CHSAANow

Tag: Lakewood

  • All-state boys golf teams for the 2019 season

    The 2019 all-state boys golf teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

    These teams were created based upon results at the state championships.

    The athletes who won championships at their classification were named golfers of the year.

    [divider]

    Class 5A

    (Brad Cochi/For CHSAANow.com)

    Player of the year Will Kates, Arapahoe

    Coach of the year John Zerwin, Fairview

    First Team
    Player Year School
    Grant Alqatami Senior Boulder
    William Chadwick Senior Fairview
    Owen Cornmesser Junior Fossil Ridge
    Gavin Hagstrom Senior Fossil Ridge
    Ryder Heuston Senior Fairview
    Will Kates Sophomore Arapahoe
    Ryan Liao Junior Lakewood
    Brett Reamon Senior Fairview
    Tarek Salem Senior Highlands Ranch
    Matthew Wilkinson Sophomore Arapahoe
    Second Team
    Player Year School
    Beam Boonta Senior Cherokee Trail
    Qwenton Caldwell Sophomore Columbine
    Charlie Flaxbeard Freshman Cherry Creek
    Brendan Fricke Senior Highlands Ranch
    Max Heupel Senior Chatfield
    Teddy Hummel Junior Regis Jesuit
    Carson Kerr Junior Grand Junction
    Max Lange Sophomore Lakewood
    Alex McCoy Junior Liberty
    Jeff Nelson Junior Prairie View
    Andrew Platt Senior Boulder
    Alex Rogers Sophomore Fossil Ridge
    Ryan Sangchompuphen Junior Denver East
    Charlie Wang Junior Fossil Ridge
    Bo Wardynski Senior Regis Jesuit
    Brayden Weiss Senior Monarch
    Andrew White Freshman Eaglecrest

    Honorable mention:

    • Carson Briggs, Broomfield
    • Logan Byler, Valor Christian
    • Graham Dzengelewski, Arapahoe
    • Nick Fallin, Rock Canyon
    • Gage Messingham, Ralston Valley
    • Caleb Michaels, Monarch
    • Ryan Occhionero, Regis Jesuit
    • Yusuke Ogi, Arvada West
    • Finn Olson, Rock Canyon
    • Ryan Parker, Legend
    • Lucas Schulte, Valor Christian
    • Tyler Tyson, Arvada West
    • Kenny VanWormer, Grandview
    • Max Zadvorny, Arapahoe

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Montrose boys golf Micah Stangebye
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Player of the year Micah Stangebye, Montrose

    Coach of the year Dave Woodruff, Montrose

    First Team
    Player Year School
    Ethan Aubert Senior Palisade
    Jake Chesler Sophomore Frederick
    Kaden Ford Junior Discovery Canyon
    Gregory Lewis Sophomore Lewis-Palmer
    ryan lords Senior Montrose
    Gabe Marmon Senior Cheyenne Mountain
    Lance Phillips Senior Palmer Ridge
    Micah Stangebye Senior Montrose
    Hunter Swanson Sophomore Northfield
    Noah Wagner Freshman Pueblo West
    Second Team
    Player Year School
    Traejan Andrews Sophomore Northridge
    Mario Dino Junior Mullen
    Dakota Dolph Junior Conifer
    Tommy Henninger Senior Steamboat Springs
    Jordan Jennings Junior Montrose
    Jack Mitchell Junior Evergreen
    Brentyn Paiz Sophomore Windsor
    Medhaj Shrestha Senior D’Evelyn
    Clay Whitton Senior Evergreen
    Johnny Williams Junior Ponderosa

    Honorable mention:

    • Braden Caffarelli, Erie
    • Ryley Cibula, Summit
    • Colton Gabbard, Frederick
    • Adam Gannon, Longmont
    • Oliver Gibbons, Green Mountain
    • Ben Harding, Silver Creek
    • Rhett Johnson, Mullen
    • Noah Keller, Coronado
    • Reese Knox, Falcon
    • Rick Lane, Pueblo Centennial
    • Eli Marquez, Mullen
    • Mateo Salcido, Fort Morgan
    • Toby Salinas, Pueblo West
    • Alex Tanner, Windsor
    • Dawson Thulin, Vista Peak
    • Levi Tichi, Durango
    • Ethan Whidden, Durango
    • Adam Whitliff, Pueblo West
    • Garrett Zinn, Ponderosa

    [divider]

    Class 3A

    (Alan Versaw/CHSAANow.com)

    Player of the year Westin Pals, Lutheran

    Coach of the year Kevin Volz, Lutheran

    First Team
    Player Year School
    Jacobo Arango Senior Kent Denver
    Walker Franklin Senior Prospect Ridge
    Jacob Mason Senior Holy Family High School
    Max Noffsinger Junior Frontier Academy
    Westin Pals Senior Lutheran
    Jack Pevny Senior Aspen
    Nic Pevny Sophomore Aspen
    Tayleb Schaefer Senior Sterling
    Peter Stinar Junior St. Mary’s
    Jeffrey Zhou Junior Kent Denver
    Second Team
    Player Year School
    Jacob Buckendorf Junior Resurrection Christian
    Brenden Crowther Senior Alamosa
    Jack Garnsey Senior Colorado Academy
    Garrett Green Senior Holy Family High School
    Blake Keetch Senior Montezuma Cortez
    Trey Kuntz Junior Sterling
    Jackson Lowe Freshman Lutheran
    Thayer Plewe Freshman Montezuma Cortez
    Suchit Sharma Senior Peak to Peak
    Nathan Smith Senior Pagosa Springs

    Honorable mention:

    • Christian Agelopoulos, Colorado Academy
    • Luke Calvin, St. Mary’s
    • Brandon Cohen, Colorado Academy
    • Owen Deas, Lutheran
    • Ben Devolve, The Classical Academy
    • Connor Downey, Vail Christian
    • Breck Ferrin, Front Range Christian
    • Jacob Gilbert, Strasburg
    • Jackson Grace, Holy Family High School
    • Davis Long, Peak to Peak
    • Liam O’Halloran, The Classical Academy
    • Griffin pederson, Gunnison
    • Lance Peters, Trinidad
    • Grant Rose, Resurrection Christian
    • Walker Scott, Eaton
    • Tyler Sims, Basalt
    • Tommy Skodje, Dawson
    • J.T. Timmers, Colorado Academy
    • Luke Wright, SkyView Academy

  • No. 1 Columbine football plows through cold and snow

    LAKEWOOD — From 80 degrees and sunny to 26 degrees at kickoff … welcome to high school football weather in Colorado.

    The dramatic change in weather in the span of 24 hours sure didn’t effect the top-ranked Class 5A football team in the state. Columbine remained undefeated with a 42-18 victory over Lakewood on Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium.

    Columbine senior Tanner Hollens (6) throws out a stiff-arm on his way to a 44-yard touchdown run in the first quarter Thursday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “It was cold, but we were prepared and ready to go,” Columbine senior Braeden Hollens said.

    Columbine jumped out to a lightning quick 28-0 lead before the end of the first quarter. Senior running back Adam Harrington had a 37-yard touchdown run to conclude a 3-play, 50-yard scoring drive on the Rebels’ opening possession.

    The Rebels’ defense — which recorded nine plays for minus yardage for Lakewood in the first half — got into the scoring act with an interception by Hogan that he returned for a touchdown with 7:54 left in the first quarter.

    “That was awesome,” Hogan said of his pick-6. “It really gave us momentum into the offense. It helped us out.”

    Columbine’s defense sacked Lakewood quarterback Jason Duong five times in the first half.

    “They are playing great,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry said of his defense. “We’ve got some team speed.”

    Harrington struck again with a 4-yard touchdown run. The short touchdown run was set up by a 26-yard pass play from quarterback Jadon Holliday to senior Osirus Smith.

    Senior Tanner Hollens did the scoring for the Rebels for the remainder of the half. Hollens found the end zone on three straight Columbine possessions to end the first half. He scored his 14th rushing touchdown of the season on a 44-yard run that pushed the lead to 28-0 with 2:16 left in the first quarter.

    Lakewood senior Keondre Beauty (1) is pursued by Columbine seniors Justin Lohrenz (17) and Stephen Hughes (44) during the first quarter Thursday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Lowry has been preaching all week, ‘Five yards and a cloud of dust.’ And if we break one, we break one,” Hollens said.

    Hollens was back in the end zone on an 18-yard run early in the second quarter. The Rebels induced a running clock with a 42-0 lead midway through the second quarter on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Columbine back-up quarterback Brock Zanetell to Hollens.

    “Every game we preach, ‘Let’s get a running clock so we can get out of here,’” said Hollens, who along with the rest of the Rebels’ starters could cozy up to the heaters on the sidelines for the speedy second half with the running clock.

    Lakewood got on the scoreboard before halftime with a 38-yard touchdown run by Connor Land. The Tigers scored the two touchdowns in the second half. A 3-yard touchdown run by Robert Martinez-Chavez late in the third quarter and 11-yard touchdown pass from Duong to senior Keondre Beauty just before time expired to make the final score 42-18.

    Lakewood (4-3, 0-2) has dropped three straight after a strong 4-0 start. The Tigers are back at Jeffco Stadium next Thursday night in search of their first conference victory facing Arvada West (0-7, 0-2).

    The Rebels (7-0, 2-0 in 5A Metro West League) has now outscored their first seven opponents 300-71. However, the road definitely gets significantly tougher for Columbine over the next two weeks.

    “We are going to be tested here the next couple of weeks,” Lowry said.

    Columbine hosts No. 5 Ralston Valley (6-0, 1-0) at 7:30 pm next Friday, Oct. 18, at Jeffco Stadium.

    “(Ralston Valley) is a really great team. I’ve been playing against those guys since I was in the second-grade,” Hogan said. “I’ve been watching a lot of film on them. They look really good and have some great players.”

    Ralston Valley has been just as impressive as Columbine. The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 265-53 through six games. The Mustangs are at Mullen on Friday night before preparing for Columbine.

    “They are an amazing team,” Hollens said of Ralston Valley. “People sleep on them. They are a great team. They have great athletes every year. It’s going to be a grind. It’s going to be a dogfight for sure.”

    The following week the Rebels square-off against No. 8 Pomona (4-3, 2-0) at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada.

    Columbine senior Braeden Hogan (32) races toward the end zone during a pick-6 for the Rebels against Lakewood on Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • 5A boys golf: Arapahoe’s Will Kates runs away with individual title, Fairview wins team championship

    (Brad Cochi/For CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER – All over Pinehurst Country Club on Tuesday afternoon, everyone was talking about the kid that no one saw coming.

    No one seemed capable of readily producing his name without pulling out a phone or glancing to check the clubhouse scoreboard. “The Arapahoe kid that’s on fire,” they’d call the unknown golfer.

    That kid’s name: Will Kates.

    A sophomore and not even the No. 1 player on his own team, Kates wasn’t counted among a handful of veteran players who entered the Class 5A boys golf state tournament as the clear favorites to win. But Kates quietly positioned himself within one stroke of the Day 1 leader on Monday and on Tuesday’s final day, he absolutely blew everyone away with a 4-under 66 that won him the individual state championship by six strokes.

    They didn’t know him before. They do now.

    “Winning state was always in the back of my mind as a goal, but it wasn’t an immediate goal,” said Kates, who didn’t even qualify for last year’s state tournament. “You always want to go in playing like you’re trying to win but this wasn’t something I had planned for myself at the beginning of the season. I just got on a roll.

    “I honestly don’t know what to do now. I guess now I just have to come back here next year and try to win it again.”

    One of 10 players from eight different schools within three or fewer strokes of Day 1 leader Gavin Hagstrom from Fossil Ridge, Kates opened Tuesday’s finale by birdying two of the first six holes to jump into the lead. His only bogey came on the par-3 12th hole and he responded with three straight birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 16 to distance himself insurmountably from the field.

    (Brad Cochi/For CHSAANow.com)

    All of Class 5A’s best players struggled all tournament long to solve the challenging putting surfaces at Pinehurst. Following the breakout performance of his budding prep career, Kates said winning the state title was the product of his success with the putter.

    “I just made some putts, honestly,” Kates said. “All season, if I had been making putts I could have shot a lot lower. It’s a fun game when you’re making putts. This course is hard from tee to green but once you get on the greens, it can get really tricky. We all kind of knew the person who putts the best was going to take the trophy home.”

    Highlands Ranch senior Tarek Salem, who tied for sixth at state last season, was tied with Kates for second place to begin Tuesday’s round and held his runner-up position until the end. Salem played a consistent round with 16 pars and just two bogeys for a 2-over 72.

    Even he had to tip his cap to Kates.

    “I’m happy with the result, honestly,” Salem said. “Everyone’s goal is to win but I was in my zone and playing my game once I got over the nerves after the first couple of holes. When someone shoots a 66, there’s just nothing you can do about it. Will did a great job. Props to him. It was just a great time all around.”

    Lakewood’s Ryan Liao, who placed fourth in 2018, was 4-over for the tournament and tied for third with Hagstrom and Fairview’s Will Chadwick. Boulder’s Grant Alqatami – 2-over on Tuesday – was sixth at 5-over and Fairview’s Brett Reamon – 5-over on Tuesday – finished seventh at 6-over.

    With three players in the top eight, the Fairview boys claimed the team championship. Arapahoe was second, three strokes behind Fairview and one ahead of third-place Fossil Ridge following a late charge on Day 2.

    It was the Fairview Knights’ first team title since 2007 and one that all four seniors who played at state this season have been building towards for several years.

    “They’re all seniors, they’re all buddies and they’ve played together forever,” Fairview head coach John Zerwin said. “So it’s really great to see them all stick together and pull it off because we’ve been looking forward to this for a long time and they deserve it.”

    (Brad Cochi/CHSAANow.com)

  • 5A boys golf: First day of state tourney ends with a tight leaderboard

    (Brad Cochi/For CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER – Monday’s opening round of the Class 5A boys golf state championships at Pinehurst Country Club left a lot to be decided by Tuesday’s finale.

    At the end of Day 1, an unusual 10 players from eight different schools sat within three strokes of the lead, which currently belongs to Fossil Ridge’s Gavin Hagstrom. Three of those players are two strokes back, and four are right on Hagstrom’s trail just one stroke behind the Sabercats senior.

    On a tough course where putting is everything, Tuesday’s final round could be defined by more leaderboard shuffling than any other state tournament in recent memory.

    “I feel like I played pretty solid,” Hagstrom said. “You can never really wish for a bigger lead so I’m just happy to be the leader right now because it’s still really close and there’s a lot more golf to play.”

    Hagstrom, who spent last school year at the Junior Players Golf Academy, finished with an even-par 70 on Monday. His low score of the day kept the Fossil Ridge Sabercats in contention to repeat as team champions, four strokes behind Front Range League rival Fairview entering Day 2.

    (Brad Cochi/For CHSAANow.com)

    With a pack of contenders seeking the individual title, Fairview’s Ryder Heuston, who placed seventh in 2018, and Brett Reamon both sit in a tie for second place with matching 1-over 71’s. Also included in the one-stroke chase group are Arapahoe’s Will Kates and Highlands Ranch’s Tarek Salem, who was sixth last season.

    “I was nervous for the first few holes but once the nerves went away I just started playing a normal round of golf,” Salem said. “The greens are really tough out here so it’s a putting contest. That’s what it comes down to. It’s nowhere near done. There’s a ton of people still in it and the last few greens are really difficult so tomorrow should be really interesting.”

    At two strokes back, Fossil Ridge’s Owen Cornmesser led for much of the day and was as low as 2-under before picking up four strokes on his final three holes. Tied with Cornmesser are Fairview’s Will Chadwick and Lakewood’s Ryan Liao, who placed fourth in 2018.

    “This course is tough,” Heuston said. “I hit 15 greens, which is right around my average, but I struggled on the greens a little bit. I can’t really say I hit any bad shots today so hopefully a few more putts go in tomorrow.”

    (Brad Cochi/For CHSAANow.com)

  • No. 8 Pomona football leans on defense in league opener

    LAKEWOOD — Pomona’s defense was definitely ready to open up conference play in the Class 5A Metro West League on Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium.

    The Panthers’ defense carried Pomona to a 23-0 shutout victory over Lakewood. Pomona — No. 8 in the latest CHSAANow.com Class 5A football standings — got a pair of defensive scores in the opening half, along with shutting out the Tigers to help the cause.

    Pomona sophomore Jerrick Jackson races down the sideline after an interception against Lakewood. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “We are picking up our speed and really starting to gel,” Pomona senior defensive lineman Kane Courtney said. “We are making some big plays.”

    Courtney produced the first of the big defensive plays for the Panthers. He got the scoring going with a sack of Lakewood quarterback Jason Duong for a safety with just over five minutes remaining before halftime. The Panthers took a 2-0 lead.

    “Honestly, we weren’t getting a fire lite,” said Courtney of the scoreless first quarter. “Someone had to set it off. I had to get us some points on the board. It was too long of a drought for us. We took it in our own hands on defense.”

    Pomona senior Sanjay Strickland created more problems for the Tigers in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Strickland punched the ball out of Duong’s hands on a sack to force a fumble. Pomona junior linebacker AJ Zamora picked up the loose ball and ran it in from 10 yards out for a defensive score.

    “That got us going,” Strickland said of the defensive touchdown. “The offense wasn’t clicking like they are supposed to, but defense was doing our thing.”

    Pomona looked to have a third defensive score, but a pick-6 by sophomore Jerrick Jackson was called back because of a personal foul after the interception and the Panthers’ offense eventually turned the ball over to fail to score.

    Pomona sophomore Jerrick Jackson, left, stands up Lakewood junior Jackson White (15) during the first quarter Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The Panthers’ offensive took advantage of Pomona’s defense giving it a short field to open the third quarter. Pomona drove 30 yards for the first offensive score of the night. Sophomore Dominick Nichols capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to make the score 16-0 early in the third quarter.

    Nichols, who was pressed into running back duties due to injury, capped off the scoring with a 69-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

    “Dominick did a great job. He hasn’t practice at running back except for two days this whole year,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said. “Now we have a two-headed monster back there and we can put Jack (Pospisil) back at wide receiver.”

    Madden said he hopes to have starting quarterback Brady Ritzmann back full-time next week, along with junior running back Ben Cruz to help out the offense.

    “We are just waiting for the offense to get healthy,” Strickland said. “For right now, we’ll just do everything to help us win.”

    In what will be one of the toughest conference that currently features three ranked teams in the CHSAANow.com 5A football poll — No. 1 Columbine, No. 5 Ralston Valley and No. 8 Pomona — the Panthers quickly ascended to the top of the league standings with the victory.

    Pomona (3-3, 1-0 in league) has played its typical challenging non-league schedule. The Panthers losses have come against No. 2 Cherry Creek, No. 3 Valor Christian and No. 6 Regis Jesuit. The Bruins, Eagles and Raiders had a combined 14-1 recording heading into this week.

    “We are tired of losing,” Strickland said. “We are going to keep winning.”

    Madden’s squad has the luxury of finishing out the regular season with four straight games on the Panthers’ home turf — the North Area Athletic Complex — starting next week. Pomona faces rival Arvada West next Thursday night at the NAAC.

    “It’s about time,” Madden said of playing at NAAC after four of Pomona’s first five games on the road. “We have all these new black uniforms and we don’t even know what they look like. We’ve only worn them for pictures. It will be fun to get back home and get our (students) back in the stands to get going.”

    Lakewood is back at Jeffco Stadium for a Thursday’s night tilt against No. 1 Columbine. The Rebels open league play on the road against the only non-Jeffco team in the conference, Mullen, at 7 pm tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 4) at De La Salle Stadium.

    Pomona senior Sanjay Strickland, middle, knocks the ball out of the hands of Lakewood quarterback Jason Duong in the second quarter. Pomona junior AJ Zamora picked up the fumble to score the lone touchdown of the first half Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • No. 2 Chatfield softball stays in hunt for 5A Jeffco title

    The umpire agrees with Chatfield sophomore Peyton Shepard, left, on a steal of second base during the Class 5A top-10 showdown between Chatfield and Lakewood on Saturday morning. The No. 2 Chargers grabbed a much-needed 4-2 victory over No. 9 Lakewood. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LITTLETON — Saturday was a must-win situation if Chatfield had any hope of hanging a 2019 Class 5A Jeffco League softball championship banner in its gym.

    “We’ve been in a bit of a funk, but they are fighting and clawing,” Chatfield coach Jen Lazzeri said after the Chargers ended a 2-game losing streak with a big 4-2 home victory against Lakewood. “I’ve told them that every season has challenges and adversity. It’s about how you respond to it. It’s a great life lesson.”

    Chatfield junior Izzy DiNapoli was masterful in the circle Saturday against Lakewood. DiNapoli finished with 15 strikeouts to help the Chargers to a 4-2 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Chatfield — No. 2 in the CHSAANow.com 5A rankings — was coming off back-to-back conference losses to Arvada West and Dakota Ridge. The Chargers (17-2, 2-2 in league) knew a third loss in league play would likely end any chance of winning the conference title.

    “It was something we wanted to fight for going into it,” Chatfield sophomore Peyton Shepard said of the Chargers going after that league title. “We had the energy to do it today.”

    Shepard also had the speed to create a scoring chance every time she came to the plate. The sophomore lead-off hitter was 2-for-2 from the plate and stole a pair of bases while scoring twice in the close game.

    She led off the game with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a groundout by junior Izzy DiNapoli in the top of the first inning.

    “That is something I’ve always wanted to excel at,” Shepard said of using her speed to create havoc for the opposing team. “It gets my adrenaline going which helps me succeed the rest of the game.”

    No. 9 Lakewood (16-4, 3-2) actually grabbed a 2-1 lead by scoring a run in both the fourth and fifth innings on Chatfield fielding errors. However, the Chargers answered with a 3-run bottom of the fifth inning.

    Sophomore Dakota DiPaola walked to start the rally. Shepard and junior Courtney Bidwell ripped back-to-back RBI hits to regain the lead.

    Lakewood sophomore Haven Kutch (27) slides into home plate to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning was Chatfield catcher Abby Hochevar looks on. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Those two hits by Peyton and Courtney were huge. It just flipped the switch,” Lazzeri said. “The energy came up on the dugout. It reminded us who we are and that we could do this.”

    DiNapoli drove in her second run of the game to extend the Chargers’ lead to 4-2 heading to the sixth inning. The junior ace was even more impressive in the circle. DiNapoli finished with 15 strikeouts and worked her way out of a jam in the top of the seventh inning to preserve the win.

    “When she (DiNapoli) gets in her groove she is scary,” Lazzeri said.

Lakewood sophomore Destiny Martinez nearly matched DiNapoli. The Tigers’ pitching ace finished with 11 strikeouts in the loss.

    “Hats off to Chatfield. They are a great team,” Lakewood coach Dannielle Engler said. “This league is a good one. We have to move forward into the next day, the next game. We’ll prepare for Tuesday.”

    The Tigers hosts Ralston Valley at Ray Baker Field on Lakewood’s campus Tuesday afternoon. Lakewood is still in contention for the league title in what has been a wild conference race.

    Arvada West (9-9, 3-0) is the lone undefeated team in the conference after top-10 ranked Chatfield, Columbine and Lakewood all suffered early league defeats.

    “We are trying to keep some of that pressure off of them,” Lazzeri said of her squad that was ranked No. 1 for three weeks before dropping a spot this past week in the rankings. “Pressure is hard to play with unless you use it to your advantage and attack. It is really easy to play tight. We’ve talked a lot about pressure being external. We have to pay attention more internally.”

    Chatfield hits the road to face Pomona on Tuesday before finishing off league play against Bear Creek, Ralston Valley and Columbine. The showdown against the No. 5 Rebels is the final day of league play on Oct. 10.

    Lakewood sophomore Destiny Martinez (10) finished with 11 strikeouts, but the Tigers’ bid to get a big conference road victory came up short Saturday morning at Chatfield High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Boys golf regionals: Arapahoe’s Wilkinson among Monday’s medalists

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Arapahoe’s Matthew Wilkinson likes golfing in Colorado Springs. The sophomore had himself a day on Monday at the Colorado Springs Country Club where he shot a 4-under-par 67 to win the Class 5A Southern Regional golf tournament.

    He didn’t get a fast start as he bogeyed the third hole of the day, but got on track with a birdie on No. 4, a 199-yard par 3.

    He went out in 34 and turned it on once he got on the back nine. He made birdies on 11, 15 and 16 to claim the win over Regis Jesuit’s Bo Wardynski by three strokes at a course that Wilkinson saw as good prep for the 5A tournament which will be at Pinehurst.

    “It’s a similar to the state course,” he said. “It’s tree-lined, tough greens, fast greens and firm fairways.”

    The Warriors also got top-five finishes from Will Kates and Max Zadvorny to take home the team title. Arapahoe and Regis Jesuit were the top two teams in the tournament, earning automatic bids to state.

    As for Wilkinson, he’s hoping that he he can take what he did at regionals to state in two weeks.

    “I was in a groove,” he said.

    [divider]

    Class 5A, Northern Region

    Fossil Ridge’s Gavin Hagstrom got the win shooting a 5-under-par 67 at Broadlands. Three players finished the day in red numbers, the most of any 5A regional on the day.

    The Sabercats also won the team championship. Broomfield claimed the other team qualifying bid, eding Castle View by just a single stroke.

    [divider]

    Class 5A, Central Region

    Lakewood’s Ryan Liao led the field with a 2-under-par 70 at South Suburban. Cherry Creek’s Charlie Flaxbeard was the only other kid to shoot under par and it was the Bruins who came away with the team win by placing three kids in the top 16 spots.

    Highlands Ranch finished second to secure a trip to Pinehurst in two weeks.
    [divider]

    Class 4A, Region 2

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Golden’s Chankrit Sundurapura kept himself under par for most of the day but struggled on the par 4 16th hole at the Country Club of Colorado. The 16th was his final hole of the day and the tricky pin placement led to a three-putt, ending his day with a 1-over-par 72 to take medalist honors.

    Site host Cheyenne Mountain had three players in the top-seven to take the team title. Ponderosa shot 28-over as a team to also qualify for the 4A tournament at The Bridges Country Club in Montrose.
    [divider]

    Class 4A, Region 1

    Discovery Canyon’s Kaden Ford shot a 1-over-par 73 to get the win at Desert Hawk. He doubled up with wins as the Thunder shot 21-over to edge Pueblo West by three strokes.

    Individual qualifiers from Coronado, Canon City and Durango also came out of Region 2.

    [divider]

    Class 3A, Region 2

    Prospect Ridge Academy’s Walker Franklin made par on the first playoff hole to secure medalist honors at 3A’s Region 2 tournament. Holy Family claimed the team title with Colorado Academy securing the other team berth at the 3A state tournament.

    The qualifiers will be back on the course in two weeks at the Eisenhower Blue Course at the United States Air Force Academy.

  • Softball rankings: Rock Canyon is the new No. 1 in 5A

    State softball Rock Canyon
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Rock Canyon has moved up to the top spot in this week’s Class 5A softball rankings.

    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.

    Complete rankings for each class are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Softball Polls

    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 PVS LW
    1 Rock Canyon (11) 14-1-0 125 2 3-0-0
    2 Chatfield 16-1-0 96 1 1-1-0
    3 Loveland (1) 15-1-0 94 5 4-0-0
    4 Broomfield (1) 14-2-0 82 3 3-1-0
    5 Columbine 14-2-0 77 4 0-2-0
    6 Rocky Mountain 13-3-0 47 6 1-2-0
    7 Grand Junction Central 10-2-0 46 – 1-0-0
    8 Brighton 10-4-1 26 – 2-0-0
    9 Lakewood 15-2-0 21 – 2-0-0
    10 Legacy 9-4-0 19 8 2-1-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Castle View 18, Fossil Ridge 14, Smoky Hill 13, Arapahoe 11, Prairie View 10, Hinkley 9, Cherokee Trail 6, Arvada West 1, Douglas County 1.
    Dropped out
    Prairie View (7), Castle View (9), Smoky Hill (10).
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Holy Family (6) 12-1-0 104 1 3-0-0
    2 Golden (2) 14-1-0 91 3 1-1-0
    3 Pueblo South (3) 12-1-0 81 4 3-1-0
    4 Wheat Ridge 13-2-0 72 5 3-0-0
    5 Erie 13-2-0 64 2 1-2-0
    6 Silver Creek 13-4-0 58 6 3-0-0
    7 Pueblo County 11-2-0 46 8 3-1-0
    8 Pueblo Central 8-5-0 31 7 1-2-0
    9 Rifle 10-2-0 13 10 2-0-0
    10 D’Evelyn 8-6-0 9 – 1-1-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Coronado 6, Berthoud 5, Mountain View 5, Pueblo East 4, Roosevelt 4, Mead 3, Mullen 2, Northridge 2, Pueblo Centennial 2, Evergreen 1, Longmont 1, Pueblo West 1.
    Dropped out
    Pueblo West (9).
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 University (13) 14-1-0 130 1 2-1-0
    2 Eaton 12-3-0 105 2 2-1-0
    3 Brush 11-4-0 76 5 2-1-0
    4 Basalt 12-1-0 73 6 4-0-0
    5 Riverdale Ridge 11-1-0 73 4 3-0-0
    6 Strasburg 8-6-0 72 8 2-1-0
    7 Lyons 9-4-0 64 7 3-0-0
    8 Sterling 10-5-0 46 3 1-2-0
    9 Limon 10-4-0 34 9 2-0-0
    10 Fort Lupton 13-4-0 12 – 2-0-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Rocky Ford 7, Montezuma-Cortez 5, Platte Valley 5, Meeker 4, Cedaredge 3, Peak to Peak 3, La Junta 2, Lamar 1.
    Dropped out
    Platte Valley (10).

  • Photos: Lakewood football gets big win over Chaparral

    In a Class 5A thriller, Lakewood football emerged victorious with a 24-17 win over Chaparral on Friday.

  • Jeffco boys golfers wrap up regular season on the links

    Lakewood sophomore Max Lange, left, watches his drive on No. 13 along playing partners — Chatfield’s Max Heupel and Ralston Valley’s Jack Larson — during the Jeffco League tournament finale Tuesday at The Broadlands Golf Course. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    BROOMFIELD — The Class 5A and 4A Jeffco League individual medalist champions — Lakewood sophomore Max Lange and Evergreen senior Clayton Whitton — capped off conference play in style Tuesday at The Broadlands Golf Course.

    Lange birdied two of his final three holes to shoot a round of 2-under, 70. He edged Columbine junior Drew Duffy by a stroke to give Lange his third league title during the six-tournament conference schedule.

    Valor Christian boys golf edged Ralston Valley and Lakewood to win the Class 5A Jeffco League team title Tuesday at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The sophomore finished with a 68.6 18-hole stroke average on his top-5 rounds that were counted in the overall conference standings.

    “Last year I didn’t have the best scores, but this year I was pretty consistent in the high-60s and low-70s,” Lange said. “To play this well this year means a lot to me.”

    Last year’s 5A Jeffco League champ Lakewood junior Ryan Liao placed fourth in the overall standings. Ralston Valley’s tandem of junior Jack Larson and Gage Messingham placed second and third, respectively.

    “I’m just much more confident right now,” Lange said of not making first-team all-conference last year as a freshman to winning the medalist title. “I played really well during the summer at tournaments. Coming into the high school season that really helped.”

    The Tigers now eye the 5A Central Regional tournament Monday, Sept. 23, at South Suburban Golf Course in Centennial. The 5A state tournament is scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8 at Pinehurst Country Club in Denver.

    “We are pretty confident as a team right now,” Lange said of heading to regionals next week. “No matter where we go we are looking to get the team to state and play really well at state.”

    Valor Christian won one of the closest 5A Jeffco team races in resent history. The Eagles, Ralston Valley and Lakewood were separated by just seven strokes in the finals standings. Ralston Valley took second and will take its deep squad to the 5A Southern Regional tournament Monday at Colorado Springs Country Club.

    Evergreen senior Clayton Whitton eyes a put on his final hole Tuesday at The Broadlands. Whitton wrapped up the 4A Jeffco medalist title with a round of 73. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Valor will be at the 5A Western Regional at Hyland Hills on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

    One the 4A side, Golden mounted a comeback to win the 4A team title. The Demons — led by Chance Surdurapura and Grayson Flambures — took a six-stroke victory over Evergreen in the overall conference standings.

    “It means a lot, but I really wanted to win the team title too,” Whitton said after it was clear that Golden would edge out the Cougars for the 4A Jeffco team title. “That was in my head the last couple of holes. Going bogey-bogey wasn’t what I was looking to do.”

    Despite the rough finish to his round, Whitton shot a 1-over, 73 to win his third conference tournament of the season and claim his first 4A Jeffco medalist title. Last season, Whitton finished second to teammate Nolan Miller.

    Whitton has plenty of regional and state experience as he makes his final run. He was the No. 4 golfer for the Cougars when Evergreen was the 4A team runner-up at state in 2017.

    “I feel like if everything comes together I have the ability to go super low,” Whitton said. “I’m going to try to go as low as I can to help the team out to give those young kids the experience of going to state because it’s fun.”

    Evergreen juniors Jack Mitchell, Jake Dekoker, Jackson Green and Tanner Erlander all were first or second all-conference selections.

    “Right now our goal as a team is to make state as a team. I need to play real well at regionals,” Whitton said. “There is some stuff I need to do and work on. Hopefully at regionals we can all play well.”

    The majority of the 4A Jeffco teams will all head to the Region 2 tournament at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs on Monday, Sept. 23.

    Golden celebrated winning the Class 4A Jeffco League team title Tuesday at The Broadlands Golf Course. The Demons edged Evergreen by six strokes over the six conference tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)