Jennifer Kupcho was last season’s 4A girls golf individual championship, but is after a team title this season. (Courtesy of Mike Kupcho)

This season isn’t about chasing a state girls golf title for Jennifer Kupcho.

The senior from Jefferson Academy won top Class 4A honors last year.

Kupcho isn’t pursing a college scholarship, either. She signed a letter-of-intent with Wake Forest in November.

Instead with her future set, Kupcho is focusing on the present – her final high school season which began Thursday.

“I know I won (state), but I want to get our team to state for the first time in my four years, and hopefully we can give that a run,” Kupcho, 17, said. “That’s my overall goal right now and for sure I want to win state again.”

Kupcho’s best round came at the Colorado Open in August when she fired a 66 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

“I would say her strongest part is her driving and her irons,” said Mike Kupcho, Jennifer’s father, and coach. “Her short game has really improved, but she loves to hit driver and she loves to hit greens.”

Jennifer Kupcho coasted to her first state crown a year ago at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs. Kupcho shot a 2-over-par 146. Valor Christian’s Andrea Ballou was second with a 160 total.

“During my freshman and sophomore years, I was kind of emotional out there (on the course),” said the 5-foot-8 Kupcho, who plans on majoring in business at Wake Forest. “I’ve grown up and figured out how to calm myself down if I make a bad shot, and just do what I need to do to get the job done. I just look at the rating of the course and the difficulty, and I decide what I’m going to shoot that day, and I try and do my best with that goal.”

In 2013, at the Class 4A state tourney Kupcho was runner-up to Montrose’s Kala Keltz by two strokes.

According to the elder Kupcho, his daughter began playing golf at age 5.

Kupcho has signed with Wake Forest. (Courtesy of Mike Kupcho)

“She is just very mentally tough,” coach Kupcho said. “She tunes stuff out and goes after her goals. She isn’t scoreboard watching.”

Kupcho is joined in the Jefferson Academy lineup with fellow all-state selection Mariah Ehrman, who signed with Colorado Mesa University. Ehrman finished ninth in state last season.

“They just want to finish their high school careers really strong and they want our team to get to state,” coach Kupcho said.

Team-wise, Cheyenne Mountain will take aim at winning its third consecutive state championship. In 5A, Regis also will look to win another state title.

Kupcho has ambitions one day of competing on the LPGA Tour.

“I want to play four years in college and then go pro,” Kupcho said. “If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, but I want to try and be a pro.”

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Girls golf preview

Class 5A

• Defending individual champion: Michelle Romano, Rock Canyon (graduated)
• Defending state champion: Regis Jesuit
• Regular season begins: Feb. 26
• Regional tournaments: May 4-8
• State tournament: May 18-19, The Olde Course, Loveland
• Returning all-state golfers: Sydney Gillespie, Sr., Regis Jesuit (1st); Sarah Hunt, Sr., Denver East (1st); Anna Kennedy, Sr., Legend (1st); Ashlyn Kirschner, Sr., Ralston Valley (1st);  Sydney Merchant, Jr., Dakota Ridge (1st); Morgan Sahm, Jr., Grandview (1st); Erin Sargent, Jr., Skyline (1st); Mary Weinstein, Jr., Regis Jesuit (1st).

Class 4A

• Defending individual champion: Jennifer Kupcho, Sr., Jefferson Academy
• Defending state champion: Cheyenne Mountain
• Regular season begins: Feb. 26
• Regional tournaments: May 4-8
• State tournament: May 18-19, River Valley Ranch, Carbondale
• Returning all-state players: Leah Donnelly, Jr., Wheat Ridge (1st); Mariah Ehrman, Sr., Jefferson Academy (1st); Courtney Ewing, Sr., Pueblo West (1st); Tori Goodman, Sr., Falcon; (1st);  Jennifer Kupcho, Sr., Jefferson Academy (1st); Kiselya Plewe, Jr., Dolores (1st); Emilee Strausburg, Sr., D’Evelyn (1st).

The following weather contingencies concerning hockey games to be played Feb. 27-28 has been emailed to member schools:

With the impending forecasts for winter storms throughout Colorado the remainder of this week, it is imperative that the schools participating in the state ice hockey tournament be in contact with the site director for updated weather and contest information.

Please note that as of February 26, all tournament games are expected to run as scheduled. Should that change because of weather, the site director will make that decision based on the weather conditions in that area and the travel conditions for teams assigned to each site. The CHSAA Inclement Weather and Acts of God Policy (page 138 in the Constitution and Bylaw Handbook) will be followed.

Should the event be postponed by weather, the expectation is that the game(s) be rescheduled for the next available day, which includes Sunday, March 1. The site director, in concert with the participating school Athletic Director and the CHSAA office, will make the final decisions.

Regardless of the weather this weekend, the State Tournament venue at the Budweiser Events Center is contracted for the semifinals on March 5th with the Championship game on March 7th. The site has been contracted and we do not have the ability to change these dates. As a result, this games scheduled for this weekend must be played on schedule if at all possible, or as close to on schedule as can be.

If sites are forced to postpone games, please notify CHSAA, all teams and game referees immediately. Site directors, please take into consideration the travel for all of our teams.

The following locations are reliable weather sites that may guide you in making decisions:

• NOAA
• Weather Underground

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Will Bower had 19 points to lead No. 6-seeded Cherry Creek to a 61-41 win over No. 11 Rocky Mountain on Wednesday in the first round of the Class 5A boys basketball tournament.

WESTMINSTER — Senior Ben Egan scored 23 points as No. 6 seed Mountain Range boys basketball beat No. 11 seed Pine Creek in the first round of the Class 5A tournament on Wednesday.

Mountain Range used a 22-point fourth quarter to keep the Eagles at bay.

Egan led the Mustangs in assists with five and steals with four. He was one of four Mustangs in double figures, with Andrew Romero III’s 16 points, James Potter’s 11 points and Max Castillo’s 10 points.

Mountain Range will travel to No. 3 seed Chaparral for the second round, Saturday at 2 p.m.

BOULDER — Senior Annika Lai scored 23 points to lift No. 6 seed Fairview girls basketball over No. 11 seed Brighton in the first round of the Class 5A tournament Tuesday.

With Lai’s help, Fairview jumped out to a 22-2 lead after runs of 12-0 and 10-0. After their poor start, Brighton was never able to get back into the game.

The Knights’ stifling defense and hot shooting kept the game out of the Bulldogs’ reach. Fairview’s Logan Tidstrom and Denali Pinto chipped in 13 points and 11 points, respectively. Kayla Michel led Brighton with 11 points.

Fairview will move on to face No. 3 seed Denver East in the second round.

Dakota Ridge junior Caitlin Navratil (10) has a step on Douglas County freshman Skylar Backstrom (11) for a breakaway layup Tuesday night. Navratil scored a season-high 31 points in the Eagles’ 66-51 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)

LITTLETON — Normally the original movie is better than the sequel, but there can be exceptions.

After a 66-51 home victory over Douglas County on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Class 5A girls basketball state tournament, the No. 5-seeded Dakota Ridge Eagles (13-11 record) are eyeing a follow-up to last year’s improbable postseason run.

“I think if we play our game and play together we definitely could make a run again,” Dakota Ridge junior Caitlin Navratil said when asked if the Eagles had another deep playoff run in them. “I believe we can do it.”

Dakota Ridge was a No. 6 seed entering the 5A state tournament last season. The Eagles pulled off three straight playoff victories to become the Cinderella story of last year’s state tournament. The squad overcame first-year head coach Doug Maier resigning in late January.

Dakota Ridge junior Caitlin Navratil (10) drives on Douglas County sophomore Jordan Acosta during the first half Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss)

Former junior varsity coach Rich Gavelda took over the reigns and guided the Eagles’ during their postseason success. The Eagles eventually lost to state runner-up Fossil Ridge in the Great 8.

“We’ve worked hard to get there,” Gavelda said after the playoff-opening win Tuesday. “We got the taste last year. Sydney Buchli wasn’t healthy last year. She wants to get there more than any of us and we want to get her there.”

While Buchli wasn’t on the court during Dakota Ridge’s playoff run last year, the senior played a solid supporting role Tuesday night. Buchli poured in 18 points.

The lead and staring role went to Navratil. The Eagles’ 5-foot-3 guard scored a season-high 31 points.

“I felt pretty confident coming in,” said Navratil, who combined with Buchli to score 39 straight points for the Eagles in the middle of the game. “I just knew I had to play my game and shoot my shots. Help my team out. That was my main focus.”

Despite the efforts of Navratil and Buchli, Douglas County closed two within 31-29 two minutes into the second half. The Huskies went on an 8-0 run led by freshman Skylar Backstrom, who finished with a team-high 15 points for Douglas County (7-17).

“(Douglas County) had a little run and we expected them to. Skylar (Backstrom) is a very good shooter for them,” Gavelda said. “They strung together a few, but we overcame them.”

A pair of 3-pointers by Buchli and nine points by Navratil in the third quarter pushed the Eagles’ lead back to double-digits.

“We’ve relied on her (Navratil),” Gavelda said. “She was injured a little in the beginning of January and we kind of had to adjust to life without her. As she has gotten strong and strong, she has been our go-to person offensively and defensively. She is our leader.”

Dakota Ridge junior Becky Holley (23) tries to escape the double-team of Douglas County’s Sierra Stephan and Gabby Haneke during the first-round Class 5A girls basketball state playoff game Tuesday night at Dakota Ridge High School. The Eagles took a 66-51 victory and will face Fossil Ridge in the second round Friday. (Dennis Pleuss)

Senior Jessica Lebaron pitched in 10 points for Dakota Ridge. The young Huskies had sophomore Jordan Acosta (12 points) and junior Clara Larson (11 points) reach double-figures along with Backstrom in the season finale for Douglas County.

Next up for Dakota Ridge is a little shot at revenge. The Eagles travel to Fort Collins on Friday, Feb. 27 to face the team that ended their Cinderella run in 2014 — the Fossil Ridge Sabercats.

“We are very excited to get to play Fossil Ridge on Friday,” Gavelda said. “CHSAA did us a favor I think to give us a very good team. We’ll see what it’s like at their house.”

Navratil is also ready to get another shot at Fossil Ridge. She had 15 points in last year’s 60-50 loss at the Denver Coliseum.

“I want to go get them. I know we all want to go get them because we lost to them last year,” Navratil said. “It’s going to be exciting.”

Dakota Ridge junior Anna Wilkin (3) dribbles into Douglas County’s Jordan Acosta (33) and Olivia Vier (4) during the first-round playoff game Tuesday night at Dakota Ridge High School. The Eagles won 66-51. (Dennis Pleuss)

HIGHLANDS RANCH — Molly McCabe scored 22 points and had seven rebounds to lead No. 5 Mountain Vista to a 82-36 win over No. 12 Mountain Range in the first round of the Class 5A girls basketball tournament on Tuesday.

Paige Keller added 14 points, eight rebounds and six steals; Chelsea Pearson had 11 points; and Kirsten Burr scored 10.

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

AURORA — The swimming and diving committee on Tuesday recommended that schools be allowed an unlimited number of entries into individual events at the state meets.

Currently, schools are only allowed four entrants per event, even if more hit the qualifying time. That limit is based on an NFHS rule. However, a recent interpretation allows states to form their own adoptions on the rule — which opened the door for the swimming committee’s recommendation on Tuesday.

This change will need to be approved by the Board of Directors, and at the Legislative Council in April.

“The focus of this is on high school and participants,” said Bethany Brookens, CHSAA assistant commissioner in charge of swimming and diving.

Rule 3.1.1 of the swimming rules specifically states that “each team be permitted a maximum of four entries in an individual event and one team in a relay event.” However, that rule also includes the language “unless a conference or league determines otherwise” — which has been interpreted to expand to states, as well.

If approved in April, swim teams will be allowed an unlimited number of entries into individual events — provided those swimmers meet the qualifying time, of course. Teams would still be limited to one team entry in relays.

Additionally, a team would only be permitted to advance four swimmers or divers to the finals of a given individual event. Because of that, team scoring would be unaffected.

Also unchanged is the individual limit on swimmers. They will still only be allowed to swim in two individual events and two relays at the state meet.

An independent group examined data from the 2014-15 Class 5A season and determined that roughly 20 swimmers and divers would have been added to the state meet due to the change. A total of 550 swimmers and divers participated in the 5A meet two weeks ago. It is expected that an even smaller number of athletes would be added in 4A.

One concern is that the qualification times — which are set based upon the expected number of entrants and heats per event — would be negatively affected and create a more “elite” meet. However, the committee decided that qualifying times would only be set based upon the top four finishers from a team.

The committee initially talked about the change in 2014, then revisited it with another in-depth conversation on Tuesday.

If approved, the change would go into effect during the 2015-16 season for both boys and girls.

The swimming committee also recommended that swimmers and divers compete in a minimum of four meets — exclusive of league and/or conference meets — during the regular season in order to be eligible for the state meet. That, too, needs to be approved by the Legislative Council.

Skyline football has hired Mike Silva as its next football coach, according to Falcons athletic director Michael Green.

Silva has been an assistant at Silver Creek for the past six seasons, and was a member of the staff when the Raptors won the Class 3A championship in 2012, and finished as runner-up in 3A in 2013. He was also the head wrestling coach at Silver Creek.

Silva is a graduate of Skyline.

“He has been an integral part of the Silver Creek program for the past six years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Skyline,” Green wrote in an email. “We are excited to announce his hiring and are looking forward to the future of Skyline football.”

Skyline, a 4A program, went 2-8 last season under former coach Kevin Rice, who was 16-63 in eight seasons at the school.

Follow all of football’s coaching changes this offseason in our tracker.

The following weather contingencies concerning games to be played Feb. 25-28 has been emailed to member schools:

With the impending forecasts for winter storms throughout Colorado the remainder of this week, it is imperative that the schools participating in the state basketball tournaments be in contact with site directors for updated weather and playing information.

ADs: Please contact the site director and provide your after-hours contact information.

Please note that as of February 25 all tournaments are expected to run as scheduled. Should that change, the site director (or host AD in 4A and 5A) will make that decision based on the weather conditions in that area. The CHSAA Inclement Weather and Acts of God Policy (page 138 in the Handbook) will be followed. Boys and Girls are considered separate tournaments.

Should an event be postponed by weather, the expectation is that the games be made up on the next available day, which includes Sunday, March 1. The site director, in concert with the participating school ADs and the CHSAA office will make the final decisions.

Regardless of the weather this weekend, the state regional/Sweet 16/Great 8 tournaments are scheduled for March 6-7. The sites have been contracted and we do not have the ability to change these dates. As a result, this weekend’s games must be played on schedule if at all possible, or as close to on schedule as can be.

If districts are forced to postpone games, please notify CHSAA, all teams and game officials immediately.

Class 3A Please Note: Should a decision be made to postpone districts, the 3A seeding committee meeting scheduled for Sunday will have to be re-scheduled, so please notify the CHSAA Office immediately if a decision to postpone is imminent.

The following are good weather sites that may help:

• NOAA
• Weather Underground