Wysocki (’04) volleyball jersey retired: When I walked into the gym Thursday night with the same pump up music blaring, I had to look down and tell myself that I was in jeans and not a uniform. I saw many new faces and recognized fellow teammates from my four years on the varsity team. It is always great to see new faces and know that the program is still growing. The most memorable moment, besides the heartfelt words spoken by Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Milford and Coach Linos, was the lowering of my banner. When I saw the banner flip over the ledge and Coach say into the microphone that it will hang forever, I wanted to break down. The emotions are indescribable. I remember looking at it for the longest time and then looking right at my parents. When I looked at them, they saw how much this meant to me and how much I thank them for all that they have given me. My five older siblings and I were born and raised playing sports. My father played baseball for the San Fransico Giants, so it runs in the blood. But when it comes to sportsmanship and a love for a game, we get if from a saying that my father always told us: "There are no ballfields in Heaven." We played sports to the fullest, and we learned to leave all emotions, because when we reach Heaven, we do not need ballfields. We learned to play with our hearts, and in all of our hearts is God. I believe that being out on the court with your closest friends is one of the greatest opportunties and honors. Volleyball is a team sport not a one-person sport, and we grew with each other and fought the battles with each other. It was a team effort. My success as an individual should be seen as the success of many. I could have not done what I did without my teammates and my coaches or without the support of my family at home and my family at Darlington.

In Alex's own words Four-year varsity letter winner Alex Wysocki (’04) was so important to the team that the Sept. 30 “Stuff-the-Huff” event was deemed “Alex Wysocki Night” in her honor. Her No. 14 jersey was retired (click here for photos).

Described by her coach as an outstanding server and setter, an exceptional leader, a generous teammate, one of Darlington’s finest student-athletes and a shining example of what it means to be a Darlington volleyball player, Wysocki set 12 school and two state records in her four-year varsity career.

“I don’t believe my words alone could ever do justice to what she did for this program,” said Coach Jim Linos. “She was a very special person for Darlington volleyball and for Darlington, and truly deserves to be recognized for all her accomplishments and sacrifices.”

Wysocki began playing volleyball in the sixth grade, as the setter at Hilton Head Preparatory School. In eighth grade, she moved up to the junior varsity level. When she came out for the first day of practice her freshman year at Darlington, Wysocki said she was not ready for the journey she was about to take.

“Practice in the hot, old gym was a challenge in itself, but no matter what, Coach was always there, encouraging us that we can always give it more than what we think,” she recalled. “My greatest memory was my freshman year when we beat Walker for the Region title. That game should go down not only in Darlington history, but all around. There has never been a team that came together as one like we did, not only as a coach and players but also with our fans. Even people from other schools were cheering for us.

“When we won that match, we knew that we had succeeded in building that team from the ground up,” she continued. “We had built a great program that consisted of encouragement, friendship and success.”

Former teammate Maritza Mendoza, one of this year’s senior captains, voiced her respect for Wysocki.

“Alex was the setter, and she would always go for every ball,” she said. “Everyone looked up to her because she would always carry a great attitude, and without her we could not win. With teammates like Alex, the volleyball team was a family.“

Wysocki, too, considered her teammates family, and said she cannot take sole credit for the records she set during her four years on the team.

“I would not have achieved those without my fellow teammates,” she said. “People always say that I helped them with their talent, but really I owe them for my success.”

After graduating from Darlington last year, Wysocki retired from her volleyball career. She currently attends the University of South Carolina, where she is majoring in business.

“I was living on cloud nine when I was at Darlington,” she said. “I know in my heart that in the future I will return to Darlington, hopefully permanently, but [after high school] I was ready for a completely different challenge in my life. I am not playing volleyball for many reasons. I always joke with others about this because with my height, a 5-foot, 4-inch setter does not work with five other 6-foot or above girls out on the court.

“I put closure to volleyball when I walked out of the gym for the last time at the end of my last game at Darlington,” she continued. “Volleyball is something that I will always love to play and watch, but my time was done.”

Coach Linos told Wysocki about the retirement of her jersey shortly after her graduation last year.

“When it sunk in a little while later, I was finally convinced that I had succeeded at why I went to Darlington,” she said. ”God sent me to Darlington to touch someone’s heart and be a role model. This allowed me to realize that I had done it.”

Wysocki is the daughter of Michael and Cheryl Wysocki of Hilton Head, S.C. She has two sisters who also attended Darlington, Jennifer Wysocki (’90) and Stephanie Wysocki Brighton (’88).