AURORA | Class 5A runner-up Smoky Hill lends plenty of Aurora flavor to Wednesday’s Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State boys soccer game.
Four players from a Buffaloes squad that won the Centennial League championship and lost to Boulder in the 5A state championship game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park are among 37 players from the 3A, 4A and 5A ranks from around the state selected for the boys All-State game, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at District 20 Stadium in Colorado Springs.
Smoky Hill coach Kersten Mullan is one of two coaches leading the White Team, which includes three graduated Buffaloes — striker Jeff Gillis, midfielder Hamilton Pennywell and goalkeeper Grayson Heath — plus junior-to-be Kevin Del Mazo. All four Smoky Hill players were selected to the 2012 Aurora Sentinel All-City Boys Soccer Team.
“I’m super excited; to have four kids make an all-state selection is a big deal to begin with,” said Mullan, who was 5A’s Coach of the Year. “It’s just a testament to our success and where we started to where we ended. Now I laugh because I have four guys down there, but am I allowed to start all four of them?”
Mullan would be justified in starting all four of her players, who all had fantastic seasons.
Gillis, who has signed to play at Metro State, led 5A with 21 goals in the fall and had two game-winners in the Buffaloes’ postseason run, while Del Mazo — one of just two sophomores picked for the game — came up just short of hitting double figures in both goals (9) and assists (10). The physical Pennywell, a recent Regis University pledge, played well in a mostly defensive role and Heath — the only goalkeeper on the White Team roster — recorded 10 shutouts and allowed just 19 goals in 20 games.
Mullan is looking forward to coaching her players in the game, as she remembers what it was like to play in the all-state game during her prep career in the mid 1990s at Highlands Ranch. She played in the game — which at that time was held at the old Mile High Stadium in conjunction with a Colorado Rapids game — as did her husband Brian, a Regis Jesuit graduate and current member of the Rapids.
“Clearly I’m a competitor, so I don’t plan to lose, but this game for me is about a lot more,” she said. “I don’t remember if my side won the game when I played in it, but I remember I had the opportunity to be on that stage with some of the best players in the state in front of my family and people from my school. That’s what I think is the bigger deal.”
Opposing the Smoky Hill-led White Team is the Black Team, which includes two players from the Boulder team that beat Smoky Hill 3-1 in the 5A state final, along with Aurora’s other selection, graduated Eaglecrest midfielder Andrew Martinez.
Martinez, who is headed to Adams State University, also made the All-City first team following a season in which he scored four goals and dished out seven assists as the Raptors advanced all the way to the 5A quarterfinals.
No Aurora players were selected to the All-State girls game, which is scheduled to precede the boys game at 5 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 and under are free.
In light of the wildfires that have affected Southern Colorado, monetary and non-perishable food donations will be accepted to help the American Red Cross and Care and Share of Colorado. Gently used soccer equipment can also be given for those in need.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2013 COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STATE GAME ROSTERS (BOYS)
WHITE TEAM
NO. 1 – GRAYSON HEATH (GK), SMOKY HILL; NO. 2 – KEVIN DEL MAZO (MID), SMOKY HILL; No. 3 – Luis Castaneda (Mid), Highlands Ranch; No. 4 – James Elliott (Mid), Holy Family; No. 5 – Nate Flack (Mid), D’Evelyn; NO. 6 – JEFF GILLIS (FWD), SMOKY HILL; No. 7 – Clark Mourning (Def), Classical Academy; NO. 8 – HAMILTON PENNYWELL (MID), SMOKY HILL; No. 9 – Marc Sallinger (Fwd), Mullen; No. 10 – Eric Spangler (Mid), Centaurus; No. 11 – Evan Young (Mid), Classical Academy; No. 12 – Sam Esler (Def), Centaurus; No. 13 – Axel Larsson (Def), Rock Canyon; No. 14 – Griffin O’Brien (Mid), Colorado Academy; No. 15 – Colten Corey (Mid), Valor Christian; No. 16 – Grant Emrie (Mid), Mullen; No. 17 – Jonathan Sands (Def), Valor Christian; No. 18 – Cole Bortz (Def), Colorado Academy
Coaches: KERSTEN MULLAN (SMOKY HILL); Danny Main (Highlands Ranch)
BLACK TEAM
No. 1 – Christian Espinoza (GK), Battle Mountain; No. 2 – Lake Brant (Fwd), Boulder; N0. 3 – ANDREW MARTINEZ (MID), EAGLECREST; No. 4 – Javier Castuita (Mid), Boulder; No. 5 – Roberto Diaz (Mid), Battle Mountain; No. 6 – Mason Douillard (Fwd), Boulder; No. 7 – Ethan Jackson (Fwd), Evergreen; No. 8 – Joe LyBarger (Fwd), Battle Mountain; No. 9 – Joe McKenna (Def), Evergreen; No. 10 – Gunnar Wilson (Def), Battle Mountain; No. 11 – Tyler Burns (Fwd), Cheyenne Mountain; No. 12 – Ryan Jeffers (Fwd), Pine Creek; No. 13 – Diego Rodriguez (Mid), Battle Mountain; No. 14 – Alex Trujillo (Mid), Battle Mountain; No. 15 – Jacob Bellendir (Def), Broomfield; No. 16 – Sam Raben (Def), Cherry Creek; No. 17 – Heivan Garcia (Fwd), Battle Mountain; No. 18 – Zachary Fronapfel (Def), Fort Collins: No. 19 – Erick Briones (Def), Battle Mountain
Coaches: David Cope (Battle Mountain); Hardy Kalisher (Boulder)
2013 COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STATE GAME ROSTERS (GIRLS)
WHITE TEAM
No. 0 – Claire LaValley (GK), Classical Academy; No. 1 – Kailey Norman (GK), Valor Christian; No. 2 – Natalie Ricci (Fwd), Kent Denver; N0. 3 – Brianna Wetmore (Mid), Peak to Peak; No. 4 – CheyAnn Queener (Def), Classical Academy; No. 5 – Mariel Adams (Def), Mountain Vista; No. 6 – Megan Massey (Mid), Mountain Vista; No. 7 – Katie Forsee (Mid), Broomfield; No. 8 – Joanie Jacks (Mid), Classical Academy; No. 9 – Galen Roda (Def), Peak to Peak; No. 10 – Ivy DeVries (Def), Peak to Peak; No. 11 – Ali Thompson (Mid), Manitou Springs; No. 12 – Sarah Turner (Def), Classical Academy; No. 13 – Haley Williamson (Mid), Air Academy; No. 14 – Emily Yeh (Mid), Liberty Commons; No. 15 – Emily Garnier (Def), D’Evelyn; No. 16 – Hailey Mazzola (Def), Broomfield; No. 17 – Brittney Stark (Fwd), Broomfield; No. 18 – Courtney Camden (Def), Valor Christian; No. 19 – Belle Morel (Fwd), Peak to Peak
Coach: Theresa Echtermeyer (Mountain Vista)
BLACK TEAM
No. 0 – Lauren McGovern (GK), George Washington; No. 1 – Lindsay Hendon (GK), Green Mountain; No. 2 – Amy Eckert (Mid), Cheyenne Mountain; N0. 3 – Anna Greenbaum (Fwd), Fountain Valley; No. 4 – Michelle Moure (Mid), St. Mary’s; No. 5 – Alexandra Poli (Def), Liberty; No. 6 – Monica Stokes (Def), Holy Family; No. 7 – Kaycie Young (Mid), Rock Canyon; No. 8 – Micaela Blanchard (Def), Holy Family; No. 9 – Amanda Burke (Def), Cheyenne Mountain; No. 10 – Emily Cope (Mid), Battle Mountain; No. 11 – Jill Finnerty (Def/Mid), Rock Canyon; No. 12 – Hannah Gerdin (Fwd), Cheyenne Mountain; No. 13 – Kelsey Killean (Fwd), Legacy; No. 14 – Emily Loof (Mid), St. Mary’s; No. 15 – Jayne Lydiatt (Mid), Pine Creek; No. 16 – Hunter Rooney (Mid/Def), Mullen; No. 17 – Alex Sjobakken (Fwd), St. Mary’s; No. 18 – Morgan Storch (Mid), Rock Canyon: No. 19 – Lilly McSwain (Mid), Glenwood Springs
Coaches: Tomas Martinez (Cheyenne Mountain); Mat Henbest (Rock Canyon
