VINEMONT, Ala. — Vinemont senior Morgan Flanagan is set to graduate this weekend and in this interview, she reflected on her favorite memories playing volleyball and basketball alongside so many great friends and teammates.
“For volleyball, my favorite memory is playing with my friends for my final year and having a successful season. Our record was 44-12, which is a great season, and we played under an amazing coach in Bobby Daniels. For basketball, my favorite memory was Christmas caroling with our basketball team after some great wins this season. We made it far and had some tough games ahead of us, but spending time with the team outside of basketball was my favorite memory,” Flanagan said. “Playing alongside my friends in both sports was great. We took the seasons serious, but we also had some fun outside of our respective sport. I learned a lot from my friends through the years. What I learned from them is valuable social and teamwork skills, while building confidence playing sports. I have created unbreakable bonds with all of the girls.”
Morgan played with some great seniors and had fun playing with them. She had a blast playing under a couple of first-year head coaches at Vinemont in Bobby Daniels and Emme Willoughby.
“It was a good year with them. They were all great players, and everyone contributed to the team in different ways. I’m also super excited to go to Bevil State Community College with one of my closest friends, Carley Stephens, to continue my volleyball career. What I learned from them is that being more verbal and leading by example from past seniors can get you far,” Flanagan said. “My favorite volleyball games were during the area tournament. It was competitive, and you just have to focus and stay calm to succeed. I loved playing in all of the basketball games, but I especially loved playing in the county games. We had multiple great wins that were tough, but if I had to truly pick a favorite game, it would have to be our game against West Point on our home court,” Flanagan said. “Playing for coach Daniels was a great experience. I learned plenty of skills that I was never taught. He taught me to always keep my head up and to think about the next point mentality. Coach Willoughby was an amazing first-year head coach for our basketball program. She taught me to play with confidence and always believed in me to do things some coaches never thought I was capable of.”
Morgan will miss playing at Vinemont next season, and she shared some of her favorite high school memories. Being an Eagle meant the world to her and she’ll miss representing Vinemont on the court.
“What I’ll remember and miss the most about Vinemont is all of my friends that I’m leaving behind and the great coaches I had for my senior year,” she said. “My favorite high school memories were homecoming week, going to football and baseball games, our senior sunrise, and Spring Fling. Vinemont is such a special place to go to, because we are a small school, and you know everyone, which can create even more memories. Our teachers at Vinemont are also some great people and would do anything for you if you ask. They gave you some great advice on how to succeed in the future. I’ll remember and miss all of our small get-togethers we had and seeing my friends daily.”
Being a role model is something Morgan cares a lot about, and she shared some advice for the students that will be starting high school in August.
“Being a good role model is so important, because kids look up to you and watch you, even when you think they’re not. Setting a good example influences their behavior and values. Making sure you’re a good role model can influence them for the better,” she said. “I suggest you find some good friends and stick with them through high school. Putting yourself around good people will help your high school experience be great. I wish everyone the best of luck.”
Outside of sports, Morgan was also in several clubs at Vinemont, and she enjoyed every second of that experience. She earned a scholarship to continue playing volleyball at Bevil State Community College where she will play with one of her closest friends, Carley Stephens, reunite with coach Daniels.
“I was in the FCCLA, Eagle Pride, and the FCA. In the FCCLA, I learned about planning, goal setting, decision-making, and interpersonal communication. It was a great experience learning about things to help my future. The FCA is a club for Christians. You do early morning Bible studies before school starts and learn about God’s creation of the world and humanity,” she said. “Receiving the scholarship was one of the best feelings in the world. I get to continue to play volleyball with one of my closest friends and my all-time favorite coach, coach Daniels. It’s something I’m looking forward to, and I can’t wait for us to start playing and practicing. It’s going to be a comfortable setting. I’ve already met all of the girls, and I’m already creating bonds with them like I did at Vinemont.”
God has played a big role in Morgan’s life, and she shared a couple of her favorite Bible verses.
“God has played a huge role in my life. I’m living out the story that God has written for me. I’m being guided step-by-step every day,” she said. “One of my favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 40:31: ‘But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary.’ Another one of my favorite verses is Psalm 73:26: ‘My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’ These Bible verses are my favorite ones, because they offer guidance, inspiration, and framework for understanding life’s challenges and relationships.”
Morgan shared some of the special traditions she shared with her teammates and talked about how she wants to be remembered.
“Something special I would do with my teammates is to say the Lord’s prayer before every game, and we always had a team supper after games. During our time at school, we would have meetings to discuss who we were up against in the game we were playing next,” she said. “I want people to remember me as a good person and someone who made others feel important.”
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