By Matt Wiley
The Harvest Volleyball Tournament once again is returning to New Tampa’s Paul R. Wharton High, as well as the annual accompanying food drive. For the fourth consecutive year, Wharton will welcome local high schools to its Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. campus to compete in the annual girls volleyball tournament on Friday-Saturday, September 19-20.
“It’s a rewarding opportunity to be able to serve the under-resourced in our community by simply playing volleyball,” says WHS volleyball coach Eric Barber. “I love this tournament because it provides a simple way for student athletes to serve their community.
Barber says that he is excited that the tournament continues to grow, as even more teams will be competing this year.
“Every year the competition gets better,” he says. “This year we have Freedom, Durant, Bishop McLaughlin, Strawberry Crest, Plant City, Wharton, Brandon and Sunlake high schools.”
In addition to the challenge of dominating the tournament on the court, each team also is challenged with collecting the most donated canned and boxed food items that will be donated to Cypress Point Community Church’s Care Center. Wharton looks to continue its reign of food donation dominance for the fourth straight year.
“We always win the food competition, and I expect it to be no different this year!,” Barber says. “As for volleyball, my team is showing tremendous growth from last year to this year, and I feel like they will make a strong showing.”
In last year’s tournament, Wharton (photo, left) won all three matches 2-0 — against Freedom, King and Riverview high schools, respectively.
So far this season, Wharton is 4-1, 1-1 in their District 8A-7; and three of the team’s four wins have come without losing a game.
Best of luck to both Freedom and WHS in the tournament!
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