CHSAANow

Month: November 2014

  • 4A volleyball state tournament bracket

    The schedule for the Class 4A state volleyball tournament is below.

    A total of 12 teams will play in four pools with the winners advancing to a championship bracket.

    All matches are at the Denver Coliseum.

    State seeding/pairing criteria:

    • The MaxPreps ranking published Oct. 27 will be the primary seeding consideration.
    • If there are three teams from the same league in the same pool, the committee shall look to make a switch. The committee should first look to switch teams seeded Nos. 9-12.

    [button color=”blue” size=”medium” link=”http://chsaa.ticketleap.com/2014-chsaa-state-volleyball-championships/” target=”blank” ]Buy tickets online[/button]
    [divider]

    Pool Play Standings

    One team per pool advances to the semifinals. If matches remain on Saturday which have no effect on the semifinal participants, they shall be three-set matches, with each set played to 25.

    Class 4A
    Pool Seed School W L
    I
    		 1 Lewis-Palmer 2 0
    8 Berthoud 0 2
    12 Air Academy 1 1
    II
    		 2 Ponderosa 2 0
    7 Mead 0 2
    11 Niwot 1 1
    III
    		 3 Cheyenne Mountain 2 0
    6 Mullen 0 2
    10 Pueblo West 1 1
    IV
    		 4 Montrose 2 0
    5 Valor Christian 1 1
    9 Battle Mountain 0 2

    [divider]

    Schedule

    Play begins at 8 a.m. each day. Matches begin 8 minutes following the completion of the match prior.

    Friday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    1
    IV
    		 Montrose 3 27-25, 27-29, 26-24, 25-22
    Battle Mountain 1
    2
    I
    		 Lewis-Palmer 3 25-16, 25-10, 25-9
    Air Academy 0
    3
    II
    		 Ponderosa 3 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23
    Niwot 1
    4
    III
    		 Cheyenne Mountain 3 25-19, 25-19, 25-17
    Pueblo West 0
    5
    IV
    		 Montrose 3 18-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-6
    Valor Christian 2
    6
    I
    		 Lewis-Palmer 3 25-10, 25-7, 25-20
    Berthoud 0
    7
    II
    		 Ponderosa 3 25-17, 25-15, 25-18
    Mead 0
    8
    III
    		 Cheyenne Mountain 3 25-19, 25-21, 25-18
    Mullen 0
    Saturday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    9
    IV
    		 Valor Christian 2 25-23, 25-21
    Battle Mountain 0
    10
    I
    		 Berthoud 1 22-25, 25-17, 25-23
    Air Academy 2
    11
    II
    		 Mead 1 18-25, 25-10, 27-25
    Niwot 2
    12
    III
    		 Mullen 1 25-23, 15-25, 25-22
    Pueblo West 2

    [divider]

    Championship bracket

    Pool I winner faces Pool IV winner; Pool II winner faces Pool III winner.

    Semifinals will start immediately following pool play on Saturday. All finals will begin at 7 p.m.

    2014 CHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Class 4A

  • 3A volleyball state tournament bracket

    The schedule for the Class 3A state volleyball tournament is below.

    A total of 12 teams will play in four pools with the winners advancing to a championship bracket.

    All matches are at the Denver Coliseum.

    State seeding/pairing criteria:

    • The MaxPreps ranking published Oct. 27 will be the primary seeding consideration.
    • If there are three teams from the same league in the same pool, the committee shall look to make a switch. The committee should first look to switch teams seeded Nos. 9-12.

    [button color=”blue” size=”medium” link=”http://chsaa.ticketleap.com/2014-chsaa-state-volleyball-championships/” target=”blank” ]Buy tickets online[/button]
    [divider]

    Pool Play Standings

    One team per pool advances to the semifinals. If matches remain on Saturday which have no effect on the semifinal participants, they shall be three-set matches, with each set played to 25.

    Class 3A
    Pool Seed School W L
    I
    		 1 Eaton 2 0
    8 Sterling 1 1
    12 Olathe 0 2
    II
    		 2 Valley 2 0
    7 Platte Valley 1 1
    11 Coal Ridge 0 2
    III
    		 3 Bayfield 1 1
    6 Manitou Springs 2 0
    10 Pagosa Springs 0 1
    IV
    		 4 University 1 1
    5 Colorado Springs Christian 2 0
    9 Faith Christian 0 2

    [divider]

    Schedule

    Play begins at 8 a.m. each day. Matches begin 8 minutes following the completion of the match prior.

    Friday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    1
    IV
    		 University 3 25-16, 25-10, 25-19
    Faith Christian 0
    2
    I
    		 Eaton 3 25-11, 25-10, 25-14
    Olathe 0
    3
    II
    		 Valley 3 25-14, 25-20, 25-23
    Coal Ridge 0
    4
    III
    		 Bayfield 3 25-19, 25-11, 25-8
    Pagosa Springs 0
    5
    IV
    		 University 0 25-23, 25-19, 28-26
    Colorado Springs Christian 3
    6
    I
    		 Eaton 3 25-17, 25-18, 25-9
    Sterling 0
    7
    II
    		 Valley 3 25-23, 25-16, 25-19
    Platte Valley 0
    8
    III
    		 Bayfield 3 25-16, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21
    Manitou Springs 1
    Saturday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    9
    IV
    		 Colorado Springs Christian 3 25-16, 25-8, 25-14
    Faith Christian 0
    10
    I
    		 Sterling 2 25-18, 25-23
    Olathe 0
    11
    II
    		 Platte Valley 2 25-23, 26-24
    Coal Ridge 0
    12
    III
    		 Manitou Springs 3 25-19, 25-6, 25-13
    Pagosa Springs 0

    [divider]

    Championship bracket

    Pool I winner faces Pool IV winner; Pool II winner faces Pool III winner.

    Semifinals will start immediately following pool play on Saturday. All finals will begin at 7 p.m.

    2014 CHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Class 3A

  • 2A volleyball state tournament bracket

    The schedule for the Class 2A state volleyball tournament is below.

    A total of 12 teams will play in four pools with the winners advancing to a championship bracket.

    All matches are at the Denver Coliseum.

    State seeding/pairing criteria:

    • The MaxPreps ranking published Nov. 3 will be the primary seeding consideration.
    • If there are three teams from the same league in the same pool, the committee shall look to make a switch. The committee should first look to switch teams seeded Nos. 9-12.

    [button color=”blue” size=”medium” link=”http://chsaa.ticketleap.com/2014-chsaa-state-volleyball-championships/” target=”blank” ]Buy tickets online[/button]
    [divider]

    Pool Play Standings

    One team per pool advances to the semifinals. If matches remain on Saturday which have no effect on the semifinal participants, they shall be three-set matches, with each set played to 25.

    Class 2A
    Pool Seed School W L
    I
    		 1 Yuma 2 0
    8 Colorado Springs School 1 1
    12 Dolores 0 2
    II
    		 2 Resurrection Christian 2 0
    7 Ridgway 1 1
    11 Sargent 0 2
    III
    		 3 Paonia 1 1
    6 Caliche 2 0
    10 Simla 0 2
    IV
    		 4 Swink 1 1
    5 Akron 2 0
    9 Byers 0 2

    [divider]

    Schedule

    Play begins at 8 a.m. each day. Matches begin 8 minutes following the completion of the match prior.

    Friday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    1
    IV
    		 Swink 3 25-9, 25-14, 25-20
    Byers 0
    2
    I
    		 Yuma 3 25-18, 25-9, 25-14
    Dolores 0
    3
    II
    		 Resurrection Christian 3 25-11, 25-22, 25-11
    Sargent 0
    4
    III
    		 Paonia 3 25-11, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18
    Simla 1
    5
    IV
    		 Swink 0 25-23, 25-20, 25-20
    Akron 3
    6
    I
    		 Yuma 3 27-25, 25-13, 25-13
    Colorado Springs School 0
    7
    II
    		 Resurrection Christian 3 25-17, 25-15, 25-7
    Ridgway 0
    8
    III
    		 Paonia 2 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 15-10
    Caliche 3
    Saturday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    9
    IV
    		 Akron 3 25-21, 25-18, 25-16
    Byers 0
    10
    I
    		 Colorado Springs School 2  27-25, 25-13
    Dolores 0
    11
    II
    		 Ridgway 2 26-16, 20-25, 25-21
    Sargent 1
    12
    III
    		 Caliche 3 25-20, 25-11, 25-14
    Simla 0

    [divider]

    Championship bracket

    Pool I winner faces Pool IV winner; Pool II winner faces Pool III winner.

    Semifinals will start immediately following pool play on Saturday. All finals will begin at 7 p.m.

    2014 CHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Class 2A

  • 1A volleyball state tournament bracket

    The schedule for the Class 1A state volleyball tournament is below.

    A total of 12 teams will play in four pools with the winners advancing to a championship bracket.

    All matches are at the Denver Coliseum.

    State seeding/pairing criteria:

    • The MaxPreps ranking published Nov. 3 will be the primary seeding consideration.
    • If there are three teams from the same league in the same pool, the committee shall look to make a switch. The committee should first look to switch teams seeded Nos. 9-12.

    [button color=”blue” size=”medium” link=”http://chsaa.ticketleap.com/2014-chsaa-state-volleyball-championships/” target=”blank” ]Buy tickets online[/button]
    [divider]

    Pool Play Standings

    One team per pool advances to the semifinals. If matches remain on Saturday which have no effect on the semifinal participants, they shall be three-set matches, with each set played to 25.

    Class 1A
    Pool Seed School W L
    I
    		 1 Fleming 2 0
    8 Cheraw 1 1
    12 Prairie 0 2
    II
    		 2 Idalia 2 0
    7 Springfield 1 1
    11 McClave 0 2
    III
    		 3 Otis 2 0
    6 Norwood 0 2
    10 Sangre de Cristo 1 1
    IV
    		 4 Kit Carson 2 0
    5 Flagler 1 1
    9 Weldon Valley 0 2

    [divider]

    Schedule

    Play begins at 8 a.m. each day. Matches begin 8 minutes following the completion of the match prior.

    Friday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    1
    IV
    		 Kit Carson 3 25-13, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23
    Weldon Valley 1
    2
    I
    		 Fleming 3 25-18, 25-9, 25-16
    Prairie 0
    3
    II
    		 Idalia 3 19-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-12
    McClave 1
    4
    III
    		 Otis 3  25-14, 25-17, 25-12
    Sangre de Cristo 0
    5
    IV
    		 Kit Carson 3 24-26, 25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 15-9
    Flagler 2
    6
    I
    		 Fleming 3 25-13, 25-15, 25-17
    Cheraw 0
    7
    II
    		 Idalia 3 25-14, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17
    Springfield 1
    8
    III
    		 Otis 3 20-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-19
    Norwood 1
    Saturday
    Match Pool Teams Score Match
    9
    IV
    		 Flagler 3 25-22, 16-25, 25-22
    Weldon Valley 0
    10
    I
    		 Cheraw 2 25-23, 25-22
    Prairie 0
    11
    II
    		 Springfield 2 22-25, 25-12, 25-22
    McClave 1
    12
    III
    		 Norwood 2 22-25, 25-15, 25-23
    Sangre de Cristo 1

    [divider]

    Championship bracket

    Pool I winner faces Pool IV winner; Pool II winner faces Pool III winner.

    Semifinals will start immediately following pool play on Saturday. All finals will begin at 7 p.m.

    2014 CHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Class 1A

  • Playoff football roundup: Gunnison slips Sterling’s upset bid in 2A

    It came down to a fourth-down conversion in overtime, then an extra point, but Gunnison survived.

    No. 12-seeded Sterling pushed the No. 5 Cowboys to overtime on Saturday afternoon in the Class 2A football playoffs.

    Tied at 22 at the end of regulation, Sterling scored on its possession in overtime, but went for two points and didn’t convert.

    When it got the ball, Gunnison quickly faced a third-and-10. Gunnison quarterback Jake Wallin scrambled to the 1-yard-line to set up a 4th-and-1. The next play, running back Brady Wilson scored. The Cowboys then kicked the extra point to take a 29-28 win.

    “It’s playoffs. A win is a win,” Wallin told the Gunnison Country Times afterward. “It doesn’t matter what the score is. If you win, you go on, if you lose, you’re taking your pads off for good. We’re excited to play another week.”

    Gunnison advances to play Eaton, the No. 13 seed which upset No. 4 Lamar 41-20 on Saturday.

    Eaton led 26-7 at halftime in that game. Lamar cut it to 26-14 with a score early in the third quarter, but Eaton pulled away with a 15-point fourth quarter.

    Elsewhere in 2A:

    • No. 1 Brush rolled over No. 16 Moffat County 49-7. Brush will face No. 8 Faith Christian, which beat No. 9 Bayfield on Saturday.
    • No. 3 Strasburg handled No. 6 Florence 48-6. Strasburg scored on six of its first seven possessions, according to the Canon City Daily Record.
    • Platte Valley, seeded No. 6, beat No. 11 Bennett 30-15. It will face Strasburg in the quarterfinals.
    • No. 2 seed Kent Denver took care of No. 15 La Junta, 58-14. The Sun Devils will face No. 7 Montezuma-Cortez, which won a wild game on Friday night.

    [divider]

    Notables

    • No. 9 Platte Canyon pulled off the lone upset in the 1A playoffs, beating No. 8 Wray on the road, 30-14. It will play defending champion Paonia in the quarterfinals. Paonia, the top seed, beat No. 16 Wiggins 49-0.
    • In 8-man, No. 8 Vail Christian held off  No. 9 Merino to win 38-34. Merino led this one 14-0 early before Vail Christian rallied to take a 24-20 halftime lead. Merino went back up 28-24, but Vail Christian grabbed the lead for good with a touchdown late in the third quarter. The Saints draw top-seeded Dayspring Christian, which is also the defending champion.
    • 6-man‘s semifinals are set: No. 1 Arickaree/Woodlin will host No. 4 Fleming, while No. 3 Peetz will be at No. 2 Eads.
    • Higher-seeded teams went a combined 25-3 in the first rounds of the 2A, 1A, 8-man and 6-man playoffs.

  • Regional volleyball roundup: Highlands Ranch wins in tiebreaker

    Highlands Ranch volleyball celebrates its regional championship in 5A. (Via @RBWHRHSAthletic on Twitter)
    Highlands Ranch volleyball celebrates its regional championship in 5A. (Via @RBWHRHSAthletic on Twitter)

    Highlands Ranch dropped its first match of the Class 5A volleyball regionals on Saturday. It was a grueling, five-set affair — but that it went five sets later turned out to be a major advantage.

    The Falcons rallied from dropping that match to later win 5A’s Region 11 in a tiebreak over Rocky Mountain, 25-15. With the win, Highlands Ranch moves on to the 5A state tournament.

    But things looked bleak for a while.

    For starters, since volleyball’s regionals moved to three-team pools a few years ago, the overwhelming majority of those advancing no longer drop a match. It has turned the tie-break scenario, once a common occurrence, into a rarity.

    Ralston Valley, the region’s host and No. 11 seed in 5A, had already beaten No. 27 Rocky Mountain in four sets to open regional play.

    So when No. 14 Highlands Ranch lost to Rocky Mountain in the region’s second match (19-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 16-14), it had one last-gasp shot at qualification: knock Ralston Valley off.

    The Falcons did that, by a 3-1 margin. All three teams in the regional, at that point, were 1-1 — dusting off the tiebreak scenario. In the event of a three-way tie, two teams faceoff in a one-set playoff, with the winner facing the third in a second one-set playoff match.

    Highlands Ranch volleyball poses with the regional championship trophy. (Via @RBWHRHSAthletic on Twitter)
    Highlands Ranch volleyball poses with the regional championship trophy. (Via @RBWHRHSAthletic on Twitter)

    Highlands Ranch was set aside for the first tie break because it had won a higher percentage of total sets played (5 of 9) during the regional compared to Ralston Valley (4 of 8) and Rocky Mountain (4 of 9). Rocky Mountain beat Ralston Valley 25-15 in that first tie-break, then advanced to play Highlands Ranch.

    Highlands Ranch then won the second playoff match, 25-15, to advance to the state tournament.

    The 5A field will consist of: Eaglecrest, Grandview, Regis Jesuit, Rampart, Chaparral, Pine Creek, Cherokee Trail, Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Fairview, Highlands Ranch and Legend

    Headed to 4A’s state tournament are: Lewis-Palmer, Ponderosa, Cheyenne Mountain, Montrose, Valor Christian, Mullen, Mead, Berthoud, Battle Mountain, Pueblo West, Niwot and Air Academy.

    In 3A’s tournament: Eaton, Valley, Bayfield, University, Colorado Springs Christian, Manitou Springs, Platte Valley, Sterling, Faith Christian, Pagosa Springs, Coal Ridge and Olathe.

    Comprising the 2A field: Swink, Resurrection Christian, Paonia, Simla, Sargent, Yuma, Dolores and Colorado Springs School, as well as four Wildcard teams to be selected on Monday.

    And 1A’s field: Sangre de Cristo, Kit Carson, Otis, Weldon Valley, Norwood, Springfield, Idalia and Fleming — as well as four additional Wildcard teams.

    [divider]

    Notables:

    • A seeding committee will meet on Monday morning to finalize the pools for the state tournaments. The Wildcard selections in 1A and 2A will be selected based on the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings published on Monday. The next four highest-ranked teams who made it to regionals but didn’t advance will be the selections.
    • All five defending champions have made a return trip to the state tournament. They are: Grandview (5A), Lewis-Palmer (4A), Eaton (3A), Resurrection Christian (2A) and Fleming (1A).
    • Chatfield is the highest-remaining regional seed of any of the 5A, 4A and 3A regions. The Chargers were No. 17, and upset No. 8 Douglas County. (The 1A and 2A regions are not seeded across the classification, but instead set by district finish.)
    • Of those seeded regionals (5A-3A), the host teams went an astounding 70-2 in matches, including 212-36 in terms of sets won.
    • 5A’s Region 10 wore out the courts in its first two matches. First, No. 10 Fairview rallied to beat No. 27 Rangeview in five sets — 26-28, 25-18, 17-25, 28-26, 15-13. Rangeview then turned around and went another five sets in losing to No. 15 Arapahoe, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-14, 15-9. The final match only went four sets, a 3-1 Fairview win over Arapahoe to claim the regional crown.
    • Kit Carson trailed its first match in 1A Region B 0-2, but rallied to take a five-set win (20-25, 12-25, 27-25, 25-15, 16-14) and later won the regional.
    The Montrose volleyball team poses for a picture after winning a regional championship in Class 4A. (Tom Hoganson)
    The Montrose volleyball team poses for a picture after winning a regional championship in Class 4A. (Tom Hoganson)

  • Heritage football overcomes 20-point hole to beat Doherty

    Heritage quarterback Chase Hansen (14) rolls out of the pocket to find an open receiver. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
    Heritage quarterback Chase Hansen (14) rolls out of the pocket to find an open receiver. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COLORADO SPRINGS — As the calendar turned to November, the trenches of Garry Berry Stadium played host to a couple of 5A football teams fighting for survival; and fighting with everything they had.

    Late hits and personal fouls seemed to define contest between the Doherty Spartans and the Heritage Eagles which saw the Eagles emerge with a 28-27 victory. With the win, Heritage (7-3 overall) advances to the round of 16 in the Class 5A state football tournament.

    “We tried to dig ourselves as big a hole as possible,” Eagles coach Tyler Knoblock said. “We told our kids at halftime to never quit and we settled in and were able to do what we wanted to do all along.”

    Finding themselves down 7-0 early, the Eagles decided to employ the strategy they thought was best designed to beat the Spartans; they threw the ball down the field. A 77-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Chase Hansen to junior wide receiver Tim Pless got the game back to even.

    “We had the deep shots all night,” Hansen said. “We just kept going after we knew we could connect on them.”

    On the shoulders of running backs Tequan Baker and Justice Littrell, the Spartans were able to regain a seven-point lead. After stalling on their next offensive possession Heritage was forced to lean on their defense to hold strong and keep the score of the game manageable. Doherty was forced to punt the ball back to Heritage who turned it over on the second play of their fourth offensive drive.

    Hoping to drive his team back down the field to tie the game, Hansen forced a bad throw that was intercepted by D’Angelo Vasquez. The Spartans were able to generate points from that turnover as Harrison Cobbs connected on a 27-yard field goal. Cobbs was able to connect for three more points right as time expired in the first half to give the Spartans a 20-7 lead with 24 minutes left to play.

    “Those kids have been through so much and fought so hard,” Knoblock said. “We told them to stay patient and wait for their opportunities. They’ll come sooner or later.”

    It felt like they would come later as the Eagles drove right down the field to start the second half, only to have disaster strike. Hansen was picked off by Zach Zimmer who returned the ball 99 yards to give Doherty a seemingly insurmountable 20-point lead in the third quarter.

    But then something happened. Adjustments were made and the Eagles were able to find their way into the end zone to cut the Spartans’ lead to 13 and slow the home team’s momentum.

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    The Eagles’ defense began to bottle up Doherty’s running attack and Hansen soon found himself once again with the ball in his hands. He connected with Jared Leonard for a 32-yard touchdown pass. With over eight minutes to play, the Eagles were down by only a score.

    “It’s a great attitude from the kids,” Knoblock said. “I’ll take a group of kids who are a group of fighters and will give their best every play.”

    Up by six points, the Spartans went to their bread and butter in their running attack to try and hold on to the lead. But it was the Heritage defense that came up with the necessary plays. They ripped the ball from Littrell’s hands and only moments later were back in the end zone for what would be the game-winning score.

    While trying to march down the field to answer, Littrell once again lost the ball to the Eagles’ defense, giving Heritage a first round win on the road.

    “They just fought hard; that’s an extremely well-coached football program and that team will fight,” Spartans coach Jeff Krumlauf said. “They did a really good job of boxing up our run and they just made a few more plays than we did.”

    Next up for the Eagles is No. 2 seed Regis Jesuit, which topped Monarch 48-7 Friday night.

    “I’m so proud of those guys,” Knoblock said. “And we’re really fortunate that we get to work with this group of seniors for one more week. It’s a really great group of kids.”

  • Football’s Week 10 Wild Card Points standings

    The official Wild Card Points standings following the completion of football’s Week 10 games in the 2014 season.

    Wild Card points are used in determining playoff fields for 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 6-man. 5A, 2A, 1A, 8-man and 6-man have all already started their playoffs. Sixteen teams qualify in 4A and 3A.

    Conference champions can knock out a team in the top-16.

    Go to: 4A | 3A

    Class 4A
    Rank Team Record Points
    1 Pine Creek 10-0 100.500
    2 Fort Collins 10-0 99.300
    3 Pueblo South 9-1 97.300
    4 Montrose 9-1 94.800
    5 Denver South 8-2 91.900
    6 Dakota Ridge 8-2 91.000
    7 Longmont 7-3 89.300
    8 Windsor 7-3 89.300
    9 Vista Ridge 7-3 89.100
    10 Pueblo Centennial 7-3 88.400
    11 Greeley West 8-2 87.900
    12 Broomfield 7-3 87.600
    13 Rampart 7-3 87.000
    14 Coronado 7-3 86.500
    15 Falcon 6-4 86.500
    16 Wheat Ridge 6-4 83.100
    17 Standley Lake 6-4 81.700
    18 Palmer Ridge 6-4 81.500
    19 Pueblo West 5-5 81.400
    20 Widefield 6-4 79.600
    21 Kennedy 7-3 79.300
    22 Mountain View 5-5 78.800
    23 Ponderosa 5-5 78.000
    24 Durango 4-6 77.100
    25 Loveland 3-7 76.100
    26 Littleton 5-5 75.400
    27 Silver Creek 3-7 74.900
    28 Thompson Valley 4-6 70.700
    29 Adams City 4-6 69.000
    30 Greeley Central 3-7 68.900
    31 Liberty 3-7 68.500
    32 Mesa Ridge 2-8 65.700
    33 Green Mountain 2-8 65.000
    34 George Washington 3-7 65.000
    35 Golden 3-7 64.100
    36 Sand Creek 2-8 63.000
    37 Air Academy 2-8 61.700
    38 Skyline 2-8 60.900
    39 Aurora Central 2-8 60.600
    40 Cheyenne Mountain 1-9 56.000
    41 Lincoln 1-9 53.300

    Class 3A
    Rank Team Record Points
    1 Discovery Canyon 10-0 89.900
    2 Evergreen 10-0 86.100
    3 Roosevelt 9-1 85.300
    4 Pueblo East 7-3 84.000
    5 Lutheran 10-0 83.700
    6 Holy Family 8-2 83.000
    7 Conifer 8-2 78.700
    8 Rifle 9-1 78.600
    9 Delta 7-3 77.200
    10 Fort Morgan 8-2 76.500
    11 Palisade 7-3 76.400
    12 Northridge 6-4 75.800
    13 Canon City 7-3 75.600
    14 Eagle Valley 7-3 75.200
    15 Glenwood Springs 6-4 73.500
    16 Berthoud 7-3 72.600
    17 Elizabeth 6-4 71.600
    18 Lewis-Palmer 5-5 71.100
    19 The Classical Academy 4-6 69.500
    20 D’Evelyn 5-5 69.000
    21 Thomas Jefferson 5-5 68.200
    22 Erie 5-5 67.000
    23 Pueblo County 5-5 66.600
    24 Pueblo Central 4-6 66.400
    25 Battle Mountain 6-3 63.889
    26 Sierra 5-5 62.500
    27 Mead 4-6 62.200
    28 Steamboat Springs 4-6 62.100
    29 Vista Peak 4-6 61.300
    30 Harrison 4-6 60.300
    31 Centaurus 3-7 58.800
    32 Weld Central 2-8 57.500
    33 Grand Junction Central 2-8 55.100
    34 Mitchell 2-8 54.700
    35 Frederick 1-9 54.300
    36 Woodland Park 2-8 54.100
    37 Englewood 2-8 53.300
    38 Skyview 2-8 51.800
    39 Fort Lupton 1-9 47.900
    40 Summit 1-9 47.900
    41 Niwot 0-10 46.500
    42 Arvada 0-10 46.000

  • Thompson Valley’s Alyssa Carroll completes spectacular gymnastics career

    THORNTON — Every fall, Thornton High School, site of the Class 4A and 5A state gymnastics meets, becomes a spectacle for whirling dervishes, for powerful and graceful performers.

    On Friday, in the 4A all-around competition, Thompson Valley’s Alyssa Carroll displayed more poise and power than the rest in placing first in all four events, the uneven bars, the floor, the vault, and the balance beam. The senior dominated the field in claiming her second straight state championship in all-around with 38.55 points, more than a point and a half clear of Standley Lake’s Jordan Ireland.

    After such a dominating performance Friday, Carroll was looking for an encore Saturday in the individual event competition. The future Nebraska Cornhusker more than delivered with three individual state championships.

    Carroll came in to the evening hoping for four crowns and came within tenths of a point of achieving her goal. A touch of too much power caused a slight stumble in the floor exercise, giving her a score of 9.475 — a mere .025 points off Ireland’s 9.500. She was more than pleased with three titles, though.

    State gymnastics
    Thompson Valley’s Alyssa Carroll. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    “I did want to win floor just because I won last year. You know that quote that you can’t win everything? It kind of applies here,” Carroll said with a laugh. “But that’s OK. Jordan did a really good floor today and she deserved it.”

    Outside of the stumble, Carroll was thorough in a performance that varied from solid to spectacular.

    The senior kicked off her Saturday by claiming the state championship in the uneven bars with 9.7 points, well ahead of Niwot’s Marissa Koski’s score of 9.275.

    Then, came Carroll’s slight stumble in floor. She recovered with a title performance on the balance beam (9.75). Niwot’s Gabby Casey placed second (9.45).

    “My beam routine really stuck out,” Carroll said. “Yesterday I was kind of wobbly on it and today most of it was solid.”

    Then, came the spectacular. Carroll used her speed and power to elevate high into the air during the vault. Her landing was picturesque, causing a few judges to give her a score of 9.9. Her average of 9.85 points claimed a third crown of the day, a sweet ending to an illustrious career.

    “That was such a good vault,” Carroll said. “That’s one of my best vaults that I’ve done all season, because usually I take a huge step back and today I just stuck it. It felt really good. My heart felt whole.”

    “She has not stuck it with two feet planted and no movement ever that I have seen,” Thompson Valley coach Jaia Sattler added. “Tonight, she stuck it. We were all crazy excited. That was the cherry on top of a good weekend.”

    4A may not miss Carroll’s immense talent next year, but Sattler and Thompson Valley certainly will.

    “It’s really nice to have her on the team, especially as a new head coach,” Sattler, in her first year as head of the program, said. “She’s just a really good leader. We have such a young team and a lot of girls are new to high school and so to be able to watch her. There’s girls who are like, “Alyssa is so fearless. I want to be like her. It helps drive the other girls. We are going to miss her a lot.”

    Carroll finished her brief but spectacular two-year Thompson Valley career with two all-around state championships and five individual event state championships. She was also part of a team state title as a junior.

    In 5A, Pomona freshman Kelsey Boychuk, after winning all-around Friday, added to her memorable weekend with a state title in the vault. Her score of 9.85 was more than enough to hold off Cherry Creek’s Mackenzie Doerr (9.75) and Thornton’s Sierra Kirylo (9.725).

    Boychuk was ecstatic about her first high school season.

    “I’ve done a lot to get here, but it’s kind of unexpected,” Boychuk said of winning both all-around and vault. “I know there’s a lot of good girls here.”

    Overland’s Devin Bundas, the 2013 state champion in the floor exercise, won the uneven bars with a tally of 9.725 points, just ahead of Broomfield’s Kailey Licata (9.7). Bundas, a senior who finishes as a two-time all-state competitor, was a key member of Overland’s second-straight team title Friday.

    Licata, fifth-place in the all-around competition, came back to win the floor exercise with 9.7 points. Broomfield’s Sarah Holbrook won the balance beam with 9.7 points, as well.

  • D’Evelyn wins shootout to punch ticket to 4A boys soccer semis

    D'Evelyn senior goalkeeper Chris Linden, middle in blue, celebrates the Jaguars' 4-3 shootout victory with teammates on Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Class 4A state quarterfinal game with Niwot was still scoreless after 110 minutes of regulation and overtime play. Linden made a pair of saves in the shootout to lead D'Evelyn to the win. (Dennis Pleuss)
    D’Evelyn senior goalkeeper Chris Linden, middle in blue, celebrates the Jaguars’ 4-3 shootout victory with teammates on Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Class 4A state quarterfinal game with Niwot was still scoreless after 110 minutes of regulation and overtime play. Linden made a pair of saves in the shootout to lead D’Evelyn to the win. (Dennis Pleuss)

    LAKEWOOD — Time became irrelevant Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field in the Class 4A boys soccer state quarterfinal between Niwot and D’Evelyn.

    After 80 minutes of regulation time and two 15-minute overtime periods the scoreboard still showed 0-0. A pair of D’Evelyn seniors — goalie Chris Linden and Sam Van Sickle — stepped up big in the eventual game-deciding shootout. Linden made two saves and Van Sickle hammered home the game-winning goal for a 4-3 shootout victory for Jaguars.

    “It was so nerve-wracking. I was just trying to keep myself composed and try not to jump too early to show where I was going,” Linden said after celebrating on the field with teammates and D’Evelyn students. “Niwot played a great game and their keeper (Jack Fitzgerald) had a great game. They are a great team.”

    D'Evelyn senior Sam Van Sickle (19) yells after scoring the game-winning goal in a shootout Saturday at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Jaguars defeated Niwot 4-3 in the shootout to advance to the 4A state semifinals next Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss)
    D’Evelyn senior Sam Van Sickle (19) yells after scoring the game-winning goal in a shootout Saturday at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Jaguars defeated Niwot 4-3 in the shootout to advance to the 4A state semifinals next Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss)

    Linden’s key moment came early in the shootout. Niwot senior Billy Hoffmann’s low shot was saved on the first shot of the shootout. The Jaguars held an early advantage and never trailed.

    “I saw him (Hoffmann) open his hips up a little bit. I thought he was going to go to my left,” Linden said describing the diving save. “He placed it great. I was lucky to get there.”

    Jack Draeb, Christian Denton and Charles Doebbler all hit the back of the net for the Jaguars on their shots during the shootout. Niwot hung in with goals from Justin Barkow, Eric Fayeulle and Angel Perez.

    D’Evelyn’s Trey Martinez went high on the Jaguars’ second shot, but Linden came up big again on the ensuing kick. Niwot’s Touzong Xiong’s shot was saved by Linden on the Cougars’ third try.

    “He (Linden) has been really firm and secure,” D’Evelyn coach Paul Moline said. “He had a couple of questions for me before the shootout. I just shook my head and told him, ‘Just go. You’re the goalkeeper. I don’t need to tell you what to do.’ He is very big, relaxed and calm.”

    It all came down to the Jaguars’ fifth and final shooter in Van Sickle. A goal would wrap up the victory and first appearance in state semifinals for the program. A miss or save, the shootout would go into extra kicks.

    “It was a big shot,” Van Sickle said. “I’m glad I was the one to make it.”

    Van Sickle’s hard shot got past Fitzgerald. D’Evelyn’s student section stormed the field to celebrate the victory.

    “I knew he (Van Sickle) would step up. He is a big time player,” Linden said. “We practiced shootouts all week at the end of practices. It’s shooters like him that help me make the saves I need.”

    D’Evelyn (16-2) squares off against top-seeded and undefeated Air Academy (18-0) in the first of two state semifinal games to be played Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Sports Authority Field in Parker. The Kadets edged Littleton 1-0 on Saturday night.

    Niwot senior Nick Alvardo (4) and D'Evelyn sophomore Thomas Nergaard (5) both get a foot on the ball during the Class 4A state soccer quarterfinal game Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Niwot senior Nick Alvardo (4) and D’Evelyn sophomore Thomas Nergaard (5) both get a foot on the ball during the Class 4A state soccer quarterfinal game Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

    D’Evelyn and Air Academy is the first scheduled semifinal to start at 5 p.m. Ponderosa (13-5) and The Classical Academy (18-0) is the second semifinal Wednesday night.

    “I thought it was a good battle,” Niwot coach Rob Johnson said after the loss that ended a 12-game winning streak for the Cougars (15-2-1). “I thought we were the better team in the second half, but we didn’t put our chances in and we didn’t in overtime too. It’s just unlucky.”

    D’Evelyn outshot Niwot 3 to 0 in the first 40 minutes. However, the Cougars had a 7 to 0 shot advantage in the second half and 30 minutes of overtime play.

    “I thought we were going to get two or three (goals) in that first half. We were right there,” Moline said.

    Despite not getting a shot on goal after halftime, the Jaguars did have the best scoring chance. In the 51st minute Doebbler rocketed an outside shot off the crossbar. Junior Giovanni Franzese headed the rebound, but his header also hit the crossbar and was eventually cleared.

    “I personally didn’t want it to go to a shootout, but we did it and we won,” Van Sickle said.

    D'Evelyn senior Christian Denton (9) and Niwot senior Touzong Xiong (10) battle near the sideline during the first half Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
    D’Evelyn senior Christian Denton (9) and Niwot senior Touzong Xiong (10) battle near the sideline during the first half Saturday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)