Hoffman Named New Head Volleyball Coach

          Blakelee Hoffman, a sixth grade language arts teacher and sports fanatic has been named the new head volleyball coach at Chadron High School. Hoffman was extremely "shocked and excited" upon receiving this position, and it is safe to say that Cardinal fans can expect big things in the upcoming season.
          There is no doubt that Hoffman is 100% qualified for her position as head coach. She brings numerous years of experience in both playing and coaching into this next chapter of her coaching career. Hoffman attended Torrington High School where she excelled tremendously in her athletic career, which included participating in volleyball, basketball, and track & field. She was a four-year varsity volleyball and basketball starter, and had a phenomenal track & field career which included setting six school records and one overall state and class 3a record for the 100m hurdles. Hoffman also won a slew of awards for the multiple sports she participated in including; Scottsbluff Star-Herald Wyoming Volleyball Player of the Year (1997), 4-time Basketball All-Absaraka Conference and All-Western Conference, and Star-Herald Co-Track Athlete of the Year (1998).
          For college at Black Hills State University, Hoffman reduced her athletic obligations, slightly, and decided to focus on just two sports, volleyball and track & field. Her collegiate athletic career was just as successful as the past four had been in high school. Hoffman started all four years in volleyball at Black Hills, in which she played primarily in the outside hitter position and showed great success there. She was selected four-time All-Conference, one-time All-Region (1999), and one-time NAIA All-American (1999). She also broke nine school records, which was nothing new for the incredibly talented athlete. Hoffman went on to break two school records and qualify for nationals twice during her time on the track.
          As for the upcoming season, Hoffman expects great things from the team that she will be working with stating, "I think the best way to approach the upcoming season is to set realistic goals and expectations. With only one returning starter, Carstyn Hageman, we'll be lacking the experience we would need in order to compete at the same level. However, I know the talent is there to be just as good and competitive." Hoffman plans to bring great change and positive adjustments to the volleyball program. She urges anyone who is "on the fence" to give volleyball a shot, but just "don't wait too long."