CHSAANow

Month: May 2017

  • Ernie Derrera hired by CHSAA as assistant commissioner

    AURORA — Ernie Derrera, currently the athletic director at Frederick High School, has been hired to join CHSAA’s staff as an assistant commissioner.

    Incoming CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green confirmed the hire on Friday morning.

    “Today was a win-win for educationally-based high school activities in Colorado,” she said. “Ernie brings his experiences from rural schools, metro schools, along with a committed effort to non-traditional student-activities to our Association. We are fortunate to be able add him to our office.

    “We had several quality and outstanding candidates for the position who had great depth of knowledge, experience and passion for high school activities. The selection committee was impressed with each candidate.”

    Ernie Dererra.

    Derrera will join the staff officially on July 1. His specific duties are still to be determined.

    “Truthfully, I’m incredibly humbled,” Derrera said. “When I got into being an AD, and I decided that athletic administration was going to be my pursuit professionally, the two end-goals I had were either a CHSAA job, or a district AD job. It’s something that’s been a goal of mine for a long time.”

    Since 2015, Derrera has been the athletic director at Frederick. Previously, he was the AD, a teacher and cross country coach at Thompson Valley (2000-05; 2009-15), and a teacher and wrestling coach at Roosevelt (2005-09). He recently retired as Master Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, a role he held since 1987.

    Derrera is no stranger to the CHSAA office.

    At various times, Derrera has helped to pilot the InsideOut Coaching Initiative, has served as the chair of CHSAA’s wrestling committee, been a site director at softball, hosted regional tournaments, and also took part in the You Can Play! public service announcement. He has also served on the swimming and diving committee.

    Last summer, he attended CHSAA’s student leadership conference to learn more about the activity even though Frederick didn’t have any students attending. He was quickly enlisted to help with aspects of the conference.

    “Ernie, through his exemplary leadership and experiences, will provide a diverse perspective that is representative of the students and communities that we serve,” Blanford-Green said. “It is a connection that the Association has needed for some time, and to provide that piece of puzzle strengthens our CHSAA mission and vision.”

    As the wrestling committee chair, he helped to spearhead an initiative promoting girls wrestling, and actually hosted the first-ever girls-only wrestling tournament at Frederick. Derrera also helped develop a new type of classification system that equally balanced the classes. That model has since been implemented across all individual sports.

    “He was a catalyst in starting girls wrestling,” Blanford-Green said. “What Colorado started is becoming a national model. Other state associations are seeking his expertise as they look to start a grassroots effort with their own girls wrestling initiatives.”

    “There definitely is a familiarity,” Derrera said of his new role at CHSAA. “I have been fortunate enough to be asked by some of the assistant commissioners and trusted by the office to be involved in a lot of different levels, and a lot of different aspects in what the Association does, in both the athletic and the activity arenas.

    “I know that there’s going to be a steep learning curve, as with any new position, but I am confident that the CHSAA staff and administrators will assist me in this transition with the activities I’m given.”

  • 5A girls golf: Grandview’s Chitkoksoong wins individual title; Ralston Valley claims first team crown

    5A girls golf Amy Chitkoksoong Grandview
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    GOLDEN — Grandview’s Amy Chitkoksoong made she shot she needed at the right time, and now she’s the Class 5A girls golf individual champion.

    Chitkoksoong, a senior who finished second last season, hit a near-perfect chip shot on the third playoff hole, then knocked down a bogey putt to seal her title. Highlands Ranch junior Jenna Chun finished second following a great round.

    “My coaches told me there’s only one way to go, and that’s up,” Chitkoksoong said. “Taking second last year, I was coming into the tournament with the mindset of aiming for first place.”

    Chitkoksoong’s shot came on the par-4 12th hole, which she was playing for the third time in two days. She faced a similar chip in the first round on Monday, but “I rammed it past,” she said.

    “In my head, I was just telling myself to make sure I get it close, make sure to not let it go off that hill,” Chitkoksoong said. “And so I was really calm chipping that, because I could see the ball roll in my head.”

    Chitkoksoong placed the chip, her third shot of the hole, within six feet. Chun’s third shot, a putt, went long, and then her par attempt broke right just before the hole. Chitkoksoong also missed her par attempt, but then Chun missed her bogey putt.

    By then, Chitkoksoong had a short putt to win the title. She sank it, and ran into the arms of her teammates to celebrate.

    It was the end to a nerve-wracking few holes for Chitkoksoong.

    “While I was playing the round, I started getting really nervous around 16,” she said. “Then I heard there was a playoff, and each hole just got worse and worse. (Chun is) such a great player, and I fought until the end.”

    5A girls golf Ralston Valley team chamions
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Ralston Valley won the team title with a total of 42-over. Rock Canyon (+51) was the runner-up. Grandview (+67), Arvada West (+69), and Fossil Ridge (+69) all earned top-5 finishes.

    The Mustangs’ Jordan Remley (+12), Lexi Mueldener (+14) and Sydney Eye (+16) had scoring rounds as the program won its first championship. Riley McKibbon (+27) also had a great round.

    “This team is really a team. And they are just such good girls,” said Ralston Valley coach Wendy Davies. “They worked hard for each other. Every time I would walk up, they would ask, ‘How is everyone else doing?’ Coming in at the end, they said, ‘How many strokes do we need? Do I need to birdie?’”

    Ralston Valley trailed by five strokes entering the day.

    “It was phenomenal,” Davies said. “Every single one of them played really well today.”

    The individual competition, meanwhile, had some extended drama.

    Chitkoksoong entered the day three shots back of the Day 1 leader, Rock Canyon’s Amelia Lee. She made a slow and steady climb toward the top, eventually taking the tournament lead midway through the afternoon when Lee bogeyed her 10th hole.

    Lee and Chitkoksoong traded the lead for the rest of the day, but it was Chun who entered the clubhouse with the score to beat at 10-over. Chitkoksoong followed that shortly with a 10-over score of her own. Lee had a chance to match them, but missed a tough putt on the 18th green.

    After a short break, Chitkoksoong and Chun stepped back onto the 10th tee to begin the playoff. They both bogeyed the 10th, and then made par on the 11th.

    That set the stage for the dramatic finish to the 12th hole, and Chitkoksoong’s chip for a championship.

    5A girls golf Amy Chitkoksoong Grandview
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

  • 3A baseball: Colorado Academy, Valley both unbeaten heading into key game

    (Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)

    GREELEY — Chase Allen was at his first state tournament for Colorado Academy baseball. Judging by his build and performance, one may have mistaken him for a senior.

    The first-year took the mound against Peak to Peak in the Class 3A tournament and delivered a gem of a pitching performance with five shutout innings and only three hits given up.

    The Mustangs swung hot bats as well, eventually pulling away for a 10-0 mercy rule win over the Pumas in five innings.

    As a result, Colorado Academy improved to 2-0 at Butch Butler Field in the Class 3A state tournament. They also defeated Lamar 7-6 on Tuesday morning.

    They are looking for state championship No. 1 in baseball. Their prospects appear bright after a pair of victories.

    “I’ve never been on this big of a stage,” Allen said. “I’ve played travel ball all my life, but coming out on this stage and representing my school is huge. I haven’t been pitching that much. Coming out here and being as efficient as I was, that’s great. I was very proud.”

    A run by Geoff Farmer in the bottom of the third put the Mustangs up 1-0. They tacked on insurance runs in the fourth after a walk and a single by Bo Dodge put two runners on base. A wild pitch led to a run by Farmer.

    Then, it was a flood of RBI singles. Ben Cole stepped up with an RBI single to drive in another run. Wyatt Westfall came through with an RBI single of his own. Then, Isaac Corson drove in two more runs with a single. The lead was 6-0 in favor of Colorado Academy in the fourth frame.

    The Mustangs tallied five runs on six hits in the fourth inning.

    “I don’t think CA has had a team go this far in a long time, if ever, so doing this is a lot of fun,” the freshman said.

    Colorado Academy will face Valley at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Butch Butler. The Vikings beat Faith Christian 2-1, and Eaton 15-12.

    The winner of that game will improve to 3-0 and be the last unbeaten team in the 3A bracket.

    Peak to Peak, another team that has yet to claim a baseball crown, is still alive in the tournament, as well. They will face the winner of Salida or Faith Christian at 12:30 at Butch Butler tomorrow.

    Eaton will face the winner of Lamar and La Junta.

  • 2A girls soccer: Denver Christian starts fast, then holds on for first state title in 13 years

    Denver Christian girls soccer
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY – What initially looked like a potential runaway victory in the Class 2A girls soccer state championship game Tuesday ended up becoming a compelling battle.

    But ultimately Denver Christian’s early blitz proved to be the deciding factor. The Thunder scored three goals in the first 16 minutes of play, and the team withstood a pair of rallies to emerge with a 4-3 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

    It was the first state title for Denver Christian since 2004.

    “It’s amazing. These are some of my very best friends, and to have them with me to have this success together – it builds us and grows us together as friends and as a family,” said Thunder junior Miranda Kortenhoeven, who had a goal and an assist. “It’s amazing for our school too. It’s a great accomplishment.”

    Denver Christian (16-2) received a pair of goals from Kara Amidon, including a clutch score with 12 minutes, two seconds remaining to give the team some breathing room.

    The freshman – who led the team in scoring this spring – was at a loss for words after the game when asked what she was feeling.

    “I can’t. It’s just so amazing,” Amidon said. “I don’t know.”

    The top-seeded Thunder dominated the 2A ranks all season, with both of its losses coming to 3A programs. Denver Christian had handled Dawson 5-0 on April 20, and it looked like Tuesday’s game might be headed in a similar direction after a quick start.

    Sidney Bejer got the ball rolling for the Thunder just more than two minutes into the game, taking a corner kick from Kortenhoeven and getting enough of the ball that Mustangs keeper Kate Gallop had to wrangle it in behind the line.

    Kortenhoeven made it 2-0 in the 10th minute, scoring on a penalty kick after a foul in the box. Even after Dawson (13-4) cut into the lead on a rebound goal from Kaitlyn Day, the Thunder was able to respond quickly on Amidon’s first score of the night.

    “You start a big game like this, and both teams are nervous. That showed a little bit,” Denver Christian coach Brad Homan said. “We were kind of lucky. I thought we were the beneficiaries of those nerves a little bit so we got a couple of quick ones.”

    Dawson regrouped though, and in the final nine minutes of the first half the Mustangs again trimmed the lead to one. Hannah Isenhart ripped a long grounder that eluded Thunder keeper Rayne Rodgers.

    “We were just a little bit afraid. They got us on our heels because of they way that they played,” Homan said. “The second half was more the type of game that we would have expected the whole game to be like.”

    The second half was much more defensive-minded, with the shots – and mistakes – cut down quite a bit. It wasn’t until Amidon squirted a ball through from the left side and past Gallop that the Thunder finally had some wiggle room.

    Even then it didn’t last, as Dawson’s Cameron Epstein scored with nine minutes remaining.

    “I thought Dawson really kept battling and they put us under as much pressure as we’ve seen in 2A all year,” Homan said. “That’s a good team.”

    The Mustangs were making their third consecutive appearance in the championship game. The team graduates only four seniors, including its leading scorer in Isenhart.

    Denver Christian loses only three seniors and will return the core of a squad that made a tremendous leap forward this spring.

    “I’m excited. This is a great group. They’re good athletes, they’re good soccer players, but they focus so well,” Homan said. “Really there is only about three to four of these girls who play soccer year-round. The rest of them are athletes.”

  • 3A girls soccer: The Academy finds a way in shootout to secure team’s first title

    3A girls soccer The Academy team champions
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY — Walking up to the box to take her turn in the shootout Tuesday night, Hannah Paschke’s emotions were running high.

    A year ago in the Class 3A state semifinals, Paschke’s penalty kick in a shootout with Colorado Academy went off the crossbar. So before she take what could have been the deciding shot Tuesday, teammate Alex Loera huddled with her and whispered words of encouragement.

    It worked – as did almost every decision the Wildcats made in the 3A state championship game, no matter how unconventional. Peak to Peak goalkeeper Rachel Willette couldn’t quite get a firm grip on Paschke’s shot, and as the ball crossed the line, the celebration commenced.

    One year after its season ended in heartbreak in a shootout, The Academy earned redemption and the program’s first state title with a 1-1, 4-3 shootout victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

    “I knew her emotions were going crazy,” Loera said. “We just got together and I told her ‘All you’ve got to do is put it in the back of the net. Just take a breath and put it back.’ After that we prayed and she came up big time.”

    After playing to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtimes, Wildcats coach Kevin Davis made a unique decision headed into the shootout. Davis opted to put Loera in goal instead of keeper Kristine Honomichl – a decision that Honomichl and the team fully supported.

    It was Loera’s first time in net, yet she made a save on her third go-round.

    “She’s very quick laterally,” Davis said. “Kris was OK with it, the team was OK with it; they were super unselfish.”

    3A girls soccer The Academy team champions
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    It was just that kind of night for The Academy (18-1), which had fallen in the state semifinals in each of the previous two seasons.

    After Peak to Peak (15-3-1) scored the go-ahead goal just more than two minutes into the second half, Loera threaded her way through four defenders and put the equalizer into the back of the net with less than 25 minutes remaining in regulation.

    “The two left a gap right between, and I was like ‘I’ve got to go through there. That’s my only way,’” Loera said. “I went through and once I was on the breakaway I just slotted it. The goalie got a hand on it, but luckily there was enough power on it.”

    Peak to Peak’s only shot on goal over the final 70 minutes of play came on Emma Shepherd’s hard liner that gave the Pumas the brief lead. With Peak to Peak on its heels as The Academy put the pressure on, Willette made nine saves down the stretch and the Pumas’ defense prevented the Wildcats from taking the lead.

    In the shootout, Peak to Peak had three attempts go high, but Willette made two big saves. It wasn’t until Paschke earned her own measure of redemption that The Academy could finally enjoy what had been a long time in the making.

    “The past two years our team has been pretty good,” Paschke said. “This year, I knew this team could do it … this team deserves it.”

    “It’s just been crazy,” Loera added. “I don’t even know how to put it into words right now. I am overly emotional right now. We’ve gone four years and tried and tried and tried, and we finally did it.”

    Loera finished her senior season with 42 goals, and is one of only two seniors on the roster.

    “The ladies deserve that win. They worked their tails off over the last two years,” Davis said. “We talk about it’s just an opportunity and you’ve got to earn it. Tonight they earned it.”

    Peak to Peak graduates only four seniors off a team that finished tied for second in the Metro League.

    The Academy Peak to Peak girls soccer
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

  • 4A Baseball: Improbable rally puts Evergreen in driver’s seat

    Evergreen players celebrate after a 7-5 victory over Valor on Tuesday at Metro State. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    DENVER — Evergreen will play it in first ever state baseball championship next Saturday at Metro State University’s Regency Athletic Complex.

    “I don’t think it’s sunk in for any of us yet,” Evergreen senior Ryker Eagen said after the Cougars rallied late to take a 7-5 victory over defending champion and Jeffco League rival Valor Christian in a game of the last two undefeated team in the double-elimination Class 4A state tournament.

    Valor appeared to be zeroing on a 3-0 start and in good position to repeat as state champions. The Eagles (19-5 record) held a 5-1 lead going to the bottom of the sixth inning.

    However, Evergreen (16-8) wasn’t prepared to concede the driver’s seat to Valor heading into the semifinals scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 26 and 27, at Metro State.

    “All year they have made comebacks. We have never quit,” Evergreen coach Steve Jones said. “We talk about playing a full 21 (outs). I tell them to grind. That’s what we did today.”

    Evergreen sophomore Brett Bokelman, facing, is lifted up by teams after recording the final out. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    What the Cougars did in the sixth inning stunned everyone. Evergreen had a 6-run sixth inning to turn a 5-1 deficit into a 7-5 lead going to the seventh inning.

    After an early out, Jack Patterson and Eagen managed back-to-back singles. A walk to Taylor Gray loaded the bases with one out. Mike Kapner’s flare to left field was misplayed to drive in a run. Valor lifted starting pitcher Ethan Zemla for junior Justin Estes.

    Estes hit pinch-hitter Andrew Stephens to plate another run, cutting Valor’s lead to 5-3. Junior Jake Hefeli walked with the bases loaded to score another run.

    “We played six great innings of baseball and had little one slip,” Valor coach Brian Bonn said.

    With Valor clinging to a 1-run lead, Evergreen senior Ben Muscatello ripped a single to left center field to drive in a pair of runs and give the Cougars their first lead.

    Evergreen’s Mike Kapner (6) puts a tag on Valor’s Joel Pierce. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletic)

    “I was basically just trying to get the ball out of the infield,” Muscatello said of his 2-run single that he admitted he was given the take sign on the pitch he hit. “I wanted to score that (tying) run and maybe do some more damage. Luckily I hit a line-drive.”

    Junior Ethan Stiles hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score the final run in the remarkable comeback by the Cougars.

    “It was definitely a surprise,” Muscatello said of the Cougars’ 6-run sixth inning. “(Valor) started throwing balls and we started capitalizing on their pitches they were leaving over the plate.”

    With Evergreen’s top three pitchers — Muscatello, Jack Hudd and Eagen — already maxed out with pitch counts during the three-game stretch over two days, Jones called on sophomores Paul Schreffler and Brett Bokelman to pitch the final three innings.

    Bokelman got a strikeout and groundout to start the seventh inning. Valor junior Austin Howell had a ball drop for a single in centerfield, but Bokelman got junior Noah Kuzman to fly out to right field to end the game and start the celebration for the Cougars.

    “We call him Slim,” Muscatello said of Bokelman. “He has ice in his veins. That was the biggest performance I’ve seen coming in at that time and that situation against the defending state champions. Wow. I’m just happy he kept his cool.”

    Valor isn’t panicking by any means. Valor, Air Academy and Thompson Valley are all in the same situation facing elimination Friday. However, the Eagles were able to win three elimination games last year during the final weekend of the tournament to win the 4A state title.

    Evergreen’s Ben Setlak connects with a pitch as teammates look on. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “It’s not over,” Bonn said. “Our job now is how to use this energy after a loss. We have to use that energy for the positive and preparation now, not on the past of losing one game. We are going to be in great shape.”

    Valor defeated Evergreen during 4A Jeffco conference play 8-1 on April 10.

    However, the Cougars came into Tuesday late afternoon game riding a six-game winning streak that included back-to-back shutout victories against Air Academy and Thompson Valley to start Evergreen’s run in the 4A state tournament.

    “This is the most interesting season we’ve ever had,” Muscatello said. “We’ve dealt with adversity. We’ve stuck together as a team when times were tough. Who thought we would be here right now?”

    Now, Evergreen is assured to be playing in the state championship game Saturday. Jones didn’t want to think to far ahead of how he will handle his pitchers with the ability to hold Muscatello for a title game Saturday.

    “Ben is a big-game competitor. He is by far the most determined competitor I’ve ever coached,” Jones said of his ace. “I’m confident whoever we call to take the bump they are going to do fine.”

    It’s been a bumpy ride for Evergreen at times. The Cougars actually finished tied for fourth in the 4A Jeffco League and was No. 28 in the RPI standings to grab a No. 4 seed for their district tournament.

    “We are going to enjoy the next 24 hours. I’m going to let the kids be kids and we actually have a few still have to take finals,” Jones said. “Evergreen has never been this far in its entire history. I’m just incredibly proud of this group of young men.”

    Valor’s Austin Howell, left, goes airborne to try to catch an throw to second base. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Valley goes 2-0 on first day of 3A baseball tourney

    LONGMONT — Valley beat Faith Christian 2-1, and Eaton 15-12, to go 2-0 on the first day of the Class 3A baseball state tournament. Eaton beat Salida 7-3 in the first round.

    Valley advances to play Colorado Academy, which also went 2-0 on Day 1.

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  • Photos: The Academy claims 3A girls soccer title in PKs

    COMMERCE CITY — The Academy won its first championship in girls soccer with a 1-1, 4-3 win in penalty kicks over Peak to Peak in Class 3A.

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  • Photos: Denver Christian wins 2A girls soccer championship

    COMMERCE CITY — In a high-scoring title tilt, Denver Christian beat Dawson School 4-3 to win the Class 2A girls soccer championship.

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  • Mullen names Bob Caton new boys basketball coach

    Mountain Vista Highlands Ranch boys basketball
    (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    Mullen has turned to Bob Caton to take over its boys basketball program.

    The school announced the hire in a press release on Wednesday morning.

    “Bob’s a legend and his reputation speaks for itself,” Mustangs athletic director Vince Massey said in a statement.

    Caton, a longtime head coach, stepped down from Highlands Ranch after the 2014-15 season. He has been a coach for 37 years, and has 505 career wins. He has the 11th-most wins in state history.

    “I wanted to get back into coaching, and this worked out great,” Caton said in a statement.

    Aside from Highlands Ranch, Caton has also had stops at Manual, Denver West, George Washington and Aurora Central.

    Mullen went 8-16 last season in the Class 5A Centennial League, and hasn’t had a winning season since 2007-08. Caton replaces Peter Spiessbach, who went 22-49 in three seasons.

    “I think there will always be a certain degree of talent here,” Caton said. “What they do well, I will put them into that position. And it has always been a good league.”