Hard work recognized

While the Encampment Lady Tigers were able to make it to the 1A West Conference Volleyball Tournament this year, they eventually fell in the consolation semi-finals. The silver lining to their journey was that they had made it further than they had the previous year, having fought their way into the regional tournament through a pigtail game against the Farson-Eden Lady Pronghorns.

With the season at an end, the Lady Tigers have yet another silver lining that they can enjoy as two Encampment players have been selected to receive All-Conference honors. Lindsie Farver and Lizzi James are just two of the juniors who helped lead the team this year and were selected by coaches within their conference to receive the honors.

"That was great," said Farver. "Just being recognized for the work put in. Also, just being able to bring up the teammates. That's huge for me. The work ethic actually shows how hard you push and how hard you work in practice. Even though you don't go to state, people recognize it." 

"Coming into the season, we all knew that we didn't have any seniors and that we all had to, all the juniors, really step up. It's a proud moment when you realize that not only your own coach, but other coaches and other teammates from other teams recognize the hard work and effort that you put in," said James. "I was really proud when I heard that Lindsie and I got the award because that's just a good feeling when you get rewarded and recognized for something that you've been working so hard at."

For Farver and James, being awarded All-Conference honors is already preparing them for the next season as they will again help lead the team.

"We'll have the same team, basically," Farver said. "We aren't going to gain or lose. So, we'll have that confidence already. We'll be able to start where we stopped. Our goal this year was to make it to regionals and we actually furthered it by winning a game at regionals. We achieved and even beat our goal."

James echoed Farver's thoughts, adding that she believes the Lady Tigers will come into the season with more confidence and more experience.

"There were only four girls on the team this year that had ever even played varsity, let alone gone to a regional competition and participated," James said.

Both girls hope to not only earn All-Conference honors next year, but be awarded All-State honors as well. James believes that, next season, Encampment has a good shot at making it to state.

While both girls can credit the hard work they put in over the season for their awards, they also thank the people in their lives. 

"This might sound cliche, but my parents for sure and my older sisters because they definitely were the people to really push me ever since I was a young age to be a leader and work my hardest at everything that I do," said James

Farver also thanked her parents for supporting her in her passion for volleyball and taking her to her various sporting events. Both girls also had thanks and praise for their coaches, Head Coach Robin Brown and Assistant Coach Janice Peterson. According to Farver, Brown had given the girls inspiring notes and both girls were appreciative of Peterson's attendance at their games following her surgery.

"It just meant a lot to me," said Farver.