JUNE 24, 2009 - COVINGTON
By Rob Kiser, Piqua Daily Call

The participants in this year's Covington Youth Volleyball Camp (grades 5-8) got something extra for their $35 this week.

Memories that will last a lifetime.

Nicole Fawcett, the National Player of the Year who led Penn State to two straight national championships, was a special instructor for the camp.

Fawcett, who hails from the tiny village of Zanesfield (population 220) and played her high school volleyball at Ben Logan (near Bellefontaine), gave the young girls an experience they will not soon forget.

"To have Nicole (Fawcett) here means so much to all these girls," former Covington coach and Covington Athletic Hall of Fame member Lonnie Cain, who ran the camp said. "The way Nicole related to these girls was just incredible."

The reason Fawcett worked the camp was her connection with Cain, who coached her in JO volleyball for two years.

"I played for Lonnie's (Cain) club team," the 6-4 outside hitter said. "But, I have known him since I was little."

Cain has known Fawcett's parents, Bob and Kim, since they were all in college at Wright State.

"I have known Nicole (Fawcett) for a long time," Cain said. "When they talk about Team Atlantis (the organization Cain coaches in), they still talk about Nicole Fawcett playing for them. She made a name for Team Atlantis."

Fawcett comes from an athletic family. Her grandfather played for the Baltimore Orioles and her mother played volleyball for Wright State.

"I knew she was going to be something special," Cain said. "Her parents were such good players and she was well connected in the junior program."

And, while she has gone on to much stardom and fame, Fawcett hasn't forgotten her roots.

"She grew up in Zanesfield, which only has one stoplight," Cain said. "She understands small towns and what that is about."

And while it might seem unusual for a player headed to Olympic Training facilities soon to begin her Olympic career, to be be working a junior high camp, Fawcett didn't hesitate.

"I love being around the kids," she said. "To see their improvement during the week. When they are working on something and then to see their eyes light up when they are able to do it, you are reminded why you play the game.

"Just to see the hunger they have for the game. You still have a hunger for it when you get older, but it is different when you are first starting out."

Fawcett, who will receive her degree as soon as she completes a summer internship in Bellefontaine, plans to play professionally in Europe in the future.

"That (completing her education) will make my mom happy," she said with a smile. "The league I was playing in in Puerto Rico is four months. The professional leagues in Europe are nine months. I was checking some of them out when I was playing in Puerto Rico."

But, this week was about making memories for young kids.

"She didn't hesitate at all when I asked her," Cain said. "Nicole (Fawcett) is like a magnet for those girls. She understands. She comes from a well grounded family, both who are teachers. Her brother Joe is a student at Wright State and a real well-rounded kid."

And Cain had plenty of help from Covington junior high coach Stephanie Robinson.

"She was our connection to the girls," Cain said. "Stephanie (Robinson) really did a great job. She came in early and got the gym ready. We would work with one group and she worked with another and coach Smith (Covington varsity coach Jim Smith) was here for a little bit. We had a wealth of volleyball knowlege in the gym."

As the camp came to a close Wednesday, girls lined up for autographs and to get their pictures taken with Fawcett, not wanting the three-day camp to end.

"This camp was $35," Cain said. "I worked a camp at Florida State two years ago that was $500. And we didn't do anything in that camp that we didn't do here. It was great to be able to do something like this in Covington (his hometown)."

And provide the young girls memories for a lifetime.