Even if Alexander Deitz couldn't play a lick, he would stand out on the soccer field.

Deitz, a senior at Fort Collins, is one of the most recognizable high school athletes in the state, thanks in large part to his completely hairless head.

When Deitz was 6 years old, he contracted an extremely high fever and was given medication to control it. The medication brought the fever down, but it also left him bald.

Fortunately for the Lambkins, Deitz also brings top-flight talent to go with his distinctive look. Everything on the field for Fort Collins runs through Deitz, and his ability to shut down the opposing team's top offensive threat is incomparable on high school fields throughout the state.

"The bald head is the first thing you notice. The very next thing is that he's everywhere on the field," Lambkins coach Jason Odorizzi said. "He has an endless supply of energy and he never seems to tire. He can go hard for 90 minutes and then, if you ask him to, he'll go hard for 90 more."

Fort Collins, which enters the season ranked No. 2 in Class 5A, will try to replicate the feat Smoky Hill accomplished last year by reaching its third consecutive state championship match and winning two titles in three years.

The Lambkins won the championship in 2005, edging the Buffaloes 2-1 in overtime, before falling to Smoky Hill 2-0 last season.

"It's been an amazing stretch, getting to the state championship games both years," said Deitz, who was selected to the All-Colorado team as a junior. "Now I feel obligated to do it for my class."

Fort Collins reached the title match last year despite struggling much of the regular season and earning only the 18th seed in the playoffs. Once the postseason hit, though, the Lambkins rolled and knocked off three higher seeds to get to the title match.

"We just went on a great run and got to the finals," Deitz said. "Every year we lose some really good players (to graduation), and we have obstacles to overcome, but we find a way to get it done."

Deitz's leadership is a big reason why the Lambkins have been so successful, according to Odorizzi. Not only does Deitz lead by example on the field, he's not afraid to get on his teammates when they need it. Odorizzi said it has been that way since Deitz first suited up for the Lambkins.

"When he came in as a sophomore, the seniors on the team immediately respected him, which is something unheard of," Odorizzi said. "Usually, first-year players get the cold shoulder from some of the veterans, but he is so likable and such a good player that they accepted him right away."

As a sophomore, Deitz was given the task of marking the other team's best player. More often than not, he would take them out of the match.

Last season, his role was expanded and he did more things offensively, but Odorizzi said defense remained his forté.

"Whoever he marks is a nonfactor," Odorizzi said. "Anyone he defends, he shuts them down and they never do anything. He's a game changer and he allows us to do so many different things."

Deitz said there is no secret to his success on the pitch - he just loves to play the game of soccer. He would like to continue playing for as long as he can, then maybe get into coaching.

And as far as being known as the bald kid on Fort Collins, he doesn't mind.

"I kind of like it. If I had hair now I would probably shave it," Deitz said.

NOTEBOOK

• Horizon has a new head coach for the first time in more than 18 years, as longtime leader of the Hawks Art Drotar resigned after last season to become the director of the Global Leadership Academy in the Mapleton School District.

Horizon perennially was one of the top programs in the state under Drotar, winning big-school championships in 1991, 1992 and 2000. The 2000 team was selected the top team in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America after finishing 20-0.

More recently, Horizon reached the state semifinals in 2003 and 2004. Last season, the Hawks failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in Drotar's tenure, finishing 2-11-1.

Diego Estremadoyro has taken over at Horizon.

• Smoky Hill, which has won two of the past three state championships, still should be in the hunt. The Buffaloes, though, will have to replace graduated two-time player of the year Miguel Rosales, considered by many as one of the top keepers to play in Colorado.

Fort Collins senior Alexander Deitz, who faced Rosales and the Buffs in the past two title matches, said he will miss the challenge that Rosales represented.

"I liked facing Rosales and wish he was still here," Deitz said. "When we played them two years ago in the championship game, I felt like we dominated them and should have blowsn them out, but he made some unbelievable stops to keep them in the game. The kid was amazing."

Fort Collins won that match 2-1 in overtime, but the Buffaloes got revenge with a 2-0 victory last season.

• Deitz, the only returning All-Colorado player in the state, said being a senior has its perks. "Now that I'm a senior, I get to take some free kicks. (All-Colorado teammate) Steve Emory got to take them all last year, but now it's my turn."

• Though Rosales is gone, the Centennial League still might feature the best goalie in the classification - Grandview's Brian Sherpe. The senior played more than 1,300 minutes and made 110 saves last season, helping the Wolves to a 13-4-1 record. Grandview coach Bruce Brown said Sherpe was the No. 1 reason his team won the league title last season.

The top-ranked Wolves have plenty of talent in front of Sherpe, including 6-foot-5 senior defender Lance Patterson and the gritty midfield duo of Cameron Gorsinski and Joe Lomso.

• As good as the Continental League has been, it hasn't produced a state champion since Highlands Ranch hoisted the trophy in 1998. During that stretch, Jefferson County has won one championship (Columbine, 2002), the Front Range League has won three (Horizon, 2000; Poudre, 2003; Fort Collins, 2005), and the Centennial League has won four (Smoky Hill, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006).

Continental League member Arapahoe still holds the distinction as the team with the most big-school state titles, with five. The Warriors last won the championship in 1997.

• Poudre coach Nick Holley believes he has his most talented team since 2004, when the Impalas won the state championship. One player Holley regards highly is junior midfielder Alex Nass. The exchange student from Brazil scored five goals and made seven assists in very limited action last season. Holley thinks Nass could develop into the best player in the Front Range League.

• Pomona quietly has developed into a very good team, reaching the playoffs the past two seasons out of the tough Jefferson County League. The Panthers finished second in Jeffco last year and reached the second round of state before losing to eventual champion Smoky Hill 1-0.

Pomona returns seven starters, including two good defenders in Dele Johnson and Nate Tauer, and forward Steve Tedesco, whom coach Steve Foulke believes could be the most complete player in Jeffco.

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