Title IX at 50: Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 12, 2021

The national high school record book’s lists for most girls volleyball coaching wins – both among those still active and all-time – is filled with Michigan legendary leaders.

Temperance Bedford’s Jodi Manore tops both of those illustrious rosters. And it’s not even close.

Manore entered this season with a 2,128-369-59 coaching record at the high school level, from two stints at Bedford – beginning with the winter season of 1979-80 through 1983, and continuing with her return to her alma mater during the winter season of 1989-90 through today.

At the start and in between, Manore also served as the University of Toledo’s first women’s coach preceding and during her first tenure with Bedford, and then until returning to the Kicking Mules for her current run. Along the way, she’s led them to Class A championships in 1998, 2001 and 2005, five more Finals runner-up finishes and a total of 24 trips to the Semifinals.

Manore’s 2,128 wins were 363 more than the total of the next closest active coach after last season and 296 more than former Portage Northern and Delton Kellogg coach Jack Magelssen – the previous MHSAA and national record holder.  

Manore was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Hall of Fame this summer. (Click for an indepth 2015 Second Half feature.)

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.

Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

Oct. 5: Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: 
Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: 
Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: 
Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read

Performance of the Week: Shelby's Navea Gauthier

November 15, 2022

Navea GauthierNavea Gauthier ♦ Shelby
Sophomore ♦ Volleyball

The 6-foot-2 outside hitter has put up headline-grabbing kill totals all season – but saved her best for her team’s biggest playoff matches. Gauthier posted what was a season-high 40 kills in a three-set Regional Semifinal win over Kent City to start last week, and she bested that with 47 more kills in Thursday’s four-set Regional Final win over Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian. The 47 kills are tied for fourth-most in a match statewide since the beginning of rally scoring in 2004-05.

Gauthier – who made the Division 3 all-state first team last year as a freshman – already is eligible for the MHSAA record book 11 times for single-match kills over her first two seasons. Additionally, her 930 kills this fall are tied for sixth on the single-season list and her 1,524 over two seasons make the career kills list, while her 132 aces this season qualify for the record book as well. Shelby was ranked No. 9 in the final regular-season Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association poll and brought a 35-8-3 record into Tuesday’s Quarterfinals.

@mhsaasports 🏐POW: Navea Gauthier #performanceoftheweek #volleyball #regionalchamps #quarterfinals #kills #goodluck #shelby #tigers #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok#mistudentaid #fyp @Navea Gauthier ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat

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2022-23 Honorees

Nov. 10: Derek Huisman, Holland Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3:
Thomas Westphal, New Baltimore Anchor Bay cross country - Report
Oct. 27:
Justin Wickey, Colon football - Report
Oct. 20:
Owen DeMuth, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood tennis - Report
Oct. 13:
Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills golf - Report
Oct. 6:
Shawn Foster, Grand Ledge football - Report
Sept. 30:
Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22:
Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15:
Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8:
Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1:
Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25:
Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report

(Top photo by Enduring Memories Photography.)