TORRINGTON – A successful spring season for the Torrington High School (THS) Blazers soccer team culminated in four athletes securing postseason awards from the Wyoming Coaches Association.

Junior Kaiden Riggs and sophomore Anthony Arnusch both snagged 3A all-state and all-conference accolades while senior Greysen Shields and junior Elijah Hatch each received 3A all-conference honors.

Arnusch also earned the 3A Underclassman Soccer Player of the Year Award.

All-state and all-conference

Riggs clinched a spot on the all-conference and all-state rosters as a defender. The junior foiled multiple attempts by his rivals to score, exhibiting impressive footwork and control of the ball.

Riggs frequently stole the ball from an opponent and deftly maneuvered it past each player on his opponent’s offense to deliver it to a Torrington midfielder or forward.

Riggs also defended the backfield with powerful clearance kicks when needed, sending the ball flying far over his opponent’s heads.

Throughout the season, the Blazers depended on Riggs to step up and score decisive penalty kicks.

Arnusch secured all-state and all-conference awards as a midfielder for the Blazers. The sophomore combined talent, speed and precision to lead coordinated attacks deep into his opponent’s territory, frequently resulting in a goal.

Arnusch demonstrated his ability to control the situation offensively on the pitch through an outstanding tally of assists and goals.

Posting 18 assists in 2024, Arnusch broke the Torrington High School record for the number of assists in a single season. Arnusch also netted 21 goals this spring – the third highest scoring performance for a single season at THS.

In April, Arnusch received the athlete of the week award from WyoPreps.

All-conference

Shields was a formidable force in Torrington’s backfield and garnered 3A East all-conference accolades as a defender.

Shields prevented countless attacks by his opponents, clearing the backfield with powerful kicks or snatching a steal and sending the ball to the right teammate on the Blazer offense.

Shields also deflected attempted shots by his opponents in the air with headers. 

As one of two seniors on the Blazers’ starting lineup, Shields stepped into a leadership role as a team captain.

Hatch made a statement on the Blazer offense and earned a spot on the all-conference roster as a forward. The junior led the Blazers in scoring, striking with incredible speed and intensity and shooting the ball into his opponent’s goal with dead-eye accuracy from any point in the field.

Hatch posted 24 goals on the season  – the second highest scoring performance for a single season in Torrington Blazer soccer history.