LITTLETON — A 7:30 a.m. shotgun start for the second boys golf Jeffco League tournament Tuesday morning allowed golfers to avoid temperatures the 90s at Deer Creek Golf Club.
The defending Class 5A Jeffco League medalist — Lakewood junior Ryan Liao — actually wasn’t at the second conference tournament of the season. Liao was in New Jersey playing in the KJ Choi Foundation Junior Championship.
Lakewood is primed to be in contention for high individual and team accolades this fall. Liao is back after placing fourth at state last season. The Tigers finished second at state in the team standings, five shots behind Fossil Ridge.
“We are really driving toward that state championship,” Liao said during the CHSAA Media Day on Aug. 9. “We want to get Coach G (Alan Gonzales) one. He deserves one. That is the main goal for us.”
Lakewood coach Alan Gonzales has guided the most consistent boys golf program in Jeffco for the past several years. The Tigers placed second in the 5A state tournament in 2014, 2015 and 2018 to go along with a third-place finish in 2016.
Lakewood sophomore Max Lange won the first medalist title in the opening Jeffco League tournament Aug. 12 at Applewood Golf Course. Lange shot a round of 65 for a six-shot victory. Lakewood junior Noah DiBiase and sophomore Jace Wright gives the Tigers a legitimate shot at the program’s first team title.
“My team has really stepped up their game. It relieves a lot of pressure on my part,” Liao said. “Of course I want to go for the (5A Jeffco League individual medalist) again, but the main thing is the team.”
Ralston Valley and Valor Christian will likely be right on the Tigers’ heels in the race for the conference title that concludes with the final league tournament Sept. 17 at the Broadlands.
On the 4A side, Evergreen will be the favorite with senior Clayton Whitton leading the way for the Cougars. Jake Dekoker and Jack Mitchell gives Evergreen not only a chance for another conference team title, but a chance to be in the mix for the 4A state title.
Conifer junior Dakota Dolph and Green Mountain sophomore Ollie Gibbons — both finished in the top-20 at the 4A state tournament last season — look to break into the top-10 in 2019.
The 2019 all-state girls soccer teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches.
Player and coach of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from May with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features Golden’s boys lacrosse team pulling out a thrilling overtime victory in the Class 4A state championship game. Evergreen girls soccer battling it out in the 4A state title game for the second time in three years and Jefferson Academy trying to repeat at 3A girls soccer state champs. Wheat Ridge and Golden baseball teams headed to Colorado Springs for the 4A state tournament. We take a look back at the track and field state three-day state meet at Jeffco Stadium.
The 2019 all-state girls tennis teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created based upon results at the state tournament.
The athletes who won championships at their classification were named players of the year. Coaches of the year were awarded to the coaches of championship teams.
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Class 5A
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Player of the year: Valerie Negin, Smoky Hill
Coach of the year: Chris Jacob, Cherry Creek
First Team
Name
Year
School
Pos.
Valerie Negin
Sophomore
Smoky Hill
1S
Sophie Pearson
Senior
Fairview
1S
Alexis Bernthal
Sophomore
Fairview
2S
Sayuri Garud
Senior
Cherry Creek
3S
Halley Mackiernan
Sophomore
Cherry Creek
1D
Anna Fusaris
Sophomore
Cherry Creek
1D
Kaki Cantor
Junior
Cherry Creek
2D
Miranda Kawula
Junior
Cherry Creek
2D
Wesley Sternberg
Freshman
Chatfield
3D
Kaitlyn Speer
Freshman
Chatfield
3D
Ella Barclay
Sophomore
Cherry Creek
4D
Dahlia Rappaport
Sophomore
Cherry Creek
4D
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Class 4A
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Player of the year: Lucy Lu, Niwot
Coach of the year: Dave Adams, Cheyenne Mountain
First Team
Name
Year
School
Pos.
Lucy Lu
Sophomore
Niwot
1S
Josie Schaffer
Senior
Kent Denver
1S
Jensen Enterman
Junior
Cheyenne Mountain
2S
Tessa Rothwell
Sophomore
Palmer Ridge
3S
Emma Delich
Sophomore
Cheyenne Mountain
1D
Sydney Wagner
Sophomore
Cheyenne Mountain
1D
Maedee Trank-Green
Junior
Niwot
2D
Lily Sieben
Junior
Niwot
2D
Anna Sallee
Freshman
Niwot
3D
Georgia Lang
Freshman
Niwot
3D
Paige Shrader
Freshman
Windsor
4D
Emmy Butler
Freshman
Windsor
4D
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Class 3A
(Adam Hothersall/CHSAANow.com)
Player of the year: Trisha Somasundaram, Peak to Peak
Silver Creek sophomore Annika Kassenbrock (10) slide the ball away from D’Evelyn junior Gigi Scaturro (7) during the Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal Wednesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — A little fender bender might have delayed Silver Creek’s girls soccer team’s arrival to Lakewood Memorial Field, but it didn’t hamper the Raptors’ performance.
No. 8-seeded Silver Creek knocked off top-seed D’Evelyn thanks to a goal by junior Alexa Karsel in the 55th minute of the second half. The lone goal held up for a 1-0 victory over the Jaguars to put Silver Creek into the Class 4A state semifinals Saturday at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.
Silver Creek sophomore Jillian Acosta (2) and D’Evelyn senior Bella Scaturro (21) battle for the ball during the first half Wednesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“My adrenaline was going,” Karsel said of the goal. “I saw I could be (D’Evelyn goalie Kiera Hess) on the outside. I just took a touch, cut outside and took it.”
Sophomore Annika Kassenbrock picked up an assist on the goal.
It was an adventure getting down to Lakewood Memorial for the state quarterfinal game. The start of the game was delayed for about 20 minutes because of a minor vehicle accident Silver Creek’s bus was involved with shortly after leaving the school in Longmont.
“On (Highway) 52, it was dead stopped and someone wasn’t paying attention, ran into a car and that car ran into us,” Silver Creek coach Rob Johnson said of an accident the Raptors’ bus was involved in on the way down from Longmont. “I didn’t faze us at all. We just felt a little bump.”
D’Evelyn senior Laryssa Hamblen (23) looks for some open space to get a shot off during the Jaguars’ 1-0 loss Wednesday against Silver Creek. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
D’Evelyn (13-2-2 record) dominated possession though the majority of the game, but Silver Creek (16-1-1) cashed in on its best scoring chance of the night.
“It’s rare that we take care of our chances, so it was nice that we had one chance and Alexa buried it,” Johnson said. “These girls just kept working hard. That’s all you can ask for.”
Silver Creek faces the winner of No. 21 Cheyenne Mountain and No. 4 Wheat Ridge that played at Lakewood Memorial in the third game of a tripleheader of girls soccer quarterfinal action Wednesday.
The Jaguars’ hopes to get their hands on a second 4A girls soccer state title over the past three years were dashed in the shutout loss.
“I would say we were a little intimidated, but we didn’t let that get to us,” Karsel said playing against the top seed that had a handful of key players from the 2017 state championship squad. “I think we did really good.”
Silver Creek junior goalie Natalie Schauer makes a diving save in the second half against D’Evelyn. Schaurer picked up the shutout victory in net for the Raptors. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
D’Evelyn players celebrate a goal by sophomore Peyton Fritchie in the first half Saturday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — The territory is starting to look very similar to D’Evelyn’s girls soccer team.
The top-seeded Jaguars (13-1-2 record) advanced to the Class 4A state quarterfinals next week with a 3-0 shutout victory over No. 17 Erie on Saturday at Lakewood Memorial Field. D’Evelyn is on a familiar path when the Jaguars won the 4A state title in 2017.
D’Evelyn sophomore Peyton Fritchie, left, races down the field before scoring the Jaguars’ first goal in a 3-0 victory Saturday over Erie. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“For all of the seniors it’s a lot of motivation,” D’Evelyn senior Laryssa Hamblen said of getting back to the 4A state title game. “We know the feeling and we know what it’s like. We are trying to really express how it is and how it was for the younger players.”
Hamblen scored the lone goal two years ago in the 1-0 state championship victory over Evergreen at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
There are a handful of seniors remaining from that championship squad who were instrumental in D’Evelyn winning its first girls soccer state title in the school’s history.
“It helps so much,” D’Evelyn coach Reid Bervik said of the experience from the core of seniors who were huge factors two years ago. “Laryssa (Hamblen), Bella (Scaturro), CC (Leoni) and Kiera (Hess) are just so savvy. They don’t let moments become to big for them.”
The moment wasn’t too big for D’Evelyn sophomore Peyton Fritchie on Saturday. Fritchie broke a scoreless tie midway through the first half with a rocket shot past Erie junior goalie Zoe Hatch.
“I just let it rip basically,” Fritchie said of the Jaguars’ first-half goal. “We knew Erie could hang with us and that first goal is so big for us.”
It was the seventh goal of the season for the sophomore.
“Fritchie has been such a stud for us all year,” Bervik said. “To see her get one like that gives her so much confidence going forward.”
Erie sophomore Maddy Hays (4) makes a turn during the Class 4A second-round game Saturday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
D’Evelyn leading scorer — Hamblen — added an insurance goal in the 71st minute to finally give the Jaguars’ a 2-0 lead. D’Evelyn had a number of scoring chances that didn’t find the back of the net.
“It was a game honestly that we could have had four, five or six goals,” Bervik said. “I was a little surprised that some of the shots we normally finish went the other way, but I believed in my girls the whole time. They are fighters.”
Hamblen scored her 18th goal of the season on a breakaway that started at midfield. The senior admitted she has been sick and it was a struggle to make such a long run that resulted a one-on-one chance against the goalie. Hamblen eventually tucked a shot into the corner of the net.
D’Evelyn sophomore Lauren Cook added another goal three minutes later to seal the victory. Senior goalie Kiera Hess — starting goalie for the Jaguars in their state title run — recorded her eighth shutout victory of the season and fourth in a row.
“It’s nice to get a clean sheet (shutout) the first two (playoff) games,” Bervik said. “Our defense has been so solid all year long. They have just continued that.”
D’Evelyn joined Jeffco League’s No. 3 Evergreen, No. 4 Wheat Ridge and No. 11 Green Mountain in grabbing second-round playoff wins Saturday. Half of the state quarterfinal field in 4A will come from the Jeffco League.
“I there must be something in the water,” Bervik said. “It’s a testament to our league and how strong we are. It’s a great group of coaches as well that do a great job.”
D’Evelyn hosts No. 8 Silver Creek and Wheat Ridge gets a home game against No. 21 Cheyenne Mountain in the quarterfinals. Evergreen and Green Mountain face off against each other with a state semifinal ticket on the line.
“It’s insane,” Hamblen said of the strength of the 4A Jeffco conference. “The Jeffco League is impressive. It’s insane how good the teams are.”
D’Evelyn senior Laryssa Hamblen (23) is helping lead the Jaguars back into state title contention. Hamblen scored the game-winning goal for D’Evelyn in the Class 4A girls soccer state championship game in 2017. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
GREELEY — The volleys, break points, and aces are never more important than during the final week of the season. After all, this is the state tournament. The stakes are just higher.
Aspen senior Mary Williams understands the significance of facing the very best Class 3A girls tennis has to offer.
“It’s cool to see new girls that you’ve never seen before, especially since I live in such a small town,” she said. “It’s cool to see girls from Denver and all over.”
Out of all the No. 1 singles players in 3A, only 16 earn berths to state. By late afternoon on Friday, the final four was decided on the courts of Centennial Park. Williams was one of the players still alive in the championship bracket, advancing with a bye in the first round and a quarterfinals win over Grace Li of D’Evelyn 6-4, 6-2.
“It was really fun playing her,” Williams said. “She’s a freshman I think. It was really cool playing someone new.”
Li, a skilled first-year player for the Jaguars, challenged Williams a bit in the opening set, winning several points. Williams, several inches taller and more powerful as a senior, eventually prevailed. The speed of her shots was difficult for Li to handle, especially as the match wore on.
Williams is now two wins away from claiming a state championship, but the competition only stiffens. Mae Thorp, the 2018 state runner-up, is her next opponent.
“She’s in my region and we played two times this year,” Williams said. “We even played in the finals at regionals, so we know each other super well. We have won about an equal amount of times against one another. She’s a super hard-hitter too, so it’ll be good to have pace on the ball.”
Each time the seniors dueled this season, Williams was the winner. She knows how talented Thorp (from Steamboat Springs) is, though.
“Last year she beat me in the finals at regionals,” Williams said.
In the other semifinal matchup, Trisha Somasundaram, a senior for Peak To Peak, will face Colorado Springs Christian sophomore Jules Thompson.
Somasundaram was impressive in the opening rounds of a two-day tournament, defeating St. Mary’s freshman Ellie Hartman 6-0, 6-1 and Lutheran’s Sara Larson 6-1, 6-1. She is the defending state champion.
But, Williams is a major threat. Aspen’s No. 1 singles player all four years, she is a four-time state qualifier. Her best showing, so far, is 3rd place in 2017. That may change Saturday, but she’s not the only Aspen athlete leaving her mark on the state tournament.
The Skiers are one of the top teams with eight points, but Peak to Peak is in the lead with 18. D’Evelyn (15), Colorado Academy (10), and Dawson (10) are near the top of the standings as well.
“It’s been super cool getting nine of the 11 girls to come down (as qualifiers) and everyone’s done pretty well,” Williams said. “I think its super cool coming to Greeley or Denver and making an impact.”
Aspen’s No. 3 doubles team of Quinn Ramberg and Virginia Tassi roared to the semifinals with wins over groups from St. Mary’s 6-1, 6-1 and Vanguard 6-1, 6-2.
The Aspen group, clad in red and white jerseys, has a strong contingent but Peak to Peak won the team crown a year ago and a repeat looks possible. Somasundaram has a twin sister, Trini, who was the two-singles champion last year. She earned a bid to the semifinals with straight set victories over Tory Jensa (Fountain Valley) and Charlotte Pulido (Colorado Academy).
(Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)
“I’m excited for tomorrow,” Trini said. “I have a lot of nerves too. It helps because I know I can achieve it though. I have that experience and confidence.”
Peak to Peak advanced their No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 doubles groups to the semifinals as well. Sophomore Tiffany Tran reached the final four of the No. 3 singles division for the Pumas. She’ll face Elizabeth van der Torre, an undefeated player with a 12-0 season record.
Van der Torre is plenty familiar with Centennial Park as her school, University High, is just over four miles away.
The state tournament brackets for girls soccer’s four classifications were released on Monday. Broomfield (5A), D’Evelyn (4A), Colorado Academy (3A) and Denver Christian (2A) are the top overall seeds.
JEFFERSON COUNTY — The latest National Letter of Intent signing period has pushed the number of Jeffco student-athletes continuing at the next level to well over 200.
Several Jeffco high schools across the district has had signing celebrations since the final signing date period of the coming 2019-2020 academic school year began on April 17. The final signing date for Division I basketball programs wraps up May 15 and the last signing day for Division II football programs is August 1.
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Jeffco’s signers on National Letter of Intent — April 17
Bear Creek High School
KarlieAnn Bauer, softball, Dodge City Community College
Morgan Browne, volleyball, Colorado State University
Nathan Madrid, baseball, Metro State University
Miranda Manfre, track, Colorado School of Mines
Megan McGriff, women’s lacrosse, Marietta College
Ciara Navarro, softball, Trinidad Community College
Leon Sebastion, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Julian Vargas, baseball, Doane University
Chatfield Senior High School
Kira Coffee, women’s tennis, University of Nebraska-Kearney
Martha Geering, ice hockey, University of Colorado
Columbine High School
Ellie Barrow, women’s basketball, Ellsworth Community College
Daysha Mendez, softball, Dodge City Community College
Conifer High School
John Votaw, baseball, Augustana College
Avery Fulord, baseball, Trine University
Mitch Marinaro, men’s lacrosse, Midland University
Laurel Ainsworth, softball, Hawaii Pacific University
D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Brady Sullivan, football, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Leah Sommer, volleyball, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Luca McIntyre, football, Avila University
Dakota Ridge High School
Zoe Plechaty, cross country/track, St. Olaf
Lucile Pidek, cross country/track, Fort Lewis College
Evergreen High School
Jina Alvis, women’s soccer, Johnson Wales University-Denver
Maggie McDonald, women’s soccer, West Point Military Academy
Bryce Pearson, baseball, Garden City Kansas
Paul Schreffler, baseball, Trinity University-San Antonio
Golden High School
Elizabeth Henshaw, women’s soccer, Culver-Stockton
Katie Dunson, softball, Lamar Community College
Jack Walters, football, Colorado School of Mines
Jonah Wimbish, men’s soccer, Augustana
Cassidy Paulson, softball, Neosho Community College
David O’Connell, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jade Gomez-Chavarria, softball, Western Nebraska Community College
Tristen Emory, boys lacrosse, Fort Lewis College
Joe Quintana, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Green Mountain High School
Jessica Greenwood, softball, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Summer Olson, cross country/track, College of Saint Mary
Lakewood High School
Elias Borjas, baseball, Iowa Western Community College
Carley Bennett, cross country/track, University of Colorado
Pierce Holley, football, Georgetown University
Jacob Brunner, men’s lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University
Elyse Hatch Rivera, women’s soccer, Macalester College
Kayla Colangelo, softball, Dodge City Community College
Lauren Rice, softball, University of Puget Sound
Isaac Garcia, swim and dive, St. Ambrose University
Rose Nadelhoffer, swim and dive, Macalester College
Kayleigh Knodel, volleyball, Colby Community College
Emily Booth, volleyball, Johnson & Wales University
Pomona High School
Mary Franssen, track, Northern State University
Ralston Valley High School
McKenna Bennett, swimming, Southern Illinois University
Lauren Foley, fencing, Wagner College
Myranda Grygorcewicz, cheer, University of Wyoming
Cole Jesch, football, South Dakota School of Mines
Shaun McDonnell, men’s soccer, Western Illinois University
Katie Olson, cheer, Brigham Young University
Tori Sayer, diving, University of Northern Colorado
Jordan Stratch, men’s basketball, Colorado Northwestern Community College
Standley Lake High School
Alex France, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Tyler Williams, track, Southern Utah University
Brady Rose, baseball, McLennan Junior College
Tyler Dorn, men’s golf, Lamar Community College
Haley Klasner, women’s soccer, Colorado Mesa University
Tate Minch, men’s soccer, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Nathan Adams, baseball, Labette Community College
Wheat Ridge High School
Jack Bozik, men’s lacrosse, Bellarmine University
Logan Duford, women’s soccer, University of Texas, San Antonio
Molly Kratzer, women’s soccer, Regis University
Ryan Peterson, men’s swimming, University of Southern California
AJ Wyse, football, Luther College
