CHSAANow

Month: May 2015

  • Cheyenne Mountain wins third-straight 4A girls soccer crown, this one in PKs

    (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)
    Cheyenne Mountain beat Lewis-Palmer in penalty kicks to win Class 4A girls soccer. (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY — Cheyenne Mountain is used to this winning thing.

    One of the most successful sports schools in Colorado with 88 state championships, second behind only Cherry Creek, Cheyenne Mountain captured its fourth team title this spring with the Class 4A girls soccer crown over Lewis-Palmer 2-1 on penalty kicks.

    The Indians became the first program in any classification to win three consecutive in girls soccer, an impressive stat, made even more so when considering how they accomplished the feat.

    In a classic, the Indians made six consecutive penalty kicks before goalie Stephanie Deines dived to her right to stop Jenny Allenspach’s shot, setting off their celebration. Brooke Miller scored what proved to be the winning penalty kick.

    To get to that point they had to overcome an unrelenting Lewis-Palmer attack during regulation and in both overtimes and attrition in a physical game against a Pikes Peak conference and city rival, not to mention a Ranger team that had outscored their opponents 70-7 heading into the state finals.

    (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)
    (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

    They did all that and more Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park thanks to the talents of senior forward Hannah Gerdin, who had the lone regulation goal in the 29th minute, and goalie Deines, a senior who played limited minutes as a backup behind Hunter Peifer last season.

    Peifer returned for her fourth season, as well, after earning second team all-state honors as a junior, but the University of South Carolina recruit suffered a season ending injury before the opener.

    Deines stepped in and proved to be the closer for a Cheyenne Mountain three-peat.

    “I’m so happy for her,” coach Tomas Martinez said. “With that injury to Hunter, Stephanie just stepped up and took care of business. I could not be more proud of somebody.”

    “This team, most of us came off the bench last year,” Deines added. “The fact that we get to come out here and win our own one is super exciting.”

    Cheyenne Mountain, also the champions of 4A girls tennis, boys swimming and diving, and girls golf, have now finished the year first in four of nine spring sports.

    Oh, and by the way, they have repeated as champions in three of those sports with seven consecutive girls tennis crowns, three straight girls golf titles, and now back-to-back-to-back girls soccer championships.

    To say 2015 has been a success for the school in Colorado Springs would be an understatement.

    But the Indians, in claiming their sixth crown in girls soccer, only Arapahoe (nine) has more, actually started the season 2-5 with losses to 5A Fossil Ridge, Valor Christian, The Classical Academy, Evergreen, and 5A Pine Creek.

    The losses were forgivable as Evergreen, Valor, and TCA reached the 4A postseason, and Fossil and Pine Creek made 5A playoff appearances, but unusual for Cheyenne Mountain in recent years.

    The Indians graduated a loaded group from a team that went unbeaten in 2014. It took time to gel, to reload, and after winning only two of their first seven games, they went unbeaten in their final 13.

    Cheyenne Mountain earned the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and Lewis-Palmer garnered the No. 8. The teams tied for the conference championship and saw their regular season showdown finish in a scoreless double overtime tie.

    Despite being the higher seed, coach Martinez felt the Rangers were the slight favorites.

    “It’s nice to kind of be the underdog coming in,” he said. “Even though we were the higher seed, with their numbers and their stats and starting the way we did and rallying the way we did this season, I couldn’t be more proud.”

    After the game was over, sentiments were the same for both Cheyenne Mountain’s players and their coach. They enjoyed taking on a rival, one they have great respect for, but they didn’t want to give up the title of being the best in the state and in their city.

    “It’s great that it’s going back to the springs either way, but I didn’t want them being the new kid on the block and setting the tone for the springs,” Martinez said. “We still want to run Colorado Springs, if we can.”

    Cheyenne Mountain finished with a 14-5-1 record. They will graduate Gerdin, a first team all-state honoree in 2014 and their leading scorer this year with 24 goals. Deines will also be gone, as will several other contributors on the varsity. But the Indians will have Lauren Jones (17 goals) and a great young core back. They will likely be favored to win their fourth consecutive state championship.

    Lewis-Palmer, which actually outplayed Cheyenne Mountain for much of the game, struggled capitalizing on their many scoring opportunities. The Rangers had nine corner kicks in the first half, but no goals.

    Anna Donisi, a sophomore forward, did come up with the equalizer in the 52nd minute. The Rangers closed their season with a 17-2-1 record and will be looking to build off their first finals appearance, seventh overall, since 2001 with a very capable group of their own returning. Sophomore Brianna Alger (24 goals) was one of 4A’s top players this season.

  • Colorado Academy tops Cherry Creek in lowest-scoring girls lacrosse title game

    (Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)
    (Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)

    DENVER — It was cold, it rained, and it was the lowest scoring girls lacrosse title game in Colorado history.

    Colorado Academy braved the elements to defeat Cherry Creek 8-3 to clinch the state title on Wednesday night, using fast starts to both halves and terrific goaltending from Bridget Sutter to stymie the Bruins.

    “Bridget is the best human being ever,” said the Mustangs’ Emma Richards, who scored two goals in the contest. “You wouldn’t know she even plays sports if you just saw her and talked to her but she turns into a beast in (the net).”

    As the game began under a drizzle and with a heavy mist in the air, one couldn’t help but wonder if the deteriorating conditions would play a role in the final score. Couple that with the nerves of two elite teams attempting to feel each other out, and the early going of the game had a very deliberate feel to it.

    (Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)
    (Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)

    Colorado Academy (16-3 overall, 5-0 league) set the tone early though, playing physical against the Bruins (16-3, 7-0) and generally controlling the early possessions.

    The strategy would pay off early, too, as Richards put home the first goal of the game for the Mustangs just minutes into the match.

    Top-seeded Creek was unfazed by CA’s success though, sticking to their game and using their deadly speed to force the Mustangs into fouling and soon, Caroline Perry would put home the Bruins’ first goal on a free shot.

    From there it was up and down the field in the first half, with both schools using especially active movement away from the ball to ward off the cold. First Creek went ahead on another goal by Perry, then the Mustangs answered with two more of their own to take a 3-2 lead into the half of an incredibly close contest on the field.

    However, as the second half began, the field began to take on a decided tilt favoring Colorado Academy.

    The Mustangs took it to Creek from the opening faceoff of the second half, jumping out to a 5-2 lead on the second goals of the game by Richards and Lindsey Jackson, respectively before Eliza Radochonski could get one back for the Bruins on a free shot.

    From there, though, it was all Mustangs, as Colorado Academy would add three more insurance goals within the final ten minutes.

    “I told the team at half that this team is not going to quit and neither are we,” said Colorado Academy coach Steph Sanders. “It’s not over until it’s over and my girls knew it wouldn’t be over until it’s over.”

    Even as the Bruins started to grow desperate at the end, Colorado Academy kept the pressure on, drawing the fouls that Cherry Creek was able to get called on the Mustangs early on and turning it into the final goal with just a few seconds to go.

    But despite the tough loss for Cherry Creek, coach Kathryn Ames expressed nothing but admiration for her squad.

    “They say Creek has never missed a championship game,” Ames said, “but this was no easy climb. No one expected us to be here with this young of a team, and the whole state of Colorado is getting better at lacrosse.

    “These girls are fighters and I am so, so proud of them all.”

    After the game, though, you could see the determination was on the side of the Mustangs, who talked extensively about their drive to win the game.

    “I grew up watching Creek and Colorado Academy play lacrosse,” said Richards. “(On the first goal) I came around the side of the cage and all that was in my head was that I wanted everyone to know that I wanted this since I was practically in the womb.”

    Now Richards and the 2015 Colorado Academy lacrosse team are a fixture in that rich history.

    (Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)
    (Matt Daniels/mattdanphoto.com)

  • Grandview holds off Broomfield to win 5A girls soccer championship

    (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)
    Grandview won the 5A girls soccer championship on Wednesday. (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY — Though a late start meant dropping temperatures, energy ran high from the first whistle as Grandview and Broomfield battled for the Class 5A girls soccer state championship.

    The speed and physicality came from both squads and persisted for the entirety of the match, but Grandview took home the title with a 2-0 win.

    “I knew it would be a close game, and I know (Broomfield coach Jim) Davidson. I knew they’d make a run at this,” said Grandview coach Tari Wood. “We are young and little, but my girls play bigger than they seem. They want it so badly.”

    Grandview possessed the ball for the majority of the first 40 minutes, taking long-ranged shots and moving the ball swiftly. There was just something tangibly tenacious about them, and after 25 minutes of play, it payed off with a goal from sophomore defender Jessica Hixson.

    A corner placed the ball in the box and Hixson rocketed it into the top center, capitalizing on her powerful right and giving the Wolves the 1-0 lead.

    “I have two of the best centerbacks and they happen to work very well together,” Wood said of Hixson and Nicole Lyubenko who connected for the goal.

    (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)
    (Audra Cathy/CHSAANow.com)

    Moments after, Broomfield had a free kick that merely floated over the goal, and in the final minutes of the first half, a cross gave Broomfield forward Makena Bambei a shot at the equalizer but the ball hit the crossbar. Grandview hung on to head into half with the advantage.

    Broomfield moved from 4A to 5A this season, and though the Eagles came up short, their debut in the championship showed that they belonged.

    They came out of the second half with fire, pressuring the Broomfield defense with much more force than the first half.

    “We equalized the game in possession, gained a lot of momentum, and had our chance but it was just unfortunate,” said Broomfield coach Jim Davidson. “We took the first half off, that was the difference. Their athleticism disrupted us. We didn’t connect anything in the first half but were able to break them down in the second. I’m proud of them.”

    But Grandview continued to play at their skilled level, the type of play that has kept them undefeated since mid-march, where they faced their only loss of the season.

    They led early and it led to their success.

    “I’ve been in 13 state championships and I’ve never seen a team win from behind,” said Davidson. “If you don’t play 80 minutes then you make it really hard on yourself. But I told the girls to come back out after the half and make it worthy of a state championship.”

    With just under a minute left, Grandview junior Mandi Duggan sealed the win for the Eagles with another goal and closed out the soccer state tournament.

    Grandview is now 2-0 in state title appearances, having won back in 2008.

  • CHSAA has opening for administrative assistant

    POSITION

    • Administrative Assistant – Colorado High School Activities Association
    • Job Purpose – To provide administrative support to Bethany Brookens, Assistant Commissioner.

    MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Assume receptionist duties, greet public, answer phones, route calls, manage mailings, and work with a team of individuals. 
    • Assist with and learn to have a highly proficient understanding of the Association’s sanctioned sports and activities.
    • Facilitate event registration and assist with event execution.
    • Produce minutes from various CHSAA Committee meetings. 
    • Help organize and coordinate multiple meetings and conferences throughout the year.
    • Edit, create, and proofread specific athletic and event specific publications.   
    • Troubleshoot computer and IT issues within the office.
    • Produce and edit personnel documents and policy handbooks.
    • Responsible for assisting all the administrators and administrative assistants, as needed.
    • Maintain appropriate and confidential interpersonal relationships with employees, peers, parents, and school representatives.

    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

    • Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
    • Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team.
    • Highly proficient and confident with Microsoft Office Software (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint).
    • Proficient with computers and willingness to learn different computer databases.
    • Proficient in social media marketing and promotions.
    • Must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with diverse populations.
    • Demonstrated self-motivator; must possess impeccable time management skills. 
    • Ability to multi-task, work well under pressure, and have innovative ideas.  
    • Ability to represent the Association in a professional and enthusiastic manner.
    • Passionate about high school sports and activities, and an understanding of athletic tournament brackets is beneficial. 

    SALARY

    • Commensurate with qualifications

    BENEFITS

    • Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA); Medical, Dental and Vision Plans; Sick Leave; Vacation; Life Insurance Survivor Benefit.

    APPLICATION PROCESS

    • Forward a cover letter, a current resume, a list of three to five references (no letters, but include title, address and phone numbers).
    • Include current salary of present position.

    SUBMIT TO:

    Bud Ozzello, Assistant Commissioner
    (303) 344-5050
    bozzello@chsaa.org

    CHSAA
    14855 E. 2nd Avenue
    Aurora, CO  80011

    TIMELINE, APPLICATION PROCESS

    • Opening announced: May 21, 2015
    • Deadline for receipt of applications: June 2, 2015
    • Conclude initial screening of applicants: June 4, 2015
    • Conclude interview of applicants: June 10, 2015
    • Announce selection of Administrative Assistant: June 12, 2015
    • Position will start with the July fiscal year

  • Mallory Pugh of Mountain Vista named national girls soccer player of the year

    Rock Canyon Mountain Vista girls soccer
    Mallory Pugh, right. (Ray Chen/arrayphoto.com)

    Mallory Pugh, a junior at Mountain Vista, was named the national girls soccer player of the year by Gatorade on Thursday.

    Pugh, a top player nationally and a member of the U.S. under-20 national team, had 24 goals and 12 assists in 10 games for the Golden Eagles this season.

    “Mallory Pugh is the best player in high school soccer I have ever seen,” Heritage coach Adam Buseck told Gatorade.

    She is the third Colorado player to win the national award in its 18-year history. Wheat Ridge’s Mary McDowell won the national award in 2001, and Green Mountain’s Aleisha Cramer won it in 2000.

    Pugh also won the award for the state’s top player on Tuesday, and follows Gabbi Miranda (2012-13) as the second Mountain Vista player to win the state honor.

    She is committed to UCLA, and is the younger sister who Bri Pugh, who also played at Mountain Vista and just completed her senior season at Oregon.

    Pugh was given the award at Mountain Vista on Thursday:

  • Green Mountain in control of 4A state baseball tournament

    Ponderosa Green Mountain baseball
    Green Mountain is 3-0 in the 4A baseball tournament. More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    DENVER — For the second-straight year, the Green Mountain Rams are in a prime position to take the Class 4A state baseball tournament.

    With a 5-4 win over Ponderosa Thursday, the Rams are now the only undefeated team remaining in the double-elimination format tournament.

    “That’s something that a lot of teams have thought about in the past,” Green Mountain coach Brad Madden said. “We’re not thinking about being in the driver seat. We’re thinking about winning two more games.”

    The Rams did a good job in the first two innings of getting runners on base early, but they weren’t able to drive them home. Those issues got resolved in the third as the offense erupted for five runs. It was Chase Upson with the big swing, driving in two runs on a double down the right field line putting Green Mountain up 3-0.

    “Everything in the game (is important),” shortstop Cole Shetterly said. “Every run is important and you just need a way to manufacture runs and we were able to do that today.”

    Ponderosa Green Mountain baseball
    More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    Last year’s 4A player of the year, Josh Ramirez, was walked in and then Upson scored on a passed ball to give the Rams a 5-0 lead.

    On the mound, Ramirez was able to limit baserunners for Ponderosa, stifling the Mustangs’ offense. Once his team had given him a five-run pad, he knew that he wanted to go the distance for his team.

    “I wanted the whole thing,” he said. “I hate getting innings taken away from me. I love going the entire game, it’s my favorite thing to do.”

    He didn’t get into any trouble until the fifth. Thomas Green tripled for the Mustangs and was brought home by a Jesse Feldhouse single to get Ponderosa on the board.

    They added one more in the sixth to cut the Rams’ lead to three runs. Determined to get the complete game, Ramirez went out for the seventh. A couple of base hits put the tying run at the plate in third baseman Rider Ghidotti. Ramirez tried to start him off with a slider high and inside and Ghidotti launched it to right field for a triple.

    The Mustangs had the tying run 90 feet away. But Ramirez stuck out Kian Kagan looking to end the game sending the Rams into the last round of the tournament as the lone team with no losses.

    “We gave up a few pity runs here and there but that happens,” Ramirez said. “(We just have to) win out. That’s all we have to do.”

    [divider]

    D’Evelyn 2, Windsor 0

    A pitcher’s duel between the Wizards’ Cole Brandon and the Jaguars’ Cameron Brown went into the sixth inning before D’Evelyn finally got on the board.

    They scored two in the top of the sixth and were able to hold Windsor without a run, setting up their second elimination game of the day.

    [divider]

    D’Evelyn 5, Wheat Ridge 0

    Wheat Ridge D'Evelyn baseball
    More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    The Jaguars kept up their late momentum from their earlier game with Windsor as they plated four runs in the first inning to jump out to a quick lead.

    The Farmers were able to settle down defensively, but their inability to get their bats going led to their second loss of the tournament, eliminating them from the 4A field.

    D’Evelyn pitcher Grant Witherspoon threw a complete game, two-hit shutout to get the Jaguars into the Final 4.

    [divider]

    Lewis-Palmer 1, Erie 0

    Paul Tillotson struck out nine and was 2-2 at the plate as the Rangers knocked the Erie Tigers out the tournament.

    Billy Cook drove home the lone run for Lewis-Palmer on a double to left field.

    [divider]

    Lewis-Palmer 4, Evergreen 0

    An RBI infield single from Billy Cook and a bases clearing double from Brad Kuglar powered the Rangers to a 4-0 win and a spot in next week’s Final 4.

    Lewis-Palmer pitcher Colin Cicere went the distance, giving up only two hits in the shutout win.

  • Cheyenne Mountain, Kupcho repeat as 4A girls golf champions

    The Cheyenne Mountain girls golf team celebrates their third consecutive state championship. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow)
    The Cheyenne Mountain girls golf team celebrates their third consecutive state championship. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    CARBONDALE — It wasn’t pretty, but the Class 4A girls golf state tournament concluded at River Valley Ranch Tuesday with a couple of repeat champions.

    The Cheyenne Mountain Indians claimed their third straight team title while Jefferson Academy’s Jennifer Kupcho repeated as individual champion.

    Kupcho claimed the title after an impressive round of 3-under par while grouped with Cheyenne Mountain’s Kylee Sullivan and Silver Creek’s Erin Sargent. Coming into the final round, Kupcho was sitting at 1-under while Sullivan trailed by three strokes with Sargent right behind her at four back.

    The course may have been more difficult this time around, but to Kupcho the feeling of winning was no different than last year.

    The top-10 finishers in 4A girls golf. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
    The top-10 finishers in 4A girls golf. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    “It was a little different atmosphere this year with the rain,” Kupcho said. “I was hitting everything pretty close. I left a few birdie putts on the lip on the back nine.”

    If there was any indication that each of the three were hungry for an individual title, it showed on the approach shots on the first hole. They all put their balls within 12 feet of the hole, but each two-putted for par.

    Sargent and Kupcho managed the first birdies of the round as they took advantage of the manageable length of the second hole, a par five. All the while, Sullivan maintained a consistent game, keeping her approach shots close enough to the pin for chances at birdie. But the weather delays wreaked havoc on her game in the long run.

    “It was a long round,” Sullivan said. “Fatigue sets in and your mind starts running. I struggled the most with keeping my head in the spot with that long of a round.”

    Sullivan remained steady through the first six holes, but faltered for a bogey on seven, giving Kupcho some breathing room, not that she needed it. Birdies on five, seven and eight had her at two-under par for the tournament. And that’s when the weather intervened.

    Heavy rain and lightning forced the players off the course for a bout a half hour. Once the lightning cleared, the players were able to return to the course and finish the round. Kupcho kept up her strong play after the delay, going even on the back nine.

    As a team, the Indians were able to snag a five-stroke lead on Monday and carried that momentum over into Tuesday as they increased that lead to as many as 14, before finishing at 67-over, five strokes better than the Colorado Academy Mustangs.

    “At one point, we were up 14 and seemed like a foregone conclusion,” Cheyenne Mountain coach Bill Paulson said. “The next thing I see, we’re up eight after the rain delay, then seven. It got more dramatic than I wanted it to.”

    The team title marks the ideal ending for Paulson who is retiring as coach of the Indians. Cheyenne Mountain will look to replace a man who has built the program into a state-wide powerhouse. He made a point of not telling his team how much it meant to him, but this championship was clearly special.

    “I’ll never forget it,” he said, wiping away tears. “Never.”

    Find full results from the tournament here.

    Colorado Academy finished second in 4A girls golf. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
    Colorado Academy finished second in 4A girls golf. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

  • Final results from 4A girls golf state tournament

    Final results from girls golf’s Class 4A state tournament.

    The 4A tournament was held at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale in Loveland.

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Individuals
    Pos. Player School To par Round 1 Round 1 Total
    1 Jennifer Kupcho Jefferson Academy -5 70 69 139
    2 Kylee Sullivan Cheyenne Mountain +5 73 76 149
    3 Erin Sargent Silver Creek +7 74 77 151
    4 Kiselya Plewe Dolores +12 80 76 156
    5 Hannah More Mullen +14 78 80 158
    T6 Adara Pauluhn Niwot +15 82 77 159
    T6 Lauren Murphy Glenwood Springs +15 79 80 159
    8 Kacey Godwin Colorado Academy +18 83 79 162
    9 Cassie Kneen Colorado Academy +19 82 81 163
    10 Emilee Strausburg D’Evelyn +20 85 79 164
    T11 Sarah Hwang St. Mary’s +21 84 81 165
    T11 Tori Goodman Falcon +21 81 84 165
    T13 Reiley Waldo Durango +22 84 82 166
    T13 Kellsey Sample Palmer Ridge +22 81 85 166
    T15 Brooke Lucero Rye +24 84 84 168
    T15 Mariah Ehrman Jefferson Academy +24 84 84 168
    17 Colleen Casey Estes Park +26 80 90 170
    T18 Kelsey McKenna Air Academy +27 81 90 171
    T18 Lauren Cruz Northridge +27 80 91 171
    T20 Ashley Roo Valor +28 90 82 172
    T20 Megan Vernon Golden +28 90 82 172
    T20 Sophia Montoya Pueblo South +28 87 85 172
    T20 Makayla Dahl Valor +28 83 89 172
    T20 Courtney Ewing Pueblo West +28 82 90 172
    T25 Kylee Tokoi Mountain View +29 90 83 173
    T25 Isabella Morfe Valor +29 89 84 173
    T25 Caitlyn Olson Northridge +29 86 87 173
    T25 Regina Dillon Cheyenne Mountain +29 85 88 173
    29 Natalie Holley Evergreen +31 87 88 175
    30 Melissa Steinbach Cedaredge +32 88 88 176
    T31 Maxine Choi Cheyenne Mountain +33 93 84 177
    T31 Claire McPeak Niwot +33 87 90 177
    33 Trinity Goderstad Colorado Academy +35 91 88 179
    T34 Shelby Hindes Monte Vista +37 96 85 181
    T34 Brooke Brennecke Montrose +37 94 87 181
    T34 Aryn McLaughlin Thompson Valley +37 87 94 181
    T37 Alyson Schuman Palisade +38 93 89 182
    T37 Leah Donnelly Wheat Ridge +38 86 96 182
    39 Marin Halvorsen Kent Denver +40 96 88 184
    40 Bethany Wells Montrose +41 95 90 185
    41 Taylor Sandoval Eagle Valley +42 96 90 186
    42 Molly Lange D’Evelyn +43 89 98 187
    43 Laci Williams Skyline +44 102 86 188
    T44 Sarah Rhodes Pueblo West +45 96 93 189
    T44 Molli Boruff Berthoud +45 92 97 189
    T46 Emma Robinson Pueblo Centennial +46 99 91 190
    T46 Bailey Reed Wray +46 94 96 190
    48 Elly Walters Rifle +47 93 98 191
    49 Breanne Buchner Fowler +53 100 97 197
    50 Allyson Ludewig Eagle Valley +54 102 96 198
    T51 Tylyn Zwirn Yuma +55 99 100 199
    T51 Sam Chaney Vista Peak +55 99 100 199
    53 Taylor Hackett Alamosa +56 99 101 200
    54 Raynie Makloski Pueblo South +57 108 93 201
    T55 Grace Gunlikson Skyline +58 104 98 202
    T55 Maddy Helfer D’Evelyn +58 101 101 202
    T55 Kelsey Rodrigue Mesa Ridge +58 95 107 202
    58 Perry Ford Canon City +59 100 103 203
    59 Larissa Roberts Bishop Machebeuf +60 101 103 204
    T60 Katy Burr Manitou Springs +61 105 100 205
    T60 Emma Moser Northridge +61 104 101 205
    T62 Paige Anderson Discovery Canyon +62 111 95 206
    T62 Mikayla McKie Montrose +62 110 96 206
    T62 Ellie Broker Cheyenne Mountain +62 109 97 206
    T62 Jolene Carrica Swink +62 105 101 206
    T62 Lexi Youngren Montrose +62 103 103 206
    T67 Eryn Salinas Rye +64 109 99 208
    T67 Sam DeNardo Pueblo West +64 107 101 208
    69 Alyssa Rios Ft. Morgan +65 105 104 209
    T70 Lorenza Rios Pueblo Central +66 108 102 210
    T70 Danyka Fetty Pueblo County +66 103 107 210
    72 Jayden Muro Windsor +67 109 102 211
    T73 Courtney Kauffman Standley Lake +69 113 100 213
    T73 Taylor Axelson Thompson Valley +69 109 104 213
    75 Kylie Brixey Florence +70 102 112 214
    76 Vanessa Johnson Vista Ridge +72 103 113 216
    77 Chloe Gordon Denver South +73 120 97 217
    78 Kylee Shepard Vista Peak +75 109 110 219
    79 Sarah Street Colorado Academy +76 105 115 220
    80 Alli Brown Northridge +90 134 100 234
    81 Hannah Munro Conifer +99 112 131 243
    82 Teagan Sullivan Palmer Ridge +107 117 134 251
    83 Samantha Weber Air Academy WD 94 WD –
    Team scores
    Pos. Team To par Round 1 Round 2 Total
    1 Cheyenne Mountain +67 251 248 499
    2 Colorado Academy +72 256 248 504
    3 Valor Christian +85 262 255 517
    4 Northridge +116 270 278 548
    5 Montrose +133 292 273 565
    6 Pueblo West +137 285 284 569
    7 D’Evelyn/Denver South +174 310 296 606

  • Vail Mountain wins first-ever 2A girls soccer title

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY — Vail Mountain completed a season of firsts at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday.

    In the Gore Rangers’ first girls soccer state championship appearance in the inaugural season for Class 2A, a freshman, Tess Johnson, scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with three minutes, 25 seconds remaining, to defeat Dawson School 2-1.

    The victory gave Vail Mountain, a school with an enrollment of 110 students that opened in 1962, state title No. 1 in girls sports. It was also their second championship overall. They won boys skiing in 1991.

    The Gore Rangers, a team that starts five freshman, Johnson, Emma Hall, Katie Alonzo, Hannah Fallon, and Olivia Manula, beat Dawson 4-0 in the regular season finale on May 1 on the road. The Mustangs were missing two of their best players, Morgan Powers and leading scorer Liv Cramer, a talented first-year of their own, in the regular season. They proved to be a stiffer test in the finals.

    In a closely contested game early on, knotted at one at halftime, the Gore Rangers were in attack mode in the final 40 minutes with plenty of scoring opportunities.

    First, they hit the cross bar. Then, they just missed a header off a corner kick. Finally, a Vail Mountain shot snuck just to the left side of the net and out-of-bounds. The Gore Rangers applied plenty of pressure, but had a scoreless drought from Johnson’s goal in the fifth minute until her game-winner.

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Vail Mountain mostly controlled possession late, but Dawson had an impenetrable defense for a good portion of the state finals.

    “They were tough in the final third of the field,” Vail Mountain coach Bob Bandoni said. “They were double and triple teaming some of our players and that made it tough for us to score.”

    But, they made a crucial change that allowed them to earn the decisive goal.

    “We actually made a little adjustment and moved her a little higher on the field with twenty minutes left because we saw their backs we’re playing a little higher,” Bandoni said of Johnson, a forward. “They kept encroaching and there was more space back there. We were like, ‘Let’s see if we can punch one through.’”

    Johnson’s shot was nearly corralled by Dawson goalkeeper Nicole Towner, but had just enough force to get past the senior.

    “When I scored the winning goal, it was a bit of a surprise,” Johnson, a member of the United States Junior ski team in the freestyle division, said. “I thought the keeper had it. She played an incredible second half. Once it crossed the line, I knew we were going to take it.”

    The first-year player hadn’t been on a stage like Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before, the home of the Colorado Rapids, but she did have poise with a clutch goal last Wednesday. Johnson beat the halftime buzzer to give Vail Mountain a 1-0 lead on Denver Christian, a score that held up as the lone goal in a semifinals victory.

    “It means a lot to do this for my team and for my coaches and the seniors,” she said. “This has been a season of a lifetime.”

    Vail Mountain, who had a large fan section make the 100 mile drive to Commerce City, finished off a 16-1 campaign that included wins over 3A playoff teams Aspen and Coal Ridge. They also went undefeated, 10-0, in 3A Region 3, comprised of both 2A and 3A programs. The Gore Rangers were the No. 1 seed in the postseason. They achieved a high standard of success by every measure in 2015.

    “What runs through my mind is less the game and more the season,” Bandoni said. “We were really looking to punctuate a season where we felt we were growing every time we walked onto the pitch.”

    Dawson, which answered Johnson’s early goal with a Sophie Brussell score in the thirteenth minute, is equally youthful. The Mustangs will return eight of their nine leading goal-getters. The No. 3 seed in 2A finished with an 11-7 record.

    Both teams will likely be title contenders again in 2016.

  • Colorado Academy repeats as 3A girls soccer champion

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY — It felt more like a brisk fall evening than one in mid-May as the No. 1 seed Colorado Academy and No. 3 seed Jefferson Academy took the field under the lights at Dicks Sporting Good Park.

    And it felt a lot like last year for Colorado Academy.

    The Mustangs beat Jefferson Academy 1-0 on Tuesday, marking their second-straight Class 3A championship and their fourth win of seven state title appearances. Last year, in nearly identical fashion, Colorado Academy beat The Classical Academy 1-0.

    “It’s been incredible to see the talent, skill, and dedication in this group. We love each other and its a huge part of our success,” said Colorado Academy star Marin McCoy, a senior. “We push each other in practice, we all want to be better. It was such a pleasure to be part of this group, and what an amazing way to finish off my high school career.”

    Jefferson Academy made its debut appearance in the finals this season, and a strong one at that. The two teams matched up in late April, where the Mustangs walked away with a 6-1 win.

    The Jaguars didn’t let such a far gap build this time.

    Under a cold mist and amid puffy-jacket-clad students and parents, the two teams shot skidding balls in the hopes of one slipping by.

    Jefferson Academy took shots early, with a promising cross from forward Alycia Wright in the first few minutes. After the ball rattled the crossbar, giving Colorado Academy a good scare, the Mustangs took the ball into their feet. Colorado Academy’s McCoy made moves past the defense and goaltender for a seemingly certain finish on an open goal, but popped it against the crossbar.

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    Marin McCoy (11) holds the 3A trophy up after helping Colorado Academy win the title. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Shortly after, their time came as a beautiful pass from senior midfielder Julia Murphy floated over two Jefferson defenders and into the feet of McCoy, who made one step past the goaltender and tapped it into the goal with 21 minutes left in the half.

    “We are best at controlling the ball and moving it around until its time to move it up from the back. We try not to get antsy,” said McCoy.

    Colorado Academy moved the ball around Jefferson’s defense persistently, but was held to the single goal at the end of the half. In the second, the Jaguars defense came out stronger than before, stitching the holes and diving for rolling balls at the goal-line, ending Colorado Academy’s opportunities.

    Wright shot two rockets in the latter portion of the second half, whizzing just far of the post. But they ultimately came up short as time ticked away and the defending champs met victory again.

    “Our goal was not to pretend to come out here and crush anybody. It was to be able to hang with them, and we did just that,” said Jefferson Academy coach Denise Sutton. “And what a gift these seniors have given to the younger players — playing here, giving them this vision. That’s what I love about this all.”