Goals are what Trinidad State College sorely lacked this fall.
Goals are what Sydney Rey has been known to score. Or, at the least, generate.
Accepting both an offer and a challenge, Bayfield’s now-senior soccer standout declared Tuesday afternoon her intent to both study at and hopefully help revitalize TSC’s program after her decorated BHS career concludes.
“I think he wants me to be a really big part in building up his team,” Rey said, of Trojan women’s soccer head coach Tim Busen. “His team did not have a very good record this year, and so he took me and a whole bunch of other girls – wanting us to build up the team and make it 10 times better.”
Rey said at the well-attended ceremony held in BHS’ cafeteria that she received both instate and out-of-state recruitment.
“When I first became her coach during her sophomore year, Sydney told me she did not want to just be good. She wanted to be great,” recalled BHS head coach Scott Key. “With that goal of playing at the collegiate level, we had countless conversations about dedication, perseverance and resilience that it takes to reach that dream. Today, Sydney can celebrate that dream coming true.”
Only one player on Trinidad State’s 2024 roster hailed from the Trinidad area (freshman Raelynn Schmidt played at Class 2A THS), and TSC tallied only one goal – scored by freshman Gloria Wittke (a 3A Denver West grad) on Sept. 21 in a 9-1 loss at Central Wyoming College – en route to finishing 0-13-0 overall and 0-10-0 in NJCAA Div. I, Region 9 play.
Twelve freshmen were in uniform when the campaign commenced with exhibition scrimmages at NCAA Div. II members Fort Lewis College and Adams State University (Busen had helmed the ASU men’s team from 2010-15), but TSC came no closer to victory than in a 6-0 home loss to Western Nebraska C.C., before then dropping their final two matches at Central Park to Laramie County C.C. and circuit champ Western Wyoming C.C.
“So I looked at a bunch of other schools, and I loved the other schools that I went to. But when I went to Trinidad it just felt like home,” she continued. “I met the team … sweetest people I’ve ever met. The coach was amazing, and the town just looked like Durango – made me feel like I was at home.”
Rey viewed Trinidad State as having nowhere to go but up – a situation she faced as a freshman suiting up for a Bayfield program that had gone 0-7-1 during the COVID-shortened ’21 season. Taking the 3A Southwestern by surprise, Rey scored 13 goals in helping the Wolverines rocket up to 9-6-0 overall and 3-3-0 in league in 2022.
“I’d say middle school is when I really thought I would be able to play at the college level,” said Rey, daughter of Josh and Kasey Rey. “But it really started to hit me when I was a sophomore – when everyone started to see my potential.”
She then earned the SWL’s Player of the Year award in both 2023 and ’24, racking up 33 more goals (plus 10 more assists) as BHS went a combined 6-3-3 in league, and 13-14-3 overall – including a ’24-ending loss at Colorado Academy in the CHSAA Class 3A State Tournament’s opening Round of 32.
“Sydney is one of those rare athletes who makes you a better coach,” said Key. “She constantly challenged me to do my best, and to be my best – just as she challenges herself to be her best. Her energy, her wit, her leadership are contagious … and it’s been an honor and a privilege to have coached you.”
Rey is interested in criminology or criminal psychology coursework at Trinidad State. She said it’s weird to say she’s playing at the collegiate level but it shows all the hard work pays off.
