It is with sadness that the Colorado High School Activities Association pays its respect to a long-time Denver Prep League coach and CHSAA Hall of Fame member.

Former Thomas Jefferson football and track coach Herman Motz passed away last weekend, but his presence cannot be forgotten.

Motz compiled a 135-30-1 at Thomas Jefferson from 1976-89, earning 12 state playoff appearances, 9 DPL titles, six final four appearances and winning two state titles. The first came in 1980 when TJ beat Cherry Creek 20-19 and the second in 1989 when the Spartans beat DPL rival Montbello 34-32.

Truly an old school coach, Motz used to walk to and from the school each day. It gave him time to think, he told others. He was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame in its Class of 2005.

Motz coached football and track & field for over 20 years, earning numerous honors. He has been a clinician for numerous football clinics from 1977 to 1990 and has held virtually every office available in the Colorado High School Coaches Association and was named Coach of the Year seven times. He was inducted into the CHSCA Hall of Fame in 1991.

Motz was a member of the CHSCA Board of Directors and received the Don Des Combes Award, the highest honor that CHSCA can bestow. He was the original editor and producer of the CHSCA’s “The Colorado Coach.”

It is with great sadness that the Colorado High School Activities Association pays its respect to a long-time contributor to the high school prep scene. The office was informed earlier today that long-time champion of prep sports, Judy Hildner lost her battle with pancreatic cancer.

At the time of her induction into the CHSAA Hall of Fame in 2016, Judy was the reigning matriarch of Colorado media, and was held in held in the highest esteem throughout the state.

“Judy was one of the pioneers that opened the door to women, in the prep journalism space. She promoted the purpose and positivity of high school athletics and activities with truth. She was the trusted voice in southern Colorado for many years, to share the high school stories and events. Her legacy lives through the many young female prep reporters and she will be missed,” CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said upon news of Hildner’s passing.

She covered all levels of sports, including Super Bowls and NCAA Tournaments but the high school arena was the heart of her coverage area and where so many stories were waiting to be told. She was one of the most knowledgeable media persons in the state and had oversight on one of the country’s finest newspapers with its coverage of southern and southeastern Colorado, along with the San Luis Valley.

She is considered to be the state’s first-ever female sports editor, serving in that capacity from 1990-2012. She ended her 34-year media career in 2012 with The Pueblo Chieftain the paper where she started before she graduated from high school. She began her career keeping stats and then calling them into the newspaper.

A founding member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame committee, she is a member of the Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame and has been honored many times for her work with high schools. In her eyes, one could never do too much for prep sports.

Hildner was a member of, and had chaired the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and was a two-time member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame selection committee and had served on the Pueblo School #60 District Strategic Planning Committee and others.

Services are pending.

31st Anniversary Class Features Jamie Carey, Katie Carter, Pete Falletta, Andrea (Melde) Hooks, Ben Montoya, Becky (Varnum) Bucolo and Scott Yates

AURORA — The Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame has announced its 31st Anniversary Hall of Fame class. It’s a seven-member group that depicts the rich history of the Association, along with providing real-life examples of what participation, coaching, leading and advocating for students can do. Each of these people has established themselves as a role model for today’s young people seeking their way to adulthood.

The CHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2019 includes four former athletes in Jamie Carey (Horizon), Katie Carter (Steamboat Springs), Andrea (Melde) Hooks (Air Academy) and Becky (Varnum) Bucolo (Cheyenne Mountain), along with track & field coach Ben Montoya (Fountain-Fort Carson) and football coach Scott Yates (Kent Denver). They will be joined by long-time coach and administrator Pete Falletta (Pueblo Centennial).

“I am continuously amazed at the accomplishments of the many nominees. The Hall of Fame’s prestige continues to be elevated by the final decision the selection committee makes to represent educational activities and athletics in our state. Kudos to the selection committee that has forwarded our largest class of women since the inception of the ceremony,” Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said when announcing the class.

The CHSAA Hall of Fame selection committee is headed by Bob Marken (Buena Vista). Committee members include Glenda Bates (Prairie View), Larry Brunson (CHSAA Hall of Fame), Dick Katte (NFHS Hall of Fame), Ellie Kempfe (Prospect Ridge), Jeremy Kerns (Byers), Gerry Valerio (MaxPreps.com), David Robinson (Montezuma-Cortez), Robert Framel (Kit Carson) and Cherie Toussaint (Pueblo SD 70 Schools). The committee was joined by four student members of the CHSAA Student Council state representatives – Lily Berg (Columbine), Lucie Nguyen (Columbine), Emily Hancock (Coronado) and Rachel Reese (Roosevelt).

“The selection committee was focused on exceptional achievement, impact on the state of Colorado, community focus and character. They debated and advocated knowing that there are so many deserving of this recognition. The 31st class reflects the efforts, passion and love Colorado has for high school activities,” CHSAA Hall of Fame administrator Bert Borgmann said.

The Class of 2019 will be inducted during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at the Marriott Hotel-Denver Tech Center (I‑25 and Orchard). Individual tickets may be purchased for $60 each by contacting the CHSAA. The festivities get underway at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.

The selection of the four student participants to the CHSAA Hall of Fame puts the total number of participants in the hall at 75. There are now 73 coaches/sponsors, 29 administrators, 17 officials and 12 significant service contributors enshrined in the CHSAA Hall of Fame that began in 1989. There are also five teams in the hall. The Hall of Fame now features 211 inductees.

Biographies of the newest additions to the hall include:

[divider]

Jamie Carey (Horizon HS) – One of the state’s top female basketball players, Jamie Carey was the state’s 1999 Miss Colorado Basketball. She was among the state’s top playmakers and scorers during her tenure at Horizon High School, guiding her team to three state playoffs. The team finished second in 1997. She had a stellar collegiate career, playing at both Stanford and Texas and she is currently the University of Texas’ Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach.

[divider]

Katie Carter (Steamboat Springs HS) – Katie Carter is a four-year volleyball star from Steamboat Springs High School where she was a two-time Western Slope League 4A MVP, led her team to the 2002 runner-up position and was named the 4A Player of the Year. She went on to play at UCLA, earning All-America honors and helping the Bruins to a Final 4 spot. She currently plays professionally in Europe.

[divider]

Pete Falletta (Pueblo School District 60) – Pete Falletta has a rich background in cross country and track & field, and served a lengthy run as athletic director at Pueblo’s Centennial High School. He is a member of the Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame and was a member of numerous CHSAA committees. He also ran numerous CHSAA district, regional and state events (cross country, track, basketball, volleyball and wrestling) in Pueblo, in concert with District 60’s district athletic directors.

[divider]

Andrea (Melde) Hooks (Air Academy HS) – Perhaps the best female soccer player to come from Southern Colorado, Andrea Melde voted to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 50th Anniversary top 50 women’s soccer team. A standout at Air Academy High School, she was inducted into the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame (1994) and attended Duke. She was a first team all-state player, Parade High School All-America and was selected to four other All-America teams in high school. She earned All-America honors at Duke, as well.

[divider]

Ben Montoya (Fountain-Fort Carson HS) – The Fountain-Fort Carson High School cross country and track & field coach since 1986, Ben Montoya’s teams have won six state championships in boy’s track & field and finished second twice. He has 38 runners win gold medals at the state track meet. He received Coach of the Year honors from the Gazette Telegraph in 1987, 2015 and 2016, the Denver Post in 2010, the USA Track and Field 2015, and CHSAA 2011-12.

[divider]

Becky (Varum) Bucolo (Cheyenne Mountain)

Perhaps one of the most dominant tennis players in Colorado history, Becky Varnum was a four-time 4A State high school No. 1 singles tennis champion, posting a 68-0 prep record. She is a 2009 member of the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame and has been recognized by Sportswomen of Colorado. Varnum played collegiately at Notre Dame.

[divider]

Scott Yates (Kent Denver School) – One of the state’s top football coaches and athletic directors, Scott Yates currently ranks second all-time in football wins in Colorado. He has been at Kent Denver School for 35 years, serving as coach and athletic director.  He is a member of three halls of fame and has been named coach of the year 12 times. Yates’ teams have won three state titles and been runner-up twice in 31 playoff appearances.

[divider]

Pueblo’s Friends of Football, the group that has sponsored the 2A and 3A state football championships the past two years at CSU-Pueblo, will receive the 2019 Colorado Tradition Award for their contributions to the Association.

The CHSAA staff has selected Sharon Lauer, long-time Colorado Springs athletic director and coach, as well as state swimming championship site director and member of the CHSAA Appeals Committee, to receive the Distinguished Service Award this year.

Tickets are $60 per seat or $600 per table of 10. Please contact Laikyn Cooper (lcooper@chsaa.org) for reservations. Contact the CHSAA office with questions.

ARVADA — Jeffco Public Schools held is 33rd annual Hall of Fame banquet Thursday, June 6, at the Arvada Center.

Mary Anderson, Ron Castagna, Sue Ellis and Rudy Martin joined the Jeffco Athletic Hall of Fame that now numbers 208 members. The hall of fame started in 1986 with the charter class of Darrel Hafling, Tom Hancock, Vernon Heaston, Bill Lewis and Mel Schwartz.

This year’s class includes several groundbreaking athletics, coaches and administers who have helped shape the long and rich athletic tradition in Jeffco.

MARY ANDERSON

Anderson was a physical education teacher at Wheat Ridge High School and North Arvada Middle School from 1983 to 2005. She was the Farmers’ varsity volleyball coach from 1983 to 1989.

In 1987, Anderson coached Wheat Ridge to the Class 4A state champion. Wheat Ridge was ranked 13th nationally by Volleyball Magazine. Anderson was named the Jeffco Volleyball Coach of the Year, Colorado High School Volleyball Coach of the Year and was the Volleyball All-State Coach in 1987.

In 2005, the new secondary gymnasium at Wheat Ridge High School was named the “Anderson Gymnasium”.

RON CASTAGNA

Castagna was the principal at Lakewood High School from 1996 to 2014. During his tenure at Lakewood there was tremendous growth in enrollment and the creation of the International Baccalaureate program.

Castagna always should his passion and support for his athletic programs that had several much success on and off the fields and courts during his nearly 20 years at Lakewood High School.

SUE ELLIS

Ellis was a trailblazer for female high school student-athletics in the 1970s when Title IX went into effect. The Golden High School graduate excelled in volleyball and basketball where she was a two-time all-state player in both sports.

During the 1975-76 basketball season, Ellis led the Demons to the AAA state championship title. It was the first year that girls basketball was a sanctioned sport by the Colorado High School Activities Association.

Ellis went on to play basketball at Colorado State University where she was a four-year starter and three-time captain. She also went on to coach in Jeffco for several years.

RUDY MARTIN

Martin first made a name for himself at Lakewood High School on the baseball field as an all-state catcher on the Tigers’ AAA state championship team in 1970.

He then went on to the University of Northern Colorado where he went into education with a focus on special education and physical education. Martin had a long coaching career that spans more than 40 years.

Martin coached Columbine High School’s boys basketball team to the Class 5A state title in 1997. He racked up 226 wins during his head coaching stint with the Rebels. Martin spent time at Green Mountain High School where he was the head boys basketball coach for four years and four more years as the head girls basketball coach.

Paul Davis Sportsmanship Award
Jeffco 4A: Wheat Ridge
Jeffco 5A: Columbine

Varsity Achievement Award
Valor Christian

Fred Steinmark Award
Jeffco 4A: Evergreen
Jeffco 5A: Ralston Valley

Assistant Coaches of the Year
Jeffco 4A
Coach of Female Sports: Crystal Reed, Littleton
Coach of Male Sports: Scott MacDonald, Golden
Jeffco 5A
Coach of Female Sports: Gary Lash, Lakewood
Coach of Male Sports: Ray Barron, Columbine

Coaches of the Year
Jeffco 4A
Coach of Female Sports: Liz Hudd, Evergreen
Coach of Male Sports: Jesse German, Green Mountain
Jeffco 5A
Coach of Female Sports: Tracey Boychuk, Pomona
Coach of Male Sports: Mark Stenbeck, Dakota Ridge

Athletes of the Year
Jeffco 4A
Female: Claudia Dillon, Evergreen
Male: Ryan Burdi, Green Mountain
Jeffco 5A
Female: Anna Hall, Valor Christian
Male: Logan DeArment, Columbine

DENVER — The members of the 2018 CHSAA Hall of Fame were inducted during a ceremony on Wednesday night at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.

The inductees: Scott Elarton (Lamar), Jack Klapper (Denver East), Bart Stevens (Flagler), Patty Childress (Otis, Palisade, Grandview), Morton Dickson (Woodland Park), Terri Ward (Niwot), and the 1999 Columbine football team.

They are the 30th class in the history of the Hall of Fame, which began in 1989.

Columbine football coach Andy Lowry spoke on behalf of the class, saying, “We all appreciate CHSAA and this evening, and the humbling award we received this night. What a great honor this is.”

Biographies of each of the new members are included below. With their inclusion, CHSAA’s Hall of Fame now has 204 members.

[divider]

PATTY CHILDRESS (Otis, Palisade, Grandview) – [Coach/Sponsor]

Longtime volleyball coach who posted a 493-170 career coaching record. Her teams won 5 state titles, finished second five times and had another two final 4 appearances.

She has earned numerous coaching honors from the Colorado High School Coaches Association and the Sportswomen of Colorado.

She was coach of the year 8 times and was the Dave Sanders Award recipient in 2013.

[divider]

MORTON DICKSON (Woodland Park) – [Coach/Sponsor]

Morton Dickson was a vocal music teacher for Woodland Park for 34 years, during which time his programs were one of the most active and successful ones in the CHSAA Music Festivals.

Rarely did his programs receive any rating lower than “Superior.” His students regularly earned top spots in the CMEA All-State Choir.

He continues to judge the CHSAA festivals.

[divider]

SCOTT ELARTON (Lamar) – [Student Participant]

One of the state’s most dominating prep athletes, Elarton’s baseball team won four consecutive state titles and were runners-up twice in basketball.

He was named Player of the Year six times, four in baseball and twice in basketball.

He earned Prep All-America honors in baseball.

He was a first round selection in the 1994 MLB amateur draft by the Houston Astros, and played professional baseball for 19 years, 10 of those in the major leagues.

[divider]

JACK KLAPPER (Denver East) – [Student Participant]

One of the state’s most dominating tennis players, Klapper won three No. 1 singles championship (only 3-year high schools back then) and was just the second player to ever do so.

The other one is in the CHSAA Hall of Fame. He led his team to three straight state team titles under CHSAA Hall of Fame member Bill Weimar.

Following high school, Klapper played tennis and squash at MIT. He has been a neurologist in Denver for the past 50 years.

[divider]

BART STEVENS (Flagler) – [Student Participant]

One of the state’s top small school athletes, Stevens led Flagler High School to a 45-5 football record and was named the A8 Player of the Year twice.

He was a four-time all-state selection in football and ran for 1,956 yards, threw for 4,559 yards, scoring 25 times on the ground and had 67 TD passes. He played basketball for two years and medaled at the state tournament twice.

He played collegiately at CSU-Pueblo and then became a teacher, coach and administrator.

[divider]

TERRI WARD (CCGS/Niwot) – [Significant Contributor]

Dedicated to girls’ sports, Ward has been the constant driver and facilitator for the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports.

Her tireless efforts on behalf of young female athletes is unsurpassed in Colorado.  A teacher and coach at Niwot, Ward has been at the center of many activities benefiting and enhancing opportunities for the girls’ athletes of state.

She has been a fixture for women’s leadership throughout her career with CCGS, Sportswomen of Colorado, Niwot High School and many volunteer activities at the state and national level.

[divider]

COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 1999 – [Team]

April 20, 2019 is the 20th Anniversary of the Columbine shootings. Its impact on the world, nation, state and community was immense and devastating.

People across the globe followed the Columbine football team, watching the healing process and resiliency of that school and, in particular, its football team. Media scrutiny was overwhelming and the pressure on the team incredible.

The team beat Cherry Creek 21-14, and head coach Andy Lowry was coach of the year and three players made the All-Colorado team that year, more than any other school.

Tickets are on sale now for the induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The ceremony is slated for April 24 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.

Purchase tickets at this link.

Colorado lost a legend last week with the passing of Tom Hancock, who died at age 90. He was a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2008.

The architect of a football powerhouse Lakewood High School, Hancock served 34 years as a teacher, coach and, ultimately, director of physical education for Jefferson County Public Schools. He retired from coaching in 1968, but not from impacting the lives of the district’s students until 1988.

Hancock’s teams won three state titles during his 15 years at the helm. His teams won 10 Jefferson County League titles and never finished lower than second, averaging over nine wins a season.

From 1954-1968, Hancock’s teams certainly put a stamp on the state’s high school football history but, more importantly, they became a rallying point for a community that had so long looked for something to set that community apart in a sport that was dominated by the bigger cities in the state. Over those 15 seasons, the Tigers went 137-30-3, winning 78.7% of their games. They won three state championships (1960, 1964, 1968), were runners-up three times and won 10 league titles.

Hancock also coached wrestling and a state-championship track team, but developed a passion in his players something to set them apart. He introduced weight lifting as an integral part of high school athletics.

A Greeley native, Hancock was named the state’s outstanding wrestler in 1946 after winning the State 154-pound Championship for Greeley High. His success on the mat came as no surprise since his father, John Hancock, was Colorado’s father of prep wrestling. After a brief stint at the University of Iowa, Hancock moved on to play football and wrestle at the University of Colorado, where he started at linebacker in 1948 and 1949.

DENVER — It didn’t take Pomona long to regain the top perch in Class 5A wrestling.

“I wanted to grab five or six to be honest with you,” Pomona coach Sam Federico said after the Panthers won three individual state titles along with the team title. “We wrestled good. We’ve had a lot of injuries and they kind of came through.”

A year after Grand Junction prevented Pomona from a team championship three-peat, the Panthers dominated 5A during the three-day state tournament at Pepsi Center.

The drama of the Panthers winning their sixth team state title since 2000 was decided even before the title bouts took to the mats Saturday night at Pepsi Center. Pomona racked up 166.5 team points. Ponderosa finished second with 103.5 points.

“When you have a room with that many elite athletes we lean on each other. It’s a brotherhood,” Pomona senior Justin Pacheco said after winning the 132-pound title with a 1-0 win over Castle View sophomore Randy Myers. “I’ll give them all the support then need when I graduate and move on with my life. They are going to be a powerhouse for a long time.”

Pacheco ended his stellar career as a two-time individual state champion. The senior won the 113 title as a sophomore after placing sixth at state as a freshman. Pacheco lost a heartbreaker in the 120 state final a year ago.

He plans to wrestle at the Air Force Academy, but will have to have knee surgery before heading to Colorado Springs.

Pacheco said he has been wrestling with a torn meniscus and partial tear in his MCL in his left knee for the past month. He was thinking about not competing at regionals, but decided to battle through the pain.

“I needed to finish my senior year out. I was going to make it through somehow,” Pacheco said. “I’ll take a 1-0 win. It’s still a state title.”

Pomona’s depth across the board showed in the finals with all four finalists — freshman Daniel Cardenas (120 pounds), junior Wyatt Yapoujian (126), sophomore Franklin Cruz (182) and Pacheco — spanning on four grade levels.

Cardenas and Cruz won state titles, while Yapoujian had to settle for runner-up.

“We are doing well and where we need to be,” Federico said of the state of Pomona wrestling. “We just need to win some more matches. You always feel like that. You want to win more matches.”

Pomona had nine wrestlers head to the podium. Elijah Olguin (106) and Theorius Robison (145) placed third. Gage Bernall (152) took fourth. Jacob Judd (113) and Roman Cruz (160) placed sixth.

Robison was the surprise of not reaching a fourth straight final. The two-sport athlete was trying to become Pomona’s first four-time individual state champion, but an overtime loss in the semifinals Friday night ended that dream.

“There was good in the four years and there was bad,” said Robison, who ended his prep career with a 126-8 record. “I don’t really put losing in my head. I was taking it by winning each match and sometime you lose. Everyone loses.”

Injuries hampered his senior campaigns on the football field and wrestling mat, but Robison didn’t make that an excuse.

“Injuries are part of sports. You have to go through them,” Robison said. “If I’m on the mat I have to do what I need to do to win.”

Robison leaves Pomona being apart of three team title to go along with his three individual crowns.

“I’m very proud of the way our team preformed,” said Robison, who will attend the University of Northern Colorado in the fall where he plans on playing football and wrestling. “We did a lot a big things and had a lot of young guys show that they are going to be a problem for opponents in the future.”

Grandview junior Fabian Santillan (138) and Monarch sophomore Vince Cornella (113) became two-time state champions during a night that was highlighted by three wrestlers joining the four-time state champion fraternity. Ponderosa senior Cohlton Schultz was the lone 5A wrestler to lock down his fourth title.

Cornella is halfway to joining the four-time group, but his focus this year was soak in the atmosphere during the three-day tournament.

“I can’t remember a single moment last year as a freshman down here,” Cornella admitted. “This year I tried to enjoy every moment.”

Looking ahead to next year and a third straight title is something that has to wait.

“I’ve got a freestyle tournament in three or four weeks. I’ll just get ready for that tournament,” Cornella said of the journey of winning four titles ahead. “It’s there, but I try not to focus on it at all.”