A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
Written by Vince Tropea
(Lander, WY) – Last week, Lander Valley High School’s Sabella Baker officially signed to go to Otero College in La Junta, Colorado, where she will play volleyball as a Rattler.
Baker said the move to college will be “interesting,” but she likes the program and got along well with the coach and other girls she met during her visit to Otero. She said she is going to get her associate’s degree in science, and hopes to work in ultrasound or sonography.
She went on to share that achieving the goal of playing college volleyball is a source of pride.
“Playing college is a goal that I set, and I reached that,” Baker said. “And then during this AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) season, I was having problems with my shoulder, and I feel like I did really well getting through that and still playing my best.”
Baker credited her family and her senior year coach, Shannon Waggoner, with helping her achieve that goal.
Baker’s senior year was Waggoner’s first as head coach at LVHS, but she recognized her talent right away.
“We actually transitioned her from a middle blocker to a setter/right side,” Waggoner shared. “She was phenomenal taking that challenge; she did a great job. She was one of the best right sides, I think, in the state in 3A, and didn’t get the recognition she probably deserved, but when you play with Cody and some of those better teams, they definitely had more slots than us.”
Waggoner said Sabella is a “great leader, great with the younger girls, and up for any challenge,” and was overall impressed with her dynamism.
“She didn’t have a lot of varsity experience prior to this year, and we threw her in a leadership role as a setter, which is a hard position just to transition into if you’ve never done it, and she did it with a lot of grace. …She apologized a lot, which always used to crack us all up. We’re like, ‘You don’t have to apologize. You’re learning this and you’re doing great!’ She always did it with a smile on her face and worked hard.”
Sabella’s parents, Kyle Baker and Megan Whiteside, expressed similar sentiments and are excited for her next step in life.
“She liked Otera; she met some girls on the visit, and it’s like 85% athletes with a lot of kids that are from out of state, so that made her feel good,” Megan shared with County 10. “She got to practice with the volleyball team, and her coaches’ in-laws live there, so she does have someone that she’ll kind of know in town.”
“She’s determined; she’s definitely on top of everything as far as her studies and her sports,” Megan added. “She’s good at juggling all that, and she’s just really impressive as a person and as a student. …Last summer, she made it her goal that volleyball was going to be number one. She really pushed herself and kind of stepped outside her normal. She worked really hard the whole year, did weight training, and went to every practice. She was doing practices all through the summer. She was doing soccer just to stay in shape, too.”
Kyle was also a college athlete, playing basketball, and said he was proud to see his daughter become a second-generation college athlete.
“I think she’s just gotten better each individual year,” Kyle shared. “She’s never had the plateau where she wasn’t getting better throughout, and I think that’ll continue. She’s a full year, almost two years younger than the majority of her classmates, so I think over time she’ll probably develop into an even better athlete.”
“…I’ve never been disappointed in her for anything,” Kyle later added. “She’s about the best kid a guy could ask for, and she has a twin that is the same as her on every level.”
Sabella’s twin sister, Harlow, was also there to show her support for signing day, along with family and friends.
