A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
Written by Randy Tucker
For the first time since the Olympic Development Program began in 1977, a Wyoming team has won the West Under-17 Soccer Regional. The championship was the first for any age division team from the Cowboy State, ranging from U13, U14, U15, U16, and U17.
Riverton’s Kirra Coleman-Weisz was a member of the Wyoming team that included Brooklyn Tyler (Gillette), Autumn Ellison (Cheyenne), Jean Marie Wells (Casper), Molly Ryzewicz (Cody), Clair Coles (Cheyenne), Metta Curzon (Jackson), and Lexie Miller.
The Wyoming team was coached by Mark Ryzewicz of Cody, Sterling Christler also from Cody, and Coy Pickel from Cheyenne.
There are four regions: West, Midwest, South, and Northeast.
The West Region was split into large state and small state divisions, with each playing an eight-team tournament.
Two teams from out of the region, Nebraska and Eastern Pennsylvania, competed in the small state division with Wyoming, Oregon, Arizona, Alaska, Montana, and Nevada.
“The thing that was especially rewarding is that the first time the girls went as U-13, they went down there and were beaten badly four straight,” Ryzewicz said. “They’d never seen that speed of play or competition.”
The tournament was played in Mesa, Arizona.
“The The finals were really exciting, I don’t think Oregon expected anything out of us. They came out, and we stopped them,” Ryzewicz said. “We were down 2-1, then scored on a set piece to tie it 2-2.”
Game officials began explaining how overtime would work when the Wyoming girls broke through for a 3-2 win.
Molly Ryzewicz scored with four minutes left from about 20 yards out on an over-the-top of-the-box, left-foot kick.