Editor:

I am writing to express my disappointment in the Casper Star-Tribune’s coverage (or should I say "lack of") of community college volleyball in Wyoming this season. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but community colleges are a very important education resource for the state of Wyoming. In fact there is just one university in the state, but there are seven community colleges.

According to the Wyoming Community College Commission’s 2009 Annual Report, "Wyoming’s seven community colleges successfully served more than 26,000 students during the 2008-09 academic year." It appears that the Casper Star-Tribune has either lost sight of the importance of our community colleges and their associated athletic programs, or maybe has never believed in them to begin with.

The NJCAA Region IX North Women’s Volleyball tournament was held in Riverton. The tournament included all seven of Wyoming’s community colleges, including your very own Casper College Thunderbirds. If you look at the rosters of those seven teams, you will notice that there are 33 girls from Wyoming. Thirty-three young women from our home state could have chosen to go anywhere to college, but stayed home to educate themselves and play volleyball. In fact three of the girls from Casper College are actually from your town.Your newspaper apparently couldn’t even find the time to cover them.

I am a University of Wyoming alumnus and believe wholeheartedly in coverage of any and all UW activities. But I also see the importance to the state of Wyoming of our community colleges and the Wyoming grown kids who attend those schools. Come on Star-Tribune; let’s see some coverage on those schools too!

DEBBIE ENGLISH, Rawlins