By Ken Hansard

            Kynlee McCulloch, senior setter for the Lamar High volleyball team, will become a four-year letter winner at the end of this season, an accomplishment and an honor that is not lost on her, “Not many girls play varsity their freshman year, and it shows just how hard I have worked for four years.” 

            Maybe even more impressive is that Kynlee has accomplished that feat despite a schedule that would make the average person tremble with fear.  However, Kynlee doesn’t think of it that way.  Rather, she considers volleyball to be something that helps her to maintain balance in her life, “The volleyball court has always been a safe place for me, a place where I can clear my head, and then it’s just me and the volleyball, and nothing else matters in the world.”

            That kind of attitude allows Kynlee, just one of two seniors for the Tigers, to accept her role as a servant to her teammates, “I see myself as a team leader. My role, while I don’t always get the glory like hitters, is to set up my teammates so that they can shine.”  And Lamar, because they are young, will likely benefit significantly from McCulloch’s guidance, “We have some younger girls who will contribute greatly, and I’m very excited to watch them grow on and off the court.”

            The Tigers are currently 8-5-1. McCulloch is confident that their record will improve as the season moves into the home stretch, “I feel that as we near the championship stages of our season, we’ll be able to hold our ground. We have had many girls step up, and our team chemistry has continued to grow.”

            Despite her role as a setter, Kynlee’s contributions have definitely caught the eye of opposing coaches.  She was named to the All-Tournament team at the annual Lamar Invitational Tournament, an accomplishment that was especially rewarding since it came on her home court. 

As for personal goals, Kynlee’s answer logically focused on her role as a team player, “One goal I have coming into this season is to enjoy every moment. It’s a long season, and there are times when finding motivation can prove challenging.  In those times, I want to find the joy of playing the sport I love because I only have so many more practices and games left before I will be done playing forever, but I’m really looking forward to districts. We have had so many good runs during the district tournament, even playing in the championship in my sophomore year. I hope this year we can bring home the championship.”

Back to that busy schedule.  When not playing volleyball for the Tigers, Kynlee is engaged in multiple activities that immerse her in the school’s culture.  She is a two-year letter winner in basketball.  She competes in archery and was the Overall Girls’ State Champion in 2022; she also placed 3rd in Girls 3D State in 2023, and has been named an academic archer for three years.  She is in Band and is a three-time All-District member, has won Gold Rating Solo at both the district and state levels, and is a three-year Four-State Band member.  She is the public relations officer for the Book Club, a Choir member, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes member, the vice-president of Hi-step, and a four-year representative of the Lamar Student Council.

Kynlee is a standout in the classroom, also, boasting an impressive 4.1 G.P.A.  She has been an Academic Award winner in each of her years of high school, and she is the president of the Lamar chapter of the National Honors Society.  Following high school, she plans to go to college to pursue a degree in Music Education.

Kynlee McCulloch, senior setter for the Lamar High volleyball team, will become a four-year letter winner at the end of this season, an accomplishment and an honor that is not lost on her, “Not many girls play varsity their freshman year, and it shows just how hard I have worked for four years.” 

            Maybe even more impressive is that Kynlee has accomplished that feat despite a schedule that would make the average person tremble with fear.  However, Kynlee doesn’t think of it that way.  Rather, she considers volleyball to be something that helps her to maintain balance in her life, “The volleyball court has always been a safe place for me, a place where I can clear my head, and then it’s just me and the volleyball, and nothing else matters in the world.”

            That kind of attitude allows Kynlee, just one of two seniors for the Tigers, to accept her role as a servant to her teammates, “I see myself as a team leader. My role, while I don’t always get the glory like hitters, is to set up my teammates so that they can shine.”  And Lamar, because they are young, will likely benefit significantly from McCulloch’s guidance, “We have some younger girls who will contribute greatly, and I’m very excited to watch them grow on and off the court.”

            The Tigers are currently 8-5-1. McCulloch is confident that their record will improve as the season moves into the home stretch, “I feel that as we near the championship stages of our season, we’ll be able to hold our ground. We have had many girls step up, and our team chemistry has continued to grow.”

            Despite her role as a setter, Kynlee’s contributions have definitely caught the eye of opposing coaches.  She was named to the All-Tournament team at the annual Lamar Invitational Tournament, an accomplishment that was especially rewarding since it came on her home court. 

As for personal goals, Kynlee’s answer logically focused on her role as a team player, “One goal I have coming into this season is to enjoy every moment. It’s a long season, and there are times when finding motivation can prove challenging.  In those times, I want to find the joy of playing the sport I love because I only have so many more practices and games left before I will be done playing forever, but I’m really looking forward to districts. We have had so many good runs during the district tournament, even playing in the championship in my sophomore year. I hope this year we can bring home the championship.”

Back to that busy schedule.  When not playing volleyball for the Tigers, Kynlee is engaged in multiple activities that immerse her in the school’s culture.  She is a two-year letter winner in basketball.  She competes in archery and was the Overall Girls’ State Champion in 2022; she also placed 3rd in Girls 3D State in 2023, and has been named an academic archer for three years.  She is in Band and is a three-time All-District member, has won Gold Rating Solo at both the district and state levels, and is a three-year Four-State Band member.  She is the public relations officer for the Book Club, a Choir member, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes member, the vice-president of Hi-step, and a four-year representative of the Lamar Student Council.

Kynlee is a standout in the classroom, also, boasting an impressive 4.1 G.P.A.  She has been an Academic Award winner in each of her years of high school, and she is the president of the Lamar chapter of the National Honors Society.  Following high school, she plans to go to college to pursue a degree in Music Education.