Clara Monahan has spent her athletic career learning from the teammates and leaders around her.
Now, as a captain at Wichita Collegiate, she has the opportunity to put those lessons into action.
Monahan enters her final volleyball season with an emphasis on leadership and building a team culture in which every player feels valued while being challenged to improve.
“I’m most excited about the opportunity to lead this team as a captain and help create a culture where everyone feels valued and challenged to be their best,” Monahan said. “We have a talented group of athletes, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”
For Monahan, leadership is a responsibility she does not take lightly. She has been fortunate to play alongside athletes who showed her that being a great teammate involves much more than individual talent.
“I’ve been fortunate to play alongside athletes who were not only talented but also incredibly selfless, and they’ve had a huge influence on the way I approach leadership and teamwork,” she said.
Monahan’s preparation for her final volleyball season has been a year-round process.
As a three-sport athlete, she has remained active through volleyball, basketball and swimming. During the offseason, she participated in strength and conditioning workouts, open gyms and skill development sessions while continuing to compete with her club volleyball team.
Playing multiple sports has helped Monahan develop as an overall athlete, while club volleyball has provided additional opportunities to sharpen her skills against strong competition.
“Playing multiple sports has helped me improve my overall athleticism, while club volleyball has allowed me to continue developing technically and compete against strong competition,” she said.
But Monahan believes her biggest area of improvement heading into the season is not necessarily a physical skill.
It is leadership.
“As a captain, I realize leadership is about much more than volleyball skills,” Monahan said. “It’s about serving your teammates, creating positive energy, communicating effectively, and helping others succeed.”
She spent the offseason reflecting on the qualities she has admired in leaders throughout her athletic and school career. She also focused on becoming a more encouraging and consistent presence for her teammates.
That approach will be central to Monahan’s goals for her final season.
Individually, she wants to remain a dependable all-around player who can contribute in every aspect of the game while improving her consistency and volleyball IQ. She also wants to continue growing as a leader and help her teammates succeed.
For the team, Monahan wants to see Wichita Collegiate develop strong chemistry and trust while reaching its full potential.
She also wants the Spartans to represent their school with character, sportsmanship and pride.
And above all, she wants to enjoy her final opportunity to compete on the volleyball court.
“Have fun for my final chance to hit the court!” Monahan said.
Monahan enters the season after earning honorable mention All-AVCTL Division IV recognition last year.
She contributed in virtually every area of the game, recording 103 kills, 256 assists, 265 digs, 42 aces and 36 blocks.
Those numbers demonstrate the versatility Monahan hopes to bring back to the court this season. But as she prepares for her final campaign, her impact will be measured by more than statistics.
Her primary goal is to help create a team that trusts one another, competes together and enjoys the experience.
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