(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Lori Stenstrom couldn’t stop smiling. She watched with excitement as her son signed his name on a piece of paper, signaling his official commitment to the University of Colorado.

The Stenstrom family has been Stanford through and through. Lori and her husband, Steve, both attended Stanford and were both standout athletes.

But Wednesday they were dressed in all black and gold.

“Blood before alumni,” Lori said.

There’s a lot of that going around the Denver area. Blake Stenstrom, a first-team all-state quarterback from Valor Christian, was one of three in-state recruits to sign with the University of Colorado during the inaugural early-signing period.

Cherry Creek’s Dimitri Stanley and Highland Ranch’s Ray Robinson also signed their letters of intent. Along with the trio that signed with Colorado State, a good chunk of Colorado’s standout players get the overall recruiting weight off their shoulders six weeks early.

What is significant about the three prospects headed to Boulder is where each player sits in terms of statewide ratings. Most recruiting services have Stenstrom, Robinson and Stanley rated at least in the top six of all state athletes.

Who says Colorado doesn’t sign Colorado kids! The Buffs signed 3 of the top 6 players in the state including the #1 player! @Dimitri_114 @BlakeStenstrom @RayRob25 pic.twitter.com/rc4pRVJsGU

— Darrin Chiaverini (@CoachChev6) December 20, 2017

And the Buffs got them.

“We’re trying to all that we can,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said. “There are quite a few good players in this state each year and we’re excited about the three we got.”

MacIntyre had nothing but praise for the three Denver-area products. He mentioned the disappointment that Robinson lost his senior year due to a torn ACL, but of the three, it is only the Highlands Ranch defensive back that will graduate early and dive right into spring ball with the Buffs.

“He’s ready to go,” MacIntyre said.

(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

He highlighted Stanley as a legacy commit. Stanley’s dad, Walter, was a wing back for the Buffs in the 1980’s. Stanley had given the Buffs a verbal commitment, but MacIntyre said during Wednesday’s press conference that it turned into a battle to keep him.

Along with Stenstrom’s commitment last December came an additional role of a recruiter.

“He talked to the offensive lineman a lot,” ManIntyre said.

His family shared experiences with the Stanley’s and the Robinson’s which really drew the trio together. The fact that three of the most sought after recruits from the state was not lost on Stenstrom.

“I think it’s great,” Stenstrom said. “I think it motivates upcoming classes to stay home. Joshia (Davis) already committed from here, so that’s great.”

The ability to sign early was an added bonus. With everything made official, the players can start getting integrated into the team six weeks ahead of time. This is one of the many reasons that MacIntyre really came to appreciate the added signing day.

A six-week jump in December can go a long way into making the overall team better in August.

“I can get on Hudl and start watching film as soon as they get it me,” Stenstrom said. “I can start working out and during spring ball I can go to all the meetings if I want to. It’s a cool benefit of that.”

The next signing day period for football players will begin on Feb. 7.

CU head coach Mike MacIntyre talks about the early signees of his 2018 recruiting class. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

(Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

Welcome back, hoops fans! Week 4 of the season will bring us more non-league and tourney action. We love the nontraditional matchups that the early season brings us.

Speaking of nontraditional matchups, we have almost double digit teams from CO representing in the Las Vegas Tarkanian Classic vs. some of the country’s best talent and schools. Let’s get to the action:

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The Look Back

Monday, Dec. 18

• Pueblo West, No. 9 in this week’s 4A Poll, needed overtime to hold off Widefield winning by 3 points. N. Smeyer-Williams scored 24 points dished out 6 points and secured 4 steals in the win!
• Littleton is playing some solid ball early and senior Jason Lee scored 14 points in a win over Conifer that now has the Lions 7-1 on the season.
• There’s that young soph Luke O’Brian again scoring 21 points (5 of 6 from 3-point land!) as Columbine pulled away from Gateway by 14.
• Our Fever Crew’s game of the night was Douglas County vs. Bear Creek in two improving programs playing some hoops early and the Huskies won this one by 3 points in large part to Camron Duffe’s 20 points!

Tuesday, Dec. 19

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

• 3A No. 10 Resurrection Christian stepped up to the challenge at Wheat Ridge.
• Always a battle in the Heritage/Arap annual tilt with the two schools in such close proximity. The Warriors won this round at each level of the program and varsity “whooped em” 73-45 as senior B. Reinders put up 22 points at Sitting Eagle gym.
• Hellllllooooooo Andre Sepeda! The Greeley West junior scored 36 points in the home victory over tough Windsor by 5!
• Smoky Hill, No. 2 in 5A, took their high flying show to Rocky Mountain and senior John Harge was “stat stuffin” 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 steals, and 2 assists in the Buffs 18 point win.
• Kaden Bennett scored 18 and Horizon took the “braggin rights” vs. Legacy up north in the 3 point win.
• Young soph Caleb Wehmuller scored 19 big ones for Boulder who beat Fort Collins by 23 on the road.
• Junior Nico Martin scored 14 as Pueblo Central traveled to Sierra and shocked the Stallions with 51-49 tight win!
• Sindou Cisse scored 19 points for the Warriors in Montbello’s (FNE) cruiser over Hinkley.
• Bear Creek continues to score in bunches and pile up wins! This one was an 89-56 blow out of Kennedy and Manual Perez led four scores in double figures with 15.

Wednesday, Dec. 20

• Douglas County was battling but then Palmer produced a 24-9 fourth quarter and closed out a 62-51 comeback win!
• Love the name “Champion” Martin scoring 14 points in Cherokee Trails win over Brighton1
• The Tarkanian Classic action has started in Vegas and Valor Christian earned CO’s first win with a close 2-point win over Oak Ridge (CA) and senior Jeremy Randle put a big 25 points!
• Grandview, unbeaten in Colorado and No. 6 in our latest poll, also pulled off a tought 60-55 win over Carver (Alabama) in the Vegas action.
• George Washington represented CO well in Las Vegas as well losing by 2 points to highly touted “Big Baller Brand” Chino Hills in Vegas. A late turnover is what the Fever Crew reports did the Patriots in but that’s a great effort vs. a nationally recognized squad.
• In the finale of the Tarkanian Classic our No. 3 5A squad was in control with 3 minutes to go but Ronnie DeGray III fouled out with 3.5 minutes to go…Chap was up 5 at the time but this one got away and Camirillo got the win in round one. Chap will be back and CO is “rep’n well in the 702”!

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Midweek Thoughts

More Tarkanian Classic results to come on Sunday, folks! But so far our CHSAA #RepThe303 squads are showing the nation that we can play with anyone!

Enjoy…..

Rez Christian’s Reece Johnson (5) scored a game-high 21 points against Wheat Ridge. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

WHEAT RIDGE — In the long run, Tuesday’s non-league boys basketball game will likely benefit Resurrection Christian and Wheat Ridge.

Rez Christian, No. 10 in the CHSAANow.com Class 3A boys poll this week, managed a 70-59 victory in front of a strong Farmers’ crowd at Wheat Ridge High School.

“It’s important for our kids to get this environment,” Rez Christian coach Bruce Dick said. “Our kids don’t always see this environment and that’s good for them.”

The game brought out a good turnout with several former administrators, coaches and graduates. Wheat Ridge was honoring longtime athletic trainer Dan Martinez who after 27 years at Wheat Ridge will be moving on to Chatfield High School after winter break.

Wheat Ridge coach Tommy Dowd also took a moment before the game to welcome Dick back to Jeffco for at least one night. Dick spent 24 years at Green Mountain High School before stints at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins and his current eight-year run at Rez Christian.

Wheat Ridge’s Tanner Crouch (21) looks to make a pass Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“He (Dick) has been a really good friend of my. We’ve helped each other since I started coaching,” Dowd said. “He is a good coach.”

“No matter where he is at his team knows how to shoot and make free throws. I keep asking him for that formula, but he won’t give it to me,” Dowd joked.

The Cougars (5-3 record) never trailed Tuesday night. Rez Christian jumped out to a double-digit lead by midway in the second quarter. The sophomore tandem of Reece Johnson and Jackson Romero combined for 38 points.

“We lost a lot of good players from last year’s team and a really good underclassman on a move,” Dick said of his team that went 23-1 last season before being upset in the Sweet 16 of the 3A state tournament. “We started three sophomores and a freshman tonight. We put them in this kind of situation and they responded. I’m very happy with how they played.”

Wheat Ridge (4-4) closed the gap to 50-46 early in the fourth quarter, but a 10-1 run in the middle of the final quarter sealed the victory for the Cougars.

“Tommy Dowd is one of the better (coaches) around,” said Dick, who moved into fourth place on the all-time wins list last year and sits at 627 coaching victories. “It’s a blessing for us to come in here and get a win.”

Rez Christian’s Zach Cook, right, is part of the young core for Bruce Dick’s Cougars. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The Farmers will look a bit different after the winter break. Dowd expects junior Zeke Van Tuyl back from injury and junior transfer Julian Clausen will be eligible to play a few games into Class 4A Jeffco League play.

Seniors Naishon Thomas (18 points) and Max Warner (13 points), along with sophomore Alex Morales (12 points) finished in double-digits for the Farmers in the loss.

“It’s what we needed,” Thomas said. “We had a good environment and competition.”

The Farmers jump in Class 4A Jeffco League play Jan. 4 at home against Green Mountain before a Saturday night game Jan. 6 at Golden, ranked No. 2 in the latest CHSAANow.com 4A boys basketball poll.

“It’s going to give us a good preview of some of the teams we’ll see in our league. They are built the same way,” Dowd said. “We just spotted them too many early. We made our run, but we just don’t start out well.”

The conference schedule will be a tough grind for Wheat Ridge in the deep 4A Jeffco League. Defending state champion Valor Christian, along with Golden, Evergreen and D’Evelyn are also expected to challenge for the conference title. Also, Littleton (7-1) is off to a tremendous start.

Resurrection Christian, No. 10 in the Class 3A rankings, returns from winter break with a road game at Coal Ridge on Jan. 6 before starting its Class 3A Patriot League schedule.

Wheat Ridge’s Alex Morales hit four 3-pointers for the Farmers in the loss Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Columbine (Jeffco Public Schools)

The newly-created early signing period for Division I football recruits is here.

Wednesday marks the start of a three-day window where those athletes who are headed to Division I schools can sign.

Previously, all football recruits coming out of high school could only sign on the first Wednesday in February. That date remains as the regular signing period, and goes from Feb. 7, 2018 to April 1, 2018.

So far, Colorado’s Class of 2018 features 19 Division I football recruits, including 18 headed to FBS schools and one headed to an FCS program. Not all of that group will sign during the early period, as some will sign in February 2018, and others who have committed to service academies won’t complete the appointment process until next summer.

Included in that total are three players who have signed to both CU and CSU, and four with Wyoming.

Find a complete list of 2018 football recruits in this database.

Confirmed to have signed so far on Wednesday:

• Ray Robinson, Highlands Ranch, with CU.
• Chad Muma, Legend, with Wyoming.
• Blake Stenstrom, Valor Christian, with CU.
• Dimitri Stanley, Cherry Creek, with CU.
• Issac Power, Ponderosa, with Baylor.
• Florian McCann, Mullen, with CSU.
• Trey McBride, Fort Morgan, with CSU.
• Zach Watts, Windsor, with Wyoming.
• Cameron Murray, Overland, with Wyoming.
• A’Jon Vivens, Mullen, with CSU.
• Adrian Jackson, Mullen, with Oregon.
• Gunner Gentry, Grandview, with Wyoming.
• Tate Wildeman, Legend, with Nebraska.
• Willy Boatman, Kent Denver, with Northwestern.

Here’s a breakdown of Colorado’s football recruits in recent years:

^ – Through the early period.

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

This week’s girls swimming rankings are below.

These team rankings are created from the top marks of the season so far which have been entered in MaxPreps. They are compiled by PrepSwimCo.com.

In addition, the top individual marks of the season to date are compiled here.

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PrepSwimCo.com Girls Swimming & Diving Rankings

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

Three local players opted to stay in-state and sign with Colorado State during football’s early signing period on Wednesday.

Fort Morgan’s Trey McBride and Mullen teammates A’Jon Vivens and Florian McCann III all signed National Letters of Intent with the Rams on Wednesday, the first day of the new early signing period for Division I football recruits. All three are seniors, and make up three of the 19 Division I recruits from Colorado so far.

Each of the three were named first-team All-State in their respective classifications.

The trio weren’t the only three to stay local: Highlands Ranch’s Ray Robinson, Valor Christian’s Blake Stenstrom, and Cherry Creek Dimitri Stanley all signed with the University of Colorado.

(Katie Pickrell/CHSAANow.com)

McBride, a tight end, is a three-sport athlete for Fort Morgan, playing baseball and basketball in addition to football. This past season, McBride had three total touchdowns, and 450 receiving yards on 30 catches in being named first team All-State in Class 3A.

As a junior, McBride caught 11 touchdown passes. In his career, he accounted for 31 total touchdowns.

“Trey is an unbelievable athlete,” Colorado State coach Mike Bobo said during the Rams’ Signing Day show. “For two years in a row, he’s been one of the best performers at our camp. I think he has a huge upside as a tight end. … He’s got a chance to be a really, really good player for us.”

Vivens accounted for 11 total touchdowns last season for Mullen in playing wide receiver and running back. He had 39 catches and 557 yards for six scores receiving, and also rushed 95 times for 705 yards and five scores.

“A’Jon is a special player,” Bobo said. “He’s a little bit of a do-everything type of player. He’s what I like to call a football player. He’s not just a receiver. He was a guy that (Mullen) coach (Tom) Thenell tried to get the ball in his hands, and that’s what you look for when you’re looking for a skill player: How do they use him? Do they try to use him and get the ball in his hands?”

Vivens was named first team All-State in 5A as a senior.

“The thing I love about A’Jon is his toughness, his willingness to block, his willingness to put his face on somebody,” Bobo said. “He plays hard without the football.”

McCann, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound tackle. He helped Mullen’s offense rush for 1,912 yards and 19 touchdowns, and throw for another 1,866 and 15 touchdowns.

He was selected first-team All-State in 5A after the season.

“Florian is a guy that came to camp. We had not offered him a scholarship yet, and convinced him to come to camp and try to earn his scholarship,” Bobo said. “We had a lot of guys here from in-state that were really good offensive linemen, and Florian came and performed extremely well, and we offered him after that camp.”

Find a complete list of 2018 football recruits in this database.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

COLORADO SPRINGS — Cat Wright has given everything she has to the Cheyenne Mountain girls swim team.

Well, maybe not everything. Not yet, anyway.

Wright has been a standout for the Indians for the last three seasons and this year, her senior year, is shaping up to be different.

She came into the 2017-18 coming off the best season of her career, both individually and for the team. She claimed state championship wins in three events and the Indians captured their first Class 4A team title in 15 years.

Wright has played a crucial role for the Indians and to see everything culminate in a team championship, there was plenty of pride to go around.

“I’m sure her parents are so proud,” Cheyenne coach Kate Diane said. “This is their caboose. I think they’re proud to see her come here, set records at Cheyenne Mountain and kick some butt. She’s excited and I’m excited too. The team is excited and so are her parents. I think it’s a big family thing.”

Wright swims like she was born and raised in the pool. When she talks about her love for the sport, it’s hard not to wonder if she in fact might be part fish.

Not only does she have love for swimming, but she has the drive and motivation to be one of the best to come through the state.

That process has made the last three-and-a-half years fly by for her. She has to give herself a reminder that her days with the Indians are numbered.

“It’s been so much of my high school life,” she said. This is all I’ve ever known. It feels like just yesterday that I was a freshman. So I’m just trying to have my last year be a memorable one.”

This last weekend, Wright competed in her final Cheyenne Mountain Invitational meet. She went out in style, setting a meet record in the 200-freestyle. Her time of one minute, 58.03 seconds was three-tenths of a second better than the previous record.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

At least for now, even she’s not swimming at Cheyenne Mountain after this year, her name will forever be associated with the program.

“It’s just really exciting to be in my last Indian Invite and start off the meet really well with the meet record and get all the girls going,” Wright said.

That statement illustrates everything that helps the senior stand out, not just as a swimmer but as a kid and a teammate.

She wasn’t proud of her record. It wasn’t satisfying. It was exciting. Her ability to enjoy the atmosphere and still act like a high school kid doesn’t go unnoticed to those around her.

“She’s a true leader, she’s a nice kid, she’s a fast athlete, she’s a great student, she’s just such a nice girl,” Doane said. “She’s the whole picture.”

After graduation, Wright will head to the SEC to swim at the University of Alabama. The prospect of big-time competition in the sport that she loves is as alluring as it would be for any other high school athlete.

But the current reality is there is still work to be done with the Indians. The team 15 years in-between state championships and that’s not a timeline that’s okay by program standards.

“I think it’s given us a lot of confidence just knowing that we’re the previous year’s state champion,” Wright said. “We know it’s not going to be easy to get that title again so it just motivates us to know where we came from, but we know we have to get through this year.”

It will take a complete team effort for the Indians to claim a second-straight title, but Wright is essential in that hunt. Doane praises her ability to diversify positions. From the time that she was a freshman, Wright has shown her coach that regardless of the kind of swim, she’s ready to take on any challenge at any meet.

“She’s always that versatile little fish,” Doane said. “She can go where ever. She’s improved in strength and every single asset. She can do everything. She’s improved in all of her events and help any team.”

Right now the only team Wright wants to help is Cheyenne Mountain. The Indians are off until Jan. 11 when they take on Discovery Canyon in a dual meet. That will begin the Indians’ road to state.

In the last three years, Wright has shined a little brighter in each state championship meet. As she looks to cap a memorable career for the Indians, her parents, teammates and coach will all hope this that year is the year she shines the brightest and walks away having given everything she has to her program and community.

(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)

The midweek Ball Fever report gave us a glimpse of the non-league, tourney action, and CO teams traveling out of state.

Let’s finish up with one top squad winning a tourney in California, Golden’s journey to Alaska, Fairview in Cali as well along with a ton of good in-state stuff!

[divider]

The Look Back

Thursday, Dec. 14

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

• Dan Mohrmann caught the ultra impressive No. 1 Lewis-Palmer as they slowed No. 3 Pueblo South in a 4A top-5 match.
• Dennis Pleuss with the coverage of Castle View getting things turned around in the Columbine tourney.
• The Greeley tournament has kicked off as well and Fruita Monument’s Trey Morrill scored 16 points as the Wildcats took down Mountain View out of Loveland.
• Faiview pulled off a 6-point win over Albany (CA) while traveling!
• Lincoln got a much needed win over Cheyenne East (WY) despite junior Erik Oliver scoring 25 for the guys from Cheyenne.
• Senior led squad at Rampart and the guard combo of Xavier Johnson and Josh Kavalec combined for 48 points in the win over Denver South.
• Pueblo West, No. 6 in 4A, didn’t have enough for Palmer’s juniors Isaiah Robinson (18 points) and Darien Meyers (22 points) in the Terrors 11-point win.
• Senior C. Tolentino poured in 22 points for Fountain-Fort Carson as they got the jump on Monarch by 15 in the Columbine Tourney.
• Adam Thistlewood said “hello!” to Alaska with 18 points and the Demons showed CO teams can play some defense, winning 77-36.
• Eaglecrest had four players in double figures led by soph Zion Ruckard’s 13 in the 18 point win over Fort Collins.
• Our No. 1 squad Rock Canyon let the state of CA know they were “in the house!” as they opened with an 87-29 win over Pacifica in their west coast tournament.

Friday, Dec. 15

(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)

• No. 8 Regis unleashed on Lakewood in a blowout …
• Columbine lost another close one! This time in OT to Monarch.
• “Braggin rights” on the line down south in Sierra vs. Sand Creek and the Stallions used a 29-14 fourth-quarter advantage to lock down the win with Derrian Reed’s 22 point, 9 rebound effort!
• Competition got tougher for the No. 1 Jaguars but that didn’t stop them as Sam Masten scored 26 for Rock Canyon in the 18 point win over Buchanon from Clovis CA.
• Top-10 5A Friday night action is lovely and Overland visiting ThunderRidge did not disappoint as the game was tight the entire way through but Grizzlies senior Justin McCaw scored 23 helping No. 5 T-Ridge keep the advantage here. Overland 0-4 but no team has played a tougher schedule in the early season.
• Watch out for young sophomore Isaiah Hayes, who put up 17 points for Rangeview in a tight 3-point win over Cherry Creek. Bright futures for both of these young squads!
• Our Fever Crew had an eye on this one as Ponderosa came in hot and 7-0 but ran into an angry Pueblo South (No. 3 in 4A) who had just lost to No. 1 Lewis-Palmer the previous night. Well, lets just say Pondo’s unbeaten record did NOT phase the Colts as they one by a one-sided 69-32!
• Highlands Ranch got extremely defensive holding Lincoln to single digits in three of the four quarters blowing the Lancers out 65-33.
• Golden, No. 2 in 4A, got a much tougher test in Alaska on this night pulling out a 2-point win over Ketchikan with seniors Joe Madsen and Jack Moore scoring 14 points each.
• We have a “monsta” double-double sighting from Montbello’s (FNE) senior Malik Fofana who scored 21 points and added 16 rebounds in the Warriors 17-point win over Westminster.

Saturday, Dec. 16

(@Canyon_Hoops/Twitter)

• • Saturday’s biggest bang was made by 5A No. 1 Rock Canyon who won the title game of the 15th Annual “Clash on the Coast” in CA. Senior UNC Greeley hoops commit Sam Masten, scored more than 20 points in his third straight game en route to being named tournament MVP after the final 70-42 win over Westlake. Way to represent CO Rock Canyon Jags!
  • Buzzer beating action in Arapahoe/Dakota Ridge caught by Dennis Pleuss!
  • Our Fever Crew has Chaparral ranked as high as No. 2 and they haven’t let us down staying unbeaten with an exciting last-second finish on this nice “dime” by Ronnie DeGray III to seal the win over always tough Eaglecrest.DeGray finished with another 21 point, 11 rebound double-double.

Final bucket of the game. @Ronnie_DeGray23 with the unselfish and pretty assist to @tizzylewis1. Ronnie had 21pts, 11reb, 4ast. Tizell had 12pts. @kobesanderss had 10pts and 5ast. pic.twitter.com/BnQZrC34sD

— Chap Hoops (@Chap_Hoops) December 16, 2017

• Grandview has faced a tough non-league schedule early and stayed on the winning track beating Rampart by 8, led by senior Ben Boone who scored 18 points and was perfect from the 3-point line.
• George Washington, No. 4 in 5A, lost this week in their first Aurora visit but not in visit number two at Hinkley, who they humbled 75-17. Sophomore Devin Carter led in scoring with 13 and senior D’Auntray Pierce took care of the paint with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 big blocks!
• Columbine hosted their annual tournament and closed out the week with a solid win over Fountain-Fort Carson 52-31 with seinior Braxton Baum scoring 14.
• No. 5 ThunderRidge only has one loss to a tough Chap squad and they continue the early season run as they cruised to a 71-32 thumping of Ralston Valley.
• Broomfield with a 27-point statement over 4A No. 5 Holy Family! Big win for the Eagles.
• Fairview dropped to 3-4 on the season after a heartbreaking 1-point loss to Sacred Heart Prep of San Francisco 86-85. Strong overall trip to CA for the Knights!
• Another tough end to a looooong road trip where Golden lost a tough 74-72 game to Ketchikan in Alaska and it took overtime!
• Highlands Ranch closed out the P2P Winter Tourney with an 11-point win over Cheyenne East.
• In the final game of the week Alijah Bates 16 points helped Doherty hold off Legend who tried to battle back with a big fourth quarter but fell short by 3.

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The Look Ahead

Monday, Dec. 18

• Two improved squads in Douglas County & Bear Creek!
• Gateway travels to Columbine.
• Wheat Ridge & Kennedy both winning early.
• Widefield vs. Pueblo West!

Tuesday, Dec. 19

• Heritage/Arapahoe annual tilt!
• Windsor, 5-1, at Greeley West.
• Up North! Horizon & Legacy.
• Fort Collins & Boulder always fun.
• Smoky Hill vs. Rocky Mountain.

Wednesday, Dec. 20

• Grandview vs. Carver (Alabama) in Vegas.
• Valor vs. Oak Ridge “Cali” in Tark Classic, Vegas.
• Overland vs. mighty Bishop Gorman, Vegas.
• George Washington draws CA’s Chino Hills in Vegas.
• 6-0 Chap vs. Camarillo in Tarkanian Classic, Vegas.
• Brighton/Cherokee Trail.
• Douglas County & Palmer.

Thursday, Dec. 21

• Fossil Ridge & upstart 6-2 Thomas Jefferson
• M. Vista/Fountain-FC @ Creek Tourney!
• Legend/Broomfield as well, Creek.
• Cherry Creek hosts Pine Creek.
• East in Vegas faces Desert Pines (NV).
• Smoky Hill invades Rangeview, A-Town fun!
• C Trail & T-Ridge, both with 1 loss…
• Holy Family/Pueblo South heavy weights in 4A.
• Windsor & Pueblo West.

Friday, Dec. 22

• Windsor & Pueblo South will be a bang!
• Pueblo West vs. Holy Family top 10 4A.
• Rangeview vs. Arapahoe.
• Aurora Central @ Legacy.
• Vista Peak & Smoky Hill tangle.
• A ton of Vegas action to follow as well!

Saturday, Dec. 23

• Big School Vegas action in the Tarkanian Classic! Games TBD by how our CO teams do in early tournament action!

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We have some cold weather coming according to the reports. Wouldn’t it be nice to be in Vegas?

We have a feeling our CHSAA squads will once again represent well while on the road!

Enjoy, folks.

Standley Lake (No. 8) and Crested Butte (No. 9) have joined this week’s hockey rankings.

With a relatively light schedule this week, these will be the final rankings prior to the winter break.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Hockey Poll

Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

First-place votes are in parentheses.

Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

(Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

A host of new teams joined this week’s boys basketball rankings.

Included: Eaglecrest and Doherty in 5A, Widefield in 4A, Byers and Hoehne in 2A, and Creede and Primero in 1A.

With a relatively light schedule this week, these will be the final rankings prior to the winter break.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

First-place votes are in parentheses.

Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.