For some, the end of school is an overwhelm of bittersweet emotions and the natural anxiety that comes with the idea of change. As many wrap up their high school chapter, they leave behind the cherished experiences that have shaped them into who they are today. On Tuesday, April 29th, the Palisade Girls Soccer team celebrated their Seniors Night, recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of the Seniors in the Palisade girls soccer program.
Taylor Balding, a Senior at Palisade, has played soccer for much of her life, being greatly involved in high-level programs such as Fire FC and making her name as captain for the PHS girls soccer program. When asked to explain this important night of celebration, she explains, “It was a crazy feeling. The past couple of years, I’ve watched other girls go through this experience. It truly is a surreal moment marking one of the last few times I will be playing with all those girls, including my twin sister. I’ve played with so many of them for so long, and it’s crazy that we are getting ready to start the next chapter. I had a lot more emotions within the game, as celebrating Senior Night is such a bittersweet moment. I played with a sense of pride, knowing that myself and the other seniors worked extremely hard to get PHS soccer to where it is today.”
Balding and her twin sister Jordyn have been integral players in the Palisade’s soccer program, being varsity starters all four years of high school. They both have their own unique and significant contributions to the team, but share the respectable qualities of impressive field awareness, tactical decision-making, passing accuracy, and confidence. The two midfielders have been a large portion of the team’s success offensively and defensively. Jordyn leads the team in steals, and Taylor embodies impressive footwork that has allowed her to be a great playmaker. She is also an incredible leader, showcasing great field vision, communication, and unselfish play.
The Bulldogs worked well together and fought hard in this game, but lost 0-2 against the Fruita Monument Wildcats. Taylor Balding reflects, “The game went well. Obviously, with Senior night, there were more distractions than normal. We still competed really well and played Palisade soccer. It was a game that provided our team with a lot of learning opportunities so we can improve.”
The Bulldogs have one more game in their regular season against the Grand Junction Tigers and will continue to showcase their collective hard work and dedication. Senior captain and goalkeeper Brenae Snover has also been a key player in the development and success of the Palisade soccer program over the last four years. She has been a voice, offering indispensable guidance for the team. She has an impressive 37 saves and five shutouts thus far. Another Senior, Ryan Pomeroy, has been unable to play in the last few games due to an unfortunate injury, but nonetheless, has shown tremendous support for her teammates. Her immense talent, well-roundedness, and knowledge of the game have added to the depth of the team, which has made a long-lasting impact on the quality of play from the Lady Bulldogs. Additionally, Seniors Brittany Villa-Valenzuela and Riley Buniger have been solid players on the backline, and Senior Keylei Dobransky has been a quick forward. Each and every Senior has shown their dedication to the team, making this night a special one.
Taylor Balding will be attending Colorado School of Mines next year, continuing her soccer career at a Division II level. Balding states, “I am going to miss playing with my sister and all the friends I’ve made over the past four years. I believe that our senior class has built a strong foundation, and I’m excited to see it continue to be built upon in the future. I also loved seeing and being a part of a team with people from all different soccer backgrounds. We always came together to form such a strong, competitive and supportive team.” Congratulations to our amazing seniors, we wish you all the best!
