FAIRVIEW, Ala. — Fairview senior Laci Segrest competed for both the volleyball and track-and-field teams during her time at Fairview and in this interview, Laci shared some of her favorite memories she made on and off the field with her friends and teammates.
“My favorite volleyball memories were beating Guntersville for the first time at home and playing in the county tournament. It was a sad time, because it was my last county tournament. I felt as though I left it all on the court, and it helped me remember why I started playing volleyball. My favorite track-and-field memories were when I medaled at county, sectionals, and state. I always had a great time with my teammates,” Segrest said. “Almost our whole team was made up of seniors. I have played with those girls for five years. I learned how each of them think and play on the court. It helped me build a better bond with each girl as a teammate. Each of them helped me keep going, and I love each and every one of them, especially our only junior on the team, Karlie English. We all had to learn how to help her, because we all knew how hard it is to play with a team full of girls with more experience, so it was always a great way to get to know her better as well. Karlie always stepped up when we needed her, and she eventually became comfortable on the court with us. In volleyball, I learned how to be a better leader on and off the court, how to be patient, and to trust my teammates. In track-and-field, I learned to keep working hard every day and to never quit. My teammates always pushed me, and with that, it helped me to throw farther.”
Laci played for some great coaches in both sports and soaked up as much as she could from all of them.
“It was great. I learned a lot from each of them. They all gave me the opportunity to prove myself, Katie Ball especially. She took me off the court when needed and reminded me of how great I can be. My middle school coach, coach Haley, helped spark my interest in volleyball and helped me find the sport that I love. Coach Jennings, for the short time she was my coach, she taught me all of the skills that I needed to have for my varsity years. Katie Ball pushed me extra hard, because I knew she saw something in me. Whenever she would bench me, it would help me push myself harder. My track-and-field coach, Whitney Haynes, made the biggest impact on me, not just during the season, but in life as well. I feel as though I can go to her any time that I need her.” she said.
She talked about some of her favorite volleyball games, what she will remember and miss the most about performing at Fairview, and her favorite high school memory.
“My favorite volleyball games were when we played Good Hope and West Point for the first time. They were always great games, and each and every one of us would play our hardest until the very last point,” she said. “In volleyball, I will definitely miss the younger girls. I feel as though I had multiple great teaching experiences when it came to them. I hope that I made a big impact on those girls. I will miss my younger girls and I will definitely be back to watch their games next season. In track-and-field, I will remember and miss coach Haynes. I am sad that I won’t have the chance to see her as often as I did. I will also miss the younger people on the team. I feel the same towards them as I do my volleyball girls. My favorite high school memory was homecoming. It gave us all a chance to dress up and get out of our comfort zones. It was a time we could all come together as a class and share these last memories together.”
Her teachers made a big impact on Laci’s life during her time as an Aggie, and she will always remember the important lessons she learned from them as well.
“What made Fairview a special place to go to were the teachers, especially Mrs. Watts and Coach Black. I felt as though in any situation, I could go to them with my problems, and they would help me through it in any way that was needed. Most of the teachers at Fairview made a great impact on my life in my four years of being there,” she said. “I will remember my friends and volleyball. These were the biggest things in my life during high school. I never really found my group of friends until senior year. Although, I didn’t have many, my five friends that I had was all I needed, and I have much love for them. Volleyball season made school so much more enjoyable. I looked forward to practice every day. That’s where I could work on myself and my relationship with my teammates.”
Laci will deeply miss being on the volleyball court at Fairview next season and gave advice to the students that will be starting high school in August.
“High school volleyball was so much fun, and I’m sad to let it go, but I’m so excited to play at the next level and make new relationships with my teammates,” she said. “Don’t take anything for granted, and when people tell you to enjoy it, because time goes by really fast, listen to them. When I first started out, people always told me that, and I had wished for my senior year to come quicker. Now that it’s over, I wish I would have cherished those moments a little more. I would also like to say that everything works out in the end. Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams, or change what you believe in. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to sit back, and if it’s meant to happen, it will.”
Laci added,
“It is beyond important, and I can’t stress this enough. When it came for senior night for volleyball, I was given all of these notes from the younger girls. They had told me the impact I had on them, and it made me feel so much better as a person. Me personally, I love getting the opportunity to teach younger kids, especially when it comes to volleyball. I have made meaningful relationships with the younger girls of the volleyball team. When it comes to being a role model, you want to be the person that they can go to, and you want to be someone that they can trust. I feel like I was that person for those girls, so I feel like I succeeded as a role model.”
Laci talked about a very special role model in her life, how she wants people to remember her and gave some advice to anyone that wants to be where she is now.
“My role model in school is probably Mrs. Haynes. I could see how much she wanted to learn and succeed. I could always go to her with anything. Same with sports. She was my track coach, and she pushed me to be better every day. Even though I had a rough season, she helped me dig out of that hole at the end of the season. I hope people remember how hard-working and dedicated I was in everything. I want people to remember my enthusiastic personality and energy I brought into any room,” Segrest said. “Hard work pays off. Never, ever quit. I wanted to quit every track meet of this year’s track season. It was the worst I had ever thrown in my track career. I knew I had to keep going and keep working my hardest and it paid off. I ended up placing third at state. Life is a mental game, and it’s on you to decide where you want to be and whether you want to work to get there or just be comfortable with where you’re at now. You decide where you want to be in life. You’re either going to break barriers trying to get there, or you’re going to sit back and just be comfortable with where you’re at now and never achieve your dreams. I always knew I wanted to play volleyball at the next level, so I worked as hard as I could every day to make certain that I was going to be where I am today.”
She added,
“The best advice that someone gave me came from coach Haynes. This was at my last outdoor state meet. I was throwing the discus, and it wasn’t throwing how I wanted to throw it. I walked over to her, and she said this: ‘This is the last time that you will ever throw, so enjoy it’. Then I realized, it doesn’t matter how I performed, honestly. What she said made me realize that I don’t need to think any less of myself because of a bad performance. I just need to enjoy it, because it could end in a matter of seconds.”
Laci participated in several clubs at Fairview and gained a lot from those experiences too. She earned a scholarship to continue her volleyball career at Wallace State Selma and she’s looking forward to getting started with her new team.
“During school, I was in the Key Club and Student Council. I was in the Glee Club my freshman and sophomore year. I learned how to work well with others and get things done effectively,” she said. “I felt like that was the right school for me. The community is very loving and welcoming. The volleyball team is very involved in everything that’s going on in Selma.
Laci has already had to overcome adversity early in her life and she believes that experience will only help her continue to conquer any challenges she will face.
“Sophomore year, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. After finally figuring myself out, it helped me realize that it won’t hold me back, and it won’t keep me from achieving my dreams. I overcame that obstacle, and that helped me become the best version of myself. I am so grateful that I have God, my family, and my friends to help me through each obstacle that I may face in life,” she said. “I learned that I am a strong, loving, independent young woman that can do anything I put my mind to.”
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