Junior Greyson Covay is the newest commit here at OH to Division I collegiate athletics. He has committed to play at the University of Southern California (USC). His journey to this point has been shaped by determination and hard work.
The recruiting process is an important and drastic part of becoming committed, Covay began his recruiting process early on.
“When I was 15 I started researching and emailing colleges, I emailed them almost every month,” he said. “When they were finally able to reach out to me June 15, it was very easy to get in contact with them,” said Covay.
Between the time Covay started his search for the best school, and when scouts could contact him, OH boys volleyball coach Chase Mang said that “Greyson has grown in his compassion for his teammates. Greyson cares deeply about his teammates and I have seen him develop into a leader in the program. That is a very difficult thing to do when most of your teammates are older than you.”
In addition to those qualities, Covay understands the commitment to the sport, his busy routine contributes to his success, and improvement as a player overall.
“I practice around 4-5 times a week, every week, and at my club team plays in lots of tournaments,” said Covay.
Coach Mang highlights how important Covay is on the court: “As a setter, you are the quarterback on the volleyball court. You have to be the glue guy who keeps everyone together and keeps everyone up,” said Mang.
His dedication doesn’t go unnoticed by his older teammates either. “Our sophomore year he was a little shy at first but he has transitioned into a great friend of ours and a great player too,” said senior George Victory, a player on the OH boys volleyball team.
Senior teammate Jian Bacerdo agreed with Victory. “[Covey] has a really good work ethic, he is really talented and athletic, his height helps but even without it he has worked a lot in the past years to become even more talented.”
Coach Mang agreed, and said, “Greyson, beyond his natural gift of being six foot seven inches, is very tough on himself. He has high expectations and he gets frustrated at himself if he isn’t performing at an elite level. This competitive mindset of constantly trying to be the best.”
Although Covay carries all these qualities himself, he is very thankful for those who helped shape him as a player and expresses that gratitude, “from an emotional point, my parents have helped me, but my club coach made me the player I am.”
When choosing a school, Covay knew what he was looking for. “I really like the coaching staff, and the academics are really good, especially for the business program that I want to go into,” said Covay.
Looking ahead into the future of Covay’s career, Mang highlights how he believes Covay will perform, saying “Greyson intentionally makes an effort to pull his teammates up to a higher standard and it is impressive to watch. This is a standard that will not only benefit him now but will be carried with him into his future athletic career and beyond. Being a great teammate will make you not only successful as an athlete, but in every aspect of life; future careers, your friendships, your family-life, and the list goes on,“ Mang said.
Victory is also optimistic about Covay’s future, and what he will contribute to the team in his last two high school seasons, “A couple years ago our varsity team won a regional championship, and I’m hoping this year we can get to that point or past that.”
As Covay continues to play and prepare for his senior year, as well as his future as USC, his commitment to being a great player, promises him a bright future and lasting impact.
Hello! I'm Lindsay Arand, a first year staff reporter and sports editor for the publication. I am a senior this year. At OHS I am apart of OATS, as well as track and girls soccer. I'm excited to collaborate and meet new people! You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
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