fort Wayne next year. Senior setter Graham Weddige also earned All-State recognition, finishing 6th in the state with 877 assists. Key returners include CJ Fox, Kyle Kujawa, Fletcher Farrar, Max Hammond, and Nick Gerow, who played crucial roles in last year鈥檚 sectional championship run and No. 5 state ranking.
With the program鈥檚 official IHSAA status, the team has ramped up its preparation. Off-season conditioning has been a priority, with players participating in speed, agility, and jump training since September. Many team members also compete in Indianapolis-based club volleyball, gaining valuable experience year-round.
The best way for the Westfield community to rally behind this historic season is by attending the games. 鈥淚f you鈥檝e never seen boys鈥� high school volleyball, you鈥檙e missing out,鈥� McAndrews says. 鈥淭he athleticism and explosiveness are second to none!鈥�
Westfield Middle School has started a club team for younger athletes interested in joining the program, hoping to evolve into a sanctioned middle school sport soon. Additionally, the program offers a youth camp from June 2-5 for students in grades 4-8, providing an excellent opportunity to train with the high school coaches and players.
Westfield鈥檚 first home match is set for March 27 against Lawrence North. Other can鈥檛-miss conference matchups include:
March 31 vs. Hamilton Southeastern
April 15 vs. Carmel
April 24 vs. Fishers
May 6 鈥� Senior Night vs. North Central
Junior Varsity games start at 5:30 or 6:00 PM, with Varsity action beginning at 7:00 PM.
Be a part of history and support the Westfield Boys Volleyball team as they take on their first official IHSAA season! Go Rocks!
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