Building a team is like forming a big family – that is an advantage to coaching at a small school. Players have to be able to work hard and be good teammates by caring and pushing each other to be the best.”

Coach Emily Cottrell

GOSHEN COUNTY – The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Lady Doggers volleyball team will transition to a 1A classification this fall with new leadership as Emily Cottrell takes over as head coach.

Cottrell served for two years as an assistant coach for the Lady Doggers under Chelsi Jackson and coached the sport at LFL with Shaylee Mortimore (Mortimore is now head coach at Torrington). 

A former Lady Dogger, Cottrell played volleyball on the LFL varsity squad when Mike Lashley coached the team.

“I gained a lot of experience with really good coaches at LFL and plan to meld the concepts I learned from them into the new position,” Cottrell said. “This all has a deeper meaning for me. I was a Dogger, my kids are Doggers. I look forward to building the program and bringing back that legacy.”

Preparations are already under way for the upcoming fall season, including a camp taught by veteran Riverton High School and Central Wyoming College coach Kim Davis. Cottrell is also collaborating with Mortimore and coaches in Wheatland to organize pick-up games over the summer.

“My coaching mantra is that the kids control the attitude, effort and determination on the court,” Cottrell said. “The work for the fall season starts right now, not in August, with time in the weight room and gym.”

Cottrell’s goals include fostering strong bonds between players.

“Building a team is like forming a big family – that is an advantage to coaching at a small school,” Cottrell added. “Players have to be able to work hard and be good teammates by caring and pushing each other to be the best.”

Moving from 2A to 1A poses challenges, notably a schedule filled with new, untested opponents. The Lady Doggers varsity squad is up for the task, Cottrell emphasized.

“We played really tough competition over the last two years as a 2A team and I’m excited to bring that intensity to 1A,” Cottrell said. “We have a solid core group of girls returning to the program, including a lot of seniors and I look forward to seeing how they embrace their leadership roles. We also have a big group of freshmen coming up who are excited for the mentorship.”

The season opens with the 1A Jamboree in Encampment and a tournament hosted by LFL, each event providing opportunities for the Lady Doggers to get their feet wet playing division adversaries like Little Snake River and Cokeville. 

Cottrell is also enthusiastic about the cross-county rivalry game now that LFL is in the same class as the Southeast Lady Cyclones.

“I’m looking forward to the fun camaraderie and being out there with the team (throughout the season),” Cottrell said. “I can’t wait to see how we can come together.”