LAKEWOOD — Making the transition from Class 4A to 5A in boys lacrosse hasn’t been an issue for Valor Christian this season.

The Eagles — No. 3 in the latest CHSAANow.com 5A boys lacrosse rankings — wrapped up an undefeated run in the 5A Jeffco League on Monday night with a 11-9 victory over Columbine.

Valor defender Xander Stingley (14) keeps a tight mark on Columbine senior Ben Wilson during the first half Monday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It means a lot,” Valor first-year head coach Josh Hoffman said of the Eagles claiming the Jeffco League crown in their first year in 5A. “That first year in 5A you don’t really know what you are going to walk into.”

Valor (14-0, 7-0 in 5A Jeffco) hasn’t dropped a game this season and was No. 2 in the RPI rankings before the conference finale win over Columbine (8-6, 5-2).

Valor won back-to-back 4A state titles in 2016 and 2017 under then head coach and lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. Last season the Eagles’ state championship run ended with a loss in the state quarterfinals to Dawson.

“As a team we just kind of wanted to send a message saying that we can hang here too,” Valor senior Lance Tillman said. “It’s awesome to get a team win. Coach Hoffman has been setting us up for this the whole year. He is doing great things for this program.”

Columbine junior attacker Jackson Trail, left, holds the ball as Valor senior Holden Luong closes in Monday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Tillman did great things on the field against Columbine. The attacker who is headed to the University of North Carolina next fall to play lacrosse scored six goals. Tillman has 28 goals on the season to go along with his 20-plus assists.

“Lance is obviously a very talented player. He has drive like no kid I’ve ever seen,” Hoffman said. “You only get looks from people like Coach Breschi (University of North Carolina men’s lacrosse coach Joe Breschi) unless you work hard and are committed to your craft.”

Columbine came into the league finale after a pair of strong games in victories over Ralston Valley and Dakota Ridge last week. The Rebels never led, but closed the Eagles’ lead to 7-6 midway through the third quarter.

Columbine senior attacker Taylor Gustafson scored four straight goals of the Rebels, but Tillman put three goals into the back of the net in the final six minutes of the third quarter. Valor pushed it lead back up to 11-7 headed to the fourth quarter.

Valor senior attacker Lance Tillman (11) works behind the net while getting checked by Columbine defenseman Cody Heston (6). (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Columbine is the one we have kind of talked about since the beginning of our season,” said Hoffman after the game that would decide the conference title. “We weren’t looking past anyone, but at the same time we knew Columbine was a great team.”

The Rebels got fourth quarter goals by sophomore Justin Bodie and junior Tanner Hollens, but it wasn’t enough for Columbine that is on the bubble to make the 16-team state tournament.

Columbine has a big non-league game against No. 2 Cherry Creek at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Legacy Stadium that could determine the playoff fate.

Valor closes out the regular season at home against Holy Family on Saturday, May 4.

“For us it’s everything,” Tillman said heading into the postseason. “The regular season means nothing if we don’t play good in the playoffs. We are really focused on that now.”

Valor’s boys lacrosse team poses for a photo with the Class 5A Jeffco League plaque after the Eagles’ 11-9 victory over Columbine. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Since 2014, Rob Royer has been building a culture at Rampart High School. That culture was focused on building up young men with winning as a side benefit.

It is no longer his charge as Royer has stepped away from the Rampart football program to take a job with the United States Air Force Academy Prep School as an offensive line coach.

Royer informed athletic director Andy Parks on Friday and informed his players on Monday.

A 1991 graduate of Rampart, Royer was hired as the school’s football coach in 2014. In his third season, he helped the Rams win their first league championship since 2001.

In five years under Royer, the Rams were 36-19 and won two league championships.

Parks has posted the head coaching position and hopes to fill the job as soon as possible.

LAKEWOOD — The snowstorm that blew into the Metro Area on Monday night couldn’t derail Lakewood’s boys lacrosse winning streak.

The Tigers (9-5, 6-1 in 5A Jeffco) won their third straight conference game by doubling up on Dakota Ridge 12-6 at Trailblazer Stadium. Lakewood finished second behind Class 5A Jeffco League champion Valor Christian (14-0, 7-0) in the conference standings.

Lakewood was led by its foursome of seniors. Jacob Brunner and Ethan Mauterer had three goals each for the Tigers. Pierce Holley added a trio of tallies and Kegan Hufford had a pair of goals.

Dakota Ridge (5-8, 3-4) was led by seniors Drew Eickelman and Jacobi Villamaria. Both had two goals each. Seniors Gage Evans and Ryan Kissinger also had a goal apiece.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Seven new teams hopped into this week’s baseball rankings: Pine Creek (5A), Wheat Ridge (4A), Golden (4A), Colorado Academy (3A), Holyoke (2A) and Prairie (1A).

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.

During the regular season, new polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

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

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

(Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)

There are three new No. 1 teams in this week’s girls soccer rankings: Grandview (5A), Kent Denver (3A) and Denver Christian (2A).

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.

These will serve as the final polls of the regular season.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Girls Soccer Polls

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

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

(Theodore Stark/tstark.com)

Arapahoe has returned to the No. 1 spot in this week’s Class 5A boys lacrosse rankings.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.

These will serve as the final polls of the regular season.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Lacrosse Polls

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

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

Colorado Academy has maintained its spot atop the girls lacrosse rankings this week, and Pine Creek has joined the top 5.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association.

These will be the final rankings of the regular season.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Girls Lacrosse Poll

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

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

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Colorado High School Activities Association Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green is one of seven inductees into the University of Nebraska Hall of Fame, joining “pioneer inductees” Carol Frost, Ed Weir, Greichaly Cepero (volleyball/basketball, 1999-2003), Wes Suter (gymnastics 1983-86), Grant Winstrom (football, 1994-97) and Francis Allen (gymnastics coach, 1970-2009).

Commissioner Blanford-Green competed for the Huskers from 1982-85 and was an 18-time Big Eight champion and eight-time All-American. She holds the school mark in the 50-meter hurdles, 60-yard hurdles and the 55-meter hurdles. A member of three national championship teams, the Huskers swept the indoor and outdoor Big Eight titles throughout her career. She was one of the first athletes – male or female – to win five gold medals in a conference championship meet.

Blanford-Green worked at CHSAA both as assistant commissioner and associate commissioner from 1996-2012 and was named CHSAA commissioner in 2017. She was executive director at the Nebraska School Activities Association from 2012-15 and was assistant executive director at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association from 2015-2017. At various times in Colorado, she oversaw boys’ soccer, spirit, track and field, cross country, hockey and skiing. She also oversaw equity, marketing, public relations and legislative relations. She started many initiatives at CHSAA, including the creation of the Association’s transgender policy, which has since become a national model used by other states.

In 2012, Blanford-Green was named the executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association, becoming the first African-American woman in the country to serve in that capacity. She is the first female to serve as CHSAA’s commissioner, as well as the first African-American.

A 1981 graduate of Aurora Central High School, where she starred in track and also competed in spirit and volleyball, Blanford-Green went on to excel in track at the University of Nebraska. She was the national prep leader in the 30-inch hurdles and held three state records in the 100-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash and long jump. After college, she twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials. She was coached at the University of Wyoming for several years before joining CHSAA.

Blanford-Green is a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame as a participant (2012 inductee), the Sportswoman of Colorado Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Black Sports Hall of Fame, and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2019 class will be introduced August 30, then recognized during the university’s football game the next day.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Five players scored multiple goals as No. 2 Cherry Creek girls lacrosse beat Smoky Hill 19-0 on Saturday.

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(Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)

Jefferson Academy’s run at an undefeated season came to an end just a week before the end of regular season play.

In a battle that was going to be key in deciding the Class 3A Metro League it was No. 3 Kent Denver who came out a 1-0 winner over Jefferson Academy, the defending 3A state champion.

Neither team was able to find the net in the first 40 minutes of play, but Annabelle Johnson was able to break the tie in the second half. It turned out to be the only goal of the game and now puts the Sun Devils firmly in the driver’s seat for the league championship.

Jags keeper Brooklynn Kirkpatrick turned away four other Kent Denver shots through the course of the game.