Alerts Sign-up
The Coalers Volleyball Team honored its seven senior members during Senior Night on October 15. The event recognized Keirsten Gabehart, Riley Walker, Sydney Larson, Stana Milinkovic, Kiera Brodnick, Jaela Vasquez, and Ava Kenney for their dedication to the program.
Keirsten Gabehart has played volleyball for four years and participated in Track & Field and Math Team. She is a class representative in Student Council, secretary of National Honor Society, and a mentor in the EmpowHer program. Gabehart plans to attend a four-year university to pursue nursing and become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She was escorted by her parents Jessica and Alan Gabehart.
Riley Walker has also played volleyball for four years. In addition to volleyball, she has been part of the girls basketball team and Pickleball Club. Walker is undecided about her future plans after graduation. Her parents Jon and Kathleen Walker accompanied her on Senior Night.
Sydney Larson achieved 1,000 career assists as a member of the team. She participates in girls basketball and track and field teams, as well as National Honor Society and EmpowHer. Larson plans to study nursing at Mizzou after graduation. Her parents Chad and Jackie Larson joined her during the ceremony.
Stana Milinkovic has contributed to the team over four seasons while enrolled in Grundy Area Vocational Center’s Cosmetology Program. She intends to study dental hygiene at Prairie State College next year. Her parents Trishelle and Luka Milinkovic were present on Senior Night.
Kiera Brodnick is completing her third season with the volleyball team. She has also been involved with Coalers with Character, Math Team, Coaler Creations, and EmpowHer. After graduation, Brodnick will enroll in a radiology program at a community college. Lauren and Joseph Brodnick escorted her at the event.
Jaela Vasquez played all four years on the team while participating in various clubs including Coalers with Character, Link Leaders, National Honor Society, EmpowHer, Drama Club, Pickleball Club, serving as stat girl for wrestling, and studying at Grundy Area Vocational Center. Vasquez plans to major in marketing at a four-year university following high school; she was accompanied by her mother Ashley Smith.
Ava Kenney spent four years on the court for Coalers Volleyball while also joining Coaler Creations, Yearbook, Link Leaders, and Coalers with Character programs. Kenney plans to start her education at Joliet Junior College before transferring to earn an education degree aimed toward becoming a physical education teacher and coach; Jeremy and Jennifer Kenney escorted her during Senior Night.
Coal City High School is part of Coal City Community Unit School District 1 which includes schools across Grundy and Will counties such as Coal City Early Childhood Center, Coal City Elementary School, Coal City Intermediate School, Coal City Middle School, along with the high school itself (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district serves a student body that is primarily White (86.9%), with Hispanic students making up nearly 10%, according to data from ISBE (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Coal City Community Unit School District 1 employs 153 teachers who earn an average salary of $69,297 per year before pension contributions; most are women (77.9%) (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district reported no teachers exceeding ten absences annually (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020 it spent $21,619 per student totaling over $47 million for that year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
