(David Harvey/ImageProPhotography.com)

COLORADO SPRINGS — On Tuesday, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced the 613-member Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team. Colorado is sending 34 athletes to the games as members of Team USA, which is the third largest state delegation behind California (126 athletes) and Florida (51 athletes). Competition is set to begin in Japan on Wednesday, July 21, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for Friday, July 23.

Listed below are the 26 athletes on Team USA that attended Colorado high schools.

The Season D all-state girls lacrosse teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches.

Player and coach of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.

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Class 5A

(Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

Player of the year: Jessie Bakes, Colorado Academy

Coach of the year: Kelsey Sheridan, Fairview

Honorable mention:

• Hayden Appel, Chaparral, Sophomore
• Elise Bialecki, M, Mullen, Senior
• Marin Bomgaars, D/M, Colorado Academy, Senior
• Paris Corporon, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Alex Cutone, M, Rock Canyon, Sophomore
• Anna Gawthrop, A, Cherry Creek, Sophomore
• Cami Johnson, A, Fairview, Sophomore
• Maya Kendall, M, Colorado Academy, Junior
• Rachel Kennedy, M, Arapahoe, Junior
• Julie Markovich, D, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Breonna Mason, G, Air Academy, Sophomore
• CJ Meehan, M/A/D, ThunderRidge, Sophomore
• Eliza Osburn, M, Valor Christian, Freshman
• Madison Riley, M, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Lilly Rowell, Chaparral, Junior
• Darby Sherrod, M/D, Arapahoe, Senior
• Courtney Smith, D, Dakota Ridge, Junior
• Danielle Srdoc, D, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Ava Welty, D, Fairview, Junior

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Class 4A

(Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

Player of the year: Margo Miller, Evergreen

Coach of the year: Rachel Sanford, Evergreen

Honorable mention:

• Maryn Brown, M, Fruita Monument, Junior
• Libby Claassen, M/A/DM, Roaring Fork, Senior
• Allie Elliott, M/D/A, Durango, Senior
• Ava Ganter, M/A, Golden, Junior
• Sophie Gebhardt, Dawson School, Junior
• Julia Harty, Battle Mountain, Senior
• Sophie Hodgson, M/A, Roaring Fork, Sophomore
• Charlotte Katz, Telluride, Junior
• Necia Knoedler, A, Liberty, Junior
• Melena Krownapple, Telluride, Senior
• Phoebe Ramirez, A, Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Talei Ricketson, A/M, Smoky Hill, Sophomore
• Sophia Rinn, M/A/D, Eagle Valley, Senior
• Reese Ripley, M, Denver North, Freshman
• Araceli Sanchez, Heritage, Junior
• Mia Seltzer, Aspen, Junior
• Sage Sorrells, A, Cherokee Trail, Sophomore
• Maleah Sosa, M/A, Horizon, Junior
• Devin Thomas, D, Aspen, Junior
• Alex Young, Denver South, Sophomore

Over 100 student leadership advisers and students took part in today’s virtual conference.

The conference, which helps student leaders to prepare for the upcoming school year, was a great opportunity to gather advisers, students, our state representatives, and some high school administrators to talk about growing campus culture, building student/staff recognition events, and promoting new activities.

Students began the day by listening to opening remarks by CHSAA associate commissioner Tom Robinson, who talked about what it means to be a leader, recognizing role models and creating a great environment for all.

James Layman, Director of the Association of Washington Student Leaders, was the keynote speaker. Layman talked to the group about multiple areas of growth, opening his presentation by telling student leaders, “Y’all are awesome!”

Layman also encouraged the audience members to “think about what they want their school to feel like” as they create their events and activities. There were moments of comedy as Layman told students not to compare this year to a tortilla chip; a reference to a personal story he shared. One of the key questions he asked attendees to think about was “what if we treated the past 16 months as the greatest opportunity you’ve ever had?”

Following the keynote, students and advisers participated in a workshop in a series of breakout sessions. Topics included everything from school spirit (post-COVID), effective leadership, amplifying student voice, to promotive a positive and inclusive school climate.

Outgoing student leadership committee chair and newly hired CHSAA activities director Rashaan Davis thanked the attendees for all of their hard work over the past few months and reminded them that it would be important to reach out to the incoming freshmen and current sophomores to help them grow back the climate of the building. Davis also thanked the Student Leadership Committee and incoming chairperson, Alice Stoneback (Manitou Springs High School), for continuing to make student leadership a priority.

Looking ahead, there will be more information coming out about student leadership events, including Fall Summits, Advisory University, and next summer’s conference.

(Steve Abeyta/steveabeytaphotography.com)

Addison O’Grady is appreciative of opportunities to compete with her teammates and interact with friends and classmates. The past year of COVID restrictions has taught us to not take these opportunities for granted. Who would have thought that a sports season could be canceled before the champion was crowned? Who would have thought that classroom activities would become virtual sessions with participants showing up on computer screens in rows of little boxes?

Well, Addison O’Grady, Grandview High School’s outstanding dual-sport athlete, knows all to well that this has been part of life as a high school athlete due to COVID. Her 2020 basketball season was left unfulfilled as the championship game was canceled before she and her Grandview Wolves teammates could tip-off against Cherry Creek. This was a lost opportunity to represent her school and make memories with her teammates.

A recruiting “trip” to Iowa City, Iowa to meet the Iowa Hawkeye basketball coaching staff became a Zoom meeting for one of the top-50 basketball recruits in the country. This was an opportunity lost to get to know her future coaches and teammates at one of the top universities in the country.

So, when Addi has had the opportunity to put on her Grandview uniform, she has made the most of it. Four trips to the Final Four in basketball and three state tournament appearances in volleyball have been opportunities to display her outstanding talent. Talent that has placed her on multiple All-State teams in both basketball and volleyball and made her one of the top high school basketball players in the country.

But Addison does not want to be boxed in like a Zoom meeting. She found it important to not just be a great basketball player, but to add more dimensions to her life in and out of athletics. In her Steinmark nomination letter Addi wrote that she has “…always strived to be more than just an athlete because I am more than an athlete. Often athletes are put in boxes, forced to specialize in one sport, told that they don’t need to worry about academics as much as athletics, or don’t make meaningful connections with people, but this award and Steinmark’s character and legacy are proof that athletes can have dimension. Athletes are more and should be expected to be more than just athletes.” Her basketball coach, Josh Ulitzky, echoed this sentiment by saying that “Addison took pride in putting on her Grandview High School uniforms and excelled at a level not matched by many young woman athletes, especially at 5A schools.”

Taking advantage of learning opportunities has also been important to Addison. Math teacher John Schultz commented that Addison “….could have chosen to take it easy in math during her senior year, yet she has shown great dedication in taking Calculus III and Differential Equations, which will prepare her for any mathematics and engineering curriculum she will encounter in college.”

Addison is already becoming familiar with college encounters as she took a call earlier this week from Dan Watkins, Colorado High School Coaches Association President, while in a dorm room on the University of Iowa campus during a break from basketball camp workouts. Addison was thrilled to learn about receiving the 2021 Steinmark Award and was thankful for the support her family, coaches, teammates, teachers, and classmates had shown during her high school career. Addison said she learned to not take anything for granted and to make the most of the opportunities she is presented with. She added that some of the COVID-restrictions allowed her to become closer with her teammates at Grandview and allowed her to share experiences and traditions with her younger Grandview teammates that she hopes will benefit them in the future.

Addison will also take her genuine interest in helping others with her to Iowa City. Addison spent many hours of community service while in high school assisting patients at Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House, and veterans at the VA Hospital in Aurora. This is yet another dimension to an outstanding young person that is proud to carry on the Freddie Steinmark legacy.

The Steinmark Award was established in 1972 and honors Freddie Steinmark, who excelled in football, basketball, and baseball while attending Wheat Ridge High School in the 1960s. He was also an outstanding student and was active in several school and community-oriented endeavors before attending the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns to the national football title in 1969. Freddie died from cancer in 1971 at the age of 22. Students athletes nominated for the award must be seniors who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.0 and participated in at least two varsity sports, having earned at least All-Conference in one sport and All-State in another.

Addison is the 49th winner of the girls Steinmark Award since it was first presented to girls in 1974. The first girl to win the Steinmark Award was Anne Vento of Pueblo Centennial in 1974. There were two winners of the award in 1984. Dave Logan of Wheat Ridge High School, and now the extremely well-known sports announcer for the Denver Broncos and other sports endeavors, was the first boys’ winner of the award in 1972.

In 2020, Emily Cavey of Berthoud received the girls’ Steinmark and Caleb Rillos of Ralston Valley was the recipient for the boys.

Finalists for the 2021 Steinmark Award: Rylee Crouch, Horizon; Kendyl Kirkwood, Fleming; Kylie Kravig, University; and Kendyl MacAskil, Palisade.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Avery Shunneson’s senior year at Thomas Jefferson High School went from the slow pace of having the fall football season postponed to warp speed of having three sports crammed into his final semester of school. Avery and his teammates at TJ participated in the state basketball tournament in early March, started football practice the next week, hoisted the 4A Football Season C Championship trophy in May, and then Avery won two state track and field championships the last weekend of June.  Not a bad way to wind up your senior year – oh, and add being named 4A football Player of the Year and committing to attend Princeton University to this list as well.

Avery Shunneson is the 52nd winner of the Steinmark Award since it was established in 1972 (there were two winners in 1976 and 1979) and he continues the proud tradition of Steinmark Award winners. Avery learned a lot of the history surrounding Freddie Steinmark and the award from his football coach, Mike Griebel, who passed on stories about the accomplishments of Freddie Steinmark from his glory days in the mid-1960’s at Wheat Ridge High School and the hard work it took for Freddie to get a scholarship to play for the Longhorns. They talked about Freddie playing in the 1969 ‘Game of the Century’ against the Arkansas Razorbacks and then a week later being diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left leg and the immediate amputation of the leg.

Most importantly, Avery recognized the hard work and dedication it took in the classroom and his community to really stand out as a Freddie Steinmark Award winner. Avery wrote, “I recalled the many times I would see Freddie Steinmark’s name as I explored the halls of Wheat Ridge High School in between my club basketball games at tournaments held at Wheat Ridge. I was only in middle school at the time, but I can still recall the pride the school had for such an amazing man who was not only a great athlete but also a good citizen and a dynamic leader.”

Avery was a natural leader in the hallways at TJ and the local community. Woody Bonner, assistant track coach at TJ, commented that “as a freshmen, Avery went out to the throw rings the first practice and was instantly the leader of that group of young men and women.” Having the respect of the other athletes and knowledge of the throwing events truly benefitted Avery this year as he stepped up to be the team’s throws coach when Coach Bonner was not able to be at practices during the season due to medical reasons. Coach Bonner also shared that he would “hear from Avery by text or call to check up on me and to fill me in on how the last game [or meet] went. This is something that was not required or asked for. This is something he does because of who he is and the outstanding character he possesses.”

Avery is also deeply involved in the Spanish-speaking community in Denver and helps as an interpreter and technology support for seniors in the community and clients of a local fishing outfitter. Avery learned to appreciate the importance of language and education at a very early age thanks to his parents, Alison and Arnold Shunneson, placing him in a fully Spanish-speaking 1st grade class. A review of Avery’s transcript shows no less than six Spanish Honors or Advanced Placement classes during his career at TJ. A weighted GPA of 4.78 ranked Avery in the top 10 of his class and a composite score of 30 on the ACT made Avery a top recruit of Ivy League colleges and almost every other top school across the country.

Avery is proud to be a product of TJ and the Denver Public Schools system and will carry that banner proudly with him to Princeton this year. Avery is also very proud to be the first Steinmark Award winner at TJ and the fourth recipient from Denver Public School – Mike Edwards, Kennedy (1976); Fred Harris, Montbello (1988); and Greg Jones, Kennedy (1992). Avery knows the challenges faced by urban schools and the students face many challenges every day. “The Steinmark Award means that one faces those challenges with faith and courage….and that you never give up. Horrible things happen in our lives, like Freddie Steinmark’s illness, but we have to dig deep and show courage so that we can inspire others to do the same. I would be honored to be the first to win the award on behalf of my school….and to represent the city of Denver.”

All of Avery’s academic and community service accomplishments may have moved his athletic feats to page 2, but they are no less impressive. During the 2021 Season D track and field season Avery threw the discus 196’ 8” to find a spot as the 6th best discus thrower ever in the state of Colorado. His throw of 192’ 6” set a 4A State Meet Record in the discus and put him on top of the podium, a spot he duplicated two days later by winning the 4A shot put with a throw of 54’ 2”. Avery’s progression in the discus is notable in that he was on the podium in both his 9th grade (a 6th place finish) and 10th grade (a 3rd place finish).

The spring football Season C found the undefeated TJ Spartans in the state championship game and trailing the Gateway Olympians at half time. The Spartans remained focused on their season-long goal of a team championship and came out victorious after a late-game touchdown and two-point conversion. Avery was one of the team captains and was proud of the Spartans’ determination throughout the entire season. The team focused on Coach Mike Griebel’s commitment to player safety and made sure that they did not have any COVID-related issues throughout the season. Avery was the team leader in rushing yards and tackles during the season and was recognized as the 4A Player of the Year by CHSAA. And what did Avery do to celebrate the team’s victory? He woke up Saturday morning and competed in the first track meet of Season D! Avery admitted that he was pretty sore, but he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to compete in a track and field meet. That is a true commitment to excellence!

The Steinmark Award was established in 1972 and honors Freddie Steinmark, who excelled in football, basketball, and baseball while attending Wheat Ridge High School in the 1960s. He was also an outstanding student and active in several school and community-oriented endeavors before attending the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns to the national football title in 1969. Freddie died from cancer in 1971 at the age of 22. Student athletes nominated for the award must be seniors who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.0 and participated in at least two varsity sports, having earned at least All-Conference in one sport and All-State in another.

Dave Logan of Wheat Ridge High School, and now the extremely well-known sports announcer for the Denver Broncos and other sports endeavors, was the first winner of the award in 1972.

In 2020, Caleb Rillos from Ralston Valley received the boys’ Steinmark and Emily Cavey of Berthoud was the recipient for the girls. The Colorado High School Coaches Association is proud to be the sponsor of the Freddie Steinmark Award and congratulates the athletes, and their coaches, who were nominated for this award.

Finalists for the 2021 Steinmark Award: Jake Boley, Cheyenne Mountain; Tyler Collins, Wray; Jack Pospisil, Pomona; and Zane Rankin, Lamar.

(Steve Abeyta)

The 2021 MLB Draft was held July 11-13 at Denver’s Bellco Theatre. Below is a profile of the six Colorado products selected.

Last season, two players who played high school baseball in Colorado were taken.

For a list of all previous Colorado players drafted, browse our historical MLB Draft database

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Regis Jesuit graduate and right-handed pitcher Alec Willis became the first Colorado product selected in the 2021 MLB draft, as he was picked in the seventh round, 211th overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Willis was MLB.com’s 130th-ranked prospect after a senior season in which he finished 3-1 with a 0.72 ERA and 54 strikeouts (against eight walks) in 29 innings pitched.

Willis has signed his letter of intent to attend the University of Minnesota. With Willis’ selection, a Regis Jesuit grad has been chosen in an MLB Draft 29 times.

Three 2017 Colorado high school graduates were selected next, led by 2017 Heritage grad Casey Opitz, who attends college baseball powerhouse Arkansas. Opitz was selected in the eighth round, 244th overall, by the Chicago Cubs.

Opitz was one of the top backstops in college baseball, being named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List in 2019, while also earning Preseason All-American honors. In 2021, he was a team captain for an Arkansas team that entered the NCAA Baseball Tournament as the number one overall seed.

At Heritage, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. His senior season, he was ranked the No. 3 player in the state of Colorado and the top catcher overall.

He is the third Opitz brother to be taken in an MLB Draft, following Shane (2010) and Jake (2008).

Opitz also played basketball and football for the Eagles at times during his high school career.

2017 Lewis-Palmer grad Billy Cook, a 2021 Pepperdine graduate, went next to the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round, 287th overall.

Cook was a four-year starter at Pepperdine, appearing in 122 games with 109 starts. He finished tied for ninth in all-time home runs in Pepperdine history. In 2021, he was selected first team all-West Coast Conference.

At Lewis-Palmer, Cook was a three-time 4A all-state honoree, while helping the Rangers to a pair of conference championships.

He is the fourth Lewis-Palmer grad to be drafted all-time, and the first since 2008.

Jack Winkler, a 2017 Chatfield grad, was next to go later in the 10th round, 308th overall to the Oakland Athletics.

Winkler was a four year starter for the University of San Francisco, his last three seasons as the primary shortstop. He had a tremendous campaign in 2021, taking home first team all-West Coast Conference accolades. In four seasons at USF, he played in 184 games, making 180 starts. A career .276 hitter, he totaled 186 hits, 43 doubles, 14 home runs, and 104 RBI.

At Chatfield, he was a three-time all-conference honoree, while helping the Chargers to a 5A title in 2015.

Going back to the recent Colorado high school grads, another Chatfield Charger in Quinton Low went in the 13th round, 387th overall, to the Milwaukee Brewers. With him and Winkler selected, they became the 10th and 11th Chatfield alums drafted all-time.

Low was a two-way star for Chatfield, batting .492 with 30 hits and nine home runs in 2021, while making seven pitching appearances with a 3.00 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 35 innings. He helped Chatfield to the 5A quarterfinals in 2021.

He has signed his letter of intent to attend Santa Clara University.

The final Colorado product selected was Ryan Ure of Eaton, taken in the 16th round, 464th overall, by the Texas Rangers.

Ure was Eaton’s ace this past season, pitching to a 2.07 ERA over 44 innings, while compiling a 7-0 record with 83 strikeouts. He helped lead the Fightin’ Reds to the 3A baseball title.

Ure is signed to play in college with Oklahoma State. He continues Eaton’s rich MLB Draft tradition, as he is the ninth Eaton grad selected all-time, and the first since 2012.

Local selections in the 2021 MLB Draft

(Reed Hoffmann )

The Move United Junior Nationals presented by The Hartford is set to take over Metro Denver, Colorado from July 17-23. Now, in its 37^th year, Move United Junior Nationals is the largest and longest-standing national sport championship event for young athletes with a physical disability, visual and/or intellectual impairment through the age of twenty-two.

With more than 300 athletes with disabilities and coaches participating, the weeklong event includes competitions, clinics, education and social opportunities. The sports contested include archery, paratriathlon, para powerlifting, shooting, swimming as well as track and field along with a wheelchair tennis and sitting volleyball clinic. The event will also include appearances by Wheelchair basketball World Champion Matt Scott and Paratriathlete World Champion Hailey Danz, as well as a surprise donation of custom-fit sports equipment for two youth as part of The Hartford’s Ability Equipped program.

The Move United Junior Nationals presented by The Hartford serves as a platform to promote physical activity, independence for youth with disabilities and may one day lead them to compete at the international level and the Paralympic Games.

“Sports make us stronger,” said Glenn Merry, Executive Director of Move United.  “Move United’s community-based adaptive sports movement focuses on leaving no one on the sidelines. In partnership with The Hartford, Move United is proud to offer this elevated field of play for young athletes to test themselves, discover what’s possible and achieve new heights in becoming their best selves.”

As the Title Sponsor for the event, The Hartford is committed to empowering youth and adults with disabilities by making adaptive sports more accessible – delivering the power of ability. As a leading disability insurer, the company has a long-held belief that sports are an important part of physical rehabilitation following a disabling illness or injury.

“We have been an advocate for the adaptive sports movement and sponsor of athletes with disabilities for more than 25 years,” said Kathy Bromage, Chief Marketing Officer of The Hartford. “We are proud to be a part of the Move United Junior Nationals this year in Colorado and excited to see these young athletes compete on the national stage and inspire others to participate in adaptive sports.”

Move United Junior Nationals presented by The Hartford is also sponsored by the Daniels Fund, Challenged Athletes Foundation, and Hanger. For more information about the Move United Junior Nationals and the complete event schedule click here.

The Season D all-state boys track and field teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created based upon results at the state meet.

In order to be considered for athlete of the year, they must first have made the all-state team by winning an event.

Athletes of the year were selected based upon their performance at the state meet. Coaches of the year were selected based upon the team champions.

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(Claire Semerod/Cherry Creek High School)

Class 5A

Athlete of the year: Ky Oday, Cherry Creek

Coach of the year: John Reyes, Grandview

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(Brent Murphy/brentmurphyphoto.com)

Class 4A

Athlete of the year: Zane Bergen, Niwot

Coach of the year: Maurice Henriques, Niwot

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(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Class 3A

Athlete of the year: Joshua Medina, Alamosa

Coach of the year: Mark Roggy & Eileen Phillips, Resurrection Christian

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Class 2A

Athlete of the year: Anthony Martinez, Lake County

Coach of the year: Lucas Lubbers, Yuma

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Class 1A

Athlete of the year: Jacob Jefferson, Arickaree/Woodlin

Coach of the year: Joe Packard, Heritage Christian