(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)

(Jack Carlough)

COLORADO SPRINGS – With both Broomfield and Rock Canyon coming off one-goal wins in the semifinals, another low-scoring contest was expected when the teams clashed in the Class 5A finals on Saturday at Weidner Field.

The biggest difference was the second-seeded Eagles had Bailee Giddings on their side. The sophomore was given the opportunity of her career and delivered on a penalty kick to break a tie late in the second half and help send the Eagles home with a 3-1 victory and the championship trophy.

“There (were) a lot of nerves going around with that and I was super nervous,” Giddings said. “But you practice those in practice over and over again, so I felt confident to take it.”

Giddings’ second goal of the day was plenty for Broomfield to secure its first state title since winning 4A in 2006. Sophomore Michaela McGowan added a valuable insurance goal with 7:45 left to give the Eagles their eventual two-score victory.

For a program that has finished runner-up in four of the last seven seasons, Broomfield coach Jim Davidson said it felt good for the team to finally take that next step.

“It’s nice to get the monkey off our back and get the breakthrough state championship,” Davidson said. “Really proud of the girls.”

Although she missed out on her freshman season due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the 2020 spring campaign, Giddings’ lack of experience didn’t matter much when it mattered most. Just minutes after scoring the opening goal of the game, her hamstring cramped around midfield. Davidson said the injury was concerning at the time but Giddings didn’t skip a beat.

“We were worried about what kind of minutes she’s going to be able to give us in the second half,” Davidson said. “To go literally the entirety of the second half and to put the game away for us speaks to her mentality and her courage.”

Rock Canyon, which came in as the No. 4-seed, scored its lone goal of the afternoon in the 43rd minute. Junior Cate Sheahan headed a corner kick to tie the game at one and, at least momentarily, spark life in the Jaguars. The goal was just Broomfield’s second allowed in its four playoff games.

Davidson said that Rock Canyon’s momentum-shifting goal had him a bit nervous on the sidelines. The Eagles, however, adjusted and worked to regain control of the midfield, which ultimately produced Giddings’ winning penalty kick.

Broomfield’s victory cemented a 13-0-1 season, while Rock Canyon lost for the first time since its opening game against Ponderosa on May 6.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD – A steady rain forced Taylor James to rush in packing up her belongings on the infield at Jefferson County Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and it caused her to get soaked as she conducted post-race interviews.

The moisture did not, however, dampen her spirits as the Niwot senior closed one of the most remarkable track and field careers in Colorado history.

James won two more state titles on Saturday, leading Niwot to one of the most dominating team performances in state history.

“That hasn’t quite sunken in yet,” she said of knowing her high school career has come to a close. “Definitely I’m gonna miss the state meet, Jeffco Stadium, the crowd and what an amazing meet the organizers put on. It’s tough for sure, but I’ve still got things to look forward to.”

The Stanford-bound star has a bright future, but put together another memorable performance this weekend.

On Saturday, James won the 200-meter dash (24.61 seconds), the 400-meter dash (54.69) and anchored the Cougars to a win in the 400-meter relay (48.30). She helped them to a win and meet record in the 800-meter relay on Friday.

James closed her three-year career (she didn’t get a 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic) with 10 state titles in the 12 events she competed. She placed first in the last nine state events she ran, including going 4-for-4 in 2019 and this year.

James ranks not only among the greatest in Niwot history – along with Griffin Matthew, Elise Cranny and others – but in state history.

“Yeah, it’s definitely very exciting,” she said. “I do try to take time to reflect a little bit. Sometimes I can be a little hard on myself, so I try to think back to a lot of my best races and I love the feeling of coming across the line first for sure. I’m a very competitive person in nature. But my goal orientation is always about what my team wants me to do.”

With James leading the way, the Cougars scored a stunning 183 team points to beat second-place Mullen (48) by 135.

In addition to James on Saturday, the Cougars got an individual title from sophomore Kimora Northrup in the 300 hurdles (43.78 seconds) and two more championships in relays. Niwot won the 400 relay and 1,600 relay on Saturday, completing a sweep of the five girls relays.

Niwot won its second consecutive team title after finishing as runner-up in James’ freshman year, 2018.

“It means everything,” James said of the team crown. “All these girls have been working so hard, battling their own battles, but yet coming to practice every single day for their teammates. I’m so excited to stand on the podium with all of them because I’m so proud of them. I know the coaches are proud of them. As a team leader, appointed team captain, it means a lot to see them all kind of grow and mature and everybody running so well.”

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Class 5A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

When this season began, Valor Christian senior Camille Peisner wasn’t sure she’d make it to the state meet. On Saturday, she was a three-time champion.

Peisner won the 100 meters with a time of 11.88 seconds and then narrowly won the 200 meters in 23.92 seconds. Denver East’s Kyairra Reigh was just .01 of a second behind Peisner.

“It’s so exciting,” said Peisner, who added a second-place finish in the 400 meters and helped the Eagles to a victory in the 1,600-meter relay (3:52.92 seconds). “This was a comeback season for me. I started in the hospital, so I was just surprised to get the (100 and 200) and I can’t complain about the 400.”

Peisner got appendicitis this spring and then had some complications that kept her in the hospital for about five days.

“At that point I was like, ‘Hopefully I can even make it to the state track meet,’” she said. “I’m just thankful to be here let alone get the win.”

Peisner, who won three relay titles with the Eagles earlier in her career, was runner-up in the 400 in 2019 and third in the 200. Her performance this weekend, however, helped Valor Christian to the team title, with 130.50 points (Grandview was second, with 83.5).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“I don’t know about other teams, but last year with the COVID season, we were still working out on our own every day, whether if it was in our garage or driveways or something like that,” she said. “Coming back and seeing all that work come to fruition is really rewarding.”

Cherry Creek junior Riley Stewart capped a remarkable weekend with a victory in the 1,600 meters. Stewart, who set the Colorado prep record with a time of 4:44.13 earlier this year, came up just short of that mark, but did establish a new 5A state meet record, crossing the line in 4:45.96.

Stewart swept her three individual races this weekend, also taking titles in the 800 meters and 3,200 meters. In addition, she helped the Bruins to a win in the 3,200-meter relay.

“It’s amazing,” Stewart said. “The whole weekend has been so fun and to finish it on this high note, I’m so excited.

While Reigh lost the 200 meter final to Peisner, the Denver East star did win the 400 meters, in a time of 53.27 seconds. She also helped the Angels win the 400-meter relay, in 47.72 seconds.

In other events Saturday, Overland senior Zeaniah Wedgeworth won the 100-meter hurdles (14.36); Valor Christian junior Kylie Bahr won the 300 hurdles (42.93); Loveland junior Kajsa Borrman won the discus (145-10); and freshman Lilly Nichols of Broomfield won the pole vault (12-0).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

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Class 4A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

While James and Niwot dominated the team race, Mullen had a great meet, as well. The Mustangs finished second in the team race, led by junior Agur Dwol and senior Kaleah Ruff.

Dwol, who won the long jump on Thursday, easily won the triple jump on Saturday with a leap of 40 feet, 9 inches. Ruff was beaten out by James in the 200, but won the 100 meters, in 12.03 seconds. She lost the 100 meters by .03 of a second in 2019.

“It was well deserved,” Ruff said of the first state title of her career. “I’ve been working for two years to run a good time and to win state, so it felt really nice.”

Ruff said the strong team showing meant a lot because the Mustangs didn’t bring a large contingent to Jeffco Stadium.

“It’s been really amazing because we only have seven girls right now at state compared to most schools,” she said. “I love all my girls and we’re doing the very best we can, putting 100 percent into our races and we’re seeing good results from it.”

Also on Saturday, Bethany Michalak of Air Academy won the 1,600 (4:55.01) by just .07 of a second over Niwot’s Lucca Fulkerson; and Sand Creek senior Jahzara Davis won the 100 hurdles (14.62).

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Class 3A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Coal Ridge won the first team title in its history, outlasting Liberty Common, 111-80. And, it was junior Peyton Garrison who was the star for the Titans.

Garrison swept the sprints, winning in the 100 meters (12.38 seconds), 200 (25.02) and 400 (56.23). She also capped her day by helping the Titans win the 1,600-meter relay in 4:01.78.

“It’s exciting. It really is,” she said after winning her three sprints. “My freshman year I didn’t win and I thought I was going to, but I came in this year a little more confident. I’m proud of where I came.”

In 2019, Garrison was third in the 200 and fourth in the 100.

“My times have been increasing ever since freshman year and I’ve been working really hard to get where I am,” she said.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Logan Haugestuen of Liberty Common won the 100 hurdles in 15.9 seconds and helped her team win the 400-meter relay (48.98); Alexandria Tice of Lamar won the discus (125-0); Basalt’s Katelyn Maley won the 1,600 meters (5:01.10); Holy Family’s Skylar Hawk won the 300 hurdles (46.05); and Sterling’s Valarie Allen won the triple jump (36-6).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

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Class 2A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Despite some sore legs on Friday, South Park senior Jordan Burnett made sure the final meet of her prep career was a memorable one.

On Saturday, she won the 200 meters (25.29 seconds) and the 400 meters (56.91) for the first state titles of her career. She also finished second in the 100 meters, behind Mikayla Hutchison of Banning Lewis. Hutchison had a time of 12.53, while Burnett was 0.09 behind.

“It was so much fun,” Burnett said. “It was great. I didn’t know what to expect. My legs were a little sore yesterday even, so today I was just like it’s for fun; we’re just going to go out and give it everything we’ve got and it was so much fun.”

Cedaredge won the team title, 87-53 over second-place Banning Lewis Academy.

The Bruins dominated all weekend in relays and won two more on Saturday, taking the 400 relay (52.17) and the 1,600 relay (4:13.43). Megan Jenkins also won a title in the 300 hurdles (46.20)

Dayspring Christian freshman Eboselulu Omofoma was a two-time champion. After winning the high jump on Thursday, she came and won the 100 hurdles on Saturday (15.41 seconds).

In other Saturday finals, Peyton’s Eowyn Dalbec won the 1,600 meters (5:24.65); Holyoke’s Correy Koellner won the shot put (38-8.25); and Hannah Turpin of St. Mary’s won the long jump (16-11.75).

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Class 1A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Heritage Christian cruised to the team title – the third in program history and first since 2016 – and freshman Ainsley Stanton played a starring role.

On Saturday, Stanton easily won the 1,600 meters, her time of 5:4377 beating the field by nearly six seconds. It was the third title in three events this weekend for the freshman, who also won the 3,200 meters and helped the Eagles win the 3200 relay.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“I’m really excited,” Stanton said. “I wasn’t really expecting it. The mile was the one I was most nervous for. I’m pumped.”

Adding a team title made the weekend even sweeter.

“It’s amazing,” Stanton said. “My team is great and I think we’ve worked really hard for it.”

Individually, nobody had a better meet in Class 1A than Alivia Weathers of Lone Star. The junior went 4-for-4 on the weekend, including a pair of titles on Saturday in the 100 hurdles (16.5 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (48.15). She also won the pole vault and triple jump.

Sangre de Cristo senior Avery Palmgren had a big day, winning three individual state titles. She started her day with a leap of 17 feet, 1.75 inches to win the long jump. Then, she cruised to the win in the 100 meters (13.14 seconds) and added a title in the 200 meters (27.24)

Other champions on Saturday included Eads senior Colby Stoker in the shot put (38 feet, 2 inches); Merino junior Taysa Conger in the 400 meters (1:01.91); Haxtun won the 400-meter relay (54.04); and Merino won the 1,600 relay (4:23.96).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

(Jack Carlough)

COLORADO SPRINGS – Kent Denver goalkeeper Claire Welch didn’t let the bright lights of Weidner Field faze her during Saturday’s Class 3A state championship match.

The Sun Devils junior stopped every Colorado Academy shot attempt en route to a 1-0 decision and Season D state championship for her team.

“She’s a new starter this year and seemed to get big when she needed to be big,” Kent Denver coach Lucas Richardson said. “She’s been great all season and she’s just got a wonderfully positive attitude.”

The victory marked Kent Denver’s sixth state title for an increasingly accomplished program. It was Kent Denver’s first since beating Colorado Academy, 3-1, in the 2016 edition.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Sun Devils’ score came on a corner kick with 24 minutes remaining in the second half. Junior Izzy Newton delivered the kick which banana-curled into the back left corner of the net. Richardson said it was the second time this season that Newton utilized her accurate right leg for a corner kick goal.

“We wanted to put the ball close to their goal to see what would happen and Izzy hits a great ball,” Richardson said. “She scores a lot of goals in big games.”

For the Sun Devils, Richardson believed it was their ability to compete in close games that won them the title. The 1-0 final was Kent Denver’s fifth victory decided by two goals or less to cap off a 12-0-2 campaign.

“They know how to win close games,” Richardson said “All season we’ve been really good in tight games, and they did it again today. I think it’s a testament to their character. They’re a tough bunch.”

The Sun Devils’ defense may have epitomized their grind-it-out attitude. Colorado Academy, which finished the season 10-3-2, had limited offensive attempts and couldn’t take advantage of a corner kick at the 70-minute mark.

“Defense is everything,” Welch said. “I give a lot of (the credit for) all my shutouts to them.”

As the temperature dropped on a rainy Weidner Field, Welch said she wasn’t exactly warm but maintained a positive attitude. She was rewarded.

“It’s such a great feeling,” Welch said. “I’m a junior, so (it’s my) third year on the team and it just feels great to finally win the chip.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD – Harrison Witt had already made history this year, so his primary goal on Saturday at Jefferson County Stadium was a win.

With exceptional competition by his side, however, history accompanied victory.

Mountain Vista’s outstanding senior won the Class 5A boys 1,600-meter title at the state meet with a Colorado prep record time of 4 minutes, 4.36 seconds. He topped his own record of 4:05.18 set earlier this year.

Rather than a record, Witt’s main focus was to beat Cherry Creek’s Parker Wolfe, who is also one of the best distance runners in state history. Wolfe finished in 4:10.09, which would have been a 5A state meet record had it not been for Witt’s performance.

“I just set out to go for the win,” Witt said. “I think (the record) comes with it when we both race as hard as we can. Parker is obviously an insane competitor and he took a lot of that race, but the records just come with it when we push ourselves to run hard.”

Wolfe set the pace for the first two laps, with Witt just a few feet behind him. With about 500 meters to go, however, Witt began to sprint and he didn’t stop until he cross the finish line.

“I just wanted to try to hang (with Wolfe) and make it a sprint race, which I think I can handle,” he said. “The last 100 I was like, ‘Just get me to the finish,’ but the first three laps felt very, very strong.”

Witt also set a 5A meet record in the 800 meters (1:48.75) on Friday, putting a cap on his career before going to Princeton.

“It was just a great feeling. It’s very exciting,” he said of his final prep meet. “It’s incredible. A great way to end the season for sure.”

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(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Class 5A

When this season began, Grandview didn’t view itself as the type of team to win a state title. The Wolves showed championship potential throughout the year, however, and on Saturday claimed the first boys team title in program history, 78.5 to 57 over second-place Cherry Creek.

“We’re just a whole bunch of football players that had nothing to do,” said junior Malique Singleton. “We have a whole bunch of kids that just came out for fun and we just started going to meets, started winning and we’re like, ‘Oh we could actually win it.’”

The Wolves did it on the strength of their relays. Singleton helped the Wolves win the 800-meter relay on Friday and finish seventh in the 1,600 relay on Saturday. Grandview added a first-place finish in the 400-meter relay on Saturday (41.96 seconds).

“I think the relays mean more to us because we’re just friends and we’re a team and we can rely on each other and we’re really good at doing that,” Singleton said.

The junior added that the Wolves were inspired by their head coach, John Reyes.

“The other part of it is it just means so much to our head coach, John Reyes,” he said. “He puts all of his time and dedication in it, so for us to see him realize that he’s finally brought a state title here to Grandview, at least for me personally that meant the most.”

With  many of the Wolves being underclassmen, they are already looking ahead to 2022.

“We have the depth to go do it again; we just have to work at it and go for it,” Singleton said.

In the sprints, there wasn’t any one runner who was dominant. In fact, the wealth was spread among many on Saturday.

Sterling Brassfield of Eaglecrest won the 100 meters (10.63); D’Andre Barnes of Regis Jesuit won the 200 meters (21.69); and Ky Oday of Cherry Creek won the 400 meters (48.00).

In other 5A finals on Saturday, Gregory Anderson of Far Northeast won the 110 hurdles (14.14); Michael Bennett of Lakewood won the 300 hurdles (37.35); Garrett Searls of Horizon won the pole vault (14-9); Rangeview won the 1,600-meter relay (3:21.51); and Braiden Dishman of Fossil Ridge won the discus (167 feet, 2 inches) to sweep the throws.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

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Class 4A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Thomas Jefferson senior Avery Shunneson closed his career by sweeping the throws. On Saturday, he won the shot put (54-8) to go with the discus title he won Thursday.

“It’s very exciting. The perfect finish for sure,” he said.

The Princeton-bound Shunneson didn’t get a meet record in the shot, as he did Thursday in the discus, but that didn’t bother him. From the time he finished third in the discus in 2019, he had been aiming to win – and he did it twice this week.

“It means everything,” he said. “It’s been a goal for a long time. Obviously everyone struggled with not being able to compete last year, so to finish both (events) on top feels really good.”

For the second state meet in a row, Niwot came away with the team title, 90-59 over cross-town rival Longmont.

The Cougars were led Saturday by Zane Bergen claiming his third individual title of the weekend, posting a 4A meet record in the 1,600 meters (4:09.51). He won the 800 and 3,200 earlier in the meet.

Frederick’s Ryan Chacon, fully cleared within the last two weeks after a knee injury during basketball season, capped a remarkable comeback by winning the 200 meters (21.96) and leading the Warriors to a win in the 1,600 relay (3:23.78). Both were school records and gave Frederick its first event championships, regardless of gender, since 2006. Chacon was also second in the 400 and fourth in the 100.

Longmont’s Eddie Kurjak capped his weekend with another win, this time in the triple jump (45-5.75). He set a meet record in the high jump on Friday and was also second in the long jump this weekend.

In other 4A finals on Saturday, Brian Rose of Discovery Canyon won the 110 hurdles (14.75); Braylon Fenderson of Riverdale Ridge won the 100 meters (10.96); Justin Blaton of Grand Junction Central won the 400 (47.84); Derek Allen of Widefield won the 300 hurdles (38.73); and Cheyenne Mountain won the 400-meter relay (43.14).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

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Class 3A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

There were times this season that Peak to Peak senior Aidan Graziano didn’t think he could win a state title. He kept chugging along, however, and on Saturday closed his career as the champion in the 110-meter hurdles (15.05 seconds).

“After a season of putting in the work and times where I didn’t feel motivated, you’ve just got to keep putting in that work,” he said. “When it all pays off with a state title, it’s such a great feeling.

“I’ve been wanting a state title for as long as I can remember and here we are.”

The team title came down to the wire, with Resurrection Christian outlasting The Classical Academy, 73-71. The Cougars trailed going into the final event of the day, the 1,600-meter relay, but won that race with a time of 3:24.91, while The Classical Academy was sixth.

Alamosa’s Joshua Medina finished as a three-time champ, winning a thriller in the 1,600 meters and posting a time of 4:20.47. He also won the 800 and 3,200 this weekend.

Other champions on Saturday included Logan Hafey of Moffat County in the 300 hurdles (39.26); Brayden Savage of Frontier Academy in the 100 meters (10.81); Drew Morton of The Classical Academy in the 400 meters (50.01); Devyn Lauer of Platte Valley in the 200 (21.94); Woodland Park’s Sonny Ciccarelli in the high jump (6-8); and Lutheran in the 400-meter relay (42.90).

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Class 2A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Earlier this season, Yuma junior Clay Robinson posted a time of 22.16 seconds in the 200 meters that would have been good enough to beat the 2A state meet record – except it wasn’t in the state meet.

On Saturday, he thought he finally got the mark, winning the state title in 22.17. The record is 22.23 by Mike Carl in 2009.

“It’s awesome,” Robinson said. “I broke it earlier in the season, but they told me I had to wait for the state event, so I waited and I got it and I’m pretty pleased with that.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Unfortunately for Robinson, it was later determined his time was wind-aided, so Carl will keep the record, but Robinson is still a champion, in many ways. He also won the 100 meters (11.87) and helped Yuma to the team title, 76 to 48.5 over second-place Lake County.

“It was awesome,” he said of his individual titles. “I came out and I just wanted the win and did whatever it took to win. I’m happy.”

Robinson was also third in long jump and was pleased to see Yuma win for the first time since its only other team title in 1996.

“We haven’t won a team title in like 25 years,” he said. “That would be something special for Yuma. Our boys team is pretty legit and we’re fast and we kept it and we want this title.”

Crested Butte’s Connor Williams is going home a two-time champ, as well. On Saturday, he won the 1,600 meters in 4:19.99. He won the 800 on Friday.

Centauri’s Mason Claunch won the 400 meters (49.70) and helped his team to a win in the 400 relay (44.62). He also helped them win the 800 relay on Friday.

In other Saturday finals: Lake County’s Anthony Martinez won the 110 hurdles (15.44); Blaine Pebbles of Hotchkiss won the 300 hurdles (40.04); Nathan Freeman of Dayspring Christian won the long jump (20-11.5); Nate Early of Banning Lewis won the high  jump (6-1); and Ouray won the 1,600-meter relay (3:30.88).

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Class 1A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Sophomore Jacob Jefferson of Arrickaree/Woodlin had a sensational first career state meet, claiming a pair of state titles on Saturday. He won the 110 hurdles in 16.24 seconds and the 400 meters in 52.49 seconds.

In his first high school track season, Jefferson said his main goals were to get a couple school records and, “That’s what I did today.”

One of them had particularly special meaning.

“I got the 400 and the 110s, which is a really big deal to my family because my family has run the 110s since, I think, my mom,” he said.

In fact, his older brother, Joseph, held the school record before Jacob broke it on Saturday.

Heritage Christian cruised to the team title, 141 to 79.5 over DeBeque, and the Eagles did so on the strength of its depth, as they did not win any event titles on Saturday.

DeBeque, meanwhile, won several titles on the final day of the meet. The Dragons were led by senior Wesley Ryan, who won the 100 meters in 11.52 seconds and the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 6 inches. Junior Trevor Lewis also won a title for the Dragons, taking the 1,600 meters in 4:36.14.

Lone Star senior Brady Kuntz closed his career with a 1A meet record in the pole vault with a leap of 13 feet, 6.5 inches.

Other champions on Saturday included Josh Duran of Antonito in the 300 hurdles (41.29); Haxtun in the 400 relay (46.20); and Cade Mitchek of Cheyenne Wells in the 200 meters (23.10), and helping the Tigers to a win in the 1,600-meter relay (3:40.25).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

(Max Potter)

LAKEWOOD – Early offense set the scene at All-Star Park , but Evan Magill settled in for Mountain Vista and went six innings on the mound to lift the Golden Eagles over Valor Christian, 3-2, in the 5A baseball state championship on Friday afternoon.

“We all had to lock in after the first inning, we were nervous, everyone was nervous out here today,” Magill said. “There were times with runners on and we only had one out, but I knew we had to get the strikeout. I was thinking curveballs, they were swinging right over them, putting them on the ground. I even shook off some fastballs because I did not want them to make contact.”

Blake Wilson continued his hot hitting for Valor Christian, ripping a double to the gap to open the scoring, but savvy base running from Mountain Vista’s Travis Sprinkle and Trey Dunn gave the Golden Eagles all they needed. After the two early runs allowed, Magill, who won a state title his freshman year, settled in to retire 15 of the last 17 batters he faced, many of them with a wipeout curveball. He registered nine punch-outs in six innings.

Mountain Vista head coach Ron Quintana turned it over to his bullpen in the ninth, bringing on Griffin Huiatt, the other freshman on that 2018 championship team, and he slammed the door on the Eagles.

“Evan did a great job coming in before me and getting us to that point,” Huiatt said. “For me, my job was to throw strikes and let our defense work. There was a lot of adrenaline out there, but it all worked out in the end.”

Quintana and his group rolled through the playoffs as the last undefeated team, which allowed them to save a lot of pitching for Friday. The closeness of his team, he said, is what makes this year’s group stand out from others.

“When we say family, we mean it,” Quintana said. “This is such a close group and a lot of people counted these guys out and didn’t think we could be here right now. I always tell our guys, if we play Vista baseball instead of the other team, we are unstoppable. They bought in this year and here we are.”

Mountain Vista earned its second state championship in program history, with the last coming in 2018. It also marks the 27^th crown in school history and the second this week with the boys lacrosse team winning on Tuesday.

(Jack Carlough)

With an impressive 314-point team performance, Silver Creek was crowned the Class 4A boys swim and dive state champions on Friday at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton.

Cheyenne Mountain earned the state runner-up at 307 points and Greeley West placed third.

Silver Creek coach Debbie Stewart said the first place finish was a well-received surprise.

“My comment to the boys earlier in the week was we just wanted to bring home some metal,” Stewart said. “I was hoping for second. First, you can’t top it anymore.”

The Raptors, who finished 5-0 in the 4A Northern Conference, needed a strong effort in the day’s final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The boys from south Longmont delivered with a fifth-place finish. Seniors Connor Hassert, Pierce Bigelow, Ian Curd and junior Jake Gutru swam a 3:15.58 relay to secure the state title.

Bigelow was a major part of the Raptors’ success on Friday. He finished fourth in both the 500 freestyle and 200 freestyle on top of with joining the clutch final relay squad.

“The competition this year was just a great setup of some underclassmen so I knew I was going to have to bring my A Game,” Bigelow said.

A state title was perhaps due for Silver Creek after finishing seventh in 2018 and third in 2019. Bigelow said the Raptors didn’t dwell on the cancelled 2020 season but instead chose to use that as motivation.

“I remember thinking at the very beginning of the season about what could have been last year,” Bigelow said. “The whole team just chose to move past that and we had a great undefeated season this year.”

The Raptors’ day began inauspiciously with a sixth-place finish in the 200 medley relay. Hassert soon followed with a ninth-place time in the 200 free before Curd finished seventh in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 fly. Silver Creek didn’t finish inside the top three once, but its consistency delivered the victory.

History was also made earlier in the day when Denver North senior Jack Ryan scored a state record 671.65 points in the one-meter dive. Ryan, who set the now-previous 4A record in 2019 at 581.55, scored over 200 points more than second place finisher Joe Smack of Thompson Valley. Silver Creek placed seventh in the event courtesy of junior Jacob Dowlin.

The only multi-event winner came from George Washington junior Xavier Hill, who won the 50 and 100-yard free.

With this final five, Denver North’s Jack Ryan set a new CHSAA state diving record with a score of 671.65 at the Class 4A state championships today. #copreps pic.twitter.com/lvM1eMQC8K

— CHSAA (@CHSAA) June 25, 2021

(Jack Carlough)

COLORADO SPRINGS – The highest scoring state championship game in CHSAA girls soccer history went in favor of the Dawson Mustangs, as they took down Telluride, 15-4, on Saturday at Weidner Field to win their second Class 2A title.

Senior Degen Miller, who was a member of Dawson’s 2018 title team, scored four goals in her final high school hoorah. Miller didn’t have to do it all by herself, as Lauren Muniz, Elise Freedman and Helen Leon each netted a hat trick as well.

Head coach David Criswell, who will soon move to Chicago, could tell early on that his final team at Dawson was different.

“Since the first practice we had and the first game we had, I could tell this was a special group,” Criswell said. “Forget their technical skills, I think those stand for themselves, they’re just such a cohesive team.”

The second-seeded Mustangs capped off a 12-1 season with their only loss coming against 4A Northridge. Telluride, meanwhile, came in as the No. 1 seed but fell to 12-1.

The big stage wasn’t an unfamiliar one for Dawson, which has played in every title game since 2A soccer’s conception in 2015. Following a canceled 2020 season, this year’s title game was hosted by the newly-minted Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

Despite producing the largest goal differential in a Colorado state title game, the Mustangs fell behind early when Telluride freshman Brooke Duncan scored the game’s opening goal. The relinquished goal made for just the second time all year the Mustangs fell behind. Criswell said his team didn’t lose confidence and quickly answered with five straight goals.

Dawson held an 8-3 lead at the half and didn’t let off the gas pedal much in the final 40 minutes. Freedman and senior Maddy Timms each scored to open the second half and induce a running game clock. Madison Shaw also scored in the game.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Miller scored her fourth goal to put Dawson up 12-4. Her Season D playoff run totaled 14 goals including six against Front Range Christian in Round 1. Miller credited her midfield for fueling the offense.

“Our midfield played great today. I think they had great balls,” Miller said. “They were able to find spaces between Telluride’s defense and slip some balls in.”

For both Miller and Criswell, their final game together was bittersweet.

“It (was) our coach’s last game with this team, which means a lot to all of us,” Miller said. “We really wanted to win it for him and we’re all just so happy that we were able to do that.”

(Nick Jurney)

FREDERICK – Chocolate frosted donuts.

That’s the breakfast that fueled a championship performance from Eaton High School’s Logan Moser, as the senior hurler helped guide his team to the Class 3A state baseball title Saturday at Frederick High School.

Moser pitched a complete game and racked up 13 strikeouts from the bump and also drove in a run to help the cause in Eaton’s 4-1 win over The Classical Academy. It was just one of those days where he woke up feeling like he had the sweet stuff.

“From the first pitch in the bullpen I knew it was going to be a good day,” Moser said. “Our team scoring runs really helps. You just calm down and focus, knowing you’re here for a reason and you’re doing a job.”

The championship represents the 12th in Eaton baseball’s storied history, and first since 2015, adding to the school’s state record. The team’s energy as they attempted to make that feat a reality was apparent.

Junior Jaden Stone led off the game with a single and scored the first run after a deep drive to center field by sophomore Walker Martin turned into an RBI triple.

Martin scored after the next batter, senior Ryan Ure – the star pitcher from Friday’s semifinal victory – drove him home on a fielder’s choice, making Eaton’s lead 2-0 early. Moser added to the insurance pot with an RBI single in the second, driving home junior Dirk Duncan after he reached base from a leadoff double.

“Our guys all year long, with the exception of the tournament actually, have done a great job of scoring in the first inning,” head coach Todd Hernandez said. “We talked about that as coaches, if we could get Logan two or three runs early and give him a cushion to let him go to work, we’d be in good shape.”

While it was ultimately a wire-to-wire victory for the champs, it certainly didn’t come without drama. A fifth-inning rain delay prolonged Eaton’s quest for their 12th title, but it didn’t damper anyone’s spirits. Moser came back from the delay and struck out six of the next eight batters he faced, and TCA’s lone run scored in the bottom of the seventh during a much-too-late rally attempt.

“That (rain delay) is one of those things where I just kept thinking, ‘Well we’ve waited this long, we can wait another half-hour’,” Hernandez said with a smile. “We knew all along that Logan wasn’t going to come out of the game. We knew we could finish it.”

(Max Potter)

HIGHLANDS RANCH – Douglas County is Colorado’s first ever high school boys volleyball champion.

On Saturday at Rock Canyon High School, the Huskies won 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 over Legend to finish off a perfect season with 18 wins at the end of a momentous campaign for the emergent sport in its first season with CHSAA sanctioning.

There will be many more boys volleyball champions to come in Colorado. But this year’s Douglas County group will always be able to say it was the first.

“It was a tremendous feeling first to know we are going to get to play,” Douglas County coach Jason Fitzgerald said. “This team wanted this moment from Day 1. This lays the groundwork not only for our team but for teams in the rest of the state. We are looking forward to the growth of the boys game, everyone we saw this tournament has improved greatly this season and I can only imagine the level of play in this state will be going up from here.”

The Pascua brothers dominated in the match, just as they had all season with Jayden Pascua recording 14 kills and his brother Jensen Pascua notching 25 assists.

(Brian Livergood)

“I don’t even know what to say, it is just so cool that I get to be here and play with my brother,” Jayden Pascua said. “We have always had a strong relationship and it definitely helped on the court today, playing volleyball has brought us together in so many ways and I am happy to get to have this moment with him.”

Connor Shumate also played a big role for the Huskies with 10 kills and an ace that invigorated the Douglas County faithful.

“We couldn’t have done it without the fans all season long. They brought the energy we needed every time,” Shumate said. “It was so nice to play in front of that crowd, especially for boys volleyball in our first season. It is special to get to play the first season a sport is sanctioned and I am so glad I got to be a part of this team and we won the state title as a team.”

To reach the championship game, Douglas County won 25-20, 25-19, 25-16 over Eaglecrest in the semifinals of the eight-team Season D state tournament. In the opposite semifinal, Legend won 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 against Valor Christian.

With the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the first season of boys volleyball in the state, this championship means a lot to a lot of different people. But for the players, that special feeling is something that will never go away.

“We worked so hard to get to get here,” Fitzgerald said. “Each time we accomplished something, be it the league champion or regional champion, we were the first to do it and that meant a lot to this group. The energy in this building was terrific and the coaching of these players before coming to high school was incredible. I am blessed to have such a talented team.”

The championship marks the 12^th state title overall for Douglas County.

(Brian Livergood)