Denver Christian will have to wait and see who its opponent is as the semifinal game between Dawson and Front Range Christian was suspended due to weather.
The two teams will resume play on Saturday at 1:30 at Denver Christian with the score at 0-0 and 31:52 remaining.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Through nasty rain, an hour and 10 minute lightning delay, and harsh winds, No. 6 Cherry Creek beat No. 14 Air Academy 19-4 to move to the state semifinals.
Air Academy started off strong, putting the Bruins on their heels early, but the balance and power of the Cherry Creek offense was too much for the Kadets.
“We came out with a strong game plan, we knew what we needed to do. We knew beforehand there was going to be weather so we needed to keep composure and stay connected,” junior Isabel Anema said. “During the delay we made sure to stay pumped up. (We) came out afterwards and did what we needed to do.”
Three Bruins had hat-tricks, junior Hali Sibilia added four more assist to her totals. She sits in third in the state in that category. The Bruins used this huge win in the quarterfinals to prove to a lot of people that the Bruins are still contenders, as they have been every year since the sport was sanctioned.
“We were really prepared today,” co-head coach Kelly Devitt said, “they were coming off a big upset, but we used our systems, stuck to our systems, adjusted, and kept our composure and I think going into the semis we are going to have some stiff competition and if we can keep our mindset we will do well.”
Now No. 6 Cherry Creek will have another tough task in top-seeded Denver East as the two are set to play at 1 p.m. at Peter Barton Stadium at the University of Denver on Saturday May 20 for a spot in the state championship. This weekends storm should have no effect on the turf field but could be subject to change.
The state baseball games scheduled for Friday in 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A have all been postponed.
The storm that blew in overnight Thursday has left the fields unplayable for Friday, leaving standing water. As a result, all games have been pushed back at least one day.
Here are the most recent updates for each classification:
The 3A and 4A tournaments will not resume until at least Monday.
The 5A tournament has been moved to a Sunday/Monday schedule.
The 2A tournament games have been postponed to Saturday and Sunday.
The following info has been sent to schools participating in the state baseball tournament:
Initially, all games for Friday have been postponed to at least Saturday with same schedule and times. All due to poor field conditions.
We will update you throughout the day as more postponements are anticipated.
Class 1A: Championship game will be played as planned on Saturday, time to be determined when the Class 5A schedule has been set.
Class 2A: Heavy rain last night created the need for a minimum of one day’s postponement because of the field conditions at Runyon Complex in Pueblo. All schedules will shift one day. Additional postponements may be needed.
Class 3A: The earliest anticipated resumption of play will be Monday, May 22, and that may be adjusted. Currently, Northern Colorado has received more than 2 inches of rain, with more expected through today and into tomorrow. Additional extensions may be required.
Class 4A: The earliest anticipated resumption of play will be Monday, May 22, and that may be adjusted. There is standing water on both fields currently, with more precipitation anticipated through tomorrow. Additional extensions may be required.
Class 5A: The new schedule for the 5A tournament will be Sunday, May 21, and Monday, May 22. Game times and site locations (Metro State and All City) will remain the same as on the current bracket.
Decisions on the dates for the second weekend of the state tournaments will be made after the first weekend completes play.
“We told them basically to take a deep breath and you have to go back to where you were when the game ended,” Regis Jesuit coach Jim Soran said. “Because we had momentum going for us, and we wanted to keep that momentum going. We wanted to get the first goal. That’s always important.”
The Raiders wasted no time getting on the board Thursday with Grant Breeden scoring just 35 seconds into play. Off the next faceoff, Jake Taylor scored to push the score to 12-5 just like that.
“This morning, it was really intense,” Taylor said. “(Soran) was telling us to get ready and make sure we were dialed in. We came here this morning and all the guys, all the captains, were hyping us up and getting us ready.”
Arapahoe’s Chase Douglas responded with a goal, but again the Regis Jesuit quick-striking offense came right back with a blow from Taylor.
Some life was breathed into the Arapahoe players when Joe Kassal was flagged for a three minute, no release penalty for an illegal stick. Josh Carlson jumped on the advantage and closed the Regis Jesuit lead to 13-7.
But then Anders Erickson shut out any hope the Warriors had with his goal to cement the lead at 14-7 with 3:43 remaining.
“As a team, this is really good for us,” Taylor said. “Us being able to deal with these kind of situations and still come out firing and come out playing hard.”
It was Erickson who broke the scoreless tie at the beginning of the game, putting the Raiders up 1-0. But the Warriors responded with four straight goals, silencing the Regis crowd.
But the Raiders fought back as Taylor got one to end the Arapahoe scoring run. And only a minute later, he re-energized the Regis crowd with a beautiful behind-the-back goal to make it a one-goal game.
“We’ve been working on that all year,” Soran said. “We talk about when you start losing your focus, you have to reconnect and get it back. Games are full of momentum changes and you have to make sure that you’re able to adjust to them.”
Each side got one before the halftime horn blew.
(Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Both teams had trouble getting offensive opportunities to start the second half, but Quentin Birch was able to get open in front of the net and tie the game for Regis.
And then, like he did when he broke the scoreless tie and put the dagger in Arapahoe, Erickson put the Raiders up a goal. Regis had momentum once again and they would not let it go.
The Raiders made sure that the momentum stayed with them as they anxiously waited for the night to pass and to get a shot at finishing the game.
“Lots of communication,” Taylor said. “Talking to each other, telling each other to stay awake, stay prepared and stay ready. And then just keeping communication throughout the game. Keeping everything really upbeat.”
And they didn’t disappoint.
Regis Jesuit moves on to face Cherry Creek in the 5A title game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Bruins beat Kent Denver on Wednesday.
The Raiders will have a quick turnaround because of the postponement, but Regis Jesuit is ready for the opportunity.
“We just have to use what time we have very judiciously,” Soran said. “This is it basically. We don’t have any preparation time.”
Times for each game remain the same, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The games were originally scheduled to be hosted at EchoPark Stadium in Parker, but needed to be moved in order to accommodate Rock Canyon High School’s graduation. That ceremony was originally scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, but has been moved to Saturday at 9 a.m. to avoid the inclement weather forecast, as well as the give them time to prepare the facility and remove snow.
Rock Canyon’s graduation wouldn’t be able to fit into Shea Stadium, which only has one side of bleachers.
Douglas County Schools district athletic director Derek Cheney worked on a contingency plan earlier this week to move the games if they needed to, and spoke with CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello on Tuesday to communicate that plan.
“It’s the same size field, and there’s brand new turf at Shea,” Cheney said. “Colorado spring time, it’s hard to gauge all the time. We had a contingency plan, and had a little more flexibility for a graduation. We’ve been working on it since Monday and Tuesday, and were hoping for the best, but we were thinking it might happen.”
Valor Christian and D’Evelyn will play at 11 a.m. That game will be followed by Windsor and Evergreen, around 1:30 p.m.
“With inclement weather, we have adjust at times, and it’s difficult, but graduation at their home district stadium takes precedence,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello, who oversees soccer. “The pitch is the same, the goals are the same. Shea Stadium is a great facility.”
AURORA — Regis Jesuit boys lacrosse battled back from a three-goal deficit to take a 10-5 lead over Arapahoe before lightning delayed the game’s finish to Thursday. The Raiders won the game and are set to face Cherry Creek for the Class 5A title.
Jeffco Stadium will host all classifications of the State Track & Field Championships for the ninth straight year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — For the ninth straight year, Jeffco Stadium will host all classifications of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s state track and field meet.
According to Ezra Paddock, Jeffco Public Schools Manager of Stadium Operations, the idea to have one site for all classifications came from incoming CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green, who was an assistant commissioner in charge of track and field when the plan was hatched a decade ago.
“Working with CHSAA, we developed a plan to be able to host such a large event,” Paddock said. “Every year we meet to make any adjustments to keep this event the best that it can be.”
Jeffco Stadium had hosted the largest classifications for more than two decades and the lower classifications were primarily held in Pueblo.
“I believe the biggest reason for the success is twofold,” said Jim Thyfault, Executive Director of Athletics for Jeffco Public Schools. “One being the relationship we have built with CHSAA over the years. Our stadium management, Ezra Paddock and John Sears (Jeffco Stadium Manager), are the best. CHSAA knows what type of product they will get when they come to Jeffco. Secondly, the support we have received from Jeffco leadership to allow us to make Jeffco Stadium into a first-class high school facility.”
In 2009, the move was made to have a 3-day state track meet with the top track athletes from across Colorado descend to 6th Avenue and Kipling Street.
Jeffco Stadium worker Bryce Selk paints a logo on the discus area May 16. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We have a creative and dedicated crew that always tries to give the stadium a special touch so it will be memorable for all the athletes and spectators that attend the 3-day meet,” Paddock said.
It takes several days to prepare for the event. All Jeffco stadium managers and workers come in Sunday, the day after the Jeffco League Championships — this year on Mother’s Day — to gear up to get Jeffco Stadium ready.
In the end, it’s all worth it for Jeffco Stadium manager John Sears.
“The most rewarding part of hosting the state track meet is watching all of Colorado’s best athletes compete for three days straight,” Sears said. “It is an honor that they deem Jeffco Stadium a suitable place for such a high intensity meet. It really is one of the most premiere high school track facilities in the country. What we do, could not happen without the immense support of the (Jeffco Public Schools) district administrators.”
Sears is a homegrown product of Jeffco. He graduated from D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School in 2005 and started at Jeffco Stadium as a seasonal worker shortly after graduating high school. He was hired in February 2007 as the stadium manager at Trailblazer Stadium. In 2012 he took over the helm at Jeffco Stadium.
Pomona senior Semaye Johnson, left, could contend for the title in the 5A girls 100-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“What I think makes Jeffco Stadium special would be the history,” Sears said. “Jeffco Stadium was built in 1959 and it holds a nostalgic feeling to athletes and coaches who competed there years ago. I hear many stories from workers and parents all the time about individual games being played or just where they watched.”
While Jeffco Stadium is abuzz with track during the spring hosting more than 20 track meets from March to the season-ending state meet in May, it’s the site of some of the premier football action in the state that brings out the crowd in the fall.
One of the most memorable events Jeffco Stadium hosted recently was in 2011. Both Class 5A football state semifinals games — Pomona vs. Lakewood and Grandview vs. Columbine — were played on a Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
“It was one of the cooler event weekends we have had,” Paddock said.
The biggest facelift at Jeffco Stadium came in 2005 when the west side of the stadium’s press box, restrooms and concession building were rebuilt. The future desire is to have the east side of the stadium also improved. It was also the first time in more than 30 years a state track meet wasn’t at Jeffco Stadium because of the remodeling.
Pomona is the defending 5A boys track and field team champions. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Even though the west side of the stadium saw major improvements several years ago, the east side is in desperate need of attention,” Thyfault said. “We are hoping within a few years to be able to replace locker rooms, add and update restrooms and enhance the concession area. It’s like any other building that ages over the years, it needs attention in order to keep it a first-class facility.”
Sears would like to see Jeffco Stadium possibly host some college track meets in the future and believes it would be possible to host a state championship football game. Jeffco Stadium was the site for the 1997 5A state title game between Jeffco rivals Arvada West and Bear Creek.
Interesting facts about Jeffco Stadium
Parts of the 1992 movie ‘Ladybugs’ was filmed at Jeffco Stadium.
The Denver Foxes, men’s professional soccer team, played home games at Jeffco Stadium.
People could watch movies from the east stands on Friday night when the West Drive In was still in business near the stadium.
In 1995, Jeffco Stadium was the only Jeffco Public Schools district football stadium after Reed Street Stadium closed. Jeffco Stadium was the site of more than 60 games during the 1995 football season. Trailblazer Stadium opened in 1996 to alleviate the number of games.
Jeffco Stadium installed a new digital video scoreboard a few years ago that not only displays track results, but is used during the football season with a live video feed for spectators.
“The addition of the digital scoreboard was instrumental in taking the state meet, as well as our own league meets, to a new level,” Thyfault said. “Instantaneous times flashing up on the scoreboard have been a big hit. It’s also good for advertisers, as most eyes go right to the scoreboard when a race is completed. CHSAA knows we are always looking for ways to improve the facility.”
NOTE: This is the final 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.
The elite track and field athletes from across the state will descend on Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
PARKER — Down 7-3 at halftime, Arapahoe girls lacrosse scored nine goals in the second half to advance to the girls lacrosse semifinals with a 12-9 win over Chaparral.
