The following information shows the designated home team for potential playoff football matchups to be completed by Saturday, Nov. 22. The formula for determining the home team is shown on page 51 of the football bulletin.
Sites are determined each Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the CHSAA office, one-and-a-half weeks prior to the next round.
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Explanation
How the home sites are determined.
For 5A, 4A, 3A, and 1A: The team with the fewest playoff home games will host. If equal, the higher seed will host.
For 2A: The team with the fewest playoff home games will host. If equal, the higher seed will host. Exception: If playoff home games are equal, and the opponents are from the same conference, the school with the higher conference standing in the regular season shall be the host.
For 8-man and 6-man: The team with the fewest playoff home games will host. If equal, a coin flip determines the home team.
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Future home sites
Key: Home games – Fewest home playoff games; Higher seed – The highest seeded team; Mileage – One-way mileage.
CHSAA’s Classification and League Organizing Committee met on Tuesday. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — The enrollment splits used to divide classifications got a pretty major overhaul on Tuesday.
The Classification and League Organization Committee set the new figures to be used in the 2016-18 two-year cycle with an eye at evenly distributing teams among classifications. Basketball’s numbers were used as a basis for all team sports, save for football. Individual sports (such as track, tennis and golf) will each have their own enrollment splits to evenly divide teams among their classifications.
“The wrestling model showed us what can happen,” said Randy Holmen, the principal at Holly High School who chairs CLOC. “We felt like today turned out the way it was supposed to.”
The changes will need to be approved at the Legislative Council meeting in January.
Ultimately, on Tuesday, CLOC sought equity in terms of numbers. For team sports, the result will place 66 teams in each classification for boys and girls basketball, and volleyball. The splits also did a job good of evenly distributing teams in other sports, as well. For example, in boys soccer, 5A and 4A will both have 66 teams, while 3A will have 71. (See the full breakdown here.)
However, the new enrollment splits are based upon this year’s figures. As such, CLOC built in a 5 percent variance which would allow those numbers to change if needed based upon school enrollments determined in October 2015. That way, any changes could be made to ensure the equity in numbers remains.
Football’s class splits were also set by CLOC, and those seek to evenly distribute teams among classifications, as well. The result is 42 teams in 5A, 4A, 2A and 1A, 4A in 3A and 71 to be divided between 8-man and 6-man. (Find the full football numbers here.)
The enrollment figures for individual sports with multiple classes were also determined by CLOC on Tuesday. The committee took the total number of teams in the sport, and divided by the number of classifications. Those figures are below.
There is another wrinkle that will need to be addressed: These enrollment splits did take into account programs which historically play up, but it does not account for those unforeseen teams which will be playing up or playing down. This could also cause the numbers to change ahead of their final version.
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Committee considers mandating play-ups
Before they jumped into the enrollment cutoffs, the committee took a detour to talk about forcing consistently successful teams to play up a classification.
“We have the criteria for schools to play down,” said Dave Schuessler, the athletic director at Clear Creek, “but is the committee willing to tell them they have to play up?”
The question sparked a 15-minute conversation on the topic, including the philosophy behind equity: Is the goal competitive balance or a balance of numbers?
“There are two issues we’re talking about right now,” said Jim Thyfault, district athletic director at Jefferson County Schools, “and they aren’t one in the same.”
“The most successful team has to move up, and we’re going to penalize them now?” said Horizon athletic director Eric Gustafson. “If all we’re doing is balancing the numbers, then we don’t even need the names of the schools. We can just deal with the numbers.”
Ultimately, the committee decided to create a subcommittee which would explore the topic further. Three CLOC members were appointed.
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Notables
CLOC approved probationary membership for six new schools: Atlas Prep (Colorado Springs), Beth Eden (Wheat Ridge), Faith Baptist (Longmont), Front Range Baptist (Fort Collins), Lotus School of Excellence (Aurora), and Northfield (Denver). If approved by the Legislative Council, it would bring CHSAA’s membership to 352 schools. Eight additional schools have inquired about membership.
Five schools were granted final approval for CHSAA membership: Aurora West, KIPP Collegiate, Swallows Charter, Vista Peak and William Smith.
Because of that growing membership, CLOC agreed to discuss the possible addition of a 6A classification at its next meeting in April. The target for the move, since last summer, has been 384 schools.
With the new enrollment splits, CLOC recommended a third classification for girls golf, girls tennis and girls swimming. It will be up to the sports’ committees to decide whether or not to implement them.
A certain, recent fried chicken commercial brought to light the fear of being boneless. And while consumption of bones can provide some important nutrients required for bone development, proudly exclaiming, "I ate the bones" is still no way to assess the status of your skeleton.
The following is a list of questions you can ask yourself to better assess how healthy your bones are:
1. How old are you?
Peak bone mass occurs in most people’s late 20s, with 90 percent of bone mass reached by age 18 for both boys and girls.
A recent clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out that 25 percent of peak bone mass is developed during the two-year period surrounding most children’s largest growth spurt (around 12.5 years for girls and 14 years for boys). It seems many people live fearless of bone health and don’t realize the importance of the first 25-30 years of life — the time most people reach peak bone mass. At peak bone mass, bones are as dense as they will ever be. Just as calcium, vitamin D and protein are required to reach this peak, these nutrients are also essential for bone maintenance.
After peak bone mass is reached, the nutrient’s people consume help to regulate the body — when concentrations of bone building materials drop, the body breaks down bone for maintenance.
Thus it is critical to make healthy choices before age 30 to develop a strong peak bone mass and continue those healthy habits in adulthood to minimize damage to already peaked bone.
2. What kind of genes are you wearing?
There are many variables that play into bone development that are within our control. We can help establish healthier bones by choosing the right foods (keep reading to learn more) and by getting adequate exercise.
Still, as mentioned in the recent AAP report, 70 percent of each person’s bone make-up is dependent upon genetics. Race, as well as family history, play a large part in bone density. For example, in general, black and Hispanic women tend to have greater bone densities than white, non-Hispanic or Asian women.
3. How do you like your dairy foods?
Consumption of calcium-rich foods is critical for bone growth and remodeling, as emphasized by the recent AAP publication. Dairy foods, especially milk, cheese and yogurt, remain the top source of calcium (a necessary bone health nutrient) in the American diet.
Many plant-based foods, such as spinach, kale and collard greens, are calcium-rich and have become very popular, leaving people to question whether dairy products are necessary in the diet.
While many plant-based foods do provide a rich source of calcium, it is important to consider both the bioavailability (how much of the food’s nutrients are absorbed) and the serving size of these foods required to get an adequate amount of calcium each day. An eight-ounce glass of milk for example, provides as much absorbable calcium as 10 cups of raw spinach.
4. SPF or Supplement?
Vitamin D is important to bone health because without it, “only 10-15 percent of dietary calcium is absorbed.” There are very few natural food sources of vitamin D; the best source of vitamin D is the sun.
Unfortunately, most people in the United States don’t get enough sun all year long to synthesize adequate vitamin D. Still, consuming fatty fish and fortified foods, such as dairy products, can help people reach the recommended amount of vitamin D (600 IU daily for most people).
The AAP says there is no need to take a supplement, but rather, encourages a healthy diet that includes foods rich in vitamin D and calcium.
5. Coke or Pepsi?
Depending on how much one drinks, the empty calories in sugar-sweetened beverages may be displacing nutrient-rich foods in some people’s diets. Most doctors will encourage students to limit soda consumption and opt for calcium and vitamin D-rich beverages to promote bone health.
6. Run, Bike or Swim?
Exercise not only promotes a healthy body and lifestyle, but can also contribute to bone building. High-impact exercises are encouraged for building peak bone mass.
Running, playing tennis and shooting hoops are more effective at building bone than low-impact exercises like swimming or riding bikes. A balance of these activities is encouraged.
Pediatricians might however, monitor the frequency of activity; just as too little activity can be negative for bone and overall health, excessive activity has been shown to be damaging and increase bone fracture risk in childhood.
Athletes can train harder and perform better with proper nutrition and strong bones. Visit WesternDairyAssociation.org to read more about milk as an exercise recovery beverage and learn how to eat for peak athletic performance.
* Reference: American Academy of Pediatrics. 2014. Optimizing Bone Health in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 134 (4): e1229-21243.
Lottie had 1,135 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the Cougars, and also had 32 tackles, a force fumble and a fumble recovery at outside linebacker.
He is now the 17th football commit from Colorado’s 2015 class, including the 15th to a Division I FBS program. Last year, a total of 184 players committed to play college football, including 31 to FBS programs.
Lottie’s senior year highlights are below, via his Hudl profile.
Both seniors can sign their National Letter of Intent when the early signing period begins on Wednesday.
Madden helped Fairview reach Class 5A’s Final 8 last season. At 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, went 9-1 with a 2.94 ERA, including 52 strikeouts against just 12 walks. He also hit .509 with 17 RBIs and a home run.
Goldsberry, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, hit .355 last season with six RBIs. He was also 1-1 with a 3.89 ERA in nine innings for the Bruins, who reached the state semifinals.
The duo bring the total number known of baseball commitments from the 2015 class thus far to 35, including 21 Division I pledges. Included in that bunch is Goldsberry’s Cherry Creek teammate Cody Wood, who is committed to New Mexico.
On Monday, Prep Baseball Report Colorado reported that Mullen catcher Maverick Handley, a junior, committed to Stanford.
Handley is 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. He missed his entire sophomore season due to an injury suffered during basketball season.
Pine Creek shortstop Peter McEvoy, a senior, is also committed to Stanford.
Additionally, Valor Christian shortstop Sean Rooney, a junior, has committed to Point Loma, a Division II program in San Diego.
COMMERCE CITY — Two teams with exceptional defenses — No. 3 seed Boulder Panthers and No. 12 seed Broomfield Eagles — squared off Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to decide the Class 5A boys state soccer championship.
The two teams’ defenses were so strong, in fact, it took a penalty kick to finally put points on the scoreboard.
Broomfield junior midfielder Porter Milner’s penalty kick goal broke a 0-0 tie 15 minutes into the second half as the Broomfield Eagles defeated the Boulder Panthers 2-0 to win their the 5A championship in their first season at the level.
Milner’s deciding goal slithered just in the left side of the net.
“I’ve taken a lot of those this year,” said Milner. “I knew where I was going the whole time.”
The penalty kick was set up by sophomore forward Armando Ocampo’s deep run into the teeth of Boulder’s defense.
“Armando has had a fantastic season. Handling this as a sophomore is really incredible. I think he’s struggled a bit in front of goal early in the season, and he just stayed with it,” said Broomfield head coach James Davidson after the game. “For a sophomore to handle himself in that situation is pretty fantastic.”
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams at times dominating the ball — Boulder early in the half, Broomfield late. But while both teams threatened, neither could find the back of the net.
Boulder goalkeeper Leo Huettel was aggressive attacking the ball early in the night. Broomfield was able to set up a number of promising crosses, only for them to be punched out by Huettel or stifled by the Panthers defense.
The Panthers also had a number of opportunities late in the half. Junior midfielder Brian Castruita’s fancy footwork set up a golden opportunity for the Panthers, only for his shot, hampered as it was by Eagles defenders, to sail high.
Following Milner’s score, the Eagles would add another on an own-goal just a few minutes later to make it 2-0 in their favor. From there the game grew increasingly physical, as the Panthers threw everything they had at the Eagles. Through it all, the Eagles defense, and goalie Michael Genge, held strong.
“They were absolutely amazing,” said Genge of his defense in front of him. “All four of them. As a team, we just had such a defensive game again today.”
The Eagles finished the state tournament having allowed just one goal in five matches.
“They were stoic. They had to be great. It started with Michael (Genge). He had the game of his life in the state championship, not a bad thing to do,” said Davidson. “The back four were super organized. Our shape was great, and that’s not easy to do on a big field, especially with the way Boulder plays to it’s flanks. Our kids did a great job of tucking in and giving depth when we needed it, and obviously dealt with all the airplay really well.”
For Davidson, the win is his fifth championship in nine trips, but his first at the 5A level.
“I was worried about that, I wanted to be on the right side of .500,” joked Davidson. “I’m not sure it’s fair to the other teams to compare championships but this is without a doubt right up there. First year in 5A, we’re the little school, but apparently we’re the little school that could.”
Resurrection Christian players pose with the 2A volleyball championship trophy. (Ryan Casey/CHSANow.com)
DENVER — Two seasons ago to the day, the Resurrection Christian volleyball team was ousted from the Class 2A state tournament by eventual champion Lutheran.
“They stayed and watched the championship,” Resurrection coach Caleb Howard said. “They came up to me and said, ‘Coach, that’s going to be us’ (winning the state trophy).”
His players proved prophetic as the Cougars took home their second straight state title Saturday, defeating Yuma 25-15, 25-20, 25-16 in the championship match.
Both teams reached the championship match by winning their semifinals 3-0.
Yuma defeated Akron 25-20, 25-11, 25-21. It marked the third straight-set victory by the Indians over the Rams this season.
Resurrection Christian topped Caliche 25-16, 25-20, 25-16 in their semifinal.
Yuma (27-2) hadn’t been in a state title match since it won the championship in 1990, when its coach, Jenn Noble, was one of its players.
Yuma was the top seed, something that Howard said may have worked in his team’s favor.
“I think what helped is coming in as the second seed,” he said of helping his players to not enter the tournament complacent after winning it last year.
Resurrection Christian players celebrate winning the 2A title. (Ryan Casey/CHSANow.com)
Except for brief points in the early portion of the second and third games, the Cougars never trailed.
Senior outside hitter Preston Lienemann said the team knew the Indians had a couple of big hitters.
“We were going to have to play really good defense,’ Lienemann said. “We couldn’t make many errors.”
Abby Skipworth, a junior outside hitter, said the team spent the season knowing everyone in 2A was gunning for them.
“It was never really easy,” Skipworth said.
Still, the Cougars made it look so, finishing the season undefeated and extending the team’s winning streak to 58 matches.
Passing was a key factor in the victory.
Skipworth said the team attended a summer camp in which one of the clinicians stressed the importance of sharp passing.
The team then adopted a Ken doll which they named Billy and brought it to each game. After accepting the championship trophy on Saturday, they took turns ‘dancing with Billy.’
“I attribute so much of it to their mental toughness,” Howard said of his team’s ability to win a second state crown.
Six seniors were the backbone of the squad.
“We just have great team chemistry,” Lienemann said.
“We have a bond that keeps us in the game,” said Maddy Janzen, a junior middle hitter.
Every time Yuma seemed poised to make a run, the Cougars had an answer. That answer came from six different players, making it tough to key on any of Resurrection’s big hitters.
Skipworth said it felt just as good the second time around.
“Yeah, it was sweeter,” she said of the repeat.
As for the future, Howard loses a solid core but has some big hitters returning, led by Skipworth and Janzen. His sub-varsity also looks promising.
“I’ve got a lot of hungry freshmen and sophomores coming up,” he said.
He’s got eight returning varsity players with state title experience.
And he’ll probably still have Billy to dance with.
Eaton players celebrate winning the 3A volleyball championship. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
DENVER – Bringing home a state championship as a freshman and a junior was sweet, but Kortney Lockey is going to cherish her final title just a little bit more.
The Eaton senior helped deliver the Reds a third Class 3A trophy in four years, and in doing so the Reds became the first 3A squad to go back-to-back since Colorado Springs Christian in 2008-09. Lockey had 10 kills, including the one on match point to seal a 25-22, 25-13, 26-24 sweep of Valley on Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.
“Winning as a freshman and a junior is absolutely amazing,” Lockey said. “But to be a senior and just end your career with a state championship is the best feeling ever.”
Eaton (28-1) closed out the 2014 state tournament without dropping a single set. The Reds swept both pool play matches before holding off CSCS 25-23, 26-24, 25-16 in the semifinals.
“It means a lot to me because throughout my whole high school career I’ve never been to state without giving up at least one set,” Lockey said. “This year was my first clean sweep ever at state.
“We talked about finishing in three because anything can happen at state.”
Valley (25-4), which knocked out Manitou Springs in Saturday’s semifinals, has historically played Eaton as well as any team in the state. The Vikings dropped both regular-season meetings with the Reds, but took Eaton to five sets in the first matchup and took a set on Oct. 21 – the last team to do so to Eaton this season.
“It’s a state championship every time we play each other,” Reds coach Gwen Forster said. “We play each other the same way, so we knew it was important that we had to be able to go 0-0 and start fresh with them.”
Sophomore Tarynn Sieg led the charge Saturday, finishing the title match with a team-high 13 kills and eight blocks. Lindy Dixon had 10 kills, and freshman Chelsey Lockey recorded 36 assists and 18 digs. Bailey Schumacher led the team with 23 digs and Karlee Garland added 11.
It looked like Eaton would have another fight on its hands early Saturday night. Valley led 8-5 before Eaton began to surge back, with Dixon recording a pair of big kills during a 7-0 run. Sieg was equally big at the net, eventually putting the first set away with a kill.
Sieg was even more impressive in the second set, where Eaton never allowed Valley to make a run.
“Tarynn’s done a fabulous job this season and there’s not too many teams that can defend her,” Forster said. “She’s big and physical. Teams tend to camp out on Kort, but we had so many more weapons in our arsenal.”
The Vikings remained patient in the third set, allowing Eaton’s aggressive play to work against the Reds at times. Valley took a 21-19 lead on a kill by senior Cori Aafedt, but the block of Sieg and Kinzy Anderson put the Reds back into it.
Lockey put the match away with a routine hit that the Vikings were unable to return.
“I guess it wasn’t exactly the way I wanted it to end,” Lockey said with a laugh. “But it feels really cool to get the final kill and end your career that way.”
Both teams figure to be right back in the mix again next season. Valley graduates six seniors, including big hitters in Layne Pachl, Abby Wehrman, Micayla Crespin and Aafedt, but sophomores Ashlyn Martinez and Brooke Schilling enjoyed impressive showings against Eaton.
The Reds lose only two seniors in Lockey and Anderson.
“That’s what is nice, is we continue to build,” Forster said. “Obviously we always have another freshman class coming up, but even if you’re not stepping foot on the floor, we have so much depth that we knew we could rely on any one of them at any time.”
