Trish Wade, former volleyball coach at St. John High School, looks forward to her first season as Nickerson High School coach.
“I am excited and looking forward to the upcoming season,” Wade said. “I have a few girls that I’ve seen just at camp, but I haven’t seen everyone as I will have the opportunity to start practices next week (Monday). I will have a better idea once I’m in the gym working with them.”
Two of Nickerson’s top returning players are senior middle blocker Delaney Childs and junior setter/defensive specialist Denae England.
“Those are the two that stand out right now,” Wade said. “I have a couple of freshmen that I am excited about, but I will have a better idea after we have practice and I can watch them work out and get an idea about their work ethic, their drive and their heart.”
The Panthers posted a 11-23 record in 2022, went 19-19 in 2023 and posted a 12-25 record in 2024. Nickerson won 30 matches in 2016, 34 in 2017, 29 in 2018, 21 in 2019, 19 in 2020 and 30 in 2021.
Teresa (Wade) Rush, who was an all-state performer at St. John, will be one of Wade’s assistants.
The Panthers open the 2025 season Sept. 4 at home against Cheney and Little River. The matches start at 4 p.m. at the NHS New Gym.
Nickerson will host Haven and Larned on Sept. 30.
Road matches for Nickerson: Smoky Valley and Hays at Hays, Sept. 9; Ellsworth Varsity Tournament, Sept. 13; Lyons JV Tournament, Sept. 13; Pratt and Smoky Valley, Lindsborg, Sept. 16; Kingman and St. John at St. John, Sept. 18; Halstad and Hillsboro at Hillsboro, Sept. 23; Cheney Varsity Tournament, Sept. 27; Pratt JV Tournament, Sept. 27; Pratt C Team Tournament, Sept. 27; Chapman and Smoky Valley, Lindsborg, Oct. 2; Hesston and Hoisington at Hesston, Oct. 7; McPherson Varsity Tournament, Oct. 11; Marion JV Tournament, Oct. 11; 3A Regional Tournament, Oct. 20; 3A State Tournament, Oct. 31.
Trish Wade’s background
Trish Wade brings an accomplished resume to Nickerson after a standout 17-year tenure at St. John High School, where she compiled more than 420 career victories and guided the Tigers to three Class 1A state championships.
St. John captured the state title in 2008 with a 43-2 record, followed by back-to-back 1A Division I championships in 2010 and 2011 with records of 41-4 and 43-2, respectively.
Under her leadership, St. John advanced to the state semifinals in 10 of her 17 seasons and finished 29-15 last fall with a return trip to the 1A Division I state tournament.
Wade played volleyball and basketball at Barton Community College. She played for legendary head coach Ray Bechard in 1985 and 1986, earning two All-American honors.
She played volleyball at Florida Southern where she also won all-conference and All-American honors.
Wade was inducted to the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Wade is the mother of former St. John and Kansas State basketball star Dean Wade. He is a current member of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.
