JOUST AT THE NET COLUMN
By Chuck Licata, Big Daddy Media CEO/Volleyball Insider
As you’re probably aware, journalists use “columns” (the written kind) to show their personal interest in a particular subject or person.
My long-running column – Joust At The Net – is my way to do just that.
And there’s very few stronger coaching personalities I’ve come across in 37 years of covering high school volleyball than one Toree Winchell, currently the head coach of the Prosper High School Eagles.
Yes – the same Prosper squad that boasted players like Ayden Ames (currently a sophomore star at the University of Texas) and Hanna Beauford (SMU freshman) and went to the 6A state semifinals two years ago.
Winchell, who started her head coaching career in 2021 at Frenship, then went to Gunter for one season (in 2023, when she took the Tigers to the 3A state title match), joined Prosper the season after that state run. This season is her second year guiding the Eagles.
Last Tuesday (Sept. 16) the Eagles beat McKinney, 3-2 (31-33, 19-25, 25-10, 25-12, 15-13) for a dramatic reverse sweep victory. And to add more emotion, Winchell’s Mom drove down from Dalhart to be at the home match (“I was happy to see my Mom; I love my Mom” Winchell told me) – and that should have been Toree’s sign something was up.
Yep.
Little did Toree know, her longtime friend and current varsity assistant coach Marybeth Spinuzzi had a surprise for Winchell. Spinuzzi, who was first hired by Winchell at Frenship back in 2021, launched a post-match celebration, marking Winchell’s 100th career coaching victory. The team broke out the banner and the team, community and Mom celebrated with Toree.
Here’s the irony. The win Friday night was actually Winchell’s 108th career win. Her 100th coaching victory happened at the Pearland classic tournament; the teams’ 2-0 sweep of Lake Creek on Aug. 16 was their last match at Pearland – and Winchell’s 100th coaching victory.
So as the team heads out to play Princeton tonight (the last match of the first round of District 6-6A play), Winchell carries a 108-86 overall record, highlighted by the stellar 35-12 mark at Gunter in 2022-23. The Eagles “balanced out” last season (Winchell’s first at the school) with a 22-21 record and a 9-8 district mark. The Eagles lost a play-in game to McKinney Boyd and missed the playoffs.
For Winchell – a former player herself not too long ago –she’s proud of all the players who helped her reach the coaching milestone.
‘The girls grind and work and we attack the milestones the same way,” declared Winchell, who recognized the milestone as “tantamount” to coaching. “All the places I’ve coached, I’ve been blessed with great and supportive student-athletes, as well as parents who trusted their players with me.”
Winchell, who’s been promoted to Assistant Athletic Coordinator at Prosper, is appreciative of what she does – and where she does it.
“There’s nothing like high school volleyball in Texas,” she said. “And, in the DFW area in particular.
“I love the support I receive here at Prosper. And without question, Marybeth and I are proud of the girls, who are putting everything they have into this season.”
There’s probably a few more victories coming Winchell’s way this season. And no doubt, Toree hopes there will be enough to power the Eagles into postseason play.
