4A No. 5 Windsor girls basketball beat Greeley West 93-29 on Saturday.

The 2020 all-state football teams 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 across the state.

Players were placed onto the first-team, second-team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-1A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.

CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created from the results of the coaches’ vote.

Because there will be two football seasons during the 2020-21 school year, this is the all-state football team for Season A. There will be a separate all-state football team released for Season C.

[divider]

Class 5A

(PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Player of the year: Myles Purchase, Cherry Creek

Coach of the year: Dave Logan, Cherry Creek

Honorable mention:

• Tanner Arkin, LB/TE, Fossil Ridge, Senior
• Spencer Aye, G, Regis Jesuit, Senior
• Matthew Baer, DE/DT, Regis Jesuit, Senior
• Mike Beeson, T/LS, Horizon, Senior
• Jake Berry, OL, Fairview, Senior
• Charlie Carlston, WR, Ralston Valley, Senior
• Mason Dickerson, FS, Legacy, Junior
• David Dody, RB, Regis Jesuit, Senior
• Jackson Dorr, P, Valor Christian, Senior
• Stone Fletcher, DT/NG, Horizon, Junior
• Blake Haggerty, CB/WR, Castle View, Junior
• Andrew Hale, S/WR, Valor Christian, Junior
• Evan Harrell, CB/SS, Cherokee Trail, Junior
• Jaxon Heil, SS/RB, Mullen, Junior
• Adam Holton, LB/WR, Mountain Vista, Senior
• JuJu Howard, LB, Pomona, Senior
• Wesley Jones, K, Columbine, Junior
• Ryan Kawashima, Cherokee Trail,
• Cole Kesner, C/DT, Highlands Ranch, Senior
• Sean Kidd, RB/SB, Rocky Mountain, Senior
• Tyson Lambert, ILB/TE, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Tyler Larson, WR, Valor Christian, Senior
• JP Luketu, RB, Eaglecrest, Senior
• Connor Mantelli, K/P, Douglas County, Senior
• Colton Martin, DB, Grandview, Senior
• Watson McBride, DE/T, Valor Christian, Senior
• Ren Miller, C/NG, Castle View, Senior
• Chase Muller, RB/DB, Pomona, Junior
• JJ Nelson, CB, Chaparral, Senior
• Cody Pettitt, DE/G, Fossil Ridge, Senior
• Garrett Quenzer, G, Prairie View, Senior
• Ryan Randall, DE, Rocky Mountain, Senior
• Jonah Rubadue, G/DT, Chaparral, Senior
• Michael Runnels, LB/RB, Arvada West, Sophomore
• Luke Sandy, TE/OL/DL, Legend, Junior
• Chris Sarkodie, T, Overland, Senior
• Kalen Shoemaker, QB, Legend, Senior
• Braelon Tate, Legacy, Junior
• Anthony Tocchini, T/C, Regis Jesuit, Senior
• Chase Tompkins, WR/CB/FS, ThunderRidge, Junior
• Jarrell Trahan, RB/CB, Highlands Ranch, Senior
• Nunie Tuitele, DE, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Kade Unberhagen, Doherty, Senior
• Marc Wessbecker, FS/RB, Castle View, Junior
• Trace Williams-Mitchel, T/DT, Columbine, Junior
• Hunter Wilson, MLB, Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Jack Zilligen, LB, Rock Canyon, Senior

[divider]

Class 4A

(PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Player of the year: Zack Rakowsky, Loveland

Coach of the year: Jeff Mauck, Loveland

Honorable mention:

• DJ Allen, WR/DE/TE, Widefield, Junior
• Oscar Aranday, G/DT, Skyline, Senior
• Kaden Arrastia, OL, Dakota Ridge, Senior
• Lamaine Arrington jr, RB/FS, Pueblo West, Junior
• Claudio Austin, Grand Junction Central, Senior
• Austin Bierhaus, CB/LB/TE, Loveland, Senior
• Trent Blundell, RB/DB, Montrose, Senior
• Jake Boley, OLB, Cheyenne Mountain, Senior
• Eli Bowman, WR/FS, Brighton, Senior
• CJ Brown, T/DT, Rampart, Senior
• Braxton Burrows, WR/LB, Widefield, Senior
• Yahir Chairez-Salazar, MLB/RB, Greeley Central, Junior
• JJ Dickerson, K/P, Mesa Ridge, Senior
• Aiden Gaddis, DT, Longmont, Senior
• Isacc Gomez, WR/DB, Thornton, Sophomore
• Jimmy Grace, DL/OL, Monarch, Sophomore
• Austin Griffin, FB, Montrose, Junior
• Jack Hanson, K, Cheyenne Mountain, Senior
• Eric Haslett, MLB/T, Rampart, Senior
• Espin Hernandez, FB/MLB, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Joel Hesse, DT/T/DE, Skyline, Senior
• Daymond Hill Jr., RB, Cheyenne Mountain, Senior
• Eli Hubert, WR/CB, Silver Creek, Junior
• thane humiston, RB/DE, Mesa Ridge, Junior
• Alexis Irizarry, CB/RB, Greeley West, Junior
• Anthony Jay, G/C, Liberty, Senior
• Aiden Johnson, HB/LB/SS, Grand Junction, Senior
• Caleb Johnson, WR, Longmont, Junior
• Joe Killian, WR/RB/C, Loveland, Senior
• Mason Lowe, WR, Chatfield, Sophomore
• Raul Martinez, OL/DL, Montrose, Senior
• Troy McCarthy, RB/LB, Standley Lake, Senior
• Mason Micci, RB/DB, Coronado, Senior
• Carter Motichka, WR, Ponderosa, Senior
• Branyon Murdock, Pine Creek, Senior
• Joe Naple, MLB/ATH, Palmer, Junior
• Keegan Patterson, QB/SS, Longmont, Junior
• Hunter Peck, ILB/OG/FB, Windsor, Senior
• Matthew Ramsey, G/LB, Brighton, Senior
• Marcellus Reed, WR/CB, Palmer Ridge, Senior
• Ray Salvatore, DE/G, Fountain-Fort Carson, Senior
• Eric San Souci, OL/DL, Coronado, Senior
• Christopher Smith, G/DE, Wheat Ridge, Senior
• Jaden Solano, WR/DB, Broomfield, Senior
• Philip Sonntag, T/G, Pueblo West, Senior
• Ryan Toy, OL/DL, Golden, Senior
• Adrian Valenzuela, RB/CB, Bear Creek, Senior
• AJ Wheeler, DL/OL, Broomfield, Senior
• Gavin Whetzal, LB/WR, Pine Creek, Junior
• Tyson Williams, WB/CB/K, Loveland, Junior

[divider]

Class 3A

(Brad Cochi)

Player of the year: Jordan Woolverton, Durango

Coach of the year: David Vogt, Durango

Honorable mention:

• Buddy Almintakh, DT/G, Pueblo East, Senior
• Ayden Bartko, QB, Niwot, Senior
• Ray Bellotti, DT, Conifer, Senior
• Connor Clancy, K, Discovery Canyon, Senior
• Aidan Collins, WR/FS/RB, Summit, Junior
• Breckin Davis, WR/FS, Lewis-Palmer, Senior
• Patrick Diem, RB/SS, Northridge, Senior
• Zach Hansen, Evergreen, Senior
• Gabe Harrison, QB/DB, Palisade, Senior
• Clay Heffron, TE/DE/WR, Pueblo Central, Senior
• Gavin Howes, DE/OT, Pueblo County, Senior
• Alex Hurr, WR, Mountain View, Senior
• Marshall Jones, OG/ILB, Battle Mountain, Junior
• Cameron Kalaf, QB/SB, Summit, Senior
• Graham Kalaf, G/DL, Summit, Junior
• Aaron Kness, TE/MLB/LS, Northridge, Senior
• William Knight, DT, Durango, Junior
• Cael Langford, RB/MLB, Fort Morgan, Senior
• Reese Lehman, T/DL, Frederick, Senior
• John Lopez, RB/FS, Pueblo South, Senior
• Cayden Mazurek, WR/FS/P, Riverdale Ridge, Senior
• Elijah Morales, ATH/FS, Battle Mountain, Junior
• Tyler Morrison, SS/TE, Eagle Valley, Senior
• Anthony Munoz, DT/G, Roosevelt, Sophomore
• Seth Newton, WR/DB, Canon City, Senior
• Kenneth Pasion, QB/SS/RB, Discovery Canyon, Senior
• Tucker Peterson, WR/FS, Roosevelt, Sophomore
• Mason Rosser, DT/C, Conifer, Junior
• Dylan Ruane, FB/MLB, Discovery Canyon, Senior
• Brady Samaras, LB/FB, Holy Family, Junior
• Josh Smith, OL/DL, Canon City, Senior
• Corby Tecu, RB/LB, Mead, Junior
• Colton Thewes, LB/WR, Lutheran, Senior
• Jeremiah Vasquez, C/DT, Battle Mountain, Senior
• John Wagner, T/DE, Evergreen, Senior
• Craig Wright, WR, Niwot, Junior
• Devan Zahl, QB/DE, Lewis-Palmer, Junior

[divider]

Class 2A

(Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

Player of the year: Zane Rankin, Lamar

Coach of the year: Zac Lemon, Eaton

Honorable mention:

• Damian Antonio Ramos, CB/RB, Lamar, Senior
• Grant Aucoin, QB/MLB, Pagosa Springs, Senior
• Wil Aucoin, RB/DE, Pagosa Springs, Junior
• Shane Bishop, QB, D’Evelyn, Senior
• Brandon Blanco, MLB, Valley, Senior
• Brock Burkholder, WR/CB, Sterling, Senior
• Gage Butler, RB/FS, Eaton, Senior
• Joseph Campagna, RB/MLB, Moffat County, Senior
• Ryan Connelley, Elizabeth, Junior
• Logan Curtis, Platte Valley, Junior
• Kayden Derbigny, DT/T, Fort Lupton, Sophomore
• Dylan Evans, LB/RB, Resurrection Christian, Senior
• Hunter gator Goff, TE/ILB, Delta, Junior
• AJ Goldfain, MLB/FB, Resurrection Christian, Senior
• Pedro Gomez, OL, Lamar, Senior
• Nate Gravagno, WR/LB, Englewood, Senior
• Logan Hafey, DE/T, Moffat County, Junior
• Colton Johnson, RB/LB, Delta, Senior
• Gunner Johnson (labbe), QB/DB, Englewood, Junior
• Cameron Kirwan, T/DE, Middle Park, Senior
• Jayden Lawrence, G/C, Elizabeth, Junior
• Alejandro Maltos-Garcia, QB/SS, Brush, Junior
• Aidan O’Donnell, WR/FS, Pagosa Springs, Senior
• Damian Orozco, DE/LB, Alamosa, Junior
• Sebastian Owens, C/G, Arvada, Senior
• Jace Perez, WR/CB, Elizabeth, Junior
• Servando Perez, QB/SS, Valley, Senior
• Garrett Purman, C/G, Berthoud, Junior
• Braden Roskam, RB/FS, Woodland Park, Senior
• Nathan Scharnhorst, QB/FS, Delta, Junior
• Zayne Stam, Weld Central, Junior
• Taran Teeter, MLB/FB, Moffat County, Junior
• Anthony Torrez, RB/MLB, La Junta, Junior
• Zachary Vaughan, OG/DT, Severance, Junior
• Kyle Wellen, RB, Brush, Junior

[divider]

Class 1A

(Paul Soriano)

Player of the year: Kory Tacha, Limon

Coach of the year: Mike O’Dwyer, Limon

Honorable mention:

• Carlos Almeida, TE/DT, Center, Senior
• Grant Blackmon, T/DT, Platte Canyon, Senior
• Cooper Brower, C, Rye, Senior
• Sam Buckhanan, OL/ILB/QB, Gunnison, Junior
• Adnex Bumba, DE/LB, Jefferson, Senior
• Shawn Campbell, WR, Ignacio, Junior
• Yahir Chavez, QB/ATH, Hotchkiss, Senior
• Colby Clatterbaugh, RB/MLB, Meeker, Senior
• Zak Cobb, C/DT/ILB, Peyton, Junior
• Brady Collins, WR/NG, Wray, Sophomore
• MIke Dean, DT/DE/T, Platte Canyon, Senior
• Dusty Duran, TE/DE, Monte Vista, Junior
• Nate Early, WR/DB, Banning Lewis Academy, Junior
• Zachary Eskelson, OL/DT, Meeker, Junior
• Dom Felice, TE/DE, Paonia, Senior
• Parker Franz, OL/LB, Burlington, Senior
• Severin Grundvig, ILB/RB, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior
• Gael Guzman, G/DT/K, Bennett, Senior
• Allen Hardey, FS/SS/QB, Platte Canyon, Junior
• Baron Holman, WR/CB, Centauri, Junior
• Cade Killin, DE/T, Holyoke, Junior
• Fletcher Madrid, Del Norte, Senior
• Josh Martinez, QB/DB/WR, Florence, Senior
• Quentin Nolan-Henson, DE/G, Rocky Ford, Senior
• Tyrese Otero, WR/CB/FS, Monte Vista, Senior
• Isaac Peerman, Del Norte, Senior
• Clay Robinson, RB/SS, Yuma, Junior
• Aidyn Shafer, G/DT, Holyoke, Junior
• Wyatt Sprague, WR/SS, Holyoke, Freshman
• Caleb Stockton, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior
• Jack Swanson, WR/FS, Strasburg, Senior
• Iley Tuttle, FS/WR/CB, Peyton, Senior
• Brody Wagner, G/LB, Cedaredge, Senior
• Evan Walls, G/C/T, Prospect Ridge Academy, Senior
• Deklan Wilk, LB, Prospect Ridge Academy, Senior
• Jeremy Woodward, RB/LB, Meeker, Senior

[divider]

8-man

(Kevin Prickett/prickettpix.com)

Player of the year: Kelton Gartrell, Sanford

Coach of the year: Chris Michel, Sedgwick County

Honorable mention:

• Nathaniel Aguilar, Crowley County, Senior
• Hector Almeida, South Park, Senior
• Braxton Asbell, ATH, Sargent, Senior
• Braxton Bates, TE/DB, Fowler, Senior
• Austin Beanland, C/DE, Dove Creek, Senior
• Blake Boulter, QB/DE/LB, Gilpin County, Senior
• Jakob Buller, QB/K/P, West Grand, Senior
• Alejandro Castanon, C/LB, West Grand, Senior
• Wyatt Cook, FB/LB/DE, Holly, Senior
• Christian Cova, WR, Mancos, Senior
• Chorbin Cressler, QB/CB, Dove Creek, Junior
• Austin Davis, OL/MLB, Rangely, Senior
• Brody Despard, RB/DB, Byers, Senior
• Rene Dominguez, RB/KR, West Grand, Senior
• Dakota Eaton, RB/DT/SE, Holly, Junior
• Zachery Edwards, RB/LB, Pikes Peak Christian, Senior
• Jose Garcia, CB/WR, Dolores Huerta Prep, Senior
• Brayden Glover, RB, Simla, Sophomore
• Traevin Jones, TE/LB, Caliche, Senior
• Owen Knode, QB/DB, Haxtun, Junior
• Hayden Lasley, Springfield, Senior
• Jacob Martin, CB/WR, Dayspring Christian Academy, Junior
• Aiden Martinez, McClave, Sophomore
• Keihlin Myers, QB/QB/QB, Rangely, Junior
• Vincent Nowicki, RB/WR/LB, Vail Christian, Junior
• Slater O’Brien, OL/DL, Vail Christian, Senior
• Grayson Pachner, QB/SE, Akron, Senior
• Kage Pepper, ATH, Sargent, Senior
• Monte Pickering, MLB/G, Lyons, Senior
• Gabe Polley, G, Rangely, Senior
• Sam Puderbaugh, OL/DL, Norwood, Senior
• Kevin Rice, DE/G/LB, Swink, Senior
• Isaiha Rivas, LB, Dolores Huerta Prep, Senior
• Damian Romero, QB/DB, Fowler, Senior
• Austin Schake, OG/DE, West Grand, Senior
• Rylee Smith, TE/DE, Fowler, Senior
• Cooper Tixier, G/DE, Wiley, Sophomore
• Tyler Wytulka, QB, Norwood, Senior
• Cade Zordel, RB/LB, Wiley, Senior

[divider]

6-man

(Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

Player of the year: Brady Kuntz, Fleming

Coach of the year: John King, Fleming

Honorable mention:

• Gus Andreatta, WR/DE/P, La Veta, Junior
• Richie Atencio, DL/OT, Sierra Grande, Senior
• Dillon Ball, Cheyenne Wells, Junior
• Logan Breyer, TE/DL, Stratton/Liberty, Sophomore
• Isiah Chairez, LB/RB/ATH, Sierra Grande, Junior
• Ty Coleman, Cotopaxi, Sophomore
• Peyton Cranson, Branson/Kim, Sophomore
• Jonathan De Jesus, RB/LB, Weldon Valley, Senior
• Yahir Enriquez, Idalia, Junior
• Junior Flores, RB/LB, Weldon Valley, Senior
• Samuel Koolstra, RB/LB, Arickaree/Woodlin, Junior
• Levi Miller, Genoa-Hugo, Senior
• Wyatt Miller, Genoa-Hugo, Junior
• Kevin Rodriquez, Walsh, Senior
• Nick Schroeder, WR/LB, Hi-Plains, Senior
• Cade Smith, Branson/Kim, Sophomore
• Porter Spady, RB/LB/K, Eads, Freshman
• Salvador Vigil, QB/S/LB, Mountain Valley, Senior
• Tatum White, DB/LB/SB, Cheraw, Junior

(NFHS Network)

Palisade’s rushing attack held off a monster game from Allen Ortiz, and the Bulldogs beat Green Mountain in a 3A top-10 battle.

Gabe Harrison had two scores to lead Palisade’s offense, while Franklin Barks and Julio Rodriguez also scored on the ground as the eighth-ranked Bulldogs beat seventh-ranked Green Mountain 31-24.

“We knew we had to win to stay in the hunt,” Palisade coach Joe Ramunno told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show.

The Bulldogs are now 3-1 this season, with tough games against Conifer and Eagle Valley remaining.

“It’s tough, you’ve got to win to stay in, I know that,” Rammuno said.

Green Mountain’s Ortiz had four receiving touchdowns, twice scoring from 80 yards out. He also had touchdown catches of 56 and 22 yards.

“Boy, there’s a lot of talent on the field,” Rammuno said. “Green Mountain’s got a fine football team.”

The coach added that his team’s own passing attack helped to open the ground game.

“We were able to have some balance offensively,” Rammuno said. “We were able to get the ball in the air a little bit, which really opened up our option game. Tremendous effort by our guys.”

Down 6-0 after the first quarter, Palisade scored twice in the second to go up 14-6 at halftime. The second score came via a 28-yard score by Harrison.

In the third quarter, Rodriguez pushed the lead to 21-12 with his touchdown.

Later in that same frame, the third of Ortiz’s scores cut it to 21-18, but Palisade, and Harrison, responded. His second TD made it 28-18 late in the third.

The score stayed that way until Rudolfo Dexter made a 40-yard field goal with four minutes to play, pushing the lead to 31-18.

Ortiz’s final score made it 31-24 with two minutes to play, but Palisade recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.

Palisade’s defense had two interceptions in the win.

[divider]

4A: (9) Fountain-Fort Carson 35, (8) Pueblo West 21

A close game throughout, the Trojans get a key touchdown from Q Jones with 5:54 to play that made it 35-21.

Fountain-Fort Carson led 20-7 after the first quarter, but Pueblo West slowly chipped away that that lead. It was 20-14 midway through the third quarter, and later 27-21 early in the fourth.

But Jones’ 15-yard score seemed to put the game away:

4Q: ⁦@7Jonesjr⁩ with a 15 yard run to make it 35-21 Trojans with 5:55 remaining! ⁦@CHSAA⁩ ⁦@DanMohrmann⁩ ⁦@RobNamnoum⁩ ⁦@LindseySquints⁩ ⁦@gazettepreps⁩ ⁦@JakeGadon_TV⁩ pic.twitter.com/CuhngLJmPH

— TROJAN ATHLETICS ⚔️ (@FFCHSAthletics) October 31, 2020

Fountain-Fort Carson is now 4-0 this season.

[divider]

8-man: (3) Sanford 36, (6) Dove Creek 12

Sanford turned an 18-6 first-half lead into a big top-10 win.

After the half, Sanford’s defense made a stop and the offense responded.

“We came out and had a really good stop on their first possession,” Sanford coach Joe Cary told the Scoreboard Show. “Our offense started clicking a little bit better. We started figuring out some different things on how to go at them. The had two great, big linebackers that were really tough in the middle, so we had to figure out how to go around them. We had a few things that we did, and it seemed to work.”

Sanford is now 4-0 this season, but Cary thinks they haven’t yet reached their potential.

“I still don’t think we’ve seen our team play at the level that we want them to,” the coach said. “We’re not content with where we’re at. We’re going to keep pushing to try to get to that level.”

[divider]

6-man: (4) Granada 67, (7) Cheraw 60

It was a shootout in a big top-10 matchup.

Cheraw led 60-45 in the fourth quarter, but Granada was able to rally for the win.

“It was a very, very wild football,” coach Traegon Marquez told the Scoreboard Show. “A fun one to be a part of. But ‘wild,’ I think, is a mild way to put it.”

[divider]

Notables

More photos from the game. (Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

• Brighton is now 3-1 in 4A this season after it’s 30-14 win over Erie. A photo gallery from the game is available here.
• In a tight contest, 5A No. 6 Fairview beat previously unbeaten Legacy 43-32. Liam O’Brien threw for 267 yards and rushed for another 134. He had three total touchdowns.
• Gavin Sawchuk had six touchdowns as 5A No. 2 Valor Christian beat Castle View 63-21. Photos from the game are available here.
• 1A No. 2 Strasburg beat rival Bennett 42-0. “Bennett came to play, but we did some really good things,” coach Brian Brown told the Scoreboard Show. “They kind of stopped some of our big-play offense, but we really showed a very diverse offense tonight.”
• Moffat County had a big upset of 2A No. 9 Woodland Park, 27-23.
• Longmont QB Keegan Patterson had another big game. He was 29-of-41 with 316 yards and four touchdowns as his Trojans beat Greeley West 43-21. Photos from the game are available here.

More photos from the game. (Brad Cochi)

[divider]

More coverage:

• An updated top-10 scoreboard through Friday, and Saturday’s top-10 slate.
• All scores from Week 4 so far.
• Updated RPI standings through Friday’s games.
• In perhaps the game of the week, 4A No. 2 Palmer Ridge beat No. 7 Montrose.
• Photos from Regis Jesuit’s win over Douglas County.
• A new quarterback helped Chatfield beat Golden.
• Photos from Fossil Ridge’s win over Poudre.
• Photos from Broomfield’s win over Heritage.
• Photos from Cherry Creek’s win over Overland.
• Photos from Grandview’s win over Smoky Hill.

Keegan Patterson continue his great season with 316 yards and four touchdowns in Longmont’s 43-21 win over Greeley West.

(Brent Murphy/brentmurphyphoto.com)

The 2020 cross country regional fields will be determined, in part, by a coaches poll within each region.

The official vote will be held this coming weekend. The coaches held a trial vote last weekend, and the results of that vote is below.

[divider]

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”Class 2A”]

[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Class 3A”]

[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Class 4A”]

[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Class 5A”]

[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

The 2020 all-state boys 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 No. 1 singles championships at their classification were named players of the year.

[divider]

Class 5A

(Brent Murphy/brentmurphyphoto.com)

Player of the year: Morgan Schilling, Regis Jesuit
Coach of the year: Art Quinn, Cherry Creek

[divider]

Class 4A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Neil Wilcox, Niwot
Coach of the year: Mikka Keronen, Niwot

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

PUEBLO — Everything surrounding Greeley West’s Nico Jamison should feel different. His boys tennis state tournament venue is different. The teams he’s playing are different. But at the end of the day, it’s just tennis to him and his goals haven’t changed event, even with the Spartans dropping down to Class 4A this year.

Jamison wants to win a championship. And the feeling with the way he played in his first round and quarterfinal matches is that he can do it. As a freshman last year, Jamison advanced to the 5A No. 1 singles semifinals before falling to Regis Jesuit’s Morgan Schilling, the eventual state champ.

At the 4A tournament at Pueblo City Park, he’s aiming for that No. 1 singles title and has found some additional benefits in his team’s change in classification.

“More of my teammates are here this year so that’s super fun,” he said. “There’s a lot more energy. It feels the exact same and I’m bringing the same energy I brought to Gates. And it’s still a good experience.”

And it didn’t look difficult, at least on paper. He took down Colorado Academy senior Nick Deitrich 6-0, 6-1 in his first match and Denver South freshman Raphael Weiland 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.

This was certainly an easier trip to the semis than last year when he won his first matches 6-3, 6-2 and 6-4, 7-5 before falling to Schilling in the semis. Since then, he’s been using that loss to fuel himself for another run at a state title.

“Last year I had to play Morgan who is a very good player,” Jamison said. “Since then I’ve been training and training and preparing for whoever I reach next. I’ve learned that you can’t think about the past. This is state. I’m excited to see what I can do.”

This year’s adjusted single-elimination format condensed the tournament to two days. Normally, the semifinals would be the only match played on the second day for the players reaching the championship. Retiring his opponents in straight sets is certainly an advantage for Jamison, but the defending champion might be a tad more rested.

Niwot’s Neil Wilcox advanced to the semifinals after Cheyenne Mountain’s Robbie Mertz was retired with an injury during their quarterfinal match.

“Ultimately I’ll go into tomorrow with more energy,” Wilcox said while acknowledging that the way he advanced was unfortunate.

With 19 points, Mullen came out of the first day of the tournament with the team lead after advancing positions to Saturday’s semifinals. Cheyenne Mountain claimed the team championship last year after clinching at least a share of the title after the second day of the tournament.

The semifinal matches at Pueblo City Park are slated to begin at 9 a.m. with the championship matches tentatively scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

PUEBLO — In reality, Niwot’s Class 4A boys tennis championship hopes were pretty simple. With three positions advancing to finals, the main priority was getting wins in No. 1 and No. 3 singles. That was going to be enough.

Luke Weber took care of No. 3 singles as he was the first match off the court during Saturday’s finals at Pueblo City Park. For the rest of the afternoon it was Cheyenne Mountain and Mullen jockeying for position with hopes of coming out on top.

The Cougars just needed the hammer to drop. And when the hammer is defending No. 1 singles champion Neil Wilcox, it’s going to drop hard.

Just like he did a year ago, Wilcox dropped the first set but rallied to beat Greeley West sophomore Nico Jamison to give himself a second individual title while also giving Niwot its first boys tennis championship in program history. Cheyenne Mountain and Mullen ended tied for second.

“I had no idea until I walked off the court after my match,” Wilcox said. “Everyone was screaming and I just looked at them and asked what happened. When they told me, I couldn’t believe it.”

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Wilcox’s second title looked nearly identical to his first. Jamison took the first set in a tiebreaker, but Wilcox rallied and dominated the last two to win the match 6-7, 6-1, 6-2. Jamison had reached last year’s 5A semifinals an dbeat Mullen’s Mac Caldwell in the 4A semis Saturday morning to advance to his match against Wilcox.

After battling heavey through the first two sets, Jamison started dealing with a leg cramp that clearly bothered him in the third and final set. But he never once thought of quitting. Although Wilcox and Jamison have known each other for a long time, the now two-time champ has more respect for the Greeley West sophomore than he did a day ago.

“It was incredible,” Wilcox said. “It takes amazing spirit to be out there, win the first set and then start cramping. A lot of people would have quit. That’s tough to deal with mentally.”

As the boys all players took turns hold the team trophy and recounting the experience of the week, and even the season overall, coach Mikka Keronen couldn’t help but let his emotions show through his sunglasses and mask. He’s spent years coaching the boys through good and bad trips to state and couldn’t be happier for the kids that got to share in the experience of bringing a school its first state title.

And while the day ended with cheers around Wilcox’s second title, Keronen was quick to point out just how much Weber’s win meant to the whole experience.

“I think Luke was our biggest surprise,” Keronen said. “He’s a very good No. 3 and he just needed to get a little bigger and stronger and he’ll be a great singles player next year.”

As is tradition at each state tournament, the Vicky Matarrazo Sportsmanship Award was also handed out to acknowledge the team with standout sportsmanship through the course of the event. This year’s recipient was Durango who despite only winning a match in two positions on Friday, showed respect to each opponent and gratitude toward tournament staff and tournament director Ed Francis.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

The 2020 all-state girls swimming teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created based upon results at the state meet. The swimmers and divers of the year were also selected based upon the state meet.

The coaches of the year voted on by coaches at the state meets.

[divider]

Class 5A

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Swimmer of the year: Lucy Bell, Fossil Ridge

Diver of the year: Isabel Gregersen, Ralston Valley

Swim coach of the year: Tom Byorick, Heritage

Dive coach of the year: Jacob Dunbar, Denver East

[divider]

Class 4A

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Swimmer of the year: Lindsey Immel, Rampart

Diver of the year: Maggie Buckley, Rampart

Swim coach of the year: Susan Stone, Mullen

Dive coach of the year: Chris Madsen, Standley Lake/Arvada West

[divider]

Class 3A

Swimmer of the year: Elise Mishmash, Salida

Diver of the year: Rachel Alexander, Discovery Canyon

Swim coach of the year: Wendy Gorie, Salida

Dive coach of the year: Josh Kinney, Discovery Canyon

A couple of technical falls went the way of Rocky Mountain as the Lobos beat Greeley West in a wrestling dual on Thursday.