Month: August 2016

Cross country preview: Peak to Peak stands out in newly-loaded 3A
(Courtesy of Kim McConnell)

A number of Class 4A cross country programs will be dropping down a division this fall.

The Classical Academy has a way of making its presence felt no matter the classification. After all, the Titans conquered ten consecutive girls cross country state titles from 2003-2012, the first nine in 3A.

Holy Family, the 3A champion in 2012, is also back. D’Evelyn, Conifer, Steamboat Springs, Elizabeth and Denver North are among a number of other teams bringing quality groups of girls into the fold.

And yet, even in a bolstered field, the Pumas of Peak to Peak stand out.

“It’s really exciting how many teams came down to 3A from 4A this year,” Quinn McConnell said. “There’s definitely a lot more competition this season and I think it’ll be a bigger challenge. We’re ready for that to help us achieve our goals.”

In returning a pair of sophomores with state title credentials — McConnell in cross country and the 800-meter run in track, and Anna Shults in the 1,600 — Peak to Peak has considerable talent at the top.

“They’ve been able to complement each other in their training given their different strengths,” said Kim McConnell, the mother of Quinn and third-year head cross country coach at Peak to Peak. “There hasn’t been what you would call a rivalry. There’s much more of a sense of working together to get better.”

(Courtesy of Kim McConnell)

Tiana Bradfield, seventh place at the state track meet in the 1,600 as a freshman and 26th in cross country, also returns. Elle Triem, Jenna Howard and Jillian Ries all broke six minutes in the 1,600 as first-years, as well. Rachael Metzler, a veteran among the youthful Pumas, placed 21st at the state cross country meet a season ago as a junior.

Peak to Peak is loaded, so much so that they are arguably the preseason favorites to win their first-ever state championship in girls cross country after finishing as the runner-up in 2015 to Salida by a slim six-point margin.

But, for all the excitement surrounding this group of young ladies, the Pumas have a program built on the idea that end results are only a part of the equation.

“We don’t at all focus on results,” the elder McConnell admitted. “We just keep focusing on the process. We focus on becoming excellent human beings and excellent athletes. There are a lot of things you can’t control at a big meet.”

For a school with an already rich distance running tradition since its doors opened in Lafayette in 1999 — second place at the 3A girls state cross country meet in 2007 and third in 2008, with seven total top-10 team finishes since 2006 — Peak to Peak nearly broke through for title No. 1 in the sport a season ago as McConnell and Shults finished clear of all other individuals.

In winning their second championship in three years, Salida had a mere 58-second difference between their first and fifth finishers.

“Salida did an incredibly great job packing up and I sent their coach a letter telling him they were amazing and they deserved to win,” Kim McConnell said. “We didn’t like missing by just six points, but when you look back at the season as a whole we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.”

Quinn said the Pumas are intent on lessening the gap in their lineup from first to fifth, something that would make a rising power even more formidable. Even though lofty aspirations are on the conscience, the sophomore has the wisdom to know there is more to it than just winning.

“We’re close-knit and our main goal this season is to have fun,” she said. “We do have big goals, but we’re just trying to keep it in perspective. Our coach does a really great job of putting into perspective that running is not the biggest thing in our lives.”

[divider]

Girls

Class 5A
- Defending champion: Broomfield
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Maya Browning, Fairview, junior; Claudia Burgess, Boulder, junior; Allie Chipman, Mountain Vista, junior; Caroline Eck, Mountain Vista, sophomore; Lauren Gregory, Fort Collins, senior; Brie Oakley, Grandview, senior.
Class 4A
- Defending champion: Air Academy
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Paige Embaugh, Air Academy, sophomore; Lauren Offerman, Mountain View, senior.
Class 3A
- Defending champion: Salida
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Chantae Steele, Classical Academy, sophomore; Kayla Young, Denver North, senior; Madelynn Gerritsen, Platte Canyon, sophomore; Quinn McConnell, Peak to Peak, sophomore; Hannah McReavy, St. Mary’s, junior; Anna Ponzio, Colorado Academy, junior; Anna Shults, Peak to Peak, sophomore; Lily Tomasula-Martin, Estes Park, senior; Cassie Unruh, Skyview Academy, senior.
Class 2A
- Defending champion: Telluride
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Soleil Gaylord, Telluride, junior; Kyra Hanson, Resurrection Christian, senior; Chloe Veilleux, Soroco, sophomore.
[divider]

Boys

Class 5A
- Defending champion: Mountain Vista
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Isaac Green, Monarch, senior; Kyle Moran, Cherry Creek, senior; Joshua Romine, Mountain Vista, senior.
Class 4A
- Defending champion: Durango
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Maximilliano Martinez, Widefield, senior; Ian Meek, Montrose, senior; Brandon Swenson, Evergreen, senior.
Class 3A
- Defending champion: Alamosa
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Tanner Norman, Classical Academy, senior; Isaiah DeLaCerda, Alamosa, senior; Caleb Palmer, Alamosa, senior.
Class 2A
- Defending champion: Lyons
- Season begins: August 25
- Regionals begin: October 20
- State Meet: October 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs
- Returning all-state runners: Cody Danley, Rocky Ford, junior; Jake Murphy, Lake City Community, senior.
August 19, 2016
Pomona out to defend its gymnastics title

Pomona gymnatics coach Tracey Boychuk will attempt to guide the Panthers to back-to-back 5A team titles. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — Pomona gymnastics has a chance to continue its run of record-breaking performances from last year.

The Panthers not only claimed the school’s first girls state team title in any sport last year winning the Class 5A state title, Pomona did it in record-setting fashion setting the all-classification record of 190.925 points in the team race.

“We didn’t really think about the scoring record. We as coaches knew of that possibility, but everything would have to go right. That was kind of frosting on the cake,” longtime Pomona gymnastics coach Tracey Boychuk said. “Bringing the first female state (team) title to Pomona was huge. This is a school full of tradition and full of pride, it always had been. We had so many (girls) teams come so close.”

Pomona’s gymnastics team set the table in what was an outstanding school year athletically. The Panthers’ wrestling and boys track joined the gymnastics team in winning 5A championships during the 2015-16 school year.

Not only does the Panthers have the opportunity to repeat as state champions this fall with the likes of junior Kelsey Boychuk and sophomore Brooke Weins — top two placers in the all-around — but Boychuk has a shot to win her third straight all-around title.

“I know it’s in the back of her mind,” Coach Boychuk said of Kelsey, her daughter, having the chance to become the first four-time all-around state champion in the state. “We don’t talk about it that much. I don’t want her to feel all that pressure. Would it be fantastic? Absolutely.”

While being halfway from making history is in Kelsey’s mind, she is still focused on the team and not her individual accomplishments.

“I focus more on having fun and do it for my team,” Kelsey said. “Gymnastics is one of those sports where you need to stick together as a team.”

Senior Kylie Stecklein confirmed that the best gymnast in 5A over the past two years is about team first.

Pomona tries to keep its grip on the state team and individual all-around titles this fall. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Kelsey is all for the team,” Stecklein said. “She is never worried about herself. She is always worried about someone else on the team.”

Senior Annabel Spence will be another key piece to Pomona’s puzzle this season. Spence placed in the top-10 in the all-around, bars, beam and vault at state last season.

“Last year we really never believed or imaged that could happen,” Spence said of winning the team title. “Now we know we are that good and it is possible.”

While there will be a target on the back of the Panthers this season as the defending state champs. However, Spence believes if Pomona stays close as a team a repeat is within reach.

“We’ve just got to think about having fun and staying positive,” Spence said. “If we have those thoughts and with the work we’ll put in it will come.”

Coach Boychuk admits that staying healthy is a huge factor in gymnastics during the season that will conclude with the 5A and 4A state meets Nov. 4 and 5 at Thornton High School.

“I know we are a strong team. The key in high school gymnastics is staying healthy and making it count when it’s supposed to,” Coach Boychuk said. “The year is always full of ups and downs. Of course we would love to repeat, but that doesn’t happen all the often. We’ll see.”

Pomona gymnastics team has around 24 members this season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

August 19, 2016
Janine Beckie, Canada women’s soccer capture bronze at Olympics

(Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil)

Valor Christian alum Janine Beckie helped Canada women’s soccer win the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics on Friday.

The Canadians defeated Brazil, the host nation, 2-1 in the bronze medal match.

Beckie, a 2012 graduate of Valor, scored three goals during the tournament.

Canada also won bronze at the 2012 Olympics, but that is the only other time the team has medaled at the Games.

Beckie started Canada off in an incredible way at the tournament, scoring 20 seconds into the first match with Australia. It was the fastest goal in Olympic history.

Beckie went on to star for Texas Tech after graduating from Valor. She plays for the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League.

https://twitter.com/janinebeckie4/status/766724271024529408

(Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil)

August 19, 2016
Video: Legend football is led by a new coach and a returning quarterback

Blake Olson talks to long time head football coach Monte Thelen about his new team at Legend.

Thelen can’t say enough great things about quarterback Marc Muma. Chad Muma will be healthy enough to play in September and his older brother is happy about that.

Find more stories like this from Football America.

August 19, 2016
Gymnastics preview: Elizabeth continuing to thrive
(Photo: Matt Taylor)

Even in their initial season as a program, Elizabeth had a whiff of success.

“We started in 2006,” Stacey Folmar, the head coach since the beginning, said. “We had 11 kids out. We didn’t qualify for state as a team, but we had six individual qualifiers and so we ended up placing sixth as a team.”

As the years have passed, the Cardinals have blossomed in the gym even more.

“We’ve had three state championships and four state runner-up titles, all since 2009,” Folmar said. “We’re proud of the legacy of the gymnastics team and hopeful that we can remain as competitive as we have been.”

The Cardinals won 4A state titles in 2009, 2010, and 2012, while last season they were the runner-up to Niwot, 178.2-177.175. So, what’s allowed Elizabeth to surge so suddenly?

“When we started there was just such a passion for the sport and to each other,” the veteran coach noted. “There was a bond created and I think that bond has become the legacy of our gymnastics team. The success has to be attributed to the commitment of the kids, the commitment of our parents, and the commitment of the school that has stood behind us. It’s been a really big group effort.”

What makes the current contingent compelling is their youth. 16 freshmen were among the 27 on the roster a season ago. 20 of 24 gymnasts this fall will be underclassmen.

“We’re young but there’s so much potential and so much energy that we really believe we can maintain our level of competitiveness even in the larger field,” Folmar said, noting that several teams are moving down from Class 5A to 4A. “We’re looking at it as a welcomed challenge.”

(Photo: Matt Taylor)

Lexye Wood, one of many skilled freshmen in 2015, was the runner-up in the all-around competition in 4A behind only Standley Lake sophomore Rachel Cody. Amanda Taylor, a rare junior on Elizabeth, placed third in the all-around.

Folmar knows the program will have to stick to its blueprint. The Cardinals are in this together and she said it’s not fair to talk about only one or two individuals when so many are ready to make an impact.

“We have some young event specialists that I think are going to contribute a lot,” she said. “Dillon Lind, she’s a senior who is fabulous on the floor. We’re not really looking for that great all-arounder, we’re looking for everyone to contribute their very best to the team. It’s going to take all 24 to make this happen.”

Elizabeth boasted their largest group in history last fall and remain confident in the direction of the program.

“We have so many girls that are so good at what they do and we all push each other,” Lind said. “We’re all competitive. Someone will see someone else do something and it’ll be like, ‘oh, I can do that too.’ We push each other in that way. It’s good for the team.”

In 5A, Pomona, Broomfield, Rocky Mountain, Cherry Creek, Overland and Mountain Range are all expected to be in the upper crust again.

Pomona shattered the all-classification Colorado record at last season’s state meet in becoming the first-ever team to score over 190 points with 190.925. In doing so, the Panthers won the school’s first girls state championship in any sport.

Before that, Overland had claimed four of six 5A crowns, while Broomfield won in 2012 and Bear Creek in 2010.

Class 5A
- Defending champion: Pomona
- Season begins: August 25
- Postseason begins: October 29
- State Meet: November 4-5 at Thornton High School
- Returning all-state honorees: Kelsey Boychuk, Pomona, junior (first team); Brooke Weins, Pomona, sophomore (first team); Autumn Bottke, Rocky Mountain, senior (first team); Abby Holbrook, Broomfield, junior (second team); Samantha Simon, Cherry Creek, junior (second team); McKenna Turbyne, Overland, senior (second team).
Class 4A
- Defending champion: Niwot
- Season begins: August 25
- Playoffs begin: October 29
- Championship: November 4-5 at Thornton High School
- Returning all-state honorees: Rachel Cody, Standley Lake, junior (first team); Marissa Koski, Niwot, senior (first team); Lindsey Chohon, Niwot, sophomore (second team); Hannah McDonald, Niwot, junior (second team); Amelia Sears, Niwot, senior (second team); Grace Braune, Pueblo Central, junior (second team); Lexye Wood, Elizabeth, sophomore (first team); Amanda Taylor, Elizabeth, junior (second team).
August 18, 2016
Englewood and St. Mary’s Academy to co-op in softball; team moves to 4A

On the eve of the softball season, one newly-announced co-op has changed the structure of the classification alignment.

Englewood and St. Mary’s Academy applied for a co-op in softball on Tuesday. The CHSAA office granted the request, which means the two schools will combine to have one program. Players from both schools will play for one program, under the Englewood banner.

The co-op also means the two schools will combine enrollment. Separately, Englewood (602) and St. Mary’s Academy (254) were each going to be 3A programs. But their combined enrollment of 856 places them above the 4A threshold of 626 students.

As a result, the new Englewood team has been moved from Class 3A to Class 4A, and will need to qualify for the postseason in 4A. As they were already in the 3A/4A Colorado 7 League, Englewood’s league affiliation has not changed.

“We’re losing a team in 3A — a competitive team — and they move to a competitive 4A classification,” said Bud Ozzello, the CHSAA assistant commissioner in charge of softball. “But with the new postseason qualification procedures in place through RPI, it is an easy change to make.”

The 4A teams playing in the Colorado 7 will remain with one automatic qualifier to the postseason. The 3A Colorado 7 teams do not have an automatic qualifier, unless they win the league outright.

St. Mary’s Academy has not had a softball program in the past, though its players have played for Englewood under the state law that allows participants to play for other schools if their school doesn’t offer a program.

However, Englewood did not have enough players on its own to field a team, according to CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann, who oversees co-ops. And so the two schools decided to officially form a co-op to ensure the program would have enough players.

Though co-ops are usually approved by the CHSAA office at this point, it is atypical for a team to change classifications this late, Borgmann said.

“It does happen at times, though it is more generally with smaller schools. Sometimes, they just don’t have enough kids,” he said. “The whole point of co-ops is to allow kids to participate, and to maintain programs. This is a perfect example of that.”

August 18, 2016
Video: Chatfield football leans on Dalton Keene in 4A

Blake Olson talks to Virginia Tech commit Dalton Keene and Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin about the upcoming season.

Chatfield drops to 4A from 5A and they may be one of the last teams standing before it’s all said and done. The Chargers have depth and a positive outlook prior to the start of the new season.

Find more stories like this from Football America.

August 18, 2016
Video: Grandview football loaded with talent

Blake Olson talks to the returning Class 5A leading rusher Hayden Blubaugh, coach John Schultz and quarterback Gunnar Lamphere as Grandview prepares for another season.

The Wolves are always one of the best high school football programs in the state of Colorado. Such is the case again in 2016. Grandview has size, speed and strength up front as they return nine 9 of 11 offensive starters.

Find more stories like this from Football America.

August 18, 2016
D’Evelyn football brings big passing attack to Class 2A

DENVER — D’Evelyn football will provide Class 2A teams a taste of what a well-versed passing attack looks like this season.

The Jaguars move down from 3A to 2A this season with the enrollment numbers moving several teams around to balance out the classifications. D’Evelyn has been a perennial playoff team and league champion contender in 3A under coach Jeremy Bennett for more than a decade. However, the move down to 2A hasn’t changed Bennett’s or the Jaguars’ approach to the season.

“As a team we looked back on it. We decided it really isn’t a big change for us,” said Kehoe, who had 60 catches for 911 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. “We are still going to play like we play. We are going to see everyone as an opponent and play our own game.”

Kehoe returns as D’Evelyn’s top receiver from last year’s squad that put up more than 3,900 yards through the air during a 7-4 record in 2015. Gone are Charlie Davis (1,641 yards receiving) and quarterback Owen Burke (3,904 yards passing and 39 touchdowns).

By no means is the cupboard bare when it comes to the receiving core for the Jaguars. Kehoe, along with the likes of Josh Riggs, Cody Bell and Rome McIntrye gives D’Evelyn plenty of depth at the position.

“I don’t think a lot of 2A teams have seen what we do,” Bennett said of the Jaguars’ passing attack. “They haven’t seen the team speed with have with being seven or eight receivers deep that can all run.”

D’Evelyn’s Josh Brinkerhoff. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The main question is who will be throwing the ball for D’Evelyn. In the mix for the starting quarterback job includes seniors Josh Brinkerhoff, Christian Cedillo and junior Chad Dines to take over for Burke, who is continuing his football career at one of the top Division II programs in the country in Winona State University in Minnesota.

Dines will have to sit the first four games after transferring for Valor Christian last season. The junior attends Colorado Academy, which doesn’t have a football program. Dines made the choice to play for the Jaguars this season.

“All the (quarterbacks) are doing great. The season is still pretty fresh,” Kehoe said. “We’ll see who will step up as a leader and show off their talent. It will all work out in the end.”

Bennett isn’t concerned either about the quarterback position.

“We’ll be OK. We’ll have a guy who will throw for over 2,000 yards,” Bennett said. “I think what you will see different is the running game. We want to be balanced this year.”

Look for senior Kyle Klataske to be one of the main ball carriers for the Jaguars. Klataske had nearly 500 yards rushing in a back-up role last season.

D’Evelyn senior Nolan Baldin will anchor an aggressive style of defense. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Defensively, senior Nolan Balbin will spearhead an impressive linebacker core.

“I think we want to be really aggressive. We want to push people around and be fast to the ball,” Balbin said. “I think the defense will get a lot of attention this year. We have a lot of returning starters.”

D’Evelyn will play in the 2A Flatirons League that includes Arvada, Denver West, Faith Christian, Jefferson, Middle Park and the Jaguars. The non-league schedule for D’Evelyn is challenging with Sterling, Platte Valley and The Classical Academy all ranked in the top-10 in 2A of the CHSAANow.com preseason poll.

The Jaguars sit in the No. 6 spot in the preseason poll and received three first-place votes.

“By no means do we think dropping down we are just a shoo-in to win a state title,” Bennett said. “We are going to have to work our tails off, but these guys have bought in.”

D’Evelyn senior Justin Kehoe had 17 touchdown catches last year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

August 18, 2016
Valor Christian names Brian Bonn new baseball coach

(Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)

Valor Christian named Brian Bonn its next baseball coach on Thursday.

Bonn is very familiar with the program, having been an assistant with the team since its start nine seasons ago. He has 13 years of total coaching experience.

He’ll inherit a squad that is fresh off of winning a Class 4A state championship, and is 127-61 in its history.

“Over the past nine years, I have had the opportunity to assist in starting and growing the Valor Baseball program,” Bonn said in a statement. “I have a deep desire to continue to create an exceptional program and lead baseball players to Jesus Christ. My heart is to make sure that every student has an exceptional experience and they would feel loved by the players and coaches around them.

“Since the beginning, I have fallen in love with the culture of Valor Baseball and I want to continue to make it even better for the years to come. I am excited to step into this new role and look forward to continuing the traditions that make Valor Baseball such a special program.”

Bonn takes over for Keith Wahl, who started the program when the school opened. Wahl left to take a job as an athletic director in Alabama this summer.

Said Valor Christian athletic director Jamie Heiner: “It brings me great joy to announce Coach Bonn as the next leader of the Valor Baseball program.”

August 18, 2016