Mr. Nico Note: Poland Volleyball, I am so proud of you.

Every week, I have the best job in the world: to see the Bulldogs from a unique lens... a camera lens, to be literal. While it’s my pleasure to share the great moments of our district through photos and posts, I take even greater pride in the ones I just can’t fully capture with a camera.

This week, the Poland Volleyball program had their moment... a night that showed what it means to be a Poland Bulldog.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Poland Seminary Junior High Volleyball teams hosted the Northeast 8 (NE8) Championships at Poland Middle School. In final matches to determine the conference winners, the seventh-grade team faced the Girard Indians, and the eighth-grade team took on the Hubbard Eagles. The tension and energy were palpable in the gymnasium, packed with families, parents, and students. In the corner where the eighth-grade team typically sits for regular-season matches, a little more blue than usual filled the space.

More than 20 members of the Poland Seminary High School varsity and junior varsity teams led the charge in cheering, mingling with the eighth graders who would soon take the court for their own final match. No strangers to challenging moments, including a 3-2 comeback win over Girard just two weeks earlier, the high school players had the perfect experience to inspire the younger Bulldogs. They were all in, hyping up the seventh graders who had just dropped a set and needed motivation for a decisive third. Spirit fingers, chants, and words of encouragement filled the gym. The varsity and JV players made their presence known, reminding the seventh graders that they weren’t playing alone.

Mr. Nico Note I remember looking over at PSHS junior Izzy Greco and senior Emerson Gomon, two strong forces on the high school team, appearing as invested and maybe even more nervous than the players themselves between every point. Just two weeks earlier, they had led their team through that final set against Girard, scoring five of the 15 points needed to secure the win. Emerson kept her teammates steady with reassurance, while Izzy offered energy and encouragement both on the court and from the sidelines. They had the insight, experience, and energy needed for moments like this. It was special to see them passing those vibes onto the younger team. The parallels between that moment and this one were remarkable. 

A surge of momentum swept through the gym as the seventh-grade team battled back for a thrilling third-set victory. Seventh grader Callie Shaffer admitted she was “nervous, scared, and excited knowing the room was full of supporters.”

Her teammate Aubrey Donnadio couldn’t contain her tears during the match point. “I just knew what was going to happen,” she said. “I felt so excited knowing we were going to win.”

Callie added, “We all clashed together really well this year. I feel really close with my teammates.”

After the match, Coach Mark Wesolowsky (“Coach W”) reflected on the special group of seventh graders. He shared that they worked together, cared for one another, and built genuine friendships that made volleyball come naturally. What stood out most, he said, was who they were on and off the court.

Mr. Nico Note From my lens, it’s clear that developing those values starts in Mr. W’s gym classroom at McKinley Elementary and carries all the way to the classroom just beyond the gym walls, the same room where I filmed their very first video feature three years ago. I remembered capturing their humility, gratitude, and kindness back then, and seeing those same traits on full display during their championship win made everything come full circle. It made sense. They’re not just volleyball players; they’re NE8 champions because of who they are.

The momentum carried straight into the eighth-grade championship. Another talented and kind group of athletes, they had spent the previous match cheering relentlessly for the seventh graders. Now it was their turn.

Mr. Nico Note I often tell Bulldogs that if they see me more than once in a week, they must be doing something right. My goal is always to capture students at their best, and when I keep running into them, it usually means they’re leading in more ways than one. Just days before the championship, I saw four of these eighth graders in band class, rehearsing for an upcoming performance. I was there filming their preparation, amazed by their focus and talent, this time without a volleyball in sight. Looking back, maybe that was a sign they were destined to win.

The eighth graders dominated the first set, stumbled in the second, and briefly appeared drained. But then they looked up to see the varsity team rallying behind them, with the seventh graders leading cheers from the balcony. That spark reignited the room. Fueled by their supporters, the Bulldogs surged ahead to a commanding nine-point lead in the final set. Sophie Regula and Rosie Simko said it finally set in that they were about to make history.

“I had to focus on playing calm, getting the ball over, and staying consistent,” Regula said.

Simko knew what was at stake: the chance to become the first Poland team to win NE8 titles in both seventh and eighth grade. “I told my teammates we had to pull this together,” she said. “I urged them, ‘Do you want to win another championship? Because I do! We have to push ourselves to be our best.’”

They were their best in the final set, commanding a lead all the way up to the match point. Upon their well-earned victory, the gym erupted.

“Pure joy,” Regula said simply.

Congratulations to coaches Mark Wesolowsky (7th Grade), Liz Herdman (8th Grade), Ally Nittoli (Junior Varsity), and Cara Bornemiss (Varsity). On October 8, 2025, your teams showed what it truly means to be a Poland Bulldog. More importantly, that night was a clear reminder of the impact we can have when we work together, humble, grateful, and united.

Mr. Nico Note I am so proud of you, Poland Volleyball. Thank you for who you are, on and off the court.

I have previously stated that I only write Mr. Nico Notes when I am extremely moved, even to tears, by our Bulldogs. Some busing/scheduling issues caused the championship games to be delayed, so it broke my heart that I had to leave before the third set... The good news is that I was headed to capture our Varsity Boys Soccer team also winning an NE8 Championship title at South Range. As I was driving, I was beaming thinking of the camaraderie and community I had just witnessed and so eager to know if the team won. The moment I posed our Boys Soccer team for their photo, I received a text message of the eighth grade team wearing their championship shirts... I, too, felt pure joy.

Now if that wasn't enough, look who I had the pleasure of seeing the moment I walked into the high school game the next night... They were there to return the favor and cheer on their friends.