Taking the state by Storm

Robyn Bretzing's Under-18 Celtic Storm girls club soccer team has dominated its competition in Utah. Since 2001, the Celtic Storm team is one of two Utah club teams to win state cup four consecutive years.

The success hasn't gone unnoticed by Division I soccer coaches. Already, nine players — who double as prep soccer standouts as well — have verbally committed to BYU, Utah and Utah State.

Next year, the Timpview's Jessica Harmon and the Alta foursome of Katie Larkin, Katie Fellows, Whitney Feller and Karen Cook will wear the Cougar blue. Timpview's Candace Clark and Jordan's Jessica Darrow have committed to Utah State, and Alta's Lynzee Lee and East's Katie Reineke have verbally committed to Utah.

Also, Provo's Jana Davis is headed for Idaho State.

That number is expected to increase when the team participates in a national tournament over Thanksgiving weekend. Come February, when players can officially sign, Bretzing expects almost every player on her team to sign with various colleges.

In Utah, that doesn't happen very often.

"It's a unique situation," Bretzing said. "But it does happen. It's on the higher end coming out of Utah. We're one of the few club teams to have this many from one group, especially go to BYU."

In soccer, individuals are more likely to be recruited by their performance at the club level than by what they do playing high school soccer.

Because of that, Bretzing has enjoyed watching her players go through the recruiting process. The Celtic Storm coach, who is also president of the girls' soccer club, has taken phone calls and responded to e-mails from college coaches all around the country.

"It's been a ton of fun," she said. "I have been able to tell them how great these players are."

While bragging about her players to college coaches around the country, Bretzing also became very nervous. She has coached most of the girls on her team since they were 13, and seeing them leave Utah would have been hard.

"These girls are like my family," Bretzing said. "To know that I can still watch them play will be a lot of fun."

Meagan Richardson of Timpanogos and Park City's Kelly Isleib are the only two juniors on the team. Bretzing said the two will have plenty of offers from colleges.

"All along, these girls have shown the commitment to play at the collegiate level," she said. "They have shown personal commitment in wanting to be great soccer players. They are the most committed girls I have ever seen."

That commitment started five years ago when the team was first assembled.

"We knew at that time they were a good bunch of girls," Bretzing said.