(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)Cherry Creek’s signal caller is the latest Colorado prospect headed to the Big 10 conference. Alex Padilla took to Twitter on Thursday to announce that he was committing to the University of Iowa.
Padilla received a scholarship offer from the Hawkeyes on Monday.
This comes just over a week after Valor Christian quarterback Luke McCaffrey announced he was also headed to the Big 10 with a commitment to Nebraska.
The senior to be first broke into the Bruins starting lineup late in his freshman year. He missed much of his sophomore campaign due to injury but had a standout junior year, throwing for 2,678 yards and 40 touchdowns.
His 40 touchdown tosses were third in the state behind Pueblo South’s Zach Cozzolino and Palmer Ridge’s Ty Evans. His best game of the year came against Horizon where he threw for 371 yards and six touchdown.
He also ran for a of touchdowns and has shown that he can work with his feet when needed.
Padilla is the latest commit from the class of 2019 to announce his destination.
McCaffery, who is likely to start at quarterback for Valor Christian this fall, threw for 878 yards and six touchdowns last season while splitting time with CU recruit Blake Stenstrom. McCaffrey also played wide receiver and running back, and rushed for 548 yards and nine touchdowns, while also catching 19 passes for 147 yards and a score.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, McCaffrey is a four-star prospect according to 247sports.com and ESPN. He also had offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Mississippi, Virginia, Western Kentucky and UCLA.
His older brothers, Max (Duke), Christian (Stanford) and Dylan (Michigan), have all played or are currently playing college football. Max and Christian are now in the NFL.
McCaffrey will be making a transition to a new coach this fall — his father, Ed, the former Broncos standout, is now heading the Eagles’ program.
McCaffrey has also played basketball and lacrosse, and run track, during his high school career.
Belibi, a junior, chose the Cardinal over Notre Dame, Harvard and Princeton, according to Regis Jesuit coach Carl Mattei.
Last season, she averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.3 steals per game. Belibi is a multisport athlete, and has qualified for the state tennis tournament.
Alec Pell was not short on offers to extend his football career to the collegiate level. But after considering his offers, the two-way standout at Cherry Creek decided that Boise State is where he’ll go in 2019.
Pell has played in 25 games for the Bruins, amassing 1,255 all-purpose yards and scoring 13 touchdowns.
As a junior in 2017, he contributed on the defensive side of the ball, recording 25 tackles, including one sack. He also grabbed an interception.
Pell received offers from the Air Force Academy, Colorado State, Iowa State, Cal and several others, but decided that Boise State and its blue turf was the best fit for him.
Evergreen High School (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
More than 50 student-athletes from 10 Jeffco high school signed their National Letter of Intent on yet another signing day April 11.
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Bear Creek High School
Jovan Dodig, basketball, Iowa Central Community College
Manuel Perez, basketball, Iowa Central Community College
Romola Dominguez, basketball, South Plains College
Chatfield Senior High School (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield Senior High School
Colton Arne, football, Saint John’s University
Christina George, soccer, George Fox University
Breanna Jones, volleyball, University of Bridgeport
Liam Mann, basketball, University of Northwestern
Timothy Monroe, football, Baldwin Wallace University
Brook-lyn Schultz, soccer, Colorado Christian University
Kali Stier, swimming, Western State Colorado University
Alexis Tolbert, lacrosse, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Sean Whitlock, basketball, Morningside College
Dakota Ridge High School (Matt Heckel/Jeffco Athletics)
Dakota Ridge High School
Lillian Baxter, cross country/track, University of Northern Colorado
Samantha Roybal, soccer, Johnson and Wales University
Michelle Renner, cross country/track, University of Wyoming
Cambria Hale, softball, The College of St. Scholastica
Haley Ohlson, swimming and diving, University of San Diego
D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
April Sleeman, track, Colorado Mesa University
Evergreen High School (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Evergreen High School
Scout Easton, swimming, Hartwick College
Mason Edwards-Stout, football, Western State Colorado University
Baylee Galan-Browne, basketball, Calvin College
Alex Mason, soccer, Western State Colorado University
Chase Rogers, basketball, Texas Christian University
Jordan Russell, lacrosse, Coast Guard Academy
Golden High School
Adam Thistlewood, basketball, Colorado State University
Green Mountain High School (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Green Mountain High School
Shannon Carroll, lacrosse, Ottawa University
Gabe Goodman, golf, Concordia University
Annalie Janus, track, South Dakota School of Mines
Zach McCaslin, football, Chadron State College
My-Yen Nguyen, cross country/track, Regis University
Opal Perez, lacrosse, Monmouth College
William Rollins, football, Presentation College
Drake Troyer, wrestling, Norwich University
Lakewood High School
Sassy Coleman, basketball, Iowa Lakes Community College
Ellie Cooper, volleyball, Lamar Community College
Blake Cowden, football, Chadron State College
Luca Dincola, baseball, Grays Harbor College
Phil Pedlar, soccer, Regis University
Nick Pierro, football, Fort Lewis College
Kaitlyn Rickey, softball, Lamar Community College
Ralston Valley High School
Caela McCartney, lacrosse, Southern New Hampshire University
Hannah Mae Gigstad, cross country/track, Western State Colorado University
Niklavs Levensteins, baseball, University of North Georgia
Nick Nowlen, cross country/track, Metro State University of Denver
Standley Lake High School (Jeffco Athletics)
Standley Lake High School
Mickey Garcia, football, Concordia University
Rachel Nguyen, tennis, Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Mason Carpentier, football, Presentation College
Savannah Martin, track, Western State Colorado University
Sarah Parker, hockey, Rainy River Community College
Nick Shipe, cross country/track, South Dakota School of Mines
Cody DeWitt, cross country/track, University of Puget Sound
Nathaniel Kregar, cross country/track, Lake Forest College
The April Signing Day is here for the Class of 2018, opening the final signing period for high school seniors who will ink a National Letter of Intent with a college.
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from February with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features the state wrestling tournament where Jeffco wrestlers claimed three individual state titles. Also, Class 4A Jeffco League girls basketball action between state contenders Golden and Evergreen. Arvada West and Columbine faced off down the stretch on the boys basketball court during a wild 5A Jeffco League season that ended with the Wildcats and Rebels sharing the conference title. We close with a look at more than the 100 student-athletes from across Jeffco that signed their National Letter of Intent on Feb. 7.
COLORADO SPRINGS — When Vista Ridge football coach Jerimi Calip talked about Jaylen Thomas on Wednesday, he described the ultimate team player.
And in choosing his post-high school destination, he kept with that mentality and chose a spot where it was about the whole rather than the individual. And the whole as in a college program, the whole as in country. Thomas will serve in the United States Air Force Academy and made his intentions clear that he will be playing for the Falcons as well.
“I think being able to serve my country, play football at the Division 1 level and receive a great education is something you can’t beat,” Thomas said.
The stories are well-written. When it comes to athletics recruiting at any of the country’s three service academies, the standard top-level athletes don’t often sign on those dotted lines.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
But Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has said it many a times, they go after top-level human beings. Listening to Calip speak about Thomas and listening to Thomas himself, there is little doubt that Calhoun got himself a quality human being.
“Just to make a commitment to play Division I football is unselfish in itself,” Calip said. “Going to a service academy that requires you to be unselfish, have discipline, be loyal and all the other qualities that the Academy demands, they couldn’t get a better candidate.”
In all, Calhoun is getting four outstanding candidates from the state of Colorado. According to the CHSAANow.com recruiting database, Arapahoe’s Blake Carette, Eaglecrest’s Jalen Mergerson and Fairview’s Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl will all join Thomas as Falcons in the fall.
On top of the allure of playing Division I football, what helped drive Thomas in that direction was the fact that he grew up in the shadow of the Academy grounds.
Although the Falcons are technically a federal program and not state funded or assisted, the Air Force fan base is strong to Colorado Springs residents, even those with no official ties to the Academy.
That became evident with several signings around the springs. Cheyenne Mountain’s August Johnson is attending the Academy to play boys lacrosse, Pine Creek’s Kellsie Knoerzer is going for girls soccer and 2016 Class 4A champion Luke Trujillo is going for boys golf.
There are several other from the class of 2018 going, and not just from the Springs, but from all around the state.
But for those close, the Academy and even just the football games were a major part of growing up and falling in love with high-level athletics.
“I remember going to Air Force games when I was a kid,” Thomas said. “My grandma and grandpa were always big fans.”
From the time he entered as a freshman at Vista Ridge, Thomas knew that was the direction he wanted to go. He sent Calip an excited text message in November when the Falcons officially made their offer.
“As soon as that offer came through, it was an easy decision,” Calip said. “He said he would see what other offers came through, but he was committing to Air Force. It was the one he wanted.”
And it was the one he got.
And if he continues to approach life as a cadet the way he has a high school football player, the Air Force is a better place today than it was 24 hours ago.
Columbine’s Ted Mullin, fifth from the left, will join former teammate Mikey Griebel at the University of North Dakota next fall. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — From the University of Alaska to the University of Hawaii and beyond … Jeffco student-athletes will fan out to all corners of the United States to pursue their college dreams next school year.
Wednesday marked another National Letter of Intent Signing Day. A total of a dozen high schools within Jeffco Public Schools had signing celebrations on Wednesday.
“It’s always a special day,” Columbine principal Scott Christy said during the Rebels’ celebration.
While Jeffco students will be taking their talents to several local schools, along with out-of-state programs there seems to be a surprising pipeline from Jeffco to the University of North Dakota football program.
Columbine’s Mikey Griebel and Ralston Valley’s Ty Shannon signed to play football for the Fighting Hawks’ a year ago. Today, Columbine senior Ted Mullin continued the trend of UND tapping the football talent from Jeffco.
“Last year they (Fighting Hawks) showed some interest starting in April and they never stopped,” Mullin said of his recruitment by North Dakota. “The coaches were awesome. It’s a blessing to be able to play college football there. I’m excited about going up there to be with some dudes that I know. It will be fun.”
Griebel, a receiver at UND after being a two-way star for the Rebels during his three years at Columbine, ended up redshirting his freshman year due to injury.
“There are no words to describe how not only happy I am that Teddy is coming up to be a Hawk, but how eager I am,” Griebel said via text Tuesday. “There is no stopping short for Teddy and having a kid like that on your team is essential.”
Griebel describes Mullin as not only a high school teammate, but a “very close friend” and added he can’t wait until July when he gets to reunite on the football field with his former teammate.
“We (North Dakota) landed not only an intense competitor, but an even better person,” Griebel said.
The Fighting Hawks will also be getting a multi-sport athlete in Mullin. The senior is about to compete at regionals this coming weekend for Columbine’s wrestling team. Mullin is also planning on being on the Rebels’ track team again this spring.
“North Dakota has preached to me how much they enjoy multi-sport athletes,” said Mullin, who is expected to be an outside linebacker for the UND. “It’s been huge for me in high school. It has made me a better competitor and a better athlete. I’m really thankful I choose to do more than one sport.”
List of Jeffco student-athletes who signed Feb. 7
Arvada West High School
John ‘Jack’ Boyer, football, University of Wyoming
Vinson Britton, baseball, Barstow Community College (CA)
Morgan Clausen, softball, University of North Florida
Caden Crosby, football, Fort Lewis College
Katie Doucette, track/cross country, Western State Colorado University
Elena Drogheo, women’s soccer, Doane University (NE)
Anthony Gallardo, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Rebecca Jeambey, women’s soccer, Adams State University
Shea Mauser, softball, Colorado Mesa University
Claire Pauley, track/cross country, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Kailey Robb, softball, Augustana College (IL)
Bear Creek High School
Anna Branscome, women’s golf, Chadron State College (NE)
Kaitlyn Chavira, women’s soccer, Hastings College (NE)
Tanis Craiglow, football, Doane University (NE)
Nick Donahue, baseball, Benedictine College (KS)
Cooper Erickson, men’s soccer, Loyola Marymount (CA)
Octavio Lucero, diving, University of Hawaii
Kylan Martinez, football, Western State Colorado University
Peyton Propp, softball, Western Nebraska Community College
Joey Stenson, softball and track, Doane University (NE)
Chatfield High School
Chandler Callejo, football, South Dakota School of Mines
Meghan Dunning, women’s soccer, St. Edward’s University
Julia Eiken, volleyball, Colorado School of Mines
Raquel Gunkel, women’s soccer, California Lutheran University
Jared Hoerter, men’s lacrosse, Eastern University
Drew Johnson, track and cross country, University of Alaska
Connor Killion, men’s lacrosse, Eastern University
Kasey Koppelmaa, baseball, University of San Francisco
Riley Leichter, women’s lacrosse, Old Dominion
Christian Macy, men’s lacrosse, Adams State University
Aidan Mendoza, football, Doane University
Matt Moon, baseball, Trinidad State
Emma Peterson, women’s soccer, Colorado School of Mines
Tyler Sexton, football, Western State University
Columbine High School
Annie VanNorstrand, women’s lacrosse, University of Redlands
Skylar Alward, women’s soccer, University of Iowa
Chloe Cook, women’s soccer, Adams State University
Erin Smith, softball, Augustana College
Angela Naughton, women’s lacrosse, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Kai Valentino, football, Western Arizona
Madison Martinez, women’s soccer, Trinity International University
Ted Mullin, football, University of North Dakota
Camryn Huff, women’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Frankie Shearn, baseball, Colorado Christian University
Corbin Leyshock, football, Colorado School of Mines
Dakota Ridge High School
Samuel Arfsten, men’s lacrosse, University of Indianapolis
Jake Collins, baseball, Minot State University
Taylor Hicken, volleyball, Colorado School of Mines
Kailee Lammers, women’s lacrosse, University of Denver
D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School
Angi Reed, women’s basketball, Oregon Tech University
Bailey Marvel, softball, Chadron State College
Alexis Miller, women’s soccer, Bowling Green University
Sarah Anschutz, women’s soccer, Virginia Military Institute
Carolyn Anschutz, women’s soccer, University of Wisconsin
Payton Wright, volleyball, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Kendra Cerrone, volleyball, West Texas A&M University
Abbey Selin, women’s swimming, University of Wyoming
Jack Morantz, men’s swimming, University of Wisconsin
Chad Dines, football, University of Rhode Island
Charles Dinegar, men’s basketball, Carleton College
Evergreen High School
Sidney Fairbanks, softball, Mayville State
Cassidy Formanek, women’s soccer, University of Houston
Joshua Gauvin, men’s swimming, McKendree University
Zach Klein, men’s lacrosse, Marietta College
Evan Price, football, University of Colorado
Golden High School
Dawson Kennedy, football, Colorado Mesa University
Joe Madsen, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Jack McLaughlin, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Lakewood High School
William Gifford, baseball, Hillsdale College
Chase Dornbusch, cross country and track, University of Kansas
Parker Beastrom, football, Presentation College (SD)
Rex Desso, football, Macalester College (MN)
Weston Lee, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Robert Miller, football, Colorado School of Mines
Trenton Sanders, football, Concordia University-Nebraska
Ezekiel “EZ” Sundberg, football, Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Denaya Evans, women’s soccer, Emporia State University (KS)
Katherine Oehm, women’s soccer, St. Olaf College (MN)
Pomona High School
Alexus Spinks, softball, Dodge City Community College
Allie Hufford, softball, Dodge City Community College
Jessica Espinoza, softball, Dodge City Community College
Bre Shaffer, softball, Adams State University
Ryan Marquez, football, University of Wyoming
Brock Boyd, Western State Colorado University
Santos Meguina, football, University of Northern Colorado
Jesse Stuht, football, University of Alberta
Max Borghi, football Washington State University
Holly Ciberay, women’s soccer, Midland University
Kelsey Boychuk, gymnastics, Iowa State University
Standley Lake High School
Emma Smith, women’s soccer, University of Chicago
Emily Naysmith, women’s soccer, Fort Hays State University (KS)
Weston Short, men’s soccer, Sheridan College (WY)
Ralston Valley High School
Nikki Sefcik, volleyball, United States Coast Guard Academy (CT)
Brian Hendrickson, baseball, Belhaven University (MS)
Katharine Kimbro, volleyball, Lewis and Clark College (OR)
Mackenzi Kirschner, women’s soccer, Northern Oklahoma College
Laurel Rowe, women’s swimming, College of Idaho
Jackson Zinn, men’s golf, New Mexico Military Institute
Jameson Barnard, men’s soccer, Air Force Academy
It’s the first Wednesday in February, and that means it’s National Signing Day.
This marks the start of a period where another batch of athletes can make their college choices official. The period is open for football and soccer athletes to sign.
For the first time this year, football had an early signing period in December. This is the first time 2018 soccer athletes can sign.
All other sports had an early signing period in November. There will be another signing period that opens on April 11.
We have a growing list of college recruits from Colorado in our Class of 2018 database. To add a college commitment not on that list, use this form.
Additionally, submit photos from your event using this form.
