CHSAANow

Category: Featured

  • Mountain Vista’s Harrison Witt named Gatorade Colorado boys track & field player of the year

    (Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

    CHICAGO — Mountain Vista’s Harrison Witt is no stranger to making history this year, and now he is making a little more.

    On Thursday, the recently graduated Golden Eagle became the first Gatorade Colorado boys track & field player of the year to be chosen from Mountain Vista.

    “For Harrison, the team always comes first and his individual goals come second,” Mountain Vista coach Jonathan Dalby said. “His ability to relate, connect, and inspire everyone else around him is remarkable.”

    The 6-2, 155-pound senior set a state record of 4:04.36 in his title-winning 1600-meter run at the Class 5A state meet this past season. The clocking ranked as the nation’s fourth-best performance among 2021 prep competitors. It also broke his own record of 4:05.18 set earlier in the season.

    Witt also broke the tape in the 800 at the state meet with a meet-record time of 1:48.75. His personal-best clocking of 1:48.50 in the 800 this season eclipsed another state record and ranked No. 2 nationally.

    President of his class, Witt has participated in service mission trips to Guatemala and Cuba and has volunteered locally on behalf of the Make-a-Wish Foundation as well as the Forever Home Foundation, which helps elderly community members stay in their homes.

    Witt has maintained a weighted 4.34 GPA in the classroom. He will attend Princeton University this fall, where he will compete in track and field.

    He joins recent Gatorade Colorado boys track & field players of the year Cole Sprout (2019-20, 2018-19, & 2017-18, Valor Christian), and Isaac Green (2016-17, Monarch), among the state’s list of former award winners.

  • All-state boys lacrosse teams for Season D

    The Season D all-state boys lacrosse teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches.

    They are created by the Colorado High School Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association.

    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Player of the year: Trey Digby, Valor Christian; Dillon Pless, Mountain Vista

    Coach of the year: Matt Kelley, Fairview

    First Team
    Name Year School Position
    Jack Ringhofer Senior Regis Jesuit Attack
    Jake Likes Senior Valor Christian Attack
    Jake Ward Senior Mountain Vista Attack
    Dakota Johnson Senior Cherry Creek Attack
    John Alie Junior Grandview Attack
    Jack Gerber Junior Colorado Academy Attack
    Liam O’Brien Senior Fairview Midfield
    Griffin Mallory Senior Valor Christian Midfield
    Spencer Harvey Senior Colorado Academy Midfield
    Braeden Wimer Senior Monarch Midfield
    Carter Korzenski Senior Cherry Creek Midfield
    Johnny Colombi Senior Castle View Midfield
    Dillon Pless Junior Mountain Vista Midfield
    Harrison Pfeiffer Senior Fairview Defense
    Kayce Kline Senior Cherry Creek Defense
    Hudson Bush Senior Fairview Defense
    Ryan Cole Senior Valor Christian Defense
    Zach Friedman Junior Ralston Valley Defense
    Ryan Pless Junior Mountain Vista Defense
    Sam Riecken Junior Monarch Defense
    Mitch Gutgsell Senior Valor Christian Goalie
    Brooks Catlin Senior Fairview Goalie
    Aiden Bullock Senior Douglas County F/O Midfield
    Alex Fredrich Sophomore Cherry Creek F/O Midfield
    Trey Digby Senior Valor Christian LSM
    Eli Hamilton Senior Valor Christian Def. Midfield
    Second Team
    Name Year School Position
    Andrew Frey Senior Monarch Attack
    Brandon Bergner Senior Kent Denver Attack
    Andrew Tan Senior Denver East Attack
    Justin Hanson Senior Rock Canyon Attack
    Jack Cromwell Junior Fairview Attack
    Lane Kellogg Junior Ralston Valley Attack
    Sean Hicks Senior Rock Canyon Midfield
    Jack Egen Senior Regis Jesuit Midfield
    Jack Wirth Senior Fairview Midfield
    Noah Wehrman Senior Grandview Midfield
    Justin Virden Senior ThunderRidge Midfield
    Luke Brunner Sophomore Lakewood Midfield
    Brayden Legette Senior Eaglecrest Midfield
    Jack Casey Sophomore Regis Jesuit Defense
    Jack Kiefer Sophomore Cherry Creek Defense
    Kyle Riner Senior Rock Canyon Defense
    Nate Kopec Junior Mountain Vista Goalie
    Will Stewart Sophomore Cherry Creek Goalie
    Colton McPherson Junior Ralston Valley F/O Midfield
    Kale Kissell Senior Colorado Academy LSM
    Nick Horrocks Senior Fairview LSM
    Jack Moxcey Sophomore Cherry Creek Def. Midfield

    Honorable mention:

    • Jack Colwell, Junior, Mountain Range, Attack
    • Brandon Hane, Senior, Mullen, Attack
    • Gunnar Fellows, Junior, Valor Christian, Attack
    • Andrew Merrell, Senior, Lewis-Palmer, Midfield
    • Duke Benson, Junior, Kent Denver, Midfield
    • Evan Gibbs, Junior, Cherokee Trail, Midfield
    • Fletcher Sullivan, Junior, Regis Jesuit, Midfield
    • Jackson Cutter, Junior, ThunderRidge, Midfield
    • Kevin Pickford, Junior, Denver East, Midfield
    • Tyler Olson, Sophomore, Mountain Vista, Midfield
    • Eliot Rutherford, Sophomore, Colorado Academy, Defense
    • Logan Murray, Senior, Lewis-Palmer, Defense
    • Reed Roughton, Junior, ThunderRidge, Defense
    • Ty Scheckenbach, Sophomore, Arapahoe, Defense
    • Dax Smestad, Senior, Smoky Hill, Goalie
    • Ian Thompson, Sophomore, Arapahoe, Goalie
    • Jackson Marshall, Senior, Mountain Vista, F/O Midfield
    • Nate Morris, Senior, ThunderRidge, LSM
    • Connor Wiederrich, Sophomore, Mountain Range, Def. Midfield

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Cheyenne Mountain Evergreen boys lacrosse
    (Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

    Player of the year: Griffin Meyer, Cheyenne Mountain

    Coach of the year: Andrew Trietley, Ponderosa

    First Team
    Name Year School Position
    Grant Rodny Junior Air Academy Attack
    Ben Kirschner Senior Golden Attack
    Liam Conners Freshman Erie Attack
    Ben Crosbie Senior Evergreen Attack
    Mitch Lewis Junior Cheyenne Mountain Attack
    Jack Booth Senior Erie Midfield
    Zak Paige Senior Cheyenne Mountain Midfield
    Cole Skillington Junior Ponderosa Midfield
    Greg Gould Senior Lutheran Midfield
    Joe Cesario Senior Jefferson Academy Midfield
    Karson Sparks Freshman Denver South Midfield
    Wyatt Furda Sophomore Cheyenne Mountain Midfield
    Cameron Paredes Senior Littleton Midfield
    Max Warn Junior Erie Defense
    Jared Stiller Senior Evergreen Defense
    Carver Ward Senior Cheyenne Mountain Defense
    Griffin Meyer Senior Cheyenne Mountain Defense
    Jackson Metzler Senior Steamboat Springs Defense
    Luke Schiffers Senior Conifer Defense
    Max Schutt Senior Golden Defense
    Kyle DesGarennes Senior Golden Goalie
    Drew Morris Senior Evergreen Goalie
    Gage Bachman Freshman Windsor F/O Midfield
    Danny Schneider Senior Evergreen LSM
    Derek Krumland Senior Ponderosa LSM
    Jude Mieu Sophomore Thompson Valley Def. Midfield
    Second Team
    Name Year School Position
    Camden Stanley Sophomore Ponderosa Attack
    Becker Dienst Senior Vail Mountain Attack
    Dalton Summers Junior Golden Attack
    Gabe Adams Senior Denver North Attack
    Nate Kaufman Junior Ponderosa Attack
    Ryan Flaherty Junior Air Academy Midfield
    Chance MacCagnon Senior Golden Midfield
    Erich Peterson Junior Eagle Valley Midfield
    Corby Tecu Junior Erie Midfield
    Jack Seibert Senior Palmer Midfield
    Kevin Pappa Sophomore Cheyenne Mountain Midfield
    Brady Porter Junior Ponderosa Defense
    Evan Westervelt Junior Denver South Defense
    Conner Waite Senior Windsor Defense
    Colin Selters Sophomore Erie Goalie
    Joe Vandyk Junior Palmer Goalie
    Gavin Radtke Junior Conifer F/O Midfield
    Hayden Sock Senior Erie LSM
    Ephram Caustrita Junior Lutheran Def. Midfield
    Sebastion Witt Senior Eagle Valley Def. Midfield
    Tyler McNielly Senior Green Mountain Def. Midfield

    Honorable mention:

    • Colby Erdossy, Senior, Cheyenne Mountain, Attack
    • Grayden Easton, Senior, Evergreen, Attack
    • Nolan Williamson, Senior, Windsor, Attack
    • Grant Webster, Senior, Littleton, Attack
    • Joe Yoder, Junior, Northfield, Attack
    • Mackay Pattison, Senior, Vail Mountain, Attack
    • Nick Schreiber, Senior, Littleton, Attack
    • Rhasan Brown, Junior, Northfield, Midfield
    • Connor Dries, Senior, Evergreen, Midfield
    • Danny Joy, Junior, Bear Creek, Midfield
    • Carter Cassin, Senior, Evergreen, Midfield
    • Kellen Adams, Junior, Steamboat Springs, Midfield
    • Jeff Lowe, Senior, Glenwood Springs, Defense
    • Joe Elliott, Junior, Ponderosa, Defense
    • Ben Gladstone, Freshman, Northfield, Defense
    • Blake Skramstad, Senior, Lutheran, Defense
    • Trenton Koser, Senior, Thomas Jefferson, Defense
    • Tyler Morrison, Senior, Eagle Valley, Defense
    • Sam Gottesfeld, Junior, Northfield, Goalie
    • Peter Zimmer, Senior, Glenwood Springs, Goalie
    • Evan Shanks, Junior Jefferson Academy, F/O Midfield
    • Zachary Zabel, Sophomore, Thomas Jefferson, F/O Midfield
    • Nicholas Kazenske, Senior, Denver North, Def. Midfield

  • All-state boys swimming and diving teams for Season D

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

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

    [divider]

    (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

    Class 5A

    Swimmer of the year: Alex McMahon & Sebastian Wolff, Heritage

    Diver of the year: Quinn Henninger, Regis Jesuit

    Swim coach of the year: Chris Loftis, Cherry Creek

    First Team
    Name Year School Event(s)
    Gio Aguirre Junior Regis Jesuit 100 Free
    Henry Batson Senior Cherry Creek 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay
    Clayton Chaplin Senior Highlands Ranch Diving
    Will Dravenstott Senior Cherry Creek 200 Medley Relay
    Conrad Eck Junior Cherry Creek Diving
    Hunter Foehner Senior Columbine 400 Free Relay
    Eric Hart Senior Columbine 400 Free Relay
    Fletcher Hayes Senior Arapahoe 200 Free, 500 Free
    Quinn Henninger Senior Regis Jesuit Diving
    Blake Jorgens Senior Cherry Creek 200 Free Relay
    Cade Martin Junior Cherry Creek 200 Medley Relay
    Alex McMahon Senior Heritage 50 Free, 100 Fly
    Chase Mueller Sophomore Columbine 100 Back, 400 Free Relay
    Henry Mueller Senior Columbine 400 Free Relay
    Bryce Ortanes Senior Cherry Creek 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay
    Nikolas Silolahti Senior Cherry Creek 200 Free Relay
    Sebastian Wolff Senior Heritage 200 IM, 100 Breast

     

    Second Team
    Name Year School Event(s)
    Jack Ballard Junior Fort Collins 200 Free
    Douglas Campbell Junior Denver East Diving
    Tristen Davin Sophomore Chatfield 100 Free
    Collier Dyer Junior Arapahoe Diving
    Natal Dyson Modica Senior Highlands Ranch Diving
    Garrett Gurley Sophomore Heritage 200 Medley Relay
    Sawyer Inglis Senior Regis Jesuit 500 Free
    Caleb Liban Junior Cherry Creek Diving
    Mitchell Oliver Sophomore Heritage 200 Medley Relay, 100 Breast
    Nicholas Sanders Senior Valor Christian Diving
    Ryan Tyner Sophomore Columbine 200 Free Relay

    [divider]

    (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

    Class 4A

    Swimmer of the year: Xavier Hill, George Washington

    Diver of the year: Jack Ryan, Denver North

    Swim coach of the year: Debbie Stewart, Silver Creek

    First Team
    Name Year School Event(s)
    Drew Aparicio Senior D’Evelyn 200 Medley Relay
    Shea Card Senior Glenwood Springs 100 Back
    Andrew Carlson Senior D’Evelyn 200 Medley Relay, 100 Breast
    Ethan Carr Sophomore Cheyenne Mountain 200 Free Relay
    Aiden Coon Junior Discovery Canyon Diving
    Ian Haneke Senior Wheat Ridge 100 Fly
    Xavier Hill Junior George Washington 50 Free, 100 Free
    Baylor Lewis Senior Greeley West 200 IM
    Andrew McGill Senior Discovery Canyon 400 Free Relay
    Tristan McFarland Senior George Washington 500 Free
    Davis McKellop Sophomore Cheyenne Mountain 200 Free Relay
    Adam Pannell Sophomore Discovery Canyon 400 Free Relay
    Chance Ricca Senior Discovery Canyon 200 Free, 400 Free Relay
    Jack Ryan Senior Denver North Diving
    Ryan Skrzekut Junior D’Evelyn 200 Medley Relay
    Joe Smack Junior Thompson Valley Diving
    Xander Taylor Freshman Cheyenne Mountain 200 Free Relay
    Taylor Wagner Sophomore Discovery Canyon 400 Free Relay
    Raglan Ward Junior Cheyenne Mountain 200 Free Relay
    Nathan Whittenburg Senior D’Evelyn 200 Medley Relay

     

    Second Team
    Name Year School Event(s)
    Aeson Akins Senior Glenwood Springs 200 Medley Relay
    Max Bradbury Junior Glenwood Springs 200 Medley Relay
    Connor Brauch Senior Green Mountain Diving
    Jacob Dowlin Junior Silver Creek Diving
    Jake Eccleston Freshman Windsor 200 Free Relay
    Nicholas Kastner Freshman Broomfield Diving
    Charlie Kiddoo Senior Glenwood Springs 200 Medley Relay
    Tim Lynskey Junior Windsor 200 Free Relay
    Nathan Russell Sophomore Windsor 200 Free Relay
    Andrew Scoggin Senior Windsor 200 Free Relay
    Spencer Sheldon Sophomore D’Evelyn Diving
    Kian Smith Junior Evergreen Diving

     

  • Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart named Gatorade Colorado girls track & field player of the year

    Track and field state championships
    (Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

    Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart will look back at her junior year in high school as a memorable one for a number of reasons, some typical for an athlete of her ability and others unusual.

    Now, she has one more reason – similar to another lofty accolade she recently garnered – to look back fondly on the 2020-21 school year.

    On Friday, Gatorade announced that Stewart had been selected as the latest Gatorade Colorado track and field girls player of the year. The Bruins junior was also named Gatorade Colorado girls cross country player of the year for the second consecutive year in April.

    “This season, Riley was undefeated in the state of Colorado and finished in the top five of each national-level competition she  entered,” Cherry Creek distance coach Ethan Dusto said in a press release. “I’ve coached athletes for the past 17 years of my life, and I can say that I have had very few as talented as Riley, and none who have had the combination of talent, hard work, humility and teamwork that she exhibits.”

    As a junior in Season D, Stewart broke the Colorado state record in the 1,600, setting the new standard at 4 minutes, 44.13 seconds at the Stutler Twilight in June. The previous record of 4:44.31 was set by Air Academy’s Katie Rainsberger and stood for five years.

    At the Season D track and field state championships, Stewart set a Class 5A state meet record in the 1,600 with a time of 4:45.96. She also won the 800 (2:09.60), placed first in the 3,200 (10:31.45) and anchored the Bruins’ winning 3,200 relay team to a time of 9:05.73.

    The list of recent Gatorade Colorado girls track and field players of the year includes Niwot’s Taylor James, Valor Christian’s Anna Hall and Denver East’s Arria Minor. Stewart’s Cherry Creek teammate Parker Wolfe was named this year’s Gatorade Colorado boys cross country player of the year back in April.

    Stewart, who maintains a 3.7 GPA, is a member of her school’s student-athlete leadership council and has volunteered locally on behalf of park clean-up initiatives.

    Stewart is now the second Cherry Creek athlete to claim this distinction. Bruins alumnus Jordyn Colter was chosen by Gatorade as Colorado’s top girls track and field athlete in 2015.

  • Dave Logan inducted into National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame

    Grandview Cherry Creek football
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    ORLANDO – Dave Logan’s father coached him in both little league football and basketball, and that relationship ended up being the primary reason Logan grew up to become a coach himself.

    Even at an early age, both of Logan’s parents ingrained in him that should he one day have an opportunity to work with kids that he must take advantage of the chance to guide younger generations and help them grow through sport. Logan took those words to heart and has spent decades doing exactly that.

    On Thursday night at the 102nd annual National Federation of State High School Associations Summer Meeting, Logan was inducted into the NFHS Hall of Fame for the wide-ranging impact he has made over his wide-ranging career in the world of sports.

    “The idea of working with kids was ingrained in me when I was very young,” Logan said. “Even when my dad was coaching me, he talked about how, ‘You’re going to grow up and eventually, if you get the opportunity, you give back.’”

    Logan was a three-sport standout – football, basketball and baseball – throughout his high school years at Wheat Ridge from 1969-72, and insists he never had a favorite despite his future professional career in football. His favorite sport, Logan says, was whatever he was playing a given time.

    One of only three multi-sport players to be drafted by all three major sports organizations, Logan went on to be a two-sport star at the University of Colorado and then played nine years as a wide receiver in the NFL. He played eight of those years with the Cleveland Browns before playing his final season with the Denver Broncos, where he would eventually become the organization’s on-air radio voice on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM.

    Logan has been “the voice of the Broncos” for three decades and in 2019 signed an agreement to continue for another 10 years.

    Since he returned to the high school coaching rankings, Logan has won nine state titles and 290 games over 28 years split between four schools, including Arvada West, Chatfield, Mullen and Cherry Creek. Most recently, he guided the Cherry Creek Bruins to an undefeated season and a second straight Class 5A state championship in the fall.

    Cherry Creek Columbine football
    (Theodore Stark/tstark.com)

    During his NFHS Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Logan reminisced on the many lessons he learned from his own high school coaches and teachers. Now going into his 29th year coaching high school football, he remarked that he remains focused on imparting those same lessons and principles to the young student-athletes he now coaches.

    “I think the life lessons you can learn as an athlete and a high school kid, many of those you carry with you and they shape in a lot of ways who you are and who you became,” Logan said. “They shape how you conduct yourself and what’s important to you, and what’s not important. I loved every single sport. I couldn’t wait when the season ended, the next day I was at whatever the next season was. I was able to carry what I learned from my high school experience into playing both basketball and football in college.

    “But I think what we need to be able to recognize, and too often we don’t do this, is the importance and the impact that high school coaches, teachers and administrators – those who deal with our youth – have on young people. And even though it might not seem like it every single day, and I know I leave practice some days thinking, ‘I’m not sure they hear a word I said today,’ they do.

    “They do.”

    Logan entered the NFHS Hall of Fame 2021 class with a pair of other renowned Colorado athletes in former Colorado Rockies player Matt Holliday and former Denver Nuggets player Alex English.

    Cherry Creek football
    (Theodore Stark/tstark.com)

  • All-state girls tennis teams for Season D

    The Season D all-state girls tennis teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

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

    The athletes who won championships at their classification were named players of the year. Coaches of the year were awarded to the coaches of championship teams.

    [divider]

    5A girls tennis state championships
    (Brad Cochi/CHSAANow.com)

    Class 5A

    Player of the year: Lily Chitamber, Boulder

    Coach of the year: Chris Jacob, Cherry Creek

    First Team
    Name Year School Pos.
    Lily Chitamber Junior Boulder 1S
    Valerie Negin Senior Smoky Hill 1S
    Lorena Cedeno Junior Cherry Creek 2S
    Anika Sharma Freshman Cherry Creek 3S
    Eliza Hill Senior Cherry Creek 1D
    Nicole Hill Senior Cherry Creek 1D
    Halley Mackiernan Senior Cherry Creek 2D
    Anna Fusaris Senior Cherry Creek 2D
    Victoria Moldovan Junior Cherry Creek 3D
    Jisele Boker Freshman Cherry Creek 3D
    Ella Barclay Senior Cherry Creek 4D
    Vivienne Bersin Junior Cherry Creek 4D

    [divider]

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Class 4A

    Player of the year: Lauren Manwiller, Mullen

    Coach of the year: Jera Sturgell, Mullen

    First Team
    Name Year School Pos.
    Lauren Manwiller Senior Mullen 1S
    Beilynn Geiss Junior Loveland 1S
    Anna Sallee Junior Niwot 2S
    Emily Creek Senior Niwot 3S
    Hanna Noyes Sophomore Kent Denver 1D
    Kendall Adams Freshman Kent Denver 1D
    Tierney Scanlan Junior Mullen 2D
    Izzy Desjardins Junior Mullen 2D
    Madeline Crites Junior Mullen 3D
    Aubryanne Leugers Junior Mullen 3D
    Renee Hoyt Sophomore Mullen 4D
    Clara Dailey Freshman Mullen 4D

    [divider]

    (Luke Zahlmann/Pueblo Chieftain)

    Class 3A

    Player of the year: Anna Jordaan, Colorado Academy

    Coach of the year: Woody Oliver, D’Evelyn

    First Team
    Name Year School Pos.
    Anna Jordaan Sophomore Colorado Academy 1S
    Grace Li Junior D’Evelyn 1S
    Alexis Gilio Senior Dawson 2S
    Sofia Cieslewicz Freshman D’Evelyn 3S
    Anna Day Junior D’Evelyn 1D
    Kyrianna Krzystek Senior D’Evelyn 1D
    Maisy Schoeman Sophomore D’Evelyn 2D
    Maria Christoffersen Junior D’Evelyn 2D
    Cheranne Wang Junior D’Evelyn 3D
    Karina Li Junior D’Evelyn 3D
    Sarah Cook Freshman D’Evelyn 4D
    Mariah Dean Junior D’Evelyn 4D

    [divider]

  • Girls soccer: Dawson’s Degen Miller named Gatorade Colorado player of the year

    (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

    The highest scoring girls soccer state championship game in Colorado’s history fittingly featured one of the most prolific scorers to play in the Centennial State.

    On Saturday at Weidner Field, the Dawson Mustangs won the Class 2A girls soccer championship, 15-4, over Telluride. Senior Degen Miller, who is a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-19 Team player pool, led the onslaught with four goals by herself. Those four game-breaking goals pushed Miller’s season total to an incredible 43 goals and 16 assists in Season D.

    Several days later on Tuesday, Miller was named Gatorade Colorado girls soccer player of the year.

    “When you look over the span of her career, she injured her collarbone as a freshman and we were still able to go through and win a state title that year,” Dawson head coach David Criswell said. “What stood out to me was how she still stuck around and stayed dedicated to the team, and that set the tone for the next few years. This year, the contributions she made to the team were immense. Of course, the technical skill and tactical knowledge on the field are obvious.

    “But she also has a humility and grace that really allowed her to be a leader for us and makes her a special player beyond what she can do in a game.”

    Miller, who will play at the University of Virginia next year, finished her high school pandemic-shortened career with 99 goals and 40 assists in just 33 career games. As a senior, she led the Mustangs (12-1) to a Mile High West championship on their way to a state title.

    The Mustangs have played in all six Class 2A state championship games since the classification was introduced in 2015, and Miller has been on the team for both of Dawson’s girls soccer state championships.

    “Degen is the whole package,” Front Range Christian coach Eric Osberg said in a press release. “She is the leader of that team and has made everyone around her better. Her vision on the field is phenomenal and she sees everyone and everything. What sets Degen apart is she knows when to involve her teammates and when she needs to take a game over.”

    As Gatorade Colorado player of the year, Miller joins a list of in-state standouts that includes Mallory Mooney (2019-20, Broomfield High School), Mari Annest (2018-19, Colorado Academy), Hailey Stodden (2017-18, Broomfield High School), and Shae Holmes (2016-17, ThunderRidge High School), and others.

     

     

  • Valor Christian’s Radek Birkholz named baseball player of the year by Gatorade

    (Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

    Valor Christian’s Radek Birkholz was named the Gatorade baseball player of the year for Colorado on Tuesday. He has been named a finalist for the national baseball player of the year which will be named in July.

    Birkholz was a standout player for the Eagles in his time at Valor. As a freshman, he took on the challenge of pitching in the Class 4A state championship game against Pueblo West. Not only did he get the win, but he nearly threw a no-hitter as he had not given up a hit through six innings.

    He has shined off the field as well as he has served as a member of the National Honor Society and led a mission trip to the Dominican Republic on behalf of his community. All while doing that, he has maintained a 4.14 GPA.

    He has become the idea baseball player to represent the state of Colorado.

    “As a head coach for 20 years, I can say Radek Birkholz is not only one of the best players I have seen in Colorado over that time span, but also one of the best kids,” Ralston Valley coach Brad Madden said in a release. “He is a great competitor, an unbelievable player and a humble young man.”

    He finished the year with a 6-0 record, a 0.79 ERA and struck out 71 hitters that he faced. He gave up a total of four earned runs as Valor advanced to the 5A state championship game. He was also a menace at the plate as he hit .473 with seven home runs and 29 RBI’s.

    He will play his college baseball at the University of Notre Dame and he’ll be paying attention to the MLB Entry Draft in July as his name could be called. He is the No. 3 draft prospect in the state according to Perfect Game.

  • The all-state football teams for Season C

    The Season C all-state football teams 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 across the state.

    Players were placed onto the first team, second team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-2A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.

    CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created from the results of the coaches’ vote.

    [divider]

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Class 5A

    Player of the year: Ja’Derris Carr, Vista PEAK Prep

    Coach of the year: Tony Lindsay Sr., Far Northeast

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Mohamed Altayeb Denver East TE/DE Junior
    Gregory Anderson Far Northeast Warriors WR/DB Senior
    Drake Arthur Boulder TE/OLB Senior
    Landon Blackwell Denver South CB/P Senior
    Ja’Derris Carr Vista PEAK Prep RB/DB Senior
    Josh Clark Boulder G/T –
    Isaiah Davis Denver East RB/CB Junior
    Jimmy Jefferson Rangeview G/T/DT Junior
    Jayshawn Leyba Denver South SB/RB Senior
    Braylen Nelson Vista PEAK Prep DT/T Senior
    Emmanuel Nwaneto Far Northeast Warriors LB/DL/RB Senior
    James Wright Denver South T/DE Senior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Julian Buerk Denver South QB/FS Senior
    Gilbert Bujanda IV Westminster TE/DE Senior
    Rashad Caldwell Denver South WR/SS Sophomore
    Louden Harger Fort Collins K Junior
    Donovan Jarmon Vista PEAK Prep G/DE Senior
    Gabriel Kreimeyer Rangeview FS/SB Senior
    Tristan Langenegger Boulder QB Junior
    Brent Larson Fort Collins C/DL/LS Senior
    Vincent Mosley Fort Collins OG/DT Senior
    Victor Owens Vista PEAK Prep QB/LB/DB Senior
    Trenton Sullivan Vista PEAK Prep FB/OLB Junior
    Luke Werner Boulder WR/CB Senior

    Honorable mention:

    • Robert Barron, MLB/P/RB, Westminster, Senior
    • Jonah Buerk, RB, Denver South, Sophomore
    • Michael Bufmack, CB/MLB, Rangeview, Junior
    • Joseph Capra, QB/FS, Denver South, Sophomore
    • Jaylen Carrizales, WR/DB, Vista PEAK Prep, Senior
    • Joe Connor, RB/LB, Fort Collins, Senior
    • Cyrus Goldsmith, DT/OL, Far Northeast Warriors, Senior
    • Elijah Graham, Boulder, Senior
    • Dre’Monti Jackson, RB/DB, Far Northeast Warriors, Sophomore
    • Max Jones, RB/DB, Fort Collins, Junior
    • Elijah Lopez, G/MLB, Denver South, Senior
    • Garrett Manning, OLB, Denver South, Senior
    • Dorion McGarity, WR/DB, Fort Collins, Junior
    • Julian Mechels, WR, Boulder, Junior
    • Chris Nguyen, G/DT/DT, Westminster, Senior
    • Armani Patterson, RB, Rangeview, Sophomore
    • Leonardo Ramos-valles, DE/TE, Far Northeast Warriors, Junior
    • Isaai Rubio, ILB/OG, Hinkley, Senior
    • Andrew Seest, QB/LB, Fort Collins, Junior
    • Blake Smotherman, TE/DE, Fort Collins, Junior
    • George West, CB/RB, Hinkley, Senior
    • Demario Williams, WR/FS, Rangeview, Junior

    [divider]

    Thomas Jefferson Centaurus football
    (Brad Cochi)

    Class 4A

    Player of the year: Avery Shunneson, Thomas Jefferson

    Coach of the year: Mike Griebel, Thomas Jefferson

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Denavion Ali George Washington TE/DE Senior
    Taylor Coe II Gateway DE/T/G Senior
    Erick Covington Gateway QB/FS Senior
    Angrell Epps Harrison OL/DL Senior
    Jaden Hill Thomas Jefferson – Senior
    Preston Lyons Thomas Jefferson T Junior
    Darius McFarland Falcon /RB/FS Junior
    Angel Medina George Washington DL/OL Senior
    Spencer Mickelberry Centaurus T/G Junior
    Jaseim Mitchell Harrison QB/DB Senior
    Nate Ramirez George Washington K Senior
    Avery Shunneson Thomas Jefferson – Senior
    Orlando Valdez Kennedy OLB/DE Senior
    Darece Vaughn George Washington DL/OL Senior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Cai’reis Curby Aurora Central – Sophomore
    Silas Evans George Washington WR/FS Sophomore
    Marcellus Honeycutt Jr. George Washington WR/DB Sophomore
    Sh’marre Johnson Gateway WR/CB/KR Senior
    Trenton Koser Thomas Jefferson – Senior
    Austin Lindegren Thomas Jefferson – Junior
    Tyrese McClinton El Centaurus CB/WR Senior
    Andrew Portillo Aurora Central DE/TE Senior
    Jose Sandoval Denver North OL/DL Senior
    Isaac Sisneros Kennedy QB/SS Sophomore
    Niko White Lincoln OL/NG Senior
    Josh Wolfer George Washington TE/DE Junior
    Randy Yeboah Thomas Jefferson – Junior

    Honorable mention:

    • Daniel Ameyaw, HB/LB, George Washington, Senior
    • Brian Chairez, OLB, Skyview, Junior
    • Nolan Favreau, Falcon, Senior
    • Jacob Nelms, MLB, Falcon, Sophomore
    • Octavio Paredes, K, Kennedy, Senior
    • Carlos Serrano, ILB, Kennedy, Senior
    • Tre’Shawn Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
    • DaVonn Stevens, RB/LB, Harrison, Senior
    • Owen Thornton, ILB/HB, George Washington, Senior
    • Nestor Torrez, OL/DL, Harrison, Senior
    • BJ Weatherford, WR/OLB, Aurora Central, Junior
    • Jesse Weber, OL/DL, Harrison, Junior
    • RJ Webster, RB/FB/LB, Gateway, Senior
    • Blake Wilson, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
    • Eddie Zygowicz, OLB/FS, Centaurus, Senior

    [divider]

    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    Class 3A

    Player of the year: Kaden Wolf, Rifle

    Coach of the year: Todd Casebier, Rifle

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Rulbe Alvarado Basalt WR/DB Senior
    Ian Cecil-Hoerl Glenwood Springs G/DT Senior
    Gabriel Espinosa The Academy WR/CB Senior
    Garrett Everitt Faith Christian DE/TE/T Senior
    Greg Garnett Sand Creek WR/ATH Senior
    Matty Gillis Basalt QB/DE Senior
    Tim Newton Sand Creek MLB/T Senior
    Blake Nieslanik Glenwood Springs RB/OLB Junior
    Cade Palmer The Classical Academy RB/SS Junior
    Jon Randall Faith Christian K/KR Senior
    Ian Ridgeway The Classical Academy T/DT Senior
    Gavin Webb Basalt RB/DE Junior
    Kaden Wolf Rifle RB/LB Senior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Mitch Anderson The Classical Academy G/DT Senior
    Peter Braun Littleton TE/DL/K Junior
    Darius Britton Sand Creek WR/ATH Junior
    Ethan Brunk The Classical Academy TE/MLB Senior
    Cade Macklin The Classical Academy T/NG Senior
    Stephen Morris Glenwood Springs RB/QB/WR Senior
    Bryce Rowley Rifle RB/OLB Senior
    Finn Russell Steamboat Springs RB/DE Senior
    Matthew Segovia The Classical Academy CB/WR Junior
    Zach Stadlbauer The Academy C/DT Senior
    Josh Straw Rifle OG/LB Senior
    Sander Sveen Kent Denver MLB/G Senior

    Honorable mention:

    • Noah Akin, WR/CB, Aspen, Senior
    • Trevin Beckman, RB/LB, Basalt, Sophomore
    • Ty Blackmer, QB/SS, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
    • Garrett Dollahan, RB/SS, Glenwood Springs, Senior
    • Isaiah Eliot, QB/SS, The Academy, Sophomore
    • Almorion Germany, SS/RB, Sand Creek, Senior
    • Ryan Hansen, OT/DE, Steamboat Springs, Senior
    • Teddy Huttenhower, Glenwood Springs, Junior
    • Dylan Kohlbrenner, MLB/FB, The Academy, Senior
    • Kyler Krob, SS/WR/WR, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
    • Embrey Marantino, RB/DB, Rifle, Senior
    • Sam Sherry, WR/LB, Basalt, Junior
    • Storm Silich, Aspen, Senior
    • Charlie States, RB/OLB, The Academy, Senior

    [divider]

    Manitou Springs Flatirons Academy football
    (Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

    Class 2A

    Player of the year: Joah Armour, Manitou Springs

    Coach of the year: Cory Archuleta, Manitou Springs

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Caleb Allen Manitou Springs QB Junior
    Joah Armour Manitou Springs WR Senior
    Caleb Barnes Manual RB/DE/LB Senior
    Jacob Dube Flatirons Academy QB/DB Senior
    Eric France Grand Valley DE/DT Senior
    Elijah Kitchen Estes Park T/FB Senior
    Seth Moss Buena Vista C/DT Junior
    Luke Reavis Buena Vista WR/CB Senior
    Clay Robertson Clear Creek OL/DL Senior
    Trenton Rowan Flatirons Academy WR/LB/K Junior
    Xander Shenberger St. Mary’s G/NG Senior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Gordon Bragg Manual OL/DL Senior
    Jewel Cameron Manual CB/QB/RB Junior
    Haden Camp Buena Vista QB/OLB Sophomore
    Wyatt Carlson Flatirons Academy OL/DL Senior
    Brandan Cattell Buena Vista RB/OLB Senior
    Elijah Evans Buena Vista DT/T Sophomore
    Thor Flett Manitou Springs – Senior
    Emilio Garcia Grand Valley – Junior
    Nathan Haas Manitou Springs – Senior
    Landon Kane St. Mary’s QB/CB Senior
    Collin Reetz Estes Park QB Junior
    Trevor Ryan Flatirons Academy RB/LB Senior

    Honorable mention:

    • Rai-zohn Bell, WR/RB/DB, Manual, Senior
    • Tate Christian, , Manitou Springs, Junior
    • Joshua Garduno, RB/FS, Ellicott, Senior
    • JD McCown, WR/DT, Estes Park, Senior
    • Kaden McFee, FB/OLB, Buena Vista, Senior
    • Rylan Norton, , Buena Vista, Senior
    • Jacob Phelps, RB/DE, Buena Vista, Sophomore
    • Elijah Quinonez, C/DL, Manual, Senior
    • Noah Rumbyrt, OL/DL, Flatirons Academy, Senior
    • Isaac Sternhagen, OL/DL, Flatirons Academy, Senior
    • Blake Thomas, RB/QB/OLB, Roaring Fork, Junior
    • Elijah Josiah White, WR/LB, Manual, Junior

    [divider]

    (Marcus Hill)

    8-man

    Player of the year: Grant Arellanes, Hoehne

    Coach of the year: Gabe Dasko, Hoehne

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Grant Arellanes Hoehne RB/LB Senior
    PJ Bliss Custer County RB/DE Junior
    Grady Carroll Hoehne OL/DL Senior
    Titis Gebhardt Justice WRDB Senior
    Weston Hill Hoehne QB/DB Senior
    Luke Hiltman Front Range Christian QB/DB Senior
    Davis Jennings Front Range Christian OL/LB Junior
    Tallen Long Plateau Vlley QB/LB Junior
    Justin Miller Las Animas DB/WR Senior
    Antonio Moltrer Hoehne OL/DL Senior
    Caden Morlan Las Animas RB Junior
    Nolan Potts Front Range Christian WR/LB Sophomore
    Levi Scaddon Front Range Christian TE/DE Senior
    Travis Vialpondo John Mall QB/DE Senior

     

    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Anthony Aldretti John Mall RB/LB Senior
    Ricardo Bobian John Mall RB/DB Senior
    Ben Bolz Front Range Christian WR/LB Junior
    Noe Chavez Justice RB/LB Junior
    James Davenport Front Range Christian RB/DB Senior
    Camren Howell Hoehne OL/DL Junior
    Dayton Morlan Las Animas DB/E Sophomore
    Will Ross Plateau Valley OL/DL Junior
    Anthony Valdez Justice WR/DB Sophomore
    Dale Van Matre John Mall RB/LB Senior
    Dario Vezzani Hoehne WR/DB Sophomore
    Markus Vigil Las Animas QB Junior
    Robert Walter Hoehne WR/DB Senior
    James Zook Las Animas DE Junior

  • 4A baseball: Ponderosa caps thrilling tournament run with first state title

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    PUEBLO — So many times were the Ponderosa Mustangs down. But they were never out. A week after they won three thrilling games in the Class 4A state baseball tournament, they entered the final two days playing like every bit the team that could not be beat.

    And they had so much incentive to not get beat. That reason was Luke Karel. A teammate and a friend is going through a battle that no one can help him with. Karel is in the batter’s box and leukemia is throwing him some nasty stuff.

    So when Ponderosa beat Holy Family 11-2 to claim the 4A baseball title, and first baseball championship in school history, the players couldn’t help but think of their friend who couldn’t be there physically, but was certainly there in spirit.

    “It’s all Luke, he’s our main guy,” shortstop Dylan Carey said. “That’s what we’ve played for this year, was him. Last week we sent him some video messages. He’s going through his round of chemo. He’s losing his hair and seeing that was really hard. Getting this win for him meant a lot.”

    And they had to earn it, which made it all the more special.

    The Mustangs (21-3 overall) won their first four games of the state tournament which meant they would have to lose twice in order for someone to take the state title away from them.

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Their first game against Holy Family proved to be their one hiccup of the tournament. They dropped the game 10-4 setting a one-game, winner take all showdown with the Tigers.

    And coach Bob Maloney sent the same pitcher that Holy Family beat up a bit last weekend out to do it. The result this go around was much different. Derek Lukes had complete command of his stuff was untouchable in the first two innings, the same innings the Tigers (20-3) jumped on him a week ago.

    “I came in with a winning mentality,” Lukes said. “I came in with a chip on my shoulder and I knew we were winning from the start. I came in ready to win and I knew my team was behind me.”

    They got behind him in a big way. Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd, Kolton Miller walked then back-to-back extra base hits from Cael Porter and Carey made it a 2-1 game. Miller added a 2-RBI double in the 4th to help push the lead to 5-1.

    As more runs came across the plate, the more amped the team got as they realized they were inching closer to a state title.

    “These kids didn’t care who got the credit,” Maloney said. “They just wanted to win and they went out and did it.”

    It was an impressive stretch throughout the entire state tournament. They started with walk-off wins against Evergreen and Cheyenne Mountain on Day 1 then a thrilling comeback win against Holy Family the next day.

    They rolled against D’Evelyn on Friday before dropping one game to Holy Family only to rebound and win state. Through that stretch they production from all areas of the lineup, but it was first baseman Dom Lopez who was most impressive in the six games. He batted .640 and hit four home runs and drove in 12. He was the fuel behind the engine that carried the team to the state title.

    And he too, did it with Karel in his heart. He couldn’t make it through the first weekend of the tournament without thinking about his friend.

    “When we’re down, we always think about Luke,” he said last week. “We start every practice saying ‘Luke Strong’ and we end every game saying “Luke Strong.’ He’s in our hear every day and we just play for him.”

    Until now. There is no more need to keep playing for him. Karel provided the inspiration for this group of Ponderosa athletes to do something that had never been done in school history. And there was no way they were going to let him down.

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)