August 2023 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Athletes are selected as the Players of the Month for their athletic
accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact.
CONNOR
MCGARRY
CARO
BASKETBALL
SHELBY
IGNASH
CASS CITY
VOLLEYBALL
WHEN CARO’S CONNOR MCGARRY HITS THE
HARDWOOD FOR THE 2023-24 SEASON, HE WILL
BE MORE THAN READY FOR HIS SOPHOMORE
SEASON.
McGarry, who had a sensational freshman season,
averaging nearly 14 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5
assists and 1.9 blocks, is ready to take his game and the
Tiger program to the next level.
McGarry is putting in work with former Kingston
standout Evan Neff, with their workouts beginning at
5:45 a.m. When he’s not up early, he’s competing for
Caro during the June summer league or his travel team.
“It all starts before the season,” said McGarry. “Once
you get to the season, you can’t just be scrambling
should have been working and
getting better during the off
months.”
He added: “One of my goals is to
make my biggest strides during the
offseason. I want to go as hard as I
can, so when the season comes, it’s
smooth sailing.”
He credits his older brother for
helping him stay balanced with
rest and recovery, along with time
management and nutrition.
Along with the offseason work,
McGarry has written goals for himself.
Despite being a sophomore, McGarry has the
mentality of a seasoned athlete. “My dad knows what it
takes to get better,” he said. “And if you want to achieve
excellence at something, you have to work hard for it. It
all starts with staying focused, having a good mindset
and then applying it.”
McGarry also plays defensive back for the Caro
football team and golfs during the spring. “Last year,
I thought about dropping everything and just playing
basketball,” he said. “I thought to myself, I’m only in high
school once, so I want to enjoy everything.
FOR MANY PREP ATHLETES, THE FOUNDATION
OF SUCCESS IS BUILT DURING THE OFF-SEASON,
ESPECIALLY THE SUMMER MONTHS. CASS CITY’S
SHELBY IGNASH HAS ALREADY MADE AN IMPACT
ON THE VOLLEYBALL COURT DURING HER FIRST
TWO SEASONS.
She played a key role in the Red Hawks winning a
regional championship and advancing to the Division 3
final four.
Ignash has been hard at work during the spring and
early summer, playing with a pair of travel teams. In June,
she traveled to Florida with Michigan Elite Volleyball, for
AAU Nationals, where the team took second in the Open
Division. In July, Michigan Elite went to Chicago, where it
finished top 10 at USAV Girls Junior Nationals.
“I have improved my range during the summer,” said
Ignash. “If something’s not perfect, I’m learning better
how to make it work.”
Although a decorated individual
player, Ignash loves the team aspect
of volleyball the most. “You have
three people touching the ball every
time,” she said. “Everyone has to be
totally invested. You have to have
complete trust in your teammates.”
Volleyball is Ignash’s first love, but
it’s not her only sport. She excels on
the hardwood in basketball and on
the softball diamond.
With Cass City, Ignash helped
guide the Red Hawks to postseason
hardware in both sports. She believes playing multiple
sports is essential for any prep athlete. “I think it’s really
good to work different muscles, I feel like you could get
injured more easily if you just played one sport.”
As the Red Hawks prepare to follow-up their historymaking
2022 volleyball season, Ignash believes she, and
her teammates are ready for the challenge. “
ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS
4 August 2023 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM
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