Warren Kerstetter: From Center Stage to Center Court

 

Warren Kerstetter has been playing volleyball since he was in seventh grade and loves it for the camaraderie and how every point depends on a team effort. 

“It is the pinnacle of a team sport,” says the senior. “You are relying on one or more people to do the right thing to score.”

In his final year of high school volleyball, Warren is helping guide the team to a playoff berth by example, especially with his work ethic and leadership.  

Coach Phil O’Keeffe first noticed the growth of Warren, a setter, in the preseason, saying, “During practices, we have two courts going at a time, and I see everything and everyone. I noticed right away that Warren has really improved.” 

“The process of learning all you need to know and fixing and going through that long process is so fun for me. It has taught me a lot,” Warren says.

Coach O’Keeffe considers him one of the true leaders of the team, on and off the court.

“Warren is gifted with excellent hands and a one-of-a-kind personality,” coach O’Keeffe. “He has a unique ability to lift the team’s spirits regardless of the situation. Warren brings energy, confidence, and positivity every day, and his impact goes far beyond what shows up in the stat sheet. Perhaps one day we’ll see him in Hollywood or on Broadway. He certainly has the personality for it.” 

Warren distinctly remembers when his coach made that observation.

“Believe it or not, my coach just said to me out of the blue that he thinks he’ll see me in Hollywood. He just said that he thinks I have that type of personality and confidence. At the time, it caught me off guard, but I think I have seen it in myself more as of late, too,” Warren says.

Gifted Beyond the Court

The process of hard work and following the course for improvement is something Warren understands well. 

When he was a sophomore, Warren began thinking about performing in front of a different audience – on the stage. 

 “I enjoy being in front of and around people and just interacting with them and, of course, that definitely helps with musicals,” Warren says. “I just enjoy putting something out there that people enjoy. And then that also applies to volleyball. I enjoy doing my best in hopes to create a good product.”

Warren has appeared in three Fox Chapel Area productions: “The Little Mermaid,” “The Addams Family,” and this year’s “Something’s Rotten.” He also loves to sing and has been part of choirs most of his life.

“Volleyball and acting are not too similar, but the philosophies and ideas behind them definitely are,” says Warren, who has had a big imagination since he was young. “They both are team-oriented, rely on the whole group for success, and allow you to interact with different types of people for the benefit of the whole. In both volleyball and on the stage, it’s about doing the small things well, trusting teammates, and being prepared for a long process. Most of all, they both have taught me how to engage with others and allowed me to gain self-confidence. All of that is so fun for me.”

Warren will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall. He plans to major in biology with an emphasis on research. He also might try out for a club volleyball team, but one thing is certain: Warren will continue to pursue his budding singing and acting careers. 

Whatever comes next, whether it’s on a court, a stage, or in the classroom, it’s guaranteed that Warren will take the same approach he always has: be prepared, steady, and ready to contribute.