Laramie High School junior Tessa Dodd has been honored as the 2024-25 Gatorade Wyoming Volleyball Player of the Year, marking her as the state’s top high school volleyball athlete, Wyopreps.com reports.
The award, announced Thursday morning by The Gatorade Company, recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exceptional character. Dodd becomes the fifth Gatorade winner from Laramie High School.
Standing 6-foot-4 as an outside hitter, Dodd delivered an impressive performance during the 2024 season. She recorded 382 kills, 289 digs, 60 service aces, and 32 blocks, leading the Plainsmen to a stellar 32-2 record and a runner-up finish in the 4A state volleyball tournament. Her contributions earned her the 4A Player of the Year title from the Wyoming Coaches Association and a second consecutive all-state honor.
Riverton High School head coach Justin Taylor praised Dodd’s leadership and poise.
“Tessa Dodd was the player the other players looked up to. When they were stuck, they relied heavily on Tessa. She is intense, but also calm throughout the game,” he said in Gatorade’s announcement.
Beyond the court, Dodd excels academically, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Oregon beginning in 2026. In her community, Dodd has actively volunteered with the Laramie High School Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention group, and the Hapi-ness 5K charity event benefiting cancer patients. Additionally, she has participated in service initiatives through St. Paul’s Newman Center Catholic Youth Group.
Dodd’s award also makes her a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year honor, set to be announced later this month. She follows in the footsteps of former Laramie High School honorees, including recent winners Maddy Stucky (2022-23 and 2023-24) and Alexis Stucky (2020-21 and 2021-22).
The Gatorade Player of the Year program, now in its 40th year, also empowers recipients to give back. Each winner receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choice. Since its inception, the program has contributed over $5.6 million to more than 2,000 organizations.
