Rockwall, Heath rivals show class on and off the volleyball court

Rockwall High School Varsity Team and Rockwall-Heath Varsity Team with Purpalicious before the rival game on Oct. 18

‘Purpalicious’ players experience show of spirit and grace

(ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX – Oct. 29, 2019) At Blue Ribbon News, our mission is to shine the spotlight on the people, places, and events that have a positive impact on our community – and thanks to our readers and this amazing community we live in, sharing good news comes easy.

Today a local mom alerted us to “above-and-beyond, gracious acts of community” that deserve media mention. She explained that before the big, rival game between Rockwall High and Rockwall-Heath High volleyball teams on Oct. 18, the coaches and players welcomed a request to take a photo with her daughter’s “Purpalicious” 3^rd-4^th grade YMCA volleyball team. Putting rivalry aside, the opposing high school athletes gathered for a group photo, united in their passion for the game and in support of the younger girls.

“Many of our girls have played for multiple seasons together; however, each of our girls left that night with a better sense of pride in the game and themselves as they watched fierce matches consumed of spirit, effort, and class,” wrote Purpalicious mom Dori Brown, who is also a teacher at Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy. In a YMCA facebook post, she credited the high school girls with giving the younger girls an incredible memory, and praised the teams for their efforts on the court and in their classes.

But it didn’t stop there.

Dori continued, “This past Saturday, the Rockwall Varsity ladies and coaches did the unthinkable. As our undefeated Purpalicious girls warmed up in an elementary school gym for their final win of the season—one by one, they saw every player and coach from the Varsity Volleyball team walk in to support THEM! Many of us became overwhelmed with emotion, watching as our 3^rd and 4^th grade girls experienced an incredible display of generosity and community spirit. Thank you, ladies and coaches, for creating such an incredible memory for all of us involved.”

RHS Varsity Team with Purpalicious after their season win!

Shout-out to Rockwall High School Varsity Coach Travis Ferguson, Rockwall-Heath Varsity Coach Margaret Younger, and Purpalicious Coach Heather Nichols.

By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News.

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