Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

The Western Boone volleyball team reached the mountain top this fall, claiming the program’s first-ever state title. Three of the key pieces from that squad – and their coach – got to hit the court together one more time as members of the Indiana All-Star team on Sunday afternoon. Raegan Durbin, Sadie Poeck and Janie Ransom helped the North All-Stars come away with the win on Sunday, capping their high school careers in style. “It was super fun,” Durbin said. “During the state game we said ‘this is our last set together, so we have to make it our best.’ It turned out that it wasn’t, so it just kept getting better. It really shows how hard we worked and how successful we were as a program.” Both Poeck and Ransom echoed those sentiments, saying they enjoyed the experience to playing with some of the other top seniors in the state. “It feels like everything the three of us did this season paid off,” Poeck said. “It was awesome to be recognized to play in this. It was great to meet some of the other girls, because usually I am on the other side of the net from them. They were awesome to play with an it was a great experience.” Ransom said that especially being their senior year, it made it special to hit the court together one last time before everyone heads off their separate ways for college. “It was a lot of fun, being able to play one last time with Sadie and Raegan, and some former club teammates,” Ransom said. “It was really special to play in this game. Playing volleyball since I was 10, it’s really cool not just to end at state, but have one more game with my best friends. It was a lot of fun, especially playing with a lot of people that are at a really high level. It was an honor to be out there playing with them.” Western Boone head coach Laura Bragg was one of the coaches of the North All-Stars. She said it was a perfect ending to what was a special season. “This whole season has been amazing and to cap it off like this was great,” Bragg said. “We have only had three Indiana All-Stars before (two senior and one junior), and to have four this year (the three seniors plus junior Emmerson Gott) shows how much our program has grown and how many great players we have.” With four representatives in the game, Western Boone was one of the most represented programs at the All-Star game. freestar Bragg, who just finished her 14th season in charge of the Stars, said that this group of players has helped put WeBo on the volleyball map. “It used to be when you said WeBo, not a lot of people knew who you were,” Bragg said. “Now it’s on them if they don’t know who we are now.” The three seniors all took different routes through their Western Boone journeys. Durbin and Ransom have been playing together since they were 10, and have helped elevate the program along the way. Poeck came to Western Boone this summer, but immediately fell in love with the school and the volleyball program. All three girls said they were happy they got to represent Western Boone one last time. “I am so proud to be a Star, and I am proud that all four of us got to represent WeBo today,” Poeck said. “I think we were one of the schools with the most girls here, so that’s awesome.” Durbin, who will leave as the school’s season and all-time kill leader, said she is excited every chance she gets to represent her school on a big stage. “Our community means a lot to me,” Durbin said. “Any time you get a chance to represent your community you have to give it your all and play for other people other than yourself.” The three girls will now have their jerseys in the rafters of the WeBo gym, highlighting their All-Star achievements. It will be near their state championship banner from this fall, and will be up there to inspire the future generations of WeBo athletes. “It’s cool to be able to leave a mark on our program,” Ransom, the school’s season and all-time assist leader, said. “Whenever I have a chance to represent WeBo it is such an honor, because it is such an amazing school and I am so proud to be a Star.” Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.