LAFAYETTE — Davis Long’s round of three-under gave him the individual title at the Class 3A boys golf state tournament at Indian Peaks Golf Course. As for the team title, well, that took a little longer.
“It’s super surreal,” Long said after his round. “I wasn’t really expecting it, I was thinking more about the team today. That was a fun time, but I don’t think it’s really set in yet.”
Peak to Peak won the team title after a two-team playoff.
“It feels wonderful. I’m very proud of the guys,” Peak to Peak coach John Thornbury said. “They played extremely well under pressure and really came through in the clutch. It was a full team effort. Everybody contributed at the end and throughout the tournament. I’m thrilled they could do it on their home course.”
Both Peak to Peak’s Davis Long and Prospect Ridge’s Walker Franklin had to make crucial putts in their rounds.
Long dropped his birdie putt in on 18 to move to three-under and a share of the lead.
“After yesterday, it turned into a whole different ballgame being just 18 holes,” Long said. “Just because it was 18, I was playing a little bit more aggressive. I know this course pretty well, so I played it how I’ve always played it.”
At the same time, Franklin had his ball on the green staring down a par putt that would have finished him at three-under.
Jack played to a steady one-under heading to a par-four seventh hole. Jack drove the green, then made a 15-foot eagle putt to move to three-under and into the lead.
A birdie to start the back nine had Jack (-4) two strokes ahead of the field.
“It was great playing with (Jack) because it kept me on my toes,” Long said. “He’s a great player, so he’s great to play with and keep up neck and neck with him.”
Jack would have to rally after a double-bogey on 12 that put him into a tie with Franklin and Long. He grabbed a birdie on 17, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with Long.
Long jumped in the lead at two-under after birdies on three and four, but fell off towards the end of the front nine with two straight bogies.
But, he hung tough and stayed close.
“Just knowing that you can’t really make a big mistake that would kill you,” Long said. “At the end of the day, you have to go out and play golf and see what happens.”
With birdies on 16 and 18, Long jumped to the top of the leaderboard.
Teammates Ian Thorpe (+1), Nishant Datta (+3) and Ethan Tartaglia (+8) turned in solid efforts to boost Peak to Peak to a tie with Kent Denver for the team championship.
(Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“A team championship would be so amazing,” Long said just after his round finished. “It was really cool to make that putt on 18 with some of the guys from school standing around.”
Aspen (+8), Eaton (+18) and Colorado Academy (+20) rounded out the top five.
Peak to Peak and Kent Denver played a two team playoff with one foursome for each team. The best three scores from each team were chosen for scoring.
After the playoff, it was Peak to Peak that took the team title. Tartaglia’s playoff par was ultimately the decider.
“I told them that they’ve played this hole hundreds of times,” Thornbury said. “They know what their shots are on this whole. Play it as you’re most comfortable.”
Estes Park’s Ivan Richmond, the 2016 Class 3A runner-up, started the front nine with a birdie, and made a string of pars, then ran into trouble on the eighth hole.
Richmond shot a bogey on eight, then a double bogey on nine to make the turn at two-over.
With one more chance to go for a state title, Eaglecrest’s Davis Bryant is doing everything possible to make a run for the top spot in Class 5A.
Last September, he finished the state tournament at three-under-par, placing second to Highland Ranch’s Kyle Pearson.
So Bryant did the most natural thing he could do as a golfer. He sought tough competition and he continued to work on his game. That work took him to the 2017 U.S Junior Amateur which was held at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kan.
He played well enough in the first two days to make the 64-player cut, which was then broken down into a match play bracket.
“I played it two years ago and it was the same thing, it was an awesome experience,” Bryant said. “I played a lot better (this time) which made it more enjoyable. It was really cool, a great golf course and obviously great competition.”
Bryant trailed Korean Won Jun Lee by one hole going into 18, but he refused to go quietly. The Colorado State commit sank a birdie on the hole to extend the match into sudden death.
It took three additional holes, but it was Lee who finally broke the tie and was able to advance to the round of 32.
The one-on-one atmosphere is something that Bryant admittedly doesn’t get to experience very often. Few of the junior tournaments that he plays in have a match play format.
However, he did find it to be beneficial. In high school tournaments, there is no match play and everything is done through strokes.
“I feel like no matter if you’re playing stroke play or match play, it’s going to be similar (in that atmosphere),” Bryant said. “In the end, you’re just playing golf and trying to get the ball in the least amount of shots. It’s just in stroke play, you’re playing against the course and with match play, you’re playing against another person.”
Bryant and Pearson entered the final day of last year’s state tournament locked in a tie for second place.
But Pearson was nearly unstoppable on the last day. He ended with a 67, including a hole-in-one on the par 3 15th to claim the title.
“Kyle played really well that day,” Bryant said. “I just couldn’t get a putt to go in the hole.”
But he’ll have another shot in October when the 5A state tournament rolls in CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. It just so happens to be a course that is 15 minutes from Bryant’s house and one that he’s played often.
When my coach (Stan Adams) texted me and told me that state was going to be at CommonGround, I was really excited,” Bryant said. “I’ve played there numerous times. I like the course and I like the layout of it. It’s a good fit for a state tournament and a good fit for my game.”
While Bryant takes aim at the individual championship, the three team champions are all returning at least two all-state players and have their eyes on repeating.
But as with any sport, a championship has to be earned and in order to claim one, the kids have to keep working.
Part of that is making sure they’re playing the right level of competition in order to get better each day as the season progresses.
Bob Austin and Oliver Jack. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“I want us to play the very best teams that we can and I work hard on our schedule every year,” Kent Denver coach Bob Austin said. “We are going to a national tournament in Chandler, Arizona which I am really looking forward to.
The Sun Devils claimed the 3A title last year and defending 5A champion Regis Jesuit will join them in Arizona.
Defending 4A champion Discovery Canyon brings back Luke Trujillo, who claimed the 4A individual title, and Caleb Blackburn. The Thunder’s win back in September was the first team state championship in school history and they’re looking to grab another.
But the common theme amongst all golf teams across the state is general excitement for the start of the season. While teams and individuals will certainly take aim ending the season at the top of the leaderboards, the coaches are also insistent that the kids just take the time to enjoy getting out on the course and playing a game that they can continue to play for the majority of their lives.
“I want these kids to have lifetime great experiences whether they win or lose,” Austin said.
5A: Drew Anderson (Sr.) Regis Jesuit, Davis Bryant (Sr.) Eaglecrest, Josh Caridi (Sr.) Fossil Ridge, Cal McCoy (Sr.) Regis Jesuit, Kailer Rundiks (Sr.) Denver East
4A: Caleb Blackburn (Sr.) Discovery Canyon, Darren Edwards (Sr.) Thompson Valley, Barrett Jones (Sr.) Eagle Valley, Tyler Severin (Sr.) Roosevelt, Micah Stangebye (So.) Montrose, Luke Trujillo (Sr.) Discovery Canyon
3A: Nishant Datta (Sr.) Peak to Peak, Peter Grossenbacher (Jr.) Eaton, Billy Howenstein (Jr.) Dawson, Oliver Jack (Sr.) Kent Denver, Jackson Klutznick (Jr.) Kent Denver, Jacob Mason (So.) Jefferson Academy, Liam O’Halloran (So.) The Classical Academy, Ivan Richmond (Sr.) Estes Park, Ethan Tartaglia (Sr.) Peak to Peak, Ian Thorpe (Sr.) Peak to Peak, Ben Zimmerman (So.) Kent Denver
The 2017 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.
[divider]
Class 5A
(Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)
Player of the year: Haley Schueppert, Mountain Vista
The 2017 all-state boys swimming teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created based upon results at the state meet.
Swimmers of the year were selected based upon the number of team points they produced at the state meet. This means that they received the full amount of team points from individual events they swam in, as well as one-fourth of the total points earned by the team in relays they swam in.
Divers of the year were selected by finish at the state meet. Coaches of the year were voted upon by coaches at the state meet.
[divider]
Class 5A
Swimmer of the year: Michael Zarian, Fairview
Diver of the year: Octavio Lucero, Bear Creek
Swim coach of the year: Kirk Witulski, Fort Collins
Dive coach of the year: Grant Robinson, Cherry Creek
First Team
Name
School
Year
Event(s)
Shamzi Alkaff
Senior
Fossil Ridge
50 free, 200 free relay
Noah Bettner
Senior
Lewis-Palmer
Diving
Keegan Bundy
Senior
Denver South
50 free
Griffin Eiber
Senior
Arapahoe
200 free, 100 free
Matt Geraghty
Junior
Fossil Ridge
200 free relay, 400 free relay
Danny Kovac
Junior
Fossil Ridge
200 medley relay, 100 butterfly
Joshua Lenzmeier
Senior
Liberty
100 breast
Duncan Lester
Senior
Fairview
Diving
Octavio Lucero
Junior
Bear Creek
Diving
Kris Malinin
Senior
Fossil Ridge
200 medley relay, 200 free relay
Gavin Olson
Sophomore
Columbine
100 back
Josh Pales
Freshman
Fossil Ridge
200 medley relay, 200 free relay
Quinton Pierce
Junior
Boulder
200 free
Sam Ybarra
Senior
Fossil Ridge
200 medley relay, 400 free relay
Michael Zarian
Senior
Fairview
200 IM, 100 butterfly
Second Team
Name
School
Year
Event(s)
Aric Althouse
Junior
Lewis-Palmer
Diving
Will Brown
Junior
Fairview
200 free relay
Ty Coen
Junior
Regis Jesuit
200 medley relay
Timothy Domashevich
Junior
Smoky Hill
Diving
Joe Felton
Junior
Fairview
200 free relay
William Goodwin
Sophomore
Regis Jesuit
200 medley relay
Caleb Ives
Junior
Arapahoe
Diving
Justin Li
Senior
Fairview
400 free relay
Harrison Lierz
Freshman
Broomfield
200 IM, 500 free
Walker Martin
Senior
Fairview
200 free relay, 400 free relay
Jack Nagle
Junior
Lewis-Palmer
Diving
Lochlainn Renfrow
Senior
Fairview
400 free relay
Gabe Reuter
Junior
Cherry Creek
Diving
Alexander Strepman
Senior
Regis Jesuit
200 medley relay
Elijah Warren
Junior
Regis Jesuit
200 medley relay, 100 breast
[divider]
Class 4A
Swimmer of the year: Daniel Carr, Cheyenne Mountain
AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Cheyenne Mountain captured their third consecutive state title and sixth overall in their 337-point finish at the Class 4A boys swimming and diving state finals on Saturday.
The defending champions swept all three relay events, including a 4A state record-breaking time in the final event of the night, the 400-yard freestyle relay. Seniors Daniel Carr, Westin Stieglitz, Jerry Birnbaum, and junior Kyle Leach clocked a 3:02:67, beating their previously set 4A record by nearly four seconds.
Leach finished first and second in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle respectively, and will look to carry on Cheyenne Mountain’s success in the departure of the three senior standouts.
The Indians weren’t the only ones to break a record, though. Thompson Valley senior Liam Gately broke two, earning All-American accolades in both his individual races.
Gately swam an impressive 1:36:94 in the 200-yard freestyle, a time only two tenths slower than the Colorado record that olympic swimmer Clark Smith holds. The senior swam a 44:64 in the 100-yard freestyle later in the evening, breaking Daniel Carr’s 2015 time.
Gately now holds the 4A state record for both races. Last year, the then-junior finished second in the 200-yard.
“This season I really focused on the sprint swim. I dropped the 500-yard free and zoned in on getting the best times in these two races,” says Gately. “It’s exciting to say the least. These times show me that what I’ve been working on for the past couple of years has paid off.”
Gately also swam a leg of the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay, where his team placed fourth and second, respectively.
Cheyenne Mountain All-American Daniel Carr finished first in both his races as well. In the 50-yard freestyle, the senior swam a 20:45 and in the 200-yard, a 4:33:99. His performance earned him the Swimmer of the Year title.
In the 1-meter diving competition, Estes Park senior Jacob Bielmaier claimed the top spot with a 521.5 score, beating the rest of the field by over 30 points.
“Words cannot describe how amazing this feels,” said Bielmaier. “I’ve been working for this since the sixth grade. It’s been my main goal in life so far, and I did it.”
Last year, Bielmaier came in second to then Valor Christian freshman Casey Fellows.
“I started this season with a definite mission of nailing first place in state.” he said. “I had a more focused mentality on that and it paid off,” says the first-time dive champion.
Valor Christian finished in second as a team, followed by Thompson Valley.
The 2016 all-state boys soccer teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These team were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of coaches.
[divider]
Class 5A
(Derek Regensburger/MaxPreps)
Player of the year: Tajon Buchanan, Legacy
Coach of the year: Hardy Kalisher, Boulder
First Team
Name
School
Year
Pos.
Tajon Buchanan
Legacy
Senior
FORW
Evan Bunch
Arapahoe
Senior
D
Sam Carson
Denver East
Junior
FORW
Omar Castruita
Boulder
Sophomore
FORW
Djibril Doumbia
Boulder
Sophomore
GK
Max Gottesfeld
Denver East
Senior
FORW
Ryan Houseman
Fairview
Senior
MF
Grant Martinez
Fossil Ridge
Senior
–
Armando Ocampo
Broomfield
Senior
–
Riley Shea
Broomfield
Senior
–
Blaise Werner
Boulder
Senior
FORW
Second Team
Name
School
Year
Pos.
Josh Alpert
Cherry Creek
Senior
MF
Mitchell Graesser
Boulder
Senior
D
Simon Julian
Boulder
Senior
D
Daulton Logan
Broomfield
Senior
–
Abraham Lopez
Boulder
Senior
MF
Chase Pacheco
Mountain Vista
Senior
MF
Mathew Rhoads
Fort Collins
Junior
D
Alex Ruiz
Grandview
Senior
MF
Jack Schulze
Heritage
Senior
GK
Jamie Soto
Fossil Ridge
Senior
–
Eric Thompson
Fort Collins
Junior
MF
Andrew Turk
Pine Creek
Senior
FORW
Honorable mention: Matt Behnke, Rock Canyon, Senior, FORW; Braden Bloom, Castle View, Senior, D; Cameron Broadhurst, Broomfield, Junior; Luke Drumright, Arvada West, Senior, MF/FORW; Miguel Garcia, Far Northeast Warriors, Senior, GK; Andrew Hansen, Grand Junction, Senior, D/MF/FORW; Joey Hussey, Rangeview, Senior, D; Jackson Myers, ThunderRidge, Senior, D; Phillip Pedler, Lakewood, Junior, STRK/D; Erik Plascencia, Bear Creek, Junior, MF; Jacob Roldan, Smoky Hill, Senior, MF; Abram Sanchez, Grand Junction, Junior, STRK; Edgar Sepulveda, Westminster, Senior, MF; Stone Streeter, Fairview, Senior, MF; Raghav Thapa, Cherokee Trail, Senior; Brandon Valladares, Greeley West, Senior, GK; Roberto Vasquez, Denver East, Senior, MF; Miguel Veloz, Bear Creek, Junior, FORW; Joel Walker, Vista Ridge, Senior, MF/FORW; Kevin Yevak, Ralston Valley, Senior, D; Miguel Zambrano, Gateway, Senior, MF.
[divider]
Class 4A
(Michael Hankins/TGWstudios.com)
Player of the year: Titus Grant, The Classical Academy
Coach of the year: Blake Galvin, The Classical Academy
First Team
Name
School
Year
Pos.
Jeremy Baldes
The Classical Academy
Senior
–
Jaden Borja
The Classical Academy
Senior
–
Cody Brazelton
Mullen
Senior
FORW
Titus Grant
The Classical Academy
Senior
FORW
Andrew Hiester
Air Academy
Senior
D/MF/STRK
Juan Macias
Battle Mountain
Junior
FORW
Jackson Neal
Lewis-Palmer
Senior
MF
Michael Peters
Pueblo West
Senior
MF/FORW
Wesley Tedstrom
D’Evelyn
Senior
–
Karlo Terrazas
Greeley Central
Senior
GK
Luke White
Cheyenne Mountain
Senior
FORW
Second Team
Name
School
Year
Pos.
Sam Alvares
Cheyenne Mountain
Senior
D
Cristian Catalan
Denver West
Senior
MF/FORW
Chris Chasteen
The Classical Academy
Senior
D
Nico Denton
D’Evelyn
Senior
–
Eli Fenton
Durango
Junior
FORW/MF
Miles Joersz
Battle Mountain
Senior
D
Seth Legan
Pueblo Centennial
Senior
MF
Patrick O’Neil
Evergreen
Senior
D/MF
Ryan Pierce
Valor Christian
Sophomore
GK
Dylan Stanley
Pueblo West
Junior
MF
Brandon Staple
Longmont
Junior
STRK
Honorable mention: Brandon Archuleta, Pueblo West, Senior, MF; Alex Arnold, Niwot, Senior, FORW; Carlos Bahena, Denver West, Senior, MF/HB/FORW; Jorge Baranda, Wheat Ridge, Sophomore, MF/FORW; Richard Benson, Evergreen, Senior, FB/D; Will Beurskens, Steamboat Springs, Junior, MF; Nick Boldvich, Palmer Ridge, Junior; Chris Chasteen, The Classical Academy, Senior, D; Spencer Condon, Mountain View, Senior, STRK/MF; Ture Elamo, Skyview, Senior, GK; Danny Gallardo, Mitchell, Senior, MF; Camden Garland, Durango, Senior, D/MF; Josh Griffin, Standley Lake, Senior; Connor Henry, Durango, Senior, MF; Christopher Himel, Centaurus, Junior, D/FORW; Kristian Hooker, Air Academy, Junior, FORW/MF; Michael Jimenez, Mullen, Junior, FORW/MF; Creek Kamby, Battle Mountain, Senior; Parker Klein, Ponderosa, Senior, MF; Hayden MacPherson, Lewis-Palmer, Senior, GK; Dawson McCawley, Skyline, Senior, MF/FORW/D; Sergio Mendoza, Pueblo South, Senior, GK; Landen Nau, Pueblo West, Senior, D; Brandon Rodriguez, Battle Mountain, Senior, MF; Nikylas Roitsch, The Classical Academy, Senior, D/MF; Jonny Stephens, The Classical Academy, Junior, D/MF; Miguel Toledo, Silver Creek, Senior, STRK.
[divider]
Class 3A
(Michael Hankins/TGWstudios.com)
Player of the year: Max Mehlman, Kent Denver
Coach of the year: Matt Cassell, Jefferson Academy
First Team
Name
School
Year
Pos.
Mohamud Ahmed
Bruce Randolph
Senior
STRK/MF
Lucas Almeida
Jefferson Academy
Senior
–
AJ Arroyo
Jefferson Academy
Junior
–
Larson Baker
Colorado Academy
Junior
–
Evan Coit
Salida
Senior
–
David Felman
Kent Denver
Senior
FORW
Roger Hernandez
KIPP Denver
Senior
–
Brendan Lefkowicz
Peak to Peak
Junior
FORW/D
Max Mehlman
Kent Denver
Senior
HB
Ross Rainaldi
Kent Denver
Senior
GK
Gabe Sherwood
Colorado Springs Christian
Senior
MF/FORW
Ian Strine
Fountain Valley
Senior
–
Second Team
Name
School
Year
Pos.
Rory Buck
Kent Denver
Senior
HB
Jonathan Espinoza
Coal Ridge
Senior
–
Jorge Gurrola
KIPP Denver
Junior
–
Kile Kelley
Jefferson Academy
Senior
–
Galen Kelly
Fountain Valley
Junior
–
Brandon Leeper
Jefferson Academy
Senior
–
Ross Norwood
Colorado Springs Christian
Senior
GK
Victor Ponce de Leon
Arrupe Jesuit
Junior
FB
Lookens Smith
Colorado Springs Christian
Sophomore
FORW/MF
Miguel Vargas
Jefferson
Senior
–
Kolin Whisler
Bennett
Senior
–
Honorable mention: Paul Boehner, Liberty Common, Senior, MF/D; Javier De La Cruz, Basalt, Senior; Conor Findley, DSST-Stapleton, Junior, GK; Josh Fulk, Coal Ridge, Junior; Kevin Garcia, Vail Mountain, Senior; Jacob Gonzalez, St. Mary’s, Senior, MF; Sebastian Grigore, Dawson School, Senior; Irvin Guaderrama, Lake County, Senior, FORW; Brandon Harper, Delta, Junior; Hajrudin Karasalihovic, William Smith, Junior, MF; Braedan Krier, Sterling, Senior; Zion Lander, DSST-Green Valley Ranch, Senior, STRK; Michael Longtine, The Academy, Senior, MF/D; Tanner MacKay, Colorado Springs Christian, Junior, MF/STRK; Nestor Perez, Valley, Senior, FORW; Mike Rutledge, Frontier Academy, Senior, MF; Kyle Shaffer, Rye, Senior, STRK/MF; Elliot Shaw, Middle Park, Senior, MF/D/FORW; Eric Strauss, Jefferson Academy, Junior; Edgar Torres, Aurora West College Prep, Senior, MF/D; Juan Torres, The Pinnacle, Senior; Alec Vega, DSST-Green Valley Ranch, Senior, MF; Ted Weiss, Manitou Springs, Senior, MF; Amos Westley, Estes Park, Junior, GK/D.
