(Brad Cochi)

AURORA – The Season C field hockey state title game was a long-awaited championship event for its players, coaches and fans alike, and it produced a fittingly classic championship moment.

With the game still tied entering a second overtime period, Regis Jesuit’s Ellie Johnson fired a shot that tipped off teammate Cate Lord’s stick and into the goal to give the fourth-seeded Raiders a 2-1 sudden-death victory over No. 2 Cherry Creek at the Stutler Bowl on Thursday night. It was the Raiders’ second state championship in three seasons, and the uniqueness and unusual amount of effort and anticipation made this latest title an extra-special accomplishment for this year’s group.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” Johnson said. “We’ve been working at this for fourteen months with COVID pushing it back. This is what we’ve been working for and it’s amazing.”

In what was essentially a rubber match between two rivals who split a pair of matches against one another during the regular season, Lily Castiglione gave the Raiders (9-1) the first lead of the game when she scored with 8 minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Cherry Creek’s Ella Pratt tied the game with a penalty shot for the Bruins (10-2) in the third quarter.

After that, the teams played a scoreless stalemate until the game was forced to be decided by 7-on-7 play in the second overtime. But just 48 seconds after that period began, the Raiders scored their decisive goal to seal the victory.

“We practiced a 7-on-7 a few days before actually doing it just in case it gets to that,” Lord said. “So, we were so ready to do it. And we just have really good connections moving down the field, so I think that was to our advantage. We had the advantage of being able to start with the ball and we just did some really nice give-and-goes. We got a foul down right outside the circle. Ellie had some great moves, hit it in, we got a tip off of it and then scored.

“It was beautiful. It was over so quick, I don’t think people were ready for it. Even we were kind of stunned at the moment it happened.”

After the game, the Regis Jesuit student section rushed onto the field to celebrate with the Raiders in what was one of the first big championship events that allowed significant student attendance. The state title was the Regis Jesuit program’s second.

“It was a lot to get here,” Raiders head coach Spencer Wagner said. “We’ve been training for 18 months now. We’ve been quarantined, masked, cancelled, snowed out, it’s been a lot. This is more relief for me than celebration. I thought the game was phenomenal and I though Creek played phenomenal. They shut us down and kept us to one for 70 minutes until that second overtime. But we trained for it and prepared for it, and I’m so pleased with how the girls played and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The Raiders defeated No. 1 Colorado Academy in the semifinals to reach the championship game, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was rescheduled for Thursday because of heavy rain and lightning. Cherry Creek, who won the state championship in 2007, got past No. 3 Palmer Ridge in the semifinals.

A double-overtime classic saw Regis Jesuit get a 2-1 win over Cherry Creek to claim the field hockey state championship.

Jeffco Preps With Pleuss is a monthly roundup of Jeffco prep highlights hosted by Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ sports information director. The Season C sports were in full swing during the month of April. Standley Lake and Lakewood boys’ soccer teams combined to end a 57-year drought between the two programs when it came to winning a league title. Ralston Valley and Evergreen girls’ volleyball programs also celebrated winning conference championships. The gymnastics season came to an end with some stellar individual performances by Jeffco gymnasts.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

ENGLEWOOD — In a setting usually reserved for recreational fun, the Colorado High School Activities Association broke ground on history.

Across several bowling lanes, competitors from nine schools made a run at a state Unified Bowling championship. Pueblo East might’ve walked away with the first-place trophy, but everyone came away as winners.

The Eagles scored a total of 431 pins to hold off district rival Pueblo Central, who finished with 389. But loud applause greeted each team who qualified for Friday’s state tournament as awards were handed out. It was a monumental moment in the growth of high school sports in Colorado.

“This is very beneficial for our athletes,” Eagles coach Levi Martinez said. “It’s about time we get something for the ESS and United program going. These kids deserve it. It’s a great day and it’s amazing everybody here cheering for everybody.”

They were all certainly competing against each other, but the kids never once celebrated anyone’s misfortune on another lane. It started as a bit of a nerve-racking experience but once the athletes got settled in, it turned into the same atmosphere that the kids have experienced all season long.

There was only happiness flowing through the AMF Belleview Lanes, no sadness or disappointment.

“It was a really special experience for me and my teammates,” East’s Diego Anaya said. “The teamwork we had was amazing, so was the compassion and sportsmanship that everyone had for each other. It was a special day today.”

Anaya, Precious Guerra and Kyle Meyer made up the primary athlete group for the Eagles with Ebony Padilla-Andrews Orlando Trujillo or Miles Chaves serving as alternates. Martinez, Chuck Blagg and Jeremiah Blaha coached the team in their championship run.

Championships were hardly the primary takeaways for the day. The competition itself will serve as a foundation in which other Unified programs can build on.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

“Over the years we have had the opportunity to watch these amazing athletes put it all out there, in exhibition matches and  games,” assistant commissioner Jenn Robert’s-Uhlig said. “This year we were able to have a culminating state event to showcase their talents and crown them with a state title. It was a Monumental occasion. It was a great day for unified athletes and the continual growth of the CHSAA.”

The season and state tournament was also made possible with the effort of Special Olympics Colorado. The program was instrumental in organizing the event and making every athlete feel like a champion once it was concluded.

“It’s setting the example that all the students in the building can contribute in sports and leadership,” senior VP of Sports and Unified Schools Chaka Sutton said. “So often the special needs get overlooked and this goes to show that they can accomplish great things for their schools.”

Both Sutton and Ben Wrubel were recognized for their contributions to the event, but it was seeing the athletes competing that served as the main reward for them.

They saw history made from the moment warmups began to the time that Pueblo East was crowned state champion. For all the athletes, Friday marked an accomplishment that can never be taken away from them.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

FORT COLLINS — Rampart got wins over Regis Jesuit and Fort Collins to advance to the Class 5A girls volleyball state tournament.

[divider]

Rampart vs. Fort Collins

• Link to gallery

(David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotoprahpy.com)

[divider]

Rampart vs. Regis Jesuit

• Link to gallery

(David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotoprahpy.com)

[divider]

Fort Collins vs. Regis Jesuit

• Link to gallery

(David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotoprahpy.com)

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

To be hosted at the new Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, the Colorado High School Activities Association is expecting its student-athletes and fans to have an excellent experience at this season’s boys soccer state championship games.

Home to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC of the United Soccer League, Weidner Field is an 8,000-person capacity venue located in downtown Colorado Springs. It will be the site for both the boys and girls championships in Season C and Season D, and CHSAA assistant commissioner Justin Saylor, who administers soccer, believes the atmosphere at this Saturday’s boys state championship games will be a special one.

“It’s a great opportunity to take the event to a world-class facility like Weidner Field,” Saylor said. “The experience for the players, the fans and the coaches will be unmatched in the state of Colorado. We really appreciate the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation for their generosity and their partnership with CHSAA in bringing the state championships to Colorado Springs. We’re expecting this year’s championships to be a great experience for the soccer community in Colorado.”

The Colorado high school boys soccer state championships will be the first official event held at the stadium, so whichever teams advance past Wednesday’s semifinals will have a unique opportunity to be among the first to play on Weidner Field’s new turf. There are currently no mandated restrictions on attendance numbers, and all players, coaches, personnel and fans will be required to comply with local public health guidelines at all times. There will also be a clear bag policy.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be hosting the CHSAA boys soccer state championships at our brand new stadium, Weidner Field, home of the Switchbacks FC,” Switchbacks FC vice president James Ragain said. “The championship games will bring a great atmosphere and amazing experience to all soccer fans and sports fans in Colorado.”

[divider]

CHSAA Boys Soccer Championships (Saturday, May 1)

2A – Weidner Field, 9 a.m. – No. 2 Crested Butte vs No. 5 Thomas McLaren School

4A – Weidner Field, 12 p.m. – No. 2 Windsor vs No. 5 Denver North

5A – Weidner Field, 3 p.m. – No. 2 Fairview vs No. 16 Cherry Creek

3A – Weidner Field, 6 p.m. – No. 1 Colorado Academy vs No. 14 Frontier Academy

[divider]

SITE:

Weidner Field

111 W Cimarron St.

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

[divider]

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets for championship games are $10 and can be purchased at the stadium. Skip the line and go straight to the gate by purchasing tickets ONLINE via Seatgeek. ($5 SeatGeek convenience fee for online purchases only)

[divider]

WEIDNER FIELD PARKING MAP:

Weidner Field Parking

PARKING AT PALMER HIGH SCHOOL:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Parking-lots-at-Palmer.pdf” title=”Parking lots at Palmer”]

ENGLEWOOD — A little thing a 16 seed didn’t bother Cherry Creek. The Bruins advanced to the Class 5A boys soccer championship game after beating Grandview in the semifinals. Creek will face Fairview who had a thrilling win over Liberty.

The 5A state title game will kick off at 3 p.m. at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

[divider]

(16) Cherry Creek 2, (4) Grandview 0

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

Rather than getting something in the area of the net, Carsten Jones just went right at it. And he was rewarded with a highlight reel goal – and a backflip to boot- that put No. 16 Cherry Creek, the last team entered on the Class 5A boys soccer state bracket, ahead.

Cyrus Gulati added another goal for the Bruins in the 30th minute and they came away with the 2-0 win over Grandview in the state semifinals. And now the Bruins are playing for a state championship. It’s been a remarkable playoff run for the Bruins (9-4 overall) who came away with a 1-0 win over top-seeded Regis Jesuit then followed it up with a 1-0 win over No. 9 Boulder.

By reaching the semifinals, the Bruins had simply come too far to not earn a trip to Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Saturday.

“It’s crazy,” Jones said. “We lost like 14, 15 seniors last year so this is an all new lineup. It’s just been amazing. No one expected this from us and that’s why we’re here. We believed in ourselves.”

The Wolves (11-2) had a chance to cut into the Cherry Creek lead right before halftime as Knox Quarles was out of position, but the back line did a good job of cleaning the ball away from the net. From that point on, it felt as though Creek was never going to relinquish control of the game.

“We have a mindset that defense wins championships,” coach Wilmer Barerra said. “They’re so prepared and we’re going to fight until the end. Nobody thought we could go this far.”

Grandview came out with a more aggressive offensive attack in the second half and had another good look as Dylan Thompson had a wider open shot straight on the net. It sailed over the goal, allowing Creek to maintain a 2-0 lead.

With every chance the Wolves had of scoring, the Bruins defenders were able to clear the ball away from the net, rewarding the effort that the offensive had given to get the two-goal lead. It’s the kind of complementary effort that warrants a trip to the state championship game.

“We knew that they were going to press a lot,” Barerra said. “We knew that by doing that, they were going to give us that space up front. We were patient and that’s how we got those goals.”

The loss is just the second of the season for Grandview and both came against the Bruins. Back in the regular season meeting on March 23, Cherry Creek won 3-1 with Gulati scoring two goals in the effort.

This is the first trip to the state championship game since 2010 for Cherry Creek. The Bruins beat Mountain Vista 1-0 to claim the 5A title. The Bruins are 6-1 all-time in state championship games dating back to their first appearance in 1975.

[divider]

(2) Fairview 2, (3) Liberty 1

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Job Meuleman’s golden goal will be remembered for a long time. He buried a shot just over two minutes into overtime to give Fairview a 2-1 win over Liberty and a trip to a boys soccer state title game for the first time since 1984.

Neither Shane Williams or Theo Koch had any interest in letting a goal into the net. The Liberty and Fairview keepers put together solid first half performances. It was very much a chess match between the two undefeated teams in the first 40 minutes.

A corner attempt from Fairview late in the first half nearly broke the tie as Louis Kehoe gathered the ball right in front of the net. His shot sailed high, keeping the game scoreless. In the closing seconds of the half, Williams made a clutch save to fend off a late Liberty attack.

The Lancers struck early in the second half as Chase Compton broke the scoreless tie with a header off a throw in. Jake Milanski quickly answered for Fairview, tying the game up at a goal apiece.

Neither team could break the tie before time expired in regulation and the two teams went into extra time. It was just over two minutes into the extra period when Sebastien Mazur got behind the Liberty defense and found Meuleman for the goal.

This is Fairview’s second state championship game appearance. The Knights lost to Northglenn 2-1 back in 1984.

(Brad Cochi)

AURORA – In some riveting Class 4A action on Wednesday, both games were deciding by a decisive goal coming in the final minutes. When the dust settled, No. 2 Windsor and No. 5 Denver North emerged victorious.

Windsor and Denver North will play for the trophy in the Class 4A state title game at Noon on Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

[divider]

(2) Windsor 2, (3) Niwot 1

The Windsor boys soccer players have been on an historic postseason run for their program and weren’t ready to get off the ride on Wednesday night.

In the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time, the No. 2 Wizards won 2-1 over No. 3 Niwot to take it one step further and solidify their debut in the state championship game. After the game, Windsor head coach Phillip Weiser tossed out words like, “excited,” “ecstatic,” and “thrilled” into the Legacy Stadium air but added that the team was also relieved to have gotten past the Cougars.

Heading into Saturday’s title match at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, the Wizards must also be relieved to know they have senior John Burnett, who has 19 goals in 12 games after scoring both of Windsor’s on Wednesday.

“It’s been a weird season,” Windsor coach Philip Weiser said. “I’ve been doing this for 19 years and it’s never looked anything like this. And that’s a special group of young men right there and all credit to them for their dedication and what they were willing to sacrifice on the field and on the bench. It’s just collectively a great group of young men.”

Burnett gave the Wizards (12-0) the early lead with a penalty-kick goal in the 13^th minute. Niwot (11-2) senior Keegan Stobbe tied the game five minutes later with a goal of his own on a free kick.

With just over six minutes left in the second half, Burnett broke the tie with a goal in the 74^th minute to send the Wizards on to the final.

“It was a heck of a game. That Niwot is a solid team,” Weiser said. “They really came out in that first half and took it to us. It knocked us off our game and we had to refocus at halftime and kind of come out and play the way we did. The boys, they really responded at halftime and came out and played a heck of a game of soccer.”

[divider]

(Brad Cochi)

(5) Denver North 2, (8) Lewis-Palmer 1

Sophomore Cyrus Tracy was in attendance as an eighth grader in 2018 when the Denver North boys soccer team was last in the Class 4A state semifinals.

Tracy remembers the experience vividly and as he was preparing to enter with five minutes left in Wednesday night’s semifinal against Lewis-Palmer at Legacy Stadium, this time wearing his own Vikings jersey, he received an interesting bit of encouragement from head coach Clay Porter. The coach asked his charge to consider how could would it be if he went from watching a Denver North semifinal as a young fan to scoring the game-winner as a player.

Turns out, it was pretty cool indeed when Tracy scored with two minutes left in the game to seal a 2-1 victory and send the Vikings back to the state championship game.

“It was an amazing experience,” Tracy said. “He told me it would be really cool if I went and go a game-winner, and I did. We’ve never won a soccer state championship and the last Denver North state championship of any kind was like 45 years ago or something. So, we’re trying to change that.”

The Vikings trailed in Wednesday’s game after Ethan Mann scored in the 36th minute to give No. 8 Lewis-Palmer (10-3) the first lead of the game. Denver North’s Ethan Najar, however, scored to tie the game in the with 14 minutes, 30 seconds left in the second half. Then it took Tracy’s timely goal to turn the tide and allow No. 5 Denver North (12-1) to advance.

“We were in the semi in 2018 also and we won that one too,” said Porter, whose birthday was Wednesday. “It was a hot game like this one was. It was tough and I don’t even know what to say right now. I can’t believe that just happened and I’m proud of those players because it’s all them.”

The Vikings will take on No. 2 Windsor in the Class 4A championship game at Noon on Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

Wednesday’s Class 3A boys soccer state semifinals certainly featured their share of fireworks and the action didn’t disappoint. At the end of the evening, a recent-year regular and an underdog that just keeps pulling through in the postseason that emerged from the final four teams.

In Saturday’s 3A championship match at 6 p.m. at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, No. 1 Colorado Academy will take on No. 14 Frontier Academy.

[divider]

(1) Colorado Academy 2, (4) KIPP Denver Collegiate 1

More photos. (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

It hasn’t been all that long since its last trip, and the Colorado Academy boys soccer team is heading back to the Class 3A state championship for the first time in four seasons.

On Wednesday evening at Legacy Stadium, the top-seeded Mustangs won 2-1 over No. 4 KIPP Denver Collegiate in the state semifinals at Frederick High School. Both teams were unbeaten in Season C entering the game, and it was the Mustangs (13-0) who prevailed in order to remain undefeated and punch their ticket to the state final at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Saturday.

“It’s just really exciting to see the boys have an opportunity to play for a trophy,” Colorado Academy head coach Gabe Bernstein said. “So many teams in the state are working so hard in the offseason to get to that title game, and I’m proud of our guys for getting there. This is a special senior group that’s very motivated and has been working towards this point for several years now, so we’re really excited for them.”

Colorado Academy senior Grady Behrhorst put the Mustangs on the board in the first half and 10 minutes into the second half, senior captain Nick Maffei scored to give them a two-goal lead. Sophomore Francisco Morales scored for KIPP Denver Collegiate (12-1) but the White Tigers weren’t able to generate an equalizing score before time expired on what was an excellent Season C campaign.

“It was one of those games when you’re winning 1-0 and as you get deeper into the game, it gets a little hairy and a little nervy,” Bernstein said. “That second goal helped. Credit KIPP for getting one back. They’re an extremely well-coached group and they made it tough, but I think our boys weathered that well and did a good job of finishing out the game.”

On Saturday, Colorado Academy will be going for its fifth boys soccer title.

[divider]

(14) Frontier Academy 2, (2) Liberty Common 1

More photos. (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

Frontier Academy has never won a boys soccer state championship, but that could be changing soon if the Wolverines can keep up their current pace and pull off one more upset.

Seeded 14^th out of 16 postseason teams in Class 3A, Frontier Academy took down No. 3 Lamar and No. 6 Manitou Springs to reach Wednesday’s semifinals at Frederick High School. Then they did it again, breaking a second-half stalemate to knock off No. 2 Liberty Common, a team they lost two twice during the regular season, with a surprising 2-1 victory.

On Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, the Wolverines (10-4) will play in their program’s first state championship game. Fittingly in line with the favorite-laden road the Wolverines took to get there, their opponent will be No. 1-seeded Colorado Academy.

In the semifinals, Justin Kleen gave Liberty Common (11-1) the early lead just under 14 minutes into Wednesday night’s game. That lead stood until Frontier Academy’s Brock Ramirez tied the game with a penalty kick nine minutes after the midway break. In the 71^st minute, Seth Sheppard scored on a penalty kick to give Frontier Academy the victory and send the Wolverines to their first state title match.

The Class 3A state championship game will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

(Renee Partridge/CHSAANow.com)

Thomas MacLaren and Crested Butte will meet for the Class 2A boys soccer championship on Saturday. The teams advanced to the title game with wins in their respective semifinal games on Wednesday.

The 2A state title game is scheduled for a 9 a.m. kick at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

(2) Crested Butte 6, (3) Dawson School 0

Crested Butte is back in the state championship game for the second time in three seasons. The Titans jumped out to a 2-0 lead at halftime and just kept pouring the goals on in the second half.

This marks the first trip to the state title game since 2018 when the Titans edged Telluride 1-0 in overtime to win their only boys soccer title thus far.

Gabi Marmolejo scored the first goal with an assist from Jacob Burnholtz. and Nathan Sawyer each scored multiple goals for the Titans (8-1-2 overall) to pace them in the win. The Mustangs (6-3-1) had gone five straight games without getting shut out, but couldn’t muster a goal to slow keep pace with Crested Butte.

A quick lead and a big win was the ideal way for the Titans to head into the championship game with confidence.

“I was surprised with how we our team was playing,” coach Than Acuff said. “Dawson might’ve been feeling the bus ride. The boys started on fire and then stalled and then just turned it up in the second half. We were really excited to see that.”

The Titans have now outscored their opponents 14-0 in the 2A playoffs. They’ll try to maintain that offensive efficiency in the 2A state title game which is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

[divider]

(5) Thomas MacLaren 3, (1) Denver Christian 2

Thomas MacLaren is off to its first boys soccer state championship game in program history. The Highlanders scored a late goal to get a 3-2 over Denver Christian and earn a berth in the 2A championship game where they’ll play Crested Butte.

It was a bit of quick scoring fest in the first half as Thomas MacLaren took a 2-1 lead.

The Thunder had a chance to tie the game with about 11 minutes left in the first half, but an aggressive play from Highlanders keeper Jeth Fogg knocked the ball away from the net to keep his team in the lead.

Mark Detrick scored the tying goal for Denver Christian late in the first half giving the team renewed energy going into the final 80 minutes.

But it wouldn’t sustain as the Highlanders broke the tie late and held on to get the win.