If you’re heading to a girls high school sporting event at Bayfield High School, there’s a pretty good chance Courtney Bayles will be competing.
Bayles has been a key contributor this season on what is now the No. 9 ranked volleyball team in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 3A rankings. She was the Most Valuable Player last year as she led the BHS girls basketball team with an average of 7.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in the winter season. In the spring, she runs for the track and field squad.
“I like to stay as busy as possible,” she said. “I don’t like having a bunch of free time to just sit around and do nothing. I’ll wait til I’m older to do that.”
That works out well for Bayfield volleyball head coach Terene Foutz, who has given Bayles the responsibility of being a setter. A successful setter in volleyball likes being involved at all times and must have the mental capacity to focus on numerous things at once while under heavy pressure.
“She’s really developed three sets of eyes,” Foutz said. “One on the opposing blockers, one on her hitters and one on the ball. She’s our nurturer and she’s a hitter’s servant, so the hitters have become killers mostly because of her effort.”
With all of her success as a nurturing servant for the Bayfield attack, and grace under pressure, it’s no wonder that the daughter of Hal and Kerri Bayles wants to pursue a career in nursing one day.
“I just really enjoy helping people,” Bayles said. “I’d like to be in the delivery room, helping moms and making sure the babies are taken care of.”
Bayles has certainly taken care of the girls on the BHS team so far this year. With a team-leading 158 assists, she has nurtured the Wolverines to a 9-3 record, and each of the three losses have come to much larger schools. They are a perfect 5-0 in the 2A Intermountain League and have been so dominant that they haven’t lost a set.
Since the team’s last loss, to New Mexico 6A school Piedra Vista, the Wolverines went on the road to sweep rivals Alamosa, Durango and Pagosa Springs all in three sets before doing the same to Monte Vista in their last home match.
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Bayfield will get another shot at Piedra Vista and it’s not just your average match. This week is homecoming, and the Wolverines will have the rowdy BHS student section extra fired up seeing that it’s blackout night at Bayfield.
“The crowd gets insane here for these big matches,” Bayles said. “I think it’s really cool having everyone come out to support us no matter what the outcome is. We’ve been working on our defense, and, if we can keep their hitters in check, I think we have a great chance to win.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
What is your nickname?:
Court Sport.
Who is your favorite athlete?:
Michael Jordan.
What kind of music do you listen to to get pumped up?:
It’s not really pump up music, but I love country.
Who is your celebrity crush?:
Zac Efron.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?:
The beach in San Carlos, Mexico.
What is your favorite restaurant in town?:
I love Chinese and Hong’s Garden is the closest.
What is your favorite outdoors activity?:
Fishing and boating.
What is your favorite TV Show?:
Pretty Little Liars.
What teacher has made a great impact on you?:
Ms. Henderson. She’s an English teacher here at BHS and she tries to get the best out of us. She’s great.
Do you have any pets?:
We have two dogs, Sadie and Lola, and our cats are Coconut and Mittens.
