Category: Features

Resurrection Christian volleyball wants “to win state again”

Resurrection Christian claimed last year’s Class 2A championship. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

Last year, the Resurrection Christian volleyball team was somewhat of an unknown quantity.

By season’s end, all of Class 2A knew just how good the Cougars were.

Resurrection Christian, which is located in Loveland, had a perfect season, posting a 29-0 record en route to capturing the first volleyball state championship in school history.

Now, the Cougars have reloaded for another run at state supremacy.

“I have very high expectations (for 2014),” veteran coach Caleb Howard said. “The girls are not mincing words. They want to win state again.”

Howard and his team has reason to be confident.

The Cougars return two first-team all-state players, outside hitter Preston Lienemann and setter Madison Webb — both seniors — and second-team all-state selection Abby Skipworth, a junior outside hitter.

And they opened at No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

(Courtesy of Resurrection Christian)

“We are not going to sneak up on anybody this year,” Howard said. “We were a bit of underdog last year for sure. At the beginning of the summer I did worry some about fighting off apathy or simply resting on our laurels, but as the summer progressed I don’t have to worry about that anymore because of the competitive nature of these girls.”

Resurrection Christian defeated Lutheran (25-18, 25-19, 25-13) in the state title match a year ago, but Lutheran will not be a contender for the 2A crown this season as the school has moved up to 3A volleyball.

“Yuma was a young team last year and we expect them to be very good again this season,” Howard said. “Then, you have some teams that are always good like Fowler and Akron.”

The last time Resurrection Christian lost a match was in pool play during the 2012 state tournament.

“I loaded up the schedule this season with a couple of 4A teams and some 3A teams,” Howard said. “Our goal is to try and win every match, but we just want to be playing our best at the end of the season.”

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Class 2A volleyball

Defending champion: Resurrection Christian

Runner-up: Lutheran (moved up to 3A)

Returning All-State players: Jordan Baer, Akron, Sr. (1st); Preston Lienemann, Resurrection Christian, Sr. (1st); Tara Traphagan, Yuma, Jr. (1st); Madison Webb, Resurrection Christian, Sr. (1st); Bryna Burns, Sr., Rye (2nd); Taylor Carsten, Paonia, Jr. (2nd); Braya Hunt, Denver Christian, Jr. (2nd); Aly Ridings, Sr., Meeker (2nd); Leah Roberson, Sr., Swink (2nd); Abby Skipworth, Jr., Resurrection Christian (2nd);

Regular season begins: Aug. 21

Playoffs begin: Oct. 18

Championship: Nov, 7-8, Denver Coliseum

August 14, 2014
With loads of talent back, Fleming again a favorite in 1A volleyball

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

Fleming volleyball coach Derek Herbert can’t help but smile when he heads to the gym for preseason practice this year.

Herbert has one of those teams that, for Class 1A coaches, usually come far and between.

Fleming captured the 1A state title last fall with a junior-laden team. In fact, of the four seniors on the roster, only one started.

Among the returning starters who received all-state recognition last fall are 5-foot-11 middle hitter Timmi Keisel, 5-foot-2 libero Megan Chintala and 5-foot-6 setter Rachel Frantz — all first-team selections — along with second-team all-state outside hitter Deborah Kurtzer. Keisel was the 1A player of the year.

“We’ve got some talent,” an understated Herbert said, “but our biggest key is how we work together. A lot still has to come together.”

Fleming lost only two games in winning pool play, the semifinals and the championship match to take last year’s state title.

“It takes a lot of chemistry,” Herbert said of the main ingredient of earning a state championship. He should know. Last year’s title victory was Fleming’s fourth in seven years.

Fleming is No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

This season, the Wildcats open as No. 1 in the preseason rankings.

The road to a second straight state title will not be without its challenges. Of the eight teams qualifying for last year’s state tournament, only Dove Creek, which lost to Fleming in the title match, and Caliche were senior dominated. Caliche has since moved up to 2A.

Otis, a four-time state champion, graduated just one player. Idalia, which had no seniors on its state qualifying squad, could have perhaps the tallest team in 1A with 5-10 outside hitter Reagan Shaffer and 5-10 right-side hitter Stephanie Helling. The Bulldogs and Wolves should compete for supremacy in the YWKC League.

Sangre de Cristo, which qualified for last season’s 2A tournament, drops to and could be the team to get past in the Southern Peaks League. It also graduated just one player.

Look for 6-3 senior outside hitter Tanaia Hansen of Eads to be among the dominant forces on net. Kit Carson, another High Plains League power, is also expected to make a strong run toward a return state tournament appearance.

Another frequent state qualifier, Flager, will again be a force in the Lower Platte League.

Then there are teams such as Weldon Valley, which gave Fleming all it could handle in the district playoffs last November. The Warriors, which were a sophomore-dominated team, got better as the season progressed.

“1A’s going to be really tough,” said Herbert, who’s in his 11th season as the Wildcats’ head coach.

Fortunately for him, that starts with the defending state champs.

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Class 1A volleyball

Defending champion: Fleming

Runner-up: Caliche (moved up to 2A)

Returning All-State players: Megan Chintala, Fleming, Sr. (1st); Rachel Frantz, Fleming, Sr. (1st); Tanian Hansen, Eads, Sr. (1st); Timmi Keisel, Fleming, Sr. (1st); Kylee Kuntz, Otis, Jr. (1st); Antonya Schaffert, Otis, Jr. (1st); Hanna Herman, Fleming, Sr. (2nd); Aurelia Isenbart, Kit Carson, Sr. (2nd); Brooklyn Krehmeyer, Weldon Valley, Jr. (2nd); Deborah Kurtzer, Fleming, Sr. (2nd); Reagan Shaffer, Idalia, Jr. (2nd).

Regular season begins: Aug. 21

Playoffs begin: Oct. 18

Championship: Nov, 7-8, Denver Coliseum

August 14, 2014
Colorado Academy boys soccer hit hard by graduation, but still aiming high

Ben Maffei (6) is among key returners for Colorado Academy. (Pam Wagner)

It must be strange, coming off an undefeated season that culminated in a Class 3A state title, to be seen as an underdog.

But that’s where Colorado Academy and coach Gabe Bernstein find themselves heading into the 2014 boys soccer season, despite being ranked No. 2 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

Most of that attitude has to do with the fact that Colorado Academy graduated four all-state athletes from last year’s state championship squad — defender Clark Gebhart, forward J.J. Myers, midfielder Robert White and goalkeeper Jack Thomas are all gone.

It’s a new challenge that Bernstein, in his second year as head coach, has considered.

“My goal is to have the guys overcome some of the challenges of losing a handful of seniors this past year and see if we can surprise some people,” said Bernstein. “I wouldn’t say we’ve been written off but I think a lot of coaches and a lot of programs have maybe thought we’ve graduated some guys and maybe we won’t be a title contender this year.

“For us, we’re looking to just continue on the course we’ve set and make progress each game to try and position ourselves for a playoff run.”

Bernstein says that while he thinks expectations for Colorado Academy are down around the classification, his team is still committed to living up to the legacy of last season. To accomplish that, he breaks down the season into a set of smaller, more manageable goals.

“Obviously the goal is to win a state title, but with us we set smaller targets, little more realistic goals: Try to earn a top seed in the playoffs, try to focus on what we do during the day, in practice,” Bernstein said. “We really try to break the season into smaller parts.”

Bernstein believes he’ll have plenty of help keeping his team focused on the day-to-day grind from a new set of seniors that are ready to take on the leadership mantle.

“Last year we we’re fortunate to have a group of about nine or ten seniors that had played together since they were young kids and the leadership we had from that group was very strong,” said Bernstein. “So I think our junior class truly got a glimpse of what that senior leadership looks like.

Colorado Academy celebrates winning the 2013 championship in 3A. (Pam Wagner)

“We have a couple strong leaders in Ben Maffei and Noah Henry. We also have guys like Tyler Kelly and Alex Clinkscales, all of whom are going to be seniors. So that presents four strong seniors in itself. So I think we have the pieces in place to have strong leadership this year.”

Every team can point to senior leaders however; it’s talent on the pitch that’s just as — if not more — important. Bernstein thinks nobody puts more pressure on themselves than his players, and he believes this group has the potential to be better than ever.

“I really do think that the group of seniors coming up is stronger than ever in terms of their leadership ability as well as just strong soccer players,” Bernstein said. “It’s one thing to be a good leader, but to be able to be a good leader and an influential player on the field, that’s a pretty powerful thing.”

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Class 3A boys soccer preview

Defending champion: Colorado Academy

Runner-up: The Classical Academy (moved up to 4A)

Returning All-State players: Sawyer Lincoln, junior, Manitou Springs (1st).

Regular season begins: Aug. 21

Playoffs begin: Oct. 24

Championship: Nov. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City)

August 13, 2014
Chemistry, experience working in Air Academy boys soccer’s favor

Air Academy finished runner-up a season ago in the 4A title game. (Pam Wagner)

Air Academy’s boys soccer team isn’t just a collection of friends uniting toward a shared goal.

The Kadets think of themselves as a family — in more ways than one. Austen Dewing and cousins David Louthan and James Sims are all seniors, and another cousin, John, graduated a year ago. It’s a tight-knit group, even among those not related, and that is a big reason why Air Academy advanced to the Class 4A state championship game last fall before falling 2-1 to rival Cheyenne Mountain.

“We’ve grown up playing together since I think we were 4. We know how to play with each other and we still love doing it,” Dewing said. “It makes us want to work that much harder for each other and the effort rubs off on other guys as well. They connect with it a little bit and it just makes the team chemistry amazing.”

After winning the 4A crown in 2010, the Kadets fell in the quarterfinals in 2011 and were eliminated in the first round the next season. Things turned around last year as the team dropped only two games — one to eventual 5A champion Pine Creek, the other to the Indians in the 4A championship.

They enter 2014 ranked No. 2 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

“I think the players that returned last year really used that as an added inspiration,” Kadets coach Espen Hosoien said of the early exit in 2012. “We were full of hope.”

(Pam Wagner)

That mantra holds true again this fall. Hosoien is entering his 11th season and has a strong senior and junior class coming back. The defense is experienced and talented, with Sims serving as a captain as a junior, and goalkeeper Matt Pipan returns as well.

Dewing continued to evolve as a player last year, scoring 23 goals — tied for 12th overall in 4A — to also go along with a team-high 14 assists.

“It definitely helped that I grew a few inches and gained a few pounds. I was able to do a little more for my team,” he said. “But it’s not possible for me to get that without my teammates.”

Facing Pikes Peak rival Cheyenne Mountain for the state title wasn’t an ideal situation, given that the two teams had already played earlier in the season. Players from both teams compete together during the club season, so while Dewing said the loss wasn’t personal, it did motivate the Kadets to work harder and be that much better this fall.

The excitement to get 2014 underway is palpable, but Hosoien understands that his team is guaranteed nothing coming into the season.

“It’s going to take some leadership from some of the returning players,” he said of keys to success. “I feel like we have a pretty good grasp of keeping these guys hungry and ready to go, and realizing hey, people are going to be gunning for us.

“With the athletes we have, I think we’ll be able to manage that pretty well.”

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Class 4A boys soccer

Defending champion: Cheyenne Mountain

Runner-up: Air Academy

Returning All-State players: Brendan Clark, Jr., Valor Christian (2nd); Austin Dewing, Sr., Pine Creek (1st); Griffin Dorsey, Soph., Evergreen (1st); D’Angelo Escobar, Sr., Skyview (1st); Nate Flack, Sr., D’Evelyn (2nd); Cameron Guzman, Sr., Silver Creek (1st); Porter Milner, Soph., Broomfield (1st); Eric Spangler, Jr., Centaurus (2nd); Cruz Valdez, Sr., Skyline (2nd).

Regular Season begins: Aug. 21

Playoffs begin: Oct. 22

Championship: Nov. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

August 13, 2014
Consistency has Pine Creek always a threat for boys soccer titles

Senior Nick Bannister (11) is the lone returning all-state player for Pine Creek. (Pam Wagner)

Normally the loss of two first team all-state players would make it difficult for any team to repeat as state champions. But don’t tell that to the Pine Creek Eagles boys soccer team.

With the fall season underway, the Eagles find themselves without three key components to last season’s championship team. Yet, they are still expected to remain well in the hunt — and are considered favorites by some — to walk away as champions for a second straight year. In fact, the Eagles opened up as No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

But coach Ben Corley insists that his team’s key to success is not the personnel, but their ability to identify what makes them successful as a team and maintaining those standards throughout the season.

“The biggest thing is looking at last season and identifying the character traits and the attributes that are a part of the DNA of our program,” Corley said. “Our success (last season) came out of focus and the amount of daily work that we put in.”

The Eagles have been a staple in the state tournament for the last several years, but finally got over the hump with their 1-0 double-overtime win against Rock Canyon back in November.

With the added pressure of defending their title, they’re choosing to look at the task similar to the way they did last season. While a second straight championship is the ultimate goal, they have to conquer every practice and succeed in each game in order to reach that mountain top.

“It’s not about looking a big, broad-stroke concept such as defending a championship,” Corley said. “It’s as much about replicating those steps rather than worrying about the results.”

(Pam Wagner)

The Eagles will be without all-state players Aaron Haefner and David Meyer. Meyer’s absence will probably be felt the most as he minded the net for the Eagles during their title run. But the Eagles won’t be found at any pity party over the loss of their seniors. Instead, they’re anxious to see how their shoes will be filled.

“We feel like there are opportunities for guys to step up. It’s more opportunity than anything,” Corley said. “Our backup keeper last year, Logan Thomas, was a junior. He’s excited to step in and be the guy in goal. He’s also a varsity basketball player and has a lot of hops.”

It will help that senior midfielder Nick Bannister returns to the team. Bannister is the only returning all-state player for Pine Creek and ranked second on the team in goals scored.

They’ll need Bannister to be in top form early in the year as the Eagles first four games consist of three of the CHSAANow.com top-10 ranked teams. The non-league blitz against Cherry Creek, Rangeview and Denver East will give the Eagles a glimpse of how their 2014 competition will shape up.

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Class 5A boys soccer

Defending Champion: Pine Creek

Runner-up: Rock Canyon

Returning All-State Players: Nick Banniser Sr., Pine Creek (1st); Kevin del Mazo, Sr., Smoky Hill (1st); Zach Fronapfel, Sr., Fort Collins (1st); Ben Overholt, Sr., Chatfield (1st); Walter Prince, Sr., Smoky Hill (1st); Chase Breslaw, Sr., Heritagee (2nd); Peter Hendricks, Sr., Ralston Valley (2nd); Marcus Krause, Sr., Doherty (2nd); Colton Ladyga, Sr., Smoky Hill (2nd); Dalton Lundberg, Sr., Heritage (2nd); Jorge Rangel, Sr., Grandview (2nd); Roberto Valasquez, Sr., Highlands Ranch (2nd); Nick Vergara, Sr., Eaglecrest (2nd)

Regular season begins: Aug. 21

Playoffs begin: Oct. 23

State Championship: Nov. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City)

August 13, 2014
Castelino, Fairview boys tennis hoping to make 2014 their year

Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)

By all accounts, Fairview’s boys tennis team had a state showing last fall that would make most programs envious.

The Knights sent each of their three singles players and four doubles teams to the Class 5A state tournament at Gates Tennis Center in Denver, pushing five through to the finals and having two more positions place third.

Still, Fairview couldn’t find a way to solve the Cherry Creek puzzle, finishing second to the Bruins for the third year in a row. Cherry Creek swept all seven individual state titles — the first time that has happened since 1998 — on its way to 98 points overall.

Even with Fairview returning five players this fall — including all three singles players — and the Bruins graduating their top two singles players, Knights coach Chad Tsuda understands that the advantage still belongs to Creek.

“Cherry Creek is still that dominant team,” Tsuda said. “I think that is what kind of fuels us. Every team Creek is going to put together is going to be the best, and that gives us a great sense of motivation.”

State experience is working in Fairview’s favor as the 2014 season approaches. Seniors Ignatius Castelino, Thomas Mason and Andrew Pollack have reached the finals in each of the previous three seasons. Junior Alec Leddon has been in one final, and sophomore Devin Harper placed third at No. 3 doubles last season.

“It’s exciting to have those top five guys coming back,” Tsuda said. “It’s pretty rare, usually it’s more spread out. It’s nice to have the kind of leadership of the singles players coming back.”

Leddon took third at No. 2 singles a year ago and Mason was runner-up at No. 3 singles. Pollack was runner-up at No. 2 doubles.

Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)

Castelino is seeking his first championship, having fallen to a Cherry Creek opponent in each of the previous three seasons. The Bruins’ Zach Fryer pulled out a 6-4, 6-4 triumph last October.

“Every season I’m always excited to start. It’s always been fun,” Castelino said. “It’s my senior year but that doesn’t really change anything. I’m just going to still be looking to try and win again this year and help the team win.”

Castelino said he didn’t spend as much this summer traveling on the junior circuit as he has in past years, but his focus is razor-sharp headed into the fall season.

“If anything I’ll be more intense,” he said. “I’m more driven to try and do it this year.”

Tsuda said switching gears from the junior circuit to high school competition isn’t easy, but Castelino handles it well.

“For players that competitive, when the high school season comes around it totally changes attitude-wise where it becomes a team concept,” he said. “He gets to join a team of which he is a very big part, a leader where people look up to him.

“It’s a very unique experience to be on a high school team and we are a team — everyone plays hard for each other.”

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Class 5A boys tennis

Defending individual champions: Zach Fryer, Cherry Creek (No. 1 singles); Connor McPherson, Cherry Creek (No. 2 singles); Ethan Hillis, Cherry Creek (No. 3 singles); Harshil Dwivedi/Jake Miller, Cherry Creek (No. 1 doubles); Erin Norwood/Matt Gross, Cherry Creek (No. 2 doubles); Teller Hoskins/Ben Schlichting, Cherry Creek (No. 3 doubles); Jacob Bendalin/Wyatt Dale, Cherry Creek (No. 4 doubles).

Defending team champion: Cherry Creek

Returning All-State athletes: Jacob Bendalin, Soph., Cherry Creek; Ignatius Castelino, Sr., Fairview; Wyatt Dale, Soph., Cherry Creek; Harshil Dwivedi, Sr., Cherry Creek; Ethan Hillis, Soph., Cherry Creek; Teller Hoskins, Sr., Cherry Creek; Erin Norwood, Jr., Cherry Creek.

Regular Season begins: Aug. 14

Regionals: Completed by Oct. 4

State meet: Oct. 9-11 at Gates Tennis Center in Denver

August 12, 2014
Kent Denver boys tennis loses No. 1 singles player, but expects to be deep

Kent Denver celebrates its 4A boys tennis championship last season. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

Winning Class 4A state boys tennis championships is nothing new to Kent Denver.

The Sun Devils have won six boys state tennis titles in school history — all coming since 1999. The Sun Devils tied Cheyenne Mountain for the crown in 1999 and won it outright in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2013.

Kent Denver will make a run at its seventh state crown this fall, but will have to do it without senior David Mitchell. Mitchell lost in the No. 1 singles finals to Discovery Canyon senior Luke Lorenz (7-5, 6-4) last season.

“My team is going to be good this year, but we are going to be a little bit weaker up top,” veteran Kent coach Randy Ross said. “David Mitchell, our No. 1 singles player, is not returning to Kent Denver. He’s staying down in (Bradenton) Florida at IMG Academy. We’re going to be a little bit weaker in the No. 1 position than we have been the last several years, but we are going to be deep.”

Mitchell was a three-time state finalist, winning at No. 1 singles as a freshman and taking second the past two seasons in the same bracket.

Junior Willie Gold (No. 2 singles), and sophomore Casey Ross (No. 3 singles), the coach’s son, won state a year ago, as did the doubles team of senior Andrew Thompson and junior Blake Parsons (No. 3 doubles).

Additionally, junior Kevin Adams (No. 1 doubles), and senior Jack Trueblood (No. 4 doubles) return after winning state in 2013 with their graduated partners. Sophomore Niko Hereford (No. 2 doubles) also was part of a state runner-up tandem last season.

“We’re going to solid, but Niwot is going to be good and Colorado Academy is going to be good and it’s going to be interesting,” coach Ross said.

A year ago, the Sun Devils ended up with 91 points, easily outdistancing Colorado Academy (54) and Niwot (50). Perennial power Cheyenne Mountain, which had won state three years in a row, placed fourth with 25 points.

“High school tennis is an awesome time of year for me,” Ross said. “I love high school tennis, it is so much fun. I love high school tennis in terms of what it brings to the game of tennis, the whole team element of it which is so different for these boys.

“They are playing individually all the rest of the year and they get this opportunity to play for a team. It’s a fast and furious nine-week season.”

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Class 4A boys tennis

Defending champion: Kent Denver

Runner-up: Colorado Academy

Returning All-State players: Peter Hillary, Colorado Academy, sr. (1st); Ethan Pollock, Colorado Academy, sr. (1st); Jack Trueblood, Kent Denver, sr. (1st); Kevin Adams, Kent Denver, jr. (1st); Willie Gold, jr., Kent Denver (1st); Casey Ross, Kent Denver, so. (1st)

Regular season begins: Aug. 14

Regionals: Completed by Oct. 4.

Championship: Oct. 9-11, Pueblo City Park Tennis Complex

August 12, 2014
With a new coach, Colorado Academy begins defense of field hockey title

Colorado Academy enters 2014 riding a 24-game winning streak. (CHSAA file photo)

Colorado Academy heads into the approaching field hockey season with a past championship title only months behind, and hopeful of a repeat ahead.

"Our team has a huge connection on and off the field. It leads to our success. I absolutely think we can win state again this year," said returning all-stater and 2013 player of the year, Sterre Van Ede.

The Mustangs haven’t lost a game since their 2011 season, a span of 35 games (33-0-2). That includes a current 24-game winning streak which dates to the 2012 season and comprises the past two championships.

Last year, Colorado Academy finished 17-0-0, and beat Cherry Creek in the final.

Sterre Van Ede.

"Both Cherry Creek and Palmer (Ridge) have athletic girls who run very fast," Van Ede said. "And Kent (Denver) is always strong skillfully when we play them."

In fact, those three teams — along with Colorado Academy — comprise the top four teams in CHSAANow.com’s preseason ranking released Monday. The Mustangs are No. 1.

Daan Polders, the Netherlands native who coached the Mustangs to their past two championships, will not return for the 2014 season. Instead, Australian Veronica Scott will take over the squad.

Scott, who has played professional field hockey in Belgium for seven seasons and coached youth overseas, came to the United States two seasons ago and began coaching at Wake Forest. This will be her first season with a high school team.

"When I came here, I was impressed with the U.S. field hockey scene," Scott said, "but I realized that we needed good coaches at the high school level. Many athletes are arriving at college with a lack of fundamentals.

"I’m excited to see what potential there is on this team with Stere as a bonus, and everyone bringing something to the table."

Scott’s coaching style will be similar to Polders, as both bring international field hockey experience to Colorado Academy.

"I don’t think our team will go under a drastic change, though every coach is different," Van Ede said.

[divider]

Field hockey preview

Defending champion: Colorado Academy

Runner-up: Cherry Creek

Returning All-State players: Akiko Mitchell, Sr, Mountain Vista (1st); Julia Murphy, Sr, Colorado Academy (1st); Claire Stemper, Jr, Regis Jesuit (1st); Fiona Sullivan, Sr, Denver East (1st); Sterre Van Ede, Sr, Colorado Academy (1st).

Regular season begins: August 21

Playoffs begin: October 20

Championship: October 25 at All-City Stadium (Denver)

August 12, 2014
Wheat Ridge, defending 4A softball champ, looks to power to another title

Wheat Ridge’s strong line-up this year is highlighted by (pictured left to right) Ann Marie Torres, Analece Apodaca and Christina Nelson. All three were 4A all-state selections last season for the Farmers who won their fourth 4A state softball title in 2013. (Dennis Pleuss)

Could Wheat Ridge softball’s offense be even more potent this season? If so, beware to the rest of the Class 4A squads.

The Farmers captured their fourth 4A championship trophy over six seasons in 2013 thanks to veteran pitcher Jessica Salbato and punching offensive line-up.

“Last year’s state championship meant a lot,” Wheat Ridge coach Marty Stricklett said. “It was a hard-fought battle last year. We had to really earn last year’s state title. Day-in and day-out they had to leave it all out on the field.”

Wheat Ridge junior Ann Marie Torres belted 13 home runs last season and had a batting average of .634. (Dennis Pleuss)

While Stricklett loses Salbato to graduation, he returns six returning starters. It’s the most returning starters since Stricklett took over the reigns of the Farmers’ program in 2008.

The Farmers line-up should look fairly similar to last year’s team that racked up a 24-1 record on the way to Wheat Ridge’s sixth state softball title since 2002. Senior Analece Apodaca, along with juniors Christina Nelson and Ann Marie Torres headline the Farmers’ offensive attack.

“I definitely think this team has a lot of potential,” said Nelson, one of five returners who batted above .400 last season. “We just have to work and go one day at a time. We are going to be good, but there still is a lot of good competition out there.”

The three returning all-state selections (Apodaca, Nelson and Torres) combined for 140 hits, 93 RBIs and 40 doubles in 2013. Torres belted a remarkable 13 home runs.

“She (Torres) is a great hitter, but we have a couple of other on the team that are right with her,” Stricklett said. “My top three batters in my opinion are three of the top hitters in the state. Those top three hitters we put out there put pressure on every team and every team in the state knows it.”

Torres doesn’t know if she will be able to surpass her offensive numbers from 2013, but the Division I prospect is clearly zeroed in on getting Wheat Ridge in the position to repeat as state champions.

“I’m focused on high school right now,” said Torres about going into the college recruiting process.

Wheat Ridge’s biggest question coming into the season is who will take over the pitching duties. Stricklett said there are a handful of potential options. Senior Erin Dalton went 3-0 in on the hill last season. Torres and Nelson could move from their infield positions to the mound. There are also three sophomores who could see some time at pitcher.

“We’ll have pitching tryouts and we’ll be going through pitchers for who knows how long,” Stricklett said. “It’s going to be a process, but we’ll figure it out.”

4Awrstricklett.jpg
Marty Stricklett enters his seventh season as Wheat Ridge’s softball coach. The Farmers have captured four Class 4A state titles during Stricklett’s tenure. (Dennis Pleuss)

The Farmers start the season playing four 5A squads. Wheat Ridge will have a marquee match-up against defending 5A state champion Legacy on the Lightning’s home field at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26.

Wheat Ridge’s lone loss last season came against Standley Lake. Stricklett said the defeat “humbled” his squad at the right time, but he also admitted it’s hard to look at the Farmers’ state championship shirts and see that one loss.

Standley Lake moved down to 4A Jeffco this season. The Farmers will host the Gators in the middle of their conference schedule.

“It’s always going to eat at us, but it just pushes us to work harder,” Torres said of the lone blemish last season.

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Class 4A softball

Defending champion: Wheat Ridge

Runner-up: Erie

Returning All-State players: Analece Apodaca, Sr., UT, Wheat Ridge (1st); Alex Dufour, Sr., SS, Frederick (1st); Gabriela Garcia, Sr., C, Mullen (1st); Alexandra Jaros, Sr., CF, Holy Family (1st, 3A); Tiffany Maul, Sr., C, Erie (1st); Ally Power, Sr., P, Ponderosa (1st); Rio Sanchez, Soph., P/3B, Erie (1st); McKenzie Surface, Sr., P/1B, Discovery Canyon (1st); Ann Marie Torres, Jr., SS, Wheat Ridge (1st); Kendall Baker, Sr., IF, Berthoud (2nd); Sissy Hall, Sr., CF, Pueblo South (2nd); Christina Nelson, Sr., 2B, Wheat Ridge (2nd); Cheyenne Talmadge, Sr., 2B, Pueblo East (2nd)

Regular season begins: August 15

Playoffs begin: October 11

Championship: October 17-18, at Aurora Sports Park

August 8, 2014
Culture is the key to Legacy’s softball success

Legacy coach Dawn Gaffin celebrates with players after last year’s championship. (Pam Wagner)

The success Legacy’s softball program has enjoyed over the past seven seasons playing in the largest classification has been remarkable.

Coach Dawn Gaffin has coached the Lightning to six Class 5A state championships since 2007. After winning five straight titles from 2007 to 2011 the championship streak ended in 2012 when Loveland defeating Dakota Ridge in the 5A title game. However, Legacy climbed back to the apex last season with a 6-4 win over Legend to claim a sixth championship.

While Legacy is tied with Wheat Ridge and Arvada West for second with the number of state softball titles in Colorado prep history — Erie leads with 11 state trophies — the hardware isn’t the most valuable part of the winning culture for Gaffin.

“What really means a lot are the relationships you are going to have with those kids. That is what is important,” said Gaffin, who has coached prep softball in Colorado since 1987. “The relationships are real and that is what’s going to last.”

Focusing on strong leadership, mental toughness and visualization skills have been a trademark of Gaffin’s teams through the years. Bouncing back from adversity was the key last season for pitcher Haley Smith.

Smith took the loss on the mound as a sophomore during a 9-2 state semifinal defeat to Loveland in 2012. She had battled through pain with loose cartilage under right kneecap during the season. Smith had surgery in November after the season with the hope to be at 100 percent for her junior campaign.

Legacy has a long history of softball success. (Dennis Pleuss)

“I felt really confident going into my junior year because I worked so hard rehabbing it, getting in shape and getting ready for the season,” said Smith, who pitched in all 25 games last season and was named the 5A Player of the Year. “The (semifinal) loss my sophomore year really lite a fire under me.”

While Smith enters her third season as the Lightning ace, she was also impressive at the plate. Smith led Legacy last year in home runs (six) and RBIs (36). She is one of seven returning players who batted over .400 last year for Legacy.

“We have really great hitters on that team that produce,” Smith said.

Seniors Alyssa Geist, Celyn Whitt and Smith, along with sophomores Emily Taggart and Katelyn Kubitschek will provide plenty of pop at the plate for Legacy. The Lightning averaged more than six runs a game in its four state tournament games in 2013.

“I would definitely have to give credit to my two assistant coach in John Waller and Lauren Green,” Gaffin said of Legacy’s offensive achievements last year. “We’ve got some great hitters still on the team. In fact I’ve got four of my one through five hitters back. That’s a good thing.”

It’s also helpful for Legacy’s winning tradition that complacency isn’t in the Lightning’s vocabulary.

“I’m more focused than ever,” Smith said. “It’s my last year and the last time I’ll be playing with my Legacy jersey on. All of us seniors want to go out with a bang.”

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Class 5A Softball

Defending champion: Legacy

Runner-up: Legend

Returning All-State players: Tes Hass, Sr., OF, Loveland (1st); Tayler Mashburn, Jr., UT, Eaglecrest (1st); Carly Perry, Sr., SS, Columbine (1st); Haley Smith, Sr., P, Legacy (1st); Emily Supercynski, Sr., SS, Grandview (1st); Autumn Anderson, Jr., P, Fort Collins (2nd); Lauren Buckley, Sr., OF, Eaglecrest (2nd); Alyssa Geist, Sr., OF, Legacy (2nd); Kenya Lindstrom, Sr., P, Denver East (2nd); Kayla Michel, Sr., C/1B, Brighton (2nd); Sloane Stewartson, Soph., C, Rock Canyon (2nd); Dani Valerio, Sr., CF, Dakota Ridge (2nd); Jasmime Wessel, Sr., C/SS, Horizon (2nd)

Regular season begins: August 15

Playoffs begin: October 11

Championship: October 17-18, Aurora Sports Park

August 8, 2014