CHSAANow

Month: October 2016

  • Highlights & photos: Mountain Vista wins top-10 volleyball match vs. Chaparral

    HIGHLANDS RANCH — Sixth-ranked Mountain Vista got a top-10 win in Class 5A volleyball beat beating No. 8 Chaparral 3-2.

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  • Photos: D’Evelyn boys soccer rallies to tie Standley Lake, win Jeffco title

    ARVADA — D’Evelyn won the Class 4A Jeffco title on Tuesday thanks to Bert Li’s goal in the 44th minute, which led to a 1-1 tie with Standley Lake.

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  • State softball preview: Lower seeds making most of postseason chances

    Pomona Mountain Range softball
    Reigning 5A softball player of the year Hunter Huser of Mountain Range. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    It should come as no surprise that the defending Class 5A state champion is one of the final 16 teams headed into this weekend’s state softball tournament.

    Yet somehow Mountain Range punching its state ticket – by winning a regional title no less – was one of the bigger upsets of last Saturday’s regional round.

    That’s because the Mustangs came into the Region 7 tournament in Arvada as the No. 26 overall seed. At times there was even a bit of doubt if the team would qualify for the postseason, but there is something to be said for experience and for confidence.

    “I think we actually proved that a low seed can move forward,” Mountain Range coach Dane Craig said. “When teams can get hot … good things are going to happen in this tournament.”

    The state softball tournament gets rolling Friday morning at Aurora Sports Park with a 10 a.m. start. The title games in all three classifications will take place Saturday afternoon.

    It wasn’t just the Mustangs though who proved that if age is just a number, the same could be said for seeding. Rock Canyon, the No. 20 seed in 5A, won the Region 4 tournament. No. 25 Cherry Creek won a pair of elimination games to qualify as the second team from Region 2.

    In Class 4A it was 24th-seeded Falcon that disrupted the field, claiming the Region 2 title with victories over the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds.

    “We kind of set this goal before we came into this weekend, saying this was kind of our tournament to forget about our first 19 games because we were up and down,” said Falcons coach Kerri Millikan, whose squad finished the regular season with a 9-10 record.

    “We came out with an intense attitude and put together two great wins.”

    The eight regionals in 3A pretty much played out as expected, with 22nd-seeded Platte Valley the only surprise. The Patriots eliminated No. 11 seed Burlington to advance to state.

    Mountain Range – which is now the No. 8 seed in 5A and opens with Douglas County – had perhaps the most interesting path to state in regional play. After storming their way to the first-ever state title in 2015, the Mustangs endured a trying regular season that led to a seventh-place finish in the Front Range League.

    What hurt the team most was an early injury to 2015 Player of the Year Hunter Huser, who sustained a deep ligament bruise on her wrist after being hit by a pitch.

    Huser was never quite herself during the regular season, including a rough showing against Fossil Ridge on Oct. 4 that saw the senior allow 10 runs on 18 hits.

    Valor Christian Mountain Range softball
    (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    A little rest proved to be the right tonic though, as Huser allowed only four combined runs in victories over No. 7 Arvada West and that same Fossil Ridge team in the regional title game.

    Sophomore Rachel Colwell and junior Ellery Sherman each had three hits in the 10-3 victory over the Sabercats.

    Craig said his team was more than prepared after going through the gauntlet of the Front Range League. Six of the final 16 teams in 5A are from the Front Range, and league champion Broomfield is the No. 1 seed and a potential quarterfinal opponent for Mountain Range.

    “I think these girls are not looking ahead,” he said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to defend our state championship, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

    Falcon, which is the No. 8 seed in 4A and faces No. 9 Pueblo West on Friday, also has a challenging schedule to thank for getting the squad prepared for the postseason. The Falcons have already played three of the top seven seeds at the 4A state tournament, and also faced defending 3A champion and No. 1 seed Strasburg as well.

    The Falcons broke a late tie to defeat Elizabeth in the regional opener last weekend, and the bats got hot in a 16-5 triumph over Conifer. Senior Tierney Norris homered in both games, freshman Alexa Winter drove in four runs against Conifer and sophomore Taylor Striebel went the distance in both games.

    Falcon made the quarterfinals last fall before falling 1-0 to Wheat Ridge, but the team graduated all-state hitter/pitcher Laci Lashley. Millikan returned only two players at the same position from a year ago, and the Falcons had to change from a power-hitting team to a squad that was more focused on the fundamentals.

    It paid off, as Falcon has received key contributions from up and down the lineup.

    “It takes everybody to get to that game No. 4 of the state tournament,” Millikan said. “We’re fighting for every single game, but our season right now is four games long.”

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    2016 state softball tournament

    Class 5A

    • Bracket
    • Defending State Champion: Mountain Range
    • Top 4 Seeds: 1. Broomfield, 2. Cherokee Trail, 3. Eaglecrest, 4. Loveland

    Class 4A

    • Bracket
    • Defending State Champion: Valor Christian
    • Top 4 Seeds: 1. Erie, 2. Mullen, 3. Valor Christian, 4. Wheat Ridge

    Class 3A

    • Bracket
    • Defending State Champion: Strasburg
    • Top 4 Seeds: 1. Strasburg, 2. Rocky Ford, 3. Eaton, 4. Brush

  • Lakewood Memorial Field rich in history and tradition

    Lakewood Memorial Field stadium manager Chris Gray paints the lines at LMF earlier this fall. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
    Lakewood Memorial Field stadium manager Chris Gray paints the lines at LMF earlier this fall. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LAKEWOOD — A mix of new technology and innovations has been applied to one of the oldest prep sports venues in Colorado.

    Lakewood Memorial Field (10th Ave. and Wadsworth Blvd. in Lakewood) wraps up another regular season of boys soccer games this week. LMF, one of four district stadium complexes run by Jeffco Public Schools, hosted 56 prep soccer games this fall season.

    This was the third boys soccer season with the new XtraGrass at LMF that was installed in the summer of 2014. The hybrid surface is a combination of synthetic fibers and natural grass to provide more durable surface for the field that hosts nearly 150 events in a calendar year.

    Lakewood Memorial was the first field in the United States to have XtraGrass.

    “It’s been everything we wanted it to be. I’ve been very impressed with it,” said Chris Gray, who became the stadium manager at LMF during the summer of 2014. “It plays true and plays stable. You can definitely tell the field takes a lot more games with less wear and tear. It recovers a lot quicker.”

    The field at LMF has drawn plenty of attention from around the country with more than just other school districts looking into going with the same hybrid field on their own facilities.

    The new scoreboard was installed before the start of the boys soccer season at LMF. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
    The new scoreboard was installed before the start of the boys soccer season at LMF. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Turf managers from across the nation, which includes NFL, MLB, college, high school and recreation districts have traveled to LMF to learn more about this product,” said Jim Thyfault, Jeffco’s Executive Director of Athletics. “In all cases, our stadium managers are praised for their commendable work.”

    While the playing surface has been a huge upgrade, there is still the old classic feel for the stadium that initially hosted track and football games for Lakewood High School and Lakewood Junior High School when both of those schools were located at 10th and Wadsworth.

    The field was dedicated in 1946 to Jeffco Public Schools graduates who lost their lives in World War II. In 1977 the stadium became a dedicated soccer venue for Jeffco, along with hosting junior high football games until Lakewood Junior High School closed after the 1988-89 school year.

    “It’s a heritage field. I played here when I was in high school,” said Paul Moline, D’Evelyn boys and girls soccer coach that graduated from Columbine High School. “There are generations who have played on this field that I think is really cool.”

    Moline credits Thyfault for seeing the need for an upgrade of the field at Lakewood Memorial. The playing surface was native grass before the XtraGrass was put in.

    “Especially teams that come outside of our county can’t believe how great our fields are, the North Area Athletic Complex (Highway 93 and 64th Parkway in Arvada) and Lakewood Memorial. We are very fortunate to have these fields,” Moline said. “They keep them in such good shape. The kids look forward to playing on these field. There are college pitches that aren’t this great. We are very lucky.”

    Wheat Ridge girls soccer coach Dan Watkins has seen the upgrades in the stadium in recent years, which includes the replacement of the original scoreboard this fall. There was also a secondary scoreboard placed on the concession stand building before the start of school year.

    Lakewood Memorial Field hosted 56 regular-season varsity boys soccer matches this fall. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
    Lakewood Memorial Field hosted 56 regular-season varsity boys soccer matches this fall. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “The new field and scoreboard has turned a great soccer only venue into an absolute first-class soccer stadium,” said Watkins who guided the Farmers to back-to-back Class 4A girls soccer state titles in 2009 and 2010. “Former players who have gone on and played at college have come back and marveled at the facility.  Chris Gray does a remarkable job making everything about LMF a first-class experience.”

    The most memorable game Watkins recalled at Lakewood Memorial was in 2009 when Wheat Ridge faced rival Golden in the state quarterfinals.

    “Playoff games under the lights at LMF have always been special events, but playing our rival made it that much sweeter,” Watkins said recalling the game. “I remember the crowd being at capacity with all of the seating full and people standing on the hill and along the fence. It was probably the loudest and most energetic I remember.”

    Lakewood Memorial Field has stood the test of time with generations of Jeffco families using and seeing the upgrades to the classic stadium.

    “With the addition of the XtraGrass field and the new scoreboards at LMF, we are extremely grateful to district leaders for allowing us to take one of the oldest high school stadiums in the state and converting it into, arguably, the nicest facility for players and coaches,” Thyfault said.

    Lakewood Memorial Field was dedicated in 1946 to Jeffco Public Schools graduates who lost their lives in World War II. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
    Lakewood Memorial Field was dedicated in 1946 to Jeffco Public Schools graduates who lost their lives in World War II. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    NOTE: This is the second part of a four-part series this school year on Jeffco Public Schools’ stadium venues — North Area Athletic Complex, Lakewood Memorial Field, Trailblazer Stadium and Jeffco Stadium.

  • Photos: Rock Canyon boys soccer uses big second half to beat Highlands Ranch

    HIGHLANDS RANCH — The Rock Canyon boys soccer team defeated Highlands Ranch 4-2 on Tuesday at the Falcons’ field.

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  • Pueblo Central vs. Alamosa vs. Buena Vista-10/15/16

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Pueblo Central 170.35
    2 Alamosa 157.025
    3 Buena Vista 143.85
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kelsi Cundiff Pueblo Central 8.95
    2 Jada Martinez Pueblo Central 8.8
    3 Grace Braune Pueblo Central 8.75
    4 Rebecca Henderson Pueblo Central 8.7
    5 Bailee DelTondo Alamosa 8.7
    6 Kaitlyn Drury Pueblo Central 8.5
    7 Tori Ortiz Pueblo Central 8.4
    8
    9
    10
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Grace Braune Pueblo Central 9.05
    2 Tona Lavadour Alamosa 8.3
    3 Jada Martinez Pueblo Central 8.275
    4 Bailee DelTondo Alamosa 8.05
    5 Angel Cantu Alamosa 8
    6 Tori Ortiz Pueblo Central 7.8
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Jada Martinez Pueblo Central 8.95
    2 Grace Braune Pueblo Central 8.675
    3 Berlin Van Ness Buena Vista 8.4
    4 Kaitlyn Drury Pueblo Central 8.4
    5 Bailee DelTondo Alamosa 7.725
    6 Teah Ausbun Pueblo Central 7.725
    7 Tori Ortiz Pueblo Central 7.575
    8 Scout McMurry Buena Vista 7.35
    9
    10
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Grace Braune Pueblo Central 9.25
    2 Jada Martinez Pueblo Central 9.2
    3 Teah Ausbun Pueblo Central 9
    4 Tori Ortiz Pueblo Central 8.8
    5 Bailee DelTondo Alamosa 8.8
    6 Taylor Swatzki Pueblo Central 8.75
    7 Savana Geringer Alamosa 8.7
    8
    9
    10
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Grace Braune Pueblo Central 35.725
    2 Jada Martinez Pueblo Central 35.225
    3 Bailee DelTondo Alamosa 33.275
    4 Tori Ortiz Pueblo Central 32.575
    5 Berlin VanNess Buena Vista 32.425
    6 Shyla Diamond Pueblo Central 30.225
    7
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  • Buena Vista vs. Alamosa-10/11/16

    *———–*
    Headline: Gymnastics results: Buena Vista Invitational on 10/11/2016

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    Post content:
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    Event type: Dual
    Host: Buena Vista

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Alamosa 141.05
    2 Buena Vista 141.7
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Jordan Laske Alamosa 8.3
    2 Shyla Diamond Buena Vista 8.3
    3 Berlin VanNess Buena Vista 8.25
    4 Skylar Deherrera Alamosa 8.1
    5 Lei Lani Lickteig Alamosa 7.9
    6 Andrea Rodriguez Alamosa 7.8
    7 Andi Golsan Alamosa 7.75
    8 Amanda Parkins Alamosa 7.75
    9 Bailey Richey 7.75
    10 Bailey Stokes 7.4
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Jordan Laske Alamosa 7.45
    2 Shyla Diamond Buena Vista 7.35
    3 Berlin VanNess Buena Vista 7.05
    4 Andrea Rodriguez Alamosa 6.65
    5 Bailey Stokes Buena Vista 5.825
    6 Andi Golson Alamosa 5.75
    7 Amanda Winter Buena Vista 5.675
    8 Skylar Deherrera Alamosa 5.45
    9 Amanda Parkins 4.9
    10 Kathryn Jordan 4.675
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Berlin VanNess Buena Vista 7.575
    2 Amanda Winter Buena Vista 7.05
    3 Andrea Rodriguez Alamosa 7
    4 Scout McMurry Buena Vista 7
    5 Kathryn Jordan Buena Vista 6.725
    6 Andi Golson Alamosa 6.2
    7 Skylar Deherrera Alamosa 6.2
    8 Amanda Parkins Alamosa 6.175
    9 Lei Lani Lickteig 5.975
    10 Jordan Laske 5.9
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Andrea Rodriguez Alamosa 8.525
    2 Berlin VanNess Buena Vista 8.375
    3 Skylar Deherrera Alamosa 8.275
    4 Shyla Diamond Buena Vista 7.85
    5 Amanda Parkins Alamosa 7.7
    6 Andi Golsan Alamosa 7.65
    7 Bailey Stokes Buena Vista 7.5
    8 Amanda Winter Buena Vista 7.35
    9 Lei Lani Lickteig 7.3
    10 Kelley Vernon 7.15
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Berlin VanNess Buena Vista 31.25
    2 Andrea Rodriguez Alamosa 29.975
    3 Shyla Diamond Buena Vista 29.05
    4 Skylar Deherrera Alamosa 28.025
    5 Amanda Winter Buena Vista 27.375
    6 Amanda Parkins Alamosa 26.525
    7 Bailey Stokes Buena Vista 26.275
    8
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    10

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  • Niwot vs. Loveland-9/6/16

    *———–*
    Headline: Gymnastics results: Niwot vs Loveland on 09/06/2016

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    Post content:
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    Event type: Dual
    Host: Niwot High School

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Niwot 174.3
    2 Loveland 133.125
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Alexis Carroll Niwot 9.3
    2 Lindsay Chohon Niwot 9.1
    3 Amelia Sears Niwot 9
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Erica Bortfeldt Niwot 8.825
    2 Amelia Sears Niwot 8.775
    3 Lilliana Martin Niwot 8.275
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Lindsay Chohon Niwot 9.35
    2 Aleigh Trimble Niwot 8.6
    3 Taylor Green Niwot 8.6
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Lindsay Chohon Niwot 9.175
    2 Lilliana Martin Niwot 9.05
    3 Amelia Sears Niwot 8.9
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Lindsay Chohon Niwot 35.85
    2 Amelia Sears Niwot 35.175
    3 Lilliana Martin Niwot 32.875
    4
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    7
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    10

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  • Rocky Mtn vs. Niwot – 9/21/16

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Niwot 172.575
    2 Rocky Mountain 172.4
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Alexis Carroll Niwot 9.35
    2 Amelia Sears Niwot 9.15
    3 Julie Piz Rocky Mountain 9.1
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Krysta Cotier Rocky Mountain 9.15
    2 Julie Piz Rocky Mountain 8.85
    3 Amelia Sears Niwot 8.725
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Aiden O’Connell Rocky Mountain 9.225
    2 Aleigh Trimble Niwot 9.125
    3 Amelia Sears Niwot 8.925
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Autumn Bottke Rocky Mountain 9.475
    2 Krysta Cotier Rocky Mountain 9.125
    3 Lindsay Chohon Niwot 8.9
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Krysta Cotier Rocky Mountain 35.9
    2 Amelia Sears Niwot 35.325
    3 Autumn Bottke Rocky Mountain 35.3
    4
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    7
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    10

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  • Chatfield vs. Standley Lake vs. Bear Creek010/6/16

    Team scores
    Rank School Score
    1 Chatfield 171.4
    2 Bear Creek 164.45
    3 Standley Lake 162.775
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Vault
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Morgan Walters Chatfield 9.4
    2 Kara Ratcliff Chatfield 9.3
    3 Rachel Cody Standley Lake 9.2
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Bars
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Morgan Walters Chatfield 9
    2 Samantha Pence Standley Lake 8.275
    3 Kara Racliff Chatfield 8.05
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Beam
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kara Ratcliff Chatfield 9.525
    2 Rachel Cody Standley Lake 9.375
    3 Julia Kendl Bear Creek 9.325
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    Floor
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Rachel Cody Standley Lake 9.2
    2 Kara Ratcliff Chatfield 9.2
    3 Samantha Pence Standley Lake 9.05
    4 Julia Kendl Bear Creek 9.05
    5 Camille Guinet Standley Lake 9.05
    6 Morgan Walters Chatfield 9
    7
    8
    9
    10
    All-Around
    Rank Name School Score
    1 Kara Ratcliff Chatfield 36.075
    2 Morgan Walters Chatfield 35.825
    3 Rachel Cody Standley Lake 35.675
    4
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    7
    8
    9
    10

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