Tag: Jeffco

Top-ranked Chatfield volleyball sweeps Evergreen

Chatfield’s Sierra Bartley (8) and Julia Eiken (12) go up to block Evergreen’s Claudia Dillon on Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LITTLETON — No. 1 sounds and looks good to Chatfield’s volleyball team.

While taking over the top spot in the CHSAANow.com Class 5A volleyball poll on Tuesday, made the Chargers feel pretty good. Still, the prep season is young. The road is long and winding for Chatfield when it comes to its ultimate goal — lifting the 5A state trophy Nov. 12 at the Denver Coliseum.

“I’m really excited. We want to prove that we can be good two years in a row,” Chatfield senior Haley Fuller said of the Chargers taking over to the top ranking. “We are No. 1. We’ve worked hard for it and I don’t what to let it go.”

While Chatfield held the No. 1 ranking last season, there is still the memory of the Chargers coming into the state tournament as the top seed and failing to make it out of pool play.

“Our team has already had conversations about what rankings mean and what rankings don’t mean,” Chatfield coach Stephanie Schick said. “It makes me uncomfortable as a coach to talk about it. I guess I’m superstitious. I don’t like to jinx stuff.”

Chatfield sophomore Julia Geiger (14) tips the ball over Evergreen’s Marissa Hoerman (7) and Becca Butler. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The new No. 1 tag didn’t affect the Chargers play Tuesday night in a non-league home game against Evergreen, ranked No. 7 in the 4A poll. Chatfield (3-0 record) celebrated the No. 1 ranking with a straight set 25-14, 25-19, 25-13 victory over 4A Jeffco’s defending league champion Evergreen (1-2).

Junior Julia Eiken got the Chargers going in the first set getting some early kills from the middle blocker position. Chatfield led 14-4 before the Cougars made a bit of a late rally before the Chargers pocketed the first set.

“Coach (Schick) has really pushed the middle so we can get the one-on-one opportunities on the outside,” Eiken said of getting some early kills looks before the Chargers went to their bevy of outside hitters. “It was awesome to see them with those kills out there.”

Evergreen gave Chatfield a test in the second set. Seniors Giselle DeGrandchamp, Becca Butler and sophomore Claudia Dillon were key for the Cougars as they took an early 8-2 advantage. However, serving runs by Chatfield seniors Nicole Langford and Fuller put the Chargers on a 15-2 run.

Schick was pleased with what Langford and sophomore Shea Fuller, Haley’s younger sister, provided Chatfield off the bench.

Chatfield junior Julia Eiken puts down a kill during the first set Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It was nice to see them respond quickly,” Schick said of the second set. “We haven’t started a set like that yet. That was good for us.”

Chatfield closed out the match dominating the third set several different players getting involved and Langford having a trio of aces.

“For us to win state we can’t have an easy go at it. We need to have a difficult and challenging regular season,” Haley Fuller said. “We have to know how to get out of slumps.”

Evergreen attempts to bounce back when it plays in the Elizabeth Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 10. The Cougars advanced to the 4A state semifinals last year, but graduated a handful of seniors.

“It definitely shows we’ve got a lot of improvement to make,” Evergreen coach Jenica Watts said. “We are a very young team after graduating six seniors last year. That has been rough trying to rebuild from that.”

Chatfield will have a bit of revenge on its mind when it hosts Fairview at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. The Knights helped knock the Chargers out of the 5A state tournament last season when Fairview defeated Chatfield 3-1 in pool play.

“The feelings are definitely still there. We are definitely still hurt from it,” Eiken said of losing to Fairview at the state tournament. “We are going to come out fired up and ready to go.”

Evergreen celebrates a point Tuesday night during its non-league match at Chatfield High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

September 7, 2016
NAAC established as top-notch athletic venue

The NAAC has won two national awards in the past two years. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — Over the past three years the North Area Athletic Complex — Jeffco Public Schools’ football and soccer venue in Arvada — has raked in national awards.

The NAAC’s soccer field was named the Schools and Parks Soccer Field of the Year by the SportsTurf Mangers Association in 2014. The football field earned STMA’s Schools and Parks Football Field of the Year in 2015. Both are national awards with applicants from all over the United States.

NAAC stadium managers Sun Roesslein and Christi Clay, along with former stadium manager Don Frantz — at NAAC from July 2012 to August 2014 — have taken the complex that opened in 2000 to a new level of excellence.

“Sun, Christi and Don over the past three years have made the NAAC facility the best it has ever been,” said Ezra Paddock, Manager of Stadium Operations for Jeffco. “The recognition for them is absolutely deserved.”

Roesslein joined Jeffco Public Schools in 2005 and has always served as a stadium manager at NAAC.

“It’s super exciting to be chosen,” said Roesslein, who begins her 12th school year at NAAC. “It definitely shows we are doing the right things to create safe playing fields and doing the best we can do with our resources.”

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Roesslein put herself into an elite field over the summer when she passed the Certified Sports Field Manager test to become one of just over 200 CSFMs in the country. She is just one of eight females to currently hold the CSFM accreditation.

“I wanted to challenge myself as a professional and my knowledge of turf management. A big part of becoming a CSFM is the commitment to continuing education, professional development and community service,” Roesslein said. “Taking the test isn’t the end of the process, it’s really the beginning.”

The process and evolution of NAAC is always ongoing. A new soccer scoreboard was installed over the summer to replace the original scoreboard.

“I think it just added another ‘aw’ element to the soccer side,” said Clay, who has been a stadium manager at NAAC since August 2014. “I’ve heard so many comments on it already this season.”

NAAC’s soccer field is scheduled to have 49 regular-season boys’ soccer games this fall.

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Next on the plate is a video scoreboard to be installed on the football side within the next month to replace its original scoreboard. The video scoreboard will be similar Jeffco Stadium’s that was new a few years ago.

Jeffco has worked on getting sponsorships on the new scoreboards. The money from the five-year contract for advertising on the scoreboards will go toward maintenance and upkeep at the stadiums, as well as supplies for Jeffco’s athletic trainers from each high school.

“The scoreboard is going to be a great addition. It will really bring us a step forward,” Roesslein said. “With the video board we’ll be able to personalize it to whoever is playing.”

NAAC’s football field will host 24 regular-season games, along with the Pomona Band Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1. Pomona, Arvada West, Ralston Valley and Standley Lake will all have their homecoming games at NAAC.

A future desire is to replace the original track around the football field and install a timing system so NAAC could host varsity track meets in the spring. This could become a reality if the proposed $535 bond for Jeffco Public Schools passes in November. There is also the probability that lacrosse games will be played on NAAC’s football field in the future.

“It would be fantastic to have a new track. People like to come here and run just from the community,” Roesslein said. “Having a new track and timing system would take some of the pressure off Jeffco Stadium.”

Christi Clay, left, Cooper Loyd during paint day on NAAC’s football field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Moving forward is something Jeffco’s stadium managers are always zeroed in on. Providing the best experience for student-athletes, coaches and spectators has always been the goal for the district’s four stadiums.

“Sun and Christi are perfectionists. They want this place to be perfect. There is absolutely room for improvement, always,” Paddock said. “With our whole athletic stadium staff, I don’t know if they will ever be satisfied.”

Executive Director of Athletics and Activities Jim Thyfault concurs, “Jeffco is very fortunate to have two people the quality of Sun and Christi. All our stadium managers are ultimate professionals — not only turf experts, but event managers and organizers. Coaches and the community comment about our great stadium managers constantly.”

NOTE: This is the first part of a four-part series this school year on Jeffco Public Schools’ stadium venues — North Area Athletic Complex, Lakewood Memorial Field, Trailblazer Stadium and Jeffco Stadium.

Sun Roesslein in is her 12th year as a stadium manager at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

September 5, 2016
Lakewood wins old Jeffco football rivalry against A-West

Lakewood senior Brock Miller (24) had a punt and kickoff return for touchdowns Friday night in a 44-15 victory for the Tigers. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — Lakewood senior Brock Miller was a little more that just special Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The senior had a punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and added an 89-yard kick return for another score in the second half as the Tigers took a 44-15 victory over Arvada West in both teams’ football season opener.

“He (Miller) is a special kid,” Lakewood coach Jeff Braun said. “He is a big track kid and he has figured out that he can play the game of football too.”

Miller’s punt return came after the Wildcats put themselves in a hole with three straight penalties on fourth down that forced A-West to punt from its own 4-yard line. The senior caught the punt on A-West’s fourth punt attempt and was able to race down the Tigers’ sideline before diving into the end zone to put Lakewood up 14-0 with just more than five minutes left in the first quarter.

A-West got a little momentum in the second half scoring on its opening offensive drive of the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore Tanner Spirek, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 24-7. However, Miller answered immediately on the ensuing kickoff.

Arvada West sophomore Tanner Spirek (21) is bottled up by a host of Tigers. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“It was kind of sketchy with the kickoff return after I dropped it,” Miller said of the 89-yard kickoff return that he first fumbled forward before picking it up and splitting A-West’s defense. “I just had to make up for it and I got on my wheels.”

The touchdown gave Lakewood a comfortable 31-7 lead with 8 minutes, 12 seconds left in the third quarter. The Tigers’ two quarterbacks — junior Ezekiel Sundberg and sophomore Pierce Holley — both had second half touchdown passes to widen the Tigers’ lead.

Sundberg had a 32-yard touchdown pass to junior Elzia Sekou. Holley connected with junior Blake Cowden for a 30-yard touchdown strike on a fourth-down play with just under eight minutes to play for the final score of the game.

“Last year we came out and won just three games,” said Lakewood senior running back Rudy Maestas, who had a rushing and receiving touchdown for the Tigers. “This year we came in looking at it as a redemption year.”

With the Class 5A Jeffco League gone with the new waterfall system it place, it was up to individual schools to keep area rivalries going by scheduling old foes on non-league games. Lakewood and Arvada West — both with rich traditions combining for nine state football titles — opened with the non-league battle to start the season.

Both are looking to have a bounce-back year. A-West went 1-9 last season and Lakewood was 3-7. A-West coach Brad Pyatt, who was a standout receiver for the Wildcats during their 1997 state champions run, had an extremely young squad with a number of sophomores getting significant playing time.

Sophomore quarterback Johnny Krutsch, who started as a freshman, had a 1-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion toss to senior Garrett Shipman late in the third quarter as one of the bright spots for the Wildcats.

“I respect Brad,” said Braun, who coached Pyatt during his playing days. “He has taken over a program that has been struggling. We just tried to take care of ourselves. I always tell my kids not to overlook anybody.”

A-West goes on the road next week to face Mountain Range on Friday, Sept. 9, at North Stadium. Lakewood keeps the theme going of playing old Jeffco rivals. The Tigers face Bear Creek on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Jeffco Stadium.

“Bear Creek stole one for us last year,” Maestas said. “We need to go get that one on Thursday.”

Lakewood defenders Brock Miller, left, and Nick Pierro close in on Arvada West senior Chase Dixon on Friday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

September 3, 2016
Rock Canyon boys soccer stays undefeated, defeats Chatfield

Rock Canyon and Chatfield faced off in a non-league boys soccer game Saturday, Sept. 3, at Chatfield High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LITTLETON — Rock Canyon’s boys soccer remained undefeated on the season with a 10-1 non-league victory over Chatfield on Saturday, Sept. 3.

The Jaguars (3-0 record) got first-half goals by Jason and Justin Olcott and a pair from Matt Behnke to put Rock Canyon up 4-0 at halftime on the Chargers’ home field. Chatfield senior Ethan Kirschman ended the shutout bid by Rock Canyon with a goal 12 minutes into the second half for the Chargers (0-4).

However, Rock Canyon scored five goals in the final 20 minutes to take the eventual 10-1 victory.

Chatfield has a pair of home games next week against Wheat Ridge (Tuesday, Sept. 6) and D’Evelyn (Friday, Sept. 9). Both are scheduled for 4 p.m. starts. Rock Canyon heads into Continental League play against Legend at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Echo Park Stadium.

September 3, 2016
No. 1 Evergreen boys soccer begins 4A title defense in style

Evergreen sophomore Ryan Gutberlet (21) settles the ball down during the Cougars’ 6-0 win Thursday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

EVERGREEN — The defending Class 4A boys soccer state champions began the 2016 season right where they left off.

Evergreen, ranked No. 1 in the CHSAANow.com preseason poll, opened the season Thursday with a dominating 6-0 victory over Palmer at Evergreen High School. Five different Cougars found the back of the net in the first 45 minutes.

“It feels like we’ve been in preseason forever,” Evergreen coach Ross Fowler said. “It is good to be in the regular season. We love coming out here and playing.”

The non-league game against the Terrors (0-4-1 record) was actually cut short. A lightning storm quickly moved in after Evergreen senior Steven Belrose put in his second goal of the game five minutes into the second half.

Evergreen senior Brock Anderson (7) and Palmer junior Max Rajendran (11) race after the ball. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Officials put the game into a delay with 32 minutes, 40 second remaining in regulation time. The decision was made quickly to call the game because of the lightning, but since the game was in the second half it was already an official game to get the Cougars off to a 1-0 start.

“I just wanted a good start to the season,” said Evergreen senior Richard Benson, who scored the Cougars’ first goal in the ninth minute with a header off a corner kick from Belrose. “We obviously have a target on our back and we want to get back to that state championship.”

Evergreen defeated The Classical Academy 1-0 in the 4A state championship game a year ago to give the Cougars their first boys state soccer title since 1989.

Junior Brendan Maus, along with seniors Adam Babb, Brock Anderson, Benson and Belrose all scored in the first half Thursday night to give the Cougars a commanding 5-0 lead at halftime. Four of the first-half goals all were assisted goals as Evergreen showed off its scoring ability.

Evergreen sophomore Ryan Gutberlet (21) battles with Palmer senior Malcolm Wright (14). (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Our motto is possession,” Benson said. “We like to go up the flanks and just try to go as quick as we can. We’ve got a lot of speed. We want to keep the ball and put it in the goal.”

Palmer wasn’t able to get a shot on goal against Evergreen senior goalie Logan Westgard in the first 40 minutes. Junior Brian Belrose took over in the net in the second half for the Cougars in the eventual shutout victory.

“We know we’ll be reasonably strong going forward,” Fowler said. “We have really put a lot of focus on defensive shape, defensive pressure and decision making. The first thing we wrote on the board tonight was protect the shutout.”

Fowler believes his squad has more depth that last year’s state championship team. However, the Cougars know they will get everyone’s best game this season.

“We’ve got to make our mark as the frontrunners again,” Steven Belrose said. “Everyone wants a piece of the best team. We’ve got to bring it every night.”

Evergreen will get a great test when it travels down to Colorado Springs next Tuesday, Sept. 6, to face No. 4 ranked Air Academy (3-0).

“(Air Academy) is obviously a really good team,” Benson said of facing the Kadets next week. “It is always fun to go out there. I think it will be a good game and a good test for us.”

Evergreen senior Adam Babb (9) attempts to get past a host of Terror defenders. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

September 2, 2016
No. 7 Pomona softball uses 11-run 1st to belt Standley Lake

Pomona senior pitcher Makaila Chadwick helped the No. 7 ranked Panthers to a 14-1 victory Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — Pomona softball coach Jim Biddle says his team doesn’t have a chip on its shoulder after a remarkable run to the Class 5A state championship game last season.

“Honestly, I don’t sense that,” Biddle said Tuesday after the CHSAANow.com preseason No. 7-ranked Panthers improved to 3-1 on the season. “We have nine new girls straight up from JV. We don’t have a chip on our shoulder. Last year was last year. This year is this year. We have a new set of kids and I’m excited.”

Pomona finished in a three-way tie for third in the 5A Jeffco League and was the No. 14 seed in last year’s 16-team state tournament. That didn’t matter after the Panthers defeated Broomfield, Grandview and Fossil Ridge to reach the state championship. Mountain Range ended the Cinderella story defeating the Panthers 12-2.

“It’s a little different. We have to work a lot harder,” Pomona junior Jessica Espinoza said. “Last year we had a lot of talent, but this year I think we have a lot of heart too.”

Pomona junior Jessica Espinoza lays off a high pitch against Standley Lake. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

With last year in the rearview mirror, Pomona’s focus is now on the present and future. The Panthers took care of business Tuesday in the non-league game against 4A Jeffco’s Standley Lake with a 14-1 victory.

Pomona used an 11-run first inning which included taking advantage of eight walks and four hit batters. Espinoza had a two-run double for the Panthers in the inning that saw the first nine batters reach base. Seniors Gracie Cordova and Abriana Ramirez both had run-scoring singles as the Panthers quickly erased a 1-0 lead for the Gators (0-7 record).

“I knew we could come back right away with some strong hits and get right back at them,” said Espinoza, who doubled in the bottom of the third inning and walked her other two plate appearances.

Biddle admits his offense will look a little different this season.

“We are going to have to manufacture a lot more runs and play more small ball,” Biddle said. “We don’t have the big bangers we’ve had the last couple of years.”

Pomona does have a wealth of choices when it comes to pitching. Senior Makaila Chadwick got the start against Standley Lake. She gave up a run on three hits through two innings. Senior Allie Hufford pitched the final three innings before the 10-run mercy rule ended the game after the top of the fifth inning. Huffed gave up just one hit that was erased with a game-ending double play.

“We’ve got four quality pitchers right now,” Biddle said. “We have a lot of options in the circle.”

Pomona gears up for the always competitive Erie Festival Tournament on Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 1 and 3. The Panthers will face a team from Oklahoma, Legacy, Pine Creek, Loveland and Heritage during the two-day tournament.

Standley Lake sophomore Brianna Ynostroza (38) slides under the tag to score the Gators’ lone run Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“We’ve been doing it every year during my 12 years here. It’s absolutely the best thing,” Biddle said of the Erie Festival. “We get five quality opponents that lead us right into our league play. It’s very important for us to go and play top-quality competition.”

Pomona opens 5A Jeffco League play Sept. 20 at home against Bear Creek.

Standley Lake closed out its 2016 season with a three-game winning streak. However, wins have been hard to come by this season so far for the Gators.

“We are in a building stage,” Standley Lake coach Al Valdez said. “We are working with our pitchers and working on doing the essential things — hitting and scoring runs. The girls are starting to play like a team. We have a great group of girls. They don’t give up.”

Valdez gave a lot of credit to his freshman pitcher Danessa O’Blia that pitched against Pomona. Despite her struggles, O’Blia hung in after the 11-run first inning to allow just three runs on four hits in the final three innings.

“Some kids don’t want to come out and (O’Blia) never looks at me wanting to come out of a game,” Valdez said. “She just battles in there. She is going to be good.”

Standley Lake’s next game will be at home Saturday, Sept. 3, against Mesa Ridge. The Gators open 4A Jeffco League play Sept. 22 against Evergreen.

Pomona junior Alexus Spinks and the Panthers will play in the Erie Festival Tournament later this week. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

August 31, 2016
Adapted Athletics growth continues in Jeffco Public Schools
The start of the high school boys race during Jeffco Public Schools’ Adapted Athletics cross country meet Aug. 30 at Gold Crown Field House. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Public Schools kicked off its 2016-17 school year of Adapted Athletics events Tuesday.

Nearly 250 high school and middle school students from 15 different Jeffco schools descended on at All Star Park in Lakewood for a cross country meet for special need students. Cross country, along with track and field, was added last year to the growing schedule of events for the nearly decade-long program.

Bryan Wickoren, Adapted Physical Education Coordinator for Jeffco Public Schools, started the program in 2007. He modeled Jeffco’s program after Minnesota’s success Adapted Athletes program that has been established since the 1970s.

“We just kept expanding,” said Wickoren who began the program with basketball games at Fletcher Miller School with students from Miller, Alameda International, Arvada West and Conifer high school participating. “We’ve just slowly evolved.”

Nearly ten years later, the Adapted Athletics program in Jeffco has at least one scheduled event every month through the school year. The sports include cross country, soccer, flag football, bowling, volleyball, basketball, hockey, softball, along with track and field.

More than 200 students took part in Jeffco’s Adapted Athletics cross country meet. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“We always want to focus on their ability, not their disability,” Wickoren said as student-athletes started to arrive at All Star Park. “We want to empower them to enjoy physical activity.”

Wickoren said there has been an alarming increase in obesity for students with disabilities. The hope is to give students an experience in athletics that they can do with family and friends now and in the future.

Basketball is still the most popular sport in the Adapted Athletics program. Arvada West High School will host the north-area tournament and the Gold Crown Field House will host the south-area tournament. There will also be the addition of the I-25 Basketball Tournament in January at Gold Crown where schools from Fort Collins to Pueblo will be invited to participate.

“I think we are leading,” Wickoren said of Jeffco in the forefront of providing these opportunities for special need students. “Everyone is looking at us. That is one of the reasons we are doing the I-25 Adapted Basketball Tournament.”

Aurora, Brighton, Greeley and Grand Junction are some other Colorado school districts that have come to one of Jeffco’s Adapted Athletics events to get ideas of how to run their own.

Jeffco’s Adapted Athletics has a scheduled competition every month during the school year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“The unique thing about Jeffco is we have a big population of schools to be able to do it,” Wickoren said. “It’s nice to be a leader.”

Down the road Wickoren’s dream is to have state competitions in basketball, soccer, softball along with track and field. He would also like some of the Jeffco high schools to host some of the events like Arvada West does with basketball.

“There is still growth to be had,” Wickoren said. “The positive feedback from staffs is wonderful. They look forward to having these every month. They have gotten the tie-in with PE teachers to work on upcoming events so they can have success at these events. A day like today is like their test day.”

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Jeffco Public Schools’ Adapted Athletics

The Gold Crown Field House will be the site of the I-25 Adapted Basketball Tournament in January. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
- Monday, Sept. 26, at Creighton MS & Trailblazer Stadium — Soccer
- Wednesday, Oct 19, at Creighton MS & Trailblazer Stadium — Flag Football
- Friday, Nov. 18, at TBA — Bowling
- Thursday, Dec. 1, at Gold Crown Field House — Volleyball
- Thursday, Jan. 19, at Gold Crown Field House — Basketball (1-25 Adapted Tourney)
- Friday, Jan. 20, at Gold Crown Field House — Basketball
- Thursday, Feb. 16, at Gold Crown Field House — Hockey
- Wednesday, March 22, at Arvada West High School — Basketball (north schools)
- Thursday, March 23, at Gold Crown Field House — Basketball (south schools)
- Tuesday, April 18, at Gold Crown Field House — Softball (middle schools)
- Wednesday, April 19, at Gold Crown Field House — Softball (high schools)
- Friday, May 5, at Jeffco Stadium — Track and field
- Wednesday, May 10, at Gold Crown Field House — Tournament of Champions
August 31, 2016
Green Mountain’s Goodman fires 70 to win at Bear Creek GC

Green Mountain junior Gabe Goodman cruised to the medalist title Monday at Bear Creek Golf Club with a 2-under-par, 70. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — There was no place like home for Green Mountain junior Gabe Goodman on Monday.

On his home course — Bear Creek Golf Club — the junior easily grabbed the lowest round of the day at the Class 5A/4A Jeffco League match and invitational hosted by Green Mountain High School. Goodman shot a 2-under-par 70 to leap past Evergreen senior Lenny Urbas for the overall 4A Jeffco medalist lead at the midway point of the conference season.

“I just played really solid throughout. I made a couple of really good putts on the front-nine for birdies,” said Goodman, who fired a 33 on the front-nine. “This is my home course so I know it pretty well. I know were you can miss and today I put the ball where I needed to.”

It was the first individual medalist victory of the season for Goodman. Urban captured the opening two 4A Jeffco tournaments at Deer Creek and Foothills, but a 10 on a par-4 on the front-nine was a big reason why Urban failed to win his third straight league tournament.

Goodman holds a two-stroke lead over Urban with three league tournaments to play. Each individual is able to drop their worst round to have only five tournaments count in the final individual standings.

“The 10 was not good,” said Urbas, who finished with a respectable round of 78. “It’s definitely a good course to play. It’s an eye opening course. It really touches on the parts of your game that you can get better.”

Evergreen senior Lenny Urbas chips onto the 9th green Monday at Bear Creek Golf Club. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Evergreen was able to expand its team lead over 4A defending state champion Valor Christian. The Cougars hold a 34-stroke lead at the midway point.

“It’s very important. I lot of things can happen in those last couple of (league) tournaments,” Urbas said of Evergreen’s lead in the team standings. “Having a little bit of a cushion is nice. Hopefully we can expand on that.”

On the 5A side, Lakewood continued its dominance winning its third 5A Jeffco tournament. The Tigers are closing in on a 100-stroke lead over second-place Ralston Valley.

Senior Griffin Barela shot a 4-over-par 76 to win the 5A Jeffco medalist title at Bear Creek. Lakewood junior Jack Castiglia (80) and senior Max Camp-Oberhauser (86) joined Barela in the top-10.

“These last two tournaments I haven’t played my best, but I think we are still in a good spot,” Barela said. “Going into these last three (league) tournaments, I really like all three courses so I should put some good rounds together to wrap up the individual title and team title.”

Lakewood junior Jack Castiglia eyes a chip Monday at Bear Creek Golf Club. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The closest contender to Barela is Columbine senior Marcus Tait, who wasn’t happy with his round of 80 on Monday. Tait is six shots behind Barela in the overall 5A Jeffco medalist standings.

“I didn’t putt well and didn’t do well around the green. I hit the ball well. I just have to figure things out,” Tait said. “I want to play these last three league tournament even or under-par so I can wave this 80 away and finish the season well.”

The next 5A/4A Jeffco League tournament is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 2, at Indian Tree Golf Course in Arvada. Urbas had a little tongue-in-cheek comment heading into the next league meet.

“I’m going to kick everyone’s butt at Indian Tree later this week,” Urbas said with a smile.

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Bear Creek Golf Club

Class 5A Jeffco

Team results

Lakewood 330, Ralston Valley 361, Columbine 373, Dakota Ridge 373, Chatfield 375, Bear Creek 377, Pomona 398, Arvada West 400

Individual results (top-10)

Griffin Barela, Lakewood, 76
Riese Delarber, Bear Creek, 78
Landon Thunell, Ralston Valley, 79
Marcus Tait, Columbine, 80
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood, 80
Nick DiNapoli, Chatfield, 82
Jax Jones, Ralston Valley, 85
Max Camp-Oberhauser, Lakewood 86
Bryce Sutton, Pomona, 86
Max Mowry, Dakota Ridge, 87

Class 4A Jeffco

Team results

Evergreen 326, Green Mountain 335, Valor 336, Golden 336, D’Evelyn 360, Littleton 407, Wheat Ridge 412, Standley Lake 416, Conifer 450, Arvada 502

Individual results (top-10)

Gabe Goodman, Green Mountain, 70
Lenny Urbas, Evergreen, 78,
Bridger Tenney, Evergreen, 78
Willy O’Brien, Golden, 78
Jake Welch, Valor, 79
Nolan Miller, Evergreen, 81
Jack Schoenborn, Valor, 82
Chance Suadurapa, Golden, 85
Parker Skiles, Golden, 86
Zach Zurcher, Valor, 86

Columbine senior Marcus Tait still has a shot to win the 5A Jeffco medalist title with three league tournaments to go. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

August 30, 2016
Last-minute TD lifts No. 2 Pomona football over No. 3 Mullen

Pomona senior Jeremy Gonzales (20) gets a lift from quarterback Ryan Marquez after a 8-yard touchdown catch. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

DENVER — The prep football spotlight was firmly focused at de La Salle Stadium on Friday night and Pomona shined brightest in the end.

With the pressure at its peak in a 21-21 tie in the fourth quarter between the 2015 Class 5A state runner-up Pomona, ranked No. 2 in the CHSAANow.com preseason poll, on the road against No. 3 ranked Mullen, the visiting Panthers atoned for an overtime loss to the Mustangs a year ago.

Junior quarterback Ryan Marquez connected with senior Uriah Vigil for a 16-yard touchdown with 26.6 seconds left in regulation to give Pomona a 28-21 victory in a monster Zero Week showdown.

“It’s awesome. It’s huge. No. 2 going up against No. 3 in the rankings,” Pomona senior defensive lineman Brandon Micale said. “It’s an amazing win.”

Marquez engineered the 12-play, 59-yard game-winning drive in the final five minutes after Pomona’s defense gave the offense great field position sacking Mullen sophomore quarterback Dominic Depizzol to force the Mustangs to punt from their own 7-yard line.

Pomona defenders Nolan Krone (27) and Isaac Lopez (79) converge on Mullen quarterback Dominic Depizzol (3). More photos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Pomona had a trio of third-down conversions as the running back tandem of senior Cameron Gonzales and junior Max Borghi carried the load on the final offensive drive for the Panthers. Marquez connected with senior Miles Matulik for a pair of key 8-yard gains on the drive before the touchdown pass to Vigil.

“Obviously we were on that last drive, but what really got us going was Billy Pospisil catching that screen on the drive before,” said Marquez, who finished 18-for-30 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

Pospisil, only a sophomore, had a huge 48-yard catch and run that set up the game-tying touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The sophomore had a big role catching 8 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.

“Billy had a great night. For a sophomore to come in and do that is unbelievable,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said. “He made some great plays. He might have to play some defense next week with Jeremy Gonzales being banged up.”

After catching four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter, Pomona receiver/cornerback Jeremy Gonzales went down with a hip injury and didn’t return.

Borghi showed off his dynamic skills with 81 yards rushing and 70 yards receiving. Cameron Gonzales had just 37 yards rushing, but had the key 1-yard touchdown run that tied the game in the fourth quarter and ended 21 unanswered points from Mullen.

“Our offensive is dangerous this year. We are very versatile,” Marquez said. “It’s going to be a great year.”

The Panthers got out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter with touchdown passes from Marquez to senior Jeremy Gonzales and Pospisil, but Mullen scored just before halftime on a five-yard touchdown run by senior Marcus McElroy.

McElroy finished with 22 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns, but he was limited to just one carry in the fourth quarter.

“We just had to make (McElroy) work for it,” Madden said. “We couldn’t make it easy for him and we didn’t.”

Pomona packs its bags for an out-of-state test in Florida next week. The Panthers take on Glynn Academy from Georgia on Thursday, Sept. 1. Mullen keeps the trend going of hosting 5A powerhouses. The Mustangs faced defending 5A state champion Valor Christian on Friday, Sept. 2.

“When you play as tough a schedule as we play every win is precious.” Madden said. “To come out here against a great football team with some extremely good athletes and find a way to win is our job.”

Mullen senior Marcus McElroy (28) isn’t able to escape Pomona linebacker Bryan Gallegos (7). More photos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

August 27, 2016
Chatfield volleyball returns everybody from a state tournament team

Chatfield coach Stephanie Schick returns every player from last season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LITTLETON — Chatfield volleyball coach Stephanie Schick will have the luxury of seeing several familiar faces on court this season.

“We’ve got all 11 back and we added three. We are carrying 14,” Schick said of her varsity squad. “It’s the biggest varsity team I’ve ever suited up. We’re excited, to say the least.”

The Chargers had an impressive 24-3 record last season with no seniors on their squad. However, a loss to Fairview in pool play at the state tournament and tiebreaker set loss to Coronado sent top-seed Chatfield home earlier than expected.

Even more frustrating, Cherokee Trail eventually lifted the state trophy. A team the Chargers defeated twice during the regular season.

“Last year it really hurt losing at state,” Chatfield senior Sierra Bartley said. “We know coming back we have a lot of returners and we’ll have more experience playing down at the Denver Coliseum. It really motivates us. We were so close sophomore year (2014) and I could taste it last year being ranked No. 1, but we just lost it at state. This year we are really ready to come back and get it.”

Sierra Bartley led the Chargers with 247 kills last season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The Chargers can reflect back on the past two successful seasons. In 2014, Chatfield had an underdog run all the way to the 5A state championship match as the No. 12 seed in the 12-team state tournament.

“I hope it benefits a lot,” Schick said of the experience this year’s squad has with back-to-back state appearances under its belt. “We have five or six girls who played in the state championship match two years ago. That has to matter. They have to be able to share the experience in a meaningful and impactful way.”

Bartley, 5A second team all-conference selection as a junior, leads the way for the talented Chargers. The four-year varsity player led the team with 247 kills last season from her outside hitter position.

Seniors Haley Fuller (181 kills), JayCee Jones (360 digs), Addy Plant (474 assists) and Nicole Langford (364 assists), along with juniors Breanna Jones (163 kills and 334 digs) and Julia Eiken (97 blocks), not to mention sophomore Shea Fuller gives Schick plenty of options when it comes to how she wants to attack teams.

“I know it’s the deepest team I’ve ever coached,” Schick said. “With 14 players it does add playing time options. I’ve got a long list of which way do I want to go.”

The Chargers have set themselves up nicely to make a run at a 5A state title. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Schick admits she isn’t sure how things will look until the Chargers take the court in their season opener at home Tuesday, Aug. 30, against Valor Christian. However, there is a clearcut goal for Chatfield.

“Can we be unbeatable? Can we put the team together and build it with chemistry, trust and believe in each other so that we become unbeatable? That’s our goal,” Schick said.

While the talent is there, Haley Fuller knows it takes more than just skills to claim the ultimate prize at the end of the season.

“I think we have to remember to stay together as a team,” Fuller said. “We can’t be 14 different girls. We have to be one. We have to remember we are here for each other. You have to play for the person next to you.”

History might not be on Chatfield’s side when it comes to brining a volleyball state championship. The last Jeffco school to win a volleyball state title was Wheat Ridge in 1990.

“I want to be that team to bring the gold to Jeffco. We all want to win state,” Fuller said. “We want to get this program a gold trophy. These seniors have done a lot. We just want it.”

Chatfield opens it season Tuesday, Aug. 30, at home against Valor Christian. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

August 24, 2016