CORTEZ – Behind her friendly demeanor, M-CHS senior halfback Camryn Oliver is all business. In moments during a Panthers match, Oliver shares plenty of lighter moments with her teammates, and often with the opponents, as well.
Just don’t expect her to let down her guard.
Alongside freshman Raya Hall, Oliver forms the last line of defense in front of her goalkeepers – junior Raegan Veach and freshman Venice Rossiter – as the Panthers are in the midst of a historically staunch defensive season. Seldom have opponents had the opportunity to test the Panthers netminders because Oliver and the Panthers back four have kept matters in front of them. In a 9-1 victory April 28 over Del Norte at M-CHS, Oliver was honored on Senior Night as she reached 45 matches played in her varsity career.
Oliver’s career longevity matches the endurance and effort she takes from the cross country course, where she wrapped up her high school racing career for M-CHS XC head coach Dan Tamminga this past fall. Many of her grueling 5K races included the same smile on her face that has become emblematic of her approach on the soccer pitch.
On the season, M-CHS (12-3, 6-0 3A IML) has conceded just 18 goals, barely over one per contest on average, including just two goals total in their perfect run through the Intermountain League. Oliver rotated from fullback to halfback for her final season, and juniors Ivy Gray and Graciela Vaughn, along with sophomore Sadie Maxwell, have taken Oliver’s place on the wings. The defensive unit, with junior Kaybree Smith sitting just in front of that formation in the midfield, has made M-CHS a formidable group to break down – and the Panthers statewide profile continues to grow.
The Panthers wrapped up their final weekend of the regular season with a victory over Grand Junction Central (10-0) and a defeat to Grand Junction (4-1), positioning the Panthers as the No. 9 seed in the 3A bracket and another opening round home contest, just one year after they made history by landing the program’s first ever home playoff match.
Veach and Rossiter, who stepped in admirably when the Panthers starter went down to an injury, have matched the aggression of Oliver’s back line, flying to the ball to gobble up almost everything that’s managed to break through the M-CHS defense.
At the other end of the pitch, the goals have been bountiful – 67 on the season – and Smith (seven assists) is third on the team to sophomore Kyndall Schmitt’s 10 and classmate Emilynn Hill’s eight helpers, as M-CHS hopes to continue to keep up their 4.5 goals/match pace when they head into the postseason. Schmitt and classmate Mia Glazner have accounted for 51 of those over five-dozen tallies this year.
For a youthful team, however, Oliver’s presence as a captain and leader reminds them of the fun to be had in each moment, regardless of the score line, and her departure beecause of graduation leaves M-CHS looking to replace Oliver’s intangible energy. Her teammates, meanwhile, hope to send off their lone senior with a postseason to remember.
The Panthers get set to take on No. 24 Wellington (8-6-1) in the opening round of the 3A tournament – a match to be played at M-CHS on Thursday. A win would send M-CHS into the round of 16 and a Saturday match against the winner of No. 8 Delta and No. 25 Woodland Park.
