Fort Collins is continuing its historic climb up the CHSAANow.com hockey rankings. After scoring five goals in the third period to beat Liberty on Saturday, the Lambkins jumped one spot to come in at No. 2 this week.
It is the first year that Fort Collins has fielded a varsity team.
It sits right behind defending state champion Regis Jesuit who maintains its grip on the No. 1 spot.
Cherry Creek dipped one spot and comes in at No. 3.
Ralston Valley stays put at No. 4 while Valor Christian (No. 5) and Dakota Ridge (No. 6) trade spots from last week’s rankings.
Monarch and Mountain Vista each jump one spot to come in at No. 7 and No. 8 respectively.
Resurrection Christian falls to No. 9 and Battle Mountain represents the only new team to the rankings, coming in at No. 10.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.
In third set of the CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings, Colorado Academy is back in the Class 3A top-10.
The Mustangs come in at No. 9 on the strength of a 60-55 win over Grand Junction.
Colorado Springs Christian holds on to the No. 1 spot in the 3A poll with Resurrection Christian and Manitou Springs holding firm at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.
In 5A, George Washington continues to show its the real deal, hence remaining at No. 1 this week.
Doherty (No. 6) and Chatfield (No. 7) each jumped three spots from a week ago.
There were no new teams in the 5A rankings.
Pueblo West remains undefeated and as a result, still at the top of the 4A poll. Vista PEAK, however, made a two-spot jump to land at No. 2.
Sand Creek jumped one spot to No. 5 thanks to its close win over No. 10 Sierra. Lewis-Palmer climbs two spots to come in at No. 8.
No new teams broke into the 4A rankings.
Sedgwick County received all but one first-place vote to hang on to the top spot in 2A.
Peyton made the big jump of the week, climbing four spots to come in at No. 5. At No. 10, Fowler is the only new team to crack the 2A rankings.
The 1A poll saw the most turnover of any class this week with Front Range Baptist (No. 8) and Rocky Mountain Lutheran (No. 10) cracking the ranks.
Holly held its spot as the No. 1 team in the class.
Peetz had the best jump of the week, gaining four spots from last week’s rankings to come in at No. 4.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Lakewood 26, Mountain Range 4, Regis Jesuit 3, Cherry Creek 2, Far Northeast 2, Legacy 1, Mountain Vista 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Pueblo West (12)
4-0
146
1
1-0
2
Vista PEAK (2)
7-0
124
4
1-0
3
Golden (1)
8-1
123
3
3-0
4
Valor Christian (1)
4-2
103
2
2-1
5
Sand Creek
7-1
92
6
2-0
6
Mead
6-1
82
7
3-0
7
Holy Family
5-1
78
5
2-0
8
Lewis-Palmer
4-2
34
10
1-1
9
D’Evelyn
6-2
27
8
1-1
10
Sierra
3-3
17
9
0-2
Others receiving votes:
Northridge 16, Silver Creek 11, Durango 6, Palmer Ridge 5, Thompson Valley 5, Evergreen 3, Ponderosa 3, Skyline 3, Mesa Ridge 1, Pueblo East 1.
Dropped out
.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Colorado Springs Christian (11)
5-0
160
1
2-0
2
Resurrection Christian (1)
7-0
137
2
2-0
3
Manitou Springs (2)
7-0
126
3
2-0
4
Sterling (1)
6-1
110
6
1-0
5
Alamosa (2)
5-1
100
4
0-0
6
Faith Christian
5-2
65
5
2-1
7
Kent Denver
6-1
47
9
1-1
8
DSST-Stapleton
4-1
41
8
0-0
9
Colorado Academy
5-3
21
–
1-2
10
Frontier Academy
5-2
20
7
0-2
Others receiving votes:
Strasburg 17, Basalt 13, Lutheran 13, Machebeuf 9, Manual 8, The Pinnacle 8, DSST-Green Valley Ranch 7, Jefferson Academy 7, Ridge View Academy 6, Monte Vista 4, Bayfield 3, Roaring Fork 3, The Vanguard 3, Weld Central 3, Grand Valley 2, Coal Ridge 1, La Junta 1.
Dropped out
Manual (10).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (9)
5-0
99
1
2-0
2
Highland
6-0
81
2
2-0
3
Paonia
5-1
75
3
2-0
4
Del Norte (1)
6-1
56
5
1-0
5
Peyton
6-0
53
9
2-0
6
Akron
5-0
50
4
2-0
7
Holyoke
3-2
35
8
2-1
8
Dayspring Christian
4-1
30
7
1-1
9
Ignacio
3-1
29
10
2-1
10
Fowler
4-1
13
–
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Colorado Springs School 6, Sargent 6, Sanford 4, Plateau Valley 3, Burlington 2, Byers 2, Crowley County 2, John Mall 2, Dolores Huerta 1, Hotchkiss 1.
There’s a new top dog in the Class 4A CHSAANow.com girls basketball rankings.
Undefeated Evergreen, the 4A state runner-up last season assumes the No. 1 spot this week.
Pueblo South is right behind the Cougars at No. 2 and D’Evelyn climbed three spots to land at No. 3.
At No. 5 Golden also jumped three spots this week.
Pueblo East is the lone newcomer to the 4A poll at No. 8.
In 5A, Grandview holds its spot at No. 1.
Overall, the top five teams from a week ago went unchanged.
Doherty (No. 8) and Fruita Monument (No. 10) are the two new teams in the 5A rankings.
Like 5A, the top five teams from last week’s 3A poll remain the same, including Sterling at No. 1.
Moffat County breaks into the 3A poll at No. 9.
Paonia stays at No. 1 in 2A with a unanimous vote.
Soroco (No. 4) and Lyons (No. 7) each jumped a spot from a week ago.
Evangelical Christian is the only new team in 2A, coming in at No. 8.
Kit Carson holds its spot at No. 1 in the 1A poll with Kit Carson also holding firm at No. 2.
Three new teams broke into the rankings this week with De Beque (No. 7), Arickaree/Woodlin (No. 8) and South Baca (No. 9) all playing their way in.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Pueblo West 24, Palisade 18, Windsor 13, Falcon 9, George Washington 9, Littleton 3, Montrose 3, Battle Mountain 2, The Classical Academy 2, Thomas Jefferson 2, Kennedy 1, Lewis-Palmer 1, Skyview 1.
Dropped out
Pueblo West (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sterling (8)
6-0
124
1
0-0
2
St. Mary’s (5)
5-0
120
2
1-0
3
Lamar
5-0
88
3
1-0
4
Pagosa Springs
4-1
70
4
2-0
5
Centauri
6-1
68
5
1-0
6
Colorado Springs Christian
5-0
57
7
2-0
7
Liberty Common
5-0
50
6
2-0
8
Eaton
6-1
39
9
2-0
9
Moffat County
6-1
25
–
1-0
10
Manitou Springs
2-3
16
8
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Olathe 13, Trinidad 13, Faith Christian 12, Brush 8, Kent Denver 4, Delta 3, Grand Valley 3, St. Mary’s Academy 2.
Dropped out
Faith Christian (10).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Paonia (11)
6-0
110
1
2-0
2
Wray
5-0
96
2
1-0
3
Yuma
5-2
68
3
1-1
4
Soroco
5-1
60
5
0-0
5
Del Norte
5-2
59
4
1-0
6
Haxtun
5-1
41
6
2-1
7
Lyons
6-1
35
8
2-0
8
Evangelical Christian
5-0
34
–
1-0
9
Swink
3-2
22
7
1-0
10
Highland
5-2
20
10
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Peyton 13, Calhan 9, West Grand 8, Akron 7, Ellicott 5, South Park 5, Hoehne 4, Sargent 4, Center 3, Clear Creek 1, Simla 1.
Dropped out
West Grand (9).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Kit Carson (7)
5-0
95
1
3-0
2
Fleming (2)
4-0
85
2
2-0
3
Antonito (1)
5-0
76
3
0-0
4
Kim/Branson
5-0
70
4
1-0
5
Heritage Christian
4-0
54
5
1-0
6
Kiowa
4-1
24
8
2-0
7
De Beque
4-0
21
–
1-0
8
Arickaree/Woodlin
3-1
19
–
0-0
9
South Baca
4-2
17
–
3-0
10
Idalia
4-2
16
6
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Holly 13, Cheraw 12, Belleview Christian 8, Briggsdale 7, La Veta 7, McClave 7, Sierra Grande 7, Sangre de Cristo 4, Creede/Lake City 3, Springfield 3, Deer Trail 1, Wiley 1.
A decade ago, Strasburg football was coming off of three consecutive 1-8 seasons. Earlier this month, the team won its first championship in 25 years.
A mainstay in that turnaround is coach Jeff Giger, who recently completed his 11th season as coach of the Indians.
He has transformed that struggling program — Strasburg was 6-22 in his first three years, and 3-14 in the two seasons before he got there — to winning seasons in six of the past eight years. Since 2013, Strasburg is 37-8. That includes a perfect season in 2016: 13-0, and the Class 1A title.
He was voted as the 1A coach of the year by his peers as part of the All-State teams. And now, Giger has been selected as the 2016 Denver Broncos high school football coach of the year.
[divider]
Jeff Giger bio
Years as head coach: 11 (65-49 overall)
Years at Strasburg: 11
Previous stops: Offensive coordinator at Los Lunas, N.M. (2003-06); assistant at Oñate, N.M. (2000-02)
[divider]
Question: Why did you decide to become a coach?
Giger: I think growing up in high school, probably the two most influential people in my life at that time were my head football coach, and one of the assistant coaches. Just kind of everything. Not only pushing you to do better in school and football, but there were always conversations about life. That always stuck with me.
And then I spent seven years in the Army, and I always felt like there was something else I needed to be doing. Being able to hopefully be the same person that those guys were to some young man was something that was huge to me. I hope I’ve been able to do that a little bit.
To see young men progress from boys when they come into the program to young men, it’s just amazing when you get to step back and see that progression.
Q: Is there a reason you coach the way that you do?
Giger: I think a lot of it had to do with how I was coached. And I was very fortunate when I started in Las Cruces (at Oñate) and Kelly McKee was there, I got to learn from him. Then I moved pretty quickly with Bobby Campos to Los Lunas, and he had a different style, so I had things there that I learned. When I got here, some of my assistant coaches who were older, they helped me a lot.
So there’s been a definite transition. I think the guys would say I’m a pretty fiery yeller and screamer at times, but I’ve really kind of toned that down, and learned how to look for more of the positives instead of the negatives.
I think that’s a big thing in coaching: You’re always trying to find the negatives, and we don’t find enough positives. I think I’ve slowly progressed that way. They may argue with that, but …
(Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)
Q: What was the feeling like in the preseason around the program this year, and did you see glimpses of how the season eventually played?
Giger: Going into team camp, we knew we had a lot of speed. We just had a few guys we had to fit into some positions. At team camp, we kind of got an idea there.
We liked some of the changes that we made there. I think the kids showed that it was going to work. That’s where we kind of had an idea that we were going to be pretty good.
Of course, you never really know, but that was where we had an idea.
Q: And then the season gets rolling, and you guys are not only winning games, but winning games by pretty big margins. Did that solidify your feeling?
Giger: Honestly, I think as that kind of kept going, I was getting more nervous. I was like, “Are we this good? Or what’s going on here.”
They made me feel more comfortable, because they were just very confident. They were confident about everything that they did. They were confident when they stepped on the practice field, they just went about what they were supposed to do, and never really got phased or rattled the few times they could have.
They made me a believer as the season went on.
Q: So you get into playoffs, get a No. 2 seed, and win that first-round game. But then you had a couple road trips. What was like that? Did that help bond the team, especially that second-round game at Cedaredge?
Giger: Even the guys said, that was a big change for us. Because I felt like the semifinal, and the final, we probably played two of our better games I’ve seen us play. It just looked like we were really focused, and really together.
They said the Cedaredge game was big, because it helped us with the travel part. But also, we’d been in the second round the past two years in 2A, and hadn’t gotten out of it. They kind of had a little more nerves for that game, because that was the next step that we hadn’t taken. And so they said once they got by that, the felt like, “Oh, OK, now it’s easy.”
(Kent Mincer/CHSAANow.com)
Q: You guys eventually beat Meeker to win the 1A title. What’s the response from the community been like?
Giger: It was unbelievable. I think probably the one thing they’ll remember the most is — after the game, it’s kind of surreal, so you don’t really wrap your head around it.
But then when we pull into town, you’ve got the fire trucks and ambulances, and half the town standing there right when we come over the bridge, and then they all go to the football field. That’s the kind of stuff you’re not going to get but in a small town. That’s been amazing.
He called Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre on Saturday evening to officially commit.
“It seemed like the right fit,” Stenstrom told CHSAANow.com on Saturday. “I love coach Mac; I love the coaching staff. I like Pac-12 football, and it felt right.”
Stenstrom said MacIntyre was “super excited” when he called on Saturday night.
“He said I made his Merry Christmas,” Stenstrom said. “He was fired up, and I was glad to see him like that.”
Stenstrom, a 2018 grad, threw for 500 yards and seven touchdowns on 49-of-74 passing this season while playing in a rotation with senior Dylan McCaffrey. Stenstrom also rushed for 264 yards and a score as the Eagles won the Class 5A title.
A three-star recruit according to both 247sports.com and Scout.com, Stenstrom also had interest from Northwestern, Duke, Nebraska, Purdue, Stanford, UCLA, USC, and a few Ivy League schools.
CU started recruiting Stenstrom about a year ago, and offered him a scholarship during their junior day.
“I thought about it, and I thought, ‘What other school would convince me not to go to CU?’ I just couldn’t find an answer to that. So I finally realized that’s where I wanted to go.”
Staying in-state for college, he added, is “a really great bonus to this.”
“I’m glad to be able to near my family, and be near my friends, and people that have cared about me for a while,” Stenstrom said. “I’m glad to be able to stay in-state and be close to them. My mom really likes the idea of me staying in-state, as well.”
CENTENNIAL — Shane Ott and Wyatt Verity each had two goals and two assists to help No. 1 Regis Jesuit hockey beat No. 10 Denver East 9-0 on Saturday.
Jordan Perez added two goals for the Raiders, while Dylan Kelly had four assists. Dillon Whalen made six saves to get the shutout.
The game was Regis Jesuit’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game, where fans bring stuffed animals to the game to throw on the ice after the first goal. All stuffed animals are collected donated to Children’s Hospital.
COLORADO SPRINGS — In a game where two highly-ranked teams struggled from the charity stripe, it’s fitting that it was decided by free throws with one second left.
David Jabedo drove down to the Sand Creek basket in the closing seconds and drew a blocking foul form Sierra’s Stephan Deedon. The free throws fell and the CHSAANow.com No. 6 Scorpions beat the No. 9 Stallions 61-59 on Friday night.
“I was thinking that it was just another free throw,” Jabedo said. “I knew if I knocked them down the game was over.”
And he called it.
Sierra (3-3 overall) jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead to start the game. A big part of that was on a couple of 3-pointers from C.J. Jennings.
Sand Creek (7-1) was hoping to counter with a heavy dose of D’Shawn Schawrtz, but the Sierra zone defense was able to limit his touches in the first half.
“They got an early lead because they were outrebounding the heck out of us,” Sand Creek coach Rob Hawkins said. “This is what Sierra has been known for.”
Looking to get a spark for both himself and his team, Schwartz attacked the basket and threw down a dunk that snagged the attention of a jam-packed gym at Sierra.
“I told myself that was a game changer,” Schwartz said.
It have just been a game saver. Schwartz and Jennings – friends off the court – went toe to toe in the second half ending with 20 and 21 points respectively.
The difference in the game came at the free throw line where no team particularly excelled, but it was the Stallions who really struggled.
They went 14-28 from the line. A total killer when the final score is separated by only two points.
“They didn’t go in,” Sierra coach Terry Dunn said. “What else can you say? You shoot free throws every day.”
They proved to be essential for both teams in the closing seconds of the game. Down one with 11 seconds left, Jennings was fouled and sent to the line.
He made the front end, but missed the follow-up. That’s when Jabedo was able to get out in transition.
He made both, sending the Sand Creek fans into a frenzy.
For Schawrtz and Jennings, it just means that trashing talking rights will reside at Sand Creek. And Schwartz is looking forward to giving his friend some grief.
“I’m really excited,” Schwartz said. “I get to talk trash to him now. That’s really all I care about right now.”
But it can’t be free throws. Even though Jennings missed one late, Schwartz went 2-6 on the night.
But to play that game in that atmosphere was something that neither player is likely to forget anytime soon.
And for Hawkins, a first-year coach for the Scorpions, this game will set the tone for the rest of this season.
“This is the best high school atmosphere ever,” he said.
And the 11 players on his roster will have a hard time disagreeing with him.
Ralston Valley senior Ashley Van Sickle drives past Rampart junior Milly Cruz for a layup Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Ralston Valley senior Ashley Van Sickle admits she is a little jealous of her younger sister — junior Sammy Van Sickle.
“It’s so unfair. I got the short genes,” the 5-foot-7 senior said with a laugh after the Mustangs’ — lead by the Van Sickle sisters — defeated Rampart 77-33 on Friday night at Ralston Valley High School.
Sammy has a handful of inches on Ashley, but the Mustangs’ point guard has no problem passing the ball to younger sister if she plays like she did against Rampart. The 6-foot-2 junior was on fire from the outside making four 3-pointers on her way to 14 points.
“Sammy is knocking them down. I’m going to keep dishing them to her,” Ashley said. “She (Samantha) can do it all. We call her our Swiss Army knife.”
The youngest Van Sickle wasn’t the only one shooting the ball well in Ralston Valley’s fifth straight victory. Ashley and fellow senior Michaela Shaklee poured in 17 points each to lead the way.
Ralston Valley sophomore Shelby Nichols (15) posts up Rampart sophomore Becca Dunn. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We looked really good offensively at times,” Ralston Valley coach Jeff Gomer said.
Senior Sarah Bevington was the fourth Mustang to reach double-digit points with a dozen. Senior Chloe Gillach pitched in seven points, all in the second half. Sophomores Shelby Nichols and Madison DeHerrera combined for 10 points off the bench for Ralston Valley (5-1 record).
“I definitely think our offense improved throughout the night,” Shaklee said. “There were some rough patches, but I think our defense really translated to the offensive side of the court.”
Sammy Van Sickle was also key on the boards for Ralston Valley, ranked No. 2 in the latest CHSAANow.com 5A girls basketball poll. She had a team-high dozen rebounds to produce a double-double.
“She (Samantha) is a hard match-up with her size. She has come a long way,” Gomer said. “With the exception of her sister (Ashley), she has probably been our most consistent player so far.”
Ashley, who has signed to play her college basketball at Montana State University next year, had her typical game that filled up the scoresheet. Along with 17 points, the senior had seven assists, four rebounds and four steals.
Ralston Valley senior Sarah Bevington brings the ball up the court. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We are playing great,” Ashley said. “We are having so much fun.”
The young Rampart squad with just one senior was led by sophomores Bailee Hart (13 points) and Bailey Torres (eight points).
Ralston Valley hosts Broomfield on Tuesday, Dec. 20, before winter break. The Mustangs tipoff Class 5A Jeffco League play in a big way at No. 6 Lakewood on Thursday, Jan. 5.
“It’s too bad we have to draw each other right out of the chute,” Gomer said of facing Lakewood in both teams’ conference opener. “It will be fun. We always have good games with them. It’s always a battle, but we don’t want to look too far ahead.”
The Mustangs and Tigers have dominated conference, combining to win the previous six 5A Jeffco League titles. Ralston Valley advanced to its first state semifinals in the program’s history last season, while Lakewood made it to the quarterfinals.
“It’s a big way to start off league,” Shaklee said. “We’ve just got to work hard over break.”
Ralston Valley senior Michaela Shaklee drives through a trio of defenders. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
