Jackleyne Racedo, homeschooled freshman is already taking her place in the world of volleyball. She has three years of experience and through these years she has built the courage to try out for a school team even though she doesn’t attend school like everyone else.
Before Jackleyne ever started playing or finding interest in volleyball she played different sports like, soccer and gymnastics but she never seemed to find a passion for them. Once she entered middle school she saw girls playing volleyball and that’s when she saw her passion. After that game she went down a rabbit hole of volleyball videos, growing her knowledge on the sport. She idolized the player Harper Murray because she is always hyped, and is a very inspiring player to look up to. This influence has helped Jackleyne become the person she is on the court, very outgoing and with positive energy.
Jackleyne wasn’t always homeschooled, she only became homeschooled when she was in 8th grade. She did this to focus more on volleyball since she was on other school teams and travel teams before entering this school. This limitation of not attending the school has not stopped her from making friends and having an amazing social life. She heard about Coral Springs Charter school because of her friend Samantha. Samantha McMillan, a senior at Coral Springs Charter, recommended her to try out since she thought she was a really valuable player that the team could use. Samantha was right and Jackleyne was an amazing addition to the team that they did not know they needed.
She is not only a star player for the amount of little years she has been playing but she brings positive vibes to the team. Jackleyne says “Every player on the team was very understanding, there were no complications, and we are all like a big family.” Her relationship with all the teammates is like a sisterhood, they are always laughing and have become each other’s best friends since they spend a big portion of their week surrounding each other.
Number 15, position outside and right side belongs to Jackleyne. This is not just a hobby or extra curricular activity for her; she is very invested in this sport and puts her all into it. She does hope to continue her volleyball career and hopefully make it to the Olympics.
Samantha Harwell, the volleyball coach at Coral Springs Charter, has welcomed Jackleyne with open arms. Ms. Harwell has been wanting this type of diversity on her court and this is the first time in 10 years that they have had a homeschooled player. Ms. Harwelll says, “I was completely open to this idea because there are specific laws that allow homeschooled individuals play a school sport even if they don’t attend the school. She went through the process before trying out so all I needed to see was the effort and passion from her.” The only complication there has been is the fact that all the other girls attend school. So when they come to practice they usually talk about their days and she can’t relate to the other girls, leaving her left out. This does not seem to affect her since regardless of their academics their friendships go way beyond the court.”
In conclusion Jackleyne Racedo’s journey from a homeschooled student to an amazing volleyball player at Coral Springs Charter has been a great addition to the team since she gives positive vibes and dedication. Despite not attending the same school as her teammates this diversity on the team has made their friendships stronger on and off the court. Jackleyne’s commitment to the sport and her ability to overcome challenges show that she has a bright future in volleyball ahead of her.