Volleyball Footprint - The Todd Serad Story

DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?
Head of the Beach Volleyball Statue, 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics
Todd was the Model for the Olympic Statue

Do you know this man? Do you know that he is the ONLY person from the New York City, Metropolitan area to be IMMORTALIZED in Gold? Did you know he is an OLYMPIC ICON?

His name is Todd Serad. The man of many volleyball footprints, this author is one of them.

Todd has been instrumental in creating a volleyball legacy that spans beyond just that Golden Statue from the 1996, Atlanta Olympics. Yes, I am not lying to you, Todd Serad was used as the model for the Olympic Statue. His size and stature was seen as a "perfect embodiment of what beach volleyball should look like, in the Olympics..."

But believe it or not, that's not Todd's only legacy. His volleyball footprint stretches from person to person, and place to place. It starts from his time in the Navy and playing volleyball. During those days, playing beach volleyball on the shores of San Diego were his way of relaxing from a day of active duty. Remember the scene in "Top Gun" where all the Navy "Fly Boys" (pilots) were playing each other on the sand? Well, Todd did that and excelled at it.

Upon leaving the Navy, Todd worked for an advertising and media sales company here in New York City. This is where Todd's ability to connect to people, fun and volleyball came to its hilt! I can attest to all of it, since I am one of the many people Todd has helped reclaim their child like volleyball self.

In the mid 1990's, Todd was living on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan. While there he befriended a group of folks who played the occasional indoor and beach volleyball games. One spring morning Todd had an idea to set up a fun two net volleyball outing, in the North Meadow of Central Park. That two net outing became a four net mini tournament. In no time at all, about one summer, it was a full blown, "I need to get a permit from the city," volleyball social tournament. It was call "The King and Queen" Tournament. what started as a group of four men, just getting together to have a few fun times with a volleyball, turned into the Eastside version of co-ed volleyball bliss.

Most of the ORIGINAL Serad, King & Queen Volleyball Group at a Long Beach, NY beach get together;
Yeah...these many people would be at Central Park on a Saturday kin the early spring...GREAT TIMES!!!
We have lost some to marriage, moving, life...death, but we are all still close friends, and we thank Todd for it!

Todd with some King & Queen player
When the tournament moved way north to Inwood Park, NYC

Todd with Group members at a variation of the King & Queen
The Great "Leader of the Pack" grass tournament
formerly held at Over Peck, Leonia, NJ through NJVA

King & Queen group, waiting for Todd (far left in cap/white T-shirt) finishing up pool play scores & preparing for playoffs

The King & Queen's brought out every type of person, from the very professional, a few AVP qualifier types (even some AVP players) to well, folks who never even played the sports before. Todd made them all feel welcome and equal!

But that wasn't Toddy's only place to play family fun style volleyball. He had a share house in Fire Island, on Kismet Island. While there many of his co-workers, friends and neighbors became huge volleyball fans due to Todd's efforts  in generating just an fun atmosphere for the sport. Every July Fourth (4th) Todd would have a King & Queen Fours Volleyball Tournament. The night before would be a huge party with a "Draft" of players in a pool. Similar to the NFL, numbers would be drawn to see who picked first and that would be the order for all four rounds of the draft. This tournament was a hit from minute one with the Kismet families and many people would prepare tons of food and bring lots of drinks for the pre-tournament events.

And Todd's legacy/footprint continues!!!

After getting married in the early millennium, Todd moved out to Point Pleasant, NJ. He didn't try to stop playing volleyball, just do it less in his life, however, it didn't take. Todd continued to play volleyball and his wife, Martina, encourages it! She love that side of Todd and hopes he never stops, unfortunately for Todd as for many of us, playing isn't what it used to be.

Todd is now a volleyball coach. "I didn't know I would like so much..." he stated on the phone to me one night. How did this happen, well that is simple. One day Todd went to Lacey High School and saw a group of young men looking to play volleyball, the problem was, they didn't have a coach. Todd volunteered and ever since then, the parent, the community and, most of all, the kids love what he is doing with them.

This is Todd's second year with the Lacey volleyball team, but now they have expanded their playing beyond the just the high school courts. Now the Lacey volleyball team, is young junior boys club. Though Todd is no longer the Lacey high school coach, he helped start the Lacey Boys Volleyball Club. How well are these young protege's of Todd Serad?

Well check out the picture bellow...

Lacey Volleyball Club Members (l to r) Standing: Coach Todd, Jake Dittenhofer, Greg Fenton, James Tranz, Brandon Lucante,
Crouched (l to r): Brandon Guenther, CJ Herdt & Alex Belin
Goodsports Volleyball Champions

Lacey Volleyball just won the Goodsports Volleyball Tournament. The boys of Lacey volleyball are mostly juniors and all have aspirations of playing volleyball in college. Until two years ago, many of them didn't even know they could, until they met Todd Serad. Hope they can continue to grow, win and develop more of a tradition, they have a great teacher in Todd Serad to show them how its done.

 Kind of sounds like Todd is doing just fine, and so is this club of young boys at the Lacey Volleyball Club. Todd has transcended his volleyball footprint. He has gone from talented volleyball player; volleyball group organizer; volleyball trend setter; to now being a volleyball MENTOR!

Todd Serad's footprints now spans generations and not only people. Do you know where you footprints lead?

Oh yea...so you probably want to know how did Todd get the privilege to be the model for the statue at the 1996 Olympics. Well, remember how I said at some of Todd's volleyball weekends there were AVP players? Well at some point Todd befriended enough of them to score some CHOICE VIP Passes to one of the Belmar events. At one of these events Todd met up with one of the coordinators for the beach volleyball portion of the Atlanta Olympics. Not knowing who this guy was, Todd invited him out to hangout the next weekend at Kismet. This person, had such a great time, he mentioned to Todd, just who he was and proposed to Mr. Serad, that he be the model for beach volleyball of the Olympic Games.

The golden version and the model with his golden twin

Yeah. That's right. Just by being a good guy, Todd Serad was asked to be an iconic figure, made of gold. Now this icon, looks to create icons and teach them the virtues of being a great person, on top of being a fantastic volleyball player.

So where will your footprints lead?

Thanks for reading...

EVC...

AWESOME DEBUT FOR TWO!!!

Clockwise From top Left: Kevin S, Lenny K, Dennis P. Jr, Erik S, Andy Mc, & Felix V

GEVA Division 2 BB Tournament, Power Zone; Denville, NJ...January 14, 2012


This was a GREAT day in Empire  Volleyball Club and team Prime history!!!


First off, two of our long standing members - long standing meaning they were two of the original 10 to say I want to play - Kevin S and Dennis P Jr, made their first on court, playing debuts, in the BLACK of EMPIRE-PRIME!!!


Both of these young men were geared up for their first tournament and it showed in the results!


Kevin is a setter/outside hitter just recently graduated from the University of Delaware. The former Blue Hen set for his college club team at NERVA Nationals the past few years and now brings his skill to EVC-Prime.


Dennis, a New York native, has been part of the volleyball scene since his high school days at St. Francis Prep, in Queens, NY. A graduate of Syracuse University, Dennis looks to take his ORANGE pride to PRIME time!!!


As for the tournament, all of the information was relayed to this reporter by Lenny K, setter/captain of the EVC team. Here is how reported it.


The tournament had some great teams and they each had played against EVC at some point this season. Each team came from different parts of our region; Hudson/Rockland County of New York, Central and Southern Jersey and a few from Long Island.


Kaboom, Big Willy's, and Metropolis were just a few teams registered to play in this event. EVC had its smallest turn out for this GEVA contest. Only the aforementioned, six (6) out of the 10 member program were able to participate. Each having to do something out of their comfort zone; Dennis played middle all day, and Kevin hit outside for the whole tournament. All in all it was a grand effort for this group, and wow was it ever rewarded.


The tournament started off well for Prime, they were able to get the first two wins at the beginning of the day. Then they spit in the following match. By the first report, Lenny had stated the team was 3-1, with solid play from all members. However, the great play was not to last. EVC dropped their next two games in the following match, which made the last match of the day very important.


With a sweet of the team in the last match, Empire-Prime, would be locked into a three way tie for the second spot in pool play. This would force a one match playoff with the other two teams to go into the semifinals of this GEVA tournament. Both of which, PRIME won in high style "In playoff. Had to play TWO play in games. We crushed both teams!" stated Lenny in a text.


In the semifinal match EVC-Prime was match against Metropolis, a team known for solid play and heavy hitting. The task at hand seemed daunting but the men of Prime, were PRIMED for the challenge. The scores were tight in the first two sets. EVC took the first, 25-23, the lost the second 21-25. With their backs up against the wall the player of Prime hunkered down for a tough fight. However, the fight wasn't too tough. "On to the finals!" exclaimed Lenny in the follow up text. He continued to say, "beat Metropolis in semis...Last set was 15-3."


WHAT?!?! 15-3?!?!?


Yes! That is correct. The fledgling club, just defeated one of the NYC's perennial volleyball clubs, Metropolis, in a third set semifinal, 15-3. Is it possible they could win the whole thing?


Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. In the finals EVC faced off against Big Willy's, another perennial powerhouse in the GEVA region. The scores, however, tell a tail of hard work and fatigue. Big Willy's won the GEVA Power Zone Division 2 tournament title over EVC-Prime, 23-25 & 21-25. Lenny commented on how "we ran out of gas," at the end.


All in the six team members finished SECOND, a club milestone!!!

L to R: Erik, Kevin, Lenny, Andy and Dennis (not picture) Felix

Congrats to all the six, Lenny, Kevin, Erik, Andy, Dennis and Felix. Each man deserves a a solid pat on the back and a boost for the next tournament!!!


Thank for following our club and wish us luck for the next tournament at HUNTER COLLEGE, February 5, 2012