Two-sport spring stars driving elite seasons for Timnath girls soccer, track & field

Two-sport stars aren't atypical in high school sports. Far from it.

But during the same season, in aerobically-taxing sports like soccer and track and field? Performing at elite levels?

That's a bit more remarkable. And it's a driving force behind Timnath girls soccer and track and field's high-level success this spring.

The Cubs' soccer team is unbeaten (16-0-1) and into the Class 3A quarterfinals after beating Regis Groff (7-0) in the first round and Frontier Academy (3-0) in Saturday's second round.

On the track, Timnath is an emerging force and poised to continue Northern Colorado's proud track and field traditions. The Cubs own four of Class 2A's top-five relay times, plus three top individual marks and will be a favorite to win the girls team title.

The second-year school has a bevy of emerging players. But the crossover trio of Addison Geraets, Lily Eisbrener and Natalie Washburn is having huge impacts for both squads.

"It's really cool to see a school like us — we still don't even have that many juniors — have both teams winning so much," said the sophomore Geraets.

Eisbrener is among the top 3A soccer players, period. She compiled 33 regular-season goals and 11 assists, driving the Cubs' prolific scoring attack with Gracyn Redmon and Maia Kub. For good measure, she's also was on Timnath's 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay units that hold the state's top 2A times.

Washburn has battled a hip injury but still scored 10 goals with six assists despite missing several matches. The junior is a mid-distance machine, too, running on Timnath's state-leading 4x400 and 4x800 relay units. She also won the Cubs' first individual state title last spring (800 meters).

And Geraets is an imposing defensive presence on the pitch, often playing centerback or defensive midfield. She's also a Patriot League champ in the 300 hurdles and part of Timnath's state-best 4x400 relay group.

They helped both teams clinch Patriot League championships last week.

There's no shortage of accomplishments for this group, but they don't come without tradeoffs.

For starters, there isn't much free time for these teenagers. Practices before and after school some days. An added mental strain on top of schoolwork and "just" one sport. Varying and shifting schedules by the week, sometimes by the day.

"Seeing their dedication definitely makes you want to work even harder," said Timnath sprinter and teammate Emili Voelker, who also owns 2A's top 100 dash time.

Managing the balancing act between sports with such conflicting schedules took time, blooming from a "trial year" last year for head coaches Matt Miltenberg (track) and James Cockrell (soccer).

They learned to work with all three athletes (plus Emily Bakke, mostly absent this year with an injury), doing right by all parties.

"Last year was a huge learning experience," Miltenberg said. "Both programs were just trying to get established and pushing pretty hard."

It led to some mid-season burnout but ultimately, a pre-season commitment this spring to approach everything with more tact.

They sat down with the girls and their families, looking to be "more intentional."

Now, Cockrell and Miltenberg map out schedules in two-week chunks. There's a shared calendar. Rankings of which weeks hold the most important games or meets.

"The goal is to have them feel fully part of both teams and give them the chance to excel at both," Cockrell said.

It's also about managing team dynamics, especially for soccer as the trio has jumped in and out of the lineup. The three expressed gratitude to teammates and coaches just for supporting them in both.

"We have a plan for us that hopefully makes everything most fair," Washburn said.

"We have missed more soccer than track but you’d never know it by how (Cockrell) reacts. Coach will see our times and congratulate us on our new PR times or winning conference and then it's all soccer."

The switching leads to some interesting juggling. For example, one will play a match while the other two run a race. It's heavily dependent on who is needed for what event and when. Or one will give up their spot in an individual race but return for a team relay.

It's mostly been manageable, especially since Timnath soccer has dominated opponents this spring, outscoring them 120-7.

With state championship week arriving, there's a potential final boss for the two-sport trio.

If the Cubs make the state semifinals, it would likely overlap with some key distance events on the track Thursday evening.

State track entries are due Monday. Lineups must be set then. A soccer semifinal in Arvada would be a 20-minute drive away.

"We could have some hard decisions," Miltenberg said. "But that would be a good problem to have."

"I'd probably tell them to go win a state championship," said Cockrell, who ran track in high school. "We've figured out how to play with and without them. If you're on the last step for track? Go get gold."

That's an example of the relationship between the two programs. Symbiotic, not at odds.

Whether it's through conditioning, team support or athletic development, it's all pushing the trio (and their teams) to greater heights.

"You hope the teams are feeding off each other," Miltenberg said.

"Having gotten to know these girls, you can’t help but be super invested in their success. It’s exciting for them and for our school."

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Timnath sports: Two-sport spring stars driving elite track, soccer seasons