October is a busy month for Pink.
No, not the singer.
The color.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its flagship color is in full bloom.
“THINK PINK.”
Especially here at J.R. Richards Gymnasium — deep in the heart of green and gold territory on the Santa Barbara High School campus.
Here, there’s pink everywhere – even food, like cupcakes and ice cream. Balloons, too!
For the Dons, it’s a statement of sorts on Senior Night – the last home regular season volleyball game and it’s versus the crosstown rival Royals of San Marcos.
Time for lasting memories …
And for Santa Barbara senior setter and co-captain Kira Schleich, it’s all very personal.
Santa Barbara senior co-captain Kira Schleich, second from right, poses with her family — mom Terry, grandfather Otto, grandmother Myra, and dad Mark — after Wednesday's Senior Night win over San Marcos. Kira, in a homage to her grandmother, a breast cancer survivor, organized a Breast Cancer Awareness night at J.R. Richards Gym. (Randy Weiss photo)
Sometime last spring, she thought of a novel way to remember this special night as a team.
And to celebrate her grandmother — a recent breast cancer survivor.
So, she hatched a plan …
She went to coach John Gannon and her teammates with an idea to make a strong statement on breast cancer.
On hope.
On love and family.
On community.
Gannon & Company gave their full support.
So, when the Dons took to the court in their pre-game attire – they donned pink warm-ups tops with ‘Santa Barbara Volleyball’ boldly emblazoned (in green, of course) on the front.
Schleich also had shirts made for the Royals, who wore them as a sign of solidarity.
“It was great,” Gannon would later tell Presidio Sports. “It was fun to see Kira and the girls set it all up. They even raised money for Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, who was here, with concessions sales and donations.”
And during the pre-game ceremonies when these senior players present flowers to their parents in appreciation for years of unconditional love and support (and for travelling to a zillion out-of-town weekend volleyball tournaments), Schleich’s parents, Terry and Mark, along with paternal grandparents, Otto and Myra, all shared the spotlight … and the colorful bouquet.
“I’m very proud of my wonderful granddaughter,” Grandma Myra Schleich said afterwards.
And when the game began, it was the Royals first capitalizing on this emotional evening – they started strong, leading by a score of 10-8 before The Dons went on a sizzling 17-5 run to win 25-15.
Santa Barbara kept it up in Game 2 with leads of 9-0 and 14-1 before the Royals managed a little run of their own before falling 25-14.
The Dons’ ‘Scream Team,’ a very spirited, testosterone-strong cheering group of about 12 young male students – their bare chests and faces strategically painted in more traditional Don colors — also hit full stride in Game 2 with their loud, encouraging and creative chants.
The Royals regained momentum in Game 3. They led early and kept it within 4 points before the Dons stepped on the gas pedal to win the game and the match, 25-21.
Holland Crenshaw paced the Dons with 10 kills, Dani Rottman added six and Remi Pulice and Haley Fuller contributed four apiece.
Kristen Berlo led San Marcos with four kills.
”It’s tough playing here,” Royals coach Erica Downing said, recalling her own high school playing days at San Marcos. “But, we are a young team this year with only four seniors.”
After next weekend’s finale – the challenging Tournament of Champions and playing tough teams from the Southland, it will all be an experience her young underclassman can build upon for next season.
And for Coach Gannon, the night was a wonderful finish before the TOC and playoffs.
“It felt great to have all our seniors on the floor together at the end of the game,” he said.
And for these special players, like the rest of the team, they were bonded in friendship … by uniform … and by their hair with the cancer-support ribbons and streamers …
Yes, you already know the color.
