Barkhurst signs with CWC

Over Christmas break, Alyssa Barkhurst made a huge step in her athletic future and signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Central Wyoming College (CWC).

Earlier in the fall, she had gone on a campus tour with Deborah Burke, the Encampment K-12 school counselor, and had tried out for CWC the week after Encampment won the state championship.

Barkhurst received a verbal offer the week before and had been thinking about attending CWC and talking to the coach.

It was not the only team she had tried out for. She also had try outs at Laramie County Community College last January and Western Wyoming Community College.

Barkhurst said she was still nervous, but knew how things worked at the third tryout. It also helped that there were familiar faces, including Shelby McGuire, who played volleyball for CWC last fall.

Usually, the coaches do not scout at the 1A/2A level, but the assistant coach had heard about Barkhurst's performance at regionals in Lander. Since Riverton is so close to Lander, the assistant coach came to watch a set, Barkhurst said.

During the tryout, Barkhurst said they did basic drills with passing and setting. The girls were split up into the positions they played in high school.

"I surprised myself," Barkhurst said. "I did pretty good." Her position is outside hitter.

She is not completely sure what position she will play in college. "I am pretty excited, but nervous," Barkhurst said.

She knows three of the girls who will be on the team.

"I would like to thank everyone for the support and help through the years," Barkhurst said.