DENVER — A potential rematch looms for the No. 1 singles title following the first two rounds of play at the Class 5A boys tennis state tournament Friday at Gates Tennis Center.
Defending champion Morgan Schilling, a senior from Regis Jesuit, and Fairview senior Luke Silverman, last year’s runner-up, each won two matches to advance to the semifinals on Saturday.
Schilling defeated Chatfield sophomore Daniel Smith in round one (6-0, 6-1) and Cherokee Trail senior Shawn Springer in the quarterfinals (6-2, 6-1) to advance to the final four for the third-straight year.
“It’s always nice to get the first two rounds out of the way,” said Schilling. “I played well this morning against a kid who is pretty good. I got a little nervous and tight in my second match, but I figured it out and pulled it out in the end.”
Schilling, who lost in the championship match as a sophomore, has experience on his side as he vies to become the first repeat champion in 5A No. 1 singles since Christian Holmes won titles in 2017 and 2018.
Standing in his way in Saturday’s semifinal will be Dayton Fisher, a senior from Ralston Valley who advanced with wins over Rock Canyon’s Chris Swanson (3-6, 7-6, 6-4) and John Shelby of Fossil Ridge (7-6, 6-3).
“Last year I wasn’t coming back as the No. 1 singles state champion, so I didn’t feel as much pressure as I do this year,” admitted Schilling. “But that’s not a bad thing. I’m taking it as a privilege right now, and I think it’s a really cool opportunity for me to hopefully (win) it twice in a row.”
Silverman beat Fort Collins sophomore Teagen Crow (6-3, 6-3) in round one and Valor Christian junior Jack Scherer in the quarterfinals (6-2, 6-3) and will be making his second consecutive semifinal appearance.
“My first match was pretty good,” Silverman said. “I had to work. (Teagen) has a really tough serve. I felt like I was hitting the ball pretty well (all day). I’m feeling good for tomorrow.”
Silverman’s semifinal opponent will be a familiar face: Cherry Creek senior George Cavo, whom he defeated in last year’s final four (6-1, 6-4).
“I’ve got another shot at it (the state title),” said Silverman. “But I’m gonna take it one match at a time. Hopefully I can get through the semis tomorrow. George is a really athletic player; he moves really well at the net. He hits a ton of balls back, and doesn’t miss a lot. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”
Cavo, who also finds himself in the No. 1 singles semis for the third-straight season, advanced with a round-one win over Cameron Lupo of Broomfield (6-2, 6-0) and a quarterfinal victory over Heritage senior Chase Walters (6-1, 6-1).
The team race could be shaping up to be another fight between Cherry Creek and Regis Jesuit.
Cherry Creek, which leads all schools with 42 team championships, is seeking its first team title since 2016. The Bruins have finished second in each of the last three seasons.
Two-time defending state champion Regis Jesuit is attempting to become the first team to win three straight team championships since Cherry Creek captured four-straight trophies from 2013-2016.
Through two rounds of the 2020 Colorado Open, the battle for low-amateur is shaping up to be a contest of the who’s who of Colorado high school boys golf alums.
And on his home course of the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Eaglecrest grad and former Class 5A boys state champion Davis Bryant is right in the mix. Bryant shot a 3-under-par 69 on Friday to make the cut and put himself in the mix for low-am honors on the course he grew up playing on. Bryant currently plays at Colorado State University.
The cut at the event came in at 4-under par at two alums in Cal McCoy (Regis Jesuit) and Brennan Dolan (Fairview) came in right at the number. They trail Palmer grad and current Doherty girls golf coach Colin Prater by four strokes.
Prater shot 71 in a weather delayed second round to enter the weekend as the low-amateur on the board at 8-under. Lakewood has a pair of contenders in Griffin Barela (7-under) and Jack Castiglia (5-under). Bryant’s college teammate AJ Ott shot a 68 on Friday to also get under the cutline. The teammates are paired together for Saturday’s round.
The overall lead in the tournament entering Saturday is Jared du Toit, a pro out of Kimberely, British Columbia.
Tee times for recent Colorado high school golf alums
In a field that features an LPGA future star, a Denver Broncos kicker and the grandson of one of the greatest players of all-time, the Colorado kids held their own.
Doherty girls golf coach and Palmer High School alum Colin Prater leads the field of Colorado high school golf alum playing in the Colorado Open as amateurs. He shot a 7-under-par 65 to head into the clubhouse in a tie for fourth place at the event.
Regis Jesuit’s Calvin McCoy – a current University of Denver player – carded a 67 to get inside the top 15 as of Thursday afternoon. Prater, McCoy, Lakewood alum Griffin Barela and Highlands Ranch’s Kyle Pearson were all comfortably under par after the first round. Barela (a University of Wisconsin player) and Pearson (Colorado Mesa University) both shot 68.
Prater is coming off a win at the CGA’s Colorado Match Play and started his day at the Colorado Open on the 10th hole. He made three birdies through his first nine holes and four birdies on his second nine.
He went 3-under on a four-hole stretch beginning on No. 4 and was bogey-free all day. McCoy was also bogey-free on his day and played the back nine at 4-under, tied for the second best effort for the day.
Perhaps the most notable entrant into the even is Jefferson Academy’s Jennifer Kupcho. She claimed the title at the Colorado Women’s Open which will go down as her first professional win. She was invited back to Green Valley Ranch Golf Club for this week’s event.
She made a birdie on No. 2 and got to 2-under before making bogey on No. 7 and No. 8. She was paired with her brother, Steven. The elder Kupcho also played at Jefferson Academy and placed fourth at the 2010 Class 3A state championship.
Fairview’s Brennan Dolan and Silver Creek’s Jackson Solem finished their days at 2-under. Eaglecrest grad and 2017 5A champion Davis Bryant started his round by going 2-under on the front nine.
Bryant made the cut at last year’s Colorado Open and finished at 20-under which put him in a tie for 20th. His college teammate AJ Ott, a Fort Collins grad, finished last year as the low amateur at 11-under.
The second round of the tournament will take place on Friday with Bryant, Ott and those players who teed off in the afternoon taking to the course early. Prater and McCoy will be among those teeing off later in the day.
Eaglecrest alum Davis Bryant is no stranger to Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. The 2017 Class 5A boys golf champion practically grew up on the course and even volunteered at the course during the annual Colorado Open Golf Tournament.
Now he’s poised to attack the course as a player in that very same tournament. Bryant is among several Colorado high school golf alums ready to take on the biggest annual tournament in Colorado. Like most golfers this summer, competitive tournaments have not been as plentiful as they have in years past.
Bryant is hoping to return to Colorado State with a competitive battle under his belt and the Colorado Open is the best level of competition that he’ll get to see.
“I obviously want to play well,” Bryant said. “I don’t want to go out there shoot 75 a couple of times and miss the cut. If I can use this right way and build off the people that are supporting I can take advantage of this.”
Each player in the field feels that way, especially the amateur players that grew up playing golf in Colorado.
Colin Prater. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Among the other Colorado high school alums playing in the Colorado Open are Griffin Barela (Lakewood), Jack Castiglia (Lakewood), Brennan Dolan (Fairview), Jackson Klutznick (Kent Denver), Joshua McLaughlin (Thompson Valley), AJ Ott (Fort Collins), Kyle Pearson (Highlands Ranch), Colin Prater (Palmer), Beau Schoolcraft (Kent Denver), Jackson Solem (Silver Creek), Marcus Tait (Columbine) and Dylan Wonnacott (Silver Creek).
The field is also packed with notable names around Colorado, especially within the golf world. Jefferson Academy alum Jennifer Kupcho will also be teeing it up and after conquering the boys’ club at Augusta National last spring, she’s embarked on a professional career. Her first professional win came earlier this summer at the Colorado Women’s Open.
Fort Collins resident Sam Saunders, the grandson of the late Arnold Palmer is in the field along with Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus.
The real key to the event are the older players that can inspire someone like a young Davis Bryant. He can remember working the event as a volunteer and being amazed when he saw what some of the players can do.
“I remember I saw a guy from Arizona way back in the day, probably 10 years ago and he hit a golf shot on hole No. 13, the par 3, and I had no idea how he did what he did with a golf ball,” Bryant said. “Now I can hit a similar golf shot, maybe nothing that good, but I just remember picking up on things. Watching them and watching how they handled themselves.”
Everyone is looking to someone close to help them through the event. Each player might turn to a friend or family member to provide caddy support. Bryant is turning to his father, Matt, the general manager at GVR.
“He’s going to talk to me about some yardages,” Bryant said. “Not club choice per se but but he’s also going to help me on the mental side to keep my mind off golf.”
Bryant, Ott and the rest of the Colorado high school alums begin play at Green Valley Ranch on Thursday with the final round being played on Sunday.
Typically, the Colorado Athletic Directors Association announces their annual awards at their conference each year. However, with no conference this year, they are announcing the awards online.
[divider]
Annual Awards
CADA 1A Athletic Director of the Year: Brett Williams, Hanover JSHS School District 28
CADA 2A Athletic Director of the Year: David Schuessler, Clear Creek
CADA 3A Athletic Director of the Year: Jesse Shawcroft, Centauri High School
CADA 4A Athletic Director of the Year: Kris Roberts, Cheyenne Mountain HS
CADA 5A Athletic Director of the Year: Adam Kelsey, Denver South High School
CADA Administrative Assistant of the Year: Joyce Cunningham, Littleton High School
CADA Administrator of the Year: Diana Sirko, Mesa County Valley School District
CADA Board Member of the Year: Reynaldo “Chico” Garcia, St. Vrain
CADA Award for Distinguished Service: Sue Prahl, Niwot High School
CADA Media Representative of the Year: Dan Mohrmann, CHSAANow/Southern Colorado
CADA Middle School Athletic Director of the Year: Jeff Conway, Coal Ridge MS
CADA New Athletic Director of the Year: Jimmy Cottrell, Kiowa High School
CADA Retired Athletic Director of the Year: Frank Lee, Fairview High School
State Award of Merit: Denny Squibb, Fruita Monument High School
Student Athlete Scholar award:
Male: Elijah Meyers, Arickaree High School
Female: Susan Puchino, Littleton High School
[divider]
CADA Committee Awards
Kurby Lyle Service Award: Mike Jacobsma, Dawson High School
The NFL Draft kicks off in full force on Thursday. With teams set to make selections that will alter the future of their franchises, there will be some Colorado high school products coming into play (more on that Thursday).
CHSAANow.com will be tracking the Colorado products that are selected this weekend, but ahead of that here are the 10 highest drafted Colorado high school football players of all-time.
[divider]
Gary Glick
Year: 1956
Round: 1
Pick: 1
High school: LaPorte
College: Colorado State
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
A defensive back and halfback, Glick was the first overall selection in the 1956 draft. He played in the NFL from 1956-63 (taking a year off in 1962) and worked primarily as a kicker. In his career he went 26-for-29 on extra points and 9-for-25 on field goals.
[divider]
Tony Boselli
Year: 1995
Round: 1
Pick: 2
High school: Fairview
College: USC
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Fairview alum wasn’t just the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, he was the first draft pick in Jacksonville Jaguars franchise history. Boselli played in 91 games (starting in all but one) and ended his career as a five-time Pro Bowler.
[divider]
Byron “Whizzer” White
Year: 1938
Round: 1
Pick: 4
High school: Wellington
College: Colorado
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
White had a standout career at Colorado and finished as the runner-up for the 1937 Heisman Trophy. He was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates early in the first round and played in the NFL for three years before diving into a legal career that included a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
[divider]
Terry Miller
Year: 1978
Round: 1
Pick: 5
High school: Mitchell
College: Oklahoma State
Team: Buffalo Bills
The Marauder standout helped the Mitchell football program rise to dominance in the late 1970’s. After playing at Oklahoma State, the Buffalo Bills took Miller with the fifth pick in the 1978 draft. He ran for over 1,000 yards and scored seven touchdowns as a rookie.
[divider]
Steve Zabel
Year: 1996
Round: 1
Pick: 6
High school: Thornton
College: Oklahoma
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
After a three-year career at Oklahoma as a tight-end/wide receiver, Zabel was drafted by the Eagles where he spent the majority of his NFL career as a linebacker. He hauled six interceptions and recovered 13 fumbles through the course of his professional career.
[divider]
Christian McCaffrey
Year: 2017
Round: 1
Pick: 8
High school: Valor Christian
College: Stanford
Team: Carolina Panthers
The Valor Christian running back was a big part of the Eagles championship run from 2010-13. He was a standout back that earned a scholarship to Stanford where he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2015. In his first three 3 years in the NFL he has become a Pro Bowl running back for the Panthers.
[divider]
Bobby Anderson
Year: 1970
Round: 1
Pick: 11
High school: Boulder
College: Colorado
Team: Denver Broncos
Anderson was every bit the hometown kid. He stayed in his native town of Boulder to play at CU and got drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1970. He played in Denver for four years and rushed for 1,280 yards and nine touchdowns.
[divider]
Alex Molden
Year: 1996
Round: 1
Pick: 11
High school: Sierra
College: Oregon
Team: New Orleans Saints
The Sierra standout played eight seasons in the NFL where he totaled 12 career interceptions. He played four years at Oregon and had 11 career interceptions for the Ducks. His NFL career included stints with New Orleans, the San Diego Chargers and the Detroit Lions.
[divider]
Nate Solder
Year: 2011
Round: 1
Pick: 17
High school: Buena Vista
College: Colorado
Team: New England Patriots
Solder was doing something right if he was chosen to protect Tom Brady’s blindside. Originally recruited to Colorado as a tight end, Solder evolved into one of the best offensive linemen in the game. He is the current starting left tackle for the New York Giants.
[divider]
Luther Elliss
Year: 1995
Round: 1
Pick: 20
High school: Mancos
College: Utah
Team: Detroit Lions
From the southwest corner of the state came a hard-hitting defensive lineman that the Detroit Lions couldn’t pass on in 1995. Elliss enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL where he amassed 331 total tackles including 29 sacks.
