CHSAANow

Month: May 2019

  • Photos: Golden beats Cheyenne Mountain in OT to win 4A boys lacrosse title

    DENVER — Following a big rally, Golden boys lacrosse beat Cheyenne Mountain overtime to claim the Class 4A championship.

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  • Windsor top team, Holy Family’s Hailey Schalk wins at 4A girls golf championships

    (Jon E. Yunt/CHSAANow.com)

    WINDSOR — It is in no way ideal, but sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.

    Such is the case with the fickle spring weather in Colorado.

    Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench — and some snow, rain and freezing temperatures — into the girls state golf championship plans and turned what was supposed to be a two-day affair, into a single round on Monday. In Windsor at Pelican Lakes Golf Course, the host Wizards claimed their second straight Class 4A title with a Monday score of 253 (37-over par) that was 21 shots better than runner-up Niwot (274).

    “We just didn’t know what was going to happen and kind of what we wanted to have happen was to be first yesterday and if we play today then we will be first today as well,” Windsor coach Kenny Anderson said. “That was our mindset going in and fortunately we were able to accommodate that yesterday.”

    The foursome of Jessica Zapf (79), Kinsey Smith (85), Brynn Ellis (89) and Sarah Johnson (89) was fantastic for the Wizards all year long and it will be tough for Anderson to have to say good bye to three seniors that have brought back-to-back state title to the program.

    “It’s setting in now because we are kind of in state championship mode,” said Anderson, who returns Ellis and a promising group of underclassmen next year. “The seniors won four regional titles in a row and it has been an incredible run for these girls. They are a special group and we will have fond memories and they have set the program up for the young girls behind them.”

    (Jon E. Yunt/CHSAANow.com)

    The medalist honors went to Holy Family junior Hailey Schalk. She joins Cherry Creek’s Lynn Ann Moretto (1995-97) and Mullen’s Ashley Tait (2002, 2004-05) — now the Mustangs’ coach — as the only three-time champions since the sport was sanctioned in 1990.

    She can bet she already has her sights set on making history in 2020.

    “I think it would be amazing to win four and I definitely want to, and I’m definitely going to keep working hard to get there,” said Schalk, whose Day 1 score of 72 was six shots better than both Mullen freshman Sophia Choi and Vista PEAK’s Kylie Severin. “Honestley, I think I can improve everywhere as long as I keep practicing like I am and maybe even harder, then I think I can get there.”

  • Loveland’s Lauren Lehigh and Fossil Ridge win championships at 5A girls state golf

    (Adam Hothersall/CHSAANow.com)

    TIMNATH — Loveland’s Lauren Lehigh and Fossil Ridge have been crowned champions at the Class 5A girls golf state tournament following the cancellation of the second round.

    Due to overnight snow that left the course at Harmony unplayable, the first-round results are now considered final. Lehigh (2-under par) and Fossil Ridge team (9-over) are state champions. Loveland was runner-up as a team.

    “I’m ecstatic. It’s almost surreal,” Lehigh, the New Mexico commit, said Tuesday morning. “We went out yesterday knowing this (cancellation of Round 2) could happen, but to actually be here, being a state champion, and have the runner-up trophy with the team, it’s amazing.

    “I would have loved to play obviously, but I’m happy with the results. When I found out, I was jumping around the hotel parking lot. It’s been incredible. Playing some amazing golf, making great friends with the girls in 5A, the girls in 4A [Loveland was in 4A before this season], it’s been amazing.”

    Edging out Broomfield junior Meghan Vogt (1-under), Lehigh wasn’t the only one to pull out the close victory. Fossil Ridge defeated Loveland to win their first state title in school history by one stroke.

    “It’s a real mixture of emotions,” Fossil Ridge Andy Stevens said. “We would have liked to have played 36 holes and had a complete championship but that being said, our girls played a hell of a round yesterday an earned this title. We were battling all day with Loveland neck-and-neck, and we were fortunate they were ahead of us (in completing the round), so we knew the score we needed to beat.”

    In his eighth year with the program, Stevens clinched his second title this school year after also winning the 5A state title as the boy’s golf coach in the fall.

    “We wanted our girls to just take it a shot at a time and not think about what-ifs and things of that nature,” Stevens said. “My staff and I were thinking [there may not be a round on Tuesday]. As a staff, we were strategizing on 18, and we did encourage the girls to play aggressively.

    “We didn’t try to do anything that we haven’t talked about in practice rounds and things that we hadn’t already discussed. Eighteen is a reachable par-5 for all of our girls, and that was really the goal, to take advantage of those scoring opportunities.”

    Played the same tournament in Loveland five years ago, the weather also shortened the event to one day. Both Lehigh and Fossil Ridge fought through the elements, and it was worth their while.

    “I’m so proud of the girls in the way that they battled in brutal conditions yesterday,” Stevens said. “The weather was terrible, and my hats are off to them in getting the job done.”

    Cherry Creek placed third as a team at +14, Arapahoe (+20) was fourth and Rock Canyon (+21) was fifth.

    Individually, Regis Jesuit’s Katie Berrian (+1) placed third, while Fossil Ridge was paced by Olivia Steen (+2, fourth place) and Leigha Devine (+3, fifth place).

  • Caroline Jordaan cashes in for 3A girls golf title, Colorado Academy wins fourth-straight team title

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    EAGLE — It wasn’t the ideal way to close it out. After three tries, Colorado Academy senior Caroline Jordaan is a state golf champion. The cancellation of the second day of the Class 3A girls golf tournament meant that Monday’s scores would hold up as the final results.

    Jordaan shot a 1-under-par 71 to win the championship. The went 2-under on the front nine with her only gaff of the day coming on No. 14 where she made her only bogey of the tournament.

    She would’ve been the first person to advocate for the tournament to continue, but as Colorado has shown over the last 48 hours, the weather is beyond unpredictable.

    “It feels really good (despite the weather),” Jordaan said. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and it feels great to end my senior year with two wins.”

    Course conditions were mostly wet and cold on Monday, but nothing that prompted a stoppage in play.

    Jordaan held a one-shot lead over Jefferson Academy’s Aubri Braecklein going into the 17th hole but the Jefferson Academy junior made double-bogey and bogey on the final two holes to give Jordaan a cushion.

    A state runner-up three times, Jordaan claimed her first individual title, but is sharing the overall team championship with her teammates for the fourth time. Three times she got to do share it with her younger sister, Marie.

    “It’s been great, especially with Marie here,” Caroline said. “I’ve always had such a great friendship with everyone on the team and we’ve had such a great program. I’ve been blessed with great coaches and team members.”

    Marie shot 80 on Monday and Eva Pett shot 79 to clinch gold for the Mustangs. Kent Denver came away in second place and it was Sun Devils junior Charlotte Hillary who finished with Braecklein in a tie for second place at 3-under.

    Like Jordaan, Colorado Academy coach Beth Folsom wished that the weather hadn’t messed with the tournament and that all kids had gotten the chance to play two rounds.

    While a second round likely would have yielded the same result in the team race, she wanted to her girls to go out and earn it and to also have fun. Because at the end of the day, golf is fun.

    “It’s symbolic of our entire season,” Folsom said. “It’s how the weather has been this season and we would’ve loved to play another day. As for winning, it’s always exciting because it’s always with a different group of kids.”

    Jordaan is set to continue her golf career at the University of Denver. The win in her senior is special because it comes on the heels of her twin brother’s win at No. 1 singles in the 4A boys tennis tournament last fall.

    Like Caroline, Ritcher was a three-time state runner up but came away with gold as a senior.

    “I thought about that this morning,” she said. “I think it’s pretty cool that we can finish off senior year with two wins, individual and team.”

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

  • Live leaderboards for girls golf’s state championships

    The 2019 girls golf state championships are Monday and Tuesday. Find live leaderboards below.

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    Class 5A

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    Class 4A

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    Class 3A

  • 5A baseball’s state tournament bracket

    The 2019 state tournament bracket for Class 5A baseball.

    Sites: All-City Field (Denver) and All-Star Park (Lakewood)

    Go to: Regional brackets

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    Bracket notes:

    • Seeding note: Teams are not reseeded prior to the state tournament. The seed listed is the team’s seed prior to the regional round.
    • The site director will flip a coin for home team in all games.
    • The loser of Game 11 (L11) and winner of Game 11 (W11) may change places so that previous opponents are not matched. This spot is marked by an asterisk (*) on the bracket.
    • If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 (W11) draws a bye to Game 15. If W11 loses Game 12, there will be three teams left and W11 earns the bye. W12 then plays W13 to reach finals. This spot is marked by a caret (^) on the bracket.

  • 4A baseball’s state tournament bracket

    The 2019 state tournament bracket for Class 4A baseball.

    Sites: Vibes Stadium and UCCS (Colorado Springs)

    Go to: Regional brackets

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    Bracket notes:

    • Seeding note: Teams are not reseeded prior to the state tournament. The seed listed is the team’s seed prior to the regional round.
    • The site director will flip a coin for home team in all games.
    • The loser of Game 11 (L11) and winner of Game 11 (W11) may change places so that previous opponents are not matched. This spot is marked by an asterisk (*) on the bracket.
    • If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 (W11) draws a bye to Game 15. If W11 loses Game 12, there will be three teams left and W11 earns the bye. W12 then plays W13 to reach finals. This spot is marked by a caret (^) on the bracket.

  • 3A baseball’s state tournament bracket

    The 2019 state tournament bracket for Class 3A baseball.

    Sites: Butch Butler Field and University HS (Greeley)

    Go to: Regional brackets

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    Bracket notes:

    • Seeding note: Teams are not reseeded prior to the state tournament. The seed listed is the team’s seed prior to the regional round.
    • The site director will flip a coin for home team in all games.
    • The loser of Game 11 (L11) and winner of Game 11 (W11) may change places so that previous opponents are not matched. This spot is marked by an asterisk (*) on the bracket.
    • If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 (W11) draws a bye to Game 15. If W11 loses Game 12, there will be three teams left and W11 earns the bye. W12 then plays W13 to reach finals. This spot is marked by a caret (^) on the bracket.

  • The 5A, 4A and 3A state baseball brackets are out

    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    The final brackets of the 2018-19 sports season have been released.

    On Monday, the state baseball brackets for classes 5A, 4A and 3A were posted. Find them here:

    Each eight-team double-elimination bracket will begin play this Friday, and continue on Saturday. Four teams will advance to the next weekend, with games on May 31 and June 1.

    The 3A tournament is held in Greeley, with games at Butch Butler Field and University High School. Participating teams include: University, Colorado Academy, Alamosa, Delta, Eaton, Resurrection Christian, Lutheran, and St. Mary’s.

    The 4A tournament is in Colorado Springs. Host sites are the Rocky Mountain Vibes Stadium and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The field: Pueblo West, Erie, Golden, Fort Morgan, Silver Creek, Wheat Ridge, Cheyenne Mountain, and Holy Family.

    The 5A tournament is in the Denver metro area. Host sites are All-City Stadium (Denver) and All-Star Park (Lakewood). The teams: Mountain Vista, Rocky Mountain, Grandview, Legacy, Regis Jesuit, Chaparral, Heritage, and Cherry Creek.

    Additionally, the 2A baseball bracket will come to its conclusion this Saturday in Pueblo. Peyton and Wiggins are in one semifinal, at 10 a.m., and Rye and Wiggins play in the other. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m.

    CHSAANow will have complete coverage of each tournament until its conclusion.

  • 5A girls golf: Loveland’s Lauren Lehigh, Fossil Ridge on top of leaderboard after Day 1

    5A State girls golf rain
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    TIMNATH — On Day 1 of the Class 5A girls golf tournament, soggy and frigid conditions didn’t stop Loveland senior Lauren Lehigh from shooting an impressive 2-under par through 18 holes as she leads at the Harmony Club in Loveland.

    “I think it was a little easier for me considering that I know the course,” Lehigh said after completing her round on Monday. “It’s a little easier to take those mental breaks when you know where you are going on the course. Everybody has to deal with the weather, and it’s just a matter of getting through it.”

    In the same group as the leader in Lehigh, familiar foe Meghan Vogt of Broomfield also had herself quite the opening round, shooting 1-under. The junior, who finished tied for third a season ago in this tourney, hopes to keep the pressure on her friend on Tuesday.

    “It’s really fun, we have actually gotten really close this season, especially being in every league tournament together,” Vogt said. “Now that we get to compete with each other with me being 1-stroke back, it will make things even more fun.”

    Following the only two under par, Regis Jesuit junior Katie Berrian finished 1-over after a birdie on 18. Fossil Ridge freshman Olivia Steen stands at 2-over in the thick of things.

    At 3-over, Fossil Ridge senior Leigha Devine, Grandview senior Morgan Ryan and Ralston Valley senior Sydney Eye look to make a run Tuesday. Last year’s winner, Eaglecrest sophomore Emma Bryant, sits at 6-over.

    “It would be really nice (to win), especially this year, being a junior with colleges potentially looking on,” Vogt said. “I was even more nervous than I have ever been for a golf tournament, so one of my goals coming into high school was to win state at least once.”

    As Loveland competes in their first 5A state golf tournament, Lehigh hopes to respond from her second-place finish a year ago in 4A. With likely brutal conditions once again tomorrow, the confident striker looks for to the challenge of Vogt and the rest of the field.

    “I think it is definitely a good thing to have your competition in your group,” Lehigh said. “Playing with her is great. I played with her in all of our league events, but I’m also trying to focus on myself and what I need to do.”

    Leading in the team category, Fossil Ridge leads with a score of 9-over through Day 1. On their heels, Loveland and Cherry Creek placed with scores of 10-over and 14-over, respectively. Arapahoe is fourth at 20-over.

    The second and final round of the tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday with a shotgun start.

    (Adam Hothersall/CHSAANow.com)