Sports
Kyle Radde is helping new generation of Penn boys volleyball
MISHAWAKA ― Mark Watts had seen enough. After Kyle Radde dunked the basketball, stole an ensuing pass and dunked the ball again, Watts knew he had a volleyball player on his hands. He walked across the gym floor and approached Radde about trying out the sport. The rest, as they say, is history. Two decades […]
MISHAWAKA ― Mark Watts had seen enough.
After Kyle Radde dunked the basketball, stole an ensuing pass and dunked the ball again, Watts knew he had a volleyball player on his hands. He walked across the gym floor and approached Radde about trying out the sport.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Two decades later, the two are on the same coaching staff — Watts a co-head coach with his wife, Kelley, and Radde an assistant for the Penn High School boys volleyball team. After being one of 16 programs to win an inaugural IHSAA sectional title in the sport, the Kingsmen will look to add regional hardware this weekend in Valparaiso.
“It’s awesome,” Radde said. “It’s where my roots started. And it all started in that gym that we’re practicing in now.”
A decorated pro volleyball career
As he alluded to, Radde is a Penn alum. Watts, a former teacher and girls volleyball coach at the school, was overseeing the intramural basketball teams at Penn when Radde showed off his athletic display.
A club boys volleyball team was formed in Radde’s junior and senior years, but it fizzled out once he graduated. While the team at Penn was over, Radde’s career in the sport was just starting.
He would play collegiately in the NAIA at Calumet College before transferring to the club team at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Radde would then spend some time overseas playing the game, including in countries like Austria, Belgum and Denmark.
Beach volleyball is where Radde would find his niche. He became one of the better players in the country at it, using his 6-foot-8 frame and dynamic leaping ability to be a force around the net. In 2014, he and his playing partner were one of four teams in a 104-team field to advance to the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Main Draw in St. Petersburg, Florida.
He has continued to play locally, as well as starting his coaching career. That journey has taken him to the University of Olivet in Michigan and the Northern Indiana Volleyball Association, among other places, along with his current assistant gig with Penn.
At age 39, Radde is still playing. He needs shoulder surgery to fix some things this fall, but he plans on pursuing his pro career next summer after he’s healed up.
“I told the boys: I didn’t start until I was 17 or 18, and then I ended up playing professionally for 16 years … a lot of people would say that’s a late start, but it’s better late than never,” Radde said. “I’m glad I took that opportunity to play because, honestly, in my mind, there’s no better sport than volleyball.”
Helping the next generation of Penn boys volleyball
It was unknown if Penn would field a team for the first-ever IHSAA season as late as mid-February. Once the Watts committed to being the head coaches, though, the season became a reality.
“It’s amazing,” Mark Watts said. “It feels impossible. I’m enjoying it. Sometimes I sit back and think, ‘How the heck did we get here?’”
Radde’s impact is felt by everyone on the team, especially sophomore Liam Carter. The 6-foot-6 middle hitter has played at NIVA for four years, with Radde being one of his first coaches. He was unsure if he wanted to play for the high school team, but Radde convinced him to be part of history.
“I went to one practice, and it was definitely challenging,” Carter said. “I talked to (Radde) at another place I play at (NIVA) and he told me how much of a big deal this is with it being the first year and how big it could be for college.”
Like most teams in the area, there have been growing pains for Penn this year. They were able to put it all together in last week’s sectionals, though, beating three solid teams in Warsaw, South Bend Riley and Saint Joseph to claim the title.
“That’s why we coach,” Radde said. “It’s not for me to come out here and win a state title; it’s for the look on their faces when they won sectionals and how they felt. I’ve had some big wins in my career, and it means a lot. To see them having that same feeling, that’s where all the reward comes from coaching.”
Penn (13-10) now enters regional weekend as the underdog. They will face Washington Township (19-3) in the second semifinal at approximately 1 p.m. ET/noon CT Saturday, May 24, at Valparaiso High School. The first semifinal pits Lake Central (27-6) against Boone Grove (23-4) at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT. The final is set for 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT.
The Kingsmen know it’ll be an uphill battle, but they’re ready for the challenge.
“I’m going to tell them to go out there and swing away,” Radde added. “Play aggressive, dive on the ground and be ready.”
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