Calvert defensive standout Palm leads on and off court

What started out as one picture together after last year's district final win has become a long-lasting friendship. Calvert senior Cecilia Palm and Cooper Rinaman, 8, now take pictures after almost every match. "We'll always be best friends forever," Cooper said. The friendship started last year when Cooper tagged along with his dad, Calvert Director of Technology Keven Rinaman, to the school during the summer. Keven said Cooper would see the Senecas' volleyball team in the weight room and go talk to Palm. Then, the friendship transitioned to another sport. "One time we were shagging balls out on the softball field and my cleat was untied," Cooper said. "The only way she would tie it was if we became best friends." Having a tremendous role model to look up to is pleasing to Keven. "She's a leader on the volleyball court," Keven said. "She's super nice to everybody she talks to. She's just that kind-hearted person who is always there to help whoever asks for help during the school day. I see her more outside of volleyball. I see her as a whole person and she's one of those students that you hope to see everybody else become." Palm has a plethora of friends and family that are there to support her every match. The senior is inspired when she sees Cooper in the stands, cheering her and the rest of the Senecas on. "I love seeing him in the stands," Palm said. "It makes me really happy knowing someone is looking up to me and coming to support me helps me out and gives me courage to keep going and work hard." No. 3 Calvert is 24-1 this season and will face Ayersville (21-5) at 6 p.m. Thursday in a regional semifinal at Elida High School. The Senecas lost in this round last year to eventual regional champion Convoy Crestview. Palm is one of five seniors for Calvert with Caroline Lanicek, Camryn Shook, Alli Porter and Olivia Miller being classmates. "I think Cece has assumed a great defensive leader role as libero on our team," Calvert coach Lori Rombach said. "Cecilia does a great job for us defensively, but she does a great job on a lot of the intangibles too. She shows up to practice every day ready to go. She's a great teammate. She's a great encourager and those intangible things make the girls on the court that are with her even better." Palm has racked up 284 digs this season including a career-high 25 in a five-set win over Toledo St. Ursula at Bowling Green State University. She has evolved tremendously from a freshman that couldn't break into the starting lineup to a two-year driving force behind one of the best Division IV teams in the state. "My first two years, we had great defensive people in front of me," Palm said. "Working with them and them helping me to improve my skills really helped. I wanted to go into practice every day and take everything my coaches were telling me. This year I really stepped up and tried to be a leader and help others and encourage others." No one has seen the growth of Palm more than Rombach. The coach has 150 wins over her first six seasons and you have to bring your A-game nightly to be on the floor. "One of the greatest things I think for me as a coach is to see her development from freshman year," Rombach said. "We would have a lot of conversations in the hallways during practices just trying to get her better. I try to coach her to get her better and to see where she's at today and to think back to how far she's come, as a coach it makes you so happy and proud for her." No matter what happens Thursday against Ayersville or how the rest of the season goes, Cooper Rinaman will be there to see how his best friend finishes up her high school volleyball career. Cooper and Keven noted that Cooper didn't get to attend either state championship Calvert has won in recent memory. In 2018, Cooper was too young and in 2020, tickets were limited due to COVID restrictions. "I think it is really important to be a positive person and to be kind to everyone," Palm said. "That's what I really try to do. I want to spread my kindness so others want to do that as well because I think we're missing that in the world these days. I think being a positive and kind person, people look up to that and it helps others to know to be kind."