Cardinal standout selected for Australian trip

The honors are beginning to roll up for Onaway volleyball standout Mariah Ehrke. The senior, who had her season end with a foot injury in the final moments of the Cardinals’ district championship match with Rogers City, has been invited to play for a regional all-star team.

Down Under Sports has invited Ehrke to play representing Michigan on the 2014 East Central Conference volleyball team.

Mariah Ehrke

 

“Each year we have a group of athletes that compete in our tournaments and you should be proud that Mariah was invited for this program,” Job Cyril wrote to Ehrke’s parents, Holly and Darin.

The tournaments will take place during the summer of 2014 o

n the Gold Coast of Australia. Programs in football, wrestling, cross country, golf, track, basketball and volleyball are planned.

“I feel pretty honored. Not too many kids get to take advantage of this opportunity, so I am really looking forward to it,” Mariah said. “What they do is have a couple of practices a day and you take part in two indoor tournament and one beach volleyball tournament.”

A group of 40 girls will be divided into four teams who will play each other and teams from Australia.

Ehrke plans to continue her career in college, but has not decided on a school as of yet.

Athletes have to pay their own way for this tournament, so fundraisers may be planned to help offset costs.