Black Diamonds players, coaches take part in All-State matches

BRISTOW — Three Sallisaw soccer players — Kyra Taylor, Brian Castor and Wyatt Allen — and three Sallisaw soccer coaches — Sinue Rodriguez, Kiah Smith and Andrew Miller — took part in the 2025 Oklahoma Soccer Coaches Association All-State Matches on Saturday.

Taylor was on the victorious All-State East team, which beat the West 3-2, thanks to having more penalty kicks than the East — 3-2 — after the East battled from a 2-0 deficit to tie the Girls All-State Match at 2-all.

“Kyra played well,” Rodriguez said. Castor and Allen, along with the East All-Staters, which were coached by the Sallisaw coaching trio, beat the West 6-1. While Allen did not have a goal or an assist, Castor had an assist.

“The boys basically came ready to play for a full 80 minutes,” Rodriguez said. “I was very pleased with how our boys represented Sallisaw. It definitely was a privilege to be there and grateful to be able to coach those players (on the East All-State Team).”