Tuesday, November 8th, 2022
Family tradition
Etzlers ready to take part in Cavs' state semifinal
By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Gary R. Rasberry/The Daily Standard
The Etzler family, from left, Mike, Cole, Spencer and Nikki, will be well-represented at the Division III state volleyball tournament this weekend. Nikki is head coach with husband Mike an assistant. Spencer is a starter while Cole serves the team in several roles.
COLDWATER - The saying "the family that plays together stays together" certainly rings true when the Coldwater volleyball team was practicing on Monday.
With head coach Nikki Etzler on the sideline throwing the ball to one side or the other, her husband Mike, an assistant coach for the Cavaliers, and son Cole, a junior, were scrimmaging with one half of the team with daughter Spencer, a sophomore, playing for the other team.
The Etzlers will look for the Cavaliers to extend their season one more time as they play in Meadowbrook in the Division III state semifinals on Thursday evening at the Nutter Center.
"It's definitely a family thing," said Mike Etzler. "Our whole family is invested all of the time. It's pretty cool."
The Etzler family bond for the game runs deep. Nikki was a standout at Parkway and later played collegiately before coaching at Celina and later at Coldwater. Mike was head coach at Coldwater, with Nikki as an assistant, before switching coaching roles when he became principal at the Coldwater Elementary.
On Mike's side of the family, sister Jenny Fledderjohann was a member of Fort Recovery's state championship volleyball team in 1990 and later coached New Knoxville to the 2006 Division IV state runner-up. Also, Mike Etzler shares an aunt with Crestview volleyball coach Tammy Gregory, who will be at the Nutter Center as well on Thursday when the Knights take on New Bremen.
"We're very blessed," said Mike. "It's cool that we're getting to experience this again. It's pretty awesome."
Between the two of them, Nikki and Mike Etzler have combined to coach over 260 wins at Coldwater. Nikki is 143-36 since switching coaching seats with Mike in 2016, most all-time in Cavalier history. Mike was 120-38 in six seasons from 2010-2015, third-most in school history behind Mandy Diller's 121.
Photo by Gary R. Rasberry/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Spencer Etzler, seen here hitting a shot in the Division III regional final against Galion on Saturday, has emerged as one of the Cavaliers' top hitters while playing for her mother, head coach Nikki Etzler, and father, assistant coach Mike Etzler.
Spencer Etzler has shined in her second season on the Cavaliers, earning first team all-MAC and second team all-Ohio honors in averaging 3.1 kills and 4.2 digs per set to go along with 74 service aces.
"Growing up, I was a like a little gym rat," said Spencer Etzler. "I was always in the gym, managing for the teams. I've always loved volleyball. My family is a big part of that."
Nikki Etzler has found the perfect balance of where coach ends and mom begins when it comes to watching Spencer on the court.
"I think I have to take a step back and be her mom," said Nikki Etzler. "I just really enjoy the moment. She's a sophomore. I'm super proud of her and her teammates."
"I personally love it," said Spencer Etzler. "They're my biggest fans and biggest supporters. Having them as coaches is a dream. They've always supported me, no matter what."
Her brother Cole Etzler's contributions to the program are boundless. In addition to working with the team in practice, he sits by his dad on the sidelines, offering suggestions and pointing out things while talking to the players.
"I practice when I can to help make the girls better," said Cole Etzler, who plays baseball in the spring for the Cavaliers. "Then on the bench I keep stats and give information to the game. I want to be a coach in the future. I like to help out and do my part."
"He's always been a part of it, so for us, it's normal," said Nikki Etzler. "He's such a student of the game that it's fun to see what he sees in the game. That's been cool to watch develop. The way he communicates with the girls is fun because it's different than how we as coaches do it. They love to compete against him. (The players) support him when he plays."
The chance to be with his parents and sister at the state tournament is a joy.
"It's awesome," said Cole Etzler. "In 2017 (when Coldwater finished as state runner-up in Division III), we (Etzler and several members of the current team) were managers. Now they're going to be on the court and I'll be on the bench. It will be fun!"
The Etzler bloodline extends further. Campbell Etzler was a member of the seventh-grade team this year while youngest son Briggs, fourth-grader, is around the court when the family is practicing.
"When we're away from the family, we're really never away. Coaching is so time consuming, but they're always with us," said Nikki Etzler. "It's fun. Briggs doesn't love it as much because he's a busybody, but Campbell would be in the gym equally as much."
