Tigers are taming the competition
Kafka back as head coach for the 2023 season
By Casey Krautkramer
Brooke Kafka is back as Stratford’s varsity head volleyball coach this season after taking last year off to take care of her young children. Rachel Wussow was the school’s interim varsity head coach last season and she remains on the staff as an assistant varsity coach this season.
This is Kafka’s 12th season as Stratford’s varsity head volleyball coach. She guided the Tigers to their most successful volleyball seasons in school history during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Stratford advanced to its first state tournament in 2018 and finished the season with a 40-2 match record. Stratford achieved a 44-1 match record while obtaining the Division 3 state runners-up trophy in 2019. Kafka is happy to return as the school’s head coach this season.
“I cherished every moment with my kids and newborn last fall and it feels great to be back this year,” she said. “Rachel Wussow and I work very well together so the transitions between seasons seemed effortless. I look forward to having her help again throughout this season as well as assistant coaches Lauryn Nagel, Jenny Chapel and Abby Moeller.”
Kafka watched Stratford’s Division 3 regional semifinals road match against Edgar last season, and she was impressed with the team’s effort despite them losing 3-1.
“The regional semifinal game was the best that I saw that team play last season,” she said. “Teams want to peak during the playoffs and I believe they did just that. Sometimes it takes a season to put all the pieces together and function well as a team.”
Stratford’s volleyball team is off to a great start this season. The Tigers won eight consecutive matches before losing to the Marshfield Columbus Dons, who are ranked number one in Division 4, in two straight matches. Stratford lost, 3-0, at Marshfield Columbus on Thursday and then lost, 2-0, to the Dons during Saturday’s tournament in Auburndale.
The Tigers rebounded after suffering two straight match losses to the Dons by defeating the Auburndale Eagles, 3-0, Tuesday on the road. Stratford improves its record to 2-0 in the Marawood South Conference and 16-6 overall this season. The Tigers are currently ranked ninth in Division 3.
Stratford’s top returning volleyball players this season are senior right side hitter Ashley Hollatz, junior outside hitter Kalyn Schueller, junior setter Emerson Roy and junior middle hitter Daisy Yoder.
The team’s top newcomers on varsity this season are junior outside hitter McKenzie Novotny, junior middle hitter Tria Tubbs, junior defensive specialist Emma Roeper and junior setter Laney Pankratz.
Kafka outlined her team’s motto this season.
“Our team motto is ‘with a purpose.’” she said. “Everything we do should be done with a purpose. We know that we will not better ourselves by just going through the motions. We must dig deep to continually build each and every day.”
