Standing tall among basketball giants

By Kirk Hanna
Times staff writer

You hear of the underdog stories in the movies. People overcoming barriers to succeed in sports, and in life.

Like 5-foot-nothing Rudy playing football at Notre Dame University.
Rawlins has its own story.

Every weekday morning during her college years, Denise Pfeffer awoke at 8 a.m. to head for class. She went from lecture to lecture until 3 p.m. This is when most college students would end their day, kicking back with a few video games or relaxing to some Van Halen music.

Not Pfeffer though. Her day was just starting. At 4 p.m. she would make her way to the practice facility in Golden, Colo., home of the Colorado School of Mines. Her volleyball practices would run until 6:30 p.m. and then her teammates would head for home. But again, Pfeffer stood out of the crowd. For she was a two-sport athlete, so she needed to do extra conditioning to get ready for the upcoming basketball season.

After a few extra sprints, she would wonder back home, fix some dinner, study her class notes and then hit the bad, for the next day she would do it all over again.
Sounds like she doesn’t have any free time for socializing right?

“My free time was practice,” Pfeffer said. “It took my mind off of studying.”
For four years, the now head coach of the Rawlins girls basketball team, worked hard to earn her way on the team. Playing college sports is one thing when you’re a towering six-feet tall, but Pfeffer doesn’t exactly have a height advantage. She rose above the elements, however, and made a name for herself with knowledge of the game and her scrappy play.

Pfeffer said of playing two sports and taking college courses towards a geophysics masters degree, “it was challenging, but you learn to balance your time.” At the School of Mines, Pfeffer said “everyone is in the same boat, so friends help each other out ... and you get introduced to upperclassmen earlier (in college).”

Now, the Rawlins native is in her third year coaching her high school alma mater. “I have lots of wonderful memories” being in the Rawlins High School gym, she said. And it’s pleasing for her to look into the stands and see her parents still come to every home game. “Basketball has always been a family affair,” she said.

Pfeffer got her start in coaching when she returned to Rawlins after earning her undergraduate and masters degree at the School of Mines. Raleigh Voas — the former Lady Outlaws head coach — got in contact with Pfeffer to start coaching. “(He) was very successful,” she said of her predecessor. “He taught me a lot.” Pfeffer started with one year at the junior varsity level, before taking over for Voas in 2006, but she’ll be the first to tell you a coach is only as good as its staff. Lucily for Pfeffer, she has an experienced staff.

Ken Stucki and Clairinda Weatherwax make up the Lady Outlaws staff. “I couldn’t ask for a better staff,” the head coach said of their support. Pfeffer has high expectations for her girls, and they go beyond the parquet floor.

“As a coach you try to teach the girls things about life ... in addition to the basketball skills,” Pfeffer said. So you can imagine she had good things to say about any of her team members who are interested in playing sports.

“I think it’s worth pursuing,” she said. “It opened the door for opportunities, for friendships and time management ... and especially for young women ... sports offer important leadership skills.”

The once Rawlins High graduate, turned college basketball point guard and college volleyball setter, turned Rawlins varsity girls basketball coach is enjoying life. “I got to travel on road trips (in college),” she said, “and now I get to teach the girls skills ... I don’t feel an added pressure being in Rawlins, but I hope the community enjoys the games ... because the girls really work hard.”
So 5-foot nothing Pfeffer has succeeded in sports, and in life. And she’s passing her knowledge on to other generations of young Rawlinites.