ALL CARSON COUNTRY
(Editor's note: Soccer is featured today in the second in a series of All-Carson Country teams for the fall season. The selections are made by the Nevada Appeal sports staff, comprised of players from the six schools within the circulation area: Carson, Douglas, Galena, Dayton, Fernley and Yerington. The All-Carson Country football team will be published on Thursday.)
BOYS SOCCER
Forward
Colten Mellows, sr., Douglas: All-around standout who played forward and sweeper for the Northern 4A runner-up Tigers. A defender who has tremendous vertical jump and excellent command of the field, and he was the Tigers' leading scorer with 12 goals. Mellows scored winning goals during a key three-game stretch - he scored with 12 seconds left against Reno - and had the regional game-winner against Galena. A first-team all-league and repeat All-Carson Country pick.
Edgar Gomez, jr., Carson: Moved from wing to forward at start of season to utilize his speed and scored a team-high nine goals. Had a hot streak at midseason in which he scored six goals during a four-game stretch. A first-team all-league and repeat All-Carson Country pick.
Ernesto Ayala, sr., Carson: With seven goals and two assists, he was the team's Offensive Player of the Year. Ayala was strong late in the season, including a goal and assist against Douglas in the regional tournament championship game.
Mario Harker, sr., Galena: A guiding force that helped the Grizzlies to the High Desert League championship. He was the league's Offensive Player of the Year. An academic all-state honors student. He scored 17 goals and 15 assists. He had two goals and an assist in key 5-1 win at home against Elko. Third-year varsity veteran. A 4.0 student in the classroom.
Eddie Lanusa, sr., Dayton: Scored a school single-season record 32 goals as he earned first-team Humboldt League honors while leading the Dust Devils into the 3A playoffs. He scored six goals in a regular season win over Whittell, and significantly, he scored in Dayton's 2-1 opening-round playoff loss to eventual state champion North Tahoe.
Midfield
Royal Good, jr., Carson: The speedy right wing had eight goals and eight assists this season. He scored two goals in Carson's 3-1 win over Douglas in the regional tournament finals and converted a penalty kick in a 1-0 semifinal win over defending state champion South Tahoe. A number of assists came off throw-ins. First-team all-league and a repeat All-Carson Country pick.
Brett Wilson, sr., Galena: High Desert League Midfielder of the Year. A repeat All-Carson Country pick. All-state academic. Third-year varsity veteran. An emotional leader on the field.
Loren Wooldridge, jr., Carson: A two-sport athlete who contributed in every phase of the game and earned Sierra League Midfielder of the Year honors. The Senators' co-captain had three goals and three assists. He scored one goal at state. Benefited from his season playing with the Nevada Wonders semi-pro team last summer.
David Sturgess, jr., Douglas: A smooth and finesse-type player who had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, scoring a number of key goals during the season. Had nine goals and led team in assists with 10. A third-year varsity player and all-state academic pick.
Defense
Jared Price, sr. Douglas: One of the team's fastest players with a good touch, he played as a sweeper and midfielder. He was especially solid during the regional tournament, including an assists in the finals against Carson. An honorable mention all-league pick.
Brian Arce, sr., Carson: Brought up to varsity at the end of his freshman year, Arce finished as a first-team all-league pick. Through the playoffs, shut down high-scoring threats from Elko, South Tahoe and Douglas at regionals. Was Carson's team co-captain, MVP and Outstanding Defensive Player.
Kevin Brush, jr., Carson: An injury that cost him three weeks at mid-season left him with just honorable mention all-league recognition, but his play as a stopper was key as the Senators allowed just two goals in three regional tournament wins. Described as a calming influence on the field, and at 6-2, he was effective controlling ball in the air in the center.
Chris Ewald, so., Galena: First-team all-league. A raw athlete, great vertical leap, extremely strong. Mature. Right back on defense. An offensive weapon. Strong and accurate leg, 50-60 yard passes on the dime.
Goalie
Daniel Timko, sr., Galena: First-team all-league and a repeat All-Carson Country pick. An academic all-state selection. Third-year starter in the net. He logged 11-2-0 in league, eight of those wins were by shutout. A quiet leader. An all-state
Honorable mention: Jeremiah Schenzel, midfield, Carson; Jeff Spencer, defense, Douglas; Luis Gomez, goalkeeper, Dayton; Jahaziel Armas, midfield, Dayton; Bud Kop, goalkeeper, Carson; Mike Gransberry (10 goals), forward, Douglas; Justin Grimm, Douglas; Daniel Hedrick, forward, Galena; Nick Carew, midfield, Galena; Kyle Lancaster, defender, Galena.
Jeremiah Schenzel, sr., midfield, Carson: Began the season at forward, missed a week-and-a-half at mid-season, returned as mid-fielder and helped spark Carson's late season run. At 6-6, he was formidable when the ball was in the air and had three goals and five assists.
Jeff Spencer, sr., Douglas: A key cog in Douglas' staunch defensive unit this season. Whenever Mellows made his trip up top, Spencer was there to bring up the rear. Excellent at distributing the ball from the defensive end. A key in the regional win over Galena.
GIRLS SOCCER
Forward
Libby Walker, fr., Galena: For her rookie season, Walker led the Northern 4A champion Grizzlies with 25 goals, the last two coming in a 2-0 victory over McQueen in the regional tournament finals while playing with a broken tibia, and was honored as High Desert League Offensive Player of the Year.
Christina Bradshaw, sr., Douglas: Capped her four-year varsity career by earning Sierra League Offensive Player of the Year honors. She led the Tigers in goals scored with 19 and finished among the school's all-time leaders in career goals with a four-year total of 53 goals, two shy of Julia Spaulding's school and 4A state record. She also had four assists this season, 22 for her career. A repeat All-Carson Country pick.
Kasey Cano, jr., Carson: Even though she tore her ACL at mid-season, Cano scored six goals and received first-team all-league honors. Her best performance may have come in September when she scored three goals in a 4-1 win over Reed, the eventual regional tournament runner-up. She was team co-captain, with Kat Rogers.
Midfield
Cassie Bowman, jr., Carson: A tough player who seemed to come up big in important games. Sierra League Midfielder of the Year. Scored eight goals and had a hat trick with three goals on free kicks, in a key win at South Tahoe. Time limited late in season due to bronchitis.
Abbie Walker, jr., Galena: First-team all-league. A repeat All-Carson Country pick. A complete player who began the season as a forward. understanding of the game and skills. Played stopper. Solidify defense start attacks. Unselfish. One of keys to success. Many assists and got many attacks started. Able to read defenses.
Krysten Bartshe, sr., Douglas: First-team all-league. A graceful player with a knack for finding the net from the midfield position, had 11 goals and nine assists. Three-year varsity. Had strong stretch run at the end of the season. An academic all-state selection.
Alia Pirruccello, jr., Galena: First-team all-league. Academic all-state. Versatile and scored four goals at Elko after being moved to forward. Get ball to lead attacker. A double threat finish or distrubute.
Kelly Peyton, jr., Galena: First-team all-league. Excellent. Tough defender, great vision. Ability to change point of attack. Scored seven goals. Tall No.2.
Allison Chapman, sr., Douglas: A three-year varsity starter on the wing for the Tigers. A tenacious ball handler who had 14 goals and 12 assists this season, and finished with 25 goals and 26 assists for her career. She is tied for fifth career assists at Douglas. A first-team all-league selection.
Defense
Sami Valerius, jr., Carson: Sierra League co-Defensive Player of the Year. A repeat All-Carson Country pick. Sweeper. Strong player who took care of business in the back.
Alison Pyne, sr., Douglas: A three-year varsity starter who earned first-team all-league honors. Never got beat in a one-on-one situation in playoffs in three years. The Tigers were 14-3 -1 this season, 42-9 over the last three years, with two league titles and a regional tournament title. Academic all-state.
Alyse Iverson, sr., Galena: First-team all-league. One of three seniors. Outside right side. Solid. Could win the ball and start counter attack. Key in strong defense,
Jessica Maule, sr., Douglas: A four-year varsity letter winner who was named first-team all-league. Toughest tackler in the league. A physical player, who scored four goals this season, two in a key late season win over Reno.
Goalie
Caitlyn Anderson, jr., Galena: First-team all-league. Allowed one goal in three regional tournament victories. Douglas beat Galena 4-2 early in the year, but the Grizzlies turned the tables in the regional semifinals. Academic all-state. Hugely competitive, rises to the occasion. Semifinal beat Douglas in shootout, perhaps play of season, had to make save and their No. 16, moves to her right, shooter takes ball back to other side, came back and stopped ball. Over whole year gave up .75 goals per game. Gave up 15 goals in 18 games, seven in two games.
Hillary Winans, so., Douglas: Stepped into the lineup for her first full season as a varsity starter and gave up 11 goals in 18 games - and had 10 shutouts this season. First-team all-league. Academic all-state.
Honorable mention: Kathryn Rogers, midfield, Carson; Morgan Beam, midfield, Carson; Morgan LeFever, forward, Douglas (16 goals, 15 assists); Alicia Sturgess, defense, Douglas; Rachael Tappan, stopper, Douglas; Sam Perry, defense, Douglas; Bianca Gillespie, midfield, Douglas; Kristel Thompson, Dayton (20 goals, first-team all-league); Ashley Winter, Dayton (all-league defense). Meghan Olson, junior, midfield; Danielle Benamati, Carson; Jess Dougherty, defender, Galena; Chelsea Patrick, midfield, Galena; Sarah Stalling, forward, Carson.
VOLLEYBALL
(Editor's note: Volleyball is featured today in the first in a series of All-Carson Country teams for the fall season. The selections are made by the Nevada Appeal sports staff, comprised of players from the six schools within the circulation area: Carson, Douglas,Galena,Dayton, Fernley and Yerington. The All-Carson Country boys and girls soccer teams and football team will be published the next two days.)
Setter
Kate Wallace, 5-8, sr., Galena: A three-year starter who was known for her competitive spirit and intelligence on the court. She had 616 assists (10.2-per game average) and led the team with 26 blocks. Wallace plans to go on to college and major in education, but has no further plans to play competitive volleyball. A first-team all-league setter and repeat All-Carson Country pick.
Outside hitter
Julia Mailander, 6-0, jr., Galena: Her successful season included selection to the first-team all-league and to the High Sierra Invitation all-tournament teams, and of course, Galena won its first state volleyball championship. On a team that always featured balanced statistics, she finished the season with a team-high 196 kills for the season overall. An academic all-state honors student.
Lydia Mailander, 5-11, jr., Galena: Though a second-team all-league, very little separated her from twin sister Julia. Lydia finished with 195 kills (2.9 per game), plus she led the team in digs with 179 and aces with 39. Lydia was an All-Carson Country selection last year. Also an academic all-state student.
Middle blocker:
Amanda Sbragia, 5-11, sr., Dayton: A force at the net who was generally acknowledged as one of the North's best players at any level. She was the Northern 3A MVP and 3A State Tournament MVP this season, capped by 51 kills as the Dust Devils won two matches to take the 3A state tournament championship in school history.
Jenny Burrows, 6-0, sr., Galena: High Desert League co-Player of the Year was described as an emotional leader for the 4A state champion Grizzlies, a sparkplug who always played with confidence and made good decisions in clutch situations. She had 173 kills and led the team in hitting efficiency with a .438 season percentage. A repeat All-Carson Country pick, she has signed with Seattle University.
Whitney Estes, 6-0, jr., Douglas: A first-team all-league selection who was one of the most consistent players for a. Sported a devastating serve and a tough demeanor at the net. Outstanding blocker and dependable hitter.
Nicole Scott, 6-2, jr., Carson: Among the tallest players in the North, Scott was consistently good for six to seven blocks in every match while helping the Senators to a third-place finish in the Sierra League and berth in the regional tournament. She had eight kills in Carson's playoff-clinching win over Wooster and 11 kills in an early-season match at Douglas. Scott was named first-team all-league.
Defensive specialist
Kayla Dunn, 5-8, sr., Douglas: A two-year captain for the Tigers who earned first-team all-league honors this season. She was able to play anywhere on the floor and often did for the two-time Sierra League champions. Now headed to Georgia Tech, where she was recruited as a softball shortstop.
Utility
Michelle Bowman, 5-7, jr., Dayton: Played as a setter and middle blocker for 3A state champion Dust Devils. Earned first-team all-league honors and named second-team all-state. An academic all-state student. She had 21 assists, 11 digs, four kills and three blocks in the state tournament final against Incline.
Honorable mention: Chelsea Appelbaum, Galena; Monica Knight, Douglas; Katy Marsh, Douglas; Cayla Knapp, Douglas; Dawson Joyce-Mendive, Douglas; Lindsay Ford, Carson; Catherine Brekken, Carson (academic all-state); Lindsey Kern, Carson; Yesenia Escalante, Yerington.
