President's Message
Welcome back to 2021-2022! CCGS is excited to announce that we will be hosting our all-state games again this year! We are on schedule to host the softball games on Nov. 7th, volleyball games the weekend of Nov. 20th and basketball in March (date TBA). Please watch your email for updated information on all of these events as we finalize the specifics of each of our games!
As we all forge ahead to our first complete athletic season since 2019, I hope we all do this with some reflection on what has happened since 2019. We all tend to gravitate to the negative with the biggest negative in our world of athletics being the loss of competition in the spring of 2019 and the craziness of 2020! As a coach, it was hard not being in the gym or on the field with our athletes. It was hard for our athletes not being around their teammates, and I think they would even admit they missed being around their coaches! We all need each other. The pandemic has taught us how to be creative in all aspects of our coaching from communication/team meetings to our practice plans and game management! Hopefully, we as coaches can learn and help our athletes learn from the past 18 months. Let’s not let the pandemic define us but let it re-shape the way we think and learn!
As I enter the 2021-2022 season, I do it knowing that I will be ending my tenure as President of CCGS. When I first got involved with CCGS as a young coach in the 1990’s, I had no real idea of what an important and amazing organization CCGS was and is. I do now. Without CCGS, I truly believe that girls in Colorado would not have had the opportunities as early as they did. The women who started this organization, specifically Ruby Miller and Helen McCall, got the ball rolling. Some of those who continued “pushing” that ball were Mary Kvamme, Betty Krueger, Laura Fischer, Colleen Stradley, Suzie Kester, Maurine Sanford, Joyce Davisson, Judy Barnett, Mary Gore, Fran Sixkiller, and Lo Hunter. I am 100% sure that there are many names that I have missed who were instrumental in the early years of CCGS. I am thankful that Lo Hunter decided (for me) that I needed to be a part of this organization! We currently have a terrific Board of Directors who are passionate about the importance of this organization and the effect we have on girls’ sports in Colorado. My biggest concern is that when members of this board need to step aside, we need others to step up and join this outstanding organization. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested in filling the office of President, please reach out to me (tmwardco@msn.com) or anyone else on our board.
It truly has been my pleasure and my honor to have served as President of CCGS for as long as I have!
Sincerely,
Terri Ward
All-state Softball Games
All-state games: November 7
Location: Lutz Fields, I-70 and Kipling, Arvada
Time: 12:30 Opening Ceremony: 1:00 Games
All-state Volleyball Games
Location and Time: Zoom virtual meeting at 10 am
All-state games: November 20-21
Location:
November 20 at Norco Volleyball, Loveland
November 21 at Fossil Ridge High School, Ft. Collins
Time: 1A at 9 am; 2A at 10:30 am; 3A at 12 pm; 4A at 1:30 pm; 5A at 3 pm
All-state Softball Information
IMPORTANT DATES & VOTING INFORMATION…2021-2022 Season
Hello Softball Coaches!
I hope that this letter finds you enjoying the wonderful sport of softball as you are in the midst of your season.
As most of you know, the all-state softball games started with CCGS in 1987 and have been a great way to recognize female athletics across the state. Additionally, the games have carried female athlete recognition across the country. However, these games do not happen without the help of all of you. For this I cannot thank you enough.
IMPORTANT DATES: Please mark you calendars for the following:
Your League Meeting: Take a ballot to your (end of the season) league meeting.
Google link/Ballot - you will be forced to make a copy in order to type in/enter your league nominations.
** Fill out ballot at your end of season meeting and email or email it back to me by Wednesday Oct 20**
Selection Meeting:
Date: Oct 24, 2021
Location: Virtual meeting; only current members will receive a passcode to the meeting
Time: 9:00 am
You can update your membership; Head coach = $30, Asst Coach = $15 (it needs to be current in order to vote or coach in the games; only one vote per team)
payment through website … https://ccgs.sportngin.com/register/form/931183302
create an account
MUST be completed/updated by Friday October 22, 2021
Questions? Contact Monica Tuz using link above
All-State Softball Games:
Date: November 7, 2021
Location: Lutz Fields, 10664 W. 58th Ave., Arvada, CO 80005
Time: 12:30 Opening Ceremony; 1:00 Games
- 10 am Check-in at the concession building
- 10:30 Team picture (players in uniform)
- 11:00 Warm-up
- 12:30 Opening Ceremony
- 1:00 Games (Fields 5, 6 & 7)
Ballot and voting: The only requirement is that the athlete is a SENIOR.
The number-one slot is an automatic entry to the games. (aligned with our philosophy of having all-state representation)
The ballot consists of 3 non-pitcher slots. Players in slots 2 – 13 will be voted on during the selection meeting – their ballot position has no impact on the decision – it will strictly be done by votes.
Players not selected for the game will be used as alternates only if needed … DO NOT tell the athlete that they have made the team – feel free to express that they have been NOMINATED if you choose.
If you have a player who is placed on the ballot for selection, you will need to pass along information to her if she is selected. Therefore, you or a representative need to be at the meeting.
NEW-NEW-NEW: We will NOT have a banquet to allow for proper social distancing expectations.
I cannot express the gratitude that I have for you. Not only with the help that you give me each year in making the games a success, but, most importantly, for all the work that you do for your softball players. The impact is endless (it makes up for the pay ☺).
Please join us for the selection meeting so you can talk up your player & get them into the games.
I will see you virtually on Sunday Oct 24, 2021 starting @ 9 am.
I wish you the best as you finish up your season.
Respectfully,
Khara West
cell: 303-981-1714
Brittney Gutierrez
Volleyball All-state Information
Welcome to the 2021-2022 volleyball season. We hope that your season is going well and are happy to announce that we will host the all-state games on November 20 and 21. The CCGS all-state games began in 1978 as a means of honoring outstanding female athletes in Colorado. Athletes and coaches alike enjoy the camaraderie that the games promote as players get to interact with athletes from different classifications from across the state. The games also provide the athletes with a great opportunity for recruitment as many college coaches are in attendance.
This year’s games will be a bit different due to Covid-related concerns. First, there will be no banquet; and the games will be held over a two-day period. Registration, pictures, and practice will occur on November 20 at the Norco Volleyball Club, 4539 Viking Way, Loveland, CO. The games will be played at Fossil Ridge High School, 5400 Ziegler Rd., Ft. Collins, CO on November 21.
Please use this link “League Nomination Ballot” to nominate athletes from your league. Athletes should be nominated at your league meeting. If you are a school that participates in a multi-classification league, provide only one ballot for your league and make sure that you rank your athletes in the order that you want them to appear on the comprehensive ballot for the selection meeting. The league ballot is due to Lisa Schumacher, classifications 1A-3A, or Susan Odenbaugh, classifications 4A and 5A by October 30. If your league meeting is scheduled after October 30, your ballot must be submitted no later than November 5.
The selection meeting will be held virtually on November 14 at 10 am. Only current members will receive a passcode for the Zoom meeting. You can renew your membership by clicking on the blue Membership Registration tab on our website https://colocgs.org/. We encourage everyone to renew your membership no later then November 12. Contact Monica Tuz, our membership chair, at monica.tuz@bvsd.org if you have any questions regarding your membership.
If you have any questions, contact either Lisa or Susan; and best of luck with your seasons.
Lisa Schumacher
schumacherl@re1valleyschools.org
Susan Odenbaugh
All-state Basketball Information
Since 1978, the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports (CCGS) has honored outstanding female basketball players at the CCGS All-State Basketball Games. This year’s event will take place on Saturday/Sunday, March 19th and 20th at TBD.
Sunday, March 13th, is the selection meeting (IN PERSON) at TBD.
You MUST be a member of CCGS to nominate an athlete.
On Saturday morning March 19th, there will be a mandatory Coaches meeting at 8:30 AM and the Athletes will start checking in at 9:00 AM at TBD. The day will consist of pictures, practice, and scrimmages. Lunch will be provided.
THERE WILL BE NO BANQUET.
**4A/5A will play Saturday evening. 1A/2A/3A will play Sunday morning**
Game times will be announced for Saturday evening and Sunday morning at a later date.
If you have any questions, please contact any one of the following:
School/Cell
David Huss
(970)522-1041/(970)520-3522
Merci Ames (303)622-9211/(720)334-2874
Chris Kemm (720)256-6672 (PLEASE TEXT)
A Special Congratulations to the 2021 CCGS Ruby Miller Scholarship Winners
Anna Gallowich, Gunnison High School: Anna is a three-sport athlete at Gunnison HS having competed in track, softball, and basketball. She captained the softball and basketball teams for both her junior and senior seasons. She has also volunteer coached gymnastics at the middle-school level for a nine-week season for three years and is determined to serve her community as an educator and coach. Her current interest for teaching is biology/life science at the middle-school level. After graduating with a 4.0+ GPA, she will enter Western Colorado University in the fall. Her basketball coach points out that Anna is dedicated and hard working as well as a team leader. He says that “…Anna is intelligent, organized, and driven to do the absolute best that she can in all of her courses...and will be incredibly successful with her career path…”
Kendyl Kirkwood, Fleming High School: Kendyl is a three-sport athlete who has had the unique experience of being on state qualifying teams in each sport she plays and in each season that she has competed. She is hoping to continue that streak for the remainder of her senior year at 1A Fleming HS. She was named All-State in 2019 when her volleyball team won the state championship. She was also named All-State in basketball in 2019-20, the unfinished (covid) season. Active in FBLA, student council, and National Honor Society, Kendyl is a leader in the school. She plans to start her college education at Otero JC where she will play volleyball and study elementary education. She plans to coach at either the middle or high-school level and “…help girls realize from a young age that they can compete and accomplish anything that they set their minds to.” Her coaching model has been her dad, and she wants to follow in his footsteps."
Kendyl MacAskill, Palisade High School (Grand Junction): Kendyl is a three-sport athlete having competed in volleyball, basketball, and track. She has played varsity volleyball all four years and has been captain of the team. As a junior she was named All-Conference and honorable mention All-State. She is in National Honor Society, the International Baccalaureate program, and is a Colorado Discover Ability (CDA) volunteer. She has volunteered at Camp Freedom, designed to serve disabled children. She is planning to work with children with disabilities who are involved in youth sports “…because the effects that team sports have on an individual are unmatched.” Her basketball coach commends her with these words: “She is a rare leader who speaks only when it matters, and those around her listen because she has the skill that gives her the credibility to be listened to.”
Taylor Skoglund. Pueblo West High School: Taylor is a volleyball athlete from the word “go.” She began her volleyball career at the local “Y” in their youth program. She has played school and club volleyball for the past four years and was the leader in ace serves for 4A in 2019 with 88. With a GPA of 4.3, Taylor is an IB student and AP scholar award winner. She plans to play volleyball at Elmhurst University in Illinois and major in K-12 education. She has had the opportunity to volunteer as an elementary teacher’s assistant and has found that to her liking. Her lead teacher states that Taylor
“…worked well with all our students’ different learning styles and personalities.” Taylor’s volleyball coach gives her high praise: “Taylor is a perfect candidate for the Ruby Miller Scholarship…a top-level student, athlete, and will be an outstanding girls’ volleyball coach.”
2020 Helen McCall Coach of the Year
Kit Carson’s Penny Isenbart is the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports Helen McCall Coach of the Year for 2020. Growing up in Aurora, Coach Isenbart played volleyball at Aurora Central High School. She then went on to play two years at Colorado Christian University and Metropolitan State College of Denver. After graduating from Metro, she taught both first grade and high-school English. She earned her Master’s in Teaching Integrated Natural Science from Colorado College. Coach Isenbart is a true Colorado girl!
Coach Isenbart has spent the last 23 of 26 years in education at Kit Carson as a teacher, guidance counselor, and the varsity volleyball coach. Her prowess as an exceptional coach earned her the 1A Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2018, honors bestowed by the Denver Post. Her teams have played in 13 state tournaments with one second-place finish and three state championship titles. Twenty-one of her players have been selected All-State; eight of her athletes have gone on to play college volleyball; and five former players are coaches and/or teachers. Her success comes from her emphasis on mental toughness and team unity while facilitating a leadership study for all volleyball players.
Coach Isenbart is involved in community and state activities in addition to her teaching and coaching responsibilities. She implemented a K-8 volleyball program in the community and has served as a speaker for Glacier Sports Clinic and the Colorado High School Coaches Association. She served on the CCGS Executive Board for two years as the secretary. Coach Isenbart has organized and sponsored the Positive Coaching Alliance program in the Kit Carson School District. She works with her parent community to enhance positive learning experiences for each athlete and founded the community tragedy fund to help assist families during traumatic experiences. Through the University of Missouri, she is currently working on a master’s degree in positive coaching and positive psychology in order to promote the importance each athlete’s positive wellbeing in their everyday lives. Helen McCall would be honored to have such a dedicated coach receive her award.
