Four Lady Grizz receive postseason honors

The 2024 Rocky Mountain Lady Grizzlies capped a strong 2024 season with four players being selected for postseason honors.

The Lady Grizz won the 2A West Regional Tournament in Lander, then won one of three games at the state tournament in Casper.

Seniors Brittly Boettcher and Shelby Wambeke and juniors Lauren Bassett and Keylee Christiansen were named all-conference for the Class 2A Northwest, while Boettcher, Wambeke and Bassett were named all-region for the 2A West. Boettcher was named 2A all-state.

Boettcher was also named the 2A West and 2A Northwest player of the year.

The 2A Northwest all-conference team – 14 players – was selected from four teams, coach Stephanie Ames said, and the 28 players from the two all-conference teams (four from the Northwest and four from the Southwest) were whittled down to 16 all-region players.

“These were the best of the west,” Ames said.

Brittly Boettcher

Boettcher is a three-year starter for the Lady Grizz and has maintained her outside hitter position for all three of those years, Ames said. This year she led the team with 56 aces, 302 kills and 387 digs, and she was second with 60 blocks and serving percentage (95%).

“Brittly hits the ball hard, that’s all there is to it,” Ames said. “Being on the short side for a hitter hasn’t kept her from being one of the best. She has a knack for it, and she works hard at it. Britt is also a great blocker. She sees what she’s up against and gets to the odd, off and surprise attacks. She’ll go right over the net and deny the other team.

“As good as Brittly is in the front row, she also excels in the back. Two years in a row she has led in passing and digging. She can get the balls up and give them back to the setters to work their magic. Britt is a strong, solid six-rotation player.”

Shelby Wambeke

Wambeke was a three-year starting setter for the Lady Grizzlies, Ames said, adding that, while setting is likely the most stressful position on the floor, Wambeke started young, taking charge and being successful at it.

“Shelby gets to balls that normally would not be setable,” Ames noted. “She does the work, and it pays the bills for us. She is our assist leader this year (375). Without our two awesome setters, our hitters wouldn’t have the success they have. I compare them to John Stockton, and they have no idea what I’m talking about.

“Shelby is another six-rotation player for us. Once she’s done coming out of the back to play setter, she rocks the right side as a hitter. While she has a rather endearing, off kilter approach to her hits, she sure can get them down.

“Shelby has been a solid team leader for us. She keeps a level head, rallies her team and supports her fellow players. She will be very missed.”

Wambeke led the team with a 96 percent serve percentage and had 19 aces, 128 kills (fourth), 24 blocks (fifth) and 241 digs (fourth).

Lauren Bassett

“Lauren is a fantastic middle for us,” Ames said. “She moved to that position this year after playing outside last year. She really was perfect for the job. Lauren is strong and can really hammer the ball. Additionally, she is a lefty, which can cause trouble for blockers. She is one of those players who other teams watch on film and try to prepare for.  Lauren doesn’t know the word quit and will play through anything -- sickness, injury, you name it, and she’ll be there full steam ahead. 

“Lauren is our block leader this year (83), and when we play those heavy hitting teams, that can make all the difference. In addition to her skills in the front row, she plays a mean back row. Most middles do not play back row, but Lauren is just great back there.

“I’m very proud of Lauren for making both all-conference and all-region this year.”

Bassett finished the season with 48 aces (second on the team), 284 kills (second), 248 digs (third) and served at 91 percent.

Keylee Christiansen

“Keylee is a very strong setter for us,” Ames said. “She was put in the position late last season to take over for a senior with a season ending injury. This season she was willing to continue in the spot, and we’re so thankful she did.

Keylee is very hardworking and determined. She often asks what she can do to improve and is solid on the floor. In addition to setting, she played right side hitter for us. Many teams pull the setter and put in a stronger hitter in that situation, but Keylee can do both. Toward the end of the season her hitting went to another level, and it was so fun to see Key put some hard hits on the floor. Her ability to play well all the way around is a big part of why the other coaches recognized her on the team.

“Keylee is well deserving of the all-conference team.”

Christiansen finished the year with 269 assists (second on the team), 42 aces (third), 85 kills (fifth), 19 blocks, 201 digs and a 94 percent successful serving rate (third).

Ames said she would like to add a “huge shout-out” to assistant coaches Calli Leonhardt and Lauren Robertson, noting, “They are hardworking, smart, driven and loving. They truly are the best.”