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Hot Corner: First impressions go a long way

By Rich Palzewic
Sports editor


You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Such was the case when I met with De Pere volleyball coach Stephen Gladwell and the ladies on his team.

From my perspective, I had mixed results, but it had nothing to do with the quality of Gladwell and the girls โ€“ it was entirely from my doing.

I had never met coach or any of the team members for that matter, but I could tell immediately that they were a nice group. I met with them before a recent practice for a preview and to inform them that The Press was moving into De Pere. They genuinely seemed excited about the move and the introduction video I was planning to do.

When I said โ€œItโ€™s nice to meet you,โ€ they all responded in unison, โ€œItโ€™s nice to meet you, too.โ€

Thatโ€™s a great group of ladies. I would reckon that Gladwell didnโ€™t have them practice that before I showed up.

After a two-minute spiel on what they were to do for the video, I lined the girls up in a single-file line and started recording with my phone โ€“ thatโ€™s when my blunder occurred.

I must preface this with the fact that Iโ€™ve predominantly covered Bay Port during the last three years for the paper. Yes, Iโ€™m making an excuse for myself.

I had practiced in the car on the 20-minute drive to the high school with my daughter on what to say, but apparently, my mouth hadnโ€™t caught up with my brain.

Starting the video, I said, โ€œIโ€™m here with your 2018 Bay Port volleyball team, starting with the sophomores.โ€

The first young lady, Jazlyn Lohman, gave me a blank stare and a small smile โ€“ others soon had the same confused look on their face. Pretty soon, everyone was laughing, as I realized this was at De Pere High School, not Bay Port. We all had a good laugh, and I apologized profusely. I’m sure I turned six shades of red and hung my head, too.

After the commotion had settled down, I started recording again, and this time got it right by saying, โ€œyour 2018 De Pere volleyball team.โ€

After Lohman and the second sophomore, Brianna Geurts said what they were supposed to, a maintenance worker on the other side of the gym sounded like they were using a jackhammer, so we had to stop โ€“ and laugh โ€“ again.

We finally got it right on the third try.

It wasnโ€™t quite the beginning I was looking for, but maybe with a few game stories and senior spotlights, everyone will forgive me.

Hereโ€™s to a great year ahead for the 2018 De Pere and Bay Port High School volleyball teams.

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