Casper College Athletics - Home of the Thunderbirds

THIS FLOCK HAS SIZE AND DEPTH
T-BIRDS HOPE TO REGAIN THEIR PERCH ATOP REGION IX NORTH

Like an overly enthusiastic parent, Angel Sharman was just glad to get off the roller coaster.

That’s what the 2011 season felt like. That Thunderbird flock never flew in a “V” and never landed in the same place. They still made a late charge to finish strong at the Region IX tournament, but ended a frustrating 19-21 campaign with their best player injured and on the bench.

Sharman has taken her Casper College teams to the national tournament three times, so naturally that finish fell short of team goals. She thinks 2012 can be different.

“Already, this is a team that has connected,” the CC coach said. “When we hustle and communicate with each other, we are scrappy. There are times when it is not pretty but we get the ball back in play. I like that.”

Sharman also likes the fact that this year’s roster of Thunderbirds includes key returning players, a big front wall, and depth – “15 (players) can come in if someone is struggling.”

All those factors have the veteran Thunderbird coach cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season.

Stanka Panic, the aforementioned team leader in kills a year ago, is back with a repaired knee. So far the news is good, according to her coach. “She is running and jumping fine,” Sharman says. “For her it will be mostly mental at this point.”

Panic, a native of Serbia, averaged 3.49 kills and 4.12 digs per game a year ago. Fellow countrywoman Milica Nisavic (8.65 assists) also returns for Casper. “Milica came back a little quicker, and the fact that it is her second time around is a real plus,” Sharman said.

Dallas Garbett (Evanston), Fallyn Griffin (Casper) and Kylie Johnson (Firth, Idaho) are back up front but are competing against some talented freshmen for starting spots.

Sharman knows Nisavic can find her hitters. What has the T-Bird coach smiling is the way this bunch goes after the ball. Alyssa Hagstrom (Evanston) has improved and will help anchor the defense. The only other returning player Kanoe Kaaa (Hawaii) has been one of the most pleasant surprises. She moved to the libero position and has earned high praise from her coach. “She is a great defensive player,” Sharman says. “She has some of the best ball control capability we’ve had.” That is saying something considering the outstanding liberos Sharman has had (Breanna Wood, Kylie Peck, Trisha Clark).

Griffin, the Kelly Walsh graduate, battled injury a year ago. If she can overcome early workout bruises she can play a full rotation. Sharman likes the leadership shown by Garbett.

Every one of the freshmen this year are good enough to compete for a spot, Sharman says. Melina Bachtar (Layton, Utah) has been very aggressive at the net and can play all the way across. Sydney Marchant, from nearby Draper, Utah, has been “very strong and tough” with great ball control.

Maggie Butler (Casper Kelly Walsh) and Krystal Harward (Orem, Utah) are a formidable blocking tandem. Both are learning the speed of the college game, but “when we get the block closed we are tough.” Look for Butler to play the right side, but she has been so impressive in practice she could start in the middle or on the outside.

Staylee Brown (Casper Natrona) is coming off a redshirt season. Kulia Murray joined Kaaa here from Hawaii. She will back up Nisavic at the setter position and can play the right side. Marija Skopljak (Serbia) gives Sharman another solid defender in the back row. She and Rahnee Jackson (Casper Natrona) simply need time to adjust to the speed of play in college, Sharman says.

One thing Sharman has always believed in is playing people. This year’s schedule certainly bears that out. The T-Birds open their season at the College of Southern Idaho tournament. They will play two top 10 opponents there and return home to sixth-ranked Western Nebraska Aug. 28. Then it’s on the road to Vernon College (Texas) and a rugged bracket there.

“I always like to play people,” Sharman says. “We need to show these Birds the caliber of teams they will play against at the national tournament. I just have to make sure we don’t get down on ourselves if we lose some matches early. I think we are mentally strong enough to play this kind of schedule.”

If the T-Birds can weather that early schedule storm and come together like Sharman thinks they can, look for Casper College to reclaim the perch atop Region IX North.

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HEAD COACH:
Angel Sharman
Head Coach

307-268-2335
307-268-2887 - fax

SHARMAN BELIEVES SUCCESS STARTS WITH HEART AND HUSTLE

Angel Sharman’s work ethic comes out of the farms of Nebraska, where you get up early and you stay late until the work is done. Her coaching philosophy was born out of playing for one of the legends in this part of the country.

She was a two-sport star at Mid Plains College, and learned her trade from Sally Thalken, one of the all-time greats. She was a gritty defender on the floor. So it is no surprise that she brings that fire and commitment to her teams at Casper College.

“I’ve always been a defensive fanatic,” Sharman admits. “Everyone wants the pounders but I have always believed that defense is the key to success.”

Her teams have shown that grit; year in and year out Casper is one of the outstanding defensive teams in the country.

Sharman is the fourth active winningest coach in NJCAA Division I volleyball, having passed some significant milestones in her 17 years of coaching. At Casper College, she has celebrated four regional championships and her 400th career victory along the way.

Sharman enters her 12th season at Casper and says she still gets a “fire in my belly” in August. Her career mark is 451-357; her record at Casper is 344-197 (.636). She has been named regional coach of the year five times. Her 2003 team, which captured the college’s first regional championship, still holds the record of 43 match victories in one season.

Sharman is the winningest volleyball coach in Casper College program history and characteristic of the Thunderbird coach she credits “the entire T-Bird family” for all those wins.

She grew up in rural Nebraska, where she says that she learned there is no substitute for hard work.

Sharman has always been player focused. It shows in the success of her Thunderbirds: she has coached five NJCAA All-Americans, 11 Academic All-Americans and 30 All-Region IX performers. Her teams have won three of the last eight championships in Region IX North, considered one of the strongest volleyball regions in the country.

Off the court, her players have really shined. Two of her Casper College teams earned NJCAA Academic All-America honors.

Sharman’s teams win primarily because of defense. She believes in aggressive play at the net, and a tough defense behind the blockers. “I respect play on the court and dedication,” she says. “It takes heart and discipline to play the defensive end. If a player runs through the wall to get a ball up, the whole team gets the ball up, and then it is the whole team that puts the ball away. There is not always glamour in it but the player who makes the hustle play gets my respect. If we keep getting the ball back up, eventually the other team makes the mistake.”

Sharman places a lot of emphasis on what she calls the “first” priority. “I want my players to graduate,” she says. “I want them prepared for life after volleyball.”
Sharman serves as an instructor and physical education department chair at Casper College. She was an outstanding basketball and volleyball player at Mid-Plains Community College (North Platte, Neb.) and Fort Hays State (Kan.). Prior to coaching in Casper, she coached for five seasons at Colby College (Kan.), where she led her teams to two Region VI playoff appearances.

Sharman earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fort Hays State.

Portrait Katie Boulter
Assistant Volleyball Coach

307-268-2335

Katie has spent the past four seasons as assistant volleyball coach for Coach Sharman. Katie is considered one of the best all-around players ever to put on a T-Bird uniform. She earned All-America honors playing for Coach Sharman in 2002 and still has a prominent place in the record books, including a second-place ranking as the all-time leader in kills. She also ranks among the top five T-Birds in digs. The Cokeville native was twice named to the All-Region IX North team, and also earned academic honors. She is married to Mike and they have a two daughters: Annali, 4, and Londyn, 1.

Bill Landen
Athletic Director

(307) 268-2667

Bill Landen took over as athletic director six years ago, but he is not new to those who have been around Casper College and its athletic programs.

Bill has spent the past 26 years at Casper College. Prior to accepting his current role, Bill served as Director of College Relations for 18 years.

Since his arrival in the athletic department, his focus has been on community and student involvement in the college’s four sports programs. Bill has worked with the T-Bird Booster Club and the Foundation to establish a permanent endowment for athletics. He has also been instrumental in support of the college's rodeo program.

T-Bird fans may recognize Bill from his days as the radio play-by-play voice of the T-Birds in the 1980s and ‘90s. Along with serving as the voice of the T-Birds, Bill spent 18 years in marketing and information for the college. He has earned numerous awards during his professional career, including twice being named Wyoming’s Sportswriter of the Year by the national association of sportswriters and sportscasters. He was named Rosenthal Outstanding Administrator at Casper College in 1997. In 1993 he was honored by his peers as Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.

Along with his duties at Casper College, Bill serves in the Wyoming Legislature as State Senator for District 27.

Bill’s wife, Robyn, is the Director of Financial Services/Controller for Casper College. They have three children: Nick, Zack and Hailey.

#	NAME	BIO	HT.	YR.	POS.	HOMETOWN
1	Sydney Marchant	[BIO]	5'8	FR	OH	Draper, UT
2	Melina Bachtar	[BIO]	5'10	FR	OH/MH	Layton, UT
3	Rahnee Jackson	[BIO]	5'5	FR	Def	Casper, WY
4	Milica Nisavic	[BIO]	6'0	SO	S	Novi Sad, Serbia
5	Fallyn Griffin	[BIO]	5'8"	SO	OH/MH	Casper, WY
6	Staylee Brown	[BIO]	5'3	FR	Def	Casper, WY
7	Stanka Panic	[BIO]	5'9	SO	OH	Novi Sad, Serbia
8	Alyssa Hagstrom	[BIO]	5'7	SO	Def	Evanston, WY
9	Dallas Garbett	[BIO]	5'11	SO	MH	Evanston, WY
10	Kulia Murray	[BIO]	5'9	FR	S/RH	Lahaina, HI
11	Kylie Johnson	[BIO]	5'11	SO	RH	Firth, ID
12	Krystal Harward	[BIO]	6'2	FR	MH	Orem, UT
13	Kanoe Kaaa	[BIO]	5'8	SO	Libero	Hilo, HI
14	Maggie Butler	[BIO]	6'0"	FR	MH	Casper, WY
15	Marija Skopljak	[BIO]	5'6	FR	Def/L	Budisava, Serbia

COACH: Angel Sharman
ASSISTANT COACH: Katie Boulter
COLORS: Red and White
MASCOT: Thunderbird
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: Bill Landen
PRESIDENT: Dr. Walter Nolte

2012 SCHEDULE
Month	Date	Opponent	Location	Time	Webcast
August	24,25	CSI Tourney	Twin Falls, ID	TBA
August	28	Western Nebraska CC	Casper, WY	7 p.m.
August/September	31-1	Vernon Tourney	Vernon, TX	TBA
September	4	Laramie County CC	Casper, WY	7 p.m.
September	5	Northeastern Junior College	Casper, WY	7 p.m.
September	8	Eastern Wyoming	Casper, WY	5 p.m.
September	11	Northwest College	Powell, WY	7 p.m.
September	14-15	Pizza Hut Invitational	Sterling, CO	TBA
September	18	Sheridan College	Sheridan, WY	7 p.m.
September	21-22	WyoBraska Tourney	Torrington, WY / Scottsbluff, NE	TBA
September	25	Western Wyoming CC	Rock Springs, WY	7 p.m.
September	27	Central Wyoming	Casper, WY	7 p.m.
October	4	Sheridan College	Casper, WY	7 p.m.
October	6	Northwest College	Casper, WY	3 p.m.
October	9	Eastern Wyoming	Torrington, WY	7 p.m.
October	12-13	Columbus Tourney	Columbus, NE	TBA
October	16	Laramie County CC	Cheyenne, WY	7 p.m.
October	20	Western Nebraska	Scottsbluff, NE	7 p.m.
October	23	Central Wyoming	Riverton, WY	7 p.m.
October	25	Western Wyoming	Casper, WY	7 p.m.
Ocobert/November	31,1,2,3	Region IX Tourney	Powell, WY	TBA
November	15,16,17	National Tourney	West Plains, MO	TBA

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More About the Programs:
Casper College has a national reputation for excellence in many academic programs. Business, music, nursing, art, theater and radiography are among the programs with national accreditations. Casper College is also noted for the strong and varied science programs. Students who complete their academic work at Casper College transfer to universities thought the county. For students not intending to pursue a four-year degree, Casper College offers more the 30 career and technical programs like automotive technology, diesel power, electronics, welding and machine tool technology. These programs are designed to prepare students for the technical workplace.

More About the Campus:
Casper College overlooks the city from the south. Beautiful red-rock terraces surround the campus. The Gertrude Krampert Theatre is a popular attraction for the community. The Goodstein Foundation Library is one of the finest of its kind in the Rocky Mountain Region. There is also a modern student center on campus, three residence halls and a fitness center.

Click here for a listing of past records and T-Bird Volleyball statistics.

Click here for a listing
of past records and
T-Bird Volleyball statistics.