For the first time in school history, there has been a coaching change at Heritage volleyball.
Courtney Wallenborn has been named the program’s head coach, taking over for Chelinda Dettorre, who resigned after this past season.
Dettorre, who earlier in her career guided Prairie to a state championship, has been the only volleyball coach at Heritage, on the sideline since the school opened in the fall of 1999.
“Those are big shoes to fill,” Wallenborn said.
Heritage volleyball went to back-to-back trips to the state tournament in 2003 and 2004 and again in 2006.
The program has always remained competitive under Dettorre in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League.
“It’s been pretty steady,” Wallenborn said.
Still, she wants the program to take steps toward a return to state.
“My goal is to get Heritage back to where it was, to be one of the top dogs,” Wallenborn said. “It will take a lot of work, trust, and commitment from the girls. I think we have a great group.”
Wallenborn has been on staff at Heritage the past three seasons. She also was an assistant at Camas. Plus she has club coaching experience, and also was the head coach of Milwaukie High School in Oregon for one season in her early 20s.
Wallenborn, 33, went to Camas High School and played for then coach Ted Buck. From there, she attended Mount Hood Community College before finishing her playing career at Eastern New Mexico University. At Mount Hood, she played for Michael Seeman, the current coach of Portland State. Wallenborn said she plans to take knowledge gained from Dettorre, Buck, and Seeman and use that wisdom with the Timberwolves.
“I’m ready for whatever,” she said.
