Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 2 are below.
More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)
DENVER — For some observers, this match wasn’t highlighted Thursday night at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament.
However, there was plenty at stake when Pueblo South’s Davis Baxter and Thompson Valley’s Sage D’Ambrosia met in the first round at the Pepsi Center — especially in the team race.
Broomfield, Thompson Valley and Pueblo South were ranked No. 1, 2, and 3 by On The Mat prior to the state tournament.
“Our focus right now is bringing home a team title,” said the senior Baxter about the Colts who won state in 1997, 2004 and 2005.
Baxter did his part by muscling past D’Ambriosa 4-2.
“We know all the head-to-head matches with Thompson Valley are very important because they have more guys qualified than us,” said the unranked Baxter after his win over No. 6-ranked D’Ambrosia . “I’m just glad I was able to come through.”
The Colts’ Mitchel Chavez also scored a dramatic 6-5 win over Thompson Valley’s David Eusea. Chavez had a five-point move in the last 20 seconds to get the win.
Defending champion Broomfield qualified 11 wrestlers for state, while Thompson Valley brought 12 and South nine.
Thompson Valley is leading the team chase with 25 points followed by Pueblo South and Windsor which are tied for second with 22 points. Broomfield is sixth with 18 points.
Thompson Valley and South both advanced eight wrestlers and Broomfield had six winners.
In the Baxter-D’Ambrosia match, neither wrestler could get anything going in the first period.
The match remained scoreless until Baxter hit a reversal to take a 2-0 lead with two seconds left in the second period.
Baxter knew his lead wasn’t safe and he was right.
D’Ambrosia answered with a reversal of his own to tie the match at 2-2 with 1:22 left in the third period.
“At South, we focus a lot on conditioning and in the third period I still had a lot left in me and I was able to get the job done,” said Baxter, who ran his season record to 31-13.
Baxter’s takedown at 1:10 of the third put him up 4-2.
“There was a lot scrambling out there and I was getting mixed up with the score,” Baxter said.
D’Ambrosia (33-12) also was lost in the moment.
“I was trying to take him down and he got a funky (two-point) nearfall,” D’Ambrosia said. “I knew after that I had to go after it and try and score some points.”
As the clock was ticking down, Baxter was clinging to his slim advantage.
“In those last seconds I looked at the clock and saw I was winning and I knew I had to avoid getting turned and not give up anything easy,” Baxter said.
D’Ambrosia was gracious in defeat.
“I was trying to take him down and I just ran out of time,” he said.
TURNING SOME HEADS: Berthoud’s Nate Ryken thought his wrestling season was over before regionals last weekend.
“I didn’t even think I was going to wrestle,” said Ryken, who was hampered by a dislocated left elbow injury. “My coaches told me to go out there and give it my all before I stopped my senior year. I went out there and gave it my all and I took fourth.”
That effort qualified Ryken for state and he took full advantage of the opportunity by stunning Broomfield’s Demetruis Zissimos with a third-period pin.
Zissimos (5-1), who was coming back from a broken leg he suffered during football season, was the only undefeated wrestler in all of the 4A brackets.
“I had never wrestled him before,” Ryken said. “I don’t look at the person if they are good or bad. I’m going in how I’m going to go in and I’m going to fight. I feel like this win shows heart and my work ethic and now I’m just going to take one match at a time and wrestle my butt off.”
Ryken improved his record to 16-5 after his pin with 1:19 left in the third period.
LAST YEAR’S CHAMPIONS MOVE ON: Broomfield’s Phil Downing and Zach Stodden, Weld Central’s Dalton Robertson, Palisade’s Dalton Harrington, Pueblo South’s Isaac Naro, Windsor’s Kennen Lanteri, and Mead’s Kyle Couch all won their first-round matches Thursday.
EYEING GOLD: A year ago, Montezuma-Cortez’s Seager Oliver advanced to the 160-pound Class 4A state finals only to get upended by Thompson Valley’s Francisco Marquez.
Now, a junior, Oliver is more determined than ever to capture a coveted gold medal.
Oliver, the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 170 pounds, made a quick statement Thursday night, scoring a 15-0 technical fall over Woodland Park’s Josh Smith.
“I’ve had several tech falls and several pins this season,” said Oliver, who ran his record to 38-2. “I approach every match the same and I treat every match like I’m wrestling the No. 1 guy in state. I never let up and I don’t overlook anybody. The first match is always the worst and I’m glad I got that one over, and I’m happy with the way I wrestled.”
Oliver has a simple plan for the rest of the weekend.
“I just have to go out there and be mean every match and not give them an edge,” Oliver said.
“He’s got the attitude that he wants that gold and he’s headed in that direction,” Belmire said. “He’s worked hard and pushed himself and he has that gold medal in mind.”
Oliver is trying to become Montezuma-Cortez’s first state champion since 2010 when Casey Lynn won state at 135 pounds in Class 4A.
The Classification and League Organizing Committee meeting was Tuesday. (Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — Valor Christian’s athletic programs will reside in the Jefferson County League for the 2014-16 cycle.
The school, which is independent of a league during the current two-year cycle, had requested to join the Centennial League. And though the Centennial previously denied Valor’s request through a vote at a league meeting, there was still a chance that move would be approved at Tuesday’s Classification and League Organizing Committee (CLOC) meeting.
However, at the meeting, CLOC voted to not approve Valor’s move to the Centennial. Instead, through a 6-4 vote, it placed the Eagles in the Class 5A Jeffco League. Valor previously played in the 4A Jeffco from 2010-12. Their teams will continue to compete at the 4A level.
“That’s our job: to put them in a league. They had to be in a league,” CLOC chair Tom Arensdorf said after the meeting. “Every member has the right to be in a league after they’ve done their probationary period. They were not placed in a league two years ago … because basically their membership was in jeopardy. We felt it was best at that time not to put them in a league. No one wanted them, but the reasons for not wanting them were based on past issues that were pretty valid.
“In this past two-year cycle, Valor has done a lot of things to correct those issues. And they deserve to be placed in a league. That’s this committee’s job, to get them in a league.”
So Valor, finally, has a league for all of it’s sports — excepting football, which is still awaiting a conference. (That alignment will be finalized later in November.)
But that doesn’t mean it was easy.
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
Valor athletic director Rod Sherman spoke briefly at the meeting about the reasons his school sought to join the Centennial. He also said, in part, “We believe now is the time for Valor’s transition from an independent status to being a full-time member of a league. It would be an honor for us to be a member of the Centennial League; there’s much we can learn. We believe we have respected the process of being placed and we humbly request placement in the Centennial League.”
A long discussion ensued, with Centennial and Jeffco reps also speaking, and emphasizing Valor Christian’s private status. Then, CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico spoke up.
“We’ve had a public-private school discussion going on for over two years now,” Angelico said. “I’m afraid I’m to blame for that because I wanted that to be an open and above-board discussion, rather than all the back-biting that was going on behind the scenes. If I would have known that it would have turned into this bickering that will never end, I think I would have stopped it … and not allowed it to start. There’s no end to this.
“A couple of points I need to make: There is no written or unwritten policy of any sort regarding public and private schools and league placement,” Angelico continued. “Secondly, in the last 24 months, I would say to you, that since that discussion started, it’s not the private schools I’m worried about. … The private school people have heard loudly your message of discontent. Their response has been one of that I can’t complain about. Whatever it takes to be above-board and avoid issues, they’re doing. That applies to Valor doubly. They’ve hired a consultant, they’ve done everything I’ve asked. To the point that last night, in our discussions, we talked about, ‘Well Valor had four ADs show up at the (All-School) Summit.’ I said, ‘Yeah, they did. I told them to, and they did what they were told.’
“I think we have our priorities goofed up and have kind of started turning around what we’re supposed to be about,” he added. “This isn’t a public/private school issue. I hear loudly that it’s an issue about unfair advantage or differences in schools. … Frankly, I would just like to get this conversation back to what it’s about: somebody needs a home. The fact that they’re a public or private school is not the reason you place them in a conference. Nor has it ever been. Let’s talk about what’s the best fit.
“The association has certainly survived with several public and private schools together in the same league. I just want to center this. This becomes a ‘Who can win the argument?’ not, ‘What’s the best thing?’ And I think we need to go back to what are we supposed to be doing here. The committee is charged with placing a school, and they will place a school, and they’ll have to do it to somebody’s chagrin.”
Shortly after, the committee broke into a private session, and then for lunch. When they came back, the vote on Valor request to join the Centennial League was quickly called. Three CLOC members abstained, three voted in favor of the request, and seven against.
Moments later, committee member Rich Wildenhaus from Erie proposed moving Valor to the 5A Jeffco League. There was no discussion from the audience, and the vote ended with six agreeing with the move, four against it and three abstaining. The entire process was swift.
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
“Honestly, that surprised me,” Arensdorf said afterward. “Over the last two days, we probably discussed this issue as a committee for three-and-a-half hours — because whatever decision was made by the committee was going to be unpopular with some schools and cause some angst within leagues. There is no perfect fit.
“We went through a process that, if the first request did not pass, we — as a committee, it’s our responsibility to come up with something before the end of the day. And different committee members had different proposals,” he continued. “I was surprised that we finished that quickly. And I was surprised there was no feedback from the floor when that proposal was made by Richie Wildenhaus. I didn’t know what to expect at that point, because, as a committee, no one felt comfortable with any solution. There were no solutions that were going to make everybody happy.
“But, in the end, it is what it is, and all these people are professionals and they’ll deal with what they have to deal with and hopefully make the best situation for all the kids that participate in those programs.”
Valor Christian did approach Jeffco about joining the league prior to the CLOC meeting. Jeffco has 5A and 4A leagues.
“Right now, the CLOC committee voted for them to be in 5A Jeffco. I think that discussion still needs to happen,” Jim Thyfault, Jefferson County’s district athletic director, and a member of CLOC, said after the meeting. “Since we do have a 4A option, I think that needs to be discussed.
“I respect Rod Sherman and the people at Valor, I really do. They were in our league before. And, you know what? We’ll all be very professional about it, and I’m sure they will be, too.”
CLOC’s actions on Tuesday still need to be confirmed by the Legislative Council in January.
More league changes
Earlier, Burlington’s request to join the Lower Platte League was denied. That league had previously voted 9-0 against allowing Burlington admittance. CLOC voted 11-2 against overruling that vote. So Burlington will stay in the Union Pacific League.
Approved league changes:
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
Broomfield (Northern to Front Range)
Canon City (South Central to Colorado Springs Metro)
The Classical Academy (Tri-Peaks to Colorado Springs Metro)
Clear Creek (3A Frontier to 2A Frontier)
Ellicott (Tri-Peaks to Black Forest)
Highland (Patriot to Mile High)
Holy Family (Metro to Tri-Valley)
Littleton (Continental to Jeffco)
Lyons (Patriot to Mile High)
Manzanola (Southeastern to High Plains)
Northridge (Tri-Valley to Northern)
Skyview Academy (Independent to Metro 3A)
Swallows Charter Academy (Independent to Santa Fe)
Twin Peaks Charter (New school, joining Mile High)
Vanguard (Black Forest to Tri-Peaks)
New members
Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s request for membership was denied. The school has a unique schedule to allow its students to train on the mountain during the week — training from 8 a.m. to noon, and then attending classes from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Tuesday through Friday during the winter.
However, after a lengthy discussion, the committee said they were uneasy going down the road of adding a sports academy as a member.
“It seems so fundamentally different than what our membership is now,” said committee member Mark Kanagy, Windsor’s athletic director.
The committee did approve membership for Caprock Charter Academy in Grand Junction, as well as Denver School of Science & Technology – Green Valley Ranch, and Venture Preparatory School in Denver.
Playdowns
The overwhelming majority of playdowns were approved, save for Abraham Lincoln football (5A to 4A), Estes Park football (2A to 1A) and Palmer football (5A to 4A). Approved playdowns:
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
Adams City football (5A to 4A)
Alameda football (5A to 4A)
Antonito football (8-man to 6-man)
Aurora Central football (5A to 4A)
Boulder softball (5A to 4A)
Centaurus volleyball (4A to 3A)
Central (Grand Junction) football (4A to 3A)
Civa Charter boys/girls basketbal, volleyball (2A to 1A)
Denver North football (3A to 2A)
Dolores Huerta girls basketball (3A to 2A)
Greeley Central softball (4A to 3A)
Greeley West boys soccer (5A to 4A)
Miami-Yoder football (8-man to 6-man)
Mitchell football (4A to 3A)
Montbello girls soccer (5A to 4A)
Montezuma-Cortez soccer (4A to 3A)
Montezuma-Cortez football (3A to 2A)
Nederland football (1A to 8-man)
Niwot football (4A to 3A)
Rifle boys/girls soccer (4A to 3A)
Roosevelt boys soccer (4A to 3A)
Skyline softball (4A to 3A)
South Park football (8-man to 6-man)
Noteable
The committee set the 1A/2A cutoff at 92 students. So schools with 92 and below will be 1A in basketball and all other sports, while those with 93-240 students will be 2A.
Next week, the Classification and League Organizing Committee will finalize the alignment for the 2014-16 cycle. The agenda, released today, revealed a number of interesting situations the committee will discuss next Tuesday.
Valor Christian may soon find a home for its non-football sports. The school has requested to join the Centennial League, but it is worth noting that Valor’s teams would remain in Class 4A.
Though a Centennial League vote has already said no — basing it on Mullen’s decision to remain in the league — it shows how strong the Eagles’ desire is to get in a league that they are willing to join arguably the toughest 5A league as a 4A school.
Aside from that, though, the Centennial League schools are in close proximity of Valor Christian. The furthest school would be Cherokee Trail at a little more than 19 miles away.
A “no” vote from the league doesn’t necessarily mean the move won’t happen — it just means it won’t be as easy as league changes other schools are making. CLOC has the final say on league alignment. If Valor’s move is approved, it would give a nine-team Centennial League two private schools.
Additionally, of note:
Broomfield is seeking to move from the Northern to the Front Range League. Both leagues have signed off on the move, which is sparked by the Eagles’ move to 5A in all sports but football.
Canon City and The Classical Academy are both seeking entrance to the 4A Colorado Springs Metro League. TCA’s move is because enrollment numbers are bumping the school up to 4A.
Holy Family is hoping to move from the Patriot to the Mile High League because of an enrollment bump which has them going to 3A.
Littleton is seeking a change from the 5A Continental to 4A Jefferson County. This is another move on the heels of a class change.
Among the schools that have requested to play down in certain sports:
Adams City football (5A to 4A)
Aurora Central football (5A to 4A)
Boulder softball (5A to 4A)
Central (G.J.) football (4A to 3A)
Denver North football (3A to 2A)
Greeley West boys soccer (5A to 4A)
Miami-Yoder football (8-man to 6-man) as well as baseball, boys/girls basketball and volleyball (2A to 1A)
Montbello girls soccer (5A to 4A)
Montezuma-Cortez football (3A to 2A)
Nederland football (1A to 8-man)
Niwot football (4A to 3A)
South Park football (8-man to 6-man)
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Other notes:
Four new schools are seeking membership. They are: Caprock Charter Academy in Grand Junction, which is seeking to join either the San Juan or Western Slope League at the 1A or 2A level; Denver School of Science & Technology – Green Valley Ranch, which is hoping to join the Metro, Frontier or Confluence leagues in 3A; Venture Preparatory School in Denver, which will be 3A; and the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy, which still needs to determine its classification. Based on the enrollment, however, Vail Ski & Snowboard will likely be 1A or 2A.
In addition, there are 14 schools which have either inquired about CHSAA membership or have been sent information regarding membership.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
