Senator Janelle Sarauw, far right, and the C.A.H.S. girls volleyball team, winners of Sunday's tournament
The Charlotte Amalie High School Varsity Female Volleyball Team left the St. Croix Educational Complex gymnasium as champions on Sunday, after beating the Complex team during the tournament's final game. The Educational Complex girls team placed second, while Antilles School came in third.
In the male competition, the St. Croix Central High School Volleyball Team defeated the Educational Complex team to win the championship. There, too, Complex was second and Antilles third.
Senator Janelle Sarauw, busy as she is as a lawmaker, coaches the C.A.H.S. team. Asked how she manages both duties, Ms. Sarauw said, "It's an investment in our future. I had people who invested in me so I may receive a scholarship and free education. They deserve the same opportunities and more than I had."
The senator added, "It's now my turn to reach back and help in any way I can. It takes a village. Everything isn't about money. We all have the civic duty to use our gifts to improve our home."
Ms. Sarauw and Senator Kurt Vialet were present during the finals yesterday to cheer on all the teams, though they had favorites -- Mr. Vialet for Complex (he is a former principal of Complex) -- and Ms. Sarauw for C.A.H.S., which she coaches.
Ms. Sarauw in particular attended college on a full volleyball scholarship. "So the least I can do is give back... Even though I'm a senator, I still need to pay it orward," she said. The second-term Independent senator could be seen with crutches at the gymnasium, which she said was a result of a surgery on her achilles and plantar tendon that were torn.
"Years of playing ball," she said.
