CHSAANow

Month: February 2017

  • Cheyenne Mountain girls swimming captures 4A championship

    FORT COLLINS — The Cheyenne Mountain girls swimming team had been coming that close for what seemed like forever.

    Every season, the Indians kept coming back to the Class 4A state championship meet as title contenders and leaving without one. A constant back-and-forth between runner-up and third place for the past five years, just short of reaching the top spot on the podium.

    That’s why coach Kate Doane said it was so sweet when her team finally flipped the script on Saturday at Edora Pool Ice Center, bringing home Cheyenne Mountain’s first team state title since 2002 — its second in school history.

    “It’s a huge relief. Huge heart-opener, too. This is what we’ve been working at for years and this trophy goes to all of the teams I’ve coached before this,” Doane said. “We’ve been sniffing at it for so long that it’s awesome to finally get that recognition.”

    The Indians’ run to the team title was powered by their dominant relay teams.

    Cheyenne Mountain set the tone early as its 200 medley relay team of Harper Lehman, Sophia Bricker, Cat Wright and Maggie Tibbitt set a 4A state record in the first event of Saturday’s finals, winning in 1:44.59.

    Wright and Bricker later teamed up with Mikaila Duncan and Maggie York to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.50), at which point the Indians began to distance themselves from defending champion Valor Christian in the team standings.

    The Indians’ only individual title was won by Wright, who claimed the 100 butterfly in 55.45 seconds and was runner-up in the 50 free (24.07). Tibbitt was second in the 200 free (1:52.51), and Clare Sanderson contributed a fourth-place finish in the 500 free (5:08.96).

    “The individual wins are cool, but the relay ones are so much more fun because you’re getting to share that experience with three other girls,” Wright said. “And then there’s a team title now. That’s the most special out of all of them because it’s everybody, all of us going and doing this as a team.

    “That’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

    Friesen completes career sweep

    Windsor senior Morgan Friesen closed out her decorated career by winning her sixth individual state title, two of which were won on Saturday.

    The first of Friesen’s victories came as she defended her title in the 200 IM, winning in 2:06.55. She later completed a career-sweep of her signature 100 breaststroke with a winning time of 1:03.72, her fourth-straight win in the event. Her fastest time was recorded her sophomore year (1:01.90), which still stands as the state record.

    Dual titles for Heritage’s Andrews

    Heritage junior Kylie Andrews won two individual events Saturday, bringing her career title count to three. Andrews defended her championship in the 100 free (50.59) and won the 100 back (55.67).

    “I feel really good about that because the competition in both of those events were stiff,” Andrews said. “Getting some titles and having my teammates behind me was an astoundingly good feeling.”

    (Quentin Sickafoose/CHSAANow.com)

  • Ralston Valley girls hoops gets signature win over Cherry Creek in 5A top-10 clash

    Ralston Valley junior Sammy Van Sickle (10) drives past Cherry Creek sophomore Isabella Sparaco. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    ARVADA — Twenty games and counting.

    That’s the current winning streak for Ralston Valley’s girls basketball program. It’s the longest winning streak in 5A and the most prolonged string of victories for longtime coach Jeff Gomer, who has pushed his coaching career win total to 344.

    The Mustangs’ latest win came Saturday night in a non-league test against Cherry Creek (15-6, 11-1 in 5A/4A Centennial). Ralston Valley trailed 9-2 early, but went on runs of 10-0 and 13-0 in the first half to open up a 20-point lead at one point.

    Ralston Valley held off a second-half charge by Cherry Creek to grab a 70-60 victory.

    “They play with confidence,” Gomer said of his Mustangs which are No. 3 in the current CHSAANow.com 5A girls hoops poll. “Any given night if we shot well we can play with anybody.”

    Ralston Valley (20-1, 12-0 in 5A Jeffco) were extremely hot shooting from the 3-point range. The Mustangs buried nine 3-pointers in the first half. The sister tandem of Ashley and Sammy Van Sickle combined for seven 3-pointers. Seniors Michaela Shaklee (13 points) and Chloe Gillach (seven points) each hit one from long range as the Mustangs took a 43-24 lead at halftime.

    Ralston Valley’s Chloe Gillach, left, has the ball knocked out of his hand. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Sammy hasn’t been on fire for a long time and she just killed it today,” said Ashley Van Sickle, who finished with 22 points. “Everybody stepped up. Everyone played the role they needed to play. We did what we needed to do.”

    Sammy Van Sickle finished with 17 points before fouling out in the final minute. Sarah Bevington contributed 11 points for Ralston Valley, but the work done on the defensive end by Bevington, Sammy Van Sickle and sophomore Shelby Nichols didn’t go unnoticed.

    The No. 8 Bruins are able to throw in a handful of 6-footers at teams with some impressive depth. Junior Jaela Richardson (12 points), along with seniors Lauren McMillen (10 points) and Laura Pranger (seven points) pounded it inside the paint against the Mustangs.

    “We wanted to try to front the post and keep it out of the post as much as possible,” Bevington said. “They are so strong and effective on the inside.”

    Cherry Creek made its expected run in the second half led by freshman sensation Jana Van Gytenbeck. The guard finished with 22 points, including five 3-pointers.

    The Bruins cut the Mustangs’ lead to 58-54 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Ashley Van Sickle admitted she was gassed playing every minute, but she knew the core six players for the Mustangs could hang on for the big win.

    Ralston Valley’s Sarah Bevington, right, goes up in the paint. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “We have heart. We play all the way through,” said Ashley, who was also pleased with the large student section that was treated to free pizza at halftime. “We all can count on each other and count on our coaches.”

    Ralston Valley made 8-of-11 free throws in the final quarter and the Bruins weren’t able to hit a 3-pointer in the final few minutes to threaten the Mustangs’ lead.

    “It was great playing such a great team like that,” Bevington said. “We had to keep our composure. It was a good opportunity to get ready for playoffs.”

    Saturday night was a good test for the Mustangs. Ralston Valley has only had a couple of close games in the 5A Jeffco League over the past two months. No. 9 Lakewood gave the Mustangs two tight games and Ralston Valley struggled in a victory against Bear Creek.

    “This was amazing. This is a great win,” Ashley said. “Hopefully our RPI goes up a little bit so we can grab one of those No. 1 seeds.”

    The Mustangs were No. 5 in the RPI rankings heading into Saturday’s game. What could hurt Ralston Valley’s chances for one of the four No. 1 seeds is the fact that Fairview had to forfeit eight games this week after self-reporting it played an ineligible player.

    Fairview’s record went from 16-4 to 10-10 because of the forfeits. Ralston Valley defeated the Knights in the championship of the Fairview Festival Tournament before winter break, so the Mustangs’ RPI dropped with Fairview’s winning percentage dropping.

    Ralston Valley can officially clinch the 5A Jeffco title at Columbine on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The Mustangs close out their regular season at home against rival Arvada West on Thursday night.

    Cherry Creek has a chance to get revenge on No. 1 Grandview on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The Wolves handed the Bruins their lone conference loss Jan. 15.

    Ralston Valley senior Ashley Van Sickle gets a pass off while being guarded by Cherry Creek’s Jana Van Gytenbeck (4) and Sydney Mech (23). (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • State wrestling tournament: Final brackets and results for all classes

    This season’s state wrestling tournament is Feb. 16-18 at the Pepsi Center.

    Go to:

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    State brackets & results

    Download: PDF

  • State wrestling tournament schedule

    State wrestling Pepsi Center generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    The schedule for the 2017 state wrestling tournament at the Pepsi Center is below.

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    Thursday, Feb. 16

    2A/3A

    • Weigh-in: 11:30 a.m.
    • Preliminaries: 3-6:15 p.m. (10 mats)

    • • Clear house • •

    4A/5A

    • Weigh-in: 1 p.m.
    • Preliminaries: 7:15-10:45 p.m. (10 mats)

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    Friday, Feb. 17

    2A/3A

    • Weigh-in: 7 a.m.
    • Championship quarterfinals: 9:30 a.m. (10 mats)
    • First round consolation: Immediately following previous round

    4A/5A

    • Weigh-in: 8 a.m.
    • Championship quarterfinals: 12:45 p.m. (10 mats)
    • First round consolation: Immediately following previous round

    • • Clear house • •

    2A/3A

    • Second round consolation: 5:30-6:45 p.m. (10 mats)

    All classes

    • Semifinals: 7:15 p.m. (8 mats)

    **4A/5A

    • Second round consolation: 7:15 p.m. (1 mat each class). (As mats become available, expand to 10 mats)

    **4A/5A wrestlers competing in the second round consolation will begin at the same time as the championship semifinals — 4A on Mat 1; 5A on Mat 10.

    [divider]

    Saturday, Feb. 18

    2A/3A

    • Weigh-in: 8 a.m.
    • Third round consolation: 10 a.m. (10 mats)
    • Semifinal consolation: Immediately following (as mats become available)

    4A/5A

    • Weigh-in: 8:45 A.M
    • Third round consolation: 12 p.m. (10 mats)
    • Semifinal consolation: Immediately following (as mats become available)

    2A/3A

    • Fifth place: 2 p.m. (10 mats)
    • Third place: Immediately following (as mats become available)

    4A/5A

    • Fifth place: 2:30 p.m. (10 mats)
    • Third place: Immediately following (as mats become available)

    • • Clear house • •

    • Doors open: 5:30 p.m.
    • Parade of Champions: 6:30 p.m. (4 mats)

  • Photos: No. 1 Regis Jesuit hockey wins showdown with No. 2 Ralston Valley

    CENTENNIAL — Alec Martinez made 20 saves, and top-ranked Regis Jesuit hockey beat No. 2 Ralston Valley 3-1 in a clash of top teams on Saturday.

    The Raiders got goals from Kale Lone, Anders Erickson and Wyatt Verity.

    Jack Steffer scored for Ralston Valley.

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  • Fossil Ridge has dominant showing at 5A girls state swimming championship

    5A girls state swimming Fossil Ridge team champions
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    THORNTON — Fossil Ridge spent most of its time during the Class 5A girls swimming state championships in one of two places: Swimming in the front of the pack, or on top of the podium.

    “We’ve been talking about that since the beginning of the season,” said Fossil Ridge coach Carolyn Fries. “That was awesome, (the girls) swam so fast.”

    The SaberCats took home the 5A state championship Friday with a team score of 390. Fossil Ridge’s Zoe Bartel won two individual events and was part of four relay championships: the 200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley and 200 free relay. In the 100 breaststroke, Bartel set a state record of 1:00.22.

    “It’s one of the things I get to check off my list,” Bartel said. “It’s not all me, two of (the events) were relays, it’s about the team.”

    Teammate Coleen Gillian also swam in four events and came away with three first-place finishes. In total, Fossil Ridge claimed nine of the 11 swimming events. They had a similar showing in prelims on Thursday.

    This is the program’s third total title (2012, 2015) which moves the SaberCats into sixth place all-time for Colorado girls swimming championships.

    The meet’s second heat saw Fossil Ridge set a state record in the 200-yard medley relay. Bayley Stewart, Bartel, Gillian and Kylee Alons notched a time of 1:39.40. Gillian took home yet another state record of her own with a time of 53.15 in the 100 butterfly.

    “We all work our butts off, it’s so good to see our hard work pay off,” Gillian said. “I just try to have fun; when you have fun swimming it’s so much easier. As a team, we’re so close together, so when one person does well, you gotta do your work. It all clicks together.”

    Alons wasn’t done, either. She finished first in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle.

    The SaberCat relays were dominant. Fossil Ridge also took first in the 200 freestyle relay, just missing the mark on setting another state record with a time of 1:34.60. The state record stays at 1:34.40.

    Fossil Ridge capped the championships with a 3:22.45 first-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, again just missing a state record by 0.03.

    Defending champion Fairview came in second behind Fossil Ridge with 334 points.

    5A girls swimming state Brittney Beetcher Fairview
    Brittney Beetcher. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    The Knights’ Brittney Beetcher took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.46. Beetcher was a two-time champion in the meet, also winning the 500 freestyle — defending both of her previous titles.

    “Fossil is amazing, all their girls are amazing. For me, it was just great to race,” Beetcher said. “Defending my two titles was nerve racking, but I have such a good group of girls around me. I did it more for Fairview than myself.”

    Third place belonged to Arapahoe. The Warriors ended with a team score of 221.

    In the 200 individual medley, it was back to Fossil Ridge, as they took over the podiums throughout the meet. Bartel came in first, with Bailey Kovac and Stewart finishing second and third, respectively. Stewart got her win later in the 100 backstroke, edging out teammate Bailey Kovac for first place.

    In diving, Lexie Barker of Douglas County won with a score of 493.25.

    “Every year I’ve worked my way up in the placing just a little bit more,” Barker said. It feels good to finally get first. It was very stressful coming up to this because I did really well all season.”

    5A girls state swimming diving
    Lexie Barker. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Arapahoe’s Franny Cable came in second, and Douglas County teammate Samantha Tamborski followed in third. Cable scored 474.45, while Tamborski scored 446.65.

    Barker smiled at the thought of what was going through her mind as she walked the flexing, seafoam green board a meter above the water.

    “Don’t screw up. That’s the first thing. I know how to do the dives correctly, my body knows what it’s doing, I just have to remember to let go of everything and just do it.”

    Barker elegantly plunged into the water and onto the podium as the 5A dive champion.

    5A girls state swimming Fossil Ridge team champions
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

  • Friesen shines as 4A girls state swim makes return to EPIC

    (Quentin Sickafoose/CHSAANow.com)

    FORT COLLINS — The state championship atmosphere inside Edora Pool Ice Center resurfaces special emotions for senior swimmers like Morgan Friesen.

    For the past two seasons, the Windsor standout and her fellow Class 4A state qualifiers have instead been showcasing their talents at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. That left only a small group who also shared that freshman-year experience entering Friday’s prelims as this year’s championship meet returned to EPIC.

    “Just being back here, in this place, brings back a lot of memories of being a freshman and making it to state for the first time and everything else that went with it,” Friesen said. “It’s not about just how much I’ve grown individually, but also as a program. It’s crazy to think how fast it’s all gone by.”

    Three years ago, Friesen nervously went into her first state meet hoping for the best. On Saturday, she’ll have a shot at wrapping up her career with six individual state titles.

    She finished first in the prelims of both the 200 IM (2:06.18) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.27) Friday, the first of which would lead to a repeat and the latter a career-sweeping four-peat if she wins those events in Saturday’s finals.

    In the race for the team title, Cheyenne Mountain appears to be an early frontrunner after finishing third in 2016. The Indians qualified 20 individuals for Saturday’s finals, as well as all three of their relay teams.

    Junior Cat Wright leads Cheyenne Mountain with the No. 1 spot in the 100 butterfly (56.11) and was third in the prelims of the 50 free (24.62). The Indians also received help from their younger swimmers as freshmen Harper Lehman, Clare Sanderson and Frances Hayward all qualified for the championship heat of their individual events.

    “Just getting to be here and play a part with a team as great as this is something special,” said Lehman, who finished third in the 100 backstroke (57.45), sixth in the 200 IM (2:10.17) and was the opening leg of the top-finishing 200 medley relay team (1:45.29).

    “I knew I would be nervous, but this experience is unlike anything else. I had to keep asking my older teammates to say things to help calm me down.”

    Those feelings not only stick around, but are to be cherished, according to veterans like Friesen.

    “If I had to give any advice to the younger swimmers out here, it would be to make the most of it all,” Friesen said. “Being here representing your school is something that will always be special.”

    Diving prelims for the 4A state meet will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Finals will begin in the afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

  • Highlights: Fort Collins boys basketball runs past Horizon

    FORT COLLINS — Iseri Palacio led five players in double figures as Fort Collins boys basketball beat Horizon 71-36 on Friday.

    Palacio led the Lambkins with 14 points.

  • No. 2 Valor edges Evergreen in 4A Jeffco boys hoops thriller

    Valor senior Jalen Sanders, left, drives on Evergreen senior Rhys Pennington Sayler on Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    EVERGREEN — Dylan McCaffrey is known for his pin-point passing with a football, but he proved Friday night he can also shoot the 3-ball.

    McCaffrey, one of the best prep quarterbacks ever to come out Colorado, buried a last-minute and eventual game-winning 3-pointer in the corner for Valor Christian’s boys basketball team at Evergreen.

    “For some reason before the game I felt the need to shoot a bunch,” said McCaffrey, who had a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 13 points. “I guess fate kind of brought that there. It was really fun.”

    The University of Michigan-bound quarterback’s 3-pointer gave the Eagles a 54-51 lead with under a minute to play. Valor (17-4, 11-1 in Class 4A Jeffco) held on for a 54-53 victory.

    “You’ve got to love his moxie,” Valor coach Troy Pachner said. “That’s Dylan McCaffrey, he’s a big-time athlete who has been battle tested. I’ve got no problem with him taking shots.”

    Evergreen’s Bridger Tenney takes a jumper over Valor’s Kayle Knuckles. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Senior Kayle Knuckles (17 points) and Jalen Sanders (15 points) were also key for the Eagles. Knuckles did most of his work in the paint, while Sanders scored 10 points in a span of 90 seconds in the fourth quarter that gave Valor a 6-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

    Still, the Cougars clawed back with 3-pointers from seniors Rhys Pennington Sayler and Michael Dillon to tied the game at 51-51 before McCaffrey’s late 3-pointer.

    “I think Evergreen is one of the most under-rated teams,” McCaffrey said. “They are a legit state contender.”

    Evergreen junior Bridger Tenney cut Valor’s lead to 54-53 with a bucket with 38 seconds left. An Eagles’ turnover gave Evergreen the ball back with 23 seconds left, but the Cougars weren’t able to score on their final possession.

    Dillon got a good look from 3-point range, but the shot was just off the mark and the Cougars’ weren’t able to get a tip-in at the buzzer.

    “It felt great. I thought it was going in,” Dillon said of his final shot during his 15-point performance that included a trio of 3-pointers. “It was just a little long.”

    Valor’s Karsten Michael, left, has the ball stripped by Evergreen’s Chase Rogers. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Evergreen had a nice winning streak of seven games heading into Friday’s showdown. The Cougars’ last loss came at Valor on Jan. 18. Evergreen actually held a halftime lead against the Eagles in their first meeting. However, Sanders finished with a game-high 25 points as the Eagles rallied in the second half for a 65-51 win.

    “It was a great high school basketball game,” Evergreen coach Scott Haebe said of the second loss against Valor. “You can’t ask for anything else. A packed house. I thought both teams played well. Both teams made plays. I was very proud of my kids.”

    Wins over No. 3 D’Evelyn and No. 10 Golden got the Cougars (16-5, 9-3) right back into the conference championship race after a 2-2 start in league play.

    Evergreen — just outside the top-10 in the CHSAANow.com rankings — closes out the regular season at Golden (7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14) and home against Standley Lake (7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17).

    “Valor is a great team. If we can play with them I think we have a great shot in the playoffs,” Dillon said. “We’ve got to finish strong next week. Hopefully get a first-round bye. Then get ready for playoffs to make a run.”

    The Eagles, No. 2 in the latest CHSAANow.com 4A boys basketball poll and No. 1 in the RPI rankings, haven’t lost in early a month.

    Pachner’s squad has been on a mission since that setback against the Jaguars. Besides the nail-bitter against Evergreen, Valor has dominated conference foes during the Eagles’ 9-game winning streak in league play.

    While Valor hasn’t officially clinched a league title, the Eagles finish league play next week against Standley Lake and Littleton. The Gators and Lions sit in the bottom of the conference standings with a combined league record of 3-20.

    “We have to get at least one more to clinch that,” Pachner said of the league title. “We respect the opportunity to play these last two (league) games. I don’t care what other teams’ records are. It’s been since 2011 since we’ve put a (league basketball) banner up. That was one of our goals this year.”

    One win next week would give the Eagles their first boys basketball league title since the 2010-11 season when it claimed the 4A Jeffco title.

    “It means so much. That has been our motivation,” Sanders said of winning a league title.

    Evergreen senior Michael Dillon (34) takes a 3-pointer in front of the Cougars’ student section. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Hammonds scores 34 points as ThunderRidge boys hoops beats Mountain Vista

    HIGHLANDS RANCH — Kaison Hammonds scored a game-high 34 points as ThunderRidge came away with a 71-60 win over Mountain Vista on Friday.

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