Senior Cosio, coach Seibel commended in FoCo
Right from the get-go of the 2023 volleyball season, Solymar Cosio was focused on making it memorable.
Perhaps not as unforgettable as it ended up being, but something special regardless.
“Soly’s our game-changer. When she’s on the court, she brings big energy and a big presence,” head coach Jennifer Seibel stated, following Ignacio’s August 24 non-league win over Del Norte. “She has so much passion and heart, that she brings everyone up with her. I’m happy to have her for her senior year; she’s so hungry to play … and she’s eager to learn. And excel.”
Recently named First Team All-San Juan Basin League – receiving the third-most points in the coaches’ voting process – for doing precisely that, Cosio was also chosen to play Sunday morning, Nov. 19, in Fort Collins at the Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports All-State Games. Suiting up for the Red team in the Games’ Class 2A feature, and instructed by not only Seibel but Holyoke’s Irene Ortega and Yuma’s Jamie Robinson, Cosio concluded a ferocious fall helping Red defeat Blue 25-15, 25-22, 23-25 in the guaranteed three-gamer played inside Fossil Ridge High School Gymnasium.
Her teammates for the event, known to attract prospect-hunting college coaches, included Tyleigh Fehseke, Taelynn Epple and Payton Malone – the core of freshly-minted State Champion Wiggins’ roster. YHS’ Caddis Robinson and HHS’ Audrey Talavera were also on the winning squad, along with Rye’s Jordan Holgerson, Peyton’s Abbie Nickell and Hoehne’s Janae Ramos.
Unluckily, Mancos’ Brianna Yeomans-Allison (voted SJBL Coach-of-the-Year) helped mentor – alongside Collbran Plateau Valley’s Britany Miller and Littleton Front Range Christian’s Amanda Deich – the Blue bunch, which included MHS senior/SJBL Player-of-the-Year Teya Yeomans.
In the opening Class 1A feature, Dove Creek senior setter Kalie Gatlin and senior middle Kylie Gatlin – clear-cut First Team All-Leaguers – suited up for the Red team, coached by Cotopaxi’s Lou Collins and pit against Blue, guided by Kit Carson’s Jasmine Jacobs and McClave’s Melissa Steinbrunn (amongst her Lady Cardinals this fall was junior Emily Melgoza, formerly of Alamosa and daughter of late AHS athletic director Erik Melgoza).
Having battled all the way to the CHSAA Class 1A State Championships’ Final Four, posting a 4-2 tourney record, DCHS finished the season standing 26-4 overall. Despite going 0-for-2 inside the Denver Coliseum in 2A, Mancos ended up 23-4 and Ignacio, earning two victories in four tries, finished 21-8.
Also named First Team All-SJBL were MHS senior middle Haylie Higgins, Telluride senior libero Bryn Geiger, Dove Creek junior middle/outside/defensive specialist Ralynn Hickman and MHS sophomore setter/outside hitter Claire Goodwin.
IHS freshman setter Kelly Sirios and junior outside hitter Ollyvia Howe were voted Second Team All-League, along with THS sophomore Delia Noel, Nucla senior Shania Joseph, MHS sophomore setter Aysia Mathews and Dolores senior Mikayla Puett. NHS senior Haylee Smith and Norwood sophomore Darcy Bray each received Honorable Mention All-SJBL.
“We have setters on our team that can find everyone on the court; I’m blessed to have had good setters,” Cosio said late in IHS’ historic season. “Our mindset was just to win; we’d been working all year, and each and every one of us pushed. We pulled up JV players, they really challenged us – we couldn’t have done it without our team, plain and simple. I’m so thankful.”