Crook County’s Troutman a volleyball powerhouse

There have been plenty of great players to come through the Crook County volleyball program during Head Coach Rosie Honl’s tenure.

But, according to Honl, Hannah Troutman is at the the top of that list.

The senior just became the first Cowgirl ever to win the Gatorade Oregon Volleyball Player of the Year award.

The first three words that come to Honl’s mind to describe senior Troutman are strong, hard-willed and tenacious.

You can add award-winner to the list, something she didn’t think was possible as a freshman.

“I wouldn’t even have believed in myself at that point. It’s a dream come true getting this award, but it’s definitely something I had to work for,” Troutman said.

Honl said, “It was just absolutely incredible. It’s probably the biggest high I’ve ever had because I’ve never had a player reach that. I didn’t think there was a player in the state better than her though. I couldn’t think of one: (in) 6A, all of them.”

Honl, who’s been the head coach of the Cowgirls for 18 years and led the team to eight straight state titles, had had a huge influence on Hannah and all of her players.

“Rosie’s not only a coach to me. She became like a motherly figure, just a grandma to me,” Troutman said. “I could go to her with anything. She taught me such great values, on and off the court.”

The award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also work in the classroom, something Hannah takes even more seriously than her play on the court.

“I feel like academics are No. 1,” Troutman said. “Obviously, it’s kind of a cliche to say academics come before sports, but it’s the truth. You have to work hard in the classroom, so you can be a good athlete.”

She also finds time to volunteer, helping coach youth volleyball in the area.

“I got a few letters from the girls saying, ‘I wish I would be like you when I’m in high school,'” Troutman said. “It’s such a great honor to feel like that, and to have somebody that young looking up to you, because I did the same.”

Next up for Hannah: Oregon State, where she will join Rachel Buehner from Mountain View and Kelsey Zimmerman from Summit on the Beavers volleyball team.