I have family that went to EWC. (Going to EWC) gives family and friends who live in Torrington an opportunity to come watch me and support me for the next two years.”

Senior Olive Osmera

TORRINGTON – Torrington High School senior Olive Osmera imagined herself playing sports at Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) since she was in elementary school.

“I’ve grown up watching EWC sports since I was in fourth grade,” Osmera said. “I used to dream of going there. But in my head, I thought, ‘I’m never going to be that good. I’m not going to go to EWC.’”

Osmera described elementary school as her “dance era” and she did not start playing basketball until fifth grade, followed by volleyball in seventh. The transition from the world of pirouettes to dribbling, layups, serving and kills took time, though.

“It was kind of hard for me (in basketball) at first because I was so petit,” Osmera said. “(Coach) Monte Stokes would always joke around with me that I would run like a dancer at basketball practice. He still tells me to this day that I run like a dancer.”

Basketball and volleyball eventually clicked, though. Osmera put her nose to the grindstone and found herself starting for both the Torrington High School Lady Blazers volleyball and basketball teams. Osmera proved herself a talented outside hitter and server on the volleyball court and a tenacious shooting guard on the basketball court.

At a ceremony in the Willi Gym before family and friends on March 20, Osmera realized her dream of continuing her athletic career at EWC when she inked to play not one but two sports – volleyball and basketball – for the Lady Lancers.

“It feels amazing,” Osmera said of the decision. “I have family that went to EWC. (Going to EWC) gives family and friends who live in Torrington an opportunity to come watch me and support me for the next two years.”

Osmera took advantage of living in EWC’s backyard to get to know the coaches and players.

“The coaching staff at EWC were very helpful throughout the whole process,” Osmera added. “I actually got to go to one of their open gyms (in volleyball) and play with the team – they were really supportive. It helped me decide EWC was where I wanted to go.”

Osmera is excited to be a part of the Lady Lancer volleyball team following EWC’s Region IX championship earning the team a ticket to the NJCAA national tournament in 2024. 

For basketball, Osmera looks forward to improving her offensive techniques.

“I’m hoping to get better at my dribbling skills and quickness to get around bigger players and shoot around bigger players,” Osmera noted.

Setting up for success

Osmera joined a local traveling basketball team led by Monte Stokes as a fifth grader.

“We would go to Colorado, South Dakota all year long,” Osmera said. “That’s where my joy for basketball came from.”

Osmera’s passion for volleyball came later. She signed up for a youth club league out of Scottsbluff in middle school. Osmera’s team punched their ticket to the national tournament in Orlando, Florida, when Osmera was a sophomore and the rest is history.

“I found my joy for volleyball in high school,” Osmera said. “Deep down, I knew I wanted to do both basketball and volleyball at college.”

As a starting volleyball player for Torrington, Osmera captured all-conference and all-state accolades her junior and senior years. In basketball, Osmera was an all-conference honorable mention in 2024 and snagged 3A all-conference honors in 2025.

Two games from the regular seasons in each sport were particularly memorable for Osmera.

In December 2023, the Lady Blazers played Chadron, Nebraska, before the Christmas break.

“I shot a half-court shot at the buzzer (for halftime) and I made it,” Osmera recalled. “I was wearing my Christmas shoes. I felt like it was the shoes that helped me make that shot, but it probably wasn’t. It was just luck.”

And talent. Osmera is a leader for the Lady Blazers in shooting from the outside.

A volleyball highlight included Torrington’s 2024 victory against a tough Douglas squad. 

The neck-and-neck game reached match point with Osmera serving. The Lady Bearcats lined up towards the back of the court.

“I decided to serve short,” Osmera said. “I served the ball to their best player in the back row. It landed right in front of her. She slid and fell and didn’t get to it. We won that set.”

In addition to athletics, Osmera is a member of the National Honor Society and the Torrington High School Student Council. She also serves on the Wyoming High School Athletic Association’s Student Advisory Council.

Osmera advised younger athletes to “enjoy the moment” and stick with sports.

“Never doubt yourself or compare yourself to anyone else,” Osmera said. “Enjoy the moment and never stop working hard. Most of all, trust in the Lord in everything.”

Osmera is planning on studying to become a physical education teacher. Osmera shadowed Lady Blazers basketball coach and P.E. teacher Chris Strampe at Lincoln Elementary.

“I definitely found what I love,” Osmera said.

Osmera thanked her parents and family for years of support. A heartfelt expression of gratitude went to the EWC coaches for “giving me this opportunity” and Osmera gave a shoutout to each of her junior high and high school coaches for “helping me push through everything.”

Osmera saved her biggest thanks for her Lady Blazers teammates.

“At the end of the day, I know they got me here.”