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Category: Previews

  • Volleyball preview: Idalia hoping to ride last season’s momentum to the top

    Reagan Shaffer Idalia volleyball
    Idalia’s Reagan Shaffer, the reigning player of the year in 1A volleyball. (Tim Visser/MaxPreps)

    [dropcap]R[/dropcap]eagan Shaffer’s junior year at Idalia High School was the stuff of which dreams are made.

    Shaffer and the Wolves made school history on multiple occasions a year ago, starting when the volleyball team advanced to the Class 1A state championship game for the first time. Some five months later it was the girls basketball team’s turn, and this time Idalia emerged with the school’s first title on the girls’ side.

    Shaffer finished the year with first-team all-state accolades in both sports and was the 1A Player of the Year in volleyball. But she and her Idalia teammates haven’t forgotten about the one that got away.

    The Wolves missed out on a state title last November in a four-game loss to Fleming, and it has the squad hungry for a second chance.

    “Having never been in that situation, any of us, that was a learning experience for us too,” Wolves coach Kylie Chamberlain said. “Hopefully we find ourselves back in that situation and maybe we do something different.”

    Idalia finished the 2014 season with a 26-2 record, with both losses coming at the hands of Fleming. In the state tournament the Wolves were battling fatigue after a five-set marathon in a semifinal victory over Otis. After taking the first set against the Wildcats, Shaffer said the team simply ran out of energy.

    The setting at the Denver Coliseum was also a bit overwhelming, with five championship matches taking place at one time.

    “There was definitely an adrenaline rush. It’s not what we were used to; it was a lot to take in because you could barely hear your own teammates,” Shaffer said. “We were pretty dead at the end of the day, so we’ve worked on a lot of conditioning and drills to keep us in shape.”

    Idalia comes into 2015 as the top-ranked 1A squad in the CHSAANow.com preseason poll after graduating only two seniors off last year’s team. The Wolves return all-state talent in Shaffer (344 kills, 38 aces as a junior) and Jennay Terrel (154 kills, 48 total blocks). Junior Faith Carpenter joins Terrel in the middle, with junior Alex Weyerman back at setter, senior Bryce Schafer on the outside and Susana Herrera on the right side.

    Shaffer ripped 24 kills in the semis a year ago and had a team-high 11 in the title match.

    Reagan Shaffer Idalia volleyball
    Shaffer. (Tim Visser/MaxPreps)

    “She’s definitely a leader for us on the court. She doesn’t get rattled, doesn’t lose her head,” Chamberlain said. “You get in a crunch situation and you can look at her on the court and she’s looking at the rest of the team saying, ‘It’s OK, we’ve got this.’

    “She’s a competitor.”

    Now it’s all about the road back to the Coliseum for Idalia and its 1A competition. While Fleming graduated five all-state players, the Wildcats are always a tough out. Otis returns a trio of all-state players, and Chamberlain also pointed to Flagler and Kit Carson as teams that could make a run.

    After making the state tournament a year ago for the only the third time in Chamberlain’s tenure, the tide has started to turn in Idalia for volleyball as a winning tradition begins to take shape.

    Shaffer said that should the team get back to Denver, the nerves shouldn’t be a factor this time around. The state basketball tournament is the perfect example — having been in a high-pressure situation earlier in the school year, the Wolves stared down adversity and came away with their first championship.

    “Really I think a lot of it came from having the mindset from being at state volleyball,” Shaffer said. “State basketball was a little more mellow and not as crazy. I think we went in and weren’t really nervous — we had gotten rid of the jitters and just played.”

    [divider]

    Volleyball preview

    • Regular Season Start Date: Aug. 27
    • Postseason Start Date: Oct. 31
    • State Tournament: Nov. 13-14, Denver Coliseum (All Classes)

    Class 5A

    • Preseason No. 1: Cherokee Trail
    • Defending Champion: Grandview
    • Returning All-State Players: Audrey Cheng, Jr., Fairview (2nd team); Shannon Webb, Sr., Cherokee Trail (2nd).

    Class 4A

    • Preseason No. 1: Lewis-Palmer
    • Defending Champion: Lewis-Palmer
    • Returning All-State Players: Lydia Bartolo, Jr., Lewis-Palmer (2nd team); Mariah Evans, Sr., Lewis-Palmer (1st); Elisa Hill, Sr., Montrose (2nd); Braya Hunt, Sr., Valor Christian (2nd); Maddie Labor, Sr., Steamboat Springs (2nd); Kylee Shook, Sr., Mesa Ridge (2nd); Allison Smith, Sr., Ponderosa (1st); Camille Smith, Sr., Ponderosa (2nd).

    Class 3A

    • Preseason No. 1: Eaton
    • Defending Champion: Eaton
    • Returning All-State Players: Cassie Davis, Jr., Colorado Springs Christian (2nd team); Kaitlyn Detlefsen, Sr., Coal Ridge (2nd); Madison Fisher, Sr., University (2nd); Angala Jensen, Sr., Manitou Springs (2nd); Chelsey Lockey, Soph., Eaton (2nd); Katie McKiel, Sr., Manitou Springs (1st); Jamie Nielsen, Sr., Colorado Springs Christian (2nd); Caiden Rexius, Sr., Eaton (1st); Bailey Schumacher,Sr., Eaton (2nd); Tarynn Sieg, Jr., Eaton (1st).

    Class 2A

    • Preseason No. 1: Resurrection Christian
    • Defending Champion: Resurrection Christian
    • Returning All-State Players: Taylor Carsten, Sr., Paonia (2nd team); Jaedyn Lambrecht, Sr., Caliche (2nd); Mallory Noble, Sr., Yuma (1st); Peighton Roth, Sr., Yuma (2nd); Kaitlyn Rutherford, Sr., Ridgway (2nd); Sarah Schaller, Sr., Sargent (2nd); Laney Swan, Sr., Colorado Springs School (2nd); Tara Traphagan, Sr., Yuma (1st).

    Class 1A

    • Preseason No. 1: Idalia
    • Defending Champion: Fleming
    • Returning All-State Players: Jade Hasz, Sr., Flagler (2nd team); Micayla Isenbart, Soph., Kit Carson (2nd); Emily Kaiser, Jr., Prairie (2nd); Kylee Kuntz, Sr., Otis (1st); Lissette Lefforge, Jr., Otis (2nd); Alyssa Lovato, Sr., Cheraw (2nd); Elisa Rodwell, Sr., Flagler (2nd); Antonya Schaffert, Jr., Otis (1st); Reagan Shaffer, Sr., Idalia (1st, POTY); Jennay Terrell, Sr., Idalia (1st).

  • Gymnastics preview: Broomfield crafting a new identity this season

    State gymnastics
    Broomfield gymnastics finished runner-up in Class 5A a season ago. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 2014 season didn’t come without challenges for the Broomfield gymnastics team.

    Sarah Holbrook, the Class 5A runner-up in the all-around competition as a sophomore, suffers from Bertolotti’s Syndrome, a back injury that prevented her from competing in all four disciplines as a junior. Heidi Liles and Nicole Remund, a pair of gifted first-years, both went down mid-season with ankle injuries.

    And yet, the Eagles kept their tradition of excellence alive with a runner-up team showing at the state meet. They finished just behind Overland for a second straight year with 184.5 points to the Trailblazers’ 184.975.

    “We had a really up-and-down year and certainly we were disappointed with second, but we reminded the girls that we finished (second) after the year we had,” Broomfield coach Erika Taga said. “With the girls we lost, we still had a great year.”

    Now, the Eagles are mending their wings with a mixture of talented returners like Holbrook (the defending champion in balance beam), Nicki Verheyen, Liles, and Remund — and a new group, talented but unproven.

    “We only have eight girls returning from last year, so we have a whole new identity with this team,” Taga said. “These girls haven’t been through the process. I think some coaches might look at that as a weakness, but I’m really excited for it.

    “We’ve kind of started fresh and washed our hands after the last two years. We are going to build on the tradition and the legacy that is our program, but we also are going to create a new legacy with this group of girls.”

    Broomfield — the only team to break up Overland’s run of titles from 2011-2014, with the Eagles winning 5A in 2012 — always have a goal of finishing first on the last day of the season. But, Taga knows there is more to gymnastics than just end results.

    “We certainly feel fortunate that Sarah is coming back given all the challenges she’s working through on a daily basis,” she said. “She’s still in pain every day, but honestly she’s in a better place than she was all of last year. We are really excited to try and get her back in the all-around. We are just going to have to be patient and take it one meet at a time.”

    Liles, a former club gymnast enjoying the high school team environment, is excited for Holbrook’s final go-around.

    “A lot of our seniors are really talented athletes, especially my good friend Sarah Holbrook,” the sophomore said. “She has amazing skills on all four events. She’ll give it her all, but I hope that back injury doesn’t get in the way.”

    As usual, Broomfield will have lofty individual and team aspirations in 2015.

    “Certainly we want to beat Overland, but we try to keep a good spirit,” Liles said. “They are amazing gymnasts. We just really try to focus on our team. We love what we do.”

    [divider]

    Gymnastics preview

    • Regular season begins: August 27
    • Regionals: October 31
    • State meet: November 6-7 at Thornton HS

    Class 4A

    • 2014 individual all-around champion: Alyssa Carroll, Thompson Valley (graduated)
    • Defending team champion: Standley Lake
    • Returning All-State athletes: Maddie Barkow, Niwot

    Class 5A

    • Defending individual all-around champion: Kelsey Boychuk, Pomona
    • Defending team champion: Overland
    • Returning All-State athletes: Boychuk; Holbrook; Rachel Dillman, Mountain Range; Samantha Simon, Cherry Creek; MacKenzie Doerr, Cherry Creek

  • Boys soccer preview: The Classical Academy taking nothing for granted

    The Classical Academy Air Academy boys soccer
    The Classical Academy, runner-up in 4A boys soccer last season, opens at No. 2 in the preseason poll. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    [dropcap]P[/dropcap]erhaps the story of the year in 2014 boys soccer was that of The Classical Academy; a charter school right down the street from Air Academy in Colorado Springs which, due to attendance, rose from Class 3A to 4A last year and responded by going 19-1.

    The Titans’ only loss? The state championship, to the very same Air Academy, which head coach Blake Galvin claims they can almost see from across I-25.

    “I think that could develop into a pretty good rivalry in the future,” Galvin said. “But we’ve only been in 4A one year, so it’s hard to predict at this point.”

    One can understand Galvin’s pragmatic answer to the often-loaded "rivalry" question. In fact, pragmatic is perhaps the best word to describe his squad’s approach to the upcoming season.

    The Titans return all of their starting players from the team that finished runner-up a year ago and are among favorites to win it all in their sophomore campaign at 4A. TCA opened as No. 2 in the preseason poll — just behind preseason No. 1 Air Academy.

    Yet besides last year’s disappointment in the final, TCA competed for 3A titles in 2010, 2011, and 2013 in efforts that all fell short.

    “We’re doing everything we can, honestly, to not even talk about it,” Galvin said of his squad’s role as favorites this season. “We’re really trying to focus on being excellent in each moment.

    “We’ve kind of made the decision as a team that if we can be excellent in each moment of the season, then whatever happens next for us is ‘right.’”

    The Titans’ soccer program started in 2005, and Galvin has been with them since the beginning. They only fielded a JV squad that first year, but as the four state title appearances in the last five seasons indicate, things have progressed quickly since then. This year’s team will return a whopping six all-state players.

    “We’ve kind of always had the thought that the top teams in 3A could compete with the top teams at 4A,” Galvin said. “We really didn’t ever know for sure though.

    “I think the main difference (between 3A and 4A) is that the field is a lot deeper. Your first-round playoff matchup is always going to be tough at 4A, while that wasn’t always the case (at 3A).”

    Because of TCA’s designation a school of choice, students enrolled there have the option to transfer to other public high schools in the area, one notably being Air Academy. TCA’s increased high school enrollment is unique in that they really get very few new enrollments in high school. More students who attended elementary and junior high school are simply electing to remain at The Classical Academy.

    Still, Galvin stopped short of giving his program credit for part of the boom.

    “It’s so rare that the school takes in new ninth graders that most of the players that I have have been going to school here since at least junior high or even kindergarten,” Galvin explained. “I’ve had some great players but if kids are sticking around, it’s because of some great things going on in the classroom.”

    The coach hesitated for just a moment, then added, “But it doesn’t hurt that we’ve had some success on the athletic field as well.”

    [divider]

    Boys soccer preview

    • Preseason rankings
    • Regular Season Begins: August 27
    • Semifinals: November 11
    • Championships: November 14, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

    Defending champions

    Returning All-State athletes

    • 5A: Brian Castruita, Sr., Boulder; Tyler Duggan, Sr., Broomfield; Porter Milner, Sr., Broomfield; Will Palmquist, Sr., Denver East; Adan Varela, Sr., Adams City
    • 4A: Alejandro Alainz, Sr., Kennedy; Jeremy Baldes, Jr., TCA; Justin Barkow, Sr., Niwot; Jaden Borja, Jr., TCA; Anders Carlson, Jr., TCA; Chris Chasteen, Jr., TCA; Titus Grant, Jr., TCA; Sean Derby, Sr., Cheyenne Mountain; Andrew Peck, Sr., TCA; Jumanne Transou, Sr., Pueblo Centennial.
    • 3A: Josh Elkington, Sr., Manitou Springs; Max Mehlman, Jr., Kent Denver; Jesus Nava, Sr., Lake County; Miguel Navarro, Sr., Coal Ridge

  • Field hockey preview: Kent Denver coach Kathy James remains a pivotal figure in the sport

    Regis Jesuit Kent Denver field hockey
    Under Kathy James’ tenure, Kent Denver has turned into the state’s most successful field hockey program. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    [dropcap]A[/dropcap]t the end of the workday, when Kathy James leaves University of Denver, where she teaches epidemiology, she heads to another world of complexity — competitive teenage girls. This week, the field hockey pioneer heads into her 19th season coaching at Kent Denver, her 17th as head coach.

    The Sun Devils have won nine championships. That figure is the most titles of any other program, and Kent continuously churns out high-level collegiate players.

    Though the program’s run has been cut short in semifinals the past three years, they held the trophy the four consecutive years prior.

    “You can’t be the crème de la crème every year. You just can’t,” said James, the winningest field hockey coach in the state. “Eventually someone steps in. And the level of expectation, whether self or externally imposed takes a toll.”

    James’ most recent championship win was in 2011 against Colorado Academy, last season’s state champion.

    In the preseason rankings, Kent Denver sits in third, behind No. 2 Colorado Academy and No. 1 Palmer Ridge, who beat Kent in the semifinals last year by a goal.

    This year, James and her Sun Devils may or may not step onto the turf on Halloween, date of this year’s state championship, but it won’t bother James either way.

    “Of course the last championship game is always my goal, and the girls know that,” she said. “But I don’t impose a disappointment factor on them if it doesn’t happen. It’s just that as athletes, you have to have a goal to work towards, but so much good happens along the way.”

    Regis Jesuit Kent Denver field hockey
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    Field hockey is close to home for the esteemed coach, as her husband, Brian Nutter, is the president of the Colorado Field Hockey Umpires Association, and was the head coach of Mountain Vista field hockey before that. The spouses faced off in a championship game in 2010, where Nutter took the win.

    “We vent frustrations, we run scenarios, we help each other see a different view,” said James of her shop talk at home. “There is rarely a day we don’t speak some field hockey.”

    Though the game has seen much evolution in nearly two decades, James’ philosophy has remained the same; her method to success consistent.

    When ESPN named her high school coach of the week in 1999, she attributed her early careers wins to fundamentals, conditioning and simplicity.

    “It’s funny how little that changes,” James said. “The game has shifted so much, but at this level, fundamentals will always be so important to me for development. Conditioning was a game-changer then and even more so now that everyone plays on turf.

    “And today’s sport is more high speed with less stoppage, so my simplicity theory has changed a bit, but it is merely a reflection of the sport’s growth.”

    Colorado graduates nine all-state players from last season, including three from the Kent Denver squad. But James doesn’t feel it will be a setback, or a rebuild year, as they are not alone in losing pivotal players.

    Last year, the coaches comprised a team of 15 players from seven different schools to compete in a national tournament — 14 of them were seniors.

    “Nearly every school lost one or two key girls. There won’t be a decline in skill, just a more uniform level of play, a more uniform competiveness,” James said. “Field hockey will just have a different character across the board in Colorado. And nobody is out of the running.”

    [divider]

    Field hockey preview

    • Preseason rankings
    • Defending state champion: Colorado Academy
    • Regular season begins: Aug. 27
    • Postseason start date: Oct. 23
    • State championships: Oct. 31, All-City Stadium
    • Returning all-state players: Emily Munn, Jr., Palmer Ridge; Emma Richards, Sr., Colorado Academy; Edie Statham, Sr., Palmer Ridge; Claire Stemper, Sr., Regis Jesuit; Fe Van Berhel, Jr., Denver East.

  • Reid Kahl gets fresh start with defending 2A football champ Brush

    Brush head coach Reid Kahl chats with his assistants during football practice. (Photo courtesy of Scott Hodgson/Brush High School)
    Brush head coach Reid Kahl chats with his assistants during football practice. (Photo courtesy of Scott Hodgson/Brush High School)

    [dropcap]R[/dropcap]eid Kahl is no stranger to defending state championships. Kahl was able to secure Class 4A titles in 2006 and 2008 while he was the head coach at Wheat Ridge.

    Now he has the task of defending a 2A championship. Only, unlike those at Wheat Ridge, this is not a state championship that he won. This offseason, Kahl was hired by Brush to take over for Randy Dreitz. Dreitz left the team in March after leading the Beetdiggers to the 2A state championship.

    “After the season was over last year, everybody pretty much knew that Randy was going to retire,” Kahl said. “I didn’t think much about it until later in the spring when the job opened up. I had a lot of people from the community reach out to me and show a lot of interest in me doing it.”

    The start of Brush’s title defense is a more interesting story for Kahl himself rather than the team. The Beetdiggers kick their season off by traveling to Fort Morgan on Sept. 4. Kahl was a standout football player for the Mustangs, who happen to be the Beetdiggers’ rivals.

    “I’m going to be completely honest with you, and I’m not just saying this, it’s been a much bigger deal for everyone else than it has been for me,” Kahl said. “It’s been since 2001, which was my last season in Fort Morgan.”

    Karl left the Farmers after the 2013 season and took last year off before taking the job at Brush. It was a summer of turnover at the school as a new principal and athletic director were named at the same meeting.

    To echo the sentiment of Kahl, it was really the community support that brought his name into the coaching search since there wasn’t an athletic director to include him in it.

    “None of us that hired Reid were here,” said athletic director Scott Hodgson, who is also in his first year at the school after coming over from Holly. “Once we found out that was the choice, we were really happy. He’s had great success everywhere he’s been.”

    Karl comes in this season with the task of defending a state championship that he was not a part of. The Beetdiggers also lost a big senior class, including 2A player of the year Kyle Rosenbrock.

    Fair or not, this young Brush team comes into the season, not only with a new coach, but also with a target on its back.

    “It’s a different situation and it’s not an easy situation,” Kahl said. “They graduated a ton of seniors last year and I have a really inexperienced team. We all know that there’s a big target on our back and I talked to the kids about it when I first met with them.”

    But that won’t matter to the teams on the opposite sideline. They’ll only see “Brush” on the jerseys and they’ll know that was the last team to walk away as state champions.

    Besides, Brush opened up as preseason No. 1 in 2A on Monday.

    Karl knows the expectations are high and that he is walking into a program that will expect him to win. His track record at Wheat Ridge indicates that he can find success. His plan is to just run the systems that he’s comfortable running and hope that it translates into wins for the Beetdiggers.

    “I’ve installed a lot of the same offense that I run wherever I’m (coaching),” Kahl said. “We spent a lot time on it over the summer and the kids have done a nice job picking it up.”

    He gets his chance to see just how well they’ve picked it up when Brush travels to Fort Morgan on Sept. 4. Kahl has plenty of good memories from when he was with the Mustangs but knows once the ball kicked-off, it’s time to focus on his job as the coach of the Beetdiggers.

    “After 26 years of coaching, it’s not like I was there yesterday,” Kahl said. “I think it seems to be a big to people on the outside and not so much for me.”

    [divider]

    Small-school football preview

    Defending champions:

    Returning All-State athletes:

    • 2A: Cole Bryant (Sr.) La Junta, Connor Dooley (Sr.) Kent Denver, Anthony Ibarra (Sr.) Platte Valley, Parker Joens (Sr.) Platte Valley, Brett Loyd, (Sr.) Moffat County, Mitchell Martin, (Sr.) Strasburg, Will McKissick (Sr.) Kent Denver, Ty Percival (Sr.) Gunnison, Victor Perez (Sr.) Montezuma-Cortez, Zane Phelps (Sr.) Bayfield, Carl Schmidt (Sr.) Kent Denver, Clay Shaver (Sr.) Brush, Joao Thives (Sr.) Denver North, Brady Wilson (Sr.) Gunnison, Luke Wilson (Sr.) Kent Denver, Zeke Zuelke (Sr.) Bennett
    • 1A: Beau Beckman (Sr.) Wray, Hank Bode (Sr.) Platte Canyon, Bryce Buhr (Sr.) Crowley County, Devin Christian (Sr.) Limon, Luke Cross (Sr.) Resurrection Christian, Sabyn Diamond (Sr.) Buena Vista, Austin Dinis (Sr.) Wiggins, Cooper Eggleston (Sr.) Buena Vista, Jayden Hilferty (Sr.) Limon, TJ Shelton (Sr.) Meeker, Taylor Walters (Sr.) Paonia, Cooper Ward (Sr.) Resurrection Christian, Trey Zupancic (Sr.) Rye
    • 8-man: Alex Davis (Sr.) Vail Christian, Spencer Gatlin (Sr.) Dove Creek, Jason George (Sr.) Simla, Rafe Hutches (Sr.) Springfield, Tre Jensen (Sr.) Granada, Anthony Payne (Jr.) Hoehne, Mitch Sides (Sr.) Dayspring Schristian Academy, Bruce Taylor (Sr.) Caliche, Matt Thieman (Sr.) Simla, Joey Younkerman (Sr.) Sargent
    • 6-man: Jaxon Crawford (Jr.) Kit Carson, Dylan Dixon (Sr.) Eads, Luke Duggan (Sr.) Pawnee, Caine Farmer (Sr.) Kit Carson, Chase Flynn (Jr.) Stratton/Liberty, Tristan Headrick (Sr.) Cheraw, Ben Lambrecht (Sr.) Fleming, Reagan Lane (Sr.) Eads, Trent Leoffler (Sr.) Arickaree/Woodlin, Jordan Nelson (Sr.) Peetz, Tanner Patterson (Jr.) Otis, Marco Solis (Sr.) Kit Carson, Joesph Stahley (Sr.) Fleming, Alex Vandenbark (Jr.) Fleming, Cody Wilson (Jr.) Peetz

    Regular season begins: Sept. 3

    Postseason begins: Nov. 7

    State championship: Nov. 21 (6-man), Nov. 28 (8-man, 1A and 2A)

  • Softball preview: Castle View hopes to build on last season’s success

    Brighton Castle View softball
    Castle View is aiming to build on last season’s success. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    [dropcap]M[/dropcap]emories haven’t faded for the Castle View softball team. The Sabercats made school history a year ago, reaching the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time before losing to Fossil Ridge 2-1.

    This season Castle View will try to build on that success with a new coach Cory Williams and without graduated first-team all-state pitcher Savannah Heebner, who is now playing for the University of Houston.

    “I’m hoping we can keep the (winning) tradition going,” said Williams, about the Sabercats who played in the state tourney the past two years. “We need to certainly find some adequate pitching and we have a pretty good nucleus of girls coming back from last year and we should be able to compete.”

    Williams spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for Castle View for his niece Caley Mitchell. Mitchell is now the head coach at Cherokee Trail.

    Castle View is ranked No. 8 in the preseason CHSAANow.com Class 5A poll.

    Williams is unsure who is his primary pitcher will be, but he does have a candidate list of Kayla Gau, Anna Vairma, and Ashley Maroney.

    “This is probably the one sport where pitching can win you games hands down,” Williams said. “We are excited about the season and the players we have and I’m looking forward to see what we can do.”

    Castle View opens the season Sept. 3 at Cherry Creek.

    Grandview, the defending state champion, was ranked No. 1 in the first preseason poll, followed by Fossil Ridge and Broomfield at No. 2 and No. 3. Williams also mentioned Brighton, preseason No. 5, as a darkhorse state title contender.

    In Class 4A, Valor Christian was ranked No. 1 in the poll and returns sophomore pitcher Alexandria Kilponen, the reigning player of the year. Kilponen powered Valor to the state title a year ago, beating Frederick 7-4 in the finals. Frederick is ranked No. 2, followed by perennial power Erie.

    The 3A poll is led by Strasburg in the preseason. Sterling is No. 2, while defending champion La Junta is No. 3.

    [divider]

    Softball preview

    • Preseason rankings
    • Regular season begins: Aug. 21
    • Regional tournaments: Oct. 17
    • State tournaments: Oct. 23-24, Aurora Sports Park

    Class 3A

    • Defending state champion: La Junta
    • Preseason No. 1 team: Strasburg
    • Returning all-state players: Annie Davis, Sr., La Junta (1st); McKenna Gubanich, Jr., Faith Christian (1st); Annie Oakley, Sr., Strasburg (1st); Taylor Renaud, Sr., Eaton (1st); Jordan Roesch, Sr., Strasburg (1st); Alexis Rutz, Sr., Sterling (1st); Dakota Stotyn, So., Strasburg (1st)

    Class 4A

    • Defending state champion: Valor Christian
    • Preseason No. 1 team: Valor Christian
    • Returning all-state players: Alicia Hernandez, Jr., Frederick (1st); Alexandria Kilponen, So., Valor Christian (1st, Player of the Year); Bailey Kleespies, Sr., Niwot (1st); Gabby Loya, Jr., Wheat Ridge (1st); Rio Sanchez, Jr., Erie (1st); Ann Marie Torres, Sr., Wheat Ridge (1st); Taylor Armitage, Sr., Berthoud (2nd); Brooklynn Delozier, Sr., Niwot (1st); Chayanna Gallardo, Jr., Pueblo East (2nd); Hailey Hinson, Sr., Windsor (2nd); Allie Mason, Sr., Thompson Valley (2nd); Mae Mitchell, Sr., Frederick (2nd); Megan Moss, Sr., Pueblo West (2nd); Ashley Thomas, Sr., Pueblo West (2nd); Paris Woods, Jr., Frederick (2nd)

    Class 5A

    • Defending state champion: Grandview
    • Preseason No. 1 team: Grandview
    • Returning all-state players: Courtney Browne, Sr., Grandview (1st); Hunter Huser, Jr., Mountain Range (1st); Melissa Rahrich, Sr., Brighton (1st); Gracie Cordova, Jr., Pomona (2nd); Riley Craig, Sr., Mountain Range (2nd); Clara Larson, Sr., Douglas County (2nd); Lindsey Malkin, Jr., Broomfield (2nd); Valerie Ortega, Sr., Mountain Range (2nd); Alexa Romero, Sr., Eaglecrest (2nd); Alexa Samuels, Jr., Ralston Valley (2nd); Megan Sanburn, Sr., Dakota Ridge (2nd); Sloan Stewartson, Jr., Rock Canyon (2nd); Emily Taggart, Jr., Legacy (2nd); Alexandra Velazquez, Jr., Grandview (2nd)

  • Cross country preview: Mountain Vista boys, looking for fourth-straight title, may be best in program history

    (Courtesy of Mountain Vista HS)
    Mountain Vista boys cross country is in search of a fourth-straight title. (Courtesy of Mountain Vista HS)

    [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Mountain Vista boys cross country team has had tremendous varsity lineups in recent years. In fact, last fall they became the first program to claim three consecutive Class 5A state championships.

    And yet, even though a four-peat is well within the realm of possibility, “Vista Nation,” as they like to refer to themselves as, is just as proud of the entire program’s success.

    The depth a team possesses, beyond just the top-seven runners who earn varsity spots, is an indication of the prosperity of a program.

    The Golden Eagles had 41 runners break 20 minutes in cross country last fall, a remarkable number, especially when considering Colorado is at high altitude. They had 16 boys go sub-17. They had the top five finishers at the Continental League championships in the junior varsity division. They had 13 of the top 16 finishers in the open division, a race featuring all competitors who aren’t in the top-14 on their team.

    (Courtesy of Mountain Vista HS)
    (Courtesy of Mountain Vista HS)

    In 2013, 37 boys broke 20 minutes. In 2012, 30 broke 20 minutes. So yes, Vista Nation doesn’t just produce top-end talent, the kids who fight for individual state medals and scholarships, but they also have a recent history of boasting far and away the best depth in the Centennial State.

    In a program with so many good runners, competition fuels invitational championships, league championships, regional crowns, and state titles.

    Co-head coaches Jonathan Dalby and Eric Selle have instilled a culture that not only racks up victories for the boys varsity, but also a sense of purpose for every runner.

    “One of the things we do is we have a goal-setting meeting,” Dalby said. “One of their goals every year is to be able to win all six races, boys and girls open, boys and girls JV, and boys and girls varsity at the league championships. I think by giving every kid on the team a purpose, they feel like they contribute. The kids have bought into it a little more each year.”

    On top of that, Vista Nation has camaraderie.

    “We do a lot of team social stuff,” Dalby added. “At least once a week we’re doing a team pancake breakfast or a camping trip or something like that. It’s nice because they really want to be out there and be around each other.”

    The school in Highlands Ranch will once again be favored to win the 5A crown. Interestingly enough, likely their most potent challenger will be Fort Collins, the team who was slightly favored going into the state meet a season ago, but who finished second.

    The Lambkins were also the runner-up in 2013. They won it all in both 2011 and 2010, while Vista placed second and third, respectively.

    (Tracy Renck/CHSAANow.com)
    Lyons’ Paul Roberts. (Tracy Renck/CHSAANow.com)

    “I can’t tell you how excited I am,” said Paxton Smith, an individual title contender expected to lead the Golden Eagles. “The group of guys we have are beyond talented. I think this will be the best team that Mountain Vista boys cross country has ever had. Obviously we want to win 5A again, win the four-peat. I think a top-10 team in the nation is a great possibility, too.”

    Mountain Vista won’t be the only ones chasing history as Lyons’ Paul Roberts will be looking to claim his fourth-straight individual title in 2A. His team also has a crack at a fourth-consecutive crown.

    On the girls side, Fort Collins’ Lauren Gregory, a junior, is after her third consecutive championship in 5A. Air Academy’s Katie Rainsberger, after winning the distance triple crown in track with 4A titles in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200-meter runs, will be looking to cap her cross country career with a second championship.

    Roberts, Gregory, and Rainsberger are not only three of the premier distance runners in state history, but also rank among the nation’s best.

    [divider]

    Boys cross country preview

    2014 individual champions:

    • 5A: Marcelo Laguera, Pomona (graduated)
    • 4A: Eric Hamer, Palmer Ridge (graduated)
    • 3A: Ben Butler, SkyView Academy (senior)
    • 2A: Paul Roberts, Lyons (senior)

    Defending team champions:

    • 5A: Mountain Vista
    • 4A: Palmer Ridge
    • 3A: Alamosa
    • 2A: Lyons

    Returning All-State athletes:

    • 5A: Ben Dingman, Rampart; Jake Mitchem, Broomfield.
    • 4A: Ian Meek, Montrose; Maximilliano Martinez, Widefield; Michael Duran, Pueblo Centennial; Jarrett Thollot, Thompson Valley.
    • 3A: Butler; Taylor Stack, Salida; Jake Rogers, Lamar; Isaiah DeLaCerda, Alamosa.
    • 2A: Roberts; Jack Plantz, Telluride.

    [divider]

    Girls cross country preview

    2014 individual champions:

    • 5A: Lauren Gregory, Fort Collins (junior)
    • 4A: Katie Rainsberger, Air Academy (senior)
    • 3A: Lily Tomasula-Martin, Estes Park (junior)
    • 2A: Tabor Scholl, West Grand (graduated)

    Defending team champions:

    • 5A: Fort Collins
    • 4A: Mountain View
    • 3A: Alamosa
    • 2A: Lyons

    Returning All-State athletes:

    • 5A: Gregory; Maya Browning, Fairview; Claudia Burgess, Boulder; Holly Bent, Monarch; Devon Peterson, Cherry Creek.
    • 4A: Rainsberger; Kayla Young, Denver North; Lexi Reed, D’Evelyn; Lauren Offerman, Mountain View; Maggie Moline, Centaurus.
    • 3A: Tomasula-Martin; Hailey Swirbul, Basalt; Julia Jaschke, Kent Denver; Anna Ponzio, Colorado Academy; Tara Sowards, Alamosa; Sydney Fesenmeyer, Salida.
    • 2A: CeAnn Udovich, Lyons; Rebekah Rairdon, Heritage Christian; Sierra Tucker, Lyons; Rachel Rairdon, Heritage Christian.

    [divider]

    Season info

    • Regular season begins: Aug. 28
    • Postseason: Regionals Completed by Oct. 23
    • State meet: Oct. 31 at Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs

  • Boys golf preview: New era begins for Cheyenne Mountain

    New Cheyenne Mountain golf coach John Carricato (right) gives his players instructions as they prepare for fall practice. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow)
    New Cheyenne Mountain golf coach John Carricato (right) gives his players instructions as they prepare for fall practice. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Longtime coach Bill Paulson meant the world to his golfers — both boys and girls — at Cheyenne Mountain High School.

    It was clear when the girls clinched their third-straight state championship in May that the about-to-be-retired coach was going to be sorely missed for the Indians.

    Paulson retired in May, but the world kept spinning. The Indians were without a golf coach and had to find someone to fill that void. Cheyenne Mountain athletic director Kris Roberts began searching for a coach who would embrace the Indians’ golf tradition, while putting his own stamp on the team.

    He found someone to do just that in John Carricato.

    Carricato spent years running youth sports for the Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation department. His impact on sports has had a ripple effect on generations of athletes in the Pikes Peak region.

    But that’s not why he was chosen to pick up where Paulson left off.

    “We were fortunate to have a great applicant pool,” Roberts said. “John was clearly the best one on all levels and for him to accept is really fortunate.”

    While Roberts did his duty in considering all applicants, Carricato had one more intangible on his side that none of the others did. He had the endorsement of Paulson himself.

    “Bill has made the transition really smooth,” Carricato said. “He’s mentoring me into the program. Bill came to me in the spring and said he wanted to endorse me for this program and that was an honor.”

    John Carricato gives instructions to his players on the driving range at the Country Club of Colorado. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow)
    John Carricato gives instructions to his players on the driving range at the Country Club of Colorado. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    For Carricato, this job wasn’t about just about coaching a premiere program. When he was able to gather his team, he was thrilled to hear that they share his long-term vision for the Indians.

    He and his players want to establish a legacy and pass it down, much the same way Paulson did.

    Paulson will indirectly play a big part in that legacy. He has created the reputation of a team that will always be a threat to contend for a state title and built a team-oriented mentality with his players that continues to rear its head, even today.

    “When you start thinking about premiere state-wide programs for boys and girls, there’s not a better program,” Carricato said. “There’s that added commitment that (the players) have. They have their own motivation.”

    It will be weird to go into this season without Paulson for some of the upperclassmen. But the energy and attitude that Carricato has brought to the team is well-received.

    “It’s a different style of coaching, but I like it,” junior Aiden Detloaf said. “We more set practices, we work on drills more often. It helps with the freshmen and the sophomores compared to what I had coming in.”

    There may not have been a more defining image of what Paulson truly meant to his players than at the girls’ state championship tournament in May. When senior Kylee Sullivan sank her putt on the 18th hole, she broke down knowing that both Paulson’s and her career were over.

    As a result, players like senior Charley DeVries will have to go through their final year without the man who had mentored them early.

    “Personally, it’s a little disappointing,” DeVries said. “He really coached me through my entire game.”

    But the time to dwell is over. Just like any other team, the Indians are teeing-off their season and only looking to win. It’s now on Carricato to try and secure the first boys’ state golf championship since 2004.

    “(Carricato) brings the team a lot closer together,” junior Everett Dwyer said. “I think we’re going play well. If one person doesn’t play well we can’t dwell on it. The other three have to go out there and make shots.”

    Cheyenne Mountain junior Aiden Detloaf (blue) chips on to a practice green at the Country Club of Colorado. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow)
    Cheyenne Mountain junior Aiden Detloaf (blue) chips on to a practice green at the Country Club of Colorado. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    [divider]

    Boys golf preview

    2014 individual champions:

    • 5A: Grant Olinger, Pomona (graduated)
    • 4A: Taylor Rodriguez, Pueblo South (graduated)
    • 3A: Yale Kim, Dawson School (junior)

    Defending team champions:

    • 5A: Coronado
    • 4A: Valor Christian
    • 3A: Sterling

    Returning All-State athletes:

    • 5A: David Packer (Sr.) Arapahoe, Hunter Paugh (Sr.) Fort Collins, Daniel Pearson (Jr.) Fairview, Isaac Petersille (Sr.) Coronado, Trevor Olkowski (Jr.) Grand Junction, A.J. Ott (Sr.) Fort Collins
    • 4A: Braden Bentley (Sr.) Mesa Ridge, Britt Walton (Sr.) Steamboat Springs, Coby Welch (Sr.) Valor Christian
    • 3A: Will Hazen (Sr.) Aspen, Oliver Jack (So.) Kent Denver, Yale Kim (Jr.) Dawson School, Max Messner (Sr.) Colorado Academy, Sam Taylor (Jr.) Peak to Peak

    Regular season begins: Aug. 13

    Regionals: Completed by Sept. 25

    State meet: Oct. 5-6

  • Fossil Ridge girls tennis routinely among state’s best

    For a high school that has been in existence for less than a dozen years, Fossil Ridge in Fort Collins has developed a quick reputation in athletic arenas.

    Nowhere is that more evident than on the tennis court. The Sabercats have not only qualified for the Class 5A girls state tennis tournament in each of their 11 seasons, save for the school’s first year when the entire student population consisted of freshmen, they have finished in the top five. That includes four second-place finishes in the team race.

    Much of the credit goes to the program’s coach for each of its 11 seasons, Mike Scimeca.

    He developed a mission statement from the outset.

    “Our goal was, we wanted to build a competitive program,” Scimeca said.

    Realizing that there were a number of girls tennis programs in the state with rich histories, his first challenge was to develop desire.

    “To do that, we knew we had to create passion,” he said.

    He’s had solid numbers since he began the program. To help promote competition within the team, Scimeca typically rotates 18 players for his 11 varsity spots during the regular season. By doing that, more than half his team routinely letters by the end of the season.

    His second challenge was to nurture his players’ skills.

    “I’m a big technique guy, more along the college lines,” Scimeca said.

    It also helps to have talented players who are motivated to improve their game on their own. Nearly a dozen of this year’s players work on their game year round.

    Heading that list is Shawnea Pagat. A junior, she’s played No. 1 singles her entire high school career.

    She got a good head start on the game, growing up in Hawaii until her family moved to Fort Collins five years ago.

    “I started really young,” she said.

    She could play 12 months a year. In addition, she realized, “It was something I was good at.”

    Pagat had the added bonus of having her teammate, Kaitlyn Motley, to hit against on a daily basis in practice.

    “She was a phenomenal tennis player,” said Pagat of Motley, who graduated last spring. “We pushed each other.”

    Although singles tennis is often considered an individual sport, high school programs foster a team attitude.

    “(Our success) is really cool because of our work ethic,” Pagat said. “Everyone wants to play. It’s just creasting that motivation, which is awesome.”

    At under 5-foot-3, Pagat has found ways to compensate for her reach disadvantage against most opponents.

    “I’ve hear that I’m pretty quick on the court,” she said modestly.

    She uses that to her advantage.

    “I try to run every ball down,” she said.

    Pagat, one of the team’s year-round players, competes in USTA tournaments in the off-season, including a sectional tournament in Las Vegas last fall. That’s helped her improve on every aspect of her game.

    “I’ve come a long way since my freshman year,” she said. “As I look back, I had to change everything – my grip, my backhand, my serve. I did everything wrrong.

    “Looking back, I said, ‘Really, you did that?” she joked of reviewing past video.

    Admittedly, the state tournament atmosphere was a little intimidating for her during her freshman season.

    “I was freaking out,” she said of being overwhelmed at the Gates Tennis Center.

    She took that lesson into last year’s state tournament.

    “You can’t let the pressure get to you,” she said.

    As for this year, “I would love to make it to the final four (at state),” she said of one of the goals she’s set entering the season.

    That’s realistic for both her and for the Sabercats team, which always seems to be near the top of the team standings by the time the state tournament has wrapped up.

    [divider]

    Girls tennis preview

    5A

    Defending champion: Cherry Creek

    Postseason: Regionals completed by May 2

    Championships: May 7-9, Gates Tennis Center (Denver)

    Returning all-state players: Tate Schroeder, Arapahoe, junior; Rebecca Weissman, Loveland, junior; Madeline Roberts, Cherry Creek, senior; Hanna Fernley, Cherry Creek, junior; Jessie Murphy, Cherry Creek, senior; Jessica Diamond, Cherry Creek, senior.

    4A

    Defending champion: Cheyenne Mountain

    Postseason: Regionals completed by May 2

    Championships: May 7-9, Pueblo City Park

    Returning all-state players: Kalyssa Hall, Cheyenne Mountain, junior; Alex Weil, St. Mary’s Academy, senior; Caitie McCarthy, Pueblo West, junior; Casey Ahrendsen, Cheyenne Mountain, sophomore; Ally Arenson, Cheyenne Mountain, sophomore; Tory Louis, Cheyenne Mountain, senior; Claire Dibble, Cheyenne Mountain, sophomore; Megan Dibble, Cheyenne Mountain, senior; Chelsey Geisz, Cheyenne Mountain, junior.

  • Muller provides steadying hand among turnover for Arapahoe baseball

    Arapahoe Cherry Creek baseball
    Arapahoe baseball graduated the overwhelming majority of its roster from last season. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    The Arapahoe Warriors are a team in transition. 19 seniors made up the core of last year’s baseball squad that finished 15-6 overall and 11-3 in the competitive Continental League are gone, and while this season’s group is again laden with seniors, the Warriors won’t have much varsity experience in the dugout to start the season.

    And as the season creeps closer and closer, weather hasn’t helped Arapahoe coach Luke Muller discover what kind of team he’ll be working with this year. Like most teams in the state, snow has made practice difficult at the best of times, and tryouts even more so.

    Although that isn’t necessarily a bad thing according to Muller.

    “We’ve made cuts and formed our teams on Monday, and (Tuesday) was really the first day of practice,” said Muller. “We have 21 guys on our roster mainly because of that reason. We just haven’t seen everybody play.

    “But I think I have more talent this year than I did last year as a whole. It’s just not knowing, that a lot of these guys it’s their first varsity season, how they’ll respond.”

    Muller talks about “his” team, and “his” guys, and if that sounds possessive, it’s because Muller is firmly entrenched in the school and the Arapahoe community. This will be his tenth season as head coach of the Warriors, and that’s not including his two-year stint as assistant coach and the four years he spent as part of the team when he attended Arapahoe in the nineties.

    Muller was a three-time all-state player at Arapahoe, and was named Colorado player of the year in 1998. Arapahoe has only had two coaches in the past 16 years – Muller, and his predecessor Had Bradbury. From his time in the dugout as a player to now as a head coach, Muller has seen Arapahoe baseball from all sides, and remains convinced that this year’s team has a chance to surpass even last season’s best-ever second place finish in the Centennial League.

    He highlighted a number of players who have a chance to make an impact this season.

    “I’ve got a leftfielder, a senior named Max Whitehead that’s a good player. A centerfielder named Clay Hansen – he wrestled too,” said Muller. “Jacob Hilton is a sophomore – he’ll be the only sophomore on varsity. He’ll be our shortstop and pitch.”

    While Muller has been almost a constant in the Warrior dugout for almost two decades, he’s seen a lot of changes when it comes to baseball in the state of Colorado.

    Those changes are reflecting in the makeup up this year’s Warriors team. Muller said that his roster includes 21 players – many of them primarily pitchers, which he attributes to players recognizing that pitching is the easiest way to make a college squad.

    “The trend in baseball is going towards pitching. There are guys who are coming into high school that tell us, ‘We just want to pitch,’” said Muller. “I think people are trying to chase a dream. I have seven guys who just pitch, and I know of several guys who are going to have 25 guys on their roster. But when you have a lot of guys who just pitch that’s ok.”

    If more and more young players are leaning towards specialization in pursuit of a college scholarship, Arapahoe might be the place to be. Arapahoe has gotten a reputation for sending players off to college programs – 33 in the past eight years. The hope this year is that some of that individual talent turns into playoff run, and possibly the team’s first Centennial League championship – although an element of the unknown remains.

    “I think one-though-nine we should be fairly competitive. From that perspective, I feel like we’re going to compete in our league and be better talent wise,” said Muller. “It just depends on how these guys react to their first season.”

    [divider]

    Baseball preview

    5A

    • Defending champion: Rocky Mountain
    • Season begins: March 5
    • Playoffs begin: May 9
    • Championship: May 23
    • Returning all-state players: Garrett Hammer, Rocky Mountain, C, senior (second team); Tim Ryan, Fairview, OF, senior (second team); Kyle Winkler, Chatfield, INF, senior (second team).

    4A

    • Defending champion: Green Mountain
    • Season begins: March 5
    • Playoffs begin: May 9
    • Championship: May 23
    • Returning all-state players: Wyatt Featherston, Green Mountain, CF, junior (first team); Josh Ramirez, Green Mountain, P, senior (first team); Talon Schaller, Green Mountain, P/OF, senior (first team); Cole Shetterly, Green Mountain, SS, senior (first team); Billy Clark, Steamboat Springs, CF/LHP, senior (second team).

    3A

    • Defending champion: Holy Family (moved up to 4A)
    • Season begins: March 5
    • Playoffs begin: May 9
    • Championship: May 23
    • Returning all-state players: Luke Bote, Faith Christian, CF, senior (first team); Donovan Contreraz, Sheridan, P, junior (first team); Darin Cook, Lamar, P, senior (first team); Matt Burkhart, Eaton, SS, junior (second team).

    2A

    • Defending champion: Resurrection Christian
    • Season begins: March 5
    • Playoffs begin: May 9
    • Championship: May 23
    • Returning all-state players: Trent Hughes, Rye, 1B/RHP, senior (first team); Luis Ortiz, Rye, SS/RHP, senior (first team); Devan Rupe, Hotchkiss, RHP/CF, senior (first team); Evan Finley, Peyton, C/P/INF, junior (second team); Luke Mondt, Resurrection Christian, UTIL, senior (second team); Trey Walter, Sedgwick County, C, junior (second team); Tyler Woodhams, Sedgwick County, RHP/SS/3B, junior (second team).

    1A

    • Defending champion: Caliche
    • Season begins: March 5
    • Playoffs begin: May 2
    • Championship: May 14
    • Returning all-state players: Tyler Rouse, Eads, RHP/LF, senior (first team); Austin Yahn, Caliche, CF/P, senior (first team); Carlos Diaz, Cornerstone Christian, RHP/OF, senior (second team); Bradey Holtz, Peetz, SS/RHP, senior (second team); Ricardo Juarez, Holly, 3B/P, sophomore (second team); Alex Ogas, Dove Creek, C, senior (second team); Ryan Walther, Caliche, LF, senior (second team).