CHSAANow

Month: August 2014

  • Delta football looks to carry over last season’s high-powered attack

    Delta football spent most of 2013 lighting up the scoreboard on their way to a 9-4 record and the Class 3A state semifinals, where they fell to eventual runner-up Silver Creek 28-17.

    Though they came oh-so-close last season, the good news for the Panthers, and head coach Ben Johnson, is that the team has plenty of talent returning from an offense that averaged over 35 points per-game during the regular season.

    That doesn’t mean, according to coach Johnson, the road can’t and won’t get bumpy — especially in the early going.

    “We’ve got a lot of good kids returning, but I think our schedule’s very tough. We open up with (The Classical Academy) and then we have Montrose,” said Johnson, who’s in his sixth season at Delta. “The most important thing is to just get through our schedule and get into the playoffs, and then anything can happen there.”

    Delta will be led by returning senior quarterback Cade Gafford, a three-sport athlete who tossed 25 touchdowns versus just five interceptions last season. Gafford will be without all-state wide out Ryan Whiteside, who pulled down 76 catches for 1213 yards as a senior last season — but Johnson already believes he has a good candidate in mind to replace Whiteside’s production.

    “Gafford threw for like 2,300 yards last year and had a really good year,” Johnson said. “We do have some good receivers. We have a six-foot-five receiver, senior Eian Baier, who I think is very good.”

    Baier caught 10 passes for 147 yards as a junior last year.

    Johnson doesn’t see the Panthers as a one-dimensional offense either — running back Johnathan Ponce, who rushed for 1,702 yards and led the team in all-purpose yards, returns for his junior season. Paving the way for Ponce will be big senior left tackle Marcus Garcia.

    Together with Gafford, Ponce and Garcia make up what Johnson calls, “our big three," and compromise the backbone of what looks to be another potent Panthers’ attack.

    In all, Johnson envisions a versatile game-plan capable of putting up points anyway possible — just like last season.

    “We really try and be very balanced. We want to throw the ball, we want to run the ball, and keep teams’ off-balance,” said Johnson. “If they load the box we’ll throw it, if they play off we’ll run it.”

    That kind of diversity pays off come playoff time.

    The 3A state football playoffs are wild — six out of eight playoff teams were upset by a lower seed in the first round alone last year — so it pays to be able to put points on the board in every possible way. After two straight seasons with a winning record, and after coming within inches of playing for a championship in 2013, Johnson just hopes his team gets another chance to reach the summit in 2014.

    “We have a pretty experienced group, so we just want to make sure we get our chance to get in (to the playoffs) and try to do some good things," he said.

    [divider]

    Class 3A football

    Defending Champion: Coronado (moved up to 4A)

    Runner-up: Silver Creek

    Returning All-State players: Ouray Ocanas, Fort Morgan, Sr. (1st); Isaiah Young, Vista PEAK, Sr. (1st)

    Regular season begins: August 21

    Playoffs begin: November 8

    Championship: November 29 at home site

  • CHSAA staff completes Ice Bucket Challenge

    AURORA — On Monday, the Ralston Valley tennis program challenged the CHSAA staff to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge, which seeks to raise awareness for ALS research.

    We accepted, along with Northglenn tennis coach and CHSAA tennis committee chair Diane Wolverton, who was also challenged.

    Since the start of the Ice Bucket Challenge in late July, the ALS Association has raised $31.5 million, coming from 637,527 new donors, as well as existing donors. Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS is a neurodegenerative disease which affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

    Please join the CHSAA staff in making a donation to the ALS Association at alsa.org/donate.

    From the ALS Association’s website:

    The ALS Association’s mission includes providing care services to assist people with ALS and their families through a network of chapters working in communities across the nation and a global research program focused on the discovery of treatments and eventually a cure for the disease. In addition, The Association’s public policy efforts empower people to advance public policies in our nation’s Capital that respond to the needs of people with ALS.

    In accepting this challenge, the CHSAA staff and Wolverton challenges CHSAA board president Curt Wilson, Adams 12 district athletic director Eddie Hartnett, and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

  • Photos: No. 5 Eaglecrest beats No. 7 Douglas County in softball

    CASTLE ROCK — Alexa Romero homered, Jordyn Wiatrak had three RBIs, and fifth-ranked Eaglecrest topped No. 7 Douglas County 10-8 on Tuesday evening.

    Romero also pitched 3 2/3 innings, and allowed just one hit while striking out six.

    Douglas County’s Clara Larson was 3-for-3 with five RBIs, a double and a home run in the loss.

  • High school sports participation increases for 25th consecutive year

    INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The number of participants in high school sports increased for the 25th consecutive year in 2013-14 with a record total of almost 7.8 million, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

    Based on figures from the 51 NFHS member state high school associations, which includes the District of Columbia, sports participation for the 2013-14 school year reached an all-time high of 7,795,658 – an increase of 82,081 from the previous year. This one-year increase was the highest since 2009-10.

    Girls participation increased for the 25th consecutive year with an additional 44,941 participants from 2012-13 and set an all-time record of 3,267,664. Boys participation eclipsed 4.5 million for the first time (4,527,994), breaking the mark of 4,494,406 in 2010-11.

    The increase in boys participation was due in part to the first increase in football numbers in five years. An additional 6,607 boys participated in 11-player football in 2013-14, pushing this past year’s total to 1,093,234. In addition, another 1,715 girls participated in 11-player football last year, an increase of 184 from the previous year.

    “We are pleased with the increase in participation numbers in the sport of football for the 2013-14 school year,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “With the precautions that are in place nationwide to address concussions in all high school sports, including football, we have maintained that the risk of injury is as low as it ever has been. Certainly, this rise in football numbers is a confirmation of those beliefs and indicates the strong continued interest nationwide in high school football.”

    Among the top 10 boys sports, baseball registered the largest gain with an additional 7,838 participants, followed by football and soccer (6,437). The top 10 boys sports remained unchanged from last year: football, outdoor track and field, basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, cross country, tennis, golf, and swimming and diving.

    Volleyball gained the most participants among girls sports (9,426) from the previous year, and its total of 429,634 was within 3,710 of basketball for the No. 2 position. Track and field, with an additional 5,946 participants from 2012-13, remained the No. 1 sport for girls, followed by basketball, volleyball, soccer, fast-pitch softball, cross country, tennis, swimming and diving, competitive spirit squads and lacrosse.

    “This past year’s report on sports participation in our nation’s high schools was another great statement about the importance of these education-based programs,” Gardner said. “We are encouraged that schools are continuing to respond to the funding challenges, and are particularly pleased to see that the increase this past year was evenly distributed between boys and girls.”

    In terms of combined participation, lacrosse continued to register sizeable increases as overall participation for boys and girls increased by 9,744 to 188,689. The sport ranks 10th for girls and 11th for boys.

    The top 10 states by participants remained in the same order as last year, with Texas and California topping the list with 805,299 and 783,008, respectively. The remainder of the top 10 was New York (389,475), Illinois (343,757), Ohio (325,448), Pennsylvania (317,318), Michigan (299,246), New Jersey (285,020), Florida (268,266) and Minnesota (232,909). Overall, 33 states reported higher figures from the previous year, up from 30 states that had increases the previous year.

    The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associations. The complete 2013-14 High School Athletics Participation Survey is attached in PDF format and will be posted soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

    [divider]

    NFHS Participation Survey

    Download: PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/nfhs-participation-survey.pdf

  • 2014 CHSAA music adjudicator conference call

    CHSAA staff held a conference call with music adjudicators on Wednesday. A full replay of that call is below.

    The agenda for the call:

    Download: PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2014_Music_Adjudicator_Conference_Call_Agenda-_Website.pdf

  • Running runs in the family for Lyons’ Paul Roberts

    Lyons junior Paul Roberts performance last year at the Class 2A cross country meet should have come to the surprise of no one.

    Running to the Roberts family is first nature.

    “I’ve ran since I was 2,” Paul said. “I remember running a Turkey Trot. Then a mile in or 20 minutes. The thing in the family is to go out and run. We were home schooled so it was our PE. I was always interested in it a little. Then I can remember being 7 or 8 and liking it a lot. I started racing  my older sister in lots of races. Then all I wanted to do was beat her.”

    Paul, and the rest of the Roberts clan, have certainly shown that they are a running family.

    Paul won the boys Class 2A meet last year, setting a course record last at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, finishing in 16 minutes, 19 seconds.

    Paul’s sister, Miriam, won the girls meet.

    “We’ve been blessed with great kids,” said Mark, the Roberts’ father and Lyons head cross country coach. “I feel like it’s a culture of kids that want to get better, and just enjoy hanging out with each other. It’s helped out with my own children getting involved with that.”

    Paul’s 2014 season is setting up to be even better. The Class 2A field returns a stable of top runners, including Roberts’ teammate Joel Such and Telluride’s Jack Plantz. Returning all-stater Ben Butler from SkyView Academy will move up to Class 3A.

    With Paul competing with Such on a nightly basis in practice, though, Lyons looks poised to again be the team to beat.

    For Paul, a return to the state championships and a sub 16-minute time are definitely goals, but the junior’s eyes are on the Nike Cross Regional. After struggling and failing to qualify for the national Nike meet, Paul said his focus is on that.

    But the state championships are a big part of that training.

    With the state championships taking part on the same course, and with Mark’s knowledge of racing, Paul understands he’s got a big bull’s-eye on his back.

    “I remember what it’s like,” Paul said. “I know how to run it. We know it’s going to work out and set up well for us this year.”

    [divider]

    Class 2A boys cross country

    Defending individual champion: Paul Roberts, Lyons

    Defending team champion: Lyons

    Returning All-State athletes: Roberts (junior), Lyons’ Joel Such (junior), Telluride’s Jack Plantz (junior).

    Regular season begins: Aug. 21

    Regionals: Oct. 16 and 17

    State meet: Oct. 25, Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs

  • Alamosa boys cross country in prime position in 3A

    Alamosa's cross country team. (Eric R. Flores)
    Alamosa’s cross country team. (Eric R. Flores)

    Alamosa High School, nestled in the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado, is in a prime distance running location.

    Alamosa is home to the most successful Division II running program in the country, Adams State, and is fertile training ground at 7,500 feet. The area also has several strong running programs at the high school level. The Mean Moose are one of them.

    Alamosa is led by legendary coach Larry Zaragoza, an Adams State alum who ran and learned under one of the best distance running coaches in American history, Joe Vigil.

    Zaragoza, entering his 38th season at the school, also coached at Centauri in the 1970s. He is the only cross country coach in Colorado history to claim both boys and girls team state titles at two different schools. Zaragoza has won several championships over the years, but says his program’s focus isn’t solely on the end results each season.

    “We don’t chase trophies,” Zaragoza said. “That’s one thing that’s convinced in my mind. I’m not going to try and inform a team to just try and go out and chase a trophy. I don’t want disappointment; I want enjoyment, no matter what happens at the end of the season.

    "I want them to appreciate it and reflect on all the hard work that’s brought them to this point, no matter where it brings us. Be proud of your efforts and be proud of your achievements.”

    Zaragoza’s boys team had another season to be proud of in 2013 with a third place finish at the 3A cross country state championships despite not having a single senior in the state lineup. The Alamosa boys have placed in the top four each of the past four seasons at the state championships and look to be one of the state title favorites in 2014, but Zaragoza never takes anything for granted.

    “We’re in a tough region,” the long-time Alamosa coach said of 3A Region 2, arguably the most challenging boys region in the classification. “Vanguard School just moved up and Lamar’s back with a solid team.

    "One of our goals is to increase the mileage in a smart way and keep people healthy, because we do have a fine group of young men and they’re going to be competing in some really good meets throughout the season. We do have quality, but we don’t have a lot of depth. We have six pretty outstanding runners and after that, it kind of drops off, not drastically, but compared to what our front-runners have, it would drop off a little bit.”

    Alamosa, like most small schools, may struggle for depth, but their top-flight talent is excellent.

    Alamosa's Isaiah DeLaCerda. (Eric R. Flores)
    Alamosa’s Isaiah DeLaCerda. (Eric R. Flores)

    Isaiah De La Cerda is one of the best talents in Colorado for his age. He placed seventh at state cross country as a freshman last season and ran a 10:03 3,200-meters at the 3A state track championships, good for ninth place.

    De La Cerda is talented enough to challenge for an individual state title this fall. The sophomore is the son of Peter, a second place finisher at the 2000 Olympic trials in the marathon, and Ronda De La Cerda. Both of Isaiah’s parents were standouts at Adams State. Peter has been an assistant coach at Alamosa for several years.

    “It’s a blessing to have Peter on the program,” Zaragoza said. “He occasionally runs with the team. He takes the A group and he’ll run with them on their long runs. He likes to get out and do the hill workouts with them. I think that’s a plus having a coach like Peter, especially for his son Isaiah, because Isaiah is quite a talented young man.

    "He seems to be mature beyond his years," Zaragoza added. "He seems so composed at meets. Again, he’s one of those who has no fear. He’s not afraid of anybody. He respects, along with our team and coaching staff — we respect our opponents, but we fear no one. We want to compete and we want to compete against the best.

    "Isaiah’s always visiting with top runners. Last year, he would go speak with Bailey Roth out of Coronado High School and the young man that ran for Denver East (Cerake Geberkidane). Isaiah likes to be a student of the game.”

    Jericho Ulibarri, a senior, could be nipping at De La Cerda’s heels again this fall. Ulibarri finished one second behind De La Cerda at last year’s state cross country meet in a strong eighth place effort.

    Miguel Baltazar was the second-fastest freshman in the classification last year, placing 22nd at the state meet, and Chance Canty, Caleb Palmer, and Austin Chavez are fine runners in their own right.

    Alamosa certainly has a talented team returning. The Mean Moose are still youthful, but certainly have a fine example of running success in their own backyard. 

    “Our kids do get to rub elbows every now and then,” Zaragoza said of sharing the town with Adams State. “For example, there’s a meet that they host here called the Joe I. Vigil. It’s a middle school race, a high school race, and then a collegiate race. Our kids know who the Adams State athletes are, whether they are male or female. I have had over the past years, the head coach Damon Martin come and speak to our team and share some knowledge and some motivational thoughts.

    “They’re aware of Adams State’s success and I think them being from Alamosa, they want to be equally representative of the running community.”

    Alamosa is expected to be one of the state champion favorites along with Lamar, a region rival and second place finisher in 2013.

    Frontier Academy, the defending state champions, graduated its top three boys, but have a strong enough program to put them in the team race again.

    Salida’s Taylor Stock, the top 3A returner after a second-place finish as a sophomore, is expected to battle Basalt’s Zach Walsh, Alamosa’s De La Cerda and Ulibarri, and Lamar’s Jake Rogers for the individual crown.

    [divider]

    Class 3A boys cross country

    Defending individual champion: Jacob Benson, Platte Canyon (graduated)

    Defending team champion: Frontier Academy

    Returning All-State athletes: Taylor Stack, Salida; Zack Walsh, Basalt; Isaiah De La Cerda, Alamosa

    Regular season begins: Aug. 21

    Regionals: Oct. 16 and 17

    State meet: Oct. 25, Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs

  • The Classical Academy aiming to fill void in 4A boys cross country

    The Classical Academy's Everett Johnson. (Courtesy of Alan Versaw)
    The Classical Academy’s Everett Johnson. (Courtesy of Alan Versaw)

    There is one guarantee about the upcoming boys cross country season: there will be a new Class 4A state team champion.

    That’s became a reality when last year’s state champ Broomfield moved up to 5A this season.

    Although the Eagles are gone, there’s no shortage of talented 4A teams in 2014 — led by The Classical Academy.

    The Colorado Springs-based school was the state runner-up last year, but veteran coach Alan Versaw knows nothing will come easy for his squad.

    “We have our work cut out for us,” Versaw said. “There are plenty of good teams. Palmer Ridge, at least on paper, is probably the best team. They lost very little to graduation and they had a pretty strong team last year and all indicators are that they are going to be really good. I also think Thompson Valley, Air Academy, Cheyenne Mountain and Durango are going to be very good.”

    The Titans won five Class 3A boys cross country titles, but have yet to win any in 4A since moving up to that class in 2012.

    Versaw expects his team to be led by senior Everett Johnson, junior Michael Oldach and sophomore Tanner Norman.

    “We are very established and very experienced three-deep, but in cross country you have to go to five,” Versaw said. “We will see what happens with (No.) 4 and 5 and that will probably tell a big deal of the story of our season right there.

    (Courtesy of Alan Versaw)
    Michael Oldach. (Courtesy of Alan Versaw)

    "We have one freshman coming in who could be an impact freshman and we will wait because I’m not sure on that," he added. "Then, we have probably five or six guys who ran mostly JV last year and were freshmen and sophomores and they will have a shot at filling those positions. We have lots of possibilities.”

    That’s why Versaw uses the regular season to mold his team.

    “I don’t load up with big meets,” Versaw said. “There are a couple of times during the season we will try and go pretty hard, but the invitational season is more about learning than winning meets.”

    The state meet returns to the Norris-Penrose Event Center which Versaw knows is a challenge.

    “It’s kind of a roll the dice kind of course where there is very little margin for error on that course the way it is setup,” Versaw said.

    [divider]

    Class 4A boys cross country

    Defending individual champion: Broomfield (moved up to 5A)

    Returning All-State athletes: Michael Duran, Pueblo Centennial, Jr. (1st); William Mayhew, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr. (1st); Eric Hamer, Palmer Ridge, Sr. (1st)

    Regular season begins: Aug. 21

    Regionals: Oct. 16 and 17

    State meet: Oct. 25, Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs

  • Pine Creek’s Zachary Alhamra has high hopes in 5A boys cross country

    (Courtesy photo)
    Pine Creek senior Zachary Alharma. (Courtesy photo)

    Pine Creek’s Zachary Alhamra, a talent since he entered high school, feels he hadn’t discovered his potential yet.

    “I came into high school as the dominant Colorado runner for the freshman class and no other freshman could touch me,” Alhamra said. “Towards the end of my freshman year, I kind of had a plateau and that plateau continued into my sophomore year and the entire year I only improved a few seconds in each of my events.”

    “I went into last season a little apprehensive,” Alhamra admitted of his mindset entering his junior cross country season, a year after placing 12th at the Class 5A state meet as a sophomore.

    After surprising himself a little with a third-place finish at a loaded Arapahoe Warrior Invite to kick off his junior campaign, Alhamra could see the opportunity for a breakout season.

    (Courtesy photo)
    Alharma says he is drawing inspiration from Cerake Geberkidane, last year’s 5A champion from Denver East. (Courtesy photo)

    “I told myself, why not take first and do some incredible things this season,” Alhamra said. “Next race I took second to Cerake (Geberkidane) in my division and just kept the ball rolling from there.

    "At Liberty Bell, I took first with a significant PR of 15 seconds. Rim Rock, which is in Kansas, I had a very good race and took third. From then on I just decided I’m going to take second place to Cerake at the 5A state meet.”

    Alhamra was enjoying his best season yet, but had a mental barrier to overcome the week before the state championships. 

    “Where it really got interesting was the week before at the regional meet,” Alhamra said. “The weekend before the meet, I got sick, and it almost seemed like déjà vu. My freshman year, I got sick the same exact weekend and I ended up collapsing a hundred meters from the finish line at the regional meet and didn’t qualify for state.

    "This was my first time ever returning to the course since that event occurred. I was sick and wasn’t feeling the greatest about it and even during the race, I remember I wasn’t feeling too good physically, but I just stayed behind Connor Weaver (of Mountain Vista).

    “Last half mile, I decided to sprint him out there instead of waiting until it got too close to the finish,” Alhamra noted. “I basically just ended the race by taking a big surge and creating a gap between us. I ended up winning the race and then going into state, I recovered from my cold.”

    Alhamra put the icing on the cake of a wildly successful fall by accomplishing his goal of placing second at the 5A state meet behind one of the best runners in state history, Denver East’s Geberkidane, an Oklahoma State signee. Alhamra went on to qualify for the Nike National Championships and placed 20th, second out of Colorado runners behind fourth-place Geberkidane.

    The Pine Creek senior, the leading returner in 5A boys cross country, has high hopes for his last high school season. He is drawing inspiration from last year’s state champion.  

    Alhamra, a young man who comes across as confident but not arrogant, said, “Cerake was kind of like that beacon out in the distance that I would like to be chasing after. Even though he’s graduated, my main competitor, as far as what I’m focusing on this year, is his times from last year. I want to see if I can match or break his times.

    “The state meet, obviously I want to be dominant and take first,” Alhamra added of his goals. “I would like to go undefeated in Colorado and I would like to return to Nike Nationals and qualify for Foot Locker Nationals, as well.”

    Alhamra, boasting a 4.76 GPA, has been hearing from several Ivy League schools, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Texas at Austin. He’s also received some interest from his dream school, Stanford.

    Alhamra said he’s looking for the best combination of academics and running at the next level but for now he’s focused on continuing to tap into his potential at Pine Creek.

    “I just had an every race was better than the last type of season,” Alhamra said of his junior cross country campaign.

    Alhamra appears to be the state title favorite, but will have competition from a deep group of talent including the likes of Thornton’s Joshua Joseph, Smoky Hill’s Blake Yount, Rampart’s Ben Dingman and Chaparral’s Dom Compoz, all top-10 finishers at the 2013 state meet.

    Mountain Vista has claimed the team crown the last two years, but lost a great senior class with front-runners Connor Weaver and Andrew Walton departed.

    The strength of the Golden Eagles’ young talent should put them right in the thick of it again. Chaparral, Fort Collins, Arapahoe and Monarch look poised to contend.

    Alhamra (center). (Courtesy photo)
    Zachary Alhamra (center). (Courtesy photo)

    [divider]

    Class 5A boys cross country

    Defending individual champion: Cerake Geberkidane, Denver East (graduated)

    Defending team champion: Mountain Vista

    Returning All-State athletes: Alhamra; Joshua Joseph, Thornton; Blake Yount, Smoky Hill; Ben Dingman, Rampart.

    Regular season begins: Aug. 21

    Regionals: Oct. 16 and 17

    State meet: Oct. 25, Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs

  • Shining Mountain’s Ginger Hutton goes all in for cross country

    Ginger Hutton of Shining Mountain Waldorf can’t stop running.

    After nabbing all-state cross country honors as a junior and placing sixth at the 2013 Class 2A state championship, she spent part of her summer competing at the track and field Junior Olympics in Texas, where she placed sixth in the 800-meter run and seventh in the 1500-meter run.

    If Hutton seems born to run, perhaps it’s because it’s in her genes. While initially hesitant to go out for cross country, Hutton credits her sister Birdie, who holds a number of Shining Mountain Waldorf records in track and field, for guiding her into the sport as an uncertain freshman.

    “My sister Birdie is an awesome runner and a great role model. When I was going into high school, she was always trying to get me out to run, and finally at the start of track season my freshman year I agreed,” said Hutton. “Thus I will never forget that season of falling in love with running, and running one and two at state (track and field meet) in the mile with her.”

    Despite being an excellent overall athlete who competes in the high jump and has played other varsity sports, this fall Hutton is cutting down her schedule to focus strictly on cross country. And after training most of the summer for track and field, she might be in an even better position to compete — which doesn’t bode well for other runners looking to catch her. 

    “I’ve only run one cross country season during which I also played varsity volleyball, so up until now I concentrated more on the track season,” said Hutton. “This fall I will be focused solely on cross country and we will see how my late track season (training and racing) rolls over.”

    As one of just two returning members of the 2A all-state squad from a year ago, Hutton has high expectations for the upcoming season.

    Shining Mountain Waldorf returns a number of excellent runners from last year’s group that placed sixth at the 2A state championship, names Hutton is quick to bring up when discussing her team’s expectations for 2014.

    “I’m hoping that our team wins state,” said Hutton. “I feel that we have a very strong girl’s team (with) Paisley Sheehan, Ella Baca (and) Inaya Shore for cross country and I am excited to see how the season plays out.”

    [divider]

    Class 2A girls cross country

    Defending individual champion: Miriam Roberts, Lyons (graduated)

    Returning All-State athletes: Hutton; Rachel Rairdon, Heritage Christian Academy, Jr.

    Defending team champion: Hotchkiss

    Team runner-up: Lyons

    Regular season begins: August 21

    Postseason: Regionals Completed by October 18

    Championships: October 25 at Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs