(Brian Livergood)

It’s an exciting time for boys volleyball in Colorado and it’s only going to get more interesting on Saturday.

At Rock Canyon on Friday, the inaugural boys volleyball state tournament began with quarterfinals. By the end of an exciting day of postseason boys volleyball play that was years in the making, eight teams had become four and the field of semifinals competitors was set.

In Saturday’s Final 4, No. 1 Douglas County will face No. 4 Eaglecrest and No. 2 Legend will face No. 4 Valor Christian. The winners will then square off for the first-ever boys volleyball state championship in CHSAA history.

(Brian Livergood)

“It’s an exciting time right now,” Eaglecrest head coach Chad Bond said. “The volleyball that’s happening in the state is fantastic. We had a high-quality volleyball match and to be a part of that was fantastic. For us to win in that style is pretty special. Having this as a sanctioned sport has brought kids out who never would have played before. Every time you have a bunch of firsts, there’s always going to be a ton of excitement and it’s going to be special.”

In order to reach the penultimate round, Bond’s Raptors emerged from the most exciting quarterfinal. The only match to go more than three sets, Eaglecrest (13-3) won 26-28, 25-16, 17-25, 25-23, 15-13 against a James Irwin (14-2) team that went undefeated in Pikes Peak League play during the regular season.

“It feels really good,” Eaglecrest junior Alfred Maiava said. “I’m really proud that we are now a part of CHSAA, it’s an awesome moment, one of the best we will have in our life. We are out here standing together as a team, we are all brothers at the end of the day no matter what happened.”

(Brian Livergood)

On Saturday, Eaglecrest will face unbeaten No. 1 Douglas County (16-0) at 9 a.m. The top-seeded Huskies beat No. 8 Regis Jesuit (9-7), 25-20, 25-15, 25-15 in the quarterfinals.

Over on the other side of the bracket, the Legend Titans (14-2) won 25-15, 25-18, 25-11 against Cherokee Trail (8-8) and the Valor Christian Eagles (14-2) won 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 against Cherry Creek (10-6). Legend and Valor Christian will place at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The state championship game will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Not too long after that, Colorado’s first boys volleyball champion will be crowned.

“With the boys’ association we ran the last 25 years, it was a good atmosphere, but this is a little bit different,” James Irwin coach Mike Prusinowski said. “It means a little bit more to the guys being in an official state championship, so that part of it I’m pretty proud of how it got going. I’m hoping we see some more schools next year, but I think for the first year, you see the quality of volleyball here today and tomorrow is pretty good for Colorado. ”

(Brian Livergood)

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD – When he’s ready to start his run toward the high jump bar, Longmont’s Eddie Kurjak stands, raises his arms and begins a slow clap, urging the crowd to join him.

On Friday, the fans at Jefferson County Stadium followed his lead with the slow clap and then Kurjak cleared the bar with a Class 4A state-meet record leap of 7 feet to win the state title in the high jump.

“It feels amazing, man,” Kurjak said. “I love this environment. I’ve been psyching myself up all week for it just trying to prepare every night the best I can. A good season’s work finally paid off. I’m really proud of myself.”

Kurjak, headed to Colorado Mesa to play basketball and compete in track and field, said getting the slow clap going helps him.

“Me personally, it helps me flush out over-thinking to get the whole crowd involved,” he said. “Obviously it’s not going to make me jump higher, but it helps me not be so in my head about things. It just enables me to run and jump.”

It completed a long quest for a state title. He was second in the high jump in 2019 and likely would have been the favorite in 2020, but the season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kurjak said clearing 7 feet – the previous 4A record was 6-11 by Cheyenne Mountain’s Colt Sessions in 2013 – added a lot to his title, but that winning was sweet.

“They were both big personal goals for me, but I think winning state means a little more because I came up short sophomore year and last year I didn’t have a season,” he said. “Both years I’ve wanted to win. To finally get it this year just feels really, really amazing.”

It was an amazing feeling for the Class 4A girls high jump champion, as well.

Pueblo West’s Shayla Padilla won the title with a season-best leap of 5-6. She followed in the footsteps of her brother, Cisco, who beat Kurjak for the 4A boys title in 2019.

“It’s so exciting,” she said. “I’m literally just filling in my brother’s shoes because my brother won two years ago. It feels so good to come out here and compete with all these girls and it felt great.”

Padilla said her brother has given her some grief for not having a title, but he gave her some works of encouragement before Friday’s final.

“I think me and my brother are really competitive and he always used to make fun of me and be like, ‘Don’t talk to me because you don’t have a ring yet,’” she said. “It just made me  want to win so bad, so here I am and I got a ring.”

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Class 5A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart knew she would be busy this weekend, but the junior has made it worth it.

On Friday, she won state titles in the 800 (2:09.60) and 3,200 meters (10:31.45), adding to the 3,200-meter relay championship she helped the Bruins on Thursday.

“I’m a little tired,” she said with a laugh. “I knew it was going to be a struggle coming in, but I need to do what’s best for my team and this would be best for the points.”

Stewart, favored to win the 1,600 on Saturday, picked up 20 valuable points for the Bruins with her two victories Friday.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“It’s so exciting,” said Stewart, who was top-five in all three individual events in 2019. “It’s like momentum building into the 1,600. I’m just so happy to come back from freshman year (in 2019) and to have these opportunities again. It’s just a great feeling to come out with two state titles.

“It’s been a great meet so far. It honestly just keeps getting better and better.”

Stewart’s teammate, Parker Wolfe, cruised to the boys 3,200-meter championship in 9:07.87, but scratched in the 800 so he could focus on Saturday’s 1,600.

In the boys 800, Mountain Vista’s Harrison Witt set a 5A meet record with a time of 1:48.75. He cruised to the title by more than three seconds over the rest of the field. It’s the first individual state title for Witt, who helped the Golden Eagles win the 3,200 relay in 2019.

Grandview, meanwhile, dominated the relays on Friday – winning all three finals that were contested.

The Grandview girls won the 800 medley relay and 800-meter relay. Saniya Craft, Molly Skurcenski and Amber Davis were a part of both relays, while Ava Robinson ran on the 800 relay and McKenzie Droughns on the medley.

For the boys, Charlie Dick, Kahden Rullo, Evan  Johnson and David Maldonado teamed up to win the 800-meter relay for the Wolves.

In the only field events contested Friday in 5A, Brandon Hills of Vista Ridge won the boys long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 2 inches, while Fabiola Belibi of Regis Jesuit won the girls long jump with a leap of 18 feet.

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Class 4A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Erie has been chasing Air Academy all season in the boys 800-meter relay and on Friday, the Tigers finally caught the Kadets.

The team of Sean Thomas-Francisco, Mason Veve, Blake Donaldson and Quintin Hartel crossed the finish line in a school-record time of 1:29.52, edging rival Mead by just .56 of a second. Air Academy, the top seed coming in, was disqualified for a zone violation.

“It’s amazing,” Hartel said. “We’ve always known we had a good team since two great football players (Thomas-Francisco and Veve) came into the program. We’ve been working all year. We’re always ranked No.2  behind Air Academy. We use that as encouragement to run as hard as we could. It worked out and it’s amazing to come away with a school record and a state championship.”

Friday was another big day for Niwot, as well.

The favorite to repeat as girls champion, the Cougars took home three titles Friday, including a Class 4A meet record in the 800-meter relay. The Cougars finished in 1:39.49, just ahead of the previous record of 1:39.80, by Valor Christian in 2016.

Niwot also won the girls 800 medley relay and swept the individual 800 meters, with Madison Shults winning the girls race and Zane Bergen the boys race.

In the girls shot put, Northfield junior Giavonna Meeks was the overwhelming favorite, but injured her ankle during warm-ups and was taken to the hospital. Meeks, who won the discus on Thursday, was unable to compete. In her absence, Skyview senior Bahati Nabindu won the state title, with a season-best throw of 36 feet, 5.5 inches.

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Class 3A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Two down, one to go for Joshua Medina of Alamosa.

On Friday, the senior won the 800-meter run and 3,200-meter run for the first state titles of his career.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in,” he said. “It’s kind of unreal.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Runner-up at the state cross country meet earlier this year, Medina had an exceptional time of 9:28.27 in the 3,200 meters, beating Gunnison’s Alex Baca – who beat Medina in cross country – by nearly eight seconds.

In the 800, he hung on to post a time of 1:54.78 and get the win.

“All week I’ve been telling myself I’m going to triple crown, so it wasn’t unexpected,” said Medina, who will aim for the 1,600-meter title on Saturday. “I would say I expected to win, but it was certainly a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. With around 300 left (in the 800), I didn’t think I was going to win. I was just able to dig deep and pull through.”

Medina closed the 3,200 meters with a 63-second split, by far his fastest of the eight laps.

“I think they were both just kind of surreal,” he said. “I feel like the 800 afterwards was a lot more exciting  because I didn’t think I was going to come back on him and I did. The 3,200, pulling away like I did felt really good.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

While Medina is closing his career strong, Classical Academy’s Anna Willis is starting her career on a high note.

The freshman won the girls pole vault, becoming the fourth Willis sister to win the event at state for TCA. Andrea Willis won state titles from 2014-16, Erika Willis in 2017 and 2018 and Kristina Willis in 2019.

Anna posted a winning vault of 12 feet, 6 inches. She came up just short of the 3A state meet record set by Erika in 2018 (12-9). Andrea has the Colorado prep record, at 13-9 in 2016.

On the girls side, other champions included Peak to Peak’s Allison Beasley with a 22-second personal-best in the 3,200 meters (11:02.51); Jefferson Academy’s Aaliyah Robinson in the long jump (17-8.5); Lamar’s Alexandria Tice in the shot put (40-5.25); Coal Ridge’s Mikayla Cheney in the 800 (2:15.22); Eaton in the 800 medley relay (1:51.10); and Moffat County in the 800-meter relay (1:45.46).

On the boys side, other champions included Lutheran’s Noah Kelly in the pole vault (14 feet); Classical Academy’s Mitchell Anderson in the discus (150-2); Sterling’s Tucker Myers in the triple jump (45-2.75); and University in the 800-meter relay (1:29.79).

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Class 2A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Aiming for a team title, the Cedaredge girls took a big step forward on Friday with a pair of wins in relays. The Bruins took home state titles in the 800 medley relay and 800-meter relay and lead the team race, 34-23 over Hayden.

Seniors Baylee Harris and Kimmy Milholland teamed with junior Bailey Nelson and sophomore Kylee Terry to post a time of 1:52.55 in the medley, beating second-place Hayden by more than two seconds.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

In the 800 relay, Harris, Nelson and Terry teamed with senior Kammie Henderson to post a time of 1:49.62, just edging Hoehne by .25 of a second.

In other girls finals, Holyoke’s Lauren Herman won the discus with a throw of 126 feet, 1 inch; Isabel Case of Colorado Springs Christian won the 800 meters (2:23.41); and Hannah Grover of Platte Canyon won the pole vault (9-5) in a jump-off.

On the boys side, Wiggins junior Mohamed Ibrahim had a big day in the shot put. Although he came up short of his personal best, Ibrahim had a throw of 56 feet, 4 inches to win the title by nearly six feet over Wray’s Bryant Schoenthal (50-8). On Thursday, Ibrahim was second to Schoenthal in the discus.

Also on Friday, Connor Williams of Crested Butte pulled an upset in the 800 meters. Seeded fifth coming in, he ran a blistering time of 1:54.21 – more than 10 seconds better than his season-best – to win the title. Custer County’s Micah Zeller, the favorite coming in, also had a season-best time (1:57.61) to finish second.

Centauri took home a state title in the boys 800 relay, posting a time of 1:31.60.

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Class 1A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Just a sophomore, Maggie Haase of Eads had never been to state before this week, but she has looked comfortable at Jeffco Stadium.

On Friday, Haase won the girls high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 3 inches, and then finished third in the triple jump.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“It was very exciting,” she said. I’ve never been to a state tournament before and I was just really looking forward to it. I’m so glad we could still have it with everything going on.”

Haase was favored to win both events and set a personal best in the high jump. In the triple jump, she came up short of her best, but still posted a solid leap of 33 feet, 9.5 inches.

Lone Star’s Alivia Weathers had a season-best jump of 34-8 to win the title, while Merino’s Taysa Conger had her best leap of the season (34-6) to finish second.

“I’m not disappointed getting third,” Haase said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy for the other two jumpers. They deserve it.”

Heritage Christian dominated in the 3,200-meter relays, sweeping the titles. The boys team posted a time of 9:08.64 to win by 21 seconds, while the girls finished their race in 10:46.85 to win by nearly 11 seconds.

In other girls finals, Brakelle Westphal of Springfield won the 800 meters (2:28.93) and helped her team win the 800-meter relay (1:52.92).

In other boys events, Elbert’s Nick Dahm won the triple jump (41-10.25); DeBeque’s Trevor Lewis won the 800 (2:01.84); Prairie’s Erik Lebsock won the discus (138-4); and Cheyenne Wells had a strong final kick to win the 800 relay (1:36.30).

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

THORNTON — On a day that finally felt normal, the boys swimmers and divers made themselves extraordinary.

After Regis Jesuit’s Quinn Henninger put together the best diving performance in state history, the swimmers decided they weren’t going to be shown up. Cherry Creek started the day off with a state record in the 200-yard medley relay and the momentum kept rolling.

The Bruins finished the day with 530 points to claim the Class 5A boys swimming championship and put together an overall dominant performance at the Veteran Memorial Aquatic Center.

“We thought 2019 was a very dominating team, but this team was more dominating,” coach Chris Loftis said. “Not to mention 2020 that didn’t even take place.”

The two-year gap between state swim meets was tough on all teams, not just the state champions. But Thursday finals felt like a normal day. The stands were packed and the fans were loud.

And they had plenty of reason to be.

Following the diving and medley relay marks falling, the third state record of the day to fall might’ve garnered the biggest reaction throughout the VMAC. Heritage senior Alex McMahon didn’t just set a record in the 50 freestyle, he did it by achieving a major milestone for all Colorado boys swimmers. His 19.82 was the first time that the 20-second mark had been broken in the event.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

“It’s always been a goal of mine,” McMahon said. “I used to be a distance swimmer and I switched to sprints maybe a little less than a year ago and since I made that transfer, I knew that I wanted to go for a 19.”

Right on his heels was Cherry Creek’s Bryce Ortanes who was just over 20 seconds at 20.02. But Ortanes wasn’t going home empty-handed. Far from it. He was a big part of the winning medley relay team then anchored the 200 freestyle relay team that also set a state record at one minute, 22.05 seconds.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Ortanes said. “I’m swimming by the people I call my family. It’s been great having four years under (Loftis) and with the brothers behind me. It’s been great.”

This is the 12th state championship for the Cherry Creek boys team. They held off a tough Regis Jesuit team who finished with 400.5 points.

And perhaps the best part for the coaches and the competitors was being able to do it with friends and family in the stands, rooting them on every step of the way.

“Once we knew that this was open to spectators, the meet was different,” Loftis said. “Our guys – and a lot of alumni know – that there is not a more high pressure meet in Colorado than this one. Those fans bring out the best in everyone, but especially our guys today.”

It’s hard to argue that swimmers across the board weren’t at their best. In all, five state records fell from the start of the day to the time that Columbine’s 400 freestyle relay team finished the race in 3:00.37.

It all started early when Regis Jesuit’s Henninger got things rolling with his diving performance in which he finished with 642.8 points, almost 31 points better than Regis alum Kyle Goodwin.

“My goal was just to 11 dives and not miss on one of them,” he said. “Consistency was the biggest goal for me.”

And it paid off for him. His diving display set the tone for a record-setting day that everyone in attendance likely won’t forget anytime soon.

(Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

PARKER — Four teams met up at EchoPark Stadium on Monday evening to decide the final two teams that would be playing for a Class 5A trophy at the end of Season D. No. 1 Colorado Academy and No. 2 Valor Christian prevailed.

In the final game of the Season D campaign on Wednesday night, the Mustangs and Eagles will play for the 5A championship at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.

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(1) Colorado Academy 16, (5) ThunderRidge 4

Champions miss the championship feeling, so the Colorado Academy girls lacrosse team felt the same emptiness that every spring athlete experienced last spring when the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the season.

The Mustangs had won the last five state championships in the sport.

Top-seeded Colorado Academy will have a chance to get that championship experience again after advancing to Wednesday’s Class 5A state championship game with a methodical 16-4 victory over fifth-seeded ThunderRidge on Monday evening at EchoPark Stadium. The Mustangs will face No. 2 Valor Christian.

“You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” Mustangs senior captain Katharine Merrifield said. “It was so tough not having playoffs last year and not having that excitement. You really miss all of that. It makes you appreciate the little things, the practices, the games and just getting to hang out with teammates.”

Colorado Academy turned in the epitome of team play in topping the Grizzlies, who came into the game after becoming the team that kept Cherry Creek out of the championship game for the first time in the sports’ sanctioned history. ThunderRidge downed the Bruins 13-12 in the quarterfinals.

Senior Jessie Bakes scored just 38 seconds into the game and finished with five goals, a total matched by freshman Zoe Martin, while Merrifield added four in a thorough performance that pleased Colorado Academy head coach Laura Sandbloom.

“We played very well as a team; it was a complete performance, which was nice since we only had a 10-game season, which made it a challenge,” said Sandbloom, an assistant on the Mustangs’ five championship teams under Steph Sanders who had her first season as head coach canceled last season.

Sandbloom and her coaching staff prepared Colorado Academy to face a difficult defense in ThunderRidge and the Mustangs looked ready, especially after going against the team’s own veteran defense in practice.

Bakes, who passed the 50-goal mark on the season with her performance, said Colorado Academy was ready.

“They are scrappy and a great defense, but we practice against the best defense in the state with our own players, so that just helps us prepare for games like this,” Bakes said. “We know how to move the ball fast. It was really a team effort.”

ThunderRidge evened the game early on a goal by Lucy Munro, but faced an eight-goal deficit at halftime that grew to double digits in the second half after back-to-back goals by Bakes.

Munro scored twice for the Grizzlies, who finished the season 11-2 overall.

“There’s no woulda, coulda, shouldas, they put it all out there from the beginning to the end,” ThunderRidge coach Dana Srdoc said. “We went up against a team that you can’t make mistakes against and if you do, they take advantage.”

Colorado Academy’s victory was its 22nd in a row in the postseason dating back to a quarterfinal loss to Centaurus in the 2014 quarterfinals.

The Mustangs will play for the state championship for the seventh time and for the first time, Cherry Creek won’t be the opponent. Colorado Academy defeated both Valor Christian and Regis Jesuit this season, but know that whoever emerges from the other semifinal will be ready to play.

“We played both those teams early on in our season and obviously things have progressed since then,” Bakes said. “You’re fighting 10 times harder for that win, so I’m excited to see what either of those teams brings.”

Added Merrifield: “Both are really great teams, but our goal is focusing on CA lacrosse and how we can play together as a team.”

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(Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

(2) Valor Christian 11, (6) Regis Jesuit 7

The foundation had been set for the Valor Christian girls lacrosse team and some new additions have helped take it over the top.

The Eagles had never been as far as the state semifinals before, but bolstered by some young talent, earned the chance to play for a state championship for the first time with Monday night’s 11-7 victory over sixth-seeded Regis Jesuit in a Class 5A semifinal at EchoPark Stadium.

Coach Terry Ellis’ second-seeded team has a tall task ahead of it, however, with undefeated and top-seeded Colorado Academy — which has a 22-game postseason winning streak and is in search of a sixth straight state championships — awaiting in Wednesday night’s title game at Legacy Stadium.

“It’s huge for us, it’s incredible to see how the program has grown,” said Ellis, whose team won its 10th game in a row and improved to 11-1. “It’s a testament to all the people that have come before us, the coaches and players. Without having last year, the girls came out really focused and wanting to win and hopefully we can continue doing that.”

The Eagles joined the school’s boys team in playing for state lacrosse championships — Valor Christian also defeated Regis Jesuit in the boys semifinals — and earned the chance to avenge their only loss of the season, a 15-12 defeat at the hands of Colorado Academy back on May 19.

Valor Christian got that chance with a fast start against Regis Jesuit (8-5), another program in search of its first state championship game appearance. The Raiders were playing in the semifinals for the third time and for the first time since 2013.

The Eagles took the edge in the opening minute on the first goal from sophomore Reagan Digby, who finished the half with a hat trick that helped create a 7-2 lead.

“We have a lot of heart on this team, so I think everybody on this team came out from the beginning with everything they had,” said Digby, who finished with a team-high four goals. “We want to win state so bad.”

Regis Jesuit wanted it badly as well and came out on fire in the second half.

Coach Kathyn Ames’ group reeled off four of the first six goals of the half to pull as close as 9-7 with 11:54 remaining when sophomore Emily Bradac converted a free shot opportunity.

That would be the last score Regis Jesuit would get, however, as Valor Christian added goals by juniors Rachel Pallo and Tess Osburn to keep the game out of reach.

“You get nerves in semis and early some of the jitters and mistakes came out, but I’m definitely proud of the fire and energy we had in that second half,” Ames said. “Sometimes you work so hard to get back and then you can’t get it over the hump.”

Osburn finished with three goals and Pallo had two for Valor Christian, which now can turn its attention to Colorado Academy.

The Eagles believe that Ellis has some tricks up his sleeve to help them get over the top against the Mustangs.

“We’re just going to keep playing our game and see what happens,” senior Lauren Rismani said. “And Coach Terry definitely knows what he’s doing.”

Ellis believes his team can match Colorado Academy with talent and he’ll try to keep his team steady during the early stages of the championship game, so they can be ready to take advantage in key situations.

“We have to play our best and we have to come out strong and understand they are a talented team,” Ellis said. “These are the games you look forward to as a coach, the best against the best. I’m looking forward to it and I know the girls are, too.”

(Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

PARKER — The Class 5A girls lacrosse championship game is set as Colorado Academy and Valor Christian will meet on Wednesday.

Story | Bracket

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Colorado Academy 16, ThunderRidge 4

By Steve Abeyta & Paul DiSalvo

• Link to gallery

(Steve Abeyta)

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Valor Christian 11, Regis Jesuit 7

By Paul DiSalvo

• Link to gallery

(Paul DiSalvo/PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

ENGLEWOOD – Four teams took the field at Englewood High School on Saturday to decide which two would battle for the Class 5A state championship in Season D. The potential for several firsts was established when Mountain Vista and Valor Christian emerged victorious.

Next Tuesday, those two teams will return to Englewood to one another in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. It will be both teams’ first appearance in the Class 5A title game.

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(4) Mountain Vista 13, (1) Cherry Creek 12

There have been many big moments in Mountain Vista boys lacrosse history, but arguably the biggest of the them all now belongs to Cam Brown.

With his team battling defending state champion Cherry Creek in overtime of a state semifinal game at Englewood High School on Saturday, Brown shouldered his way past his defender and scored from the left side to send his team home with a 13-12 victory. Thanks to the senior’s golden goal, the Golden Eagles will play for a golden trophy when they make their first Class 5A state championship appearance on Tuesday.

“I knew as soon as we got the ball in overtime, the game was over,” Brown said. “Our offense is good and we were playing Vista lacrosse all-around. I got by my guy and I just did what I had to do. We’re the hardest working team in the state and we knew we had a shot at state. Now, we’re here.”

Saturday’s penultimate-round game may have ended in favor of Mountain Vista, but it began quite differently. The defending champions raced out to a 4-0 lead before the Golden Eagles scored five unanswered goals to get back in front. The contest was tied eight different times.

“We knew it was going to be an absolute dogfight,” Mountain Vista head coach Matthew Plitnick said. “They’ve got great coaches over there. They’ve got great players. We dug ourselves a huge hole early that I was not very happy with, but then we started to have confidence in the way that we were prepared. We started executing a lot better and this is the first time Vista has ever played for a state championship in lacrosse. We have about 18 kids on the team, so we have a real small roster and I’m real proud of the eight seniors we have to the team because they all play a big role for us.”

Cherry Creek’s Dakota Johnson and Thomas Power each scored four goals. Mountain Vista’s Dillon Pless, Caleb Bonjean and Brown each recorded a hat trick.

In Tuesday’s championship game, the Golden Eagles will face No. 2 Valor Christian. Mountain Vista dealt Valor Christian its sole loss of the season back on May 14.

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(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

(2) Valor Christian 10, (6) Regis Jesuit 7

The Valor Christian boys lacrosse team has won two Class 4A state championships in the last six years and the Eagles would certainly love to add a 5A trophy to their growing collection.

They’ll soon get their chance.

In the state semifinals on Saturday at Englewood High School, No. 2 Valor Christian won 10-7 over No. 6 Regis Jesuit to reach the 5A state championship game for the first time. After missing out on what they believed to be a promising season when the global pandemic shut down high school sports in 2020, the Eagles are even more motivated to get the job done in Season D.

“It means everything,” Eagles senior Griffin Mallory said. “Last year was devastating because we had a great senior class. These guys this year, we really came together and we knew what our goals were from the beginning. We wanted to go to state. It didn’t stop with a day of work. We came out every single day and this is the result.”

With two familiar conference rivals squaring off, Saturday’s game went back and forth throughout the bulk of the contest with both defenses setting the tone early on. The score was tied four times before Valor Christian became the first team to pull ahead by more than a goal in the third quarter. The Eagles led 6-5 going into the fourth quarter and scored four unanswered goals to start the fourth quarter to distance themselves from their opponents.

Valor Christian led by as many as five goals in the final frame before Regis Jesuit was able to mount a late comeback attempt and cut the led to three before the final buzzer. Valor Christian’s Jake Likes led all scorers with four goals, while teammate Gunnar Fellows and Mallory each had two. Will McFadden led Regis Jesuit with a pair of goals.

In the championship game, Valor Christian will face a Mountain Vista team that beat the Eagles, 12-10, during the regular season. The blemish stands as Valor Christian’s only loss to date in Season D.

“We’re excited. We really were hoping for Vista,” Valor Christian head coach Josh Hoffman said. “That’s our only loss for the year, so we’ve been wanting to play them and we’re excited to play them again. Hopefully, we’ll be ready to go.”

Tuesday’s 5A title game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Englewood High School.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

The Season D state tournament bracket for Class 5A boys volleyball is below.

All matches will be played at Rock Canyon High School. Quarterfinals will be played on June 25. Semifinals will be played at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on June 26. The championship match will begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets cannot be sold in person at Rock Canyon High School and can only be purchased online at GoFan.

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2021 CHSAA State Boys Volleyball Championships (Colorado) Boys Volleyball

The semifinals await No. 6 Regis Jesuit after the Raiders beat No. 3 Colorado Academy 9-5 in the Class 5A boys lacrosse quarterfinals.

Eight first quarter goals set the tone as No. 6 Regis Jesuit topped No. 11 Fruita Monument 18-4 in the Class 5A boys lacrosse tournament.