Throughout her time as a student, 2024 graduate Micaela Boxer Wachler was involved in various activities and sports, from orchestra to basketball to the Jewish Student Union. One activity, in particular, remained constant: volleyball.
Boxer Wachler began playing volleyball in elementary school and started club volleyball in fifth grade, when a friend of hers started playing on a club team and encouraged her to join. She has played volleyball ever since, and said the sport is an integral part of her life. The athletics department recently awarded her the Senior Athlete Award during Senior Farewell on Thursday, May 23, an award meant to spotlight “a multi-sport athlete who has been instrumental in their team’s connection and success” and consistently exhibited the values of leadership, inclusivity, teamwork and competition, according to Coach Kim Smith.
“I’ve done a lot of different sports… from my childhood up [until] now,” Boxer Wachler said. “And volleyball has just been the one that I love the most.”
Her mom, Selina, said volleyball helped Micaela Boxer Wachler grow as a person. She said playing with other girls on a volleyball team was one of the first times Boxer Wachler had to seriously look out for other people.
“Not only did she grow as an athlete, but as a team sports person and, also, socially,” Selina Boxer Wachler said.
Micaela Boxer Wachler said volleyball has contributed to her personal development and made her more comfortable interacting with others.
“When [there are] multiple players on the court, you have to talk to everyone all the time — [for] every single point,” she said. “And that’s kind of translated into my life with talking to people and making connections, getting to know someone and communicating in general.”
When schools implemented virtual learning due to the spread of COVID-19, Selina Boxer Wachler said outdoor volleyball practices enabled Micaela Boxer Wachler to remain in contact with her friends, in a way that would not otherwise have been possible.
“[Volleyball] was quite a blessing because she got to see her friends,” Selina Boxer Wachler said, “Whereas most people if you weren’t doing [volleyball]… there’s no way you would have been able to do that.”
When students returned to school in person, Micaela Boxer Wachler said volleyball remained important to her, serving as a way to enjoy life amid the stresses of high school.
“Volleyball is definitely something that I look forward to after the school day,” she said. “I think it’s so nice because when I’m doing volleyball, I’m only focused on volleyball— same with school [and] orchestra. So, dividing my time up doesn’t make me overwhelmed and stressed because when I’m doing something, I’m only focusing on that one thing. And that’s been very important. ”
Junior Tavi Memoli has played volleyball with Micaela Boxer Wachler for three years and said she has always been a source of support for the team.
“Micaela is a very talented athlete in general. She has been an inspiration for me throughout my years of playing volleyball, and especially being new to it freshman year. She was definitely someone I looked up to, and I still look up to today — and not only as an athlete but as a student,” Memoli said. “She’s incredibly compassionate. She is very empathetic, and she also is a great leader. If she notices that the team is feeling down or we’re having an off day, she definitely has a way of making people feel better and getting excited for practicing.”
After years of playing indoor volleyball, Micaela Boxer Wachler joined Archer’s varsity beach volleyball team this spring season. She said she is thankful for the community volleyball has provided her with and plans to stay involved with volleyball at college.
“I want to continue playing at Tulane on a club team, either beach or indoor,” Micaela Boxer Wachler said. “I haven’t fully decided yet, but I definitely do want to continue in some degree.”
