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- High School Volleyball
- Oct 31:
- Prep volleyball: Believe it: Underdog outlasts the big dogs
- 1A volleyball championship: Bobcats reclaim crown
Orem » Just around when Panguitch junior Kalani Norris was born, her father Troy Norris started coaching the Bobcats. When he took over the volleyball program, Panguitch hadn't made it to the state tournament in a few seasons.
Sixteen years later, it seems Panguitch is starting a dynasty. The Bobcats were playing in their third consecutive state championship match and won their second state title in the last three years with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-22 victory over Piute at Utah Valley University on Saturday.
Norris has always aspired for his program to be like Rich, a school that has won 16 total state titles and has dominated 1A volleyball for the better part of the last two decades.
And now, Panguitch could be the new Rich. The Bobcats have a long way to go to accomplish what the Rebels have accomplished, but Panguitch is on its way.
"I saw what Rich had and knew what they were doing. I thought we could be competitive if we started doing what they did," Norris said. "I never thought we'd ever be able to beat Rich. But now, we're at where we wanted to be a long time ago."
The Bobcats came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed from Region 20 and beat quite a few teams from higher classifications during the season. In the tournament, Panguitch swept its opponent in every round.
Most of this year's team don't even know what it's like to end the season without playing for a
When Shelby Taylor and Chelsie Barney -- the team's two seniors -- were freshman, Panguitch finished sixth in the state tournament. The team has gone through a transformation since then.
"It's taken lots of dedication," Barney said. "Everyone gives 100 percent. To go from sixth to this, it's so exciting."
