Evanston hosts ‘Border Wars’ this weekend

Mark Madia, Herlad Sports Editor
Posted 8/31/18

EHS volleyball hosting new tournament this weekend

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Evanston hosts ‘Border Wars’ this weekend

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EVANSTON — The inaugural “Border Wars” volleyball tournament may already be underway by the time this issue of the Herald reaches you, unless you happen to be an early-morning riser and reader. The varsity action will feature seven Wyoming schools battling seven Utah schools on two courts at Evanston High School in Red Devil Gym. Davis Middle School will be home to junior varsity matchups; both tournaments begin at 8 a.m. each day.

Red Devil volleyball head coach Tera Lawlar is entering her twentieth year of coaching volleyball at EHS, with a one-season hiatus, and served as head coach during the bulk of those two decades. She is assisted by junior varsity coach and varsity assistant, Matt Petersen, Lawlar’s brother-in-law, and freshman coach Tim Herold.

The Evanston team has 10 seniors on the roster which would ordinarily equate to a plethora of returning experience, but that’s not necessarily the case, as far as varsity experience is concerned. 

“Over the past couple of seasons, we have graduated some very deep classes of volleyball seniors,” Lawlar told the Herald.

What Lawlar’s 2018 squad may lack in terms of experience, they may very well make up for with intelligence and game-savviness, when it comes to strategy.

“This may be one of the smartest teams I’ve ever coached,” Lawlar shared. The team will actually ask their coach to stop during a certain type of drill, because they don’t quite understand the purpose of the drill or they desire clarification. The coach explains it is simply due to their overall lack of experience, but Lawlar finds it refreshing and sees the process as a strength and a sign of intelligence and comprehension. 

“I appreciate their diligence and their desire for a deeper understanding of the game of volleyball,” Lawlar avowed.

“We have a lot of work to do and need lots of touches, but I’m excited about what I’m seeing and the progression we’re experiencing. We can see a significant growth in a two-hour practice,”  the coach shared. 

“We are definitely on the right track.”

Lawlar pointed out at least one team strength with this year’s team.

“We have a strong back row defense. They are very solid. As long as they communicate with the players in front of them, we are going to be fine. The potential is definitely there.”

Meanwhile, back to the inaugural “Border Wars” tournament, a first-of-its-kind volleyball event for Evanston.

In Lawlar’s tenure, Red Devil volleyball has never hosted a tournament, other than a regional tourney when it’s Evanston turn in the rotation among conference teams to do so. Plus, out-of-state competition is a new twist.

According to Lawlar, the tournament was the brainchild of two volleyball parents, Ben Critchfield and Bryon Johnson, who had longed to see Evanston host an invitational type of tournament. Critchfield had made a number of contacts in Utah through club volleyball competition. He and Johnson began talking and checking feasibility factors before proposing the idea to Uinta County School District No. 1 activities director Bubba O’Neill, who very much liked the concept. Contacts were made, logistics were considered and finalized, invitations were sent and this weekend’s Border Wars tournament was born. 

“It’s a neat opportunity for our girls, the visiting teams, our school and our community. We’re really excited. Labor Day weekend is a great time to visit Evanston,” Lawlar told the Herald. 

“We are known for our hospitality, in treating people like family. Hopefully when they discover all there is to see and do in and around Evanston at this time of year, they’ll want to extend their holiday weekend in the Evanston area and this becomes an annual event.”

As stated in the Herald last week, Wyoming will be represented by Evanston, Lyman, Cokeville, Rock Springs, Star Valley, Riverton and Natrona County.

Competing high schools from the Beehive State will be South Summit, Park City, Syracuse, Juan Diego, Spanish Fork, Utah Military Academy and Union. 

No Utah schools will face one another and the same holds true for the Wyoming contingent — each Wyoming team will square off against the seven schools from Utah and vice versa.

The tournament is free to the public. The team from each state recording the most victories will take home a trophy.