Alyssa Fressle has etched her name alongside the best who have played for the Highlands Ranch basketball team by doing it all.
“She can handle the ball in the open court, post up, rebound, play defense — she does a little of everything,” said Caryn Jarocki, who coached the Falcons to five Class 5A state championships in the past eight seasons.
Those skills make Fressle the dangerous player that she is, but it’s fearlessness that defines her game. It seems she has never been scared on the court.
“I grew up playing basketball with the neighbor boys,” said Fressle, who recently signed to play for the University of Colorado. “I broke my arm playing when I was 5.”
The 5-foot-10 senior leads the two-time defending state champion Falcons into the season today against Legacy, the team they beat for the most recent title.
Fressle assumes the leadership role for Highlands Ranch, and another championship would give her bragging rights to be mentioned with former standouts Jaclyn Thoman, Liz Sherwood, Katy Flecky and even Ann Strother.
The thing is, Fressle brags only about her teammates. The most she would say about herself was, “I always try to improve.”
But when the subject turned to her coach and teammates, Fressle tilted toward a Dick Vitale-level of enthusiasm.
“Taylor (Johnson) is going to be big time,” Fressle said about the transfer from Lakewood. “She puts a different groove in our game. We haven’t had a really strong inside presence since the days of Liz Sherwood (in 2003).”
Speaking of guard Jade Davis, Fressle said: “Jade can shoot the 3, drive, D up on anyone in the state. She gets down when it comes to game time.”
On Melisa Ryba: “She beat Lakewood for us last year with her outside shots.”
Fressle, a three-year starter, averaged 17 points per game last season. She has enough strength to do damage down low, creating mismatches, and she scraps for every loose ball.
She will play on the perimeter more this season, according to Jarocki.
If Highlands Ranch should win a sixth big-school title since 2000, it won’t be a fluke.
Regis is loaded again, with 6-3 junior Diana Rolniak in the middle and Mariah Williams, the most exciting guard in the state, running the point. One of the few seniors who will get playing time is Kamile Nacaikait, a 6-1 Lithuanian who is committed to Drexel.
Horizon got a boost with the transfer of twins Meagan and Brenna Malcolm-Peck, talented forwards who played at ThunderRidge previously.
They will free up shooters Nikki Trujillo and Cherae Medina.
Former Hawks coach Greg Hahn, who lives and dies with every dribble, is back to replace Mike Carey.
Dakota Ridge, led by Lindi Holm and Brooke Pendergraft, is big and deep, and Air Academy, Palmer and Doherty figure to rise up from the Colorado Springs area.
Top 10
1. Highlands Ranch
2. Regis
3. Dakota Ridge
4. Horizon
5. Chaparral
6. Air Academy
7. Overland
8. Palmer
9. Heritage
10. Arapahoe
5A girls to watch
Amy Barczuk, Arapahoe, Jr., 5-10
Alaina Brennan, Central (G.J.), Sr., 5-7
Carlie Christianson, East, Sr., 6-1
Jade Davis, Highlands Ranch, Sr., 5-8
Nadyne Dolan, Grandview, Sr., 6-0
D’Ambra Evans, ThunderRidge, Sr., 5-9
Stormye Everett, Overland, Sr., 5-9
Leah Fitzgerald, Palmer, Sr., 6-2
Alyssa Fressle, Highlands Ranch, Sr., 5-10
Katerina Garcia, Durango, Jr., 5-5
Kait Goodall, Lakewood, Sr., 5-10
Katie Hilbig, Douglas County, Jr., 5-11
Lindsi Holm, Dakota Ridge, Sr., 6-0
Amy Kame, Central (G.J.), So., 5-11
Brenna Malcolm-Peck, Horizon, Jr., 6-0
Megan Malcolm-Peck, Horizon, Jr., 6-0
Alyssa McGuinnis, Chaparral, Sr., 6-1
Kamile Nacaikait, Regis, Sr., 6-1
Quincey Noonan, Legacy, So., 5-10
Brooke Pendergraft, Dakota Ridge, Sr., 5-11
Kari Pfannenstein, Heritage, Sr., 6-0
Diana Rolniak, Regis, Jr., 6-3
Nikki Trujillo, Horizon, Sr., 5-7
Mariah Williams, Regis, Jr., 5-5
Megan Winters, Regis, Jr., 6-0
