Senior Paige Ryan (white jersey), with 24 goals, leads a high-powered offense for undefeated Coal Ridge. Ryan also is a standout on the track team along with eight other Titans players.
Kelley Cox/Glenwood Springs Post Independent
In an age of multi-tasking, it's not uncommon to find high school athletes who play two or three sports in a given year.
Finding one who does multiple sports in the same season? That may be on the unique side, but
Coal Ridge (New Castle) is taking unique and raising it to the next level.
The Titans of the small Western Slope town of New Castle are no strangers to pulling double duty. There are currently nine players for the fourth-ranked girls soccer team – eight of whom are active varsity members – who also compete for the track and field squad. A 10th is sidelined for the spring because of injury.
What gives the story a little something extra is that the Titans' soccer squad is currently undefeated at 12-0 and intending to make some noise when the Class 3A state playoffs roll around May 9.
"They're just a special group of girls that have come up here in the system. They're just competitors," second-year Titans coach Micah Herron said. "Whatever it is they do, they compete and they compete hard all the time.
"It could be some simple drill in practice … it's the ultimate competition. They're just driven. You can't teach someone to be competitive, so when you get that as a coach, you're thankful."
Coal Ridge has reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, making the quarterfinals in 2010 and 2013. The Titans earned their highest seed a year ago at No. 3 before falling to Kent Denver (Cherry Hills Village) 2-0 in the third round and finishing 16-2 in Herron's first season.
"We just want to prove to everyone that we can make it farther than the Great 8," Coal Ridge senior
Paige Ryan said. "No team has made it to the Final 4 yet."
Even after graduating leading scorer Kelsey Fauser, Coal Ridge hasn't skipped a beat this spring. Thirteen players have scored a goal for the Titans, led by Ryan, who has 24 to go along with 11 assists.
Amanda Wenzel, Coal Ridge (right).
Jon Mitchell/Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Ryan hasn't just been successful on the soccer pitch – a year ago she was a member of the 4x400 relay team that captured a state track title, and just recently she set school marks in the 400-meter run and the long jump. Ryan is one of several Titans who are technically four-sport athletes, jumping from volleyball to basketball to soccer and track.
"She's a phenomenal athlete. She's driven, she's competitive," Herron said. "She doesn't like to lose and she's not OK with losing."
That mentality isn't just limited to Ryan. The senior said competitiveness is crucial to the players handling the load because it takes so much out of you.
"It is super exhausting but we all take care of each other," said Ryan, who plans to attend Colorado Mesa University in the fall, though she isn't sure she will be involved in athletics. "We're all friends so we still get to hang out."
Ryan may be scoring goals at an impressive rate, but she's far from the only one. Seniors
Amanda Wenzel and
Aileen Galaviz have combined for 16 goals and four more players have at least four.
"I know that when people start marking me, other girls are going to step up," Ryan said. "They know they have that responsibility and I know they can do it. Everyone on the team has the capability of scoring."
The Titans are coming off a 4-1 victory over 5A Grand Junction Central, a game the team broke open with three second-half goals. After visiting Aspen on Tuesday, a tough home match with Battle Mountain (Edwards) and a road trip to Roaring Fork (Carbondale) are all that remains before the playoffs begin.
"We went out on a bitter note last year. We lost to a quality Kent Denver team. They were better than us," Herron said. "I think the girls are determined and committed to improving every day. Every time we get to touch the ball, in practice or a game, let's get better.
"They're committed to doing that and they're committed to doing that together."
