Chandler leads volleyball all stars

By BEN HOCKING
Reporter/Photographer

The best high school volleyball players in the entire state looked to one of Glenrock’s own this past weekend for guidance.

Tara Chandler, the head volleyball coach for the Herders, was elected by her peers to lead the North All- Stars past week in practices and in the game July 24.

Chandler said she was first nominated by other volleyball coaches in Wyoming before getting selected as the individual to direct half of the best young volleyball players in the state. She said that she didn’t expect to be awarded this high honor for coaching.

“Even to be nominated was a great honor (for me),” she said. “I was really blown away when I was chosen to be the coach (this year).”

According to Chandler, having half of the best volleyball players in the state gave her the opportunity to challenge herself as a coach to create team chemistry with girls who have played against each other their whole high school careers as rivals.

Chandler said the best part about coaching this allstar group of girls was being able to work with such a high level of overall talent. By having such skilled players, Chandler said it had allowed the team to hit the ground running at the first practice.

“With these girls we don’t have to spend time going over the skill building aspects in practice,” she said. “It’s really like a high school coach getting a chance to be a college coach. It can show me what these Glenrock kids can anspire to do (as volleyball players).”

However, even having a loaded roster can present a new set of challenges Chandler said. Many of the players have faced each other throughout their high school careers as rivals and then were tasked with working together as a team. Chandler said that she took the girls out for ice cream, went to the park and did other team-building activities.

“You get such talented players and it’s your job as a coach to make sure they can work together as a team,” she said.

Chandler also said she was really impressed that the players that come from areas such as Big Horn, Gillette, Powell and Sundance are so talented and are able to remain humble as team players.

“I’m really impressed with their overall character and morals,” she said. “(The girls) are willing to help me as a coach and tell me what drills are working for them, and which ones are not.”

Although Chandler considers coaching an all-star team to be a great honor for a high school coach, there are some things that she misses about meeting with the same Glenrock girls during a longer season.

“I miss that deep personal connection and history that you have with the players,” she said. “I really enjoy being able to see the skill progression with my players (during the course of a season.)”

This is part of the July 29, 2010 online edition of The Glenrock Independent.

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