Dogies represent at All-Star games

Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Reporter
 
When seniors Lauren Steveson, Lexus Voelker and Cade Ostenson hung up their uniforms for the last time as their seasons ended, they each bid adieu to their high school careers. However, all three were selected by coaches across the state to suit up one more time to play for the North All-Star teams this Saturday in Casper.
Steveson will represent the Dogies as a member of the volleyball team, while Voelker and Ostenson will be playing basketball. This is unique because it is quite rare that NHS has a player from each sport selected to play in the All-Star games.
Steveson will be the first Dogie on the court as the volleyball matchup is the opening contest of the day on Saturday. As the only member of the class of 2019 to play all four years of high school volleyball, head coach Ashley Reed was very pleased for her to have the opportunity to extend her career for one more game.
“I am proud of Lauren for being selected for the All-Star game. She is the first player since I’ve coached to have been selected to go, which is very exciting,” Reed exclaimed. “Lauren’s passion for the sport has never wavered, and it was a joy to watch her game change as she learned and matured. She was always willing to try something new if it was something that might benefit the team. I hope she revels in this experience and truly enjoys it, and I know she will do wonderfully.”
Voelker will be in action after the volleyball game as the lady hoopers go into play. Head coach Chad Ostenson was proud that the senior was recognized by the coaches across the state to represent Newcastle in the 3A ranks of the North All-Star team.
“Lexus’ nomination is well deserved because she was the leader of our team and was in the top 10 of our region in scoring and blocked shots,” Ostenson explained. “I feel like the rest of the coaches throughout the state thought a lot of Lex, as the coaches vote for the players who play in the All-Star game.”
Voelker started for the Lady Dogies for the last two years, and Ostenson described her as a versatile player for the team in her final season of play. 
“Lex was asked to do a little bit of everything last year, and she did it well,” he smiled. “It will be a lot of fun to watch her play one more time.”
Voelker’s selection also says something for the Lady Dogies’ program as they have had girls play in the All-Star game in three of the last four years.
Cade Ostenson will take the court last and is the sixth Dogie in the last 13 years to be selected to play for the North at the All-Star game. Of those six, only Nick Pisciotti, Jeremy Beehler and Wade Gordon actually donned the uniform for one last “high school” contest after their senior season.
“Cade is greatly deserving of the honor and will fit in well with the all-star format because he can shoot and is athletic,” head coach Allen Von Eye began. “It’s always a great honor when one of our players is selected to play.”
Ostenson will be suiting up with three 4A players, three other 3A players, two 2A players and one 1A player on Saturday. 
“Cade was actually selected as the North team’s 3A ‘lock’, meaning he was the top choice for us out of 3A players,” Von Eye smiled. “This shows the respect he has from coaches around the state regardless of class.”
Players who are selected must meet stringent criteria and standards in order to make the team, which means that each is provided a unique opportunity to play with the best players from around the state.
“It’s just so great that Cade will be able to play with — instead of against — two good friends he has from Buffalo,” Von Eye nodded. “He gets along very well with Aaron Thiele and Tyce Dahlberg, so that will be neat.”
As a bonus, Von Eye will not only have the chance to watch Ostenson play one more time, but he will get to coach him one more time as well as he was chosen as the head coach for the North All-Star team. This is Von Eye’s third time being selected as part of the coaching staff. In 2007, he was on the staff as the assistant coach and was promoted to the head coach position in 2009 when Pisciotti suited up.
“I am humbled by this incredible honor. When your peers respect you enough as a coach to nominate and vote for you, it is overwhelming,” Von Eye stated. “My previous opportunities were so much fun and were both great learning opportunities along with giving me some life-long connections. I feel that our Wyoming Coaches Association is incredible with all it does not just for our coaches, but more importantly for all the great athletes in this state.” 
Von Eye was also adamant that his selection was not just a shout out to him as a coach, but more importantly a recognition of the program at Newcastle High School. 
“We are just the ‘face’ of the program, because it’s really the kids and the assistant coaches who make the head coach look good,” he said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to coach this awesome group of players. I’ve contacted all of them and I think they are ready to roll, and it’s going to be a great team!”
Fans can watch Steveson, Voelker and Ostenson take the court on Saturday, July 20, at Casper College. The volleyball game begins at 1 and is followed by the ladies’ basketball game at 3 and the men’s at 5.