The 2014 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 coaches, and then a vote of coaches.
Players of the year were also selected by a vote of the coaches.
Heading into the game, we knew it essentially would be the difference between hosting a 5A district this Saturday because of the way the Wild Card point standings were set up. But we thought the loser would end up as No. 9, or thereabout.
Instead, ThunderRidge dropped all the way to No. 12 the night of the game, and wound up as the No. 11 seed in the 5A tournament. That’s because, in the end, teams Nos. 9-12 were separated be a mere 0.158 points in the final Wild Card standings. So the Lobos will play at home as the No. 7 seed, while ThunderRidge must travel to No. 6 Arvada West — a tougher road for the defending champions.
That district — it’s District 8 — could be among the most entertaining in 5A. The potential title game matchup between T-Ridge and Arvada West is an interesting storyline.
On one hand, you have Arvada West, winner of eight games in a row. I saw the Wildcats in early April during a 9-1 loss to Fairview, and they didn’t look like a team that would host a district. Needless to say, A-West has come a long way since then and is at this point a different team.
On the other, there’s ThunderRidge, the early favorite and a mainstay at No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s poll for much of the early part of the year. But the Grizzlies had a rough week — three losses in four days — in late April which changed the complexion of their season. So this district is really their chance at redemption, of sorts.
Other interesting storylines in baseballs districts, which are this Saturday:
How will Chatfield respond to the criticism thrown its way about to the Chargers getting 5A’s No. 1 overall seed? Seems like a good source of motivation. Chatfield, for what it’s worth, has never won a baseball title, though it has appeared in two championship games.
What will Montrose do? The Indians are 4A’s No. 1 seed — but the program hasn’t reached a title game since 1959, and its last championship was 1952.
Either Eaton or Holy Family have played in 3A’s title game for each of the past seven seasons. Will that trend continue? Fittingly, Eaton is 3A’s No. 1 seed; Holy Family is No. 2.
Which of the non-hosts can emerge from a district? Will there be a, say, No. 23 seed making the Final 8 in any of the classifications? That was Cheyenne Mountain in 4A during the 2011 postseason — those Indians went on to win a title. Last year, Mountain View won 4A as the No. 27.
Spring weather bothers soccer, but no issue for tennis
The NAAC saw its share of weather on Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss)
Much of 4A girls soccer’s postseason was interrupted by a major storm moving through parts of the state Wednesday night.
At the NAAC, Wheat Ridge and Discovery Canyon had to suspend the start of overtime roughly an hour and a half because of lightning and golf-ball sized hail. That pushed the start of Green Mountain-Longmont to close to 9 p.m.
Up north, Windsor and Palisade actually had to suspend their game with 32 minutes left in the second half to 11:30 a.m. Thursday. There were reports of softball-sized hail in that area.
All that had our office worried about Thursday’s start to the 5A girls tennis state tournament. Rain was in the forecast, and the area was soaked with an overnight drizzle. It was 45 degrees when players began to arrive.
But the tournament kicked off on time Thursday morning — after workers squeegeed any remaining water off the courts. By 11 a.m., the sun was out and the jackets were off. Such is life in this state.
Update:Alas, the rain did not hold off forever for 5A girls tennis. Some first-round matches were delayed to Friday. 4A was also affected by rain.
St. Clair moves to Rampart
J’on St. Clair has resigned as Cheyenne Mountain’s boys basketball coach, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. He was 57-20 in three seasons, and led the Indians to the 4A final four this past season.
Update: Later Thursday afternoon, Rampart announced it had re-hired St. Clair. The veteran coach headed that program from 2004-10 before leaving to take the Doherty girls job for one season and then eventually landing at Cheyenne Mountain.
In St. Clair’s final season at Rampart (2009-10), the Rams went 23-3 and advanced to the 5A Great 8.
Short stuff
Girls golf’s regionals started on Monday, and it meant the return of live scoring via a partnership with iWanamaker. Live scores, a hit during the boys postseason in the fall, will also be back for the state meet.
2A’s Sedgwick County baseball came up to Greenwood Village to scrimmage 5A’s Cherry Creek last Friday as both teams prepared for the postseason. It’s something Cherry Creek has done in recent years — the Bruins scrimmaged 2A’s Rye last season.
Denver Public Schools has been planning to field a hockey team next season. Now, that district program has a home: Denver East. The Angels will play in the Peak Conference, essentially replacing Bishop Machebeuf, which dropped its program.
Grandview’s boys basketball job, briefly accepted by Arapahoe’s Dan Snyder before he stepped away from coaching, has been reposted. Candidates should apply through the Cherry Creek School District website.
A rule change for boys and girls basketball, beginning next season: During free-throw attempts, players in marked lane spaces can move into the lane once the shooter releases the ball. Previously, players couldn’t move into the lane until the ball hit the backboard or the rim.
Erie hired Bill Giampietro as its girls basketball coach, replacing Noel Potter, who resigned. Giampietro is an alum, and has been an assistant there. The school had 16 applicants for the job. “He is dedicated to our school and basketball program,” athletic director Richie Wildenhaus said. “Those are just some of the factors that set him apart from the rest of the field. Bill is a great motivator of young people, and his high energy and positive approach will be a great fit for our program.”
Dayspring Christian Academy is looking for a boys basketball coach, as well as a girls basketball assistant. Info is available via athletic director Harley Lowe: hlowe@dayspringeagles.org.
Former Rampart football coach JJ Owens has landed a job at Dallas’ Woodrow Wilson High School. Owens, who resigned in November, will teach and be an assistant for the Wildcats, who are coming off a 10-2 year in which they won Texas’ 4A Region II District 12. The team returns eight players on both offense and defense. Sounds like a great situation for one of the better guys in the coaching ranks.
The scene at Windsor’s field on Wednesday night. (Brock Laue)
WINDSOR — The temperature was dropping, the wind was swirling, rain was pouring, and bolts were striking under ominous clouds. The Windsor girls soccer team overcame two half-hour delays, one rainstorm, one rescheduling — and Palisade — to claim a 2-1 victory in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
In a game originally scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Windsor’s Bailey Zehr found net first. Zehr controlled possession, then used her speed in the open field to blow by two defenders. Palisade’s goalkeeper, Katie Dunn, sprinted out and Zehr nestled the ball into the right corner to give Windsor a 1-0 lead ten minutes into the game.
Kelsey Steffens gave the Wizards a 2-0 margin eight minutes later after scoring off a deflected shot.
(Brock Laue)
Then, the delays began. The first lasted for 30 minutes before the teams resumed play for the rest of the half and into the second as lightning waned. But the school’s athletic directors were forced to call another delay with 33 minutes left in the second half. The storm rolled in, causing the game to be postponed to 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
“It was very challenging to keep the girls focused, especially after you get an early 2-0 lead,” Windsor coach Mario Garcia said. “I think if it had been 1-0, their minds would have been more in it. It makes you relax a little bit. At the end of the day, we’re talking about human nature. The psychology of knowing you’re up, you can relax a little bit, and (Palisade) played hard.”
The Palisade Bulldogs were the aggressors Thursday. They had several opportunities early and often for goals throughout the game, but were finally able to convert as Audrey Rose Kachin scored off a through ball with 15 minutes left, giving Palisade life.
Windsor’s defense was out of sorts as the Bulldogs threatened to tie the game late, but the Wizards gained possession, stalled, and ran out the clock the last two minutes to secure a second round bid with a 2-1 survival.
Garcia and his players seemed more relieved than anything about winning the bizarre playoff opener.
(Brock Laue)
“I think we could have played better, but I’m just glad we made it out in the end,” Zehr said. “We honestly just need to play as a team. That’s always been our problem is not staying consistent and not playing as a team. We have great individual players, but playing together, like working passes and playing up the field as a team, is what we struggle with.”
“It’s all about getting the win, however you get it,” Garcia noted.
Windsor, now 14-2 this season, will be making its third trip in four years to the round of 16, but have yet to advance to the quarterfinals during that stretch.
They have their hands full Saturday at 2 seeded Broomfield, 10-0 winners over Kennedy in the first round and last year’s state runner-up. The game will be held at 10 a.m.
“Playing Broomfield will be a different kind of animal,” Garcia said. “We’ll have to be very, very prepared to have a game, to make it a game. I think we’ll be ready.”
“I know they have four or five girls who are signed to play D-I somewhere,” Garcia added. “It’s kind of like a David vs. Goliath type match, but we play the game because anything can happen.
“We’ll have to be special that day to win. We’ll have to play defense like we’ve never played before. Everyone will have to play their assignment, their position and we’ll have to play with heart.”
Windsor already overcame one storm. The Wizards hope to work their magic and outlast another, the powerful Broomfield Eagles, on Saturday.
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.
