Coach Ryan Shible likes his varsity girls’ volleyball team to play with desire, grit and determination.

If he needs to find a player who exhibits those three qualities, he looks no further than Laura Dutton.

“Laura demonstrates great skill with her serving by moving the ball around the court and picking up valuable points in close sets. She has also been a real force at the front of the net with her hitting and blocking as one of our middle hitters; which is more impressive because this is her first year playing in this position,” Coach Shible said. “Overall, I have been impressed with her desire to improve, to continually work on her hitting and serving skills.”

In recognition of her strong work ethic, determination, commitment and good sportsmanship, Laura is this week’s Boosters and Hancock Lumber “Player of the Week.” Each week, a Lake Region athlete is recognized for his/her dedication (does more than what is asked), work ethic, coachability and academic good standing. Recipients receive a specially-designed t-shirt, sponsored by Hancock Lumber.

Player Profile

Athlete: Laura Dutton

Town: Bridgton

Parents: Ken and Deb Dutton

Hobbies: Skiing, softball, spending time with friends, and going on long drives.

Favorite Athlete: My favorite athlete is probably Mikaela Shiffrin, a record-breaking ski racer. She has always been a positive role model I’ve looked up to. Throughout adversity, she has always pushed through to follow her passion.

What are three key elements to be successful in your sport? Communication with others, having a good mindset, and always giving 100% effort.

What is your goal(s) this season, and how do you reach them? Savor my senior season by making sure to enjoy every moment of my last year. With lots of work in the gym, I hope to achieve the best stats of my high school career.

What is the most difficult aspect of your sport? Trying to always stay positive for the team even when I feel I’m having a rough game.

Finish this line, “It’s been a good sports day if…” I’m not giving up points for being in the net.

How has sports helped in your development as a person? Being active in sports has taught me that loss will inevitably come, but it’s how you handle yourself in times of loss that prepare you for obstacles in life. 

What lesson have you learned from a coach or teammate that you will long remember? My (alpine) ski racing coach, Kurt Burger, always finishes training by telling us to “be a good person,” and to “tell your parents you love them.” Coach Kurt always likes to hear from us the following day about what good deed we did for the day. He’s always invested in us, not only for sporting events but as future adults, too. For me personally, I can always thank my parents for every opportunity sports have given me. I will always be grateful for that. Being a young adult and student athlete, it is incredibly important for us to realize our impact on those watching, the upcoming generation of athletes.