Ocosta High School paid homage to one of its finest as fans, friends and family turned out to honor longtime volleyball head coach Barbara Rasmus on Wednesday.
Rasmus, who was honored by the school during Wednesday’s straight-set victory over Pe Ell, is wrapping up her 29-year volleyball coaching career at the end of the season.
Rasmus began coaching the Ocosta volleyball team in 1990 and had immediate success, guiding the Wildcats to league and district championships, winning 81 straight sets in the process. The Wildcats finished third in the state tournament, which remains the highest state placement for any Ocosta volleyball team.
In her 29 years at the helm of Ocosta volleyball, the Wildcats have had just three losing seasons.
Showing a passion for coaching that has lasted her entire adult life, Rasmus coached the Bayview Little League team in South Beach during the 1980s and was also the first softball coach in Ocosta High School history, coaching the team in its inaugural season back in 1992. She has also coached basketball and track and field in her long career of serving Ocosta High School sports that dates back to 1979.
“She has always been one to step up to take on a new role when needed,” said Ocosta assistant coach Erin Snider, who played under Rasmus on the 1990 volleyball team. “She is one of the best human beings I’ve ever known.”
Other roles the tireless Rasmus has taken on include everything from the athletic director at the school to chaperoning school band field trips.
“Her volunteerism and heart for giving to others, knows no bounds,” Snider told the crowd during Wednesday’s ceremony. “She is the first to step up when there is a need and is the last to leave when things need to be cleaned up or put away.”
Snider went on to somehow try to summarize the profound impact Rasmus has had on those she coached.
“She has coached hundreds of Ocosta girls and gave them not just the beautiful gift of loving volleyball, but how to be a hard-working, honest and caring teammate,” Snider said. “I will forever be thankful she asked me to join the coaching staff here. It has truly been one of the greatest opportunities of my life and I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say, ‘Thank you for sharing this with all of us.’ Congratulations on an amazing coaching career.”
Rasmus was gracious on a night focused on her decades of service to the community.
“I want to give a thank you to all the people who came out to my last home game,” she said. “It was so special to see so many former players, coaches, teammates and family in the stands.”
But Rasmus isn’t done quite yet as her Wildcats begin play in the 2B District IV Tournament against Onalaska at 11:30 a.m.today at Ocosta High School. It will be one more chance for the home crowd to show its love for one of Westport’s finest.
