CHSAANow

Month: October 2014

  • Football roundup: Grandview gets big win over Cherry Creek

    It’s not as though Grandview was flying under the radar. The Wolves, after all, were ranked No. 3 in this week’s Class 5A CHSAANow.com poll — and have been ranked since the preseason.

    Cherry Creek Grandview football
    More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    But Friday’s 24-6 win over No. 6 Cherry Creek was an announcement, of sorts: We’re to be reckoned with.

    Grandview led 17-6 at the half and added a late score off a blocked punt that was recovered by Keifer Glau. Quarterback Cody Summers had a game, throwing for a score and rushing for another.

    If they weren’t already, the Wolves, now 7-0, are a legitimate threat for the Class 5A title. They play Overland next week. Win that, and the season finale with Valor Christian could be for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.

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    3A: (6) Roosevelt 34, (3) Holy Family 26

    In a back-and-forth game which featured six ties or lead changes, Roosevelt pulled away in the fourth quarter to win.

    Christian Majszak had four touchdowns to lead Roosevelt.

    “It’s that time of year again,” coach Noland Eastin told ColoradoPreps.com’s Scoreboard Show. “We better start strapping our chinstraps on a little tighter, because that was a heck of a battle out there, and it could have went either way.

    “It was back-and-forth,” he added. “It was just one of those epic battles. … The dust was flying around, kids were hanging in there. Their kids were battling. It was jsut a fun night of football. It was a good throw-back night.”

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    3A: Palisade 18, (3) Rifle 10

    It’s a big upset that also does wonders for Palisade’s playoffs hopes. The Bulldogs improved to 5-2.

    The team teams were knotted at 10 at the break, and again after three quarters before Caleb Clarkson scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard run with 1:45 to play. According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Palisade had actually stopped Rifle on fourth-and-2 at their own 38 prior to the winning drive.

    “The only way you’re going to compete against Rifle is you have to match their discipline and toughness, and that’s what we’re built on,” Palisade coach Joe Ramunno told the paper.

    Easton Wood also had a touchdown pass to John Goff for Palisade, while Ty Leyba had a 56-yard touchdown run for Rifle.

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    5A: (1) Valor Christian 17, Cherokee Trail 7

    The top-ranked Eagles grinded out a win against yet another tough Centennial League foe.

    Quarterback Dylan McCaffrey threw for a touchdown and rushed for another.

    Brian Dawkins Jr. and Eric Lee Jr. both had interceptions at key moments.

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    3A: (7) Delta 39, (10) Glenwood Springs 10

    Delta scored the game’s final 29 points in the top-10 showdown.

    Tristan Brown and Damon Jensen each had two touchdowns for Delta, running in place of a cramped Jonny Ponce, according to the Daily Sentinel.

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    2A: Sterling 21, (9) Eaton 14

    The Tigers pulled off the upset after scoring the game’s final 14 points.

    “We kind of came in at the half and had to make some quick adjustments to some of the things they took advantage of,” Sterling coach Rob Busmente told the Scoreboard Show. “We regrouped well at halftime and came out and made some of those adjustments, and we were able to go out and perform.”

    Sterling plays at No. 1 Brush next week.

    “This is the Patriot League,” Busmenete said. “There’s never a week off. There’s always a tough game waiting for you on Friday.”

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    2A: La Junta 21, (5) Florence 20

    La Junta stopped No. 5 Florence’s two-point conversion attempt with 20 seconds to play to preserve the win in 2A.

    “It was a great stop for us,” coach Clint Buderus told the Scoreboard Show. “The kids came through in the clutch and found a way to win.”

    La Junta has won three games in a row after starting 1-3.

    “We’re young. We’ve got 10 or 11 sophomores playing for us,” Buderus said. “We just had to get them some experience … and just had to get them rolling, get some confidence. This is a big win for us, it’s just a, ‘We can do it.’”

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    Notables

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    More coverage

  • Photos: Third-ranked Grandview football tops No. 6 Cherry Creek 24-7

    AURORA — No. 3 Grandview beat No. 6 Cherry Creek 24-7 on Friday night in football.

  • Photos: Fourth-ranked Ralston Valley football rallies to top Bear Creek

    LAKEWOOD — No. 4 Ralston Valley trailed 14-6 at halftime, but totally rebounded to take a 38-14 win over Bear Creek on Friday night in Class 5A football.

  • Cherry Creek’s latest boys tennis championship sends coach Price out on top

    5A boys tennis state
    Retiring Cherry Creek boys tennis coach Kirk Price is doused with a celebratory bucket of water. More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    DENVER — Who knows how it all started.

    The success, the individual champions, the team championships.

    It’s been a great 45-year ride for Cherry Creek boys tennis coach Kirk Price.

    That ride, at least as a head coach, ended Saturday at the Gates Tennis Center when Price coached the Bruins to their fourth consecutive team title. Cherry Creek finished with 83 total team points, besting second-place Fairview (58) and third-place Denver East (45). (Find full 5A results here.)

    Price is ceding his head coaching duties. Ironically, he didn’t start out in education and athletics striving to become a tennis coach. A math teacher, his athletic interest focused on the pool.

    He started as a swim coach for the DU Hilltoppers club team, then gravitated to head coach at Cherry Creek. Through it all, he coached 188 All-Americans in 19 years.

    As a club coach, he was used to working with large number, working with as many as 350 kids.

    With tennis gaining popularity at Cherry Creek, the head coach needed somebody used to coaching large numbers.

    “He wanted somebody who could work with kids,” Price said.

    5A boys tennis state
    Cherry Creek coach Kirk Price. More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    Whether in the pool or on the tennis court, Price knew there was more to athletics than the sports’ basics.

    “There’s something about coaching kids,” he said of his philosophy. “You need to teach kids.”

    By that, he means mentoring young athletes on how to be responsible citizens in addition to being good tennis players.

    As the national chairman of high school tennis coaches, he’s seen some very successful mentors who didn’t necessarily win a lot of titles.

    “You don’t need to win to be successful,” he said.

    But he still relishes the victories, as Cherry Creek won its 40th state team title in 45 years on Saturday, Price earning the obligatory water cooler dousing from his team at the awards ceremony.

    He cites programs in less affluent areas where coaches deserve recognition.

    “There are coaches who coach kids who don’t own tennis racquets,” he noted.

    At Cherry Creek, he hasn’t had that problem.

    “My secret is I have a very organized booster club,” he said.

    He’s also been fortunate as the head coach for 25 years to have strong support from his assistants, including four paid and six volunteers.

    With the influx of new schools and more students over the years, “For me to remain at the top all these years, to me it’s a miracle,” he said.

    He took great joy in having a dozen or so former players approach him at this year’s state meet, and exchanging stories with parents of former opposing players.

    Fear not — the program will remain strong despite his stepping down. And he won’t leave the sport entirely. He’ll volunteer his time at events around the state.  He’s too ingrained in the sport to give it up completely.

    And he’ll have time to reflect on a very productive career as coach of one of the most successful high school athletic programs in any sport.

  • Fairview’s Castelino, three-time runner-up, rallies to win 5A boys tennis title

    5A boys tennis state
    Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    DENVER — Finally. Finally. After three years, after seemingly always being second, Ignatius Castelino is a state champion.

    The Fairview senior, appearing in his fourth-consecutive state championship match at the Class 5A boys tennis tournament, beat Cherry Creek’s Ethan Hillis, 1-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 in a title bout that will long be remembered. For many reasons.

    For starters, Castelino entered the match having been a runner-up each of the past three seasons. He was second in No. 3 singles as a freshman, second at No. 2 as a sophomore and second at No. 1 last season.

    Then, on Saturday, again in the No. 1 singles final, Castelino dropped the first set, 6-1.

    It was enough to where at the break between sets, “I was thinking, ‘Might as well pack up my bags and go home.’ I thought I was done,” Castelino said afterward. “I told my mom, ‘Second place for the fourth year in a row.’”

    5A boys tennis state
    Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    Said Chad Tsuda, Fairview’s coach, “I told him, ‘Ethan just pretty much outplayed you that set.’ The nice thing about tennis is you always get another chance.”

    But Hillis nearly put Castelino away. Ever so nearly. Twice, the Cherry Creek sophomore had match point, leading 5-4 in the second set. Castelino staved both off, then went on to win the set in a tiebreaker.

    “He came as close (to losing) as you could,” Tsuda said. “The thing Ignatius maintained was that he didn’t really cave. He’s been in so many situations where it may have just been easier to say, ‘Ah, it’s not my day again.’ But he kept fighting.”

    By the time the third set opened, every other court at the state championships was done playing. So the duo on center court took center stage in front of a big crowd.

    Castelino jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the set, though Hillis battled back to knot it at 5-5. In the next game, they went back and fourth, and back and forth, and again, with Castelino finally emerging to take a 6-5 lead.

    Then, knotted 30-30 in what proved to be the final game of the final set, Hillis made an unforced error to give Castelino a 40-30 lead. The sophomore then slammed his racket on the ground, and was given a point violation. He had been warned in the first set. The violation meant Castelino won the game, and the set, and the match.

    Castelino was a champion. Finally. Perhaps no other player has deserved it more.

    “He’s had a very good career which any one would be happy with,” Tsuda said. “I think just getting so close so many times, this has to feel so special for him, especially being a senior — kind of knowing this was his last chance. It added, definitely, more pressure to him, but pressure that he handled well.”

    Ultimately, Castelino also drew energy from the crowd — including his teammates, who were courtside.

    “I fed off my team, for sure,” he said. “I loved it, it was great.”

    After all the near misses, after seemingly always leaving the state tournament with a lingering taste of defeat, Castelino has his championship.

    “This feels amazing,” he said. “It’s something that could’ve happened the last three years, but finally happened. I’m happy it happened finally. It’s the best way to go out, senior year, as a state champ.”

  • Evergreen topples Conifer in 3A football top-10 matchup

    Evergreen junior Seth Ausman (28) makes a move after a catch on Conifer senior Kailib Geer (25) on Saturday afternoon during the annual Mountain Bowl at Conifer High School. The No. 5 Cougars took a 44-6 victory against the No. 9 Lobos. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Evergreen junior Seth Ausman (28) makes a move after a catch on Conifer senior Kailib Geer (25) on Saturday afternoon during the annual Mountain Bowl at Conifer High School. The No. 5 Cougars took a 44-6 victory against the No. 9 Lobos. (Dennis Pleuss)

    CONIFER — There was a lot on the line Saturday afternoon as Evergreen and Conifer battled on the football field in the annual Mountain Bowl.

    Evergreen, undefeated and No. 5 in this week’s CHSAANow.com Class 3A football rankings, earned bragging rights along with taking sole possession of first place in the 3A Metro North League with a dominating 44-6 victory over No. 9 Conifer on the Lobos’ home field.

    “It means everything,” Evergreen junior quarterback Dylan Reifeis said after the Cougars spoiled the Lobos’ homecoming game. “There was a lot riding on this game.”

    Evergreen junior running back James Hardy goes head over heels at the conclusion of a 52-yard run in the second quarter Saturday at Conifer High School. Hardy had 132 yards rushing in the Cougars' 44-6 win. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Evergreen junior running back James Hardy goes head over heels at the conclusion of a 52-yard run in the second quarter Saturday at Conifer High School. Hardy had 132 yards rushing in the Cougars’ 44-6 win. (Dennis Pleuss)

    Reifeis had an impressive game through the air, completing 14-of-23 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns. The junior had a pair of touchdown passes to junior Seth Ausman in the first half and another pair to senior Marcus Cassin.

    The Cougars (7-0, 2-0 in league) scored 44 unanswered points after Conifer took an early 6-0 lead. The Lobos converted on an Evergreen turnover with a 17-yard touchdown run by senior Vaughn Brasseaux with 9:28 left in the first quarter. However, after that it was all Evergreen.

    “Conifer came out swinging right away and that’s why they scored quickly,” Evergreen coach Rob Molholm said. “We had to get refocused and we did.”

    Evergreen took the lead with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Reifeis to Ausman in the final minute of the first quarter. Ausman didn’t have a defender near him as Reifeis floated a pass downfield.

    “I don’t know what happened,” said Ausman, who had six catches for 157 yards and the two scores. “I went deep and Conifer’s defensive backs didn’t even notice. It was wide open and my quarterback (Reifeis) put it right there. It was a great throw.”

    The Cougars’ defense got into the scoring act tackling Conifer running back Kailib Geer in the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter. Ausman caught his second touchdown of the game three plays later to put the Cougars up 16-6.

    Evergreen scored touchdowns on its final two possession of the first half to grab a commanding 30-6 lead. Senior Tanner Cassin had a 7-yard touchdown run and Reifeis hooked up with Marcus Cassin for a 4-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left in the half.

    “We knew we had to play our ‘A’ game to beat (Conifer) and I think we really did,” Reifeis said.

    Evergreen junior Seth Ausman flips the ball to the referee after a 47-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter Saturday. Ausman had 157 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Evergreen junior Seth Ausman flips the ball to the referee after a 47-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter Saturday. Ausman had 157 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. (Dennis Pleuss)

    Evergreen flipped back-and-forth from its spread shotgun offense and robust running attack. The Cougars piled up nearly 200 yards on the ground, led by junior James Hardy’s 132 yards on 10 carries.

    “That’s what we are looking for — 50/50 run and pass,” Ausman said of Evergreen’s balanced offensive attack. “We’d like to be able to do everything against teams.”

    The victory in the Mountain Bowl was the fifth straight for Evergreen. A first is the annual game for the Cougars, according to Molholm.

    “It means a ton because we’ve never won five straight (against Conifer),” Molholm said. “That’s a good team with great coach in (Larry) Fitzmaurice over there.”

    Conifer (5-2, 1-1) has a quick turnaround with a 6 p.m. Thursday game at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood against Centaurus (3-4, 1-1) next week.

    Evergreen is the lone undefeated team in the Metro North conference with three league games remaining.

    “At 7-0 we control our own destiny,” Ausman said. “We’ve got Arvada, Centaurus and D’Evelyn. We can’t look down on any of those teams. I’ve got to work hard and then go to the playoffs.”

    Evergreen also heads to Trailblazer for its next contest. The Cougars face winless Arvada at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.

    Evergreen junior quarterback Dylan Reifeis (4) can't escape the tackle of Conifer senior Wyatt Wiklund (81). Reifeis has much more success throwing the football. The junior threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns in Evergreen's 44-6 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Evergreen junior quarterback Dylan Reifeis (4) can’t escape the tackle of Conifer senior Wyatt Wiklund (81). Reifeis has much more success throwing the football. The junior threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns in Evergreen’s 44-6 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Conifer senior Vaughn Brasseaux, far right, gets some blocking help from Richie Benson (80) as Evergreen defenders Nash Norton (22) and Brian Reed (35) chase Brasseaux down during the first half of the Mountain Bowl on Saturday at Conifer High School. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Conifer senior Vaughn Brasseaux, far right, gets some blocking help from Richie Benson (80) as Evergreen defenders Nash Norton (22) and Brian Reed (35) chase Brasseaux down during the first half of the Mountain Bowl on Saturday at Conifer High School. (Dennis Pleuss)

  • Broomfield Invitational on 10/11/2014

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Broomfield 183.85
    2 Overland 181.075
    3 Mountain Range 180.75
    4 Pomona 177.625
    5 Green Mountain 176.525
    6 Elizabeth 173.825
    7 Thornton 173.625
    8 Standley Lake 173.425
    9 Chatfield 165.95
    10 Rampart 162.525
    11 Evergreen 157.975
    12 Bear Creek 151.375
    13 Alamosa 143.35
    14 Loveland 138.475
    15 Ft. Morgan 112.15
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kathy Nguyen Green Mountain 9.625
    2 Kelsey Boychuk Pomona 9.60
    3 Kailey Licata Broomfield 9.525
    4 Jordan Ireland Standley Lake 9.475
    5 Sierra Kirylo Thornton 9.475
    6 Nicki Verheyen Broomfield 9.40
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Devin Bundas Overland 9.65
    2 Rachel Dillman Mountain Range 9.60
    3 Shea Zeman Pomona 9.425
    4 Sara Michie Thornton 9.225
    5 Syd Kotar Mountain Range 9.20
    6 Sierra Kirylo Thornton 9.15
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kelsey Boychuk Pomona 9.675
    2 Nicki Verheyen Broomfield 9.475
    3 Kailey Licata Broomfield 9.40
    4 Annabel Spence Pomona 9.325
    5 Rachel Cody Standley Lake 9.225
    6 Caitlyn Paplow Mountain Range 9.20
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Rachel Dillman Mountain Range 9.625
    2 Camille DiPaola Green Mountain 9.575
    3 McKenna Turbyne Overland 9.525
    4 Kailey Licata Broomfield 9.525
    5 Maddie York Standley Lake 9.50
    6 Devin Bundas Overland 9.45
    7 Sarah Holbrook Broomfield 9.45
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kelsey Boychuk Pomona 37.375
    2 Annabel Spence Pomona 37.10
    3 Nicki Verheyen Broomfield 37.025
    4 Devin Bundas Overland 37.025
    5 Kailey Licata Broomfield 36.85
    6 McKenna Turbyne Overland 36.725

  • Photos: Top-ranked Kent Denver soccer rolls over No. 10 Fountain Valley

    ENGLEWOOD — Class 3A No. 1 Kent Denver soccer had no problem dispatching No. 10 Fountain Valley, winning 6-1 on Saturday.

    Kent Denver is now 12-1 this season, while Fountain Valley drops to 7-5-1.

  • Niwot vs. Broomfield on 10/8/2014

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Broomfield 179.10
    2 Niwot 174.65
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kailey Licata Broomfield 9.30
    2 Hannah McDonald Niwot 9.15
    3 Maddie Barkow Niwot 9.05
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kailey Licata Broomfield 9.525
    2 Nicole Remund Broomfield 8.825
    3 Gabby Casey Niwot 8.75
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Gabby Casey Niwot 9.20
    2 Nicki Verheyen Broomfield 9.20
    3 Marissa Koski Niwot 9.175
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Maddie Barkow Niwot 9.275
    2 Isabelle Roser Broomfield 9.20
    3 Nicki Verheyen Broomfield 9.125
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Maddie Barkow Niwot 34.10
    2 Hannah McDonald Niwot 34.00

  • Friday’s start of 4A and 5A boys tennis delayed by more rain

    (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
    The courts at Pueblo City Park on Friday morning. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

    Rain, again, is causing delays in the Class 4A boys tennis state tournament. The start of the 5A tournament is also delayed.

    Overnight rain which is continuing in the Pueblo area Friday morning has caused puddles on the courts at Pueblo City Park, site of the 4A tournament. As a result, the scheduled 9 a.m. start has been delayed.

    Thursday’s opening rounds in 4A saw a 5-hour, 42-minute rain delay. It resulted in just 25 matches being completed by day’s end.

    Update, 7:49 a.m.: Rain has not let up in Pueblo. No new start time has been set. Coaches are advised to keep checking CHSAANow.com and @CHSAA for updates every half hour.

    Update, 10:26 a.m.: After a brief reprieve, it is now raining again in Pueblo. The planned noon restart will not happen.

    Update, 3:10 p.m.: The 4A tournament will begin play just as soon as the courts are dry. Players should head over the the venue.

    “We’ll try to finish as many rounds as we can,” said assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens, who oversees tennis.

    Update, 5:54 p.m.: Play in the 4A tournament is finally underway. Here’s the plan:

    • First-round and quarterfinal matches will try to complete Friday at Pueblo City Park, for most positions.
    • No. 4 doubles will try to play first-round and quarterfinal matches at Pueblo Centennial High School.
    • Upon completion of their first-round matches, No. 3 doubles will head to Pueblo Centennial to play quarterfinals.
    • If two rounds are completed Friday, semifinals will begin play at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pueblo City Park. Playbacks will follow. If not, they would be scheduled for later on Saturday.
    • If — and only if — two rounds are completed on Friday, the finals and third/fourth place matches will be Saturday upon completion of semifinals and playbacks.
    • If two rounds are not completed on Friday, Sunday is being considered to complete the tournament.

    Meanwhile, the 5A tournament, held at Gates Tennis Center in Denver, is also delayed because of wet courts. It is not currently raining in the Denver area, but overnight rain has left moisture on the courts. Play was scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

    Update, 10:30 a.m.: Play has started in the 5A tournament.

    When play does resume in 5A, the tournament will stay at one site on Friday, as only 14 courts are needed.