Coach Tyra has embraced a new and unexpected coaching opportunity! She has agreed to become the Happy Valley Middle School (HVMS) girls’ volleyball coach and needs our support! Her responsibilities go beyond just creating a game plan.
Sports have the remarkable ability to bring communities together, foster teamwork, and instill valuable life skills in young athletes. In the small town of Elizabethton, TN, located in Carter County, options for fall girls’ team sports have been limited. Historically, if you wanted your daughter to play volleyball and lived in Carter County, you would have to travel to Sullivan, Johnson, or Washington Counties, regardless of attending a public or private school. However, Happy Valley Middle School is breaking this trend by being the first, county middle school in Carter County to establish a girls’ volleyball team.
When the new principal, Mr. Parker, evaluated the available sports at the school, he recognized the lack of girls-only team sports options for the fall season. Mr. Parker decided to focus on volleyball and reached out to Mr. Kendall, a well-known coach currently at HVMS, to inquire if his wife, Tyra, would be interested in coaching. After discussions among Mr. Parker, Mr. Kendall, and Tyra, the couple took several weeks to contemplate the opportunity, praying for guidance and assessing whether it would fit their family well. Eventually, Tyra accepted the coaching position.
Tyra’s extensive volleyball experience makes her an ideal choice for the coach. She played volleyball in middle school and continued throughout high school, ultimately receiving a scholarship offer from Coastal Carolina University. Today, Kevin & Tyra are the proud parents to four children. Their son plays high school sports, and now their three young ladies who are actively involved in volleyball at the Indian Springs Optimist Club are becoming middle school ages and will have a chance to participate on this new team.
To gauge interest, the school organized interest meetings, which attracted 75 girls. However, with only 24 available spots for varsity and junior varsity teams, the selection process will be highly competitive. We understand team sports’ profound impact on children, fostering collaboration, teamwork, and discipline. According to Sportsmatter.org, student-athletes who engage in team sports are less likely to smoke cigarettes or use illicit drugs and have shown 40% higher test scores when physically active. Your partnership will provide our girls with a tremendous advantage in building a bright future.
“We will commence the volleyball camp (lessons) on August 1st to lay a strong foundation,” Tyra said when we spoke with her about this new endeavor. “We are immensely grateful to team up with Milligan University’s Volleyball Team, as they will provide us with excellent guidance and expertise. Although starting anew is exhilarating, it also comes with its challenges. We are beginning with nothing—no uniforms, no balls, no nets, absolutely nothing. We don’t even have used equipment.”
At Bryant Consultants, we initiated this Crowdfund campaign to help put our support behind Tyra as she leads this incredible opportunity in Carter County. We understand it will be challenging for the community to support the expenses and raise the necessary funds to make this happen. They need funds for equipment and various expenses such as shoes, uniforms, transportation fees, referees, and more.
Please help us support Tyra and her new coaching opportunity that she is donating her time and abilities to, by donating to our Crowdfund campaign. If electronic donation is not feasible for you, you can also donate by check to Happy Valley Middle School. In the memo line, please add: Volleyball Program.
Kindly mail your contributions to:
Happy Valley Middle School
163 Warpath Ln, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Attn: Bookkeeping
Thank you for considering our cause, and we eagerly anticipate updating you on Tyra’s progress and success.
April Brogan
Director of New Business & Practice Relationships
