July is just for club hoops, right? Not for these top high school programs that brought their teams together and headed out to Gunnison last week. With the rise of the Western Colorado State women’s basketball program to the top tier of the RMAC, the team camps led by coaches Lora Westling and Todd Stutzman have drawn more talent each summer. Here are some teams that looked sharp at elevation 7,723 feet and some players who impressed:
Berthoud - This program is picking up where they left off after pulling off the biggest upset in the 4A state tournament four months ago. The 25-seed Spartans went down to The Classical Academy and took out the 8-seed Titans, 57-55. Ally PadillaAllyPadilla
5'8" | CG Berthoud | 2022StateCO
(2022, 5’8") scored 18 in that game and she was possibly the best player at the camp last week. Padilla more than doubled her production from 7.5 PPG in 2020 to 15.9 in 2021 and jumped from 4.1 RPG to 8.4. Imagine what she can do this year after the graduation of Breanna FowlerBreannaFowler
5'8" | PG Berthoud | 2021StateCO
. At 39% behind the arc, she makes you work extra hard to stop the disciplined Berthoud flex offense, which was built for Padilla who can play every position. Always one of the top programs in Colorado, Berthoud showed nice depth bringing multiple teams out to Gunnison.
Broomfield - On paper, Broomfield should be down this year. But no one told their team that last week and on the hardwood, they wouldn’t fold. Look for Sarah Collins (2024) to jump into the Eagles’ lineup and for Sophie ChristopherSophieChristopher
5'6" | CG Broomfield | 2023StateCO
(2023, 5’5") to play a huge role for them. Collins is new to the varsity scene but Christopher was second on the team in assists and rebounds last year.
[player_tooltip player_id="222378" first="Natalie" last="Guanella"]Monarch - With Arezo Safi (2023, 6’0") and Amelia Rosin (2023, 6’1") unable to make the trip, most of Monarch’s heavy lifting was done by Natalie GuanellaNatalieGuanella
5'7" | PG Monarch | 2023StateCO
(2023, 5’7"). She’s a fast and skilled competitor who willed her team to a 4-2 record at the camp. For programs that want a true point guard who can create, steal, shoot, and ruthlessly assault the rim, Guanella is a terrific prospect (16.5 PPG, 3.5 SPG in 2021). Mix in Safi as a long, lean, in and out threat, and Rosin, a force of a post player, and Monarch has three studs to build on last year’s Front Range championship.
Thompson Valley - The Eagles will return every player from a very strong 12-4 team that earned a Sweet 16 birth last season. Thompson Valley shot the 2nd most free throws in any class getting to the line 375 times in 2021. Amelia SoltAmeliaSolt
5'4" | PG Thompson Valley | 2022StateCO
(2022, 5’5") is a huge reason why. A lot of college coaches skip over 5’5". A lot of NFL coaches skipped over 5’8" Phillip Lindsay. He’s a pro-bowler. She’s one to take seriously. Solt’s quick-release shot and quicker-release runner frustrate opposing coaches and get her to the line constantly (100 attempts). Focus too much on Solt? Charlee DurtscheCharleeDurtsche
5'10" | PF Thompson Valley | 2023StateCO
(2023), who shot 94 free throws of her own on the way to a 10.5 PPG and 11.0 RPG season, will sit your posts down in foul trouble and make things even tougher.
Grand Junction Central - Just like she stood out during the Warriors’ Great 8 playoff run, Krystyna Manzanarez (2024, 5’7") had a head-turning camp. She’s a playmaker who shot well at 35% behind the arc in 2021 and handled the ball even better. Combined with the Wagner sisters, the Warriors have some very talented guards coming back for what could be another top-10 season in 4A. Brynn Wagner (2024, 5’6") is a sharpshooter who hit the 3rd most threes of any 4A freshman in 2021 (23-57, 40%). Her sister, Alex Wagner (2023, 5’8"), does more of her damage around the basket for the Warriors and had both more assists and steals than she had turnovers last year.
Moffat County - Moffat County looked confident at the camp. They lose their leading scorer, Emaleigh Papierski, but will be returning a solid group led by multipositional standout, Cayden King (2023, 5’10", 12.8 PPG in 2021) and point guard Halle HamiltonHalleHamilton
5'9" | SG Rock Canyon | 2020StateCO
(2022, 5’6", 9.4 PPG in 2021).
Montrose - The Indians will be back to their winning ways this year with a number of seniors looking the part. They played tough even without Josie Coulter (2022, 5’8", 7.3 PPG in 2021). Taylor Yanosky (2022, 5’7") dropped 152 points on only 123 shots last season, hitting 40% of her 88 three-point attempts. She showed she’s clearly ready to step into a leadership role. Watch for senior Ashley Ortega and juniors, Bryer Moss and Heather Power, to contribute heavily for the Indians.
Ally
Padilla
5'8" | CG
Berthoud | 2022
State
CO
(2022, 5’8") scored 18 in that game and she was possibly the best player at the camp last week. Padilla more than doubled her production from 7.5 PPG in 2020 to 15.9 in 2021 and jumped from 4.1 RPG to 8.4. Imagine what she can do this year after the graduation of
Breanna Fowler
Breanna
Fowler
5'8" | PG
Berthoud | 2021
State
CO
. At 39% behind the arc, she makes you work extra hard to stop the disciplined Berthoud flex offense, which was built for Padilla who can play every position. Always one of the top programs in Colorado, Berthoud showed nice depth bringing multiple teams out to Gunnison.
Broomfield - On paper, Broomfield should be down this year. But no one told their team that last week and on the hardwood, they wouldn’t fold. Look for Sarah Collins (2024) to jump into the Eagles’ lineup and for
Sophie Christopher
Sophie
Christopher
5'6" | CG
Broomfield | 2023
State
CO
(2023, 5’5") to play a huge role for them. Collins is new to the varsity scene but Christopher was second on the team in assists and rebounds last year.
Natalie
Guanella
5'7" | PG
Monarch | 2023
State
CO
(2023, 5’7"). She’s a fast and skilled competitor who willed her team to a 4-2 record at the camp. For programs that want a true point guard who can create, steal, shoot, and ruthlessly assault the rim, Guanella is a terrific prospect (16.5 PPG, 3.5 SPG in 2021). Mix in Safi as a long, lean, in and out threat, and Rosin, a force of a post player, and Monarch has three studs to build on last year’s Front Range championship.
Thompson Valley - The Eagles will return every player from a very strong 12-4 team that earned a Sweet 16 birth last season. Thompson Valley shot the 2nd most free throws in any class getting to the line 375 times in 2021.
Amelia Solt
Amelia
Solt
5'4" | PG
Thompson Valley | 2022
State
CO
(2022, 5’5") is a huge reason why. A lot of college coaches skip over 5’5". A lot of NFL coaches skipped over 5’8" Phillip Lindsay. He’s a pro-bowler. She’s one to take seriously. Solt’s quick-release shot and quicker-release runner frustrate opposing coaches and get her to the line constantly (100 attempts). Focus too much on Solt?
Charlee Durtsche
Charlee
Durtsche
5'10" | PF
Thompson Valley | 2023
State
CO
(2023), who shot 94 free throws of her own on the way to a 10.5 PPG and 11.0 RPG season, will sit your posts down in foul trouble and make things even tougher.
Grand Junction Central - Just like she stood out during the Warriors’ Great 8 playoff run, Krystyna Manzanarez (2024, 5’7") had a head-turning camp. She’s a playmaker who shot well at 35% behind the arc in 2021 and handled the ball even better. Combined with the Wagner sisters, the Warriors have some very talented guards coming back for what could be another top-10 season in 4A. Brynn Wagner (2024, 5’6") is a sharpshooter who hit the 3rd most threes of any 4A freshman in 2021 (23-57, 40%). Her sister, Alex Wagner (2023, 5’8"), does more of her damage around the basket for the Warriors and had both more assists and steals than she had turnovers last year.
Moffat County - Moffat County looked confident at the camp. They lose their leading scorer, Emaleigh Papierski, but will be returning a solid group led by multipositional standout, Cayden King (2023, 5’10", 12.8 PPG in 2021) and point guard
Halle Hamilton
Halle
Hamilton
5'9" | SG
Rock Canyon | 2020
State
CO
(2022, 5’6", 9.4 PPG in 2021).
Montrose - The Indians will be back to their winning ways this year with a number of seniors looking the part. They played tough even without Josie Coulter (2022, 5’8", 7.3 PPG in 2021). Taylor Yanosky (2022, 5’7") dropped 152 points on only 123 shots last season, hitting 40% of her 88 three-point attempts. She showed she’s clearly ready to step into a leadership role. Watch for senior Ashley Ortega and juniors, Bryer Moss and Heather Power, to contribute heavily for the Indians. 
