COLORADO SPRINGS — When searching for a new coach of any kind, Doherty athletic director Chris Noll looks for someone who can understand the concept of “WE before me.”
He believes he’s found it with his new basketball coach.
Noll extended the job offer to Elizabeth’s Eric Steinert on Monday. Steinert accepted and will now be tasked with continuing an upward trend of success that the Spartans have built over the last two seasons.
“We had an unbelievably deep applicant pool and at the end of the day, Eric Steinert stood out in terms of fitting not only the culture of Doherty athletics, but the culture of the Doherty community,” Noll said.
Steinert replaces Jarris Krapcha, who was hired at Eaglecrest to fill the void left by John Olander Jr. He has been in Colorado for two years, spending one season as an assistant at Legend before taking the head coach position at Elizabeth last year.
But even from afar, Steinert has been able to see what Doherty has been about when it comes to basketball.
“In my first year at Legend, we played Doherty and man, were they good,” he said. “We had a good team at Legend, but I was really impressed with not only how good their players were, but how mentally tough their players were and just how difficult they were to prepare for.”
It wasn’t just the basketball team that drew Steinert to the program. Even with the Spartans coming off back-to-back Class 5A Colorado Springs Metro League titles, he felt the school offered the total package.
Basketball is basketball. But when he spoke of the other aspects of the school, he gave the sense that he was heading somewhere that felt like home.
“You can tell a lot from culture just by sitting in a lobby and waiting on your interview,” Steinert said. “In just a 10-minute wait, you can tell the culture in a school and especially in the administration.
“There’s a lot of structure, a lot of support, a lot of energy. I don’t think there’s any doubt that they run a top-notch program in all their sports, not just basketball.”
And those involved with the hiring process liked what they heard from him. Most importantly, they liked that his goal isn’t necessary to win. It’s to teach. To work with the athletes in his program and help them grow both on and off the basketball court.
“Eric’s ‘why’ in terms of high school athletics really stood out with the committee,” Noll said. “He fully understands ‘WE before me,’ he understands why we do have high school athletics and he brings a phenomenal basketball mind to the table.”
The Cardinals went 12-13 last season under Steinert, a marked improvement from their 5-18 season in 2015-16. The idea of building on Krapcha’s success is an exciting thought for the new Spartan, but what excites him the most is getting to build new relationships at a new school.
“The tough part is you leave the relationship you’re at,” Steinert said. “But the best part is you get to meet 30 to 40 new kids and families. I’m super excited just to teach, which is what I think coaching is and share with them my philosophies and try to get our program to focus on things other than winning.”
COLORADO SPRINGS — Air Academy won the girls golf team title and Palmer Ridge’s Kellsey Sample won the individual title at Monday’s Cheyenne Mountain Invite.
Chatfield and Dakota Ridge players shake hands after the Chargers’ took a 6-5 victory over the Eagles on Monday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — It was a good old-fashion rivalry game Monday night at Trailblazer Stadium.
Chatfield and Dakota Ridge — schools separated by 2.6 miles — squared off in a Class 5A Jeffco League game. The Chargers pulled off the upset with a 6-5 victory over the Eagles.
“It feels good. It feels real good,” said Chatfield senior goalie Paul Daglian who made some brilliant late saves to prevent Dakota Ridge from scoring the game-tying goal. “It’s been a rough season. We’ve been fighting throughout the whole season. We really wanted this one.”
Dakota Ridge had possession with just less than 30 seconds left looking for a game-tying goal, but pressure from Chatfield senior Ryan Alexander forced a Dakota Ridge turnover and the Eagles never got off a final shot.
“We haven’t got to celebrate much this year,” Chatfield’s first-year coach Nick Mandia said. “I’m excited to celebrate with them.”
Chatfield (5-9, 4-2 in Jeffco) got off to an 0-7 start this season to pretty much eliminate the Chargers from any shot at making the playoffs. However, over the last three weeks Chatfield has won 5 of 7 games.
Dakota Ridge’s Samuel Arfsten (7) drives on Chatfield’s Nick Robinson (21) at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I’m so proud of this team. I’m so proud of how they fought,” Manida said. “The losses piled up, but they continued to stay positive and making sure we are getting better everyday. We won this game tonight because they weren’t willing to fold at anytime this season.”
Dakota Ridge (12-3, 4-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter Monday with goals from senior Nick Scott. Chatfield got a key goal by senior Josh Wendt just before the end of the first quarter to trim the lead to 2-1.
“That kind of kick-started us into the second quarter,” Chatfield junior Josh Larsen said of Wendt’s goal with 12 seconds left in the first quarter. “Then we were able to get a couple of goals early (in second quarter).”
Larsen scored back-to-back goals early in the second quarter to give the Chargers a 3-2 lead. Seniors Landon Rodgers and Alexander assisted on Larsen’s goals. A goal by Dakota Ridge senior Max Mowry tied things up late in the second quarter, but Wendt answered again.
Wendt, Chargers’ leading scorer, scored 10 seconds after Mowry’s goal to regain the lead for Chatfield. Senior Drew Johnson picked up the assist for the Chargers as Chatfield went into halftime with a 4-3 lead.
Each team put in a pair of goals each after halftime. For Chatfield, Larsen scored his third of the night early in the third quarter and freshman Connor Ross actually scored the eventual game-winning goal with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter to put the Chargers up 6-5.
Chatfield senior Josh Wendt scored a pair of goals Monday in the Chargers’ 6-5 win. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Scott picked up his third goal of the night in the third quarter and sophomore Drew Eickelman scored with 9:34 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game up at 5-5.
“As a defensive unit we just stayed to our game,” Daglian said. “We are the heart of this team and we pumped it out. Everyone together won this. It was beautiful.”
Daglian made some remarkable saves in the final minutes with Dakota Ridge throwing everything it could on goal. The Eagles desperately needed a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“This entire season Paul has made saves he isn’t supposed to make in every game. He was a stone wall tonight,” Mandia said. “I’ve appreciated having him. It’s unfortunate I have him for only one year with him graduating. He is a heck of a goalie.”
Despite the best regular-season record in the program’s history, Dakota Ridge likely won’t make the 16-team 5A state playoff field.
Dakota Ridge will probably finish tied for third with Chatfield in the 5A Jeffco conference behind Lewis-Palmer and Columbine. Only the league champion earns an automatic berth to the 16-team 5A state tournament. The Eagles sat at No. 18 in the RPI standings before Monday’s loss. Chatfield was No. 30 in RPI.
“It feels good to spoil them,” Larsen said of Chatfield probably ending Dakota Ridge’s playoff hopes.
Monday’s loss might have very well be the season finale for the Eagles who are done with their regular-season schedule. Colorado High School Activities Association will release the 5A boys lacrosse tournament bracket Saturday, May 6.
Chatfield concludes its season against Palmer at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Trailblazer Stadium.
“Momentum is everything. It creates more believe within our culture,” Mandia said. “It puts us on a positive trajectory. I look forward to another win on Wednesday.”
Dakota Ridge’s Max Mowry, far left, prepares to get off a shot Monday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
