Ted Lasso, the fictional football-turned-soccer coach, has posited that it's possible for teams to outscore their opponents and still lose, and conversely, score fewer points and still succeed.

Clear Creek volleyball coach Karin Thomsen and her players felt similarly during their end-of-season banquet on May 5, as they reminisced on how much progress they made despite a 4-9 season.

“We had our mountains and our valleys. That's what makes us a program; that's what makes us human,” Thomsen told her players, emphasizing that personal growth and making memories as a team is more important than wins and losses. “ … The memories that you make stick with you.”

Thomsen added that because Clear Creek had such a short season — 13 games in one month — she and the upperclassmen players decided they were going to focus more on teamwork and building confidence on the court, and not put as much pressure on themselves to win.

Aiden Kocol, a junior setter on the varsity team, said that while it was short, it was one of the better seasons Clear Creek has had

“Everyone worked well together,” she said.

Freshman middle Sharlynne McKown, who played on the junior varsity team, described it as a good bonding season because there were so many new players.

During the banquet, the coaches recognized all the players in the volleyball program for their hard work throughout the season, including awarding Most Valuable Player and other honors, to members of each of the three teams.

The players and coaches also honored the program's four seniors.

Kocol said that, while she's confident the current juniors and sophomores will step up next year, it will be hard to replace this year's seniors.

“On senior night, we played really hard for them,” she said of the final home game against Gilpin County, which the Golddiggers lost.

Among the awards, Thomsen announced that senior Zeda Taylor unanimously made the Mile High League's 1st Team All-Conference and led the league in digs this season. Additionally, Luna Weaver received Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Thomsen said it's unusual for a team that finished ninth in the conference to have one player, let alone two, receive all-conference honors.

Taylor said that making the Mile High League's 1st Team was “pretty cool,” and that she and Weaver plan to play volleyball at community college next year.

“I think we had a good season for how short it was,” she continued. “We had a great team and a great coach.”