Alex Reddington is headed to the Big 10. The St. Mary’s Academy senior signed her letter of intent to swim for the University of Wisconsin on Wednesday.
Reddington is a Class 4A state champion in the 100-meter butterfly and 200 freestyle races and holds school records in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 fly, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, and the 400 freestyle relay.
“I chose the University of Wisconsin because of the extraordinary athletic department and the high level of academics,” Reddington said in a statement released by the school. “I knew from the moment I met the swim team and coaches that it was the school for me. The coaching philosophy and dedication of the athletes made it clear that, with their help, I will achieve my goals and be the best athlete I can be.”
But before she can jump in the pool with the Badgers, Reddington has one more season with the Wildcats.
St. Mary’s Academy will join the new 3A class that begins competition this year. Reddington will look to add several 3A records to go with with her already impressive school records.
The early signing period for the Class of 2017 to sign National Letters of Intent opened on Wednesday, meaning this year’s crop of seniors can start to make their college choices official.
The signing period is open for athletes in most sports, save for football and soccer. The early signing period lasts until next Wednesday.
Additionally, you can send us photos from your Signing Day event on this page.
The signing period for football and soccer opens on Feb. 1, and lasts until August. All other sports have their regular signing period begin on April 12, 2017.
Oakley is one of the favorites heading into the Class 5A girls state cross country meet later this month. She set the course record at the prestigious Liberty Bell meet last month.
Oakley, a former soccer player, only started running for Grandview last season.
It was a breakout year: she finished second at the state cross country meet. Then, during track season, she set a 5A state meet record in winning the 3,200-meter race, and also won the 1,600 meters.
Follow more college commitments from the Class of 2017 in our recruiting database.
“This decision is huge for my family and I, and we agree that this is the best fit for me!” Blake wrote on Twitter.
A 6-foot-2, 174-pound guard, Blake averaged 10.0 points, 3.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last season as Rangeview went 26-1 and reached the Final 4. The Raiders fell to Eaglecrest in that round.
University of Colorado basketball coach Tad Boyle walked into the gym at Sand Creek High School. D’Shawn Schwartz and the rest of the Scorpions were warming up for a big league game against Falcon.
Boyle found a spot near the gym door and sat down with his back against the wall. At least one other Pac-12 scout was in attendance, hoping to to get read on what Schwartz, a junior at the time, could give to its program.
“I’m not here to scout,” Boyle said then. “I know what D’Shawn can do. My scouting him ended a while ago.”
Boyle just wanted Schwartz to know he was loved.
By the time the game was over, Schwartz had scored 31 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. The Scorpions won the game 92-65.
Boyle stood up to leave, but caught Schwartz’s eyes right before he walked out of the gym and raised his fist in the air.
The entire night, not a word was exchanged between player and soon-to-be coach.
But Boyle had gotten his message across: Got your back.
Exactly seven months later, Schwartz sent Boyle a response. In a YouTube video last weekend, the senior for the Scorpions committed to the Buffs and affirmed to his coach that the support is now officially a two-way street.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
“Tad has been there the whole time,” Schwartz said of his recruitment. “He’s been very consistent with recruiting. We’ve built a really good relationship since I want to say my sophomore year.”
And since that time, Boulder has only grown more appealing to Schwartz.
He was never pressured by his friends or family to stay close to home. He was able to sit back, analyze everything in front of him and make the decision that was going to be in his the best interest of his future.
“The type of person I am is just a perfect fit for Boulder,” Schwartz said. “Tad is a very academic-first guy and he really wants me to be great. And being close to home will always be good.”
He thinks that his parents were secretly hoping he would feel that way.
For CU basketball, it’s becoming quite common to heavily recruit the top players in the state and draw them to play their college basketball on the same floor where they can win a Class 4A or 5A state basketball.
In 2012, Lewis-Palmer and its star forward Josh Scott came away with a 44-43 win over Sierra at the Coors Events Center. Sierra had its own highly-touted prospect in Wesley Gordon. Both players would go on to play for the Buffs.
In 2014, Denver East rolled to a 5A championship and was led by the stellar play of point guard Dom Collier. Collier is heading into his junior season under Tad Boyle.
And now, it’s Schwartz’s turn. He was touched by the faith that the entire coaching staff at Boulder had in him. In the late fall of 2017, Schwartz will suit up for the Buffs and look to help them become a powerhouse in the Pac 12.
But first, he has things he needs to take care of this year.
“Since I committed, it’s not going to get any easier,” Schwartz said. “You just have to work hard and try and get that gold ball. There are a lot of goals to complete.”
Schwartz is rated as a top-100 prospect nationally by ESPN, 247Sports.com, Rivals and Scout. He averaged 19.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season for Sand Creek.
Colbey Ross, an all-state guard from Eaglecrest, committed to play basketball at Pepperdine on Monday evening.
He announced his decision on Twitter, thanking his family and coaches, and saying, in part, that “it was a tough decision” but that he was “proud to announce I have decided to commit to play college basketball at Pepperdine University.”
Ross, who is 6-foot-1, was named first-team all-state in Class 5A last season after averaging 18.6 points, 4,6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. He was also named the Gatorade player of the year after helping Eaglecrest finish runner-up to Overland in 5A.
A 2017 graduate, Ross is just one of three all-state players returning in 5A next season.
In his career at Windsor, Tapia has has amassed 332 tackles with 157 of them coming last year. He proved to be quite the defensive standout in 2015 as he forced five fumbles and recovered three.
He and the Wizards put on a show in the 4A title game last December en route to a 35-14 win over Loveland. Tapia and the defense held the Indians scoreless in the second half as they clinched the state title.
Tapia’s commitment has been reflected in the CHSAANow.com recruiting database for the class of 2017.
Castle View’s Leanne Lowry. (Courtesy of the Lowry family)
Leanne Lowry hasn’t even played a varsity volleyball game for Castle View yet, but the soon-to-be freshman has already secured a spot at a Division I program.
On July 15, Lowry committed to the University of Iowa. The commitment was confirmed to CHSAANow.com via an email from her father.
Lowry will see her first action at the high school level this fall where she will play libero for the Sabercats.
She played for the Colorado Juniors club team, which is based in Monument. She was also receiving heavy interest from the University of Nebraska prior to her commitment to the Hawkeyes.
Her commitment has been updated to the CHSAANow recruiting database and is the first commitment for the class of 2020.
Vista Ridge is sending one of its best to the Pac 12.
Last month, soccer standout, Joel Walker, announced he would be continuing his soccer career with Oregon State University.
In his three years with the Wolves, Walker has scored 22 goals while assisting on 21 others.
In 2016, he’ll look to help Vista Ridge improve on their 8-6-1 record from last year. The Wolves missed out on the Class 4A state playoffs and will be playing at the 5A level this season.
Walker’s commitment has been updated in our recruiting database for the class of 2017.
