Category: Champions

Bayfield tops Platte Valley to win 2A football championship

(Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)

KERSEY — Bayfield knew the Class 2A football state championship game at Platte Valley would be claimed by whoever won the battle of the trenches.

“Our offensive line has been stellar all year long,” Bayfield coach Gary Heide said. “We’ve gotten big yardage from our running backs and we’ve gotten great protection for Kelton (McCoy). We knew coming into this game that this was the strongest line, on both sides of the ball, that we had seen all year. We all knew the line had to step up and they did.”

Bayfield, the No. 1 seed in the bracket, closed out a perfect 12-0 season with a 28-20 victory over No. 3 Platte Valley (11-2) thanks in large part to the big guys up front. The Wolverines claimed their second state championship in football, their first since beating Meeker 14-0 in 1996. Bayfield lost to Florence in the 2A finals in 2011.

For the Wolverines, with seemingly the entire town making the 372 mile trip to Kersey, an undefeated season could only be completed with help from the offensive and defensive lineman paving the way on the frozen tundra.

“We have a lot of threats and a lot of people that can do things with the ball, but the reason we are successful offensively is our O-Line. Our O-Line is what did it for us today,” senior running back Zane Phelps, who finished the game with 30 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown, said.

The offensive line opened up holes early and often for the 6-foot-3 and 215 pound Phelps to plow through. 6-foot-4 and 200 pound quarterback McCoy, another member of that special senior group, also carried the ball eight times for 23 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Bayfield put enough pressure on Platte Valley to hold them to only three points in the first half as they took a 14-3 lead into the break. McCoy found Wyatt Freier for a touchdown on 4th and goal from the 8 on the game’s first possession. McCoy snuck in from two yards out early in the second for the other Wolverine touchdown.

In a bend and not break style most of the game, the Bayfield defense gave up a 57-yard catch to Sterling Moralez as he took it all the way to the 10-yard line midway through the third quarter. But, with the Wolverines up 21-3 after a 4-yard touchdown plunge by Phelps early in the second half, the visitors held Platte Valley to another field goal with 2:34 to go in the third.

Bayfield led 21-6 headed into the final 12 minutes. But, the Broncos, as they’ve been known to do time and again this season, started mounting a comeback.

McCoy dove in from four yards out to push the lead to 28-6 with only 6:48 remaining, but Matthew Hoffman torched Bayfield for a 92-yard catch and score with 6:27 to go to cut the deficit to 28-13. The Platte Valley defense got the ball back for the Broncos, who proceeded to punch in a Tanner Schwindt QB sneak to make it a one-score game, 28-20, with 2:14 to go.

In the end, it wasn’t enough as McCoy recovered the Platte Valley onside kick that would’ve given the Broncos a chance to send the game into overtime.

“Coach Heide actually just drew that hands team up like five seconds before that,” McCoy said. “Ball came my way and I knew it was do or die.”

For all the plays Platte Valley made, especially in the second half, Bayfield just seemed to have a little too much firepower for anyone in 2A this season. Whether it was McCoy passing or throwing the ball — he had three total touchdowns Saturday, 24 total this season — Phelps running over and around defenders (over 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground), or shifty Brody McGhehey (4 catches, 56 yards in title game) and Wyatt Freier doing damage in the passing game, the Wolverines had too many answers and weapons for anyone in their path.

“You have to go back to the quarterback,” Heide said. “He’s the guy handling the ball all the time. I’ve seen development in him not only during his career, but also this season and into the playoffs. Of course, Zane has always been our workhorse. He came up big today. Our offensive line, our receivers, and then our defense, other than two big plays, was stellar.”

Bayfield racked up 38.4 points per game, only gave up 7.5 per game, and while they do graduate an amazing group of seniors, they will return a lot of talent.

For those seniors, winning the state title was a special way to cap off a special era for a group from the town of a little over 2,000 people.

“We’ve been together our whole lives,” Phelps said. “We were playing football in the playground in kindergarten. We’ve worked so hard for this and this is an awesome feeling.”

“I’ve only been here four years, but I knew the 1996 team had gone down in history for Bayfield,” Heide added. “We kind of used motivation from the ’96 team and the times Bayfield had gotten close since. We got one for the whole community of Bayfield.”

The Wolverines also took out No. 16 Manitou Springs 40-0, No. 9 Brush, the defending state champions, 28-14, and No. 4 La Junta 47-7 in the playoffs.

Platte Valley, now a football powerhouse appearing in its fifth state championship game in school history, all since 2006, was denied their third title despite 236 passing yards by Schwindt. The Patriot League Champions are also expected to be very strong in 2016 with a number of returners themselves. Leading rusher Austin Hill, a dynamic little tailback, is only a junior. The Broncos thumped No. 14 Gunnison 42-0, handled No. 11 Strasburg 56-28, and had a come-from-behind win against Kent Denver 29-23 in the semifinals.

November 29, 2015
Buena Vista captures 1A football state championship over Paonia

(Troy Baker/Buena Vista HS)

BUENA VISTA — Redemption couldn’t have been sweeter for the Buena Vista football team Saturday.

A year after losing in the Class 1A title game to Paonia, Buena Vista rallied to beat the Eagles 27-20 to capture the 1A state title before a standing-room only crowd at Demon Field.

“This feels really good,” fifth-year Buena Vista head coach Matt Flavin said. “The joy in the eyes of those kids is something you can’t describe until you live through it and now I’m finally living through that. I’m so happy for them.”

The Demons finished their memorable season with a 13-0 record and claimed their second football state championship school history with the other coming in 1999 in Class 2A. Paonia (11-2) was trying to win its third state football title in a row as it defeated Buena Vista 21-7 in 2014.

“Both sides had their chances to win this game and when they had them, they made them,” third-year Paonia coach Brent McRae said. “We were just a little short when it came down to the end.”

It appeared the Eagles would be celebrating their third consecutive championship in a row as they led 20-7 at halftime.

Buena Vista’s Keegan Wentz had other ideas though.

The senior quarterback tossed a 6-yard scoring pass to Josh Yates and then added a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final 24 minutes to clinch the victory.

“At half, coach told us to keep our composure and do what we do,” the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Wentz said. “We knew we could win this game. We just had to have faith.”

Despite facing a 13-point deficit, the Demons weren’t lacking any confidence in the third quarter as they marched down the field with their ground and pound attack. Wentz finished Buena Vista’s 51-yard drive by muscling in for a 6-yard score with 9:02 on the clock.

“I asked my guys at half, ‘How do you want the second half of your last game ever to be?’” Flavin said. “I told the seniors they need to step up and lead and that’s exactly what they did. Then, the team just rallied and played well.”

Flavin is right.

With the deficit cut to 20-14. Wentz and Co., went to work again. The Demons sprinkled in runs from Wentz and Cooper Eggleston and Keenan Barr to roll down the field.

When the spotlight was the brightest, Wentz shined. Facing a 4-and-2 at the Paonia 13-yard line, Wentz rushed for two yards to keep the drive alive. That, however, wasn’t the most dramatic play of the drive.

Moments later, Paonia’s defense stiffened, allowing just five yards on Buena Vista’s next three plays, leaving Buena Vista with a 4th-and-5 at the Eagle 6-yard line. The game was hanging in the balance so Flavin called a timeout.

“I wanted to do something they believed in,” Flavin said. “There were a few plays thrown around and we hadn’t thrown the ball, and we believed in that happening.”

And, it showed.

Wentz rolled right and threw to a wide open Yates in the end zone.

“I was having flashbacks to my first-ever start as a sophomore against Alamosa,” Wentz said. “We ran a slant to win the game with two seconds left. That was running through my head and I just had faith. I threw it and my best friend Josh came down with the catch.”

Yates’ catch and Ty Koch’s PAT gave Buena Vista its first lead of the game 21-20 with 9:28 left in the fourth quarter.

Paonia did regroup and was poised to go back on top, but the Eagles possible go-ahead drive ended when Jeramiah Hillman took a handoff on a 4th-and-1 play at the Buena Vista 16-yard line and fumbled away the ball with 3:36 showing on the clock. Buena Vista took over possession at its own 15-yard line. Hillman had a game-high 204 yards rushing, including a 65-yard scoring run early in the second quarter.

“We picked up the first down and we just fumbled it,” McRae said about the play. “Credit Buena Vista they made a play.”

Buena Vista failed to run out the clock when it took over on downs, but Wentz once again came to the rescue with his pick 6 of quarterback Taylor Walters with 35.1 seconds left.

“I was so happy I scored, but I was worried I might have scored too early and given them the ball back,” Wentz said.

Enter Denver Hargrove. The Buena Vista defensive back intercepted Walters’ pass with 21.3 ticks remaining setting off Demon euphoria on the sidelines and in the stands.

“What a ride,” said Hargroves. “This a dream come true. We finally did it.”

November 29, 2015
Sedgwick County beats Akron to win 8-man football title

Sedgwick County celebrates winning the 8-man football championship. (Kent Mincer/CHSAANow.com)

AKRON — It had been 17 years since a school in Sedgwick County had been able to put a state football plaque in its trophy case.

Now two schools in the county can brag about splitting one.

Sedgwick County, a combined athletic program featuring athletes from Julesburg and Revere schools, capped an undefeated season by winning the Class A 8-man state title Saturday, defeating Akron 36-6.

It was a rematch of teams that played in week 9. The Cougars won that one 22-3, also in Akron.

Sedgwick County was leery of what the Rams would bring this time.

“They’re a good team,” Cougars coach Chris Michel said. “I knew they had something ready.”

Actually, both teams threw a new wrinkle or two into their game plan. Ironically, said Michel, they were similar game plans.

Still, both stuck primarily to what had helped them reach the state championship.

“We rode the horse that got us here,” Michel said of a game plan that produced a balanced 173 yards rushing and 174 passing.

The key to Sedgwick County’s domination was its defense. It held Akron quarterback Levi Basler to just 14 yards on 13 carries and intercepted him twice.

The Cougars scored on their first possession, a 14-play drive culminating in Cole McKinley’s 5-yard run.

They must have liked opening drives of the half because they scored on their first possession of the third quarter. That one took just three plays, Chad Mikelson hauling in a pass from Trey Walter good for 42 yards.

The Cougars found some success over the top late in the game, scoring three times in the fourth quarter, two on long passes to Tyler Woodhems, to seal the victory.

“To close it out like we did is something special,” said Woodhems, who caught just three passes but amassed 92 yards.

“My receivers can catch anything I throw at them,” said quarterback Tyler Walter, who passed for 174 yards and three scores.

The workhorse of the offense, however, was McKinley, who carried 24 times for 90 yards.

The team had struggled the previous four seasons, but Michel knew he had something special at the start of preseason workouts in August.

“We set a goal to be right here (in the championship game),” he said.

It was the first championship trophy for Sedgwick County since Revere won in 1997, before the schools consolidated their athletic programs. Julesburg won its last state title in 1970.

November 28, 2015
Eads shuts down Arickaree/Woodlin in second half to win 6-man football championship

More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

EADS — The dynamic of a 6-man football game tends to allow for the scoreboard to read more like a basketball final. But that wasn’t the case Saturday as Eads, behind a suffocating defense, topped Arickaree/Woodlin 34-12 to win the 6-man state football championship.

After allowing a 56-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game, the Eads (11-1 overall) defense only allowed six points the rest of the way, none of them coming in the second half.

“It feels pretty good,” Eads coach Dustin Upland said. “My assistant coaches, as far as defensively, they had (Arickaree/Woodlin) pegged. They should take the credit for that.”

But early in the game, it didn’t look like credit or praise would be given for defense effort. On the first play from scrimmage, Indians running back Wyatt Kolman broke for a long touchdown run to put his team up 6-0 early.

The Eagles tied the game on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Caden Parker to Dylan Dixon, but another Kolman touchdown gave the lead back to Arickaree/Woodlin at 12-6.

A 49-yard touchdown run by Fred Turner tied the game up once again and as time ticked away in the first half, the Indians drove down looking to regain the lead.

After a pass interference penalty put the Indians on the two-yard line, three straight runs were stuffed by the Eads defense, which was becoming a common theme for the day.

More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

“They played really good defense,” Indians coach David Saffer said. “They have athletes and the have speed. They stack the line to get things to the outside and try to make us use our speed.”

Things started clicking for the Eagles in the second half as Parker again found Dixon through the air. The connection was good for a 60-yard touchdown pass, giving Eads the lead for good.

“We’re more of a second half team,” Dixon said. “We condition a lot, so we’re ready for that.”

This win is especially sweet for Dixon and his teammates. They made to the 6-man title game last year only to lose 44-26 to the Indians.

“We’ve been waiting a long time,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for this revenge.”

Reagan Lane got in on the fun with an eight-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 26-12. A desperate Indians team fumbled the ball away on the next drive and Rustin Jensen was able to recover for the Eagles, giving them the ball a feeling that a state title was imminent.

One more touchdown pass from Parker to Dixon made it 34-12 and the Eagles were celebrating their first football championship since 2007.

Dixon, who was sporting a cast due a broken hand that he suffered two weeks ago, felt an extra surge of motivation for both a rematch of last year’s title game and having to play more as a receiver than at running back, his natural position.

“The cast gave me a lot more motivation,” he said. “I played a position I never played before in my life. I was ready to try it out.”

He did more than try. Thanks to his ability to adapt, he was able to come up big for the Eagles on both sides of the ball. That, and the work of his teammates, paved the way for the Eagles to hoist championship gold.

November 21, 2015
Broomfield repeats as 5A boys soccer champ with OT win over Mountain Vista

Broomfield beat Mountain Vista in overtime to win the Class 5A championship. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — Before scoring the game-winning goal in the Class 5A boys soccer state finals against Mountain Vista, Broomfield senior forward Cody Ewing was actually on the bench towards the end of regulation.

“We pulled him late in the game, because he looked like he was struggling a little bit,” legendary Broomfield coach Jim Davidson said. “Then I turned to my staff, as we were approaching the overtime, and I asked, ‘Think we should bring Cody on and give him that senior opportunity?’ I’m glad we made that decision.”

Ewing subbed back in and, just over two minutes into overtime, got a pass he could work with. On an aggressive run out, the fourth-year striker got a little separation from the Golden Eagle defense with his speed and tucked a shot past Mountain Vista goalie Christopher Reicher.

“I was just like, ‘Alright this is my moment.’ I hooked it with the outside of my right foot. I fell over and didn’t even see it go in,” Ewing said.

As soon as the play was over, he sprinted to the nearby Broomfield (18-2) student section to celebrate a 2-1 overtime victory over Mountain Vista (12-7-1) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. With the win, Davidson’s team secured back-to-back state championships for the first time in his storied career.

Nothing came easy Saturday night though as seeds were thrown out. Nevermind the fact that Broomfield was the No. 2 seed, one of the heavy favorites to win it all, and Mountain Vista had just snuck into the 32-team state tournament as the No. 28 seed after an 8-6-1 regular season record.

A Cinderella team in 2015, coach Theresa Echtermeyer had won three titles on the girls side, leading Mountain Vista to the 5A state title in 2005, 2011, and 2013. The closest they had come on the boys side was runner-up to Cherry Creek in 2010, a 1-0 double overtime loss.

More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Despite the odds against Mountain Vista this year, the Golden Eagles, after a scoreless first half, jumped on Broomfield first when Nolan Gao buried a shot off a wonderful cross from Davis Auth. The goal in the 45th minute gave the underdogs a 1-0 lead.

Broomfield’s Justin Hamm, with help from Porter Milner and his amazing flip throw ability, had the answer in the 53rd minute to tie the game at one. After that, back-and-forth the teams went with neither giving an inch the rest of regulation.

Finally, in overtime, Ewing provided the dagger.

For Davidson, coaching his eighth state championship match on the boys side, 13th overall, trailing in a title game was anything but comfortable.

“I’ve never been in a championship game where we’ve played from behind and won, so I was very concerned that the season was flashing before my eyes,” he admitted.

Davidson was both relieved and joyous after this one. On top of it all, he was going against a mentor, as well, adding to the emotional element of the match, as if a thrilling overtime title-winning game wasn’t emotional enough.

“Theresa is one of my closest coaching friends,” Davidson said. “She’s a person I admire that, early in my career, I considered a mentor. She’s a terrific friend, so it’s a little bittersweet that it ends up being against Vista, because of the job she does.”

Echtermeyer, who said the belief factor was huge in the Golden Eagles’ run all the way to the finals, said the match was everything a title match should be.

“Tonight was obviously a classic battle, a great championship match between two fantastic teams,” she said. “I have such great respect for Jim Davidson and what he’s doing with his program. He’s the top of the top.”

Mountain Vista took out No. 5 Monarch 2-1, No. 12 Aurora Central 2-1, No. 4 Arapahoe 2-1, and No. 1 Fairview 1-0 during their incredible run to the finals.

As for Broomfield, the Eagles are now tied with Cherry Creek for the most boys soccer state championships in history, regardless of class. The Eagles, after winning four in 4A between 1999 and 2007, have now won twice in 5A. Their six state titles rank No. 1 with the Bruins, just ahead of Faith Christian, Smoky Hill, Liberty, and Arapahoe, who have all won five.

November 15, 2015
Cheyenne Mountain takes 4A state volleyball title by beating two-time defending champ Lewis-Palmer

DENVER – In the end, Cheyenne Mountain just had too many weapons. In a rematch of October’s Pikes Peak Athletic Conference championship game, Cheyenne Mountain swept Lewis-Palmer 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 29-28), but this time for a much bigger prize.

For the first time in three years, the Indians are the Class 4A volleyball state champions.

“There was something magical about this team early on,” coach David Barkley said. “We knew the talent was there, but we also knew in 4A, there were plenty of good teams like Lewis-Palmer that we would have to fight through.”

All season, the Indians (27-1) overall proved to be up to the challenge. They suffered only one setback in a 3-1 loss to Eaton (who came away with the 3A title for the third year in a row), but then cruised through the rest of their competition. That included a 3-1 win over the Rangers (25-4), the first in-state loss for the two-time defending champions in two years.

“It gave us a lot of confidence, but it was especially humbling,” senior hitter Bethany Cullity said. “We knew we had to work that much harder to beat them again so it just made us work 10 times harder.”

Cullity led all Cheyenne Mountain attackers with 15 kills on the match. She came through in clutch situations, putting the ball down in crucial moments that either pulled the Indians even or gave them a lead.

But she was playing with a purpose.

One of her best friends, Celeste James, passed away at the start of the 2015 season and the loss took an emotional toll. James was set to play for Cherokee Trail, who came away as the 5A champion.

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

“(This moment) is extremely special,” she said. “I did it for her and I did it with my team. We did it together and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Like the league championship game from just over a month ago, the Rangers had difficulty defending the Cheyenne Mountain attack. There wasn’t a position on the floor that could be construed as a weakness and in the end, Susan Odenbaugh’s bunch could match-up.

“They have really strong serving and a really tall front row,” Odenbaugh said. “They’ve got so many weapons on the front row at all three positions and the block was struggling a little bit.”

If there was one thing the Indians were aware of, it was their strength in the front line. The versatility and the options they had helped them remain dominant all year and come away with their sixth championship trophy in eight years.

“That was our biggest threat,” senior Elizabeth Wayne said. “We can go to anyone in the front row, or the back row so it’s always hard for other teams to defend that.”

As Barkley looked as his newly won hardware, he couldn’t help but think about just how much talent was on the floor during the 4A title game. It doesn’t escape him that the last eight state titles have come from one league and only from two teams. But unlike the last two years, he wanted the first-place trophy to reside in southern Colorado Springs rather than monument.

“I called dibs (on the big trophy),” he said with a laugh. “For us to win that against a team that good is a huge compliment to our program.”

November 15, 2015
Cherokee Trail overcomes season’s worth of adversity, wins 5A volleyball championship

DENVER — Just seven points away from claiming its first state volleyball championship, Cherokee Trail took a collective deep breath Saturday night as it broke from a timeout.

The calming effect worked to perfection. The Cougars closed out the Class 5A state title match by scoring seven of the final 10 points to take a 25-23, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Fairview to come away with the crown at the Denver Coliseum.

“We’ve kind of been doing that for awhile. I don’t know how it started,” said Cougars senior Shannon Webb, who put the match away with a decisive kill. “We let all of the emotion out. You calm down and you let it all out.”

Cherokee Trail (25-4) capped a whirlwind day for the 5A field and an emotional season overall with its first trophy. The Cougars overcame the passing of teammate Celeste James before the season began, along with the loss of middle blocker Amazing Ashby to an injury in September, and pulled together when it mattered most.

“These girls fought for every point in every match that they played this season,” Cougars coach Terry Miller said. “They’ve earned every single game that they played, and I can’t be more proud. It means the whole world to these girls, and they’re going to remember this season for the rest of their lives.”

After two of the four 5A pools went to tiebreakers, the 5A semifinals were the last matches to be played before the finals began one hour later than scheduled. Cherokee Trail, which had been idle all day after winning two matches Friday, defeated Denver East in three sets while Fairview downed Rock Canyon in four sets.

The Knights (22-7) opened the day with a five-set loss to Coronado, but won a single-set tiebreaker over Coronado later to advance to the semis.

“They just do not quit. We played 13 sets today,” Fairview coach Kelsey Spencer said. “They fought every point of every play. I am so impressed with the tenacity, work ethic and team chemistry.”

Cherokee Trail jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first set, then withstood a furious rally from the Knights. Fairview got to within one point at match point, but Cherokee Trail’s Kenzie Hendon put the set away with a kill.

The Cougars rallied from a five-point deficit in the second set, going on a 13-5 run to take command. Hendon again put the set away.

“There were times when I was a little afraid of what was going on,” Miller said. “Fairview had us on our heels when it comes down to the tips, but we made some adjustments on it and were able to neutralize that a little bit more than I think they wanted.”

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The two teams went back-and-forth in the final set, but an 8-3 run down the stretch sealed the match for Cherokee Trail. Webb’s thunderous kill was the deciding point.

“That was my last high school swing ever,” Webb said. “After the season we’ve had, to put that away for my team and for my school, it’s pretty awesome.”

For the three seniors who were on the court Saturday night, going out with a state championship meant everything after all that had been endured this fall.

“We’ve seen each other at our most vulnerable, which is pretty powerful,” Webb said. “We rebuilt together, so there’s a really strong bond of trust.”

Fairview will graduate six seniors off a team that made an impressive run through the state tournament as the No. 8 overall seed. The Knights defeated No. 1 overall seed Chatfield on Friday night.

“Now they’ve got a taste and they know what it feels like,” Spencer said.

Webb said the moment was exciting but surreal. The senior is headed to American University next year, and going out on top is a moment she and her teammates will forever cherish.

“These are the lessons that they’re going to carry on for the rest of their lives,” Miller said. “It’s not all about volleyball for us this year, but life lessons and being able to persevere through any challenges that were thrown your way.

“Celeste was looking out for us this season.”

November 15, 2015
Otis rallies from a set down to take 1A state volleyball title

DENVER — The loud crowd noise as five courts of state finals volleyball played simultaneously created an electrifying atmosphere in the Denver Coliseum that would have gotten anyone excited. The two best teams in Class 1A faced off in the finals with the No.1 Otis Bulldogs defeating No. 2 Idalia Wolves 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-12) in a match that came down to the wire.

Senior outside hitter Lissette Lefforge dominated when she needed to, helping her team hoist the state championship trophy.

“This is unbelievable,” said Lefforge. “This is what we worked our whole lives for. Since the first grade I’ve been working with Kylee (Kutz) and Tonya (Schaffert) and this is what we wanted our whole lives. Semifinal was not good enough this year. We took it home.”

The final set of the game showed how much composure as team Otis had after dropping the first two consecutive sets to fall behind 2-1. They battled back in set three to tie things up, sending the match to a fifth and final set.

Otis celebrates winning the 1A volleyball championship game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Otis was able to start the set off strong but Idalia rallied back tie it up six different times. Lefforge showed her dominance with powerful strikes in the most important set of her life to help lead her team to victory in 15-12 win.

“We came back two sets to two,” Lefforge said. “Neck and neck to the very end. Mental toughness is what helped us win.”

Bulldogs coach Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz nodded in agreement with Lefforge about mental toughness being key for their win.

“My kids do all the talking, they know exactly what’s going on. It’s a family,” said coach Wallin-Kuntz

Otis’s first set showed exactly why they were the No. 1 seed coming into the weekend. They controlled the game with vicious strikes from Lefforge and and well-placed tips from Schaffert, creating the perfect combo to win the first set 25-21.

But Idalia was far from done and came back strong in the second set. The Wolves’s defense helped them maintain a comfortable lead every time the Bulldogs tried to rally back. Otis nearly pulled even after falling behind 24-20 but Wolves couldn’t afford to be down 2-0 and finished the set strong to to take a 25-23 win.

The confident Otis team started to look flustered as Idalia carried the momentum into the third set. Senior right setter Susana Herrera and senior outside hitter Reagan Shaffer both capitalized on key opportunities throughout the set giving them the biggest lead of the match at 16-9. Once again Otis rallied back at 22-24 but fell short, losing the set 25-22

With Idalia’s only two losses of the season coming at the hands of Otis, a 2-1 lead looked like they were on the verge to redeeming their loss in the best way possible.

But in the fourth set, Otis had its back against the wall and Idalia had chance to win it all. The Wolves one-two combo, Herrera and Shaffer, helped tie the game at crucial moments, but it wasn’t enough. Otis built an eight-point lead that was too big for Idalia to climb back from, and suddenly, the match was tied.

The final set of the game came down to the team who could make the clutch plays at the right moment. The teams traded back and forth points and were tied at 12-12. Otis was able to step it up and score the last three points winning the final set 15-12 and bringing home a state title.

“I feel great,” said coach Wallin-Kuntz “These kids have worked so hard. I told them their hard work will payoff, just believe it. Just keep working because there is no better feeling when your hard work pays offs.”

November 15, 2015
Yuma beats two-time defending champ Resurrection Christian, wins 2A volleyball

DENVER — The Yuma girls volleyball team was tired of finishing second.

The Indians were runner-up for three consecutive years at the Class 2A girls state basketball tournament.

Last year Yuma finished second at the 2A volleyball tournament, watching Resurrection Christian win its second straight title.

Faced with the task of meeting Resurrection Christian in this year’s state final, the Indians were determined to change fate.

It took five games, but Yuma brought the state championship trophy back to the northeast corner of the state with a hard-fought 17-25, 29-27, 25-21, 21-25, 15-7 victory over the Cougars.

“It means everything to us,” Yuma senior outside hitter Tara Traphagan said.

Yuma’s last and only previous volleyball championship was 1990, in 3A.

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The Indians knew the daunting task facing them, Traphagan said. But they couldn’t worry about what Resurrection Christian was going to do.

“We just knew we had to take care of our side,” she said.

Traphagan was Yuma’s major force in the deciding game. At 4-4, the Indians reeled off eight straight points including two kills, a tip and a direct with her at the net.

“I just told myself there’s no way we’re losing this game,” Traphagan said.

“She was on fire tonight,” Yuma coach Jenny Noble said.

The team was not where it needed to be at mid-season, Noble said, so she tweaked the lineup. The changes worked as the team’s fortunes took a rise.

Resurrection Christian traditionally has some big hitters, and this year was no different. The Indians countered that with strong play at the net.

“Our blocking was huge tonight,” Noble said.

Yuma’s celebration was increased when it joined another school from the northeast corner, Otis, in celebrating a state title. The Bulldogs went five games to capture the 1A crown.

November 15, 2015
Eaton wins third-straight state volleyball championship with sweep of Valley

DENVER — The Eaton Reds came in with an agenda, and it didn’t take them long to deliver.

The top-seeded Reds (28-0 overall) capped an impressive weekend of volleyball with a three-set sweep of the sixth-seeded Valley Vikings (20-9) to three-peat as state champions in Class 3A.

“I’m so proud of this squad,” said coach Gwen Forster. “Every year is different and honestly I’m not sure that this team got as much due as they should have in Colorado, being ranked nationally and all. But to see them finish the way they did really makes it all worth it.”

How dominant was Forster’s squad? They only lost four sets all season long, and the team’s current winning streak stands at 38 matches following the championship.

The match against the Vikings began with high energy on both sides, but early miscues by both teams kept it close during the early going. Eventually Eaton would turn on the pressure, and senior Lindy Dixon would finish the set off with an ace as the Reds took the first frame comfortably, 25-15.

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The second set began with more of the same, as the Reds gradually built a lead. Then, with standout junior Tarryn Sieg on the bench, Valley went on a short run, tying the set at 17 and prompting a timeout from Forster.

“Tarryn really got us back on track there,” Forster said. “She came in and we got, what, five points in a row? The whole squad though, there was never any doubt for them.”

Sieg’s presence indeed lifted the Reds in that second set, with several finishes and two blocks in the final nine points played.

After such a hard battle in the second set, the third was almost a formality, as Eaton rolled to a 25-10 victory.

“It’s so special for me (to get this championship) as a senior,” said Caiden Rexius after the game. “There’s never been a three-peat in our history, so making history as a team with these girls has just been so, so special.”

For Valley, their second straight appearance in the 3A title game was bittersweet, but they have a lot to be proud of after a season of adversity.

“We lost six seniors last season,” said Vikings coach Rene Aafedt, “ and a lot of people, even in our own school, thought that this team wasn’t going anywhere.

We came in as the sixth seed and we knew how good Eaton is and we’re so familiar with them, I just told my girls to go out and play their game. We’re disappointed, but I so proud of everything these girls accomplished.”

Both squads graduate only three seniors this season, so they’ll be poised for another run in 2016. Forster insists though, that the focus should be on the individual players that make up each of her vaunted teams.

“I know people like to talk about the titles and the streak,” she said, “but it’s really all about the girls. It’s a smaller school and to keep having such great talent is really a testament to how hard they all work.”

November 15, 2015