HIGHLANDS COACHES BIOS
Highlands VBC Coaches offer our athletes an exceptional playing and training environment. Our coaches have an extensive background gained through years of exposure to a broad range of club and college programs including, Nationally known clubs - Team KC (the original), Front Range VBC, Asics MAVS, KIVA, KC Power, and Highlands VBC to University of Nebraska, Park University Men's and Women's, University of Central Florida, Kentucky Wesleyan, Graceland University, William Jewell College and UMKC. These coaches are very talented and experienced - they know how to train volleyball athletes and have developed many of the finest players around Kansas City North.
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Inger
Condit, Co-Director, VISTA Youth Academy, Head Coach - 14 Red and 11 Red
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Inger has been Director of Coaching for Highlands VBC since originally founding the club in 2001. In 2008/09 her first year coaching one of the Red teams her 13 Red finished among the top teams in the HOA and had the distinction of being the only HOA team within the age group to defeat the MAVS 13-1. Inger began playing volleyball in her home country, Canada, at a young age, eventually leading her high school team to a 2nd place finish in the All-Ontario Championships prior to enrolling at Park University on a volleyball scholarship. After earning All-Conference honors in college she was hired as Head Coach at St. Pius X High School where she coached for 14 years. Inger was also head volleyball coach at University of St. Mary for 3 years. During her years at St. Pius her teams won eight straight District titles and reached the Missouri State Tournament Final Four three times. Twice her teams played the State Championship Match including winning the Missouri Class 3 State Championship in 2006. She has coached a number of All-State, All-Conference, All-District and All-Metro Players with many of her players having gone on to play in college. Inger teaches PE at St. Therese in Parkville, MO and has an outstanding presence working with players of all ages. 9th Year Highlands VBC |
| Randy Condit, Co-Director, Asst. Coach - 14 Red and 11 Red | Randy has coached 12s, 13s, 14s, and 17s with Highlands VBC since founding the club in 2001. In 2003 his 14-1 team finished 5th in both the Heart of America Regional ranking and at the Regional Championships. Randy envisions a club where outstanding players and coaches motivate each other to become their best. Among Randy's dreams for Highlands VBC are creating a successful environment where young players can benefit from the best possible training coaches and competitive opportunities allowing the Highlands VBC to help raise the level of play in Kansas City to become among the best in the country. Believe it! 9th Year Highlands VBC |
| Tony Visintine, Head Skills Trainer/Coordinator and Coaching Consultant | Tony is a Park University Grad with 16 years of volleyball experience. Tony's coaching and playing experiences are perfect for the job, he has coached with Team KC and KC Blaze in ages 12s to 16s, his teams have always finished in the top five at HOA Regional. Tony has worked at and run over 60 camps for boys and girls across the Midwest. Tony continues to play in Men's A through OPEN (the highest level), he was selected to Team St. Louis 16s as a 15 year old, was named All American at AAU/USVBA Jr. Nationals in Chicago, won a Missouri State High School Volleyball Championship from among 63 Boys teams in St. Louis area where he was named MVP. Tony was offered a college volleyball scholarship to attend Park University where he was a three year starter as middle hitter. Tony's senior season they placed 3rd in Club Nationals under Coach Bertil Wamelink. Tony believes in hard work to develop fundamentals, finding a positive balance between sports and school and strives to prepare players for high school varsity careers and college play if desired. Among his proudest accomplishments, Tony carried a 3.2 college GPA, was on the Dean's List and has been drug-free his entire life. 6th Year Highlands VBC |
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LeRae White, Head Coach - 12 Red -
VISTA Coach
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LeRae joined the Highlands' volleyball staff in 2006 - she has 4 years club coaching experience including head coaching our 13 Red two years ago and assisting Janel Ikeda on 17 Red last season. LeRae emphasizes a "student of the game" philosophy, teaching players to understand how the individuals within the team fit together, and to continually learn to improve through practice and competition. Focus will be placed the mechanics of skills and being consistent - developing efficiency of movement and muscle memory. This fits perfectly with a key Highlands coaching goal of seeking to master basic skills at younger ages. LeRae played volleyball, basketball and track in high school and volleyball and track at the college level at Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State. 4th Year Highlands VBC |
| Pam Willhite, Head Coach - 13 Red | Pam has an extensive playing and coaching background. Pam played high school and NCAA DII volleyball in Kentucky before beginning her coaching career. She moved here to the Kansas City area from Louisville where she had coached both in high school and club volleyball, including working with the nationally known KIVA organization. Pam is currently a Freshmen Volleyball Coach at Park Hill. She loves to teach the game and encourages her players to have fun while learning to compete. 4th Year Highlands VBC |
| Brianna Canter, Assistant Coach - 13 Red | Brianna joins Highlands VBC as an outstanding young coach who we are thrilled to have on board! She played 2 years NCAA Div. 1 Volleyball at UMKC, and prior to transferring to UMKC she began her college career in Indiana. Brianna grew up in the volleyball hotbed of Louisville, KY. Welcome! 1st Year Highlands VBC |
| Bethany Buehler, Head Coach - 14 Black | We are very excited about new 14 Black Head Coach, Bethany Buehler!! She had an outstanding high school and club volleyball career with highlights including her Park Hill South team finishing 2nd at the State Tournament and her KC Power club team finishing 3rd at the Junior Olympic National Championships. Bethany is back playing the game she loves at Park University, after being unable to play for several years due to back surgery which caused her to forgo the volleyball scholarship she had been offered to the University of Missouri. Bethany is studying to be a Spanish teacher. Welcome! 1st Year Highlands VBC |
| Brick Owens, Head Coach - 15 Red | Brick's coaching philosophy is to teach fundamentals keying on fun and nurturing the love of the game. Positive instruction is the basis for his coaching style. Teamwork, Intensity, and a Never give up attitude are the core goals. For nearly 20 years Brick has been a positive force in KC area Juniors volleyball - he has been instrumental in the development of a number of the top players to come out of the Kansas City area during that time. His club coaching experience includes teams at the 14, 15, 16 & 17 levels. Prior to joining Highlands VBC in 2004/05 past Clubs included: KC Juniors '87 - '92, Team KC '94 - '03 and Team Rock KC, '04. Brick also coaches in the Kansas City Parochial league for St. Peter's school '86-'03 and St Patrick’s '04 - Present. 6th Year Highlands VBC |
| Veronica Mobley, Head Coach - 15 Black | We are thrilled Veronica is returning to coach with Highlands. Veronica played for several years in her native Brazil on elite national level club teams prior to coming to the Kansas City area to earn her college degree and play volleyball. She says some of her most formative volleyball experiences were molded by a Japanese coach who stressed the fundamentals - she loves coaching and has a passion to instill a love for the game and focus on developing higher level skills among players. In 03/04 Veronica coached a very competitive 15-1 Gold team for Highlands VBC which finished in the HOA Top 10 and in 04/05 she was the initial Director of our VISTA Youth Skills Academy. 3rd Year Highlands VBC |
| Fredrick Wagner, Head Coach - 16 Red | Fredrick loves coaching 16s, an age where his deep knowledge of the game helps mold technically sound volleyball athletes who wish to play in college/university volleyball. Fredrick has coached every level from NCAA D1 and NAIA to high school and club across the country over the past 20 years. Athletes playing for Fredrick clearly benefit from his passion for the game and his connections with and understanding of college volleyball. He is currently the Head Coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College. We are very fortunate to have a coach like Fredrick coaching local athletes on the club level! 3rd Year Highlands VBC |
| Jessica Caton, Head Coach - 16 Black | Jessica played for Grain Valley HS from 2001-2004 and earned team MVP in 2004. She went on to play for Missouri Valley College where she earned her degree in May of 2009. While playing all four years in college she still maintained to keep her GPA at 3.8 earning Magna Cum Laude honors. A shoulder injury required surgery which cost her most of her junior season. Jessica bounced back in the middle of her senior year, earning All Tournament honors at the Iowa Wesleyan Tournament and she led her team in kills the remainder of the season. 2008 was Jessica's first year coaching, when she coached 16-2 for BVAC. Jessica still plays any chance she gets and loves to coach! She is very excited to join Highlands this year and is looking forward to a great season! 1st Year Highlands VBC |
| Ryan Johnson, Head Coach - 17 Red | Ryan has coached three consecutive Highlands teams that have qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships as 14-1, 15-1 and 16-1. His 16 Red team this past year finished 5th in Omaha, 5th at the Mideast National Qualifier and 5th at American Volleyball Challenge, before their finest performance taking 2nd at the HOA Regional Championships!! Prior as 15-1 the girls placed 4th in HOA Power League in 2007 and won the American Volleyball Challenge. The 14-1 team finished in the top half - 23rd of 48 teams in the American Division at Junior Olympics in Atlanta, they also had a great showing at Colorado Crossroads finishing 9th of 77 teams. These teams are known for the ability to raise their level of play when a tournament is high stakes. Ryan has ten years club coaching experience, he has taken numerous teams to National Qualifiers and other major tournaments around the country. Ryan's teams respond very well to his push for excellence - Ryan's experience, passion and love for the game make him a natural for coaching. Each year he has coached with Highlands his teams have been successful by many measures finishing 1st or 2nd in several tournaments and blending together a core of returning and new players who are able to compete among the strongest teams in the region. Ryan played two years of Men's collegiate volleyball and is still an active Adult Men's A Level player. 6th Year Highlands VBC |
| Elizabeth Anyigor-Abitogun, Head Coach - 17 Black | Elizabeth "Lizzy" is very excited about joining
our coaching staff - and we are equally excited about the vast and
awesome experiences she brings to our players and the club. Lizzy
has earned both her bachelor and Master's degrees from Pittsburg State
University.
From among her playing experiences at Pittsburg State here are a few key highlights: NCAA D2 All-American, MIAA Conference MVP, two time National D2 Player of the Week, twice selected as All-Conference and Pittsburg State University Volleyball Team Captain. Lizzy has also been blessed with years of international playing experiences earned as a member of the Nigerian Junior National Team from 1998-2000, and the Nigerian National Team from 1999-2007. During this time her opportunities included playing in the FIVB Junior World Cup, African Nations Cup Championship, and FIVB Olympic Qualifier African Zone Championship, among others which helped shape and mold her passion for volleyball 1st Year Highlands VBC |
| John Hamann/Stephanie Hamann, Co-Coaches - 18 Red | John has been playing and coaching volleyball for years. Beginning at the early age of 11, he found himself in a volleyball environment. John’s mother was the first women’s volleyball coach for Graceland University, which provided him with many early opportunities to develop the game beginning in his jr/sr high school years. While attending Graceland, John continued to develop his skill for and understanding of the game. While not formally playing for the Graceland’s men team, he practiced with them and assisted in the coaching of the women’s team, the highpoint of which was an international exhibition game with the (at the time) East German women’s volleyball team. After graduating from Graceland, John was a setter on an A-level club team composed in part of former Graceland players. Over the next 20+ years, John has played regularly at various levels of the game. Beginning 2001, John coached two years with Club North VBC (15G and 17G), in 2004 assisting with MAVs Boys 16s, 2005 with Invasion VBC (18G) and beginning 2006 with Highlands (15G). As a coaching philosophy, John promotes a “whole player” approach emphasizing the extreme importance of the team concept being the only secure foundation for game development. 4th Year Highlands VBC |
