Ask Beth West about her favorite memories from the recently concluded girls soccer season and the top one comes quickly: Winning the Class 5A state championship with her teammates from Grandview.

Her next favorite didn't even occur in Colorado, though. It happened in Burlington, Iowa, at the end of April, when the Wolves played in the Brine Tournament of Champions. Grandview knocked off the second-ranked team in the nation, Incarnate Word Academy of St. Louis.

"We beat them right after a really tough game where we were smacked around a little bit," said West, a senior midfielder. "We came back to beat them, so that was a definite highlight of the season."

It joins a long list of other accomplishments West has put together, which now includes being selected the Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado player of the year.

West is joined on the All-Colorado squad by teammates Amanda Collins and Rebecca Herrera and coach of the year Bruce Brown. The All-Colorado team is chosen by the Rocky with input from the state's coaches.

West, a member of the Under-18 U.S. National Team, recently was named to the Parade All-America team, as well as being chosen the Colorado player of the year by Gatorade.

West also was part of a club team that won a national championship, and she hopes to one day represent the U.S. at the World Cup or in the Olympics. Even if she fulfills that dream, she said the state championship always will hold a special place.

"It's right up there at the top of things I've done," said West, a three-time All-Colorado honoree. "It's a different feeling than the club national championship. It's just as amazing, and it's just really cool to have so much school support and to play in front of a big crowd like that."

Collins, a senior midfielder who is headed to the University of New Mexico, scored the winning goal in the state title game. Herrera was the anchor of the Grandview defense, and will join West at Texas A&M.

Silver Creek, the 4A state champion, is represented by midfielder Kate Russell and forward Erin Gunther. Russell, who will attend the University of Colorado, almost sat out her senior season to concentrate on playing club ball, but said she was glad she decided to suit up with the Raptors one more time.

"I'm really happy," Russell said. "We had such a good season, and if I hadn't come out, I wouldn't have been able to be a part of this. I probably would have regretted that because that's an opportunity you don't want to miss."

Arapahoe's Kaitlin Bast, goalkeeper Alyssa Gilmore of Chatfield and Kalie Vaughn of Rocky Mountain are the only nonseniors to make the squad.

Brown, who has coached high school soccer for more than 30 years in Colorado, picked up his fourth state title, but his first in more than a decade (his previous three came at Overland). But Brown said collecting championship trophies isn't how he measures his success as a coach.

"Those things come if they come," Brown said. "I'm more proud of the number of kids I've at least played a part in getting ready to go to college than I am for those four state titles."

ALL-COLORADO

Player School Yr.

Kaitlin Bast Arapahoe Jr.

Amanda Collins Grandview Sr.

Caroline Danneberg Cherry Creek Sr.

Alyssa Gilmore (GK) Chatfield Jr.

Erin Gunther Silver Creek Sr.

Rebecca Herrera Grandview Sr.

Abby Loar Heritage Sr.

Ashley Railey Heritage Sr.

Kate Russell Silver Creek Sr.

Kalie Vaughn Rocky Mountain Jr.

Beth West Grandview Sr.

* Player of the year: Beth West, Grandview.

* Coach of the year: Bruce Brown, Grandview.

CLASS 5A

* First team

Player School Yr.

Kaitlin Bast Arapahoe Jr.

Amanda Collins Grandview Sr.

Caroline Danneberg Cherry Creek Sr.

Alyssa Gilmore (GK) Chatfield Jr.

Rebecca Herrera Grandview Sr.

Abby Loar Heritage Sr.

Emmalie Pfankuch Fort Collins Sr.

Ashley Railey Heritage Sr.

Danielle Solich Arapahoe Sr.

Kalie Vaughn Rocky Mountain Jr.

Beth West Grandview Sr.

* Player of the year: Beth West, Grandview.

* Coach of the year: Bruce Brown, Grandview.

* Honorable mention: Kim Ammon, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; Kelly Browne, Air Academy, Sr.; Mara Cosgrove, Legacy, Jr.; Tori Delmonico, Chatfield, Sr.; Steph Durbin, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Brittany Froistad, Arapahoe, Sr.; Katerina Garcia, Durango, Jr.; Callie Hancock, Chatfield, Jr.; Maddie Hanssler, Ponderosa, So.; Jenny Johnson, Rocky Mountain, Jr.; Jen Kmezich, Douglas County, Sr.; Stephanie Kubala, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; Becca Kyle, Durango, Jr.; Brittney Lyman, Arvada West, Jr.; Kristin Miller, Cherry Creek, Jr.; Taylor Nicholls, Heritage, Sr.; Tracy Roos, Cherry Creek, Sr.; Stephanie Rowe, Chatfield, Jr.; Annie Stuller, Fairview, So.; Regina Thomas, Grandview, Sr.; A.J. Walker, Grandview, Sr.; Shelbie Williamson, Air Academy, Jr.; Raeleigh Withey, Rocky Mountain, Jr.; Kaylee Yee, Heritage, Jr.; Bri Young, Chaparral, Sr.

CLASS 4A

* First team

Player School Yr.

Kaitlin Buck Niwot Jr.

Marissa Davis Golden Jr.

Nicholette DiGiacomo Golden So.

Natalie Foulk Broomfield Jr.

Erin Gunther Silver Creek Sr.

Brianna Guzzardo Fossil Ridge Sr.

Brandi Hopkins Mountain Range Jr.

Ali Morgan-Mauro Fossil Ridge So.

Lauren Patterson Cheyenne Mountain Jr.

Kate Russell Silver Creek Sr.

Caitlin Turner (GK) Cheyenne Mountain Sr.

* Player of the year: Erin Gunther, Silver Creek.

* Coach of the year: Merv Johnson, Silver Creek.

* Honorable mention: Melissa Ammaturo, Battle Mountain, So.; Jessica Battelli, D'Evelyn, So.; Danielle Birdsall, Broomfield, Jr.; Lauren Braman, Niwot, Jr.; Sabre Brill, Pueblo West, Sr.; Christina Carrano, Golden, Sr.; Hayley Coniglio, Ralston Valley, So.; Alex Dohm, Liberty, So.; Danielle Figliola, Silver Creek, Sr.; Jenna Gist, Pueblo Centennial, Jr.; Karlee Gradisar, Pueblo East, Sr.; Lindsay Johnson, Cherokee Trail, Sr.; Darcy Jerman, Cheyenne Mountain, Fr.; Janelle Kramer, Silver Creek, Sr.; Shaye Marshall, Skyline, Jr.; Jordan Olsen, Centaurus, Jr.; Maddie Reeves, Broomfield, Jr.; Meghan Royer, Liberty, Sr.; Brekelle Sellers, Ralston Valley, Jr.; Alexis Serrano, Cherokee Trail, Jr.; Lauren Shaner, Niwot, Jr.; Cheyenne Sinn, Pueblo Centennial, Sr.; Taylor White, Ralston Valley, Jr.; Lauren Wolfinger, Silver Creek, Jr.; Alexis Zumwalt, Niwot, So.

CLASS 3A

* First team

Player School Yr.

Erika Binyua (GK) Holy Family Sr.

Sidra Bonner Kent Denver Sr.

Heidi Chandler Peak to Peak Sr.

Samantha Cardenas St. Mary's Sr.

Jamie Fox The Classical Academy Jr.

Holly Hoguta Faith Christian Sr.

Michael Ann Karas Faith Christian Sr.

Lindsay Landhuis Denver Christian Sr.

Athena Lopez Faith Christian Jr.

Julia Saenz St. Mary's Sr.

Christina Whitelaw St. Mary's So.

* Player of the year: Athena Lopez, Faith Christian.

* Coach of the year: Amber Jenkins, Faith Christian.

* Honorable mention: Erin Aragon, The Academy, So.; Jennifer Aragon, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Hannah Cain, Fountain Valley, Sr.; Micaela Fachathaler, Front Range Christian, Sr.; Kat Fitzpatrick, Basalt, Sr.; Hania Flaten, Peak to Peak, Jr.; Hilary Glassman, Kent Denver, So.; Becca Glisan, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.; Shea Haycock, The Classical Academy, So.; Dani Hering, The Classical Academy, Jr.; Jessica Hommel, Front Range Christian, Sr.; Jess Lehigh, Kent Denver, Sr.; Alyssa Martin, Kent Denver, Jr.; Erin McGonagle, Kent Denver, Sr.; Jalyn McMurry, Buena Vista, Sr.; Maya Neam, Holy Family, Sr.; Madison Page, Jefferson Academy, So.; Wrendy Rayhill, Fountain Valley, So.; Lisa Singleton, Denver Christian, Jr.; Camille Solarte, Kent Denver, So.; Melissa Stewart, Basalt, Jr.; Jenny Stoot, Fountain Valley, Jr.; Karin Taylor, Peak to Peak, Sr.; Reade Tillman, Colorado Springs Christian, So.; Olivia Wagner, Alexander Dawson, Jr.

Back to Top