Sandbox Owner Brendan Woolrich In The Ready Position

In the back roads of Mystic, there exists a well-hidden volleyball club called The Sandbox - Indoor Beach Sports. I drove by the stark white air-inflated dome once while taking a detour on Welles Street. My car swerved as I diverted my attention, caught off guard by the enclave reminiscent of the “Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man" from Ghostbusters. 

Inside the expansive bubble, the interior is warm and sandy, complete with four courts, fiber-optic cabana, barefooted folks and tropical plant matter. The only things missing are the sun and the sound of waves. As a West Coast native, I find the non-traditional elements of this business wildly refreshing, and judging by the players’ enthusiasm, they must agree. 

Groton resident Brendan Woolrich, who owns The Sandbox, works as a mechanical engineer for Applied Physical Sciences from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., then changes his hat from employee to business owner.

“It’s a delicate balance between the day job and the hobby gone mad," he said. "Engineering is my passion. This is a great hobby and a sport that I love. Volley ball keeps me physically and socially active.”

Woolrich, who was born in Norwich, spent his formative and college years in Florida, enjoying the sun. One would think this explains his interest in the business, but he says that's not the case. He developed interest in the sport at a friend’s house once he arrived here. 

Woolrich observed local volleyball leagues, saying, "Volleyball is a big sport in the area, and in the winter, the indoor leagues are difficult to get into."

He saw an opportunity and was inspired by a similar, Colorado-based volleyball business model. Then he scouted locations. 

The Sandbox opened September, 2010, in Mystic. With a high volume of players, Woolrich depends on partner John Mihalko and girlfriend Sadie Weaver to help keep things running smoothly.    

Daily players sometimes travel an hour to play. Weekend tournaments draw players from as far as Delaware, New Jersey and New Hampshire.

“Some of the top beach ball players in the area all play here,”  he said. "A few play in qualifying matches for the professional tour.”

Woolrich believes the business enhances the community by adding a year-round social sporting activity and showcasing local businesses by bringing tournament participants to town for extended stays.

Woolrich says he loves the area and considers it home. “In Florida, everyone is from somewhere else,” he said. “Around here, you meet people who live in the house they grew up in.” 

In addition to volleyball, he enjoys flying, hiking, camping, snowboarding and beaches. He's also a recreational pilot. 

"I take advantage of every single amenity New England offers me," he says. "We have no traffic, great little cities and boroughs, and now we have The Sandbox.”