After the girls cross country team won state earlier in the week, the big yellow bus was at the corner of Main and Center again, and the town was serenaded with honking and sirens the night of Saturday, October 29, when Panguitch High School won state volleyball. That made two state championships in a week for the girls at Panguitch High School.
The volleyball team is something to be proud of as they won all four games at the state tournament and had a perfect winning streak in their region, 7-0. But what really made the games special was that the girls were able to get deeply bonded and in sync. Troy Norris, coach of the team, said, “I am proud of how the girls came together as a family.”
Brayli Frandsen, a junior, said, “It was perfect team bonding, it was higher than it has ever been.” It was a great year for the team and they were the group to shine at the tournament. “I loved the whole thing,” Brayli said.
One of the most challenging teams they played at the tournament was Rich High School — the school Panguitch had lost to in the championship game last year. In the final game with Rich, tension was high. Panguitch won the first two sets by only four points each: 25-21. The final set ended with a score of Panguitch, 25, and Rich, 16.
Tabi Henrie thought the most exciting play of the tournament for her was in the game against Rich. This was a big tournament for her, and she had really hoped it wouldn’t end badly. She said, “During the tournament I felt a little stressed as it was the last game of my senior year.”
When it came down to the last point of the last game, 24-16, Tabi didn’t think Panguitch was going to be able to get the point. Then a girl on the other team touched the ball and it went out. Emotions flooded the stadium as Panguitch won the state championship. Tabi, a senior this year, says she loves her team and will miss them.
Congratulations to Panguitch High School for having such outstanding girls.
– The Byway
Feature image courtesy of Scott G Winterton-Deseret News.