Casper, WY — The Wyoming State Volleyball Championships are back in town, with the Ford Wyoming Center hosting the tournament from Thursday, Nov. 5 through Saturday, Nov. 7. Teams from across the state will converge on Casper to compete for the coveted state title.
Kelly Walsh eyes a perfect season
For Kelly Walsh High School, the tournament represents a chance to cap an undefeated regular season. Head coach Jeff Barkell, a 27‑year veteran of high‑school volleyball, says the state meet is the culmination of the year’s hard work.
“This tournament is kind of the reason everyone plays the season,” Barkell explained. “You’re trying to get to where you can finish as high as you can at the state tournament. That’s everybody’s goal all year long.”
The Trojan girls enter the competition with a 34‑0 record and a clear objective: finish the season with as many wins as possible. Their first matchup is against Star Valley on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Road to the title
Kelly Walsh will face a slate of strong opponents over the weekend. “First, we’ve got to find a way to beat Star Valley,” Barkell said. “They’re a team we’ve played a couple times this year already. Beating good teams over and over is not easy.” He added that Green River, Thunder Basin and Sheridan have all proven to be worthy challengers, and any of them could get hot at the right time.
One notable absence is Natrona County High School. “You’d like to see them here,” Barkell noted. “I just liked to see Casper kids successful, so it’d be nice to have both teams here.”
Coach Barkell’s philosophy
Beyond the scoreboard, Barkell emphasizes character development. He believes the pressure of tournament play helps his athletes grow.
“The bigger the moment, the harder they play,” he said. “I think the better the other teams we play, the better we play.” He also stresses the importance of balance: “Not taking all of it so seriously is a big lesson. Wins and losses are important, but the memories and the kind of people the kids become because of the sport are really the reason you should coach.”
For Barkell, coaching is about helping young women become the best version of themselves, both on and off the court.
Community excitement
The tournament brings excitement to Casper residents, who can watch top‑level high‑school volleyball without leaving town. Local businesses anticipate increased foot traffic, and families plan weekend outings around the matches.
“This is the most exciting time of the year for these kids,” Barkell said. “It should be the most fun time of the season for everyone involved, because whoever has the most fun is probably going to be the team that is the most successful.”
Tickets are available at the Ford Wyoming Center box office and online. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for seating and to support the student‑athletes representing communities from every corner of Wyoming.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
