ERIE — Kara Kovets came to bat with the bases loaded and a chance to break a top-10 softball matchup open in the first inning, but grounded into a fielder’s choice.
In her second at-bat of No. 5 Erie’s 11-5 win over No. 9 Frederick, she didn’t miss.
“I knew what I had to do,” Kovets said. “I just had to trust my hands and wait until a ball got into my zone to hit it as hard as I can.”
Kovets hit a two-run homerun to dead center to give Erie a 7-2 lead over Frederick.
“Kara has a lot of power,” Erie coach Harold Simmons said. “She hit a lot of homeruns last year, so she’s a big time player. That’s kind of her thing, you know, she gets a good launch angle and hits the ball out of the park.
“Anytime you tack on those runs in an inning like that, I think there were two outs at that time, you need those two runs.”
Maddie Leach pitched a complete game for Erie in the win. It was Leach’s first game as the No. 1 starter for the Tigers as she replaced the standout Rio Sanchez.
“It’s tough, right,” Simmons said. “It’s nerve-racking replacing somebody like that. You just have to be yourself and compete, and I thought she did.
“It was a good opening outing for our new pitcher replacing a girl that’s been a legend in Colorado softball.”
Erie continually hit the ball hard, chasing Frederick’s starting pitcher Makenna Goodard from the game in the third inning.
“I feel like this team is really strong,” Kovets said. “Our hitting has gotten a lot better and our fielding, we all have eachother’s backs.”
(Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)
It was Erie’s Kat Sackett that started the scoring. A line drive just under the glove of a diving Aspen Dufour drove in one, before Leach knocked one into the gap with runners on first and second.
After two throwing errors, Leach stood on third with the score 3-0 Erie.
Frederick battled back in the bottom of the inning, as Lorenna Hernandez singled down the third base line to close it to a one-run game.
In the second, an error and a fielder’s choice put the score at 5-2 with Kovets up to bat and a runner on.
Sackett and Erie added three more runs of insurance in the top of the seventh before Leach closed out the 11-5 win.
“Anytime you get a win against a top notch program and a rival game, it feels good,” Simmons said. “We had some good timely hitting, got a little bit soft there in the middle of the game bat-wise where we didn’t stay on them.”
Strasburg is ranked No. 1 in 3A. (Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)
The preseason softball rankings from CHSAANow.com are out, and Broomfield (Class 5A), Valor Christian (4A) and Strasburg (3A) are the top-ranked teams.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Broomfield (4)
0-0-0
78
2
Eaglecrest (4)
0-0-0
75
3
Cherokee Trail (2)
0-0-0
60
4
Fossil Ridge
0-0-0
53
5
Legacy
0-0-0
41
6
Douglas County
0-0-0
34
7
Legend
0-0-0
31
8
Grand Junction Central
0-0-0
24
9
Ralston Valley
0-0-0
22
10
Rock Canyon
0-0-0
18
Others receiving votes:
Loveland 15, Brighton 14, Arvada West 13, Cherry Creek 12, Dakota Ridge 11, Grandview 10, Mountain Vista 9, Fort Collins 7, ThunderRidge 7, Hinkley 3, Liberty 3, Vista Ridge 3, Fruita Monument 2, Rampart 2, Castle View 1, Pine Creek 1, Smoky Hill 1.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Valor Christian (9)
0-0-0
92
2
Air Academy
0-0-0
76
3
Wheat Ridge (1)
0-0-0
68
4
Mullen
0-0-0
64
5
Erie
0-0-0
62
6
Silver Creek
0-0-0
50
7
Pueblo West
0-0-0
45
8
Mountain View
0-0-0
35
9
Frederick
0-0-0
22
10
Pueblo Central
0-0-0
12
Others receiving votes:
Discovery Canyon 7, Thomas Jefferson 7, Evergreen 3, D’Evelyn 2, Falcon 2, Pueblo South 2, Berthoud 1.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Strasburg (6)
0-0-0
78
2
Rocky Ford (2)
0-0-0
62
3
Brush
0-0-0
55
4
Eaton
0-0-0
54
5
Lamar
0-0-0
41
6
La Junta
0-0-0
28
7
Valley
0-0-0
27
8
The Academy
0-0-0
26
9
Sterling
0-0-0
24
10
Faith Christian
0-0-0
16
Others receiving votes:
University 7, Delta 6, Meeker 5, Burlington 4, Basalt 3, Limon 2, Cedaredge 1, Weld Central 1.
AURORA — Ernie Derrera, currently the athletic director at Frederick High School, has been hired to join CHSAA’s staff as an assistant commissioner.
Incoming CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green confirmed the hire on Friday morning.
“Today was a win-win for educationally-based high school activities in Colorado,” she said. “Ernie brings his experiences from rural schools, metro schools, along with a committed effort to non-traditional student-activities to our Association. We are fortunate to be able add him to our office.
“We had several quality and outstanding candidates for the position who had great depth of knowledge, experience and passion for high school activities. The selection committee was impressed with each candidate.”
Ernie Dererra.
Derrera will join the staff officially on July 1. His specific duties are still to be determined.
“Truthfully, I’m incredibly humbled,” Derrera said. “When I got into being an AD, and I decided that athletic administration was going to be my pursuit professionally, the two end-goals I had were either a CHSAA job, or a district AD job. It’s something that’s been a goal of mine for a long time.”
Since 2015, Derrera has been the athletic director at Frederick. Previously, he was the AD, a teacher and cross country coach at Thompson Valley (2000-05; 2009-15), and a teacher and wrestling coach at Roosevelt (2005-09). He recently retired as Master Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, a role he held since 1987.
Derrera is no stranger to the CHSAA office.
At various times, Derrera has helped to pilot the InsideOut Coaching Initiative, has served as the chair of CHSAA’s wrestling committee, been a site director at softball, hosted regional tournaments, and also took part in the You Can Play! public service announcement. He has also served on the swimming and diving committee.
Last summer, he attended CHSAA’s student leadership conference to learn more about the activity even though Frederick didn’t have any students attending. He was quickly enlisted to help with aspects of the conference.
“Ernie, through his exemplary leadership and experiences, will provide a diverse perspective that is representative of the students and communities that we serve,” Blanford-Green said. “It is a connection that the Association has needed for some time, and to provide that piece of puzzle strengthens our CHSAA mission and vision.”
As the wrestling committee chair, he helped to spearhead an initiative promoting girls wrestling, and actually hosted the first-ever girls-only wrestling tournament at Frederick. Derrera also helped develop a new type of classification system that equally balanced the classes. That model has since been implemented across all individual sports.
“He was a catalyst in starting girls wrestling,” Blanford-Green said. “What Colorado started is becoming a national model. Other state associations are seeking his expertise as they look to start a grassroots effort with their own girls wrestling initiatives.”
“There definitely is a familiarity,” Derrera said of his new role at CHSAA. “I have been fortunate enough to be asked by some of the assistant commissioners and trusted by the office to be involved in a lot of different levels, and a lot of different aspects in what the Association does, in both the athletic and the activity arenas.
“I know that there’s going to be a steep learning curve, as with any new position, but I am confident that the CHSAA staff and administrators will assist me in this transition with the activities I’m given.”
INDIANAPOLIS — Brittlyn, Madalyn and Mikyla Massey, three sisters who are student-athletes at Frederick High School, have been selected as the 2017 Section 6 recipients of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
The National High School Spirit of Sport Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.
The three Massey sisters – junior twins Brittlyn and Madalyn and sophomore Mikyla – play softball for Frederick High School. Brittlyn is an all-league selection.
While their lives on the softball field have been positive, it’s off the field where they’ve gone through some very tumultuous times and specifically with regard to domestic violence. And interestingly, it’s been on the softball field where they’ve found a safe haven and solace.
In 2010, their mother Tammy was the victim of a domestic violence incident with her estranged husband from which she escaped unharmed. Domestic abuse has impacted the Massey family in different ways, but they have also learned how to cope with it.
Brittlyn, Madalyn and Mikayla discovered their safe place on the softball field. In a very real sense, they have used softball as therapy, and they have healed themselves through participation in the sport. It is on the softball field where you will most often see the three Massey sisters with big smiles.
About the Award
The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections. The states in Section 6 are Colorado, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members.
While the national winner will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.
LONGMONT — Brady Renck scored a game-high 16 points as No. 21 Longmont beat No. 44 Frederick 72-34 to advance in the Class 4A boys basketball tournament.
Jeffco’s Bryan Wickoren, far right, organized the first Colorado High School Adapted Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Gold Crown Field House in Lakewood. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Public Schools’ Adapted Athletics program made to quantum leap Thursday hosting the inaugural Colorado High School Adapted Basketball Tournament.
A total of 21 schools — 31 teams — took part in the tournament. Teams from school districts in Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Denver, Colorado Springs, Frederick, Greeley, Littleton, Longmont and Jeffco gathered at Gold Crown Field House in Lakewood first state-wide basketball tournament of its kind in Colorado for students with special needs.
“We had a great response,” said event organizer Bryan Wickoren, Adapted Physical Education Coordinator for Jeffco Public Schools. “It’s a great representation of schools from the eastern side of the state. It’s a start.”
The event got such a great response that 10 schools were on a waiting list for the tournament. Wickoren, who is a part of the Department of Education adapted team advisory counsel, presented his idea last fall of having a state basketball tournament that Jeffco would host.
Wickoren said there is already talk about adding a state-wide soccer tournament in the fall, along with state-wide track and field meet next spring to serve students with special needs.
Sand Creek senior D’Shawn Schwartz, left, served as a coach for the Adapted Basketball tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I’m extremely proud,” Wickoren said of the growth of Adapted Athletics. “Eight years ago we had five schools doing a couple of athletic events. Now we are doing something every month in Jeffco. We are just building and growing. We have a solid foundation and base. We’ll keep going.”
Bringing in schools from outside Jeffco has been a goal for Wickoren.
“We want to offer this to more than just Jeffco schools,” said Wickoren, who added he hopes in the future Adapted Athletics will be sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association like it is in Minnesota.
Bonnie Mendenhall, Adapted PE teacher for middle and high schools in Falcon School District 49 in Colorado Springs, jumped at the chance to get her students involved in Thursday’s basketball tournament. Sand Creek brought two teams to compete.
“We’ve always wanted to get involved in unified sport, but we just didn’t have anything going on in the Springs,” Mendenhall said. “Talking to Bryan (Wickoren) he told me all about it. We decided to come up. This is our first time and our two teams we have are really excited.”
Schools from across the state took part in the Adapted Basketball Tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Sand Creek also brought up a familiar face to Colorado prep basketball fans. Senior D’Shawn Schwartz, one of the top basketball recruits in the state that has committed to play at the University of Colorado next school year, was on hand as a coach for the Scorpions.
“This is my first time,” Schwartz said about helping with Adapted Athletics. “We had one practice and then came out here. It’s pretty fun. It’s cool.”
A couple of teachers at Sand Creek told Schwartz about the tournament and he decided to be apart of it. Schwartz has helped lead the Scorpions to a 13-1 record this season averaging more than 26 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game.
“It’s different, but it feels good to get away from competition,” Schwartz said about being a coach on the basketball court instead of facing a box-and-one defense. “I can just come out here and be loose.”
Arvada and Standley Lake high schools had members of its basketball teams on hand too as referees and scorers for games. Jeffco will hold its Adapted Athletics Basketball Day for Jeffco schools Friday, Jan. 20.
“We want to keep more kids involved in sports. It’s a win-win for everybody,” Mendenhall said. “They see the other kids in sports and it gives them the opportunity to be in sports. It gives them great self-esteem. They can be a part of a team.”
At the end of the day Thursday, Gateway lifted the first-place trophy.
Gateway was crowned the first-place champions in the first Colorado High School Adapted Basketball Tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
FREDERICK — Every plant needs to be seeded before it can grow.
Over the years, the participation numbers of girls in Colorado high school wrestling has only grown. There are questions as to what it would take for the numbers to reach the point that girls wrestling can become it’s own sport.
And as with any new venture, there are concerns of the reception of the idea and how much early success will play a role into its growth.
If the overall support that the first girls-specific wrestling tournament is any indication, something special may have just been planted at Frederick High School.
The Warrior Invite featured seven girls only brackets consisting of 80 wrestlers representing 42 schools. Athletic director Ernie Derrera didn’t host the tournament to gain recognition. As the chairman of the CHSAA wrestling committee, he had to be willing to do what we he was asking of others.
“One of the things I felt as chair of the committee was that if I was going to ask somebody else to do it, it was probably right for me to be able to step up and do it,” Derrera said. “We have the facility, we have great volunteers who help us do this and we had a tournament that we were running anyway. So it made sense for us to be able to carry two of them up and get it done.”
Hosting is only part of the battle though.
Participation numbers for girls wrestlers have only increased with each year. It’s not uncommon anymore to see a girl wrestling on the floor at Pepsi Center in the state tournament.
But if girls wrestling is to become its own sanctioned sport, there has to be support from multiple sides.
“In the past, if you see a girl wrestling in a boys tournament you hear the chatter in the stands of, ‘Hey, she’s pretty good for a girl,’” Golden assistant coach Brooke Sauer said. “They don’t mean anything negative by it, but (the girls) out of their element when they aren’t given the same opportunity as the guys are.”
Sauer knows what she’s talking about. A 2006 graduate from Golden, she is the first girl in Colorado history to qualify for the state tournament. Now, just over a decade later she’s coaching in the sport in which she excelled and to see it grow to the point that girls are able to compete in their own tournament is mind-blowing.
“Today, to hear how much positive talk there was, it took the (inequality) out of the equation,” she said. “To see that speed planted, that girls can wrestle girls and that there’s this big of a turnout, is huge.”
Holyoke’s Jessica Mosqueda received the honor of being the first girl to win an all-girls championship with a fall victory over Liberty’s Naliah Rosales in the 101-pound final.
The overall feeling may not have sunk in yet in the moments following her win, but the impact of that victory did not escape her.
“It’s amazing,” Mosqueda said. “Wrestling girls, we know that we can do more and it just feels really special right now.”
Even with seven girls brackets in the tournament, there were still girls who felt more comfortable competing against the guys and opted for that route. It paid off for Roosevelt’s Angel Rios who came away with the 106 championship. There was no boy that could stop her on Saturday.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
“When I first started, I was 3-years-old and there weren’t many girls,” Rios said. “I basically grew up wrestling boys my whole life. It feels more like home.”
Her first-place victory was a unique feat either as she had come away with a championship in the Roosevelt Invitational back on Dec. 10.
Saucer was quick to point out her accomplishment and acknowledge that she anticipates seeing Rios at Pepsi Center in February.
But for now, based on the results and turnout of the Warrior Invite, the idea of girls wrestling is not as far-fetched as it was even a month ago.
“I’ve had several coaches come up to me and say, ‘Hey, what’s next? Are you starting a girls team,’” Sauer said. “I think that’s huge to have the support from everybody here.”
She also pointed out that Derrera, Frederick and CHSAA took a huge leap of faith by moving forward with the tournament. But they all simply planted the seed. Only time will tell what will sprout as a result.
The 2016 all-state football teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches across the state.
Players were placed onto the first-team, second-team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-1A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.
CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created entirely from the results of the coaches’ vote.
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Class 5A
(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Player of the year: Dylan McCaffrey, Valor Christian
