Eight newcomers joined this week’s football rankings. They are: ThunderRidge (5A), Ponderosa (4A), Harrison (3A), Salida and Berthoud (2A), Buena Vista (1A), Mancos (8-man), and Cotopaxi (6-man).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Cherry Creek (9)
3-0
99
1
W
2
Valor Christian (1)
3-0
89
2
W
3
Columbine
3-0
78
4
W
4
Pomona
2-1
68
3
L
5
Grandview
3-0
56
5
W
6
Eaglecrest
3-0
45
7
W
7
ThunderRidge
3-0
38
–
W
8
Ralston Valley
3-0
28
8
W
9
Fairview
2-1
26
6
L
10
Arvada West
3-0
15
9
W
Others receiving votes:
Cherokee Trail 6, Mullen 2.
Dropped out
Mullen (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Pine Creek (13)
3-0
148
1
W
2
Loveland (2)
2-0
120
2
W
3
Chatfield
3-0
103
4
W
4
Skyline
2-0
80
5
Bye
5
Rampart
2-1
61
7
W
6
Broomfield
2-1
57
6
W
7
Montrose
3-0
53
8
W
8
Windsor
1-1
42
3
L
9
Ponderosa
1-2
31
–
W
10
Fruita Monument
1-1
27
9
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Vista Ridge 18, Heritage 15, Longmont 14, Grand Junction Central 12, Pueblo West 11, Brighton 10, Denver South 7, Hinkley 6, Vista Peak 6, Greeley West 2, Greeley Central 1, Widefield 1.
Dropped out
Monarch (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Erie (6)
3-0
104
1
W
2
Pueblo East (4)
3-0
93
3
W
3
Palisade
2-0
72
4
W
4
Discovery Canyon
3-0
65
6
W
5
Palmer Ridge
1-2
64
2
L
6
Holy Family
2-0
62
5
Bye
7
Thomas Jefferson (1)
2-0
52
7
Bye
8
Harrison
2-0
22
–
W
9
Fort Morgan
2-0
19
10
W
10
Durango
1-2
15
8
L
Others receiving votes:
Mead 6, Pueblo South 5, Conifer 4, Evergreen 4, Pueblo Centennial 4, Roosevelt 4, Frederick 3, Lewis-Palmer 3, Canon City 2, George Washington 1, Skyview 1.
Dropped out
Mead (9).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Bayfield (11)
3-0
127
1
W
2
La Junta (1)
3-0
102
2
W
3
Platte Valley
3-0
93
3
W
4
Resurrection Christian
2-0
82
4
Bye
5
Kent Denver (1)
2-0
79
6
W
6
Rifle
2-0
71
5
W
7
Eaton
2-0
47
9
W
8
Basalt
2-0
43
7
W
9
Salida
3-0
30
–
W
10
Berthoud
2-1
12
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Bennett 5, Bishop Machebeuf 5, Alamosa 4, The Academy 4, Moffat County 3, Pagosa Springs 3, Faith Christian 2, Delta 1, D’Evelyn 1, University 1.
Dropped out
Bennett (8), D’Evelyn (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (8)
3-0
115
1
W
2
Limon (4)
2-0
109
2
W
3
Burlington
1-1
82
4
W
4
Peyton
2-0
74
5
W
5
Centauri
1-1
65
3
L
6
Wray
1-1
56
6
W
7
Crowley County
2-1
40
7
L
8
Holyoke
3-0
29
9
W
9
Meeker
1-1
24
8
Bye
10
Buena Vista
2-0
19
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Yuma 14, Paonia 12, Jefferson 8, St. Mary’s 5, Platte Canyon 4, Colorado Springs Christian 3, Olathe 1.
Dropped out
Cornerstone Christian (10).
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (13)
2-0
130
1
W
2
West Grand
3-0
116
2
W
3
Sargent
2-0
83
5
W
4
Fowler
1-1
53
–
W
5
Hoehne
1-1
50
8
W
6
Holly
2-1
45
6
W
7
Caliche
1-1
38
7
Bye
8
Rangely
3-0
37
9
W
9
Akron
2-1
31
4
L
10
Mancos
2-0
30
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Merino 24, Soroco 14, Haxtun 13, Sanford 12, Byers 10, Simla 9, Norwood 6, Pikes Peak Christian 6, Custer County 3, Vail Christian 3, Dove Creek 2.
Dropped out
Merino (3), Soroco (10).
6-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Stratton/Liberty (8)
2-0
98
1
W
2
Otis (1)
2-0
87
2
W
3
Kit Carson (1)
2-0
84
3
W
4
Peetz
1-1
62
6
W
5
Flagler/Hi-Plains
2-0
55
8
W
6
Prairie
1-1
51
4
W
7
Cheyenne Wells
2-0
41
7
W
8
Briggsdale
1-1
25
10
L
9
Cotopaxi
2-0
14
–
W
10
Arickaree/Woodlin
1-1
12
5
L
Others receiving votes:
Granada 6, Fleming 5, Idalia 4, Weldon Valley 3, Manzanola 2, North Park 1.
Five new teams have hopped into this week’s volleyball rankings: Longmont (4A), Coal Ridge (3A), Union Colony (2A), Akron (2A) and Flagler/Hi-Plains (1A).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Chaparral (7)
8-1
112
1
2-0
2
Cherokee Trail (4)
6-1
105
2
1-0
3
Fort Collins
5-1
91
3
1-0
4
Eaglecrest (1)
5-0
71
5
2-0
5
Valor Christian
5-0
69
6
2-0
6
Fossil Ridge
2-1
68
4
1-0
7
Castle View
5-2
45
7
2-0
8
Chatfield
3-1
21
8
0-1
9
Cherry Creek
1-2
19
10
0-0
10
Rock Canyon
2-4
15
9
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Mountain Range 7, Bear Creek 6, Fruita Monument 5, Legend 5, Pine Creek 5, Regis Jesuit 5, Lakewood 4, Rampart 3, Fairview 1, Highlands Ranch 1, Monarch 1, Windsor 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Lewis-Palmer (9)
6-1
94
1
5-1
2
Ponderosa
8-1
65
3
2-0
3
Holy Family
4-3
62
2
0-1
4
Niwot
5-1
51
4
5-1
5
Discovery Canyon (1)
7-1
46
10
6-0
6
Palmer Ridge
5-2
37
6
4-1
7
Longmont
6-1
33
–
6-0
8
Erie
6-2
32
5
4-1
9
Evergreen
5-3
25
8
4-1
10
Air Academy
3-3
17
7
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Mead 15, Berthoud 14, Pueblo West 13, Battle Mountain 11, Eagle Valley 7, Mullen 7, Cheyenne Mountain 5, Thomas Jefferson 4, Coronado 3, Woodland Park 3, D’Evelyn 2, Frederick 2, Palisade 2, Silver Creek 2.
Dropped out
Cheyenne Mountain (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Eaton (9)
2-0
108
1
0-0
2
Lutheran (2)
6-0
99
2
5-0
3
University
5-0
83
3
1-0
4
Faith Christian
4-1
65
4
3-1
5
Platte Valley
5-2
50
5
4-2
6
Alamosa
9-0
39
8
2-0
7
Valley
3-4
30
6
3-3
8
Colorado Springs Christian
4-1
28
10
2-0
9
Coal Ridge
4-3
17
–
3-1
10
Middle Park
1-3
15
9
0-3
Others receiving votes:
Aspen 13, Manitou Springs 8, Eagle Ridge Academy 7, Resurrection Christian 7, DSST: College View 6, St. Mary’s 6, Bayfield 4, Delta 4, Roaring Fork 4, Bennett 3, Bishop Machebeuf 3, KIPP Denver 2, Lamar 2, Buena Vista 1, Sterling 1.
Dropped out
Resurrection Christian (7).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Yuma (9)
5-0
90
1
3-0
2
Meeker
7-0
79
2
2-0
3
Wiggins
7-0
67
3
1-0
4
Swink
7-0
65
5
2-0
5
Denver Christian
5-1
49
6
2-0
6
Del Norte
7-1
42
7
3-0
7
Simla
4-2
40
4
0-2
8
Rye
5-1
17
10
2-0
9
Union Colony
5-1
9
–
4-0
10
Akron
5-2
8
–
4-1
Others receiving votes:
Sanford 7, Front Range Christian 4, Highland 4, Vail Mountain 4, Limon 3, Dawson School 2, Rocky Ford 2, Byers 1, Hoehne 1, Ignacio 1.
Dropped out
Fowler (8), Limon (9).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Kit Carson (7)
3-0
79
1
1-0
2
La Veta
5-1
71
4
2-0
3
Briggsdale
7-0
67
5
2-0
4
Otis
5-0
54
2
4-0
5
McClave
4-1
41
3
0-1
6
Fleming
3-4
35
6
2-3
7
Weldon Valley
6-1
30
10
1-0
8
De Beque (1)
6-0
28
9
3-0
9
Flagler/Hi-Plains
2-0
18
–
2-0
10
Dove Creek
6-1
17
7
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Stratton/Liberty 13, Walsh 12, Springfield 9, Cheyenne Wells 6, Sangre de Cristo 4, Belleview Christian 3, Haxtun 3, Merino 3, Cotopaxi 2.
Three of the four boys soccer classifications have new top-ranked teams in this week’s polls, with Air Academy (4A), Kent Denver (3A) and Telluride (2A) taking over at the top.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Boulder (6)
4-0-0
92
1
1-0-0
2
Grandview (4)
5-0-1
89
3
2-0-0
3
Broomfield
3-1-0
59
5
2-0-0
4
Fort Collins
2-0-1
53
4
0-0-0
5
Fairview
4-0-0
52
6
1-0-0
6
Arapahoe
5-0-1
46
7
3-0-0
7
Legacy
4-0-0
36
–
2-0-0
8
Arvada West
3-1-0
33
9
0-1-0
9
Denver East
1-1-0
19
2
0-1-0
10
Poudre
4-0-0
14
–
1-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Valor Christian 11, Regis Jesuit 10, Hinkley 7, Greeley West 6, Legend 6, Rampart 6, Westminster 4, Mountain Range 3, Pine Creek 2, Chatfield 1, Rocky Mountain 1.
Dropped out
Legend (8), Hinkley (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Air Academy (2)
4-1-0
71
2
2-0-0
2
Centaurus (3)
3-1-0
63
1
1-1-0
3
Durango (2)
5-1-0
58
3
2-1-0
4
Steamboat Springs (1)
3-0-0
46
–
1-0-0
5
Green Mountain
6-1-0
43
6
2-1-0
6
Denver North (1)
2-0-1
36
4
1-0-1
7
The Classical Academy
3-1-0
34
5
2-0-0
8
Skyview
5-0-0
33
7
2-0-0
9
Discovery Canyon
4-0-0
22
–
2-0-0
10
Battle Mountain
4-1-0
15
10
2-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Thomas Jefferson 14, Pueblo West 13, Mullen 8, Niwot 7, Pueblo Centennial 4, Arvada 3, Fort Morgan 3, Northridge 3, Cheyenne Mountain 2, Silver Creek 2.
Dropped out
Niwot (8), Mullen (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Kent Denver (4)
3-0-1
75
2
1-0-1
2
Faith Christian (2)
4-0-0
71
–
2-0-0
3
Colorado Springs Christian
3-1-0
50
4
2-1-0
4
Roaring Fork
4-0-1
47
–
2-0-0
5
Liberty Common (3)
0-0-0
45
1
0-0-0
6
Colorado Academy
2-1-0
42
3
2-1-0
7
Delta
3-1-1
29
–
0-1-1
8
Atlas Prep
3-0-0
25
–
0-0-0
9
Manitou Springs
3-1-0
22
10
1-1-0
10
The Academy
2-2-0
21
6
0-2-0
Others receiving votes:
Lamar 19, The Pinnacle 17, DSST: Stapleton 12, Peak to Peak 11, Lutheran 10, KIPP Denver 7, Aurora West College Prep 6, DSST: Byers 6, Valley 6, Arrupe Jesuit 5, Prospect Ridge Academy 4, Vail Mountain 4, Aspen 3, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 3, St. Mary’s 3, Strive Prep – Smart 3, Salida 2, Eagle Ridge Academy 1, James Irwin 1.
Dropped out
KIPP Denver (5), Arrupe Jesuit (7), The Pinnacle (8), Jefferson Academy (9).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Telluride (6)
3-1-1
30
4
1-1-1
2
Ridgway
1-1-0
19
2
0-1-0
3
Crested Butte
6-1-1
12
5
2-1-1
4
Denver Christian
2-2-1
9
3
1-1-0
5
Heritage Christian
3-1-0
7
–
2-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Fountain Valley 6, Mile High Academy 4, Dawson School 2, Evangelical Christian 1.
University is the new No. 1 team in this week’s Class 3A softball rankings.
Elsewhere, The Academy (3A), Meeker (3A), Conifer (4A), Berthoud (4A), Longmont (4A) and Valor Christian (5A) all joined the polls.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Loveland (8)
11-0-1
116
1
1-0-0
2
Cherokee Trail (3)
12-1-0
99
3
3-1-0
3
Eaglecrest (1)
10-3-0
92
2
1-1-0
4
Fossil Ridge (1)
10-2-0
88
5
2-0-0
5
Legacy
8-3-0
76
4
3-1-0
6
Douglas County
10-3-0
63
6
3-1-0
7
Brighton
8-3-1
35
9
2-0-0
8
Rock Canyon
8-2-0
32
7
2-0-0
9
Columbine
10-2-0
26
8
4-1-0
10
Valor Christian
6-4-0
16
–
0-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Smoky Hill 13, ThunderRidge 13, Hinkley 8, Prairie View 7, Castle View 5, Cherry Creek 5, Legend 5, Ralston Valley 4, Mountain Range 3, Regis Jesuit 3, Chatfield 2, Grandview 2, Broomfield 1, Vista PEAK Prep 1.
Dropped out
ThunderRidge (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Holy Family (6)
10-1-0
102
1
5-1-0
2
Silver Creek (2)
12-2-0
99
2
2-0-0
3
Erie (1)
9-3-0
80
3
2-1-0
4
Pueblo County (1)
10-0-0
64
7
6-0-0
5
Mountain View
7-5-2
60
4
2-1-0
6
Wheat Ridge
9-3-0
38
5
2-1-0
7
Conifer
11-2-0
22
–
6-0-0
8
Berthoud
8-4-0
20
–
4-2-0
9
Mullen
4-6-0
17
8
2-0-0
10
Longmont
10-2-1
14
–
4-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Northfield 13, Northridge 13, Thomas Jefferson 12, Pueblo South 10, Pueblo Central 6, Roosevelt 5, Frederick 4, Pueblo East 4, Golden 3, Elizabeth 1.
Dropped out
Pueblo South (6), Pueblo East (9), Northridge (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
University (5)
10-2-0
107
2
2-0-0
2
Eaton (2)
9-3-0
89
4
3-0-0
3
Strasburg (3)
7-4-0
87
1
3-2-0
4
Lamar
9-5-0
77
3
3-2-0
5
Faith Christian (1)
4-3-0
70
5
0-1-0
6
St. Mary’s (1)
10-2-0
60
7
2-0-0
7
Delta
6-2-0
48
6
2-0-0
8
Basalt
6-0-0
24
10
3-0-0
9
The Academy
7-1-0
21
–
2-0-0
10
Meeker
4-3-0
19
–
1-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Brush 14, Limon 12, Rocky Ford 11, Fort Lupton 9, Sterling 9, La Junta 7, Holyoke 5, Peak to Peak 1.
Zac Lemon believes that all a team needs is a chance to compete. Anything is possible at that point.
Just look at last year’s Class 2A playoff game against top-seeded Platte Valley. Logic said Eaton (the No. 8) seed didn’t have a chance.
The second the Reds took the field, Lemon believed there was a chance and, more importantly, he had convinced his players.
“We’ve always said all we have to do is get into the playoffs and we can be dangerous,” Lemon said. “One of the expectations we have for players is we don’t mind if you make mistakes, just don’t makes them over and over again. Fix your mistakes and we hold ourselves as coaches to that same standard.”
Eaton ended up winning the game 9-6. A loss to La Junta the next week ended the playoff run, but it didn’t erase the pride that Lemon felt watching his boys do something many would say is improbable.
In his fifth year as coach at Eaton, Lemon holds a 31-15 overall record. He has maintained a steady hand in the position and he has made his kids winners both on the field and off.
After a 34-0 win over No. 10 D’Evelyn last week (his 100th win of his career), Lemon was an easy choice as this week’s Denver Broncos high school football coach of the week.
Previous stops: Delta High School assistant coach (2003-06); Hotchkiss High School head coach (2007-13); Eaton head coach (2014-present).
[divider]
Question: Why do you coach?
Lemon: I want to make an impact on young men the way my coaches did for me when I was young.
Q: Why do you coach the way that you coach?
Lemon: It’s just instinctive. When you first get into coaching, you read about guys that have example coaches. But the thing they always tell you is don’t try to be someone you’re not. As soon as you figure out who you are as a coach, that’s when you become really successful. When you realize what you do instinctively and what you do naturally is when you’re going to be at your best, not trying to be like someone else.
The way I coach is the way it comes naturally to me.
Q: What do you think it’s like for those young men to coached by you?
Lemon: Players know that I really care about them. I get on them in a way that makes them better and they trust that. I’m always someone that can be there for them off the field.
Q: What are you favorite coaching memories?
Lemon: Honestly it’s when the guys that have graduated call me, text me, come back and talk to me and I know that our relationship was more powerful than than just the years that I had been coaching them. That it’s life long.
Q: After beating Platte Valley last year as the No. 8 seed, and even though you didn’t come away with a state title, did you and your boys come into this year feeling like you had momentum?
Lemon: Oh yeah. Success breeds success. It’s doesn’t matter who we play, but the more playoff games we win, the more experience we have winning, the more we learn how to overcome challenges and still find ways to win, that always helps.
Year after year, winning breeds winning and when we get that culture of winning it doesn’t matter who we play and I hope that continues year after year and keeps getting better.
