Sedona Gaard, a freshman volleyball player at Kean University, was recently named Rookie of the Year, and her mom, Claudia Gaard, couldn’t be prouder. Claudia, Chairman of the Haworth Arts Committee, is amazed at her daughter’s gift for “netting” this prestigious title.
Sedona began playing volleyball at age 13 when she was in seventh grade at Haworth Public School.
“As a kid, I did lots of sports- basketball, softball, soccer, swimming and track,” she explains.
Now 18 years old and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, Gaard recalls, “In high school, a lot of my friends were playing volleyball, so I decided to try something new.”
Gaard played on the Junior Varsity team, coached by Jerry Hill in her freshman year before getting brought up to varsity that same season.
While a freshman, she also started playing club volleyball for the Cut Shot Volleyball Club. She played on the 15-elite, 16-elite, 17-elite, and 18-elite teams throughout her time at Cut Shot.
The young volleyball star then played under Beth Powell for the remainder of her high school volleyball career.
At Kean University, Gaard earned a starting outside hitter position as well as a back row position, making her a six-rotation player. She was awarded “Rookie of the Week” three times throughout her freshman season, and at the conclusion of that season, she was named “Rookie of the Year” in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
According to NJAC records, Gaard became the first Rookie of the Year selection since fellow teammate Jesse Larkin took home the award in 2016.
Gaard’s Rookie of the Year title was earned not only with talent, but also great determination and hard work. During pre-season training (Aug. 17 to Sept. 2), she and her teammates practice five-and-a-half hours a day, six days a week. From March to April during preseason, they practice five-and-a-half hours a day, three days a week. During the season, they play upwards of 35 games and travel all around New Jersey as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts and California.
Being an elite volleyball athlete also presents other physical demands. To stay fit and build strength, Gaard does weight training in the school’s gym, and at the field club, she and her teammates run and do workouts.
Comparing the competition at the college level to high school, Gaard said, “It’s a whole different world! When you get to college, everyone on every team is very good. Although it depends on the players and the personalities, overall it is much more intense and high pressure, especially when an 18-year-old freshman has to play against a 22-year-old senior.”
Besides volleyball, Gaard is also an academic standout, and, as such, she received a scholarship that pays for her tuition. When not on the court, she is particularly interested in math and science. She originally considered a career path in criminal justice, but recently changed to majoring in communication with a focus in public relations through social media and television.
With all the time demanded by volleyball, Gaard quickly learned time management. When asked how she balances such an intensive sports and academic schedule, she smiled and said, “I follow my high school motto—‘Believe!’”
