DENVER — Liberty Common, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A girls soccer, beat 2A No. 1 Denver Christian 10-1 on Tuesday.
Sarah Schaffer had four goals and two assists, and Liz Yeh added three goals and two assists for Liberty Common.
Month: April 2015
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Photos: No. 5 Grandview baseball beats No. 3 Cherry Creek
AURORA — Morgan Smith went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as No. 5 Grandview beat No. 3 Cherry Creek 7-3 on Tuesday.
The Wolves’ Grant Schroeder threw a complete game, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits. He struck out six.
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Arbitration no longer required in CHSAA appeals process
Gov. John Hickenlooper signs Senate Bill 51, which no longer requires the use of arbitration in the CHSAA appeals process. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) DENVER — Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday signed a bill into law which no longer requires that binding arbitration be used in the CHSAA appeals process.
Instead of arbitration, a court will be used in the instance an appeal gets to that level going forward.
The bill, Senate Bill 51, was suggested and lobbied for by CHSAA. It specifically deals with the appeals process for students who have been ruled “ineligible to participate in an extracurricular activity.”
CHSAA has a four-step appeals process for ineligible participants. First, the party goes to their league, then to the CHSAA commissioner, then to a three-person committee, and finally to the CHSAA board of directors. At any point during that time, the party can opt to go to court.
The bill amends the state statutes to read, “A student who has completed the appeal process described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (9.5) may seek a preliminary injunction or restraining order from a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Previously, the statute read that an ineligible student could “file a petition or complaint with a group of sitting or retired judges or other group of neutral arbitrators approved by the school, school district, or any organization or association to which the school or school district belongs.”
That statute originally went into effect, in part, as a way to seek more timely and cost-effective resolutions. However, according to CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico, arbitration was typically “three-to-four” times more expensive for the Association and schools, and the process was longer.
Additionally, when rendering their decisions, arbitrators do not have to follow the same strict guidelines as a court does.
“A court has to rule if we had to right to make the rule, and if the rule was applied correctly,” Angelico said. “An arbitrator doesn’t necessarily have the same standard. We felt the court system has been more consistent in how they rule on these issues.”
“This puts every student in the state of Colorado on exactly the same playing field, and doesn’t rely on their financial ability to be able to afford an arbitration hearing,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann, who was heavily involved in the process.
The bill received bipartisan support, and was unanimously approved in both the Senate and the House.
The change takes effect in August.
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Photos: Mountain Vista baseball hits walk-off homer to beat Lakewood
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Cooper Shearon hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift second-ranked Mountain Vista baseball to a 6-5 win over Lakewood in extra innings on Monday.
Mountain Vista needed some heroics to even get to extra innings. The Golden Eagles trailed by three entering the bottom of the seventh, and tied the game on Marc Mumper’s three-run homer.
The teams went scoreless in the eighth inning, then Mumper, a senior, took the mound and held the Tigers by striking out two in the top of the ninth. That set the stage for Shearon’s one-out walk-off.
Mumper was 2-for-3 with four RBIs at the plate.
Vista sophomore Jalen Saiz went four innings and allowed just one earned one and one hit.
Lakewood’s Chase Powell pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just two earned runs (five total), and striking out seven. The Tigers’ Marcelo Sanchez and Danny Collins were each 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
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Pueblo East football coach David Ramirez resigns
Pueblo East won the 3A football championship last season under the guidance of David Ramirez. (Mark Adams) David Ramirez, who led Pueblo East to the Class 3A football championship last November, has resigned as the school’s football coach.
Pueblo City Schools sent a press release announcing the change on Tuesday morning, and cited “personal reasons” for the resignation. Ramirez also resigned his job as a physical education teacher at the school.
In part, the release stated, “The resignation is effective immediately. Ramirez cited personal reasons for stepping down. East High School Principal Patrick Krumholz said an extensive search will begin immediately for Ramirez’s replacement.”
Ramirez told the Pueblo Chieftain that the resignation was “a voluntary thing with me.”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he told the paper. “I’ve been doing it since I was 24 and I felt it was just time for me to move on.”
Ramirez coached the Eagles for seven of the past eight seasons with a one-year absence in 2011.
He was hired in 2007, and went 47-33. Over the past three seasons, his mark was 28-11. That includes 11-3 in 2014, when he led Pueblo East to the school’s first title in its 55-year history.
After the season, was voted as the 3A coach of the year by his fellow coaches.
Prior to joining Pueblo East, Ramirez was an assistant at Coronado. He graduated from Pueblo Centennial in 2001.
Follow all of the moves this offseason in our coaching changes tracker.
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CHSAA to honor retiring administrators
AURORA — CHSAA is set to honor any administrator that will be retiring this school year at its April Legislative Council meeting.
Please notify Jane Boudreau in the CHSAA office of any retirees (superintendent, principal, assistant principal, athletic director or activities director). She can be reached at jboudreau@chsaa.org.
Be sure to include the following information:
- Name of the person retiring
- School, and how many years in education
- Also include years of coaching/activities and administration
- Any other information you would like to share about this person
Those honored will receive a plaque as well as a 2015-16 CHSAA courtesy card.
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Kit Carson, latest grant recipient, understands hard work
Dennis and Jennifer Koolstra. Kit Carson High School athletes know a lot about hard work; more than just the hard work that goes into a winning season. As a rural school, most of Kit Carson’s students come from an agricultural background and understand the work and effort that goes into running a successful farm.
Within an hour of their school, Dennis and Jennifer Koolstra and their family, work hard at their family dairy.
“We are dedicated to providing our country, and the world, with high-quality, nutritious milk and dairy foods. Dairy farming is not just a profession for our family, it is a passion,” says Jennifer.
Dennis Koolstra is a second-generation dairy farmer and runs an operation in Eastern Colorado. They have three children – Isaiah, Micah and Samuel. Dennis’s parents, Wilbert and Marie started dairy farming after Wilbert took on work as a relief milker for a farm near Berthoud, Colorado. The farmer paid him for that work by giving him a Holstein cow and the rest is history – the Koolstras have been running a dairy farm ever since.
“We are constantly seeking ways to improve the comfort of our animals because we know that this will lead to the production of high-quality, safe and wholesome milk. Without healthy and content cows, we couldn’t do what we do. Caring for our animals is our number one priority,” says Dennis.
A dairy operation runs 24/7 and the Koolstra family stays energized and fuel’s their active lifestyles with dairy – from string cheese to yogurt; they know dairy products keep their bones healthy and energy levels high from school classes to soccer practice.
Kit Carson boys and girls basketball team also kept their energy high by refueling with milk after practices and games this 2014-2015 season, after receiving Western Dairy Association’s Fuel Up with Milk Grant.
Coach Gina DeChant recognizes a difference in Kit Carson athletes after they have refueled with milk following a basketball game.
“Every one of our athletes can feel a difference when they drink it. They appreciate the hard work of individuals and owners of the dairy farms that allow them to have this opportunity,” she said.
Kit Carson High School sees the importance of continuing to provide milk to their athletes – the fluids and electrolytes for rehydration, carbohydrates for replenishing glycogen (energy) stores, and high-quality protein for aiding in muscle recovery and repair. And they plan to keep using milk to refuel even after the support of the 2015 grant.
Athletes can train harder and perform better with proper nutrition. Visit WesternDairyAssocation.org to read more about milk as an exercise recovery beverage and learn how to eat for peak athletic performance.
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Rocky Mountain ascends to top of 5A baseball rankings
Rocky Mountain, and sophomore Tyler Hyland, are the new No. 1 5A baseball. (Dennis Pleuss) Another week, another new team atop the Class 5A baseball rankings.
Rocky Mountain became the latest team to ascend to the top of CHSAANow.com’s poll this week when the Lobos received eight of the 15 first-place votes and edged No. 2 Mountain Vista. Cherry Creek, the former No. 1, fell to third this week.
Rocky is the third team to lead the 5A ranking this season following preseason No. 1 Regis Jesuit and Creek.
Fairview stayed put at fourth in this week’s poll, and Grandview stayed at fifth. Behind them, three new teams joined: No. 6 Monarch (6-0-1), No. 7 Fruita Monument (12-0) and No. 9 Heritage (7-2).
ThunderRidge is No. 8 this week, while Regis is No. 10.
In 1A, there’s also a new No. 1. Eads takes over after getting four of the eight first-place votes. Former No. 1 Holly dropped to third. Community Christian is second.
That 1A poll added Granada (No. 8) and Cornerstone Christian (No. 9).
The other No. 1 teams stayed the same this week. Those are Green Mountain (4A), Eaton (3A) and Resurrection Christian (2A).
Other newcomers include No. 9 Wheat Ridge in 4A; No. 8 La Junta and No. 9 Bayfield in 3A; and No. 9 Ellicott in 2A.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.
Complete rankings for all classes are below.
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CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Class 5A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Rocky Mountain (8) 4-3 135 2 3-3 2 Mountain Vista (3) 6-2 133 3 4-2 3 Cherry Creek (3) 5-1 124 1 1-0 4 Fairview (1) 7-2 86 4 4-2 5 Grandview 5-2 85 5 4-2 6 Monarch 6-0 43 – 4-0 7 Fruita Monument 12-0 34 – 4-0 8 ThunderRidge 4-5 33 7 3-4 9 Heritage 7-2 28 – 4-2 10 Regis Jesuit 3-6 27 6 1-3 Others receiving votes: Mullen 26, Denver East 22, Pine Creek 21, Rock Canyon 19, Columbine 13, Ralston Valley 10, Highlands Ranch 5, Arapahoe 4, Grand Junction Central 4, Legend 4. Dropped out Pine Creek (8), Arapahoe (9), Ralston Valley (10). Class 4A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Green Mountain (6) 5-2 107 1 2-2 2 Pueblo West (2) 10-1 104 2 5-1 3 D’Evelyn (3) 10-0 99 6 6-0 4 Evergreen (1) 6-1 73 8 4-1 5 Lewis-Palmer 7-2 60 3 6-2 6 Montrose 7-2 52 5 2-1 7 Windsor 8-2 36 10 4-1 8 Valor Christian 3-5 32 4 1-4 9 Wheat Ridge 5-3 24 – 5-1 10 Pueblo East 8-2 20 7 3-1 Others receiving votes: Palisade 13, Canon City 9, Air Academy 7, Erie 7, Ponderosa 6, Elizabeth 5, Skyview 5, Mesa Ridge 4, Durango 3, Silver Creek 3, Cheyenne Mountain 1, Longmont 1. Dropped out Silver Creek (9). Class 3A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Eaton (8) 7-0 97 1 7-0 2 Lamar (2) 7-1 91 2 4-0 3 University 6-1 73 3 4-1 4 Brush 6-1 55 7 2-0 5 Gunnison 7-1 41 8 5-1 6 Sterling 6-2 40 6 2-2 7 Faith Christian 3-4 35 5 2-3 8 La Junta 6-3 29 – 3-2 9 Bayfield 5-2 27 – 4-1 10 Manitou Springs 7-1 23 9 4-1 Others receiving votes: Valley 18, Bruce Randolph 10, Kent Denver 5, Olathe 4, St. Mary’s 2. Dropped out Kent Denver (4), Valley (10). Class 2A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Resurrection Christian (6) 5-1 94 1 5-1 2 Rye (4) 7-0 93 2 4-0 3 Sedgwick County 6-0 82 3 4-0 4 Las Animas 8-1 50 8 3-1 5 Hotchkiss 7-2 46 6 4-1 6 Paonia 9-2 45 9 6-1 7 Dayspring Christian 5-1 37 7 3-1 8 Denver Christian 1-1 32 4 0-0 9 Ellicott 8-1 24 – 4-1 10 Haxtun 8-3 15 10 4-3 Others receiving votes: Swink 12, McClave/Wiley 8, Dolores 5, Yuma 5, Lyons 2, Sanford 1. Dropped out Swink (5). Class 1A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Eads (4) 5-2 72 4 4-0 2 Community Christian (3) 9-1 65 2 5-0 3 Holly 4-2 60 1 3-2 4 Gilpin County 3-1 50 5 1-1 5 Cheyenne Wells 2-2 31 6 1-1 6 Dove Creek 2-4 29 3 2-2 7 Peetz 2-2 23 9 2-2 8 Granada 1-3 18 – 1-3 9 Cornerstone Christian (1) 1-2 16 – 1-1 10 Sierra Grande 1-1 15 10 0-1 Others receiving votes: Springfield 14, Fleming 12, Nucla 10, Manzanola 9, Antonito 8, Denver Jewish Day 7, Longmont Christian 2, Weldon Valley 2. Dropped out Nucla (7), Fleming (8). -
Cherry Creek now atop girls lacrosse rankings
Cherry Creek leads this week’s girls lacrosse rankings. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com) Cherry Creek is the new No. 1 team in this week’s girls lacrosse poll from CHSAANow.com.
The Bruins are the third team to be ranked No. 1 in girls lacrosse this season, following preseason No. 1 Air Academy and Colorado Academy. They took over for CA after receiving four of the nine first-place votes and totalling 83 points.
Denver East got three first-place votes and is No. 2 this week. Mullen got the other two first place votes and is third. The Mustangs upset former No. 1 Colorado Academy last week.
Ralston Valley is the lone newcomer to the poll, joining at No. 10.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.
Complete rankings are below.
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CHSAANow.com Girls Lacrosse Poll
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Girls Lacrosse RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Cherry Creek (4) 6-1 83 2 1-1 2 Denver East (3) 5-2 74 3 1-2 3 Mullen (2) 4-2 69 6 3-0 4 Colorado Academy 5-3 67 1 1-3 5 Centaurus 5-2 61 4 1-1 6 Arapahoe 5-1 41 8 2-0 7 Air Academy 5-1 34 7 2-0 8 ThunderRidge 4-2 22 9 1-0 9 Rampart 3-3 11 5 0-2 10 Ralston Valley 5-1 10 – 1-0 Others receiving votes: Kent Denver 8, Chatfield 5, Palmer 4, Regis Jesuit 4, Valor Christian 3, Columbine 1. Dropped out Regis Jesuit (10). -
Rock Canyon, Windsor join respective boys lacrosse polls
Rock Canyon and Windsor were the lone newcomers to the boys lacrosse rankings this week.
The Jaguars (5-2) joined the Class 5A poll from CHSAANow.com at No. 9 this week. Cherry Creek continued to lead 5A, getting seven of the 13 first-place votes.
Regis Jesuit is second, Arapahoe is third, Mountain Vista is fourth and Kent Denver rounds out the top five.
Windsor, meanwhile, joined the 4A poll at No. 7. The Wizards are 5-2.
Valor Christian remained atop that ranking. The rest of the top five are No. 2 Aspen, No. 3 Cheyenne Mountain, No. 4 Ponderosa and No. 5 Air Academy.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.
Complete rankings for both classes are below.
[divider]
CHSAANow.com Boys Lacrosse Polls
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Class 5A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Cherry Creek (7) 4-0 118 1 1-0 2 Regis Jesuit (3) 5-1 115 3 3-0 3 Arapahoe (1) 6-1 100 2 2-1 4 Mountain Vista (1) 6-1 98 5 2-0 5 Kent Denver (1) 4-0 89 4 1-0 6 Chatfield 5-2 47 9 2-2 7 Monarch 7-2 39 10 4-1 8 Denver East 6-0 34 8 3-0 9 Rock Canyon 5-2 25 – 3-0 10 Columbine 3-3 21 6 1-2 Others receiving votes: Castle View 9, Dakota Ridge 6, Grandview 6, Mullen 4, Wheat Ridge 4. Dropped out: Wheat Ridge (7). Class 4A RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Valor Christian (7) 7-0 97 1 2-0 2 Aspen (1) 5-2 77 2 2-1 3 Cheyenne Mountain (1) 5-2 75 4 1-1 4 Ponderosa (1) 4-3 69 5 2-1 5 Air Academy 4-1 61 6 0-0 6 Battle Mountain 5-2 56 3 1-2 7 Windsor 5-2 42 – 4-0 8 Dawson School 3-2 22 7 2-1 9 Conifer 5-2 20 10 2-0 10 Steamboat Springs 5-2 18 8 3-1 Others receiving votes: Thompson Valley 9, Golden 4. Dropped out: Thompson Valley (9).