By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Haley Goostree, a senior at Wheaton High School, was busy during the fall sports season, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.
She played both softball and volleyball for the Bulldogs during September and October, and she’s the first player to earn first-team honors on the Globe’s all-area softball and volleyball teams the same year.
“I never considered picking just one sport,” Goostree said. “I like them both, and we are able to play both. I played both all four years. It’s not tiring.”
Goostree is one of 13 players who played both sports for the Bulldogs. Tracy Prigg coaches both sports, and that gives him a better understanding about the players’ daily routine.
“The reason I first got into it is I wanted to see what the girls are going through,” Prigg said. “I thought it would be tough to do. As a coach, we’re pretty demanding. You want to practice them every day ... what can they handle.”
During preseason workouts, the Bulldogs practiced volleyball from 8 to 10 a.m. and softball from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Once school began, volleyball practice began at 6 a.m., and softball practice came after school.
“If we had a softball game, I’d bring in the eight volleyball players who did not play softball,” Prigg said. “And if we had a volleyball match, I’d bring in the softball players who did not play volleyball. And to be honest, I don’t get to work them as hard as I would really like in volleyball or softball because of all the carryover. How can you when they are going every day of the week. If I worked them too hard, I’d run them off. That’s one reason I do both is to see what it’s like.”
But softball game or not, “Haley came to all the volleyball practices,” Prigg said. “That’s the reason she’s so good.”
Goostree, a 5-foot-3 outside hitter, had 275 kills and 273 digs while earning first team all-Ozark 7 Conference honors in volleyball. She was an all-area selection in volleyball the last two years.
In softball, Goostree moved to shortstop this season after playing catcher the previous three years. The player of the year in the Ozark 7, Goostree batted .365 with 15 runs scored, 16 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases.
“In volleyball, she is the go-to person. In softball she was a catcher, then a shortstop,” Prigg said. “She was always around the action. I wonder why that is.”
So far the Bulldogs haven’t had conflicts with volleyball and softball competitions on the same day.
“We were hoping we were going to have to get out of the McDonald County Tournament in volleyball this year because we were hoping we would beat Walnut Grove in the district softball finals,” Prigg said. “But they got us. We’ve been close.”
Now it’s basketball season for Goostree, and “I want her to shoot more,” Prigg said.
Goostree’s favorite sport has changed from time to time.
“Now it’s volleyball,” she said. “Basketball used to be.”
Despite having just one sport in the winter, it’s still a busy time for Goostree.
“Physically we work a lot harder, and, of course, there’s contact in basketball,” Prigg said. “And it’s 84 feet rather than 30.”
Goostree plans to attend Crowder College next year, but she might not play any sports for the Roughriders. She’s engaged to Kelby Haynes.
