From reluctance to excellence/ Lewis-Palmer soccer star is The

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 29, 1999 | by Nick Walter

Boys soccer

Player of the year

Russ Aamodt, Lewis-Palmer

Coach of the year

Vic Garcia, Lewis-Palmer

All-area first team

Paul Cornelius, Jr., Doherty - goalkeeper, eight shutouts and gave up only 13 goals in leading team to share of Metro North title

Mike Everson, Sr., Colorado Springs Christian - led the area in regular-season scoring with 25 goals and 12 assists

Sean Rhynard, Jr., Lewis-Palmer - attacker, recorded 20 goals and 14 assists, scored three game-winning goals, one in state semifinal

James, Riley, Jr., Cheyenne Mountain - midfielder, Metro South player of the year, had nine goals and five assists from defensive midfield

Nick Rota, Sr., Pine Creek - attacker, clutch scorer recorded both playoff goals, including overtime game-winner in first round

Trevor Schrock, Sr., Colorado Springs Christian - halfback, Tri Peaks player of the year, 11 goals and seven assists as a defensive midfielder

Josh Sears, Sr., Caon City - forward, South Central player of the year, scored 16 goals this season and 61 for his career

Dan Walsh, Sr., Air Academy - striker, Metro North first-team selection, used breakaway speed to score 22 goals and had five assists

Daniel Wasson, Soph., Liberty - sweeper, Metro North first team, tenacious marking back, key to Liberty's defense

Collin Whitehead, Sr., Liberty - striker, team and Metro North player of the year, had 15 goals, eight of them game-winners

Second team

Briggs Anderson, Sr., Fountain Valley - center midfielder, Tri Peaks first-team, controlled midfield and created opportunities with 10 assists

Derik Brooks, Sr., Liberty - defensive midfielder, team co- captain, received Coaches' Award and Metro North honorable mention

Eduardo Garcia, Sr., Lewis-Palmer - defender, marked top opposing scorers, made 436 defensive stops, notched three goals and seven assists

Kevin Hill, Sr., Lewis-Palmer - midfielder, switched from defense to offense, marked top opposing midfielder, had four goals and nine assists

Cedrick Johnson, Jr., Palmer - forward/midfielder, Metro North first-team, scored five goals and had three assists

Troy Johnson, Jr., Doherty - forward, had 11 goals and two assists, most goals came in big games, including three against Ponderosa

Ryan Lauber, Jr., Cheyenne Mountain - attacker, Metro South first team, ability to score moved him from sweeper to midfield to striker

Dillon Pieffer, Sr., Coronado - goalkeeper, great awareness of the ball, recorded six shutouts, maintained 1.29 goals-against average

Marcus Sagastume, Jr., Air Academy - midfielder, ignited offense when on field, despite injury had seven goals and nine assists

Shawn Schwab, Sr., Mesa Ridge - forward,/fullback, stopped key goals to give team wins or ties, second on team in scoring

Honorable mention

Gonzals Alfaro, Mitchell; Adam Copper, Caon City; Rick Coriell, Palmer; Ricky Dasugo, Mesa Ridge; Duncan Hanford, Fountain Valley; Nick Levine, Doherty; Jacob Maksimowicz, St. Mary's; Pat McGinnis, Air Academy; Evan Neufeld, Cheyenne Mountain; Nick Odil, Lewis- Palmer; Brian Pursley, St. Mary's; David Wagenfuhr, Rampart.