Another FHS athlete has signed an offer with a college program.
In her time playing softball and volleyball for Franklin, senior Amy Tippett has been a part of some excellent Panther teams. Between two softball squads that advanced to the state semifinals and Franklin’s first conference-champion volleyball team in a decade, Tippett has been a part of some of FHS’s finest athletic achievements in recent years. At a small ceremony in the FHS gym lobby May 24, the senior signed her official offer letter to take her talents to the next level, committing to play volleyball for the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.
“One random day, this girl says ‘Well, I think I’m gonna drive to Asheville and play volleyball,” said FHS head volleyball coach Bekah Brooks, referring to the city’s elite Xcel Volleyball club team. “I’m like, ‘First off, you’re not leaving me, but you can go and further your skills.’ She shows up to a gym where she knows no one, and she makes the team. She comes back and says ‘Coach, coach, I made the Xcel team! I made the Xcel team!’, and I said ‘I knew you would.’ She said, ‘I don’t think you understand; I made the best-of-the-best team!’ and I said ‘I don’t think you understand, I knew you would.’ … She drives there multiple times a week, and she rocks every single thing she does on the floor.”
In taking the initiative to drive back and forth from Fletcher, a nearly three-hour round trip, four nights a week to work on her game, Tippett has shown a desire and work ethic far beyond her years. While this drive has earned the libero a place in the Bulldogs’ program as a touted recruit, Franklin’s JV coach and Tippett family friend Cindy Christie isn’t surprised at the senior’s success.
“She started out playing for me in seventh grade, and she turned around and worked her tail off from seventh grade all the way up through school,” said Christie. “She started out playing club ball back in eighth grade because she wanted to get better, and she didn’t take her foot off the gas. She’s had a lot of things come through her pipeline, and she just kept her faith in God and worked hard. … UNC Asheville doesn’t know what a gift they just got, and they got a big one. We should send her there with a big red bow, because they just got Christmas served early.”
As an excellent libero (a back-line player specializing in defense) and one of Franklin’s vocal leaders – often the first one to offer younger teammates encouragement and instruction – Tippett is a prospect any college coach would want. In passing seemingly every test on her way to committing to UNCA, Amy’s sister, Brooke, said the senior is made of stronger stuff than most people her age.
“We lost everything, and you rose above – you came back better, you came back stronger and you did not stop,” Brooke told her sister, referring to a fire that destroyed the Tippett home some years ago. “When our house burned, Amy’s biggest concern was, ‘Where are my notes?’ She wanted her notes from class so she could maintain her grades. This child has worked tirelessly to get to where she is. I don’t even know how to put into words the drive and the stick-to-it-iveness that you have.”
As Brooke and others recounted the challenges Amy has faced to get to this point, the scene in the gym became quite emotional, with several people in attendance forced to wipe away tears. While singing ceremonies are often emotional for student-athletes and their families, Tippett’s seemed to be extra-sweet for those who know the senior best. Chief among those are Tippett’s parents, Steve and Kelli, who said UNCA should be a good fit for the senior.
“She wanted to play at a Division I school and the opportunity came up, and it’s far enough away to where she doesn’t feel like she’s still at home, but yet not too [far away],” said Steve. “It’s a good fit. It’s a benefit for us that she’ll be close enough to where we can go watch her games.”
“We’re very proud,” said Kelli. “She’s worked hard.”