Pool powers Poky to second state championship in 3 years

POCATELLO — As one-half of Pocatello High School’s dynamic duo, senior Brynlee Pool played a major role in the Thunder’s season-long push for a second state championship in three years.

Pool finished the season second on the team with 16 goals, while leading the Thunder in both steals (80) and assists (29) — giving her 61 total points, also second on the team. Pool and fellow senior Aryanna Gonzalez — who tied for the state goals lead with 40 — led Poky through their masterful scoring all season, so it was fitting that the duo accounted for all eight of the Thunder’s goals at state.

Both girls scored twice in a 4-0 first-round victory over Wood River.

Then, in a second-round showdown with conference champion Hillcrest, who beat Pocatello both times the two teams faced during the regular season and eliminated the Thunder at last year’s state tournament, Pool took over the spotlight.

Pool scored twice against the Knights, including a Golden Goal with just over six minutes left in the first overtime period, leading the Thunder to a 2-1 win.

While she let Gonzalez handle the scoring in a 2-1 double-overtime thriller over Twin Falls in the championship game, Pool was credited with three steals in the game.

For her play at the state tournament, the Poky senior is the East Idaho Sports District 5 Athlete of the Week.