When a younger prospect at perhaps the most crucial position on a volleyball court, Bayfield’s Avery Shipman knew she had much to learn – and was thankful she had quite a mentor from which she could.
“Tanna’s super talented and is a really big role model for me. It was really good to kind of step into her shoes,” Shipman said, referring to then-junior setter Tanna Owens, after a late-season match during the 2023 season. “It’s super fun to set.”
Though the 2023 Wolverines finished just 6-17 overall, then-sophomore Shipman and others were already making gains and earning experience Foutz knew would benefit BHS’ program in the long run. After sharing even more work with Owens in 2024, the setter’s role was Shipman’s to lose in 2025.
She didn’t, and Bayfield lost even less than during its state championships-qualifying run this fall.
Shipman was voted first team All-Intermountain League for helping the Wolverines improve from 16-11 overall in 2024 to 19-9 (6-2 IML) this season, while earning a return to the Denver Coliseum for the state championships. Even more recently, she was named second team All-3A earlier this week when the Colorado High School Activities Association’s All-State teams were announced.
Third-year libero Lauren Rich, also a senior, was also voted first team All-IML and received honorable mention All-3A distinction. Senior Evelette Hollibaugh was awarded second team All-IML status and senior Grace Barber received honorable mention All-IML.
Alamosa senior middle Aubrey Rothermich was voted IML Player of the Year and was also a first team All-3A pick after powering the Mean Moose to an 8-0 league record during regular-season play, and ultimately to a stellar 27-2 overall mark finalized by a 24-26, 17-25, 25-23, 25-27 loss to Eaton in the state final.
Mean Moose head coach Annie Mortensen was voted IML Coach of the Year. Earlier this week, she added 2025 CHSAA Class 3A Coach of the Year to her career résumé, for nearly guiding AHS to its first State title since it conquered Class 4A in 1996.
Seeded No. 1 in the 12-team state bracket and thus given a first-round bye, Alamosa then stopped 8-seed Sterling in four sets, vanquished 12-seed The Village (Colorado Springs) in four and outlasted No. 7 The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) in five before falling to third-seeded EHS and 3A Player-of-the-Year Madeline ‘Madi’ Smith.
Montezuma-Cortez junior outside hitter TessaMercedes Jackson also received first team All-IML, though the Panthers ended up 2-6 in league and finished 11-14 overall.
Named second team All-IML, senior outside/right-side hitter Lexi Campbell represented Pagosa Springs (0-8 league, 5-18 overall).
