Thunderbirds Finally Able to Take the Court

 

September 22, 2021

Thunderbird junior Nashone Shambo passes the ball during action against the Centerville Miners Saturday night at home. Hays/Lodge Pole finally was able to take the court after missing the first three weeks for a variety of reason ranging from fire to quarantine.

When the first day of Volleyball practice was held on Friday, August 13, Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird Head Coach Gemma Mount was more than thrilled. With an impressive turnout of nineteen girls for the Thunderbird team, the most in some time, things were really looking up for the program.

Mount's excitement was based in the idea that in her fourth year at the helm of the program that they were finally solidifying the base to which a solid program could be built and would be able to compete in ways that they haven't done for years.

That all changed in the blink of an eye, when on August 15 a major wildfire erupted just a stones throw from the High school. What would become known as the Pine Grove Fire shut down practice at the school for another week. The school was being used as an evacuation and staging site to battle the fire that would eventually burn more than 17,000 acres.

Finally after more than a month of delays and waiting the Thunderbirds were able to take the court this past Friday against the Big Sandy Pioneers.

The Thunderbird volleyball team challenged the visiting Pioneers but fell in straight sets. The first set was competitive with Big Sandy pulling away at the end for a 25-19 set win. Hays/Lodge Pole began to find their footing in set number two, matching the Pioneer attack serve for serve before falling 25-23. Big Sandy closed out the match in set number three with a 25-17 set win.

Saturday, the Centerville Miners were in town for a double header. In a thrilling first match the Thunderbirds played well, winning the opening set 25-23 and the fourth set 26-24 before dropping the fifth set 15-10 giving the Miners a 3-2 match win.

Match number two was all Centerville. The Miners swept the Thunderbirds 25-15, 25-19, 25-17 to win the match.

Hays/Lodge Pole junior Shaunte Hawley (20) attacks the Centerville defense for a Kill as senior Jaedyn Chandler (8) covers her at the net. Centerville took the opening match 3-2 over a very game Thunderbird squad.

If one thing is certain it's that the past year has been anything but normal, and this has been especially true for student athletes at Hays/Lodge Pole High School and as a result fourth year Thunderbird Head Coach Gemma Mount was prepared for just about anything, "I think having to be shut down last year in volleyball we just knew to take in as much as we could just in case."

The the unexpected happened, "We would get going and practice was canceled due to the fire. Got going again and school started then another shutdown with Covid. We haven't gotten the practice time that we have wanted but we are whole heartedly ready to play. This is my fourth year coaching varsity volleyball and this is the most girls I've had out," said Mount. "We have enough for a full junior varsity and varsity team. It's exciting and it feels good to see the potential of this volleyball program. We came out yesterday (Friday) and played with a lot of hustle and heart. We are a big family and will keep pushing onward and up for a full season of Thunderbird Volleyball."

Check with the school for rescheduled contest as they intend to make up as many matches as they can.

 
 

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