A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from December with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features Pomona football winning the Class 5A state championship in historic fashion. Also, early season boys basketball action featuring Golden and Conifer, along with a all-Jeffco girls basketball match-up between Green Mountain and Dakota Ridge. We also look at Wheat Ridge Poms repeating as state champs at the Denver Coliseum.

Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.

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On The Mat Wrestling Rankings

Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.

To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.

To purchase individual weeks of the rankings (as opposed to the entire season), you will need to use the printable subscription form and pay by check. The season ranking subscriptions are offered at a discounted rate.

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(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

After watching Theorius Robison win state titles as a freshman and sophomore for Pomona, one might never suspect that when he first began wrestling he was not that good at it.

While it may be natural to expect that someone who is physically gifted had come by talent naturally, if you dropped by to visit Theorius you might miss him because he was working out at the gym or going for a 5-mile trail run.

“Although you go into the practice room to get better,” he relates, “it is what you do outside the room that makes the difference.”

That may speak to why he is a two-sport state titleholder, as an all-purpose offensive back and special teams player for Pomona’s football team, which just won the Class 5A state title.

The work ethic he learned through his parents Theo and Ameaka is to “try hard in everything he does.”

This training was brought home in a semi-final match at Rocky Mountain Nationals, where he found himself down 6-1 heading into the third period.  Like his favorite opening moment at an RMN event, when the first matches begin with the lights down, a light turned on inside Theorius once the whistle blew for the final minute-and-a-half. 

Using the takedown and release strategy, Theorius not only made up that difference and more, he learned two important lessons: 1) it is not what technique you use, it is how well you execute the moves you select; 2) regardless of the score, always be prepared to outlast your opponent in the final period.

Theorius advises young wrestlers to “keep working hard. Keep your head down and focus on the details. Learn the fundamentals.”

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

At other times, Theorius wins with such ease that it may appear he is embarrassing his opponent; that is not his intent, he asserts – rather he never lets up because he always knows his foe may get back into the match. He never wants to underestimate his opponent.

Theorius also recognizes that “when you win there will always be those who love or hate you. I just don’t like to lose.”

Despite his success in- and out-of-state, including a Greco Cadet national championship in “the style that best suits my skills,” Theorius relates that “the sport of wrestling has taught me that when things get tough in life, when you take a loss not just on the mat, you have to know how to bounce back.”

The biggest influences in his life are his mother, father, and uncle who “all told me to try hard in everything I do in life. I know I have to be a good influence on my younger siblings.”

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The annual winter break is here, meaning no games, meets or matches will be held from now until Jan. 2.

There is also a practice restriction over the break. No practices can be held from Dec. 24-27, or on Jan. 1. This period is also a no-contact period between coaches and players.

Practices are allowed from Dec. 28-30 — not Dec. 31, as it is a Sunday — but any that take place over that time must be on a voluntary basis. No coach may compel a player to participate in practice over this period.

The break ends on Jan. 2, and so regular practices and competition can resume on that day.

Here’s the calendar in bullet form:

Winter break info

• Dec. 24: Winter break begins. No games, no practices.
• Dec. 25: No games, no practices.
• Dec. 26: No games, no practices.
• Dec. 27: No games, no practices.
• Dec. 28: No games. Voluntary practice permitted.
• Dec. 29: No games. Voluntary practice permitted.
• Dec. 30: No games. Voluntary practice permitted.
• Dec. 31: No games. No practice, as it is a Sunday.
• Jan. 1: No games, no practices.
• Jan. 2: Winter break ends, normal calendar resumes.

(Max Potter/CHSAANow.com)

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Mountain Vista boys basketball won the annual Cherry Creek Holiday Classic on Saturday with a 67-57 win over Legend.

“Give it to them, they earned it,” Mountain Vista head coach Bob Wood said as the champions plaque was given to his Golden Eagles.

Depth was the difference-maker in this game for Mountain Vista.

“We have a little bit more depth than they do, some of their better players just got tired and that was how we extended our lead,” Wood said.

The game was a non-league matchup of Continental League foes. The two teams meet on Jan. 30 in their league matchup.

Saturday, they played to a tie at halftime. From there, it was all about who could adjust, who could respond, and play through, and that is exactly what Mountain Vista did.

Senior guard Sheldon Hafner went down early in the first quarter with an arm injury, and Mountain Vista lost its strongest defender.

“We really wanted him available (to guard Sufyan Elkannan),” Wood said. “When we lost him we had to play some different guys on him. some of the other guys who are better on the offensive side were able to get in so it all balanced out in the end.”

Garrett Sweeney had a career night for Vista, dropping 21 points.

“He has struggled in a lot of games with his shot,” Wood said. “He is a really good shooter so we felt like he would eventually breakthrough, and he did. He plays hard and is our verbal leader. It was nice to see him have a big game in the championship.”

“Felt good, felt confident,” Sweeney said on his shot. “I knew the past couple of games my shot wasn’t really falling, I wanted to get my teammates involved, and it worked.”

“Our whole team, we always want to play hard,” Sweeney added. “Keep high effort, all the time on the court, and eventually you will see the results.”

As Sweeney and his Eagles move to Continental League play it’s about the team.

“We need to push the tempo, like we did today,” Sweeney said. “Stay together on defense and continue to help each other, and continue to work hard in practice.”

Coming out of the holiday break, Legend will take to the road for a trip to the Western Slope, where the Titans will face Grand Junction on Jan. 5.

Mountain Vista will be heading down South, where the Golden Eagles will face Fountain-Fort Carson on Jan. 4.

Welcome back, Fever fans! Our midweek report captured some solid local action as well as the start to numerous CO squads heading to Vegas.

Let’s see how it all finished up!

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The Look Back

Thursday, Dec. 21

• Overland, at the Tark Classic in Vegas, was surely the best win-less team on the docket. Seniors Daijon Smith and Goy Wang ensured they didn’t remain that way scoring 23 and 21 respectively in the Blazers in the 17-point win over Wilson out of our nations capital, DC.
• Bingham, Utah has been a perennial contender nationally but George Washington wasn’t impressed as they earned the win 59-54 in Las Vegas. Confidence building win for the Patriots and 6’10 D’Auntray Pierce stepped up in the clutch with a huge block, rebound, and late score to help seal it.
• Junior Abdul Locke’s 11 points helped Thomas Jefferson get the Cherry Creek Holiday Classic off on the right foot with 4-point win over Fossil Ridge.
• Young sophomore K. Maltbia puts up 28 points for Fountain Fort Carson but Connor Staib scored 29 for the victorious Eagles as Mountain Vista takes their first win by 19 at the Creek Tourney.
• Five players ran it up and scored in double figures from Sierra Vista (NV) and they pulled away from Valor Christian by more than 20 in Vegas.
• Junior stand out Dayne Prim was feeling it and scored 24 points where Grandview put a hurting on Durango (NV) in Vegas 75-43.
• Whoa! Cherry Creek was an extremely unkind tournament host busting Pine Creek by 42 points in the tourney opener!
• Is there a such think as Coach Carey’s Angels quietly trucking along? Two local tourney titles under their belt and they start the Vegas Tourney 60-43 over Desert Pines with Daylen Kountz scoring 21.
• Senior Devin Collins led three Raiders in double figures with 14 but not enough to slow hot Smoky Hill who hasn’t lost in the state and big John Harge again turned up his play late in the fourth quarter in this win and is averaging 15 per game. Smoky wins by 9 on the road for A-Town “braggin rights!”.
• No. 9 Pueblo West held Windsor to a 4-point second quarter and that was a big part of the 7 point win with Nigel Smeyer-Williams scoring 21.
• A top 5 4A match did not disappoint! Holy Family and Pueblo South battled until the last minute with South pulling out the 67-63 win.
• Cherokee Trail stunned No. 5 ThunderRidge early, up 5 on the road but the Grizzlies jumped on senior Kaison Hammonds back and rode to a 51-41 win. Hammonds led all in scoring with 13.

Friday, Dec. 22

(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

• • The first quarter started off close but that was the only thing close about Regis Jesuit’s rout of Hinkley!
  • Grandview’s in and out of state hot streak came to an end but they were in it “til the end” falling 62-59 to Rancho Christian CA in Las Vegas. Daijon Smith carried a heavy load again scoring 21 in the loss.
  • Senior Tyler McGinnis scored 19 for WIndsor who seems to always be in it late but not enough as Pueblo South gets an impressive 8-point win on back to back nights!
  • Dynamic duo of Daylen Kountz and Kwane Marble were magic again for the Angels who knocked off Salem Hills Utah and this time Marble led with 26 points. The Angels are balling.
  • Devin Carter, a good looking sophomore, is leading the Patriots at 10 points per game but not enough in Vegas vs. Pasadena CA who beat the Patriots by 12.
  • Chaparral was the victim of a mysterious late call that gave the Vegas opponent 3 free throws with no time left in the previous game and that lit an absolute fire in Ronnie DeGray III who scored 32 points leading the Wolverines to a 20-point statement over Marantha from CA. Wolverines win = DANCING!!

Good bounce back win today with a 78-58 win over Maranatha from California. @Ronnie_DeGray23 with 32 points. Winning = Dancing. Seniors, show us what you’re working with…oh and @tannergiles22 wanted to get in there too ⏸ pic.twitter.com/qmu03eNRpR

— Chap Hoops (@Chap_Hoops) December 23, 2017

• • Rangeview went into our beloved Sitting Eagle gym and got the win, never easy! The best part of this December day this is Coach Jansen’s tradition of the annual alumni game…Continuing to build that Warrior tradition!

Alumni game #4. 8 teams. Class of 80-2017. Great night being with old players, reconnecting, and seeing the men they have become! Why you coach! Relationships. pic.twitter.com/dKwyJ5icQH

— Brad Jansen (@coachjansen) December 23, 2017

• Mountain Vista playing well again and this time Ben Grusing scored 19 as the Eagles destroyed T. Jefferson by 30 in the Creek tourney.
• Darius Price led four Bruins in double figures with 15 but didn’t get Creek in the title game of their tourney as they lost to Legend by 4.
• Smoky HIll, No. 2 5A, closed out their early season with a home floor party and Vista Peak was the unwanted guest losing by 27.
• Senior Ben Boone’s 17 points helped Grandview to continue streaking with an overtime win over Sheldon CA by a tight 2 points.
• Feels like a repeat from the previous day and those two East Angels, Kountz & Marble, both score in the 20’s again and roll our states No. 4 squad into the Tarkanian Classic Silver Title game with 4 point win over Desert Vista Arizona!

Saturday, Dec. 23

(Max Potter/CHSAANow.com)

• Nice 21 point effort from Valor’s Hunter Shkapich but the Eagles took a few lumps on this Vegas trip losing again by 21 to Bountiful out of Utah.
• Chap caught two Vegas heart breakers early but bounced back with two impressive wins, the last of which was over Carver AL by 9.
• FRESHMAN ALERT: Cherry Creek took their anger of not being in the Holiday Classic title game out on Thomas Jefferson pounding them by 30 and class of 2021 Chase Penry scored 10 points and added 8 rebounds.
• Soph Caleb McGill stepped up with 10 points for Grandview but their run in Vegas came to an end with a close 2-point loss to Southwind of Memphis TN.
• Conner Staib was the picture of consistency averaging 15 points per game and helped Mountian Vista win the title of the Cherry Creek Holiday Classic, winning by 10 over Legend.
• In our end of the week finale Denver East ran into a tough kid, Cyrus Johnson from Culver City CA, who scored 25 points and pulled down 5 rebounds to deny the Angels a Silver Division title of The Tarkanian Classic and handing East it’s first loss of the season. The Angels are back, strong as usual.

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Thoughts at the break

Wow! What a start to the early season. No doubt that the growth of Colorado hoops has been on display in and out of state.

Our Fever Crew is heavily involved in club ball and we couldn’t help but notice that many of the players who are performing well in Las Vegas, Utah, California are doing so because this is nothing new to them! Our young men have played on the Bishop Gorman floor, Tarkanian Academy, Desert Pines, etc…on a very high/competitive level and it warms our heart to see the high school programs investing in this travel which exposes our teams to elite competition in a different and unique way.

We’re not even halfway through but if the post season started today give us Rock Canyon, East, Smoky Hill, and Chaparral as the four “1 seeds” and let’s get it on!

In 4A Lewis-Palmer still looking like the cream but Pueblo South won’t forget that early loss and Holy Family/Golden will have a lot to say before it’s all said and done as well.

Stay safe and warm out there, folks. Our Fever Crew can’t wait to get out to more games and will return in 2018! Peace.

AURORA — Eighth-ranked Regis Jesuit boys basketball ran past Hinkley on Friday, 71-24.

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DENVER — No. 5 Cherry Creek hockey scored two second-period goals to beat Denver East 2-1 on Friday.

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Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.

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On The Mat Wrestling Rankings

Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.

To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.

To purchase individual weeks of the rankings (as opposed to the entire season), you will need to use the printable subscription form and pay by check. The season ranking subscriptions are offered at a discounted rate.

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(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Valor Christian football coach Rod Sherman has stepped down from the program. Athletic director Jamie Heiner announced the move via a press release on Friday.

Sherman was 57-11 overall as the head coach of the program and won three state championships.

In January of 2007, Sherman took on the role of Valor’s founding athletic director. He joined the football staff as the offensive coordinator, playing a vital role in the Eagles’ four-consecutive state titles from 2009-12.

When Brent Vieselmeyer steeped down as the head coach after the 2012 season, Sherman took over and helped Valor claim three more championships (2013, 2015, 2016).

“I am incredibly proud of what all the Valor athletic programs have accomplished since I
was hired as founding athletic director,” Sherman said in a statement. “In football, I was blessed to serve under Coach Brent Vieselmeyer from 2007 to 2012, and it has been a very special blessing to serve as head coach for the last four years.”

Sherman leaves behind a trail of outstanding athletes that will play high-level college football. Among those would be the McCaffrey brothers, all of whom received Division I offers early in their football careers.

Ryan Cummings has stood out as an offensive lineman at Wyoming. Blake Stenstrom just signed to play football at the University of Colorado and teammate Joshia Davis will follow him in a year.

Eric Lee Jr. just completed his sophomore season at the University of Nebraska. Through those players, Sherman has established a long-lasting legacy for himself at Valor.

But he has now decided it is time to take on new challenges.

“I will always treasure my time at Valor, but it has become apparent to me that this is now the right time to step down and pursue other opportunities,” Sherman said.

The school is taking applications for the football job immediately. The next coach will be just the third person to hold the position at the school.