DENVER — The Montrose boys golf team is heading back to the Class 4A state tournament after winning their fifth straight regional championship.
As a team, Montrose shot a combined score of 236. Summit took second with a 244, good enough to also send a team to state .Steamboat Springs third at 249 and Green Mountain fourth at 252.
Northfield’s Hunter Swanson claimed the individual championship by shooting a bogey-free 5-under-par 67. Montrose was led by Jordan Jennings who shot 74.
Jennings’ teammate, freshman Noah Richmond and Summit’s Ryley Cibula each shot 76 to finish in a tie for third.
“I am extremely happy with our team and that they captured another regional championship,” Montrose Coach Steve Skiff said. “Green Valley Ranch was a tough golf course, but the boys stayed patient and kept battling all day. I am also very proud of our senior leader Jordan Jennings who finished second with a 74.
Jordan played a very solid round of golf today and hit the ball well.He is such a great leader for us. Noah Richmond got off to a slow start, but stayed with the course and finished with a strong 76. (Sophomores) Jake Legg and Rocco Manuel grinded all day long and (both) shot 86. We are very excited to qualify the team again for the state tournament and look forward to playing Country Club of Colorado on Oct. 5 & 6.”
Montrose has claimed the last three 4A team titles and is looking to make it four in a row. Last year’s individual champion, Micah Stangebye, is gone, but this crop of player knows all they needed to do was to qualify to give themselves a shot. They have the experience of playing at a big-level event and can’t wait to once again defend their title.
“I’m just excited that we got our whole team to state,” Jordan Jennings said. “We need to buckle down these next few weeks to get our games sharp for state.”
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Around the state:
Aspen conquers River Valley Ranch
Aspen’s Nic Penvy bogeyed the final hole at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale to shoot 73, but he was still two shots clear of Vail Christian’s Ross Anderson in claiming a regional championship. Both Aspen and Vail Christian qualified full teams for the 3A state tournament at Dos Rios in Gunnison.
Montezuma-Cortez’s Plewe goes low at Hollydot
Thayer Plewe wasn’t messing around when it came to qualifying for state. The Montezuma-Cortez sophomore pounded Hollydot into submission by firing a 65 to claim a regional title.
Colorado Academy had all four players finish in the top 12 to claim the team title and send a full squad to Dos Rios.
Mullen, Riverdale Ridge get teams out of Quail Dunes
Mullen’s Mario Dino had a bit of an adventurous round but finished his day at even par to claim the individual championship at Region 3 at Quail Dunes. The Mustangs also claimed the team title as Rhett Johnson and Andrew Brady claimed top 16 finishes.
Riverdale Ridge was the team runner-up and its squad of Will Balliet, Aiden Sweeney and Bradley Weinmaster will all head to the Country Club of Colorado in less than two weeks.
As Niwot and Mullen both try to get their level up play up to a state championship level, they put their talents on display against each other in a key regular season dual.
Niwot came away with the 4-3 win and had to earn every bit of it on a warm Wednesday afternoon.
The Cougars and Mustangs split the doubles matches as Mullen’s No. 1 team of Dante Dino and Greg McMullan took down Ivan Calderon and Lichen Liao 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the day’s only three-set match. Mullen as won No. 4 doubles with Sean Phelps and Blake Zaragoza beating Ryan Gray and Raaghav 6-0, 6-2.
The Cougars got doubles wins from upperclassmen tandem as Alan Wilcox and Xavier Moy beat Luc Caldwell and Alex Evans 6-2, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles while Maia Heather and Reeves Moor beat Patrick Duke and Colin Mackenzie 6-3, 6-3 in No. 3 doubles.
The singles matches ended somewhat decisively in all three positions with the Cougars getting two wins to Mullen’s one.
In No. 2 singles, George Henry Hanzel held off Sam Keronen 6-4, 6-0 to give the Mustangs their only singles win on the day.
Wilcox is seeking his second state title but is also determined to help his team claim a championship. The Cougars finished third in the team standings last year behind champion Cheyenne Mountain and the very Mullen they beat on Wednesday.
“I always have to be there for my team,” he told CHSAANow.com last week. “It’s important for to win it just for me, but it’s just as important for our whole team to go out and win a state championship.”
Getting a with over last year’s state runner-up has to be a huge mental boost in that regard. Boys tennis regionals are just over two weeks away with the state tournament slated to begin in three weeks.
The preseason girls softball rankings were released on Monday morning, and Columbine (5A), Holy Family (4A) and University (3A) lead the polls in their respective classifications.
The polls, voted upon by head coaches around the state, will serve as part of the seeding criteria in softball this season. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Arapahoe 37, Cherokee Trail 29, Grand Junction Central 24, Lakewood 21, Arvada West 17, Brighton 17, Hinkley 10, Valor Christian 10, Castle View 9, Loveland 9, Eaglecrest 8, Fountain-Fort Carson 8, Douglas County 7, Prairie View 7, Rampart 7, Vista Ridge 7, Grandview 5, Pomona 5, Mountain Range 4, Mountain Vista 3, Rangeview 3, Regis Jesuit 2, Cherry Creek 1, ThunderRidge 1.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Holy Family (5)
0-0-0
98
2
Erie (4)
0-0-0
87
3
Silver Creek (1)
0-0-0
85
4
Pueblo South (2)
0-0-0
70
5
Wheat Ridge
0-0-0
48
6
Mead
0-0-0
33
7
Mountain View
0-0-0
29
8
Golden
0-0-0
24
9
Pueblo County
0-0-0
23
10
Mullen
0-0-0
16
Others receiving votes:
Air Academy 12, Elizabeth 12, Pueblo West 11, Pueblo Central 10, Riverdale Ridge 10, Conifer 9, Ponderosa 9, Pueblo East 9, Evergreen 8, Pueblo Centennial 8, Mesa Ridge 7, Roosevelt 7, Windsor 7, Bear Creek 6, Coronado 6, D’Evelyn 5, Niwot 3, Rifle 3, Montrose 2, Northridge 2, Frederick 1.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
University (8)
0-0-0
80
2
Eaton
0-0-0
68
3
Strasburg (1)
0-0-0
65
4
Brush
0-0-0
57
5
Limon
0-0-0
40
6
Sterling
0-0-0
39
7
Rocky Ford
0-0-0
33
8
Basalt
0-0-0
27
9
The Academy
0-0-0
24
10
La Junta
0-0-0
16
Others receiving votes:
Lamar 14, Lyons 9, Resurrection Christian 7, Fort Lupton 6, Lutheran 5, Montezuma-Cortez 2, Valley 2, Peak to Peak 1.
The 2019-20 all-state and all-conference hockey teams are a joint project between the Colorado High School Ice Hockey Coaches Association and CHSAANow.com.
These teams were created following a meeting of coaches.
MONTROSE — Defending Class 4A champion Mullen girls basketball is headed back to the Great 8.
The Mustangs, seeded No. 9, went on the road and beat No. 8 Montrose in a game they controlled from start to finish in a 65-40 win.
“I thought that our defense intensity was terrific,” Mullen coach Frank Cawley said. “We were able to pressure the ball all night and led to some key turnovers and some nice transition baskets.”
Junior Megan Pohs led Mullen with 24 points.
“Megan was special tonight,” Cawley said.
Cawley also pointed to Imani Perez and Alexa Dominguez (13 points) as key contributors.
“Imani’s work on the boards was a difference maker and Alexa Dominquez just does it all well,” Cawley said. “Lex is a coaches dream. She can play every position and brings great intensity every time she is in the game.”
Mullen built at 14-6 lead after the first quarter, and was up 31-13 at halftime. It was 46-23 after three quarters.
“Montrose is a great program and (coach) Steve (Skiff) does a great job,” Cawley said. “That is a very good team we played tonight and I am really proud of my team. All 12 contributed and we are excited to move on.”
Gracie Gallegos also had ten points for Mullen.
Montrose was led by Hadley Greiner, who had 14 points. Caraline Burwell had seven, and Jacie Casebolt had six.
“I could not be more happy with the effort and heart we showed against a really good Mullen team tonight,” Montrose coach Steve Skiff said. “Mullen is a very talented team and give them credit for coming in and executing their game plan. We had a great season and am proud of everything we accomplished.”
Mullen will host No. 16 Canon City, which upset No. 1 Sand Creek in the Sweet 16.
