Tackling new sport: Edgington trades football for volleyball

By MAX SOUZA 
The Tower 

When Carter Edgington came to Manteca High School, he had dreamed of becoming the next football star.  

He then decided to start playing volleyball because of his little sister, Ava Diedrick. 

With his sister guiding him, Edgington decided that volleyball - not football - would be his sport for the rest of his high school career.  

"She inspired me," he said. 

Edgington prepares for a game physically by stretching out and just getting loose and warmed up. Mentally, he hypes himself up by listening to music. 

Focus serves him well on the floor. Edgington is a setter, controlling the tempo of the match and the offense for the Buffaloes. 

"I like being able to control the court," he said, "and I'm just good at it." 

Edgington's favorite moment was his first-ever scrimmage with his team at Manteca High. He said bonds were quickly formed in that match, bonds that helped solidify his decision to drop football and pick up a volleyball.  

Edgington's rise in the court speaks volumes about the strength of his relationship with Diedrick, who used her preparation and training as a way to tutor her brother. They talked about her games. He helped her sharpen her skills, setting her during hitting drills. She encouraged him to attend her games and become a student of the game.  

Finally, she convinced him to try out. 

Diedrick told Edgington "that confidence is key, always trust yourself and don’t be afraid to make mistakes because everyone makes mistakes," she said. "That’s how you get better and ... 

"Remember to smile all the time." 

Diedrick also states that she is very proud of the progress her brother C.E has done in his career. She is also proud of herself because she helped her brother find something he loves doing and would love to continue doing.  

The Tower caught up with Manteca High junior Carter Edgington and talked to him about his volleyball career.  

The Tower: All right, and I'm gonna be asking a few questions about volleyball and the sport that he does. All right, so Carter, what expired you to start playing volleyball? 

Carter Edgington: My sister, Ava, she inspired me to play volleyball originally. Okay. How do you prepare mentally and physically before a game? Mentally, I prepare myself by hyping myself up with music, and physically, I stretch and work out before games. 

TT: All right, it's good. What's your favorite position to play and why? Like what do you want?

CE: Def setter, 'cause I like being able to control the court, and I just, I'm just good at it. 

TT: Can you describe, like, a memorable moment or game in, like, your volleyball career, like, a game that you'll never forget? 

CE: Um, it would probably just be my 1st ever like scrimmage with the whole team. It was really memorable because it was my 1st scrimmage with my team and being able to bond 

TT:  Nice. And, like, how do you handle, like, pressure, like, during imported matches? Like how do you keep yourself, like, calm? 

CE: Um, definitely just breathing and slowing down my breathing and making sure I'm not, you know, being anxious. 

TT: Gotcha. And, like, what do you do to, like, train to get you, like, ready, like, for the season? 

CE: Definitely playing practicing extra at Woodwood Park with my team and just working on fundamental skills by myself at home. 

TT:  Okay. Like, who was your biggest influencer, like, role model? like when you started like playing volleyball? 

CE:  Definitely still my younger sister because she's been playing for 8 or 7 or 8 years. So she always had some good advice for me. Okay. 

TT: But, like, if someone was, like, new to starting like volleyball, like, what advice would you give them? 

CE: Never be afraid to ask your coach questions. Always, you know, be brave enough to speak up. Yeah, okay. All right, appreciate it.