Category: Champions

Rye captures 2A baseball title on a wild day, which includes hidden ball trick

Rye celebrates its 2A baseball championship. More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

PUEBLO — All week, coach Stacey Graham kept preaching to his Rye baseball team to never stop believing in itself no matter the circumstances.

The Thunderbolts did and it paid off in a coveted Class 2A state title Saturday at the Runyon Sports Complex.

Rye rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to capture a dramatic 12-10 victory over defending state champion Resurrection Christian at Andenucio Field.

“These guys compete and battle and never give up,” said Graham, whose team trailed 9-4 after the top of the fifth inning. “We had a rope in our dugout and I told them at the beginning of the week to hold on to the rope, never let go no matter what we are faced with and we will pull through and they believed it and it showed.”

More photos. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The victory let the Thunderbolts end their magical season with a perfect 25-0 record and at the same time avenge the semifinal defeats in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Rye, which last won state in 2011, advanced to the finals Saturday with a heart-pounding 9-8 semifinal win over Hotchkiss in a game which it trailed 6-0 — and won on a hidden-ball trick.

“We haven’t experienced being behind, so it was big time for us to battle back and win,” Graham said.

Resurrection Christian, which won state in 2012 and 2014, capped its season with an 18-5 record. The Cougars won their semifinal game 4-0 over Burlington, thanks to an outstanding performance by pitcher Koby Bishop.

“On a stage like this you have to capitalize on your opportunities and you can’t let a good team hang around too long,” Resurrection coach Grant MacAlmon said. “I was aware of how hungry Rye was and that game seemed to take forever (nearly three hours). It was a mental grind and we just didn’t do enough to win.”

Rye had several big at-bats in the sixth, but none bigger than Kevin Bailey’s.

The sophomore crushed a two-run, go-head double, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs.

“Our coach (Graham) prepared us for this day,” Bailey said. “I was just trying to put the ball in play with two strikes and I got an inside fastball and I just took it. I was real happy and this is an amazing feeling to win state.”

The Thunderbolts’ Chance Abert then smashed a single to right moments later to put Rye up 11-9 and Rye added one more run on a wild pitch.

“That was a huge hit by Chance to get us that run,” Graham said.

Leading 12-9, Rye brought in senior pitcher Trent Hughes in the top of the seventh. Hughes, who started against Hotchkiss, entered this weekend with five no-hitters this season.

With two outs, the Cougars scored one run when Bailey dropped a pop up to first base by Luke Fick. Resurrection Christian still had two runners on base, but Hughes wasn’t about to let this win slip through his team’s grasp. He was able to get Brendan Herrfeldt to fly out to end the game and start the celebration.

“This is incredible,” said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Hughes, who had a huge grand slam in Rye’s win over Hotchkiss. “We put in all the hard work. The blood, the sweat, and the tears and to have it end with us winning state is the best feeling ever. I couldn’t ask to be a part of a better team and a better group of guys.”

Rye’s game against Hotchkiss was crazy. The game included a one hour 16-minute lightning/rain delay before Rye came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. The game also was moved from Hobbs Field to Andenucio Field to be completed because the ‘Nuch Field handled the moisture better.

More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

As for the ending, it was one for the ages.

Hotchkiss pinch runner Colton Deluzio, who was on second base, was fooled by Rye pitcher Junior Ortiz on the hidden ball trick. Ortiz stepped off the rubber and fired toward second base for a pick off. The Rye infielders were all running around as if it was a wild throw into the outfield.

Deluzio then took off toward third base and Ortiz, with the ball in his glove, tagged him.

“It was executed on their end,” Hotchkiss coach Blake Carlquist said about the final play. “I couldn’t yell loud enough (to our runner to go back). I couldn’t quite get my message relayed to the base runner. You never want a game to end like that, but sometimes that’s the way it goes.”

Hotchkiss ended the season 21-3.

“We weren’t real sure if it (the hidden ball trick) was going to work,” Rye coach Graham said. “We practice it quite a bit and we ran it one time successfully, and it worked again. It’s a tough play to do and the guys executed it real well.”

Video via Jason Carter/KRDO

More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

May 24, 2015
Cheyenne Mountain wins third-straight 4A girls soccer crown, this one in PKs

Cheyenne Mountain beat Lewis-Palmer in penalty kicks to win Class 4A girls soccer. (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — Cheyenne Mountain is used to this winning thing.

One of the most successful sports schools in Colorado with 88 state championships, second behind only Cherry Creek, Cheyenne Mountain captured its fourth team title this spring with the Class 4A girls soccer crown over Lewis-Palmer 2-1 on penalty kicks.

The Indians became the first program in any classification to win three consecutive in girls soccer, an impressive stat, made even more so when considering how they accomplished the feat.

In a classic, the Indians made six consecutive penalty kicks before goalie Stephanie Deines dived to her right to stop Jenny Allenspach’s shot, setting off their celebration. Brooke Miller scored what proved to be the winning penalty kick.

To get to that point they had to overcome an unrelenting Lewis-Palmer attack during regulation and in both overtimes and attrition in a physical game against a Pikes Peak conference and city rival, not to mention a Ranger team that had outscored their opponents 70-7 heading into the state finals.

(Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

They did all that and more Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park thanks to the talents of senior forward Hannah Gerdin, who had the lone regulation goal in the 29th minute, and goalie Deines, a senior who played limited minutes as a backup behind Hunter Peifer last season.

Peifer returned for her fourth season, as well, after earning second team all-state honors as a junior, but the University of South Carolina recruit suffered a season ending injury before the opener.

Deines stepped in and proved to be the closer for a Cheyenne Mountain three-peat.

“I’m so happy for her,” coach Tomas Martinez said. “With that injury to Hunter, Stephanie just stepped up and took care of business. I could not be more proud of somebody.”

“This team, most of us came off the bench last year,” Deines added. “The fact that we get to come out here and win our own one is super exciting.”

Cheyenne Mountain, also the champions of 4A girls tennis, boys swimming and diving, and girls golf, have now finished the year first in four of nine spring sports.

Oh, and by the way, they have repeated as champions in three of those sports with seven consecutive girls tennis crowns, three straight girls golf titles, and now back-to-back-to-back girls soccer championships.

To say 2015 has been a success for the school in Colorado Springs would be an understatement.

But the Indians, in claiming their sixth crown in girls soccer, only Arapahoe (nine) has more, actually started the season 2-5 with losses to 5A Fossil Ridge, Valor Christian, The Classical Academy, Evergreen, and 5A Pine Creek.

The losses were forgivable as Evergreen, Valor, and TCA reached the 4A postseason, and Fossil and Pine Creek made 5A playoff appearances, but unusual for Cheyenne Mountain in recent years.

The Indians graduated a loaded group from a team that went unbeaten in 2014. It took time to gel, to reload, and after winning only two of their first seven games, they went unbeaten in their final 13.

Cheyenne Mountain earned the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and Lewis-Palmer garnered the No. 8. The teams tied for the conference championship and saw their regular season showdown finish in a scoreless double overtime tie.

Despite being the higher seed, coach Martinez felt the Rangers were the slight favorites.

“It’s nice to kind of be the underdog coming in,” he said. “Even though we were the higher seed, with their numbers and their stats and starting the way we did and rallying the way we did this season, I couldn’t be more proud.”

After the game was over, sentiments were the same for both Cheyenne Mountain’s players and their coach. They enjoyed taking on a rival, one they have great respect for, but they didn’t want to give up the title of being the best in the state and in their city.

“It’s great that it’s going back to the springs either way, but I didn’t want them being the new kid on the block and setting the tone for the springs,” Martinez said. “We still want to run Colorado Springs, if we can.”

Cheyenne Mountain finished with a 14-5-1 record. They will graduate Gerdin, a first team all-state honoree in 2014 and their leading scorer this year with 24 goals. Deines will also be gone, as will several other contributors on the varsity. But the Indians will have Lauren Jones (17 goals) and a great young core back. They will likely be favored to win their fourth consecutive state championship.

Lewis-Palmer, which actually outplayed Cheyenne Mountain for much of the game, struggled capitalizing on their many scoring opportunities. The Rangers had nine corner kicks in the first half, but no goals.

Anna Donisi, a sophomore forward, did come up with the equalizer in the 52nd minute. The Rangers closed their season with a 17-2-1 record and will be looking to build off their first finals appearance, seventh overall, since 2001 with a very capable group of their own returning. Sophomore Brianna Alger (24 goals) was one of 4A’s top players this season.

May 21, 2015
Colorado Academy tops Cherry Creek in lowest-scoring girls lacrosse title game

(Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)

DENVER — It was cold, it rained, and it was the lowest scoring girls lacrosse title game in Colorado history.

Colorado Academy braved the elements to defeat Cherry Creek 8-3 to clinch the state title on Wednesday night, using fast starts to both halves and terrific goaltending from Bridget Sutter to stymie the Bruins.

“Bridget is the best human being ever,” said the Mustangs’ Emma Richards, who scored two goals in the contest. “You wouldn’t know she even plays sports if you just saw her and talked to her but she turns into a beast in (the net).”

As the game began under a drizzle and with a heavy mist in the air, one couldn’t help but wonder if the deteriorating conditions would play a role in the final score. Couple that with the nerves of two elite teams attempting to feel each other out, and the early going of the game had a very deliberate feel to it.

(Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)

Colorado Academy (16-3 overall, 5-0 league) set the tone early though, playing physical against the Bruins (16-3, 7-0) and generally controlling the early possessions.

The strategy would pay off early, too, as Richards put home the first goal of the game for the Mustangs just minutes into the match.

Top-seeded Creek was unfazed by CA’s success though, sticking to their game and using their deadly speed to force the Mustangs into fouling and soon, Caroline Perry would put home the Bruins’ first goal on a free shot.

From there it was up and down the field in the first half, with both schools using especially active movement away from the ball to ward off the cold. First Creek went ahead on another goal by Perry, then the Mustangs answered with two more of their own to take a 3-2 lead into the half of an incredibly close contest on the field.

However, as the second half began, the field began to take on a decided tilt favoring Colorado Academy.

The Mustangs took it to Creek from the opening faceoff of the second half, jumping out to a 5-2 lead on the second goals of the game by Richards and Lindsey Jackson, respectively before Eliza Radochonski could get one back for the Bruins on a free shot.

From there, though, it was all Mustangs, as Colorado Academy would add three more insurance goals within the final ten minutes.

“I told the team at half that this team is not going to quit and neither are we,” said Colorado Academy coach Steph Sanders. “It’s not over until it’s over and my girls knew it wouldn’t be over until it’s over.”

Even as the Bruins started to grow desperate at the end, Colorado Academy kept the pressure on, drawing the fouls that Cherry Creek was able to get called on the Mustangs early on and turning it into the final goal with just a few seconds to go.

But despite the tough loss for Cherry Creek, coach Kathryn Ames expressed nothing but admiration for her squad.

“They say Creek has never missed a championship game,” Ames said, “but this was no easy climb. No one expected us to be here with this young of a team, and the whole state of Colorado is getting better at lacrosse.

“These girls are fighters and I am so, so proud of them all.”

After the game, though, you could see the determination was on the side of the Mustangs, who talked extensively about their drive to win the game.

“I grew up watching Creek and Colorado Academy play lacrosse,” said Richards. “(On the first goal) I came around the side of the cage and all that was in my head was that I wanted everyone to know that I wanted this since I was practically in the womb.”

Now Richards and the 2015 Colorado Academy lacrosse team are a fixture in that rich history.

(Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)

May 21, 2015
Grandview holds off Broomfield to win 5A girls soccer championship

Grandview won the 5A girls soccer championship on Wednesday. (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — Though a late start meant dropping temperatures, energy ran high from the first whistle as Grandview and Broomfield battled for the Class 5A girls soccer state championship.

The speed and physicality came from both squads and persisted for the entirety of the match, but Grandview took home the title with a 2-0 win.

“I knew it would be a close game, and I know (Broomfield coach Jim) Davidson. I knew they’d make a run at this,” said Grandview coach Tari Wood. “We are young and little, but my girls play bigger than they seem. They want it so badly.”

Grandview possessed the ball for the majority of the first 40 minutes, taking long-ranged shots and moving the ball swiftly. There was just something tangibly tenacious about them, and after 25 minutes of play, it payed off with a goal from sophomore defender Jessica Hixson.

A corner placed the ball in the box and Hixson rocketed it into the top center, capitalizing on her powerful right and giving the Wolves the 1-0 lead.

“I have two of the best centerbacks and they happen to work very well together,” Wood said of Hixson and Nicole Lyubenko who connected for the goal.

(Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

Moments after, Broomfield had a free kick that merely floated over the goal, and in the final minutes of the first half, a cross gave Broomfield forward Makena Bambei a shot at the equalizer but the ball hit the crossbar. Grandview hung on to head into half with the advantage.

Broomfield moved from 4A to 5A this season, and though the Eagles came up short, their debut in the championship showed that they belonged.

They came out of the second half with fire, pressuring the Broomfield defense with much more force than the first half.

“We equalized the game in possession, gained a lot of momentum, and had our chance but it was just unfortunate,” said Broomfield coach Jim Davidson. “We took the first half off, that was the difference. Their athleticism disrupted us. We didn’t connect anything in the first half but were able to break them down in the second. I’m proud of them.”

But Grandview continued to play at their skilled level, the type of play that has kept them undefeated since mid-march, where they faced their only loss of the season.

They led early and it led to their success.

“I’ve been in 13 state championships and I’ve never seen a team win from behind,” said Davidson. “If you don’t play 80 minutes then you make it really hard on yourself. But I told the girls to come back out after the half and make it worthy of a state championship.”

With just under a minute left, Grandview junior Mandi Duggan sealed the win for the Eagles with another goal and closed out the soccer state tournament.

Grandview is now 2-0 in state title appearances, having won back in 2008.

May 21, 2015
Vail Mountain wins first-ever 2A girls soccer title

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — Vail Mountain completed a season of firsts at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday.

In the Gore Rangers’ first girls soccer state championship appearance in the inaugural season for Class 2A, a freshman, Tess Johnson, scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with three minutes, 25 seconds remaining, to defeat Dawson School 2-1.

The victory gave Vail Mountain, a school with an enrollment of 110 students that opened in 1962, state title No. 1 in girls sports. It was also their second championship overall. They won boys skiing in 1991.

The Gore Rangers, a team that starts five freshman, Johnson, Emma Hall, Katie Alonzo, Hannah Fallon, and Olivia Manula, beat Dawson 4-0 in the regular season finale on May 1 on the road. The Mustangs were missing two of their best players, Morgan Powers and leading scorer Liv Cramer, a talented first-year of their own, in the regular season. They proved to be a stiffer test in the finals.

In a closely contested game early on, knotted at one at halftime, the Gore Rangers were in attack mode in the final 40 minutes with plenty of scoring opportunities.

First, they hit the cross bar. Then, they just missed a header off a corner kick. Finally, a Vail Mountain shot snuck just to the left side of the net and out-of-bounds. The Gore Rangers applied plenty of pressure, but had a scoreless drought from Johnson’s goal in the fifth minute until her game-winner.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Vail Mountain mostly controlled possession late, but Dawson had an impenetrable defense for a good portion of the state finals.

“They were tough in the final third of the field,” Vail Mountain coach Bob Bandoni said. “They were double and triple teaming some of our players and that made it tough for us to score.”

But, they made a crucial change that allowed them to earn the decisive goal.

“We actually made a little adjustment and moved her a little higher on the field with twenty minutes left because we saw their backs we’re playing a little higher,” Bandoni said of Johnson, a forward. “They kept encroaching and there was more space back there. We were like, ‘Let’s see if we can punch one through.’”

Johnson’s shot was nearly corralled by Dawson goalkeeper Nicole Towner, but had just enough force to get past the senior.

“When I scored the winning goal, it was a bit of a surprise,” Johnson, a member of the United States Junior ski team in the freestyle division, said. “I thought the keeper had it. She played an incredible second half. Once it crossed the line, I knew we were going to take it.”

The first-year player hadn’t been on a stage like Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before, the home of the Colorado Rapids, but she did have poise with a clutch goal last Wednesday. Johnson beat the halftime buzzer to give Vail Mountain a 1-0 lead on Denver Christian, a score that held up as the lone goal in a semifinals victory.

“It means a lot to do this for my team and for my coaches and the seniors,” she said. “This has been a season of a lifetime.”

Vail Mountain, who had a large fan section make the 100 mile drive to Commerce City, finished off a 16-1 campaign that included wins over 3A playoff teams Aspen and Coal Ridge. They also went undefeated, 10-0, in 3A Region 3, comprised of both 2A and 3A programs. The Gore Rangers were the No. 1 seed in the postseason. They achieved a high standard of success by every measure in 2015.

“What runs through my mind is less the game and more the season,” Bandoni said. “We were really looking to punctuate a season where we felt we were growing every time we walked onto the pitch.”

Dawson, which answered Johnson’s early goal with a Sophie Brussell score in the thirteenth minute, is equally youthful. The Mustangs will return eight of their nine leading goal-getters. The No. 3 seed in 2A finished with an 11-7 record.

Both teams will likely be title contenders again in 2016.

May 20, 2015
Colorado Academy repeats as 3A girls soccer champion

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — It felt more like a brisk fall evening than one in mid-May as the No. 1 seed Colorado Academy and No. 3 seed Jefferson Academy took the field under the lights at Dicks Sporting Good Park.

And it felt a lot like last year for Colorado Academy.

The Mustangs beat Jefferson Academy 1-0 on Tuesday, marking their second-straight Class 3A championship and their fourth win of seven state title appearances. Last year, in nearly identical fashion, Colorado Academy beat The Classical Academy 1-0.

“It’s been incredible to see the talent, skill, and dedication in this group. We love each other and its a huge part of our success,” said Colorado Academy star Marin McCoy, a senior. “We push each other in practice, we all want to be better. It was such a pleasure to be part of this group, and what an amazing way to finish off my high school career.”

Jefferson Academy made its debut appearance in the finals this season, and a strong one at that. The two teams matched up in late April, where the Mustangs walked away with a 6-1 win.

The Jaguars didn’t let such a far gap build this time.

Under a cold mist and amid puffy-jacket-clad students and parents, the two teams shot skidding balls in the hopes of one slipping by.

Jefferson Academy took shots early, with a promising cross from forward Alycia Wright in the first few minutes. After the ball rattled the crossbar, giving Colorado Academy a good scare, the Mustangs took the ball into their feet. Colorado Academy’s McCoy made moves past the defense and goaltender for a seemingly certain finish on an open goal, but popped it against the crossbar.

Marin McCoy (11) holds the 3A trophy up after helping Colorado Academy win the title. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Shortly after, their time came as a beautiful pass from senior midfielder Julia Murphy floated over two Jefferson defenders and into the feet of McCoy, who made one step past the goaltender and tapped it into the goal with 21 minutes left in the half.

“We are best at controlling the ball and moving it around until its time to move it up from the back. We try not to get antsy,” said McCoy.

Colorado Academy moved the ball around Jefferson’s defense persistently, but was held to the single goal at the end of the half. In the second, the Jaguars defense came out stronger than before, stitching the holes and diving for rolling balls at the goal-line, ending Colorado Academy’s opportunities.

Wright shot two rockets in the latter portion of the second half, whizzing just far of the post. But they ultimately came up short as time ticked away and the defending champs met victory again.

“Our goal was not to pretend to come out here and crush anybody. It was to be able to hang with them, and we did just that,” said Jefferson Academy coach Denise Sutton. “And what a gift these seniors have given to the younger players — playing here, giving them this vision. That’s what I love about this all.”

May 20, 2015
Fossil Ridge takes 5A boys state swimming title

Fossil Ridge celebrates its 5A team title. More photos. (Ray Chen/CHSAANow.com)

AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The Class 5A state swimming championship was decided the way it should be — by a team race.

With Fossil Ridge clinging to a slim lead heading into the 200-yard freestyle relay, they needed a win. More importantly they needed a win over the team that was swimming to their right. Regis Jesuit came into the event as the favorite to win the team title, but the Sabercats had other plans.

More photos. (Ray Chen/CHSAANow.com)

In a race that brought competitors and the crowd to their feet, Fossil Ridge came won the relay in epic fashion. They touched the wall one hundredth of a second faster than Cherry Creek and 17-hundredths of a second faster than the Raiders. In the end, Fossil Ridge scored 297 points to win the state championship.

“We swam pretty well in the front half of the meet, but Regis was swimming pretty well too,” Sabercats coach Mark Morehouse said. “We had it projected out and we knew we needed to win one of the two free-relays. We didn’t know which one, but what we knew is that we couldn’t make a mistake.”

The Raiders looked to regain some ground in the 100-yard breaststroke, but the title would ultimately be decided in yet another relay race. The day’s main event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, gave Fossil Ridge the 34 points they needed to clinch the 5A team title.

“We just wanted to continue the momentum and see how fast we could go,” Sabercats swimmer Walter Dauksher said. “I was fortunate that my teammates worked hard to get me a lead. I’m not necessarily a swimmer but I put all I had into that relay.”

Daunter anchored both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays that were essential in clinching the championship for Fossil Ridge.

The Raiders may have fallen short in their pursuit for the team title, but they certainly had plenty to celebrate during the meet.

During the diving finals, all eyes were centered on senior Kyle Goodwin. The diver was the three-time defending state champion and was making a run at both a fourth championship, and a state record.

Regis Jesuit’s Kyle Goodwin. More photos. (Ray Chen/CHSAANow.com)

His final dive of the day scored at 167.9 to net him a total score of 611.85, good enough to break Aaron Feight’s 10-year-old state record of 608.20.

“I came in looking to get that fourth title and to get points for the team,” Goodwin said. “Although we didn’t get the team points, it still feels pretty good to come out on top for four years in a row.”

Rounding out the top five on the day were Cherry Creek (209), Boulder (177) and Fairview (149). For Boulder, it was only the second time the team has ended with a top five finish. Fairview didn’t quite come as far as they had last year (third place overall), but coach Amy Webb was pleased with the performance.

“This is kind of a young team now, but we swam out of our minds today,” she said.

Individual honors were also handed out at the conclusion of the meet. Chris Loftis from Cherry Creek was named coach of the year while one of his swimmers, Sam Coffman, was named swimmer of the year. Coffman won the 200-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle and anchored the Cherry Creek team that won the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Goodwin was an obvious choice for diver of the year and setting a state record and walking away with his fourth individual diving title. Smoky Hill’s Erik Seaver was named the diving coach of the year.

May 17, 2015
Cheyenne Mountain captures 4A boys swim and dive title

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

THORNTON — Daniel Carr learned a valuable lesson during this spring’s boys high school swim season.

“High school swimming is so much fun,” the Cheyenne Mountain sophomore said.

After spending his freshman year training for nationals instead of swimming for his high school, Carr took a page from Missy Franklin’s playbook and stuck with his high school friends.

It paid off Saturday as Carr set a pair of state records in helping the Indians capture the team title from three-time champion Air Academy.

Cheyenne Mountain scored 354 points to outdistance the Kadets by 34.5 points. Thompson Valley was third with 199 points.

Carr set the tone in the day’s third race, establishing a new 4A state mark in the 200-yard individual medley. His time of 1 minute, 48:93 seconds bettered the old standard by nearly two and a half seconds.

Carr swam the second leg for the Indians in the finals’ first race, the 200 medley relay. They finished second to Air Academy, which shattered the state mark it had set in Friday’s preliminaries.

Cheyenne Mountain celebrates its title. (Tom Robinson/CHSAANow.com)

“It made me mad,” Carr said of his performance in the relay. After Air Academy’s Tommy Baker pulled off a mild upset, setting a 4A record in winning the 200 freestyle, Carr was up again for the IM.

Carr followed that up with a time of 44.67 in the 100 freestyle, good for a new state mark by more than three-quarters of a second.

“I knew at the beginning of the meet I wanted the 100 free,” Carr said.

The Indians capped off the meet and secured the state title by winning the 400 freestyle relay in record fashion on 3:06.60, bettering the five-year old 4A mark by more than two seconds.

Cheyenne Mountain came into the state meet with a lot of confidence, having gone unbeaten during the regular season.

“We were hoping that our (with) our depth, the fest of the guys would come in and score a lot of points,” said Indians coach Kate Doane, whose team won its first boys state swimming championship since 2002.

Doane was named the 4A coach of the year.

Air Academy’s Caleb Hicks pulled off a mild upset by winning the 100 butterfly in a 4A record time of 49.63 seconds. Teammates Tommy Baker and Hunter Doerr claimed state titles in the 200 and 50 freestyles, respectively.

The Kadets claimed their second state relay record in winning the 200 freestyle in 1:23.24, more than three seconds under the previous mark.

Thompson Valley dominated the diving competition, capturing three of the top four places – including boasting the state champion, senior Kyle Pape, who edged teammate Collin Williams by less than four points for the title.

The Eagles also got a victory from Liam Gately in the 500 freestyle and from John Thorne, who broke his day-old record by winning the 100 backstroke in 44.30 seconds.

D’Evelyn’s Daniel Graber defended his state title in the 100 breaststroke.

May 17, 2015
Familiar faces emerge as state track and field champions
Niwot celebrates first and second place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles. (Brock Laue/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD — On the last day of the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium, old powers continued to rule and new powers emerged.

The Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans, as expected going into the week, obliterated the Class 5A boys field with 94 points, more than double Cherry Creek’s 44.5. FFC has now won four of the last six state championships in the highest classification and have racked up 17 crowns in the program’s illustrious history.

Tevin Donnell, a senior who won his first individual titles Saturday in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and ran legs on the winning 400 and 800-meter relays, said camaraderie has fueled the Trojans’ success.

“We’ve been lucky enough to stay together and that’s not something that’s common in a school with a military presence,” Donnell said. “I’ve grown up with a lot of these people.”

Fountain-Fort Carson not only finished first in the 400 and 800-meter relays, but also the 1,600 relay, and scored plenty of points in the individual sprint and middle distance events. They wanted to win all four relays, but settled for third in the 3,200 relay, running a 7:55.48.

Cherokee Trail’s Shayna Yon. (Brock Laue/CHSAANow)

On the girls’ side, Cherokee Trail, a power in track and field in recent years with two boys championships, earned their first girls state championship in any sport with 99.5 points, holding off 2014 champion Fort Collins, who had 86.

Shayna Yon, a soon-to-be LSU Tiger, scored 30 points by herself for CT as she won a triple crown in the long jump (18-9.25), the 100 (11.79), and the 200 (24.17). Yon and her team set a new standard for the Cherokee Trail girls.

“It felt really good, because I’m the first female at my school to win any state title,” she said. “It was really nice to be able to put my school on the map, as well as be a leader for my teammates who are younger than me. I just really wanted to leave my mark here before I leave for school. I’m really excited for our girls team next year, because we are going to be just as strong.”

In 4A, Palmer Ridge, a school in Monument that was founded in 2008, finished first in four of six championship finals on Thursday—the high jump (Jordan Swango, 6-6), the pole vault (Kyle Rex, 15-0), the 3,200-meter run (Eric Hamer, 9:22), and the 3,200 relay (7:57)—and kept the momentum rolling through the rest of the weekend as Caleb Ojennes won the 200 and 400-meter dashes on Saturday. He also anchored the 1,600 relay that defended their crown from 2014.

Ojennes, who posted a 21.75 in the 200 and a 47.35 in the 400, helped the Bears tally 98 points and win their second consecutive state championship. The Classical Academy finished as the 4A runner-up with 52 points.

“I can’t really complain right now,” Ojennes said. “It’s just such a rush, because we just won back-to-back team titles.”

“Just winning the first state championship for Palmer Ridge meant a lot last year.”

The new school also triumphed for the 4A state championship in cross country last fall.

Niwot claimed their third girls state championship in a row in 4A on the strength of their relays and hurdles. The Cougars won the 800-meter relay in a new 4A state meet record of 1:41.13, they placed second in the 1,600 relay in 3:54.95, and they finished first and second in both the 100 and 300 hurdles.

Kela Fetters, the 300 hurdle champion just ahead of teammate Mackenzie Fidelak, a freshman, was proud of herself and her teammates.

“My goal going into the season was to make Niwot the best at 4A girls hurdles in the state and I think that’s what we accomplished,” Fetters said.

Niwot finished with 85 points. Mountain View was the runner-up with 59.50.

The Lutheran boys, in their first season up one class after claiming the 2A crown in 2014, won 3A with 82.5 points. They dominated the sprints and won handily over Platte Valley (63).

Eaton, after finishing as the state runner-up in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 broke through for their first state championship in girls track by snatching the 3A crown with 95.5 points. As usual, the Reds scored plenty of points in the field and on relays. Lamar placed second with 80.

As for 2A, the Lyons boys collected their fourth state championship in five years as junior distance runner Paul Roberts added to his legacy with state titles in the 1,600, 3,200, and 3,200 relay. The Lions are the power in the classification. Not much changed this weekend. Lyons tallied 111.5 points and edged out Cedaredge (100).

The Paonia girls won their third state title in a row in 2A with a monstrous 132 point total. Lyons was the runner-up with 73.5. Paonia excelled on relays and in field events, as well.

Finally, in 1A, Springfield boys conquered the crown with 109 points as Pikes Peak Christian finished with 85. Pikes Peak mostly dominated the individual sprints, but Springfield rolled over everyone in the field.

Heritage Christian and Shining Mountain Waldorf dueled in distance, but HC came through with the 1A girls state championship with 129 points. SMW scored 100, as Ginger Hutton won the 400, 800, 1,600, and 3200 in her final season.

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Notables
- Tevin Donnell and Christian Lyon placed first and second for Fountain-Fort Carson in the 5A 100-meter dash finals. Donnell also won the 200.
- Monarch sophomore phenom Isaac Green won the 5A 1,600 crown in 4:19.56, his first state championship.
- Andrew Barlow of Monarch cleared 16-8.5 to win the 5A pole vault. The senior’s mark ranks No. 11 in the nation.
- Becca Schulte of Fort Collins won the 5A 400-meter dash in 53.64, the fourth quickest time in Colorado history.
- Rock Canyon freshman Emily Sloan won the 5A 100-hurdle crown in 14.11.
- William Mayhew, one day after running 1:50.74 to crush the 4A record in the 800, claimed the 1600 in 4:15.
- Longmont boys won the 400-meter relay in 42.08, an extremely quick time.
- Thompson Valley girls shattered the 4A record in the 1,600 relay with a time of 3:50.73.
- Freshman Brittany Fuchs of Calhan won the 2A 200-meter dash in 25.70.
- Jenna Anderson of Lyons capped off her high school career in style by winning the 2A crowns in the 800 (2:14.86) and 1,600 (5:12.61). Teammate Sierra Tucker placed second in the 1,600 in 5:28.35.
- South Park’s Kacey Buttrick won the hurdle double, the 100 and 300, in 2A.
- Cedaredge girls shattered the 400-meter relay record in 2A with a 49.73.
- Baca County’s J.D. Chenoweth won the 110 and 300-hurdles in 1A.
- Springfield’s Andy Borunda finished first in the shot put (47-01) and discus throw (150-10) in 1A.
- Freshman Zariah Mason of Kim blew past the field in the 100 and 200 to earn her first 1A state championships. Her 100 time of 12.72 was a new classification best.
May 17, 2015
Dove Creek claims 1A baseball title in final act of resilience

Dove Creek won 1A baseball on Saturday by beating Granada. More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

DENVER — He shook his catcher off in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the bases loaded, one strike away from winning a title.

It was a moment born from dreams: Two strikes, two outs, in the final inning. And Colin Hobbs, a junior from Dove Creek, knew exactly what he wanted to do.

“I like my curveball a lot,” Hobbs said on Friday night. “It’s my strikeout pitch so I like to throw it with two strikes.”

Colin Hobbs. More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

“I gave him the fastball,” said Alex Ogas, Hobbs’ catcher, “and he shook his head and he just started laughing. I knew, right then. Once I gave him the signal, I knew.”

Hobbs got Granada’s Jose Rodriges to strike out swinging. Moments later, he, Ogas and the rest of the Dove Creek Bulldogs were throwing their gloves into the crisp Denver air. They’d won the Class 1A baseball title, defeating Granada 8-5 at All-City Field.

“They hung tight,” said Curtis Garver, Dove Creek’s coach.

See, Dove Creek had a singular focus this season. It was almost exactly one year ago to the day that they’d lost the 1A title game to Caliche, and watched another team throw their gloves into the air.

As the 2015 season opened, they struggled somewhat, starting 1-4, and finishing the regular season 8-11.

“All throughout the season, we took our lumps, we took our lumps, and we identified what was wrong with our game,” Ogas said. “We were able to adapt it right at the beginning of the playoffs.”

Dove Creek qualified for the regional bracket by placing second in District 1, then beat Holly and Community Christian to return to the title game.

“We were a little sour after last year,” Garver said. “We wanted to come back and prove that we belonged here.”

Saturday was a day some in Dove Creek thought might never come — not only because of the road the Bulldogs took to get here, but because of multiple reschedules and headaches due to weather. It was only on Thursday that the title game was formally rescheduled for Saturday night.

The uncertainly didn’t faze Dove Creek one bit.

“This is the state championship, so everybody was really focused,” Ogas said. “It was really easy for us to stay prepared. It didn’t take too much out of us. It really didn’t. We were mostly scared about it raining today.”

“We were ready all day long,” said Dove Creek’s Jordan Ernst.

The rain, mercifully, held off on Saturday. And Dove Creek soon seized control of the title game. The Bulldogs grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, and just kept adding to it. Soon, it was 7-0 going to the bottom of sixth.

Ernst, Dove Creek’s star who earlier this season threw a five-inning perfect game in which he struck out every batter he faced, was magnificent to that point. He didn’t allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth, and ended up with eight strikeouts in five-plus innings of work.

But, in the sixth, Granada loaded the bases, and finally pushed a run across on a walk.

Dove Creek turned to Hobbs, who has been their go-to reliever this season. He struck out the first two batters he faced, but then walked two others. It was 7-3 at that point.

Then, Granada’s Davey Reyez lined a ball that seemed destined for the right-center gap, but Dove Creek second baseman Kyle Schultz snared the liner to end the threat.

More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

The Bulldogs added a run in the top of the seventh, but Granada would not go quietly into the night. The Bobcats got one back in the bottom half, then loaded the bases. Soon, the score was 8-5 with just one out.

With Granada’s Dalton Harris up, Hobbs threw a breaking ball in the dirt, but Ogas made a great block to keep it in front of him — and keep the runners where they stood. Hobbs went on to strike Harris out.

With two outs, and the title in sight, Hobbs quickly got two strikes on Rodriges. It was then that Ogas called for the fastball, which, of course, Hobbs shook off. He threw his curveball instead. And ended the game.

Hobbs was asked afterward if the two bases-loaded jams from which he escaped got to him. “A little bit,” he said. “It was not too bad.” Then he added with a wry smile, “I got out of them.”

The title is Dove Creek’s third. The school also won Class A (West) championships in 1977 and 1975 when it was then Dolores County. But this one was sweeter than most because of the loss last year.

“We’ve been fighting through — even like Little League, we’ve been going to the state tournaments, and we always come up short,” Ernst said. “We finally made it. After probably 10 years, we finally made it to the top.”

May 17, 2015