Veteran coach to lead CG-B volleyball

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s new volleyball coach knows all about bump, set and spike at the high school and college level.

Sharon Stellwagen has coached high school boys, college women and officiated prep volleyball.

She retired last June after 25 years of teaching physical education in the South Milwaukee School District. Stellwagen, who is from Sheboygan, wanted to move closer to home and now lives in Oostburg, one of Cedar Grove-Belgium’s biggest rivals.

While she isn’t teaching anymore, she wanted to return to the nets.

“I’m teaching the game that I love. Whatever I can teach those athletes to progress through that game, keep persevering, have positive sportsmanship, play smart, know what to do with that ball,” Stellwagen said.

Stellwagen learned what to do with the ball as a setter and hitter playing first for Bethlehem Lutheran grade school, then Sheboygan South High. She said volleyball became her most natural sport, ahead of basketball, track and softball.

“I’ve always loved it right from the beginning. There’s just something about the movement and the way the game goes,” she said.

In college, Stellwagen played for Concordia University Chicago.

After graduating, she taught at Lutheran schools in Florida and Chicago before teaching in the health department at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and coaching its women’s volleyball team.

After four years, Stellwagen realized she missed the classroom and returned to high school at South Milwaukee. Her last 16 years were spent teaching elementary physical education. Many of her students became players, and two former players are taking over the volleyball program.

Stellwagen said the game has become more specialized in her decades of volleyball.

“It used to be one person played all the positions,” she said, adding now there’s a defensive specialist (libero) and players who excel in hitting, blocking and passing.

Stellwagen said she likes to run a 5-1 offense but knows it requires “that really good strong setter. It’s looking at what kind of student athletes you have and trying to find where they fit best.”

She looks forward to using the allowed five contact days in July to get to know the team.

The first practice is scheduled for Aug. 17, but coaches are waiting for guidance from the WIAA on how the season will progress due to the coronavirus.

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School Athletic Director Scott Parsons said Stellwagen’s experience and reputation stood out.

“What impressed me most were the number of people that I’d consider part of my inner circle who have coached or worked with Sharon. Every one them told me what a great teacher and coach that she is,” he said.

Stellwagen takes over for Chris Holzer, who is devoting more time to his career and family.