Smith thriving in new role for Central girls

Smith knew her role was going to change and grow after Central graduated several standouts from that squad, and she tried to prepare herself to rise to the occasion.

The sophomore has done that and then some.

Smith netted four goals and one assist to help Central run roughshod through the East Conference tournament last week. Those efforts earned Smith Prep Athlete of the Week honors from WyoSports’ Cheyenne staff.

Smith’s role for the Indians is to be disciplined and counter the freedom to roam that senior Taylor Meyrick has. Central coach Jeff Norman also wants her to play what he calls a “box-to-box” role, where she contributes so heavily on offense that she often finds herself in the penalty area in front of the opponent’s goal, and so heavily on defense that she finds herself roaming the penalty area near Central’s goal.

“I have played a role like this my whole life,” said Smith, who has already verbally committed to continue her soccer career at the University of Wyoming. “I was never uncomfortable playing on the wing last season, but I am very comfortable where I am at now.”

Smith has embraced her new role, Norman said.

“She plays the position the way I want it to be played,” he said. “There are matches I want her to be more defensive, and she does that. There are matches where I want her to be involved more in the offense, and she does that.

“She doesn’t roam out of position. She is very sound, disciplined and understands all three of our midfield roles very well.”

Smith has 13 goals and five assists this season. Her increased statistics are a sign of her improved finishing abilities.

“I have been doing a better job of that, which is something I have struggled with in the past,” Smith said. “I have worked on that a lot because I really wanted to get better at finishing before I got to college.”

According to Norman, it was never a matter of if Smith was going to start filling up the net, but when.

“Her ability to shoot is very special,” he said. “She has a really powerful shot, and she is good at placing it. Those are really special attributes to have.

“She can shoot from long range, and she can shoot it accurately from there. A lot of girls who can put that much power behind it can’t still be that accurate, but she is powerful and accurate.”

Others recognized for their efforts:

n Aiden Carroll, boys track and field, Burns: The senior won pole vault and the 300-meter hurdles at the Class 3A East Regional. He cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to win pole vault and finished the 300 hurdles in 43.08 seconds. He also took fourth in the 110 hurdles (17.43).

n Maddie Fornstrom, girls track and field, Pine Bluffs: The junior won pole vault at the Class 2A East Regional by clearing 10 feet. She also was second in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, finishing the 100s in 16.70 seconds and the 300s in 49.19. She also placed third in long jump (15 feet, 9½ inches).

n Jenna Goodrich and Claudia Miller, girls track and field, Central: Goodrich, a senior, won long jump at the Class 4A East Regional with a mark of 17 feet. She also was second in triple jump (35-3½), third in the 200-meter dash (26.36 seconds) and fifth in the 100 (12.97).

Miller, also a senior, won the 1,600-meter run (5 minutes, 15.67 seconds), and was second in the 800 (2:19.00).