The boys lacrosse championship games have found a new home, and will be moving to the University of Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium starting this spring.
“There are very few lacrosse-only venues in the country, and not many of them stack up to the quality of DU,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Justin Saylor, who administers lacrosse. “They’re a national champion Division I program and it just kind of gives a little bit extra into the event to be able to hold it at a world-class facility for lacrosse.”
Both the Class 4A and Class 5A game will be held on May 26. Times are still to be announced. There will be separate tickets for the 4A and 5A games, as well as an all-session pass.
“The hope is that we sell out each game and create a great atmosphere for the sport,” Saylor said.
The championships will be the only CHSAA event on that day, allowing for the games to have their own spotlight. And, with the girls championship held at DU the very next day, it will make for a great week of lacrosse.
Saylor’s hope is that the championships will be at DU for the foreseeable future. In recent years, it has been held at Mile High, and All-City Stadium in Denver.
“The championship has been been moved around a lot recently, so our hope is that we’ve had a long-term home for the game,” Saylor said.
Additionally, the 4A and 5A semifinals will be moved to one location, beginning this year. A site is still to be determined. Legacy Stadium in Aurora is a strong possibility. Semifinals will be played Saturday prior to the championship games.
Both tournaments will be played at higher seed through the quarterfinals — which is a change for 5A, which had played at a neutral site.
AURORA — In an effort to help the growth of the sport, the field hockey committee is recommended an expansion of the state tournament from eight teams to 12.
“The point is to keep more teams engaged throughout the season,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Justin Saylor, who oversees the sport. “Looking back at historical data, the same eight programs have traditionally been in the tournament and we wanted to expand it to increase the opportunity for more teams to not only qualify for the tournament, but to potentially win a playoff game, because they’ll be playing like competition.”
Under the recommendation, the top six seeds would receive byes while the next six seeds compete in play-in brackets. In one play-in bracket, the No. 9 and No. 12 seed would play, with the winner facing the No. 8 seed. The winner of that game would then face the No. 1 seed.
In the other first-round play-in bracket, the No. 10 and No. 11 seed would play, with the winner facing the No. 7 seed. The winner of that would then face the No. 2 seed.
“Additional time practicing can only help some of our programs,” Saylor said. “I think the fact that teams will be fighting for a spot in the playoffs for the majority of the season will help those programs.”
Here is an example of what the bracket would look like:
Coinciding with this change, the field hockey committee’s hope is to add at least two more programs prior to the start of the next season. The sport currently has 15 varsity teams.
“As we look to expand field hockey in the state, we want to get ahead and start looking at ways to promote that growth with an expanded playoff format,” Saylor said.
One possibility is another program within Douglas County School District. Mountain Vista had more than 80 players last season.
“There’s an obvious need for a second program, and we’re hoping to add that for the next cycle,” Saylor said.
Additionally, another program within Denver Public Schools is a possibility. The district’s only program at Denver East routinely has more than 100 players.
“We’re hoping that with the popularity of field hockey in that district there will be room for another program in Denver Public Schools,” Saylor said.
The committee is also recommending a change to the seeding criteria for the state tournament, using a combined data approach with RPI, Coaches Poll and MaxPreps rankings. The bracket field will still captured by RPI, which is mandated by the Board of Directors.
“We’re fortunate to have multiple data points available to us, and it just makes sense to be able to utilize those to get a more accurate field seeded for the tournament,” Saylor said.
Finally, field hockey added nine new officials this year. The sport had 16 returning officials, so it was a major increase.
AURORA — The volleyball committee is recommending a new seeding criteria to be used in the postseason — and a move from the districts to regionals in Class 1A.
The group voted to approve the use of a three-pronged approach to seeding, using data from the RPI standings, MaxPreps rankings, and the CHSAANow coaches poll. This follows a similar seeding process used for the first time by 1A-5A football this year, and follows the lead of field hockey, which is also recommending the use of the three data points.
“I feel that volleyball is in a great spot right now, and we’re really excited to incorporate new seeding criteria for next year,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens. “We value the coaches’ input and the more data we can use for seeding, the more accurate it will be.”
The CHSAANow coaches poll is open to all head coaches in the state, and they only vote in their own classification. All head coaches are required to vote in eight of 10 weeks during the regular season in order to be eligible to vote for seeding.
League champions will continue to automatically qualify for regionals, and the remainder of the regional field will be filled by the final RPI standings of the regular season.
The committee also further defined what changes can be made to seeding based upon geography and league opponents.
League opponents will only be changed in regions if the top two seeds in each region are from the same league, and teams may only move up or down one seed.
Teams can only be moved for geography if they are a No. 3 seed in the region, and they may be moved at maximum four seeds.
The changes to the seeding criteria followed a vote to move away from the district format in Class 1A.
The committee voted to change to a 24-team regional format where the top eight seeds will host a region, and each of the eight regions will automatically qualify to the state tournament. The remaining four teams will be selected from non-qualifiers based upon the final RPI standings of the regular season.
“I’m excited that 1A is moving away from districts and into regionals so that they are in line with the other classifications,” Brookens said. “We value 1A volleyball and we’re excited for them to join the rest of the state with regionals.”
Additionally, the committee recommended that all teams play a minimum of 18 matches against member schools and varsity opponents.
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Setting up the initial boys season
The committee also discussed the upcoming first sanctioned season of boys volleyball, which will begin in the spring of 2021. They agreed that the format would mirror that of the girls, including the state tournament format, and seeding criteria.
“We’ve put in a lot of work to get girls volleyball to the point where it is now, and we believe boys will also thrive using the same model,” Brookens said.
The plan is to have one classification during the initial season. The date of the first state tournament was set for May 6-8, 2021.
One other item that needs to be decided is a venue for the state championships.
“I’ll be exploring all sorts of options,” Brookens said.
All sports can start their seasons on Monday, which marks the official start of practice. Those are: boys and girls basketball, hockey, skiing, girls swimming, and wrestling.
In two weeks — on Dec. 2 — they can begin competition.
Of note: the annual winter break, which includes a restriction on competition and practice, runs Dec. 27-Jan. 1. There may be no competition during those dates, and no practice at all on Dec. 27, Dec. 29 (a Sunday) or Jan. 1. Voluntary practice is permitted on Dec. 28, 30 and 31 — but no coach may compel a player to participate on those dates.
The first championship of the season is girls swimming, on Feb. 13-15 and Feb. 18-19. Wrestling follows that on Feb 20-22, and then skiing (Feb. 27-28) is next. Hockey’s championship is set for March 5, and the basketball state championships are March 12-14.
The following information shows the designated home team for potential playoff football matchups to be completed by Saturday, Nov. 30. The formula for determining the home team is shown in the football bulletin.
Sites are determined each week at the CHSAA office, one-and-a-half weeks prior to the next round.
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Explanation
How the home sites are determined.
For 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A: The team with the fewest playoff home games will host. If equal, the higher seed will host.
For 8-man and 6-man: The team with the fewest playoff home games will host. If equal, a coin flip determines the home team.
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Future home sites
Key: Home games – Fewest home playoff games; Higher seed – The highest seeded team; Coin Toss – A coin toss was used.
COMMERCE CITY – No matter what the outcome was of Saturday night’s Class 4A state championship game, Skyview’s boys soccer team had already made history.
The 2019 Wolverines were the first program in school history, in any sport, just to make a state championship game. But Skyview wasn’t content to simply let that be their story.
Instead, the Wolverines started and finished strong in the championship game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Skyview struck first and then held on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory over two-time defending champion Air Academy to win the school’s first title.
“It’s huge for our community. We’re just a little tiny school district up in Thornton,” Skyview coach Justin Thomas said. “It’s so big for community and our kids to know that no matter what size school you come from or what model district you’re in, you can do it. You can go out there and win a state championship against a huge high school like Air Academy.”
Luis Reyes and Jared Ramos scored first-half goals for the Wolverines (18-0-2). The Kadets got within one goal in the 51s minute and kept the pressure on late, but even after Skyview went down a man with 38 seconds remaining, it managed to find a way.
The team was also able to put a disappointing finish behind it from 2018, when an unbeaten season came to an end in a shootout in the state quarterfinals.
“We’ve been working for this since last November,” Ramos said. “This is our first state championship. The excitement I’m feeling right now, I don’t know, I can’t even explain it. We wanted this, we wanted everybody to know who we were.”
Skyview was coming off a one-win season when Thomas took over the program in 2012. The team won only three games in his first season, but came back in 2013 to win 11 games and a league title.
Thomas said despite the trials and tribulations of that first year, the process was a testament to the character of the players he has coached over the years.
There was a little uncertainty as to how this year’s team would bounce back from last year’s finish, but a strong senior class put those worries to rest early.
“We were a little worried about the senior class that we lost last year. A lot of guys went on to go play at the collegiate level,” Thomas said. “But this senior class, they stepped up so much. They’ve been such great role models and leaders for the younger kids on the team.”
Air Academy (15-5) has won five state titles overall and was making its fifth championship-game appearance in seven seasons Saturday. The Kadets featured the reigning Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year for Colorado in Thaddaeus Dewing, who scored the Kadets’ goal Saturday night.
Thomas said they spent hours planning how to slow down Dewing, adding that it was crucial to strike first. That’s exactly what happened, as Reyes scored in the 38th minute with a ball that somehow squeezed between Air Academy keeper Travis Tygart Jr. and the right post.
Three minutes later it was Ramos’ turn off an assist from Gustavo Flores.
“When we talked about our gameplan coming into tonight, it was all about strike early,” Thomas said. “We knew we were going to have to get on the scoreboard before them because they are a powerhouse of 4A soccer.”
Dewing cut the lead to one a little more than 10 minutes into the second half, just getting the ball past Skyview keeper Brian Fierro.
“Thaddaeus is good. He can turn at any time, he’s a dangerous player,” Ramos said. “He made it tough for our defenders, and we tried our best to defend it. We just kept pushing until the end.”
Air Academy kept the pressure on from there. The team’s best chance came in the 72nd minute, when Dewing’s direct kick from just outside the top of the box was deflected by a wall of defenders.
A brief scuffle in the final minute resulted in yellow cards for both sides. But the Wolverines didn’t allow any scoring chances in the closing seconds, and as the final whistle blew, they piled onto each other on the near sideline.
It was sweet vindication for a program that felt as though no one was paying attention to its success throughout the year.
“They were overlooking us the whole season. No one talked about us,” Ramos said. “That put a chip on our shoulders to prove everybody wrong tonight.”
DENVER — Fleming claimed its seventh state volleyball championship on Saturday night, sweeping Briggsdale to do so.
The fourth-seeded Wildcats claimed the Class 1A title with a 25-16, 25-14, 25-20 victory.
Sophomore outside hitter Whitney Chintala had the game-winning kill.
“It was so great,” said Chintala. “I couldn’t have ended it any better, it was awesome.”
The first set was very back-and-forth, initially, but Fleming led the first set the entire way, with their largest lead being nine. Fleming took the first set 25-16.
Fleming took the first four points to start off the second set, but Briggsdale came roaring back to tie it at four apiece. However, the Wildcats began to pull away, first leading by four and then soon by eight on two separate occasions. Suddenly, the lead was 12.
A timeout called by Falcons head coach Kelley Hale did little to stop the Wildcats’ momentum, as they cruised to a 25-14 win.
“When we play against great teams like that, it’s important that we do great things and get great kills like that,” said freshman middle blocker Kally Kirkwood. “We just always try our hardest to be as aggressive as we can which is the best thing.”
“Yes, always aggressive,” added Chintala. “And from the team talking to us, it helps us to be more aggressive.”
Fleming was 3-1 in previous matchups this season against Briggsdale before tonight’s championship game.
“This is the fifth time that we have played them,” said Wildcats head coach Doug Kamery. “So, you just get to know a team — of course they get to know us, as well — but we just tried to work on their weaknesses and play our strengths.”
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Fleming lead by seven four times in the third set, but Briggsdale refused to go out without a fight, drawing within three twice in the set. However, the Fleming offensive would prove to be too lethal as the Wildcats closed out the best of five series in the minimum amount, winning the third set 25-20.
“It’s awesome,” said Kamery. “The other coach from the Briggsdale team, Derek Herbert, started this whole realm. This is our 14th consecutive year (going) to state (and) finishing Final 4 or better so it’s just really exciting.”
“It feels so great,” agreed Chintala. “Last year being a freshman, we made it to the final four. Both (of) my sisters have been in the championship and this year, just taking it, it feels great to be a part of it.”
“It’s such an amazing feeling to step out onto the floor with such an amazing group of girls and finally get to win with all of them,” said Kirkwood. “It’s just been a great year and we’ve all come together as a team. It’s been so fun to have such a great group of girls to work with.”
DENVER — In a matchup of the tournament’s top two seeds, No. 1 Denver Christian defeated No. 2 Limon 3-1 for the Class 2A state volleyball championship.
The two teams met in September and Denver Christian walked away with a win, but Denver Christian knew that a rematch was going to be difficult.
“When we met in earlier in the season I knew we would see them again and that they would be tough team to beat,” said head coach Russ Haman. “You have to give it up to Limon because they are a great team.”
Denver Christian came out fighting and began the first set with a win 25-14. But the Limon Badgers weren’t phased and came back strong to take the second set 25-20. Limon’s Trista Marx and Sidney Hines provided the Badgers with the several kills and blocks that helped them take the second set.
But the momentum turned as Denver Christian’s Emily Sullivan and Marissa Bol provided several aces and blocks that gave the Thunder the lead and win for the third set 25-15.
As the fourth set began, Denver Christian hit its stride and it showed.
“This group of girls plays so well together and we just got in our groove,” said Junior Jacki Bogner. “We just approached every play and every match as if it was the first one and it helped us to be comfortable.”
Standing at 6-foot-3, Denver Christian’s Jacki Bogner provided her team with several key plays that gave the Thunder the momentum needed to win the last match.
With the state title on the line at 24-10, Bogner approached the line and served with a cool, calm, and laid-back attitude.
“I just approached it that it was 0-0,” Bogner said. “I knew my team had my back and to just look at it as the first play of the set, it’s just a great feeling to be able to win this for our school and the all of the seniors on the team.”
The season has been a magical one for Denver Christian who went undefeated all season with an impressive record of 28-0.
Despite losing to Yuma in last year’s tournament, the Thunder approached this game as any other. They won the program’s first title, and Denver Christian is excited and hopeful for the future growth and success of volleyball at the school.
“We’ve worked so hard this season and today it showed,” said Haman. “I’m so proud of these girls and what they have accomplished and it makes me so excited to continue growing the volleyball program and grow with the group of girls we have.”
