Beach Volleyball Olympian Sarah Sponcil speaks to students at alma mater Veritas Prep

Standing on a field at the back of Great Hearts Veritas Preparatory Academy's campus, Sarah Sponcil stepped up to the microphone as the marquee speaker of the school's spring sports pep rally.

Veritas Prep's faculty and staff and 800 students watched intently as Sponcil shared how she put up collages of Olympians in her locker and had the Olympic rings pasted above her bed when she was growing up. It was part of her effort, she said, to picture her goals and dreams.

Returning to her alma mater after participating in beach volleyball for the United States in the 2020 Summer Olympics, she wanted to show her audience how one's aspirations can come true.

"Veritas is such a small high school and I think a lot of people told me, 'You need to go to a bigger high school because you have all these dreams and you just got to go to something bigger where you're going to be recognized.' I was like, 'No, I'm going to learn so much here from Veritas.'

"I think seeing these kids, I want to encourage them too that they don't have to go to a big school to be recognized and to go after what they want to go after."

At Veritas Prep, which serves students from sixth to 12th grade, Sponcil stood out after following her sister to the school. She led the Falcons to three state titles in volleyball and earned Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year honors twice.

Sponcil then played collegiately for three years at Loyola Marymount University, where she earned West Coach Conference Defensive Player of the Year for indoor volleyball in 2016, before transferring to UCLA and being a part of the Bruins' first national championship team in beach volleyball.

At the Olympics in Tokyo, Sponcil tied for ninth with partner Kelly Claes after falling to Canada in the Round of 16.

"The hard work and the sacrifices, everyone knows that," Sponcil said. "I really do truly believe the more that you envision what you want to do and have a clear mind... I want to encourage them that's something that they can control. Whatever opportunities (are) in front of them, I want them to go after it and not be afraid because lots of doors come open."

Sponcil's volleyball career provided numerous stories to tell the Veritas audience about, including a fearlessness in pursuing opportunities. It also offered her school achievements from her career to showcase.

Following her speech, Sponcil stayed behind to sign a Team USA visor and uniform, as well as a few volleyballs. Additionally, her Veritas Prep blue-and-white jersey, etched with a signature, was encased in a glass frame.

"She had fond memories of Veritas with her friends or her volleyball team or teachers," said Sponcil's mother Lisa, in attendance with her father, Wayne. "For me, it was just coming back to her old high school and bringing back some of those good memories for her. I think it kind of brings her back into her roots of Phoenix."

Watching Sponcil speak about her accomplishments was a full circle moment for Veritas Prep art teacher Jeff Dick. He remembers Sponcil as quiet and shy in middle school, but someone who "came into her own" in high school. Moments of his former student that still stand out to him are watching Sponcil become more engaged in 11th and 12th grade and defending her senior thesis.

Headmaster Heather Washburn wasn't in her role when Sponcil was a student at Veritas Prep, but believes that everyone in attendance for her visit epitomized the school's unity. She said Veritas Prep believes that "sixth through 12th graders should be in community with one another," something that allowed for the student body to learn from one of its most successful and motivational alumni.

"It says everything," Dick said. "It doesn't surprise me that she would really pinpoint this as such an important part of who she is now."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Olympian Sarah Sponcil speaks to students at alma mater Veritas Prep