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Coal Ridge boys soccer coach Brian Blair won 3A Western Slope League Coach of the Year honors. Blair also won Coach of the Year last spring for his work with the school's girls soccer team.
All-3A Western Slope League boys soccer
Player of the Year: Johnnie Diaz, Basalt
Coach of the Year: Brian Blair, Coal Ridge
First team: Dale Bauer, CR; Alfonso Hernandez, CR; Adrian Torres, CR; Tyler Guettler, CR; Caleb Fuller, Hotchkiss; Omar Lopez, Basalt; Johnnie Diaz, Basalt; Ruben Lainez, Basalt; Lucas Dilling, Basalt; Jake Wirkler, Basalt; Sean Woods, Vail Mountain; Wylie Adams, Roaring Fork; Marco Aguilar, RF; Jessie Andrade, Aspen; Luke Falcone, Colorado Rocky Mountain School; Steve Roh, CRMS.
Honorable mention: Dylan Cook, CR; Lee Wentzel, CR; Brian Hernandes, Hotchkiss; Eduardo Fernandez, Basalt; David Gruenefeldt, Basalt; Austin Long, Basalt; Charlie Grant, Vail Mountain; Dalton Handy, RF; Anthony Flores, RF; Terry Leitch, Aspen; Mathew Myers, CRMS.
Coach of the Year: Brian Blair, Coal Ridge
First team: Dale Bauer, CR; Alfonso Hernandez, CR; Adrian Torres, CR; Tyler Guettler, CR; Caleb Fuller, Hotchkiss; Omar Lopez, Basalt; Johnnie Diaz, Basalt; Ruben Lainez, Basalt; Lucas Dilling, Basalt; Jake Wirkler, Basalt; Sean Woods, Vail Mountain; Wylie Adams, Roaring Fork; Marco Aguilar, RF; Jessie Andrade, Aspen; Luke Falcone, Colorado Rocky Mountain School; Steve Roh, CRMS.
Honorable mention: Dylan Cook, CR; Lee Wentzel, CR; Brian Hernandes, Hotchkiss; Eduardo Fernandez, Basalt; David Gruenefeldt, Basalt; Austin Long, Basalt; Charlie Grant, Vail Mountain; Dalton Handy, RF; Anthony Flores, RF; Terry Leitch, Aspen; Mathew Myers, CRMS.
Coal Ridge boys soccer coach Brian Blair admitted that he was a little surprised when he heard he had been named the 3A Western Slope League's Coach of the Year. He figured it'd go to John McDermott, who coached Basalt to a league title.
“It was definitely a surprise,” Blair said. “I did not expect it.”
Clearly, Blair's fellow 3A WSL coaches took notice of the breakout season the Titans put together. Riding a late-season surge, Blair's side finished 10-6 overall, took second place in the league standings and made the state playoffs for the first time in program history.
“It's humbling for me, but it's also a reflection of the guys,” Blair said. “The coaches talked to me [at games], but I think they really judge me on how the guys act on the field and the character they show. That's probably why they thought I did a good job.”
Blair is no stranger to Coach of the Year honors. Last spring, he won the award for his work with Coal Ridge's girls soccer team, which went 15-1-1 and won a 3A WSL title.
“It's been unbelievable,” Blair said. “It's kind of almost too big. I don't know. I definitely get to coach good kids, both boys and girls. That makes it a lot easier.”
Titan players also received plenty of award attention.
Dale Bauer, Alfonso Hernandez, Adrian Torres and Tyler Guettler all made the All-3A WSL first team. Dylan Cook and Lee Wentzel nabbed honorable mentions.
“All those kids who received it were deserving,” Blair said. “One of the cool things about our [postseason] banquet is that most of those guys were honestly surprised. They all could have seen other guys on the team receiving those accolades.”
Select Titans also received all-state attention from the Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA). Eliel Ruiz was recognized as a second-team all-state pick, while Hernandez was tabbed an honorable mention.
“It was definitely a surprise,” Blair said. “I did not expect it.”
Clearly, Blair's fellow 3A WSL coaches took notice of the breakout season the Titans put together. Riding a late-season surge, Blair's side finished 10-6 overall, took second place in the league standings and made the state playoffs for the first time in program history.
“It's humbling for me, but it's also a reflection of the guys,” Blair said. “The coaches talked to me [at games], but I think they really judge me on how the guys act on the field and the character they show. That's probably why they thought I did a good job.”
Blair is no stranger to Coach of the Year honors. Last spring, he won the award for his work with Coal Ridge's girls soccer team, which went 15-1-1 and won a 3A WSL title.
“It's been unbelievable,” Blair said. “It's kind of almost too big. I don't know. I definitely get to coach good kids, both boys and girls. That makes it a lot easier.”
Titan players also received plenty of award attention.
Dale Bauer, Alfonso Hernandez, Adrian Torres and Tyler Guettler all made the All-3A WSL first team. Dylan Cook and Lee Wentzel nabbed honorable mentions.
“All those kids who received it were deserving,” Blair said. “One of the cool things about our [postseason] banquet is that most of those guys were honestly surprised. They all could have seen other guys on the team receiving those accolades.”
Select Titans also received all-state attention from the Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA). Eliel Ruiz was recognized as a second-team all-state pick, while Hernandez was tabbed an honorable mention.
Rams land four all-league picks
Wylie Adams and Marco Aguilar represented Roaring Fork on the All-3A WSL first team. Dalton Handy and Anthony Flores were honorable mentions. Adams was also named a CHSCA all-state honorable mention.The quartet led the Rams to an 8-4-3 overall record and a second straight playoff appearance.
Three all-leaguers for CRMS
Colorado Rocky Mountain School's Luke Falcone and Steve Roh, who helped the Oysters to a 7-4-2 season that featured the school's first playoff showing in some time, were named to the All-3A WSL first team. They were joined as all-leaguers by teammate Mathew Myers, who was named an honorable mention.jcaspersen@postindependent.com
