Catching up with all-star volleyball player Sam Karcher

GULF BREEZE — Sam Karcher is a senior at Gulf Breeze High School and one of nine females in Santa Rosa County whom area coaches selected to join the 2017 Subway High School All-Star Volleyball team.

The Subway High School All-Star Series is a sequence of games between high school senior athletes from Okaloosa, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The main volleyball game is set Nov. 16 at the University of West Florida.

Here, we catch up with Karcher on making the all-star team, her everyday life and her aspirations.

How long have you been playing volleyball?

This was my 10th year.

What position do you play?

Outside/DS (defensive specialist)

How do you feel about making the Subway All-star team?

I was really shocked when I found out. I felt other people deserved it more than me. Looking back, I’ve been really dedicated. I’ve been to all the practices. I felt like I was getting paid back. It’s awesome. I’m excited get to play. It’ll be my last game playing court volleyball. I’m thinking intramural but not planning on playing for college. I play beach volleyball, too. I plan on playing beach volleyball the rest of my life. In beach volleyball, they have adult leagues so you can play if you’re older. It’s more of just for fun. It’s not super competitive.

Do you play any other sports?

I played softball but recently quit. I was a pitcher for nine years. I’m on [the] weightlifting team in high school.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like softball and I hang out with my friends whenever I’ve got free time. I’m really busy with volleyball.

How much free time do you actually get between sports and school?

Have high school and also club volleyball for three months starting in December. Whenever it gets warmer, I have beach volleyball, so basically all year round. It’s super hard to have a social life, but it’s really fun and worth it. You meet a lot of friends.

Do you plan on going to college?

I’m going to be a nursing major (at the University of) South Alabama

What do you want to do as a career?

I want to be a (registered nurse). My sister is going to school to be an RN, too.

What advice would you give other students?

I feel like there are different routes you can go in life. You can have sports, a social life and academics but you have to choose two, really. It’s hard to balance all three. I had academics and volleyball all through my volleyball career. It’s hard to do all three, honestly, but you meet a lot of people through volleyball. A lot of times you have the same classes. You can study together. You’ll find your route. For sports, if you’re not absolutely in love with it then it might not be for you.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Catching up with all-star volleyball player Sam Karcher