CHSAANow

Month: January 2021

  • No. 2 De Beque boys basketball relying on experience and maturity in 2021

    De Beque Sangre de Cristo boys basketball
    (Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com)

    Two years ago was the best feeling that Wes Ryan and the De Beque Dragons could have ever hoped for. They were standing on the floor of Massari Arena, hoisting the Class 1A boys basketball state championship.

    It was a moment that the team will never forget, and one that it badly wants to experience again.

    As the 2021 season kicked off on Monday, the CHSAANow.com No. 2 Dragons feel they have the pieces and the mental wherewithal to battle through the season and emerge with yet another state championship win.

    “The ultimate goal is always going to be that state championship,” Ryan said.

    That was certainly the goal a year ago. After claiming the program’s first boys basketball title since 1998, the Dragons entered the 2020 state tournament as the No. 4 seed. A three-point loss to Briggsdale ended any dreams of a repeat, though the tournament would eventually be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    But the loss still stung. With as much offseason work that could be done, the Dragons now enter the 2021 refreshed and a bit more focused on the task at hand.

    “The whole team has been a lot more mature on and off the court,” Ryan said. “There were a few problems that we had last year that we’re not really noticing this year.”

    What they will notice is Ryan’s production that he hopes to carry over from last year. As a junior, he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game which was a big reason why his team again advanced to the 1A state tournament.

    “Wes brings so much,” De Beque coach Jake Higuera said. “He brings leadership. He brings all of the knowledge of being one of our main guys as a sophomore. He has such a strong work ethic. And as good as he’s been in the past, he’s looking pretty solid this year.”

    Jaden Jordan is also back for his senior season after averaging nearly 13 points and over seven rebounds per game. He also led the Dragons in assists with nearly five per game.

    Junior Logan Winfield scored just under 10 points per game and should increase his role this season. At 6-foot-5, Dante Dejulio should provide a strong presence in the post to round out a solid group of players hoping to fulfill their championship ambitions.

    “The guys that are coming back, it’s a good core of guys,” said. “They understand this year that it was tough transitioning to the role that everyone had (after they had won a title). Not really knowing what to expect. I think our boys have an idea of what to expect this season.”

    What they should expect is a tough gauntlet of competition in the 1A field. Mile High Academy enters the season as the No. 1-ranked team and Briggsdale, the team toppled the Dragons in the 1A tournament, is sitting at No. 5.

    It’s going to be a challenge ahead for any team looking to be the final one standing when the season is over. But many De Beque players know the feeling of claiming a championship and are heading into the 2021 hoping to experience that feeling once again.

  • Lindsey Immel aims to return Rampart girls swimming to championship form

    4A girls swimming state Lindsey Immel Rampart
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    In one of the most thrilling finishes in recent memory, Rampart came up just shy of claiming a third straight Class 4A girls swimming championship last winter.

    It was a tough experience but a well-learned lesson for the Rams, who have every intention reaching that championship level for the 2021 season.

    And there is plenty of reason to think they can do it. For starters, they have the returning 4A swimmer of the year in Lindsey Immel back and in a mindset to help the Rams achieve their championship dreams.

    On top of performing at a peak level at last year’s state meet, Immel also learned that even if it a team gives its all, it may not come away with a championship. That’s not deterring her or the Rams, only making them want to work for it that much more.

    “With the shortened season, it’s going to make everyone want to work harder,” Immel said. “We don’t have that time to warm up, we just have to get straight into it. For a lot of us, we’re going in looking to have fun.”

    4A girls swimming state Lindsey Immel Rampart
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Immel grabbed wins in the 200-yard medley relay, the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle to earn swimmer of the year honors last year. She also won the medley, 100 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay in 2019 which also led to her receiving first-team all-state honors.

    This year, she’s looking to cap of a stellar high school swimming career and even as soon as the first day of official practice, she made her presence known as an established veteran of the team.

    “She showed up ready to go,” coach Dan Greene said. “She took charge of the pool right away when she came in.”

    She’s been competing in the sport long enough to understand that the focus cannot be on just her. The effort the Rams put together three years ago was good enough to clinch its first 4A girls swim title in program history.

    It’s a team component in high school swimming that is uniquely valued with coaches and athletes. And while the swimmers can only control their own performances, they still know how crucial it is to bond and compete as a team when shooting for a common goal, such as a team swim title.

    “Swimming is such an individual sport when you really look at it,” Immel said. “But your team is really the most important thing when you’re at state. I individually swam the best that I could and everyone on the team individually swam the best that they could that day. It’s all about supporting one another.”

    Having been a recipient of two state championships and also a very close runner-up, Immel knows the feeling of that final day and knows how much effort is required through the course of the season to fulfill that goal.

    That’s why the team is in such good hands as competition starts next week.

    “She’s in a good position to be a leader on the team,” Greene said. “She’s already been a leader in the past, but as a senior I’d like to see how she steps up and does it”

  • No. 3 Green Mountain girls hoops primed for more success

    Green Mountain sophomore Jayda Maves squares up for a 3-pointer during practice on Jan. 19. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain girls basketball was one of last high school basketball teams to play before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown prep sports in Colorado.

    The Rams walked off the court at the Denver Coliseum on the night of March 12, 2020 after a 38-31 Class 4A state semifinal loss to Holy Family. That night would be the final action of the 2019-20 prep season in Colorado with the remainder of the state basketball tournaments cancelled, along with the entire spring sports season due to the pandemic.

    Green Mountain junior Avery Oaster has the Rams focused on another solid season after going undefeated in Class 4A Jeffco League play last year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “It has been a long off-season for every program and coach in the state,” Green Mountain girls basketball coach Darren Pitzner said during the second day of official practice Jan. 19 at Green Mountain High School. “I want to give credit to our coaches across the state. Our coaches have pivoted more times than a Courtney Hank (4A Jeffco League MVP last season) step-through.”

    Little did the 4A Jeffco League champion know it wouldn’t be back on the court until more than 10 months later to start its follow-up campaign from a 24-3 record and first state semifinal state appearance.

    “It’s been a challenge. It’s been hard,” Green Mountain junior Avery Oaster said of the past 10 months. “The first step was just to get us together. We do have a promising season coming up.”

    Changes in the Colorado High School Activities Association seasons has trimmed nearly a month and a half off a basketball normal year. Teams across all classifications are allowed 14 regular-season games and a scheduled 32-team 4A state tournament beginning March 9.

    “It feels a lot longer than 10 months ago, that’s for sure,” Green Mountain senior Courtney Hank said talking about the state semifinal appearance. “It was definitely challenging missing out on the team (summer) camps we normally do where you really can bond early as a team. It will be interesting to see how that effects us going into the season.”

    However, the Rams do have the advantage of several key pieces returning from last year’s historic team. First-team 4A Jeffco League all-conference selections Oaster and Hank return, along with second-team selections in junior Shea Murphy and sophomore Jayda Maves.

    “The junior class this year has all been playing together since they were in elementary school,” Hank said. “We are all really good friends off the court too that really helps I think when it comes to chemistry.”

    Green Mountain senior Courtney Hank (right), last year’s Class 4A Jeffco League MVP, led the Rams in scoring, rebounding and block shots last season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Hank is the lone senior on what is still a fairly young roster. The returning MVP knows the graduation of Maddie Phillips (7.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game) leaves a void, but Green Mountain has a pair of 6-foot freshmen — Marae Riley and Taylor Ellington — who could develop into filling a key role.

    “We’ll do a good job building off what we did last year, but we also have a lot of new talent that will be fun to see,” Hank said.

    Green Mountain — No. 3 in the CHSAANow.com 4A girls basketball preseason rankings — opens its season Jan. 29 in a non-league game on the road against Lakewood.

    “With our first games versus Lakewood and Ponderosa against two really well-coached teams and good programs,” Pitzner said. “I think our kids are really motivated and excited to finally get going.”

    While Oaster said the team is focused on successfully defending its 4A Jeffco League title and another deep postseason run, Pitzner takes the big picture approach with the high school basketball season getting underway and continues to maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “My goals are to help kids through this challenging time,” Pitzner said of his focus this season. “I want to help my kids become the best they can with the opportunities they have. The big picture is helping our kids through this difficult time, rise to the occasion and fight through adversity.”

    Green Mountain girls basketball coach Darren Pitzner guided the Rams to their best record in school history last season with a 24-3 mark while advancing to the Class 4A state semifinals. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Details on wrestling’s regionals and state tournament this season

    State wrestling Pepsi Center venue generic
    (Dustin Price/dustinpricephotography.com)

    Following approval of plans, wrestling’s postseason picture is clearer today.

    Both regionals and the state tournament will feature individuals competing in brackets.

    The following is specific information about each postseason round.

    Regionals:

    • Dates: March 5-6.
    • 112 student-athletes may participate on Day 1. Weight classes: 106-145 for boys, 100-127 for girls.
    • 112 student-athletes may participate on Day 2. Weight classes: 152-285 for boys, 136-215 for girls.
    • 16-athlete brackets.
    • The top 2 in each boys weight class at each regional qualify for state.
    • The top 4 in each girls weight class at each of the two regionals qualify for state.

    State tournament:

    • Dates: March 12-13.
    • Two single-day tournaments, at a single site.
    • 2A & 3A boys on Friday, March 12.
    • 4A & 5A boys, and girls on Saturday, March 13.
    • 8-athlete brackets.
    • Full consolation bracket.

    The state championship site will be announced in the near future.

    This is the first sanctioned season for girls wrestling.

  • CHSAA set to host first virtual solo and ensemble music festival

    The Colorado High School Activities Association is excited to offer its first ever virtual solo and ensemble music festival this week for schools and students across the state of Colorado.

    There are nearly 350 total entries, and 73 schools are represented.

    The CHSAA will be offering another virtual solo and ensemble festival opportunity March 1-5, 2021, and the sign-up for that festival will be forthcoming. Good luck to all participants!

    Thank you to the following schools for promoting music, and supporting your students in this educational opportunity:

    Air Academy High School
    Altona Middle School
    Aspen Elementary School
    Aspen High School
    Aspen Middle School
    Bear Creek HS
    Bear Creek HS
    Big Sandy Schools
    Boulder High
    Buena Vista High School
    Buena Vista Middle School
    Castle View High School
    Cherokee Trail High School
    Cherry Creek High School
    Chinook Trail Middle School
    Cimarron Middle School
    Coal Ridge High School
    Cotopaxi Consolidated Schools RE3
    Creighton Middle School
    Dakota Ridge High School
    Dayspring Christian Academy
    Denver Christian High School
    D’Evelyn Jr/Sr High School
    Discovery Canyon Campus High School
    Doherty High School
    Drake Middle Schol
    Dunstan Middle School
    Durango High School
    Eagleview Middle School
    Eaton High School
    Elizabeth High School
    Flatirons Academy
    Grand Valley High School
    Greeley West High School
    Green Mountain High School
    Hanover Junior Senior High School
    Horace Mann Middle School
    Irving Elementary School
    Jenkins Middle School
    John Mall High School
    Legend High School
    Manitou Springs High School
    Merino High School
    Mountain Vista High School
    Nevin Platt Middle School
    North Park School
    Otis R3
    Peyton Jr/Sr High School
    Pomona High School
    Pueblo Central HS
    Pueblo West High School
    Rangeview High School
    Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School
    Roosevelt High School
    Russell Middle School
    Sabin Middle School
    Salida High School
    Salida Middle School
    Sierra Middle School
    Steamboat Springs High School
    Sterling High School
    Strasburg High School
    Summit High School
    Sunset Middle School
    Swink High School
    The Manning School of Academics and Arts
    Vail Mountain School
    Walsh Elementary
    Walsh High School
    Westgate Community School
    Westminster High School
    Wheat Ridge High School
    Wiley Junior/Senior High

  • Cherry Creek, Mead, Lutheran, Limon and Mile High Academy head preseason boys basketball rankings

    Limon Peyton boys basketball
    (David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotography.org)

    The preseason boys basketball rankings are out. Leading the way are Cherry Creek (5A), Mead (4A), Lutheran (3A), Limon (2A), and Mile High Academy (1A).

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Cherry Creek (7) 0-0 221
    2 ThunderRidge 0-0 187
    3 Rangeview (4) 0-0 183
    4 Denver East (1) 0-0 172
    5 Regis Jesuit (1) 0-0 170
    6 Valor Christian (4) 0-0 169
    7 Eaglecrest 0-0 136
    8 Mountain Vista 0-0 119
    9 George Washington (1) 0-0 114
    10 Smoky Hill 0-0 105
    11 Chaparral 0-0 102
    12 Fairview 0-0 77
    13 Grandview 0-0 72
    14 Legend 0-0 69
    15 Overland 0-0 43
    Others receiving votes:
    Fossil Ridge 40, Douglas County 40, Ralston Valley 37, Vista PEAK 26, Horizon 25, Boulder 22, Doherty 20, Arapahoe 19, Rock Canyon 19, Columbine 18, Adams City 15, Chatfield 12, Rocky Mountain 6, Pine Creek 5, Mullen 4, Broomfield 4, Rampart 4, Silver Creek 3, Hinkley 3, Dakota Ridge 2, Cherokee Trail 2, Arvada West 2, Brighton 1, Far Northeast Warriors 1
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Mead (10) 0-0 238
    2 Lewis-Palmer (4) 0-0 192
    3 Longmont 0-0 169
    4 Windsor (1) 0-0 115
    5 Golden 0-0 111
    6 Evergreen 0-0 109
    7 Montrose (1) 0-0 87
    8 Harrison 0-0 86
    9 Erie 0-0 82
    10 Pueblo Central 0-0 81
    11 Pueblo East 0-0 80
    12 Centaurus 0-0 77
    13 Cheyenne Mountain 0-0 70
    14 Holy Family 0-0 54
    15 Green Mountain 0-0 52
    Others receiving votes:
    Northfield 47, Lincoln 42, Widefield 37, Sand Creek 36, Thomas Jefferson 36, Glenwood Springs 35, Frederick 34, Pueblo Centennial 27, Canon City 24, D’Evelyn 20, The Classical Academy 20, Thompson Valley 19, Wheat Ridge 17, Pueblo South 16, Discovery Canyon 16, Steamboat Springs 14, Mesa Ridge 12, Berthoud 11, Aurora Central 10, Niwot 10, Coronado 9, Riverdale Ridge 9, Eagle Valley 9, Palmer Ridge 9, Palisade 7, Mountain View 7, Mitchell 5, Falcon 4, Roosevelt 4, Sierra 3, Denver North 2, Severance 2, Rifle 2, Durango 1
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Lutheran (16) 0-0 321
    2 Faith Christian 0-0 231
    3 Sterling (1) 0-0 223
    4 Manitou Springs 0-0 205
    5 Resurrection Christian (5) 0-0 194
    6 Manual 0-0 182
    7 St. Mary’s 0-0 180
    8 Centauri 0-0 169
    9 Eaton 0-0 161
    10 Coal Ridge 0-0 115
    11 University 0-0 103
    12 Alamosa 0-0 94
    13 Gunnison 0-0 92
    14 DSST: Byers 0-0 76
    15 The Vanguard School (1) 0-0 60
    Others receiving votes:
    Colorado Academy 57, Kent Denver 51, Bishop Machebeuf 46, Highland 40, Strasburg 39, Englewood 38, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 35, Florence 33, Ellicott 26, Colorado Springs Christian 21, Salida 15, Valley 15, Jefferson Academy 14, Middle Park 12, Stargate School 12, KIPP Denver Collegiate 11, DSST: Montview 10, DSST: College View 10, Aspen 10, Moffat County 10, Frontier Academy 9, DSST: Conservatory Green 8, Woodland Park 8, Estes Park 8, James Irwin 5, Grand Valley 4, Roaring Fork 4, Lamar 3, Bruce Randolph 3, Pagosa Springs 2, Banning Lewis 2, The Academy 1, Jefferson 1, Peak to Peak 1
    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Limon (14) 0-0 252
    2 Yuma (3) 0-0 230
    3 Fowler 0-0 180
    4 Wray 0-0 171
    5 Sanford 0-0 165
    6 Denver Christian 0-0 153
    7 Peyton 0-0 149
    8 Ignacio 0-0 128
    9 Holly 0-0 120
    10 Sedgwick County 0-0 116
    11 Mancos 0-0 114
    12 Crested Butte 0-0 48
    13 Meeker 0-0 32
    14 Holyoke 0-0 29
    15 Vail Mountain 0-0 26
    Others receiving votes:
    Dayspring Christian Academy 23, Heritage Christian 22, Monte Vista 19, Vail Christian 11, Dawson School 10, Wiggins 8, Burlington 6, Crowley County 4, Thomas MacLaren 4, Rangely 3, Rye 3, Cedaredge 2, Hotchkiss 2, Plateau Valley 2, Dolores 2, Olathe 1, South Park 1, Dolores Huerta Prep 1, Sargent 1
    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Mile High Academy (7) 0-0 228
    2 De Beque (6) 0-0 226
    3 Merino 0-0 157
    4 Kit Carson (2) 0-0 123
    5 Briggsdale 0-0 113
    6 Primero 0-0 102
    7 Genoa-Hugo 0-0 95
    8 Belleview Christian (1) 0-0 89
    9 Sangre de Cristo 0-0 87
    10 Haxtun 0-0 77
    11 Walsh 0-0 69
    12 Evangelical Christian 0-0 68
    13 Granada 0-0 61
    14 Kim/Branson 0-0 59
    15 Ouray (1) 0-0 55
    Others receiving votes:
    Cheraw 46, Denver Jewish Day 42, Cheyenne Wells 41, Simla 41, Eads 34, Edison 32, Fleming 28, Stratton/Liberty 28, Flatirons Academy 23, Denver Waldorf 19, Pikes Peak Christian 17, Springfield 14, Prairie 11, Longmont Christian 11, Sierra Grande 10, Manzanola 8, Front Range Baptist 7, Dove Creek 6, Cotopaxi 6, Wiley 3, Caprock Academy 3, McClave 1

  • The preseason girls basketball rankings are out ahead of the 2021 season

    Sanford Rye girls basketball
    (David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotography.org)

    The preseason girls basketball rankings are led by Grandview (5A), Mullen (4A), University (3A), Rye (2A), and Briggsdale (1A).

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Girls Basketball Polls

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Grandview (16) 0-0 342
    2 Valor Christian (7) 0-0 337
    3 Highlands Ranch 0-0 289
    4 Ralston Valley 0-0 270
    5 Cherry Creek (1) 0-0 257
    6 Regis Jesuit 0-0 230
    7 Broomfield 0-0 143
    8 Fossil Ridge 0-0 141
    9 Chaparral 0-0 130
    10 Denver East 0-0 88
    11 Rangeview 0-0 80
    12 Vista PEAK 0-0 76
    13 Arapahoe 0-0 73
    14 Lakewood 0-0 53
    15 Fountain-Fort Carson 0-0 43
    Others receiving votes:
    Fruita Monument 34, Mountain Vista 32, Columbine 29, Denver South 28, ThunderRidge 27, Horizon 26, Cherokee Trail 25, Pueblo West 24, Fairview 24, Eaglecrest 19, Air Academy 13, Castle View 12, Chatfield 11, Doherty 10, Ponderosa 3, Vista Ridge 3, Pine Creek 2, Arvada West 2, Monarch 2, Rocky Mountain 1, Liberty 1
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Mullen (15) 0-0 276
    2 Holy Family (2) 0-0 267
    3 Green Mountain 0-0 196
    4 Erie (1) 0-0 185
    5 Berthoud 0-0 158
    6 Sand Creek 0-0 155
    7 George Washington (1) 0-0 150
    8 Falcon 0-0 102
    9 Severance 0-0 78
    10 Sierra 0-0 76
    11 Durango 0-0 75
    12 Evergreen (1) 0-0 69
    13 Canon City 0-0 65
    14 Mead 0-0 63
    15 Thompson Valley 0-0 54
    Others receiving votes:
    Montrose 47, Glenwood Springs 39, Windsor 37, D’Evelyn 28, Lewis-Palmer 22, Northridge 20, Palmer Ridge 18, Northfield 17, Thomas Jefferson 17, Greeley West 17, Golden 16, Centaurus 14, The Classical Academy 13, Pueblo County 13, Grand Junction Central 13, Fort Morgan 11, Alameda 9, Roosevelt 9, Riverdale Ridge 8, Mesa Ridge 8, Pueblo South 8, Aurora Central 6, Littleton 5, Discovery Canyon 5, Coronado 4, Frederick 4, Battle Mountain 4, Conifer 3, Weld Central 2, Harrison 1, Thornton 1
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 University (3) 0-0 197
    2 Centauri (4) 0-0 184
    3 The Academy (1) 0-0 178
    4 Lutheran (1) 0-0 169
    5 The Vanguard School (2) 0-0 167
    6 Delta 0-0 151
    7 Platte Valley 0-0 133
    8 St. Mary’s (3) 0-0 117
    9 Pagosa Springs 0-0 116
    10 Eaton (1) 0-0 102
    11 Manitou Springs 0-0 87
    12 Brush 0-0 71
    13 Alamosa 0-0 45
    14 St. Mary’s Academy (2) 0-0 43
    15 Moffat County 0-0 41
    Others receiving votes:
    Coal Ridge 28, Faith Christian 26, Sterling 23, Colorado Springs Christian 21, Valley 21, Machebeuf 20, Grand Valley 18, DSST: Byers 17, Manual 14, Bayfield 14, Kent Denver 13, Ellicott 13, The Pinnacle 13, Resurrection Christian 12, Middle Park 11, Florence 10, KIPP Collegiate 7, Jefferson Academy 6, Estes Park 6, Buena Vista 5, Lamar 5, Colorado Academy 4, Strasburg 4, SkyView Academy 4, Liberty Common 2, Bennett 2, Gunnison 2, Peak to Peak 2, La Junta 1, Salida 1, Roaring Fork 1, Stargate School 1
    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Rye (3) 0-0 206
    2 Limon (7) 0-0 191
    3 Sanford (1) 0-0 189
    4 Holyoke (3) 0-0 170
    5 Wray 0-0 124
    6 Rocky Ford 0-0 122
    7 Ignacio 0-0 121
    8 Del Norte 0-0 117
    9 Meeker 0-0 94
    10 Cedaredge (1) 0-0 78
    11 Yuma 0-0 61
    12 Heritage Christian 0-0 53
    13 Holly 0-0 48
    14 Soroco 0-0 47
    15 Peyton 0-0 41
    Others receiving votes:
    Colorado Springs School 33, Hotchkiss 27, Swink 26, Sedgwick County 25, Plateau Valley 22, Custer County 17, Dawson 16, Denver Christian 15, Fowler 15, Monte Vista 15, Center 14, Hayden 12, Burlington 11, Sargent 10, Swallows Charter 10, Akron 10, Crowley County 9, Calhan 8, Addenbrooke Classical 8, Crested Butte 8, Rangely 8, Trinidad 7, Olathe 6, Hoehne 6, Lotus School for Excellence 5, Byers 4, Dolores Huerta 4, Dayspring Christian 3, Front Range Christian 2, Loveland Classical 1, South Park 1
    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Briggsdale (12) 0-0 231
    2 Fleming (1) 0-0 226
    3 Sangre de Cristo 0-0 171
    4 South Baca [Campo/Vilas/Pritchett] (2) 0-0 146
    5 McClave 0-0 134
    6 Kit Carson 0-0 133
    7 Lone Star 0-0 129
    8 Cotopaxi (1) 0-0 127
    9 Simla 0-0 107
    10 Flatirons Academy 0-0 96
    11 Springfield 0-0 94
    12 Shining Mountain 0-0 86
    13 Genoa-Hugo 0-0 66
    14 Merino 0-0 63
    15 Elbert (1) 0-0 42
    Others receiving votes:
    Kim/Branson 29, Wiley 25, De Beque 23, Dove Creek 22, Sierra Grande 12, La Veta 11, Longmont Christian 10, Idalia 9, Cheraw 7, Haxtun 7, Liberty/Stratton 6, Granada 6, Mile High Academy 5, Evangelical Christian 4, Kiowa 3, Moffat 2, Prairie 1

  • Fort Collins, Battle Mountain lead preseason hockey rankings

    Fort Collins hockey team
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Fort Collins (5A) and Battle Mountain (4A) head the preseason hockey rankings.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Hockey Poll

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

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

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Fort Collins (4) 0-0 108
    2 Valor Christian (3) 0-0 107
    3 Ralston Valley (1) 0-0 86
    4 Regis Jesuit 0-0 83
    5 Cherry Creek (2) 0-0 76
    6 Monarch (1) 0-0 72
    7 Denver East 0-0 53
    8 Chaparral 0-0 48
    9 Mountain Vista (1) 0-0 25
    10 Castle View (1) 0-0 21
    Others receiving votes:
    Heritage 20, Chatfield 7, Resurrection Christian 3, Doherty 2, Pine Creek 2, Columbine 2
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Battle Mountain (3) 0-0 43
    2 Kent Denver 0-0 41
    3 Cheyenne Mountain 0-0 39
    4 Glenwood Springs 0-0 32
    5 Crested Butte 0-0 29
    6 Steamboat Springs (1) 0-0 27
    7 Rampart 0-0 22
    8 Summit 0-0 21
    9 Mullen (1) 0-0 20
    10 Pueblo County (1) 0-0 18
    Others receiving votes:
    Aspen 15, Palmer 9, Woodland Park 6, Colorado Academy 5, Air Academy 2, Coronado 1

  • Season B sports set to begin their seasons with first practices

    Basketball generic boys girls
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)bas

    Monday brings the start of practice for Season B sports across the state.

    Those kicking off their seasons include traditional winter sports boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, skiing, girls swimming and diving, boys and girls wrestling, as well as traditional fall sport competitive spirit.

    This marks the first-ever sanctioned season for girls wrestling. And ice hockey will feature two classifications for the first time.

    Each sport can begin competition a week from Monday, on Jan. 25.

    Due to the on-going COVID pandemic, each sport has modifications that have been put into place surrounding the structure of the season. Complete COVID information can be found on this page.

    Further sport-specific information can be found in their bulletins.

    Championship season in Season B will start with skiing, the week of March 8. It will conclude with the state spirit championships March 25-27.

    A complete list of dates is available on our calendar.

  • Colorado girls basketball alums highlight level of talent in the state

    (Ben Parris/Cherry Creek High School)

    Colorado high school basketball alums on display in Boulder

    It’s not up for debate, the girls basketball scene in Colorado is no joke. Just last year 65 Colorado girls went on to play at the next level, 10 players going Division I.

    One conference in particular, the Pac-12, has been drawing recruits from Colorado like no other. Just this week Grandview junior Lauren Betts committed to become the fourth player from Colorado to join the Stanford Cardinal since Ashten Prechtel (Discovery Canyon) and Fran Belibi (Regis Jesuit) started paving the way from the Centennial State to “The Farm” before Jana Van Gytenbeek (Cherry Creek) joined them this season.

    Those three are joined in the Pac-12 conference by 3 other Colorado alums in UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere (Grandview) along with Colorado’s Maura Singer (Columbine) and Kylee Blacksten (Air Academy). Just down the line set to join the Conference of Champions in late 2021 is Regis’s Avery Van Sickle who’ll join the Huskies in Washington and Valor Christian’s Kindyll Wetta will head to Boulder. Look ahead to 2022, Grandview’s Lauren Betts will join the Cardinal in Stanford as Valor’s Raegan Beers will play for Oregon State.

    Inside the CU Events Center in Boulder on Saturday, it was a homecoming for Prechtel, Belibi, and Van Gytenbeek who have not had a place to call home all season due to COVID-19 protocols in Santa Clara County. The No. 1 team in the nation Stanford Cardinal have had just three home games 12 contests into their 2021 campaign, but only one of those games has actually been played in their home arena at Maples Pavilion, the others taking place in Las Vegas and in Santa Cruz (home of the NBA G-League Warriors).

    “They’re not only outstanding players, but outstanding students and people,” said Stanford head coach Tara Vanderveer, who recently became the winningest NCAA coach of all time. She mentioned how the high level of both high school and club basketball within the state make players from Colorado a great fit for Stanford’s program.

    The three Coloradoans on Stanford’s roster aren’t just fitting in for the Cardinal, they’re standing out.

    Perhaps the biggest standout on the roster, and maybe even in the whole conference is Regis Jesuit grad Fran Belibi. While most here in Colorado learned of Fran Belibi after she became the first girl in the state to dunk during a game 2017 followed by putting down an alley-oop in 2019, she’s taking the entire nation by storm after becoming the eighth woman to dunk in the NCAA, the fifth woman to do it multiple times.

    It was not only a homecoming in Boulder for those on Stanford, as the Buffalos made some history in their defeat over the Cardinal. Today’s 77-72 win gave CU their first ever win against a No. 1 ranked team, and it was the first time CU beat Stanford since the Buffs joined the Pac-12 in 2011. The Buffs moved to 6-6 overall (4-5 in the Pac-12) as the Cardinal dropped to 11-1 (8-1).

    Seeing Colorado talent compete at the next level is always a thrill, and it sure builds anticipation for competition to begin all around Colorado on Jan. 25.