Jacqueline Hart, Gilpin County.   Gilpin High School held their awards banquet for varsity and junior varsity girls’ volleyball on Wednesday, December 6, 2018. After polishing off a few boxes of pizza, salad and dessert, coaches, parents and team members gathered to laugh about private jokes and review the success of the season. Though the varsity team ended the season with 9 wins and 14 losses, they had much to celebrate.

If the evening had an official theme, it would have been more about applauding personal development than competition. Coach Alexis Donaldson, who the players good-naturedly teased for being so competitive, praised the team members for their dedication, support of one another and willingness to grow. Donaldson applauded the young women stating, “It’s about getting better at what you do every day, whether it’s on the court, in the classroom or with family. That’s why we are here.” She went on to honor the women for doing just that.

The high school varsity team earned academic All-State as a team with a combined GPA of above 3.5. Among the athletes individually honored for CHSAA First Team All-State were: Sarah Trujillo, Claire Diekman, Ashley Parkhurst and Baily Hobson-Kroll. Nicole Adams was awarded the Mile-High League Honorable Mention All-Conference. Cheyanne House and Kourtney Holmes were recognized for their four-year commitment to the volleyball team.

Junior Varsity Coach Topher Rouse stated that the team had little experience playing volleyball at all, let alone as a team. However, he assured the crowed, “What the young women lacked in experience they compensated for with commitment.” He expressed admiration for all the team had achieved individually and as a team. Coach Rouse was particularly impressed with the way the team handled themselves against much bigger schools, some with between 800 and 1,000 students.
The Gilpin Volleyball team appeared authentically grateful to both coaches, as the coaches were recognized for the hours they willingly gave, away from spouses and family, to commit to the growth and success of the players.

Coach Donaldson gave all the team members a bracelet with an inscription that read, “She believed she could, so she did.” The gift’s message appropriately summarized an evening about family, sisterhood, and being the best you can be.

(Originally published in the December 13, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)