Regis Jesuit is No. 1 in this week’s 5A baseball ranking. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
For the second consecutive week, there’s a new team atop CHSAANow.com’s Class 5A baseball ranking. This time, Regis Jesuit has ascended to the top.
The Raiders, now 14-3, went 3-0 last week — including a 7-5 win over then-No. 6 ThunderRidge. They are now 9-0 in the always tough Continental League, and are riding an 11-game winning streak.
Fairview actually received the same amount of first-place votes (six) that Regis Jesuit did, but remained at No. 2 with 125 overall points to the Raiders’ 137. The Knights are now 16-1 — 13-0 against in-state teams.
Arvada West jumped into the rankings at No. 6, just behind No. 5 Chatfield and No. 4 Mountain Vista.
ThunderRidge dropped to No. 7, Rocky Mountain is No. 8 and Chaparral is No. 9. Cherry Creek rejoined the poll at No. 10.
There are also new teams atop the 3A and 2A polls. In 3A, Eaton received nine of the 10 first-place votes to overtake Holy Family, which dropped to No. 2. In 2A, Resurrection Christian got five of the seven first-place votes and took over for Swink, which also fell to No. 2.
Windsor retained its spot atop the 4A ranking, and Stratton held firm atop 1A.
The 4A poll added Pueblo East at No. 9, and also saw Lewis-Palmer move from No. 5 to No. 3, and Evergreen go from No. 7 to No. 4.
3A added Bayfield (No. 8), while 2A added Limon (No. 9) and Lyons (No. 10).
With the regular season ending Tuesday, these rankings will serve as the final poll of the regular season.
Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 17 are below.
Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 9 are below.
Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 2 are below.
DENVER — Paonia is a tiny town in the far west region of Colorado. It’s four hours from Denver and has less than 2,000 people in it. Many people in Colorado may not have even heard of Paonia, but it is home to a great wrestling community and a dominant 2A program.
The Paonia Eagles are the two-time defending state champions and all but sealed up their third consecutive crown Friday at the Pepsi Center.
Paonia has already accumulated an impressive 144 points, well clear of second place Meeker (92.5) headed into Saturday’s championship matches.
“It was a good day,” Paonia’s coach Andy Pipher said after the semis. “We had seven in the quarters. We lost one right in the final seconds at 120 with Josh Altman (in the semifinals). He wrestled hard and did the gameplan for five minutes and fifty nine seconds, but at the last second relaxed a little bit and got taken down and lost by one.
“We punched five others in that wrestled really hard and stuck to the gameplan and found a way to win.”
When asked what’s made his program so successful, Pipher said, “Really good community support. We’ve got community support for all these kids and they help us out with our summer program.”
“We run our summer duals up there June 14th and 15th,” Pipher said. “This year we get 400 kids in there to wrestle and counting. We get everybody from Arvada West to Rocky Mountain High School, from the east to the north to the south, all four corners, and it’s a big event. About seven states are represented there, they come through Nebraska.”
“All those things help,” said the long-time Paonia Coach. “There’s probably more matches wrestled in the county high school gym than any high school gym in the state of Colorado during one calendar year. That’s where the success comes from.”
Paonia started the semifinal round with Altman’s last second loss to Highland’s Jakeob Trujillo 4-3. Trujillo, a sophomore, will face Baca County’s senior Stetson Loader in the finals tomorrow.
After Altman’s loss, Paonia’s machine got chugging again with five out of six semifinal wins the rest of the night. Jesse Reed, a two-time defending champ as a junior, advanced at 126 to face Swink’s junior of their own, Austin Coy. Both wrestlers will enter the title match undefeated on the season.
Pipher had nothing but praise for his most touted wrestler.
“Jesse’s a great wrestler,” Pipher said. “He works hard, just a quiet leader, but he goes in there and stays after practice every day and does extra and works and puts a lot of time in during the summer and its paying off.”
Bo Pipher won his semifinal match for Paonia at 132, Ty Coats advanced at 152, Zach Milner at 160, and Tony Darling at 285. Logan Schopp, a junior, lost to Lyons’ sophomore Jon Hickman by fall in four minutes, 33 seconds.
Paonia had five of their seven semifinalists advance. Mathematically, the crown isn’t yet Paonia’s, but it would take a lot tomorrow for them to not win it.
Baca County’s Johnny Loflin, a 195-pounder, had a great day of his own.
Loflin’s defeated all three of his opponents thus far via pin. His longest match was in the semifinals against Sedgwick County’s Jimmy Horalek, but the match was still a mere one minute and ten seconds. Loflin will face Rocky Ford’s Nate Finnell, a winner over Soroco’s Cody Constine in the semis, tomorrow in the state title match.
Loflin is seeking his second consecutive title.
“I have a lot of experience,” he said. “I’ve been here all four years. I’ve placed fifth, second, and first, so I’ve just had a lot of experience. I feel confident. Wrestling is 90 percent mental and I think I have that part down pretty well.”
Lolflin has mixed feelings about his season up to this point, but is optimistic.
“It’s been good,” he said. “My team’s awesome. I love them this year. They’re a real hard working group of kids. I’m really pleased with the underclassmen that are coming in during the mornings and running extra, doing all that sort of stuff.
“My season’s personally been a little slow. It hasn’t been my best season, but I’m confident and I feel good.”
Saturday, the Baca County senior will be attacking the last match of his high school career with fire.
“I’m going to be aggressive, just open up my offense, and just see what happens,” Loflin said. “I just want to be aggressive and stay on him.
“Last year I was kind’ve trying to get something off my shoulders,” he added. “This year I’m kind’ve relaxed, a lot more relaxed, and just wrestling.”
Meeker’s T.J. Shelton joined Paonia’s Reed and Baca County’s Loflin as defending champs that advanced to Saturday’s finals. Shelton pinned his third opponent of the meet with a fall of Norwood’s Kolby Starks in 1:07. He will face Lyons’ Jon Hickman for all the marbles in the 170 pound weight class.
Three of the four returning champs moved on, but Sedgwick County’s Seth Harrington wasn’t one of them. Harrington, the winner at 132 last season, lost to Holly’s Ryan Nordyke in the 138 pound weight class, in a 9-5 decision in the semis. Harrington will wrestle the last meet of his high school career against Wray’s Alex Tarin for third place, while Nordyke will take on Center’s Jose Chavez for the crown.
Paonia stole the headlines Friday evening at the Pepsi Center though as they look to add to their four state wrestling titles in school history. All have been under coach Pipher during his 16 seasons at the helm.
Pipher reflected a little Friday on how this year’s team compares to his last two.
“The last two, I think we had probably more depth in each weight,” Pipher noted. “This year I think we have more, well we got five in the finals, so we have more top end kids.”
“Last year I think we won 13 matches on the first day,” Pipher added. “This year we only have 10 here, but they’re good quality kids. Not to take anything from last year’s, but it’s just a different team.”
Paonia may have a different team, but the Eagles look good enough to win yet another 2A wrestling title and add to their town’s pride.
The Classification and League Organizing Committee meeting was Tuesday. (Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — Valor Christian’s athletic programs will reside in the Jefferson County League for the 2014-16 cycle.
The school, which is independent of a league during the current two-year cycle, had requested to join the Centennial League. And though the Centennial previously denied Valor’s request through a vote at a league meeting, there was still a chance that move would be approved at Tuesday’s Classification and League Organizing Committee (CLOC) meeting.
However, at the meeting, CLOC voted to not approve Valor’s move to the Centennial. Instead, through a 6-4 vote, it placed the Eagles in the Class 5A Jeffco League. Valor previously played in the 4A Jeffco from 2010-12. Their teams will continue to compete at the 4A level.
“That’s our job: to put them in a league. They had to be in a league,” CLOC chair Tom Arensdorf said after the meeting. “Every member has the right to be in a league after they’ve done their probationary period. They were not placed in a league two years ago … because basically their membership was in jeopardy. We felt it was best at that time not to put them in a league. No one wanted them, but the reasons for not wanting them were based on past issues that were pretty valid.
“In this past two-year cycle, Valor has done a lot of things to correct those issues. And they deserve to be placed in a league. That’s this committee’s job, to get them in a league.”
So Valor, finally, has a league for all of it’s sports — excepting football, which is still awaiting a conference. (That alignment will be finalized later in November.)
But that doesn’t mean it was easy.
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
Valor athletic director Rod Sherman spoke briefly at the meeting about the reasons his school sought to join the Centennial. He also said, in part, “We believe now is the time for Valor’s transition from an independent status to being a full-time member of a league. It would be an honor for us to be a member of the Centennial League; there’s much we can learn. We believe we have respected the process of being placed and we humbly request placement in the Centennial League.”
A long discussion ensued, with Centennial and Jeffco reps also speaking, and emphasizing Valor Christian’s private status. Then, CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico spoke up.
“We’ve had a public-private school discussion going on for over two years now,” Angelico said. “I’m afraid I’m to blame for that because I wanted that to be an open and above-board discussion, rather than all the back-biting that was going on behind the scenes. If I would have known that it would have turned into this bickering that will never end, I think I would have stopped it … and not allowed it to start. There’s no end to this.
“A couple of points I need to make: There is no written or unwritten policy of any sort regarding public and private schools and league placement,” Angelico continued. “Secondly, in the last 24 months, I would say to you, that since that discussion started, it’s not the private schools I’m worried about. … The private school people have heard loudly your message of discontent. Their response has been one of that I can’t complain about. Whatever it takes to be above-board and avoid issues, they’re doing. That applies to Valor doubly. They’ve hired a consultant, they’ve done everything I’ve asked. To the point that last night, in our discussions, we talked about, ‘Well Valor had four ADs show up at the (All-School) Summit.’ I said, ‘Yeah, they did. I told them to, and they did what they were told.’
“I think we have our priorities goofed up and have kind of started turning around what we’re supposed to be about,” he added. “This isn’t a public/private school issue. I hear loudly that it’s an issue about unfair advantage or differences in schools. … Frankly, I would just like to get this conversation back to what it’s about: somebody needs a home. The fact that they’re a public or private school is not the reason you place them in a conference. Nor has it ever been. Let’s talk about what’s the best fit.
“The association has certainly survived with several public and private schools together in the same league. I just want to center this. This becomes a ‘Who can win the argument?’ not, ‘What’s the best thing?’ And I think we need to go back to what are we supposed to be doing here. The committee is charged with placing a school, and they will place a school, and they’ll have to do it to somebody’s chagrin.”
Shortly after, the committee broke into a private session, and then for lunch. When they came back, the vote on Valor request to join the Centennial League was quickly called. Three CLOC members abstained, three voted in favor of the request, and seven against.
Moments later, committee member Rich Wildenhaus from Erie proposed moving Valor to the 5A Jeffco League. There was no discussion from the audience, and the vote ended with six agreeing with the move, four against it and three abstaining. The entire process was swift.
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
“Honestly, that surprised me,” Arensdorf said afterward. “Over the last two days, we probably discussed this issue as a committee for three-and-a-half hours — because whatever decision was made by the committee was going to be unpopular with some schools and cause some angst within leagues. There is no perfect fit.
“We went through a process that, if the first request did not pass, we — as a committee, it’s our responsibility to come up with something before the end of the day. And different committee members had different proposals,” he continued. “I was surprised that we finished that quickly. And I was surprised there was no feedback from the floor when that proposal was made by Richie Wildenhaus. I didn’t know what to expect at that point, because, as a committee, no one felt comfortable with any solution. There were no solutions that were going to make everybody happy.
“But, in the end, it is what it is, and all these people are professionals and they’ll deal with what they have to deal with and hopefully make the best situation for all the kids that participate in those programs.”
Valor Christian did approach Jeffco about joining the league prior to the CLOC meeting. Jeffco has 5A and 4A leagues.
“Right now, the CLOC committee voted for them to be in 5A Jeffco. I think that discussion still needs to happen,” Jim Thyfault, Jefferson County’s district athletic director, and a member of CLOC, said after the meeting. “Since we do have a 4A option, I think that needs to be discussed.
“I respect Rod Sherman and the people at Valor, I really do. They were in our league before. And, you know what? We’ll all be very professional about it, and I’m sure they will be, too.”
CLOC’s actions on Tuesday still need to be confirmed by the Legislative Council in January.
More league changes
Earlier, Burlington’s request to join the Lower Platte League was denied. That league had previously voted 9-0 against allowing Burlington admittance. CLOC voted 11-2 against overruling that vote. So Burlington will stay in the Union Pacific League.
Approved league changes:
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
Broomfield (Northern to Front Range)
Canon City (South Central to Colorado Springs Metro)
The Classical Academy (Tri-Peaks to Colorado Springs Metro)
Clear Creek (3A Frontier to 2A Frontier)
Ellicott (Tri-Peaks to Black Forest)
Highland (Patriot to Mile High)
Holy Family (Metro to Tri-Valley)
Littleton (Continental to Jeffco)
Lyons (Patriot to Mile High)
Manzanola (Southeastern to High Plains)
Northridge (Tri-Valley to Northern)
Skyview Academy (Independent to Metro 3A)
Swallows Charter Academy (Independent to Santa Fe)
Twin Peaks Charter (New school, joining Mile High)
Vanguard (Black Forest to Tri-Peaks)
New members
Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s request for membership was denied. The school has a unique schedule to allow its students to train on the mountain during the week — training from 8 a.m. to noon, and then attending classes from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Tuesday through Friday during the winter.
However, after a lengthy discussion, the committee said they were uneasy going down the road of adding a sports academy as a member.
“It seems so fundamentally different than what our membership is now,” said committee member Mark Kanagy, Windsor’s athletic director.
The committee did approve membership for Caprock Charter Academy in Grand Junction, as well as Denver School of Science & Technology – Green Valley Ranch, and Venture Preparatory School in Denver.
Playdowns
The overwhelming majority of playdowns were approved, save for Abraham Lincoln football (5A to 4A), Estes Park football (2A to 1A) and Palmer football (5A to 4A). Approved playdowns:
(Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
Adams City football (5A to 4A)
Alameda football (5A to 4A)
Antonito football (8-man to 6-man)
Aurora Central football (5A to 4A)
Boulder softball (5A to 4A)
Centaurus volleyball (4A to 3A)
Central (Grand Junction) football (4A to 3A)
Civa Charter boys/girls basketbal, volleyball (2A to 1A)
Denver North football (3A to 2A)
Dolores Huerta girls basketball (3A to 2A)
Greeley Central softball (4A to 3A)
Greeley West boys soccer (5A to 4A)
Miami-Yoder football (8-man to 6-man)
Mitchell football (4A to 3A)
Montbello girls soccer (5A to 4A)
Montezuma-Cortez soccer (4A to 3A)
Montezuma-Cortez football (3A to 2A)
Nederland football (1A to 8-man)
Niwot football (4A to 3A)
Rifle boys/girls soccer (4A to 3A)
Roosevelt boys soccer (4A to 3A)
Skyline softball (4A to 3A)
South Park football (8-man to 6-man)
Noteable
The committee set the 1A/2A cutoff at 92 students. So schools with 92 and below will be 1A in basketball and all other sports, while those with 93-240 students will be 2A.
