The historical impact of the 2025 season hasn’t been lost on Wright City junior outside hitter Jaiden Walch.

As the Wildcats captured the Eastern Missouri Conference championship, a first conference title since 1982, the team also enjoyed the postseason spoils from its collectively strong effort.

Walch was one of three on the team to earn an all-conference selection. While that fact was nice, making program history was also very sweet, she said, because the team accolades carry plenty of weight over the individual honors.

“From the beginning, we knew that if we played our game and trusted each other, we could change the narrative,” said Walch of the program’s winning one conference match in the two years prior.

Walch and fellow junior Marli Burkhardt were named to the first team. Walch was also named honorable mention, all district.

She recorded a team-high 96 kills, 10 blocks and 119 digs for Wright City (15-10-2).

“Being named first team all-conference has truly been an honor, and I’m so grateful I got to experience it,” Walch said. “This season, our team put in the work, stayed together, and proved what Wright City volleyball is capable of (achieving).”

Wildcats coach Shannon Bunch said that Walch put in plenty of extra preparation to be ready to help the team excel.

“Jaiden worked incredibly hard in the off-season to earn her position in the front row this year,” Bunch said. “Her hard work also earned her the leading spot for kills on the team.”

Burkhardt wasn’t just first-team all-conference, but she was also selected first-team all-district.

This season, she accumulated 16 service aces and a team-best 448 digs as the team’s libero. Bunch said that she feels Burkhardt, like her teammates, has truly been an asset this season and throughout her career.

It’s a career that the coach will be excited to continue into the 2026 season, she said.

“Marli is an incredibly hard worker who constantly strives to give her best effort on and off the court,” Bunch said.

Lastly, for the Wildcats, sophomore setter Emerson Wendt earned second-team honors in both the Eastern Missouri Conference and Class 3 District 6.

‘Emerson has worked really hard this year to lead the team in assists and constantly keeps a positive attitude,” Bunch said.

Wendt led the team with 154 assists, averaging 3.67 per game. She also contributed a team-high 28 service aces and 118 digs.