High School Sports Awards: Selflessness, positivity among attributes Alabama volleyball dynamo Audrey Rothman possesses
Spain Park High School (AL) volleyball phenom Audrey Rothman served as team captain while helping to lead the Jaguars to the school's first state championship during the 2021 season; earned American Volleyball Coaches Association and MaxPreps first-team All-America honors; and finished her high school career as the program's career leader in kills and digs.
But Rothman strives to make a more enduring impact.
"Hopefully they remember me for being a good volleyball player, but overall, I want to be known for being an even better teammate and person - always being encouraging and uplifting," the 2021 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 7A Volleyball State Championship MVP said. "I want my teammates to see me as respectful and view me in high character, because that really is the highest compliment in my opinion."
Such is Rothman's selfless approach hailed by Spain Park High School Head Volleyball Coach Kellye Bowen.
"In all of my years of coaching, she is probably one of the rarest kids I have ever watched," Bowen, who has been coaching for a decade, said. "She's always humble and giving credit to others. She has never once made it about herself. Ever. She's the most outstanding person to come through the state of Alabama in volleyball."
In February Rothman was named Spain Park High School’s 2022 winner of the Finley Award, which is presented in recognition of outstanding character. She was chosen from among 22 students nominated from the 374 seniors in the school's Class of 2022.
"A lot of this world is about negativity," Bowen, who hopes to be a lifelong friend to her players, said. "She (Rothman) looks at every possible way of managing a positive outcome. She led the team in a positive way - setting examples throughout. One of the books we read was "The Power of a Positive Team" - and they lived that out. She was the leader of that."
A Florida State University-bound outside hitter, Rothman notched 709 kills during her senior campaign to pair with 247 digs, 71 blocks, 67 serving aces and 35 assists while helping the Jaguars to a 47-4 mark. Spain Park High School claimed the state crown in 2021 after finishing as state runner-up the previous year.
"Coming off of last year, where we had lost the state championship, this was kind of our redemption tour for all of us," she said, lauding the efforts coaches and teammates. "At the beginning of the season, we sat down as a team and addressed what our goals were for the season - with the main one being the state championship. We really wanted to emphasize doing it for each other and just being dedicated to everything. It was really just a surreal moment for all of us, because all of our hard work really paid off."
Rothman, who has posted a 4.28 GPA and plans to study chemistry at Florida State, said the fact one is always engaged in a play in the sport of volleyball is just one its endearing features.
"Another element I really like about volleyball is it's such a true team sport," she said. "You really have to rely on your teammates and be trusting. The relationships I've formed from volleyball have to be the absolute best thing to come out of it for me. Volleyball has really taught me the impact people can have on each other."
Former Stanford University volleyball standout and 2020 Summer Olympics beach volleyball gold medalist Alix Klineman is among the players Rothman enjoys watching.
"She's not an indoor player, but I've always really liked watching her play," the 6-foot-4-inch Rothman said. "We're kind of built the same way and I've kind of gravitated to her playing style. She is always really aggressive."
Rothman encourages the Spain Park High School underclassmen to approach every day as a blessing while being mindful to never taking anything for granted and being appreciative for every opportunity. While her time with the Jaguars is winding to a close, transitioning to Tallahassee, Florida, will serve as Rothman's next step.
"I liked the culture of their coaching staff," she said with regard to the selection of Florida State University. "They felt like a family and I also really liked how they also offered beach (volleyball) as an option. It's not that far from home and I can still visit with my family. But I think the biggest overall factor is the culture."