Vista PEAK (5A), Montrose (4A) and Cotopaxi (1A) have joined this week’s girls basketball rankings.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Highland has moved up to the No. 1 spot in this week’s Class 2A boys basketball poll.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
First-place votes are in parentheses.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rangeview (14)
13-0
149
1
2-0
2
Denver East
12-0
105
4
2-0
3
Eaglecrest (1)
11-2
100
2
1-1
4
Smoky Hill
11-2
99
3
1-1
5
Grandview
9-4
81
6
2-0
6
Ralston Valley
12-2
66
9
3-0
7
Fairview
11-3
64
7
3-0
8
Columbine
10-2
60
5
1-1
9
Chaparral
9-5
28
10
2-0
10
Pine Creek
11-2
17
–
3-1
Others receiving votes:
Cherry Creek 16, Legend 14, Doherty 6, Highlands Ranch 5, Overland 5, Arapahoe 2, Boulder 2, Mountain Vista 2, Valor Christian 2, ThunderRidge 1, Vista Peak Prep 1.
Dropped out
Arapahoe (8).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Cheyenne Mountain (7)
12-0
114
1
3-0
2
Mead (4)
12-1
112
2
3-0
3
Longmont (1)
10-2
83
7
2-0
4
Northfield
10-3
67
6
1-0
5
Harrison
9-2
62
3
1-1
6
Pueblo West
9-4
57
4
1-2
7
Golden
9-5
29
5
1-2
8
Erie
10-3
23
8
2-1
9
Green Mountain
9-4
20
10
1-1
10
Montrose
11-3
16
–
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Thomas Jefferson 14, Glenwood Springs 13, Lincoln 13, Skyline 13, Pueblo East 7, Centaurus 4, The Classical Academy 4, Evergreen 2, Ponderosa 2, Silver Creek 2, Frederick 1, Lewis-Palmer 1, Widefield 1.
Dropped out
Lewis-Palmer (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Resurrection Christian (16)
10-0
177
1
2-0
2
The Vanguard School
8-1
123
5
2-0
3
Sterling
9-1
122
3
2-0
4
Lutheran
7-2
118
2
1-0
5
Faith Christian
9-2
107
4
2-0
6
Centauri (2)
11-0
100
6
2-0
7
DSST: Byers
8-1
56
7
2-1
8
Eaton
10-1
41
10
2-0
9
University
9-2
36
8
1-1
10
Englewood
8-0
35
–
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Manitou Springs 23, Gunnison 10, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 8, St. Mary’s 8, Jefferson Academy 6, Manual 5, Montezuma-Cortez 5, Colorado Academy 4, Jefferson 3, Strasburg 3.
This week’s girls basketball rankings added six new squads: Fruita Monument (5A), Sierra (4A), Montrose (4A), University (3A), Heritage Christian (2A), and Kit Carson (1A).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
First-place votes are in parentheses.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Cherry Creek (12)
8-1
147
1
3-0
2
Grandview (1)
8-2
129
2
2-0
3
Valor Christian (2)
10-1
124
3
2-0
4
Highlands Ranch
8-4
104
4
1-1
5
Regis Jesuit
7-3
86
5
2-0
6
Fossil Ridge
6-1
73
7
0-0
7
Ralston Valley
8-2
51
8
2-1
8
Cherokee Trail
9-2
45
6
1-1
9
Fruita Monument
14-1
28
–
2-0
10
Vista Peak Prep
9-1
12
9
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Chaparral 8, Fountain-Fort Carson 8, Mountain Vista 7, Denver East 3.
Dropped out
Mountain Vista (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Mullen (13)
8-3
164
1
2-0
2
Pueblo West (4)
10-0
154
2
1-0
3
Berthoud
11-0
111
3
3-0
4
Green Mountain
10-1
90
7
2-0
5
Sand Creek
8-1
89
5
2-0
6
Air Academy
6-2
79
6
1-0
7
Holy Family
6-4
48
10
3-0
8
Erie
9-1
44
4
1-1
9
Sierra
7-3
34
–
2-0
10
Montrose
11-2
22
–
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Ponderosa 21, Greeley Central 17, Falcon 15, Evergreen 11, George Washington 11, Pueblo County 5, Thompson Valley 5, Mesa Ridge 4, Pueblo South 4, Golden 3, D’Evelyn 2, Littleton 1, Mead 1.
Dropped out
Ponderosa (8), George Washington (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
St. Mary’s (13)
8-1
130
1
2-0
2
Lutheran
6-1
97
2
0-0
3
Centauri
9-0
95
3
0-0
4
Alamosa
7-1
75
6
1-0
5
The Academy
7-0
73
4
1-0
6
Pagosa Springs
6-2
70
5
1-0
7
Platte Valley
5-1
36
8
0-0
8
The Vanguard
7-1
35
7
1-1
9
Eaton
7-2
33
9
0-0
10
University
7-2
27
–
2-0
Others receiving votes:
Delta 22, Resurrection Christian 9, Riverdale Ridge 4, Colorado Springs Christian 2, Manitou Springs 2, Moffat County 2, Brush 1, Grand Valley 1, Trinidad 1.
Cotopaxi 26, Elbert 14, Wiley 12, De Beque 11, Evangelical Christian 9, Bethune 8, Dove Creek 6, Flatirons Academy 4, McClave 4, Kim/Branson 3, Deer Trail 2, Haxtun 2, Longmont Christian 2, Front Range Baptist 1, Mile High Academy 1.
The No. 1 teams in the preseason girls basketball rankings include: Cherry Creek, Mullen, St. Mary’s, Limon and Kit Carson.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Montrose 30, D’Evelyn 27, Erie 24, Sierra 18, Ponderosa 16, Sand Creek 15, George Washington 12, Longmont 4, Skyline 4, Canon City 2, Roosevelt 2, Skyview 2, Thomas Jefferson 1.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
St. Mary’s (10)
0-0
100
2
Pagosa Springs
0-0
85
3
Delta
0-0
66
4
Lutheran
0-0
64
5
Eaton
0-0
49
6
Centauri
0-0
45
7
Alamosa
0-0
36
8
Platte Valley
0-0
27
9
Colorado Springs Christian
0-0
20
10
University
0-0
17
Others receiving votes:
The Academy 15, Resurrection Christian 7, Cedaredge 5, Faith Christian 3, Manitou Springs 3, Moffat County 3, SkyView Academy 3, Lamar 2, Grand Valley 1.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Limon (8)
0-0
114
2
Sanford
0-0
85
3
Wray (1)
0-0
71
4
Yuma (3)
0-0
65
5
Del Norte
0-0
59
6
Meeker
0-0
51
7
Swink
0-0
45
8
Holyoke
0-0
37
9
Heritage Christian
0-0
29
10
Ignacio
0-0
28
Others receiving votes:
Simla 21, Rye 20, Rocky Ford 12, Dawson 6, Highland 5, Soroco 5, Peyton 4, Center 1, Lyons 1, Sedgwick County 1.
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Kit Carson (7)
0-0
114
2
Briggsdale (2)
0-0
108
3
Fleming (3)
0-0
95
4
South Baca
0-0
81
5
Genoa-Hugo/Karval
0-0
66
6
Sangre de Cristo (1)
0-0
48
7
Springfield
0-0
36
8
Merino
0-0
27
9
Haxtun
0-0
25
10
De Beque
0-0
22
Others receiving votes:
Cotopaxi 19, Elbert 12, Shining Mountain Waldorf 12, Lone Star 10, La Veta 9, Kim/Branson 7, Hanover 6, Wiley 6, Dove Creek 5, McClave 5, Cheraw 1, Idalia 1.
Legacy, now 12-1-0 this season, has moved up to the No. 1 spot in this week’s Class 5A boys soccer rankings.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Legacy (7)
12-1-0
78
5
2-0-0
2
Boulder
10-2-0
67
1
3-0-0
3
Cherry Creek (2)
8-2-2
65
3
0-0-0
4
Rampart
13-0-1
57
2
1-0-1
5
Broomfield
11-2-0
46
4
1-1-0
6
Grandview
8-2-2
40
7
1-0-0
7
Fairview
10-3-0
34
6
2-1-0
8
Regis Jesuit
10-1-2
24
9
3-0-0
9
Castle View
10-1-2
22
10
0-0-0
10
Arvada West
10-2-0
18
8
0-0–1
Others receiving votes:
Arapahoe 9, Brighton 8, Smoky Hill 7, Overland 6, Eaglecrest 4, Denver East 3, Mountain Vista 3, Aurora Central 2, Far Northeast Warriors 1, Gateway 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Battle Mountain (6)
12-0-1
86
1
1-0-0
2
Golden (2)
12-1-1
78
2
2-0-0
3
Skyview
12-0-1
73
3
2-0-0
4
Silver Creek
10-1-2
61
4
2-0-0
5
Air Academy
10-4-0
49
5
2-0-0
6
Lewis-Palmer (1)
11-3-0
43
7
2-0-0
7
Alameda
13-1-0
40
6
2-0-0
8
Holy Family
11-2-0
21
8
2-0-0
9
Glenwood Springs
10-1-3
12
9
1-0-1
10
Discovery Canyon
10-3-0
10
–
2-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Erie 7, Loveland 7, Regis Groff 4, Denver North 2, Niwot 1, The Classical Academy 1.
Dropped out
Loveland (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Kent Denver (5)
14-0-0
84
1
2-0-0
2
Salida (4)
12-0-1
75
2
3-0-0
3
Atlas Preparatory School
12-0-1
69
4
3-0-0
4
Roaring Fork
10-1-1
63
3
2-0-0
5
Delta
11-3-0
49
6
2-0-0
6
Colorado Academy
9-3-1
39
5
0-1-1
7
Aurora West College Prep Academy
11-1-0
27
7
0-0-0
8
Liberty Common
8-3-1
23
8
2-1-0
9
Arrupe Jesuit
10-2-1
20
9
2-0-0
10
Faith Christian
8-3-1
16
10
2-0-0
Others receiving votes:
DSST: Byers 10, Middle Park 6, Lutheran 5, KIPP Denver Collegiate 4, Jefferson Academy 2, Lamar 1, The Acåademy 1, Vail Mountain 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Crested Butte (4)
10-3-1
25
1
0-0-0
2
Dawson School (2)
9-3-1
24
2
2-0-0
3
Fountain Valley
10-3-0
17
3
3-0-0
4
Heritage Christian
10-2-0
16
–
2-0-0
5
Colorado Rocky Mountain (1)
6-3-1
12
–
1-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Lotus School For Excellence 6, Denver Christian 4, Telluride 1.
As the start of the fall season inches closer, it’s fun to take a look at what the 2019-20 school year has in store on the athletic fields.
The 2018 boys soccer season gave fans plenty of memorable moments that were capped off with championship runs by Arapahoe, Air Academy, Kent Denver and Crested Butte. But past champions aren’t the only things to rehash as the start of official practices looms.
There were players statewide who put up impressive numbers through the course of the season. A lot of those players are returning and giving fans a good reason to keep an eye on what plays out on the soccer field this fall.
[divider]
Overall points:
Sand Creek’s Jayden Austin blew away the field in total points last year, but the Scorpions lost those staggering numbers to graduation. Across the state, it will be Battle Mountain senior Danny Barajas who returns in 2019 with the most points from last year.
Barajas scored 68 total points thanks to a combination of 24 goals and 20 assists. Right behind both from an all-classification standpoint, as well as a Class 4A standpoint is Gatorade player of the year Thad Dewing out of Air Academy, who totaled 62 points.
Last year’s 5A leader in points comes back as Rangeview’s Rashid Seidu-Aroza totaled 60 points.
Delta’s Martin Corral led 3A with 61 points and will be back for the Panthers this fall. Heritage Christian junior Nagi Williams returns as the 2A leader in points. The top three points leaders from 2A last year all graduated this past spring.
Goals:
(Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)
It’s no surprise to see many of the same names on the points list fall into the category of returning goal scorers. Corral leads all returning players across the state after he scored 28 goals in 2018.
Seidu-Aroza leads the crop of 5A returners with 27 goals to his name last year. He was matched in 4A by Dewing.
Ridgway’s Robert Beserra and Heritage Christian’s Williams each scored 22 goals last year to return as the leading scorers in the 2A field.
Assists:
Just as important as those scoring goals are those finding the goal scorers. Union Colony Prep junior Isaac Perez finished last year with 21 helpers to rank second in the state in all classes. With two years still play, it’s safe to assume that he’ll continue to place the ball where his forwards can bury it in the back of the net.
Boulder senior Sam Phillips assisted on 14 goals. It was tied for third in 5A, but those sitting either with him or above him on that leaderboard will not return in 2019. The Panthers advanced to the 5A semifinals last year so having Phillips back is crucial to any state championship hopes.
Part of the reason Barajas is returning to the pitch with the most points in the state is his ability to find scorers on top of putting the ball in the net on his own. His 20 assists mark the most by a returning 4A player this fall.
Salida’s Quinn Bosanko matched Barajas’ 20 assists last year. It was good enough to lead all 3A players and he’ll be back for the Spartans this fall.
LAKEWOOD — Luc Andrada saw a glimpse of the future.
“Before the 4×100, I swear I’ve never been more confident before a race,” Andrada said on the final day of the state track and field championships. “I had a weird gut feeling that we would PR by half a second and win it. That’s what we did.”
Andrada and his teammates capped off a terrific weekend for Pueblo East, claiming the 4A 400-meter relay title in a time of 42.40 seconds.
But, the victory did not come so easily. In the preliminary round, held on Friday, Pueblo East finished 4th with a time of 42.98. Only 0.17 of a second separated Windsor in 1st and Skyline in 5th though.
The senior sprinter knew how close Saturday’s final would be, but Pueblo East had a lightning rod in Andrada as the anchor leg. As long as he could get the baton relatively close to the leaders, he would have a chance of winning.
After all, he was the 4A king of the sprints this season, tallying gold medals in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Andrada simply has next-level speed.
“We were thankful to be in lane three, so we could see our competition in front of us,” he said.
And, Kain Medrano, Joe Padula, and Marvin London gave Andrada a shot. They were in the thick of the race with one leg to go, but Skyline (42.54, 2nd place) and Canon City (42.63, 3rd) were ahead.
Andrada made it all up in the final 100 meters, causing the Jeffco Stadium crowd to buzz.
He had plenty of spectators chatting about him throughout the final day of competition. His winning times of 10.51 in the 100 and 21.21 in the 200 were slightly wind-aided but very swift.
The 4A 100 state record of 10.53, which Andrada would’ve beaten if his time was wind-legal, has been held since 2000 (Gregg Trigg of Fountain Fort-Carson).
Nevertheless, Andrada put the finishing touches on a memorable prep career, and with style, while also anchoring Pueblo East to a 4×200 relay state crown on Friday.
“They just gave me a chance,” he said of the 4×200. “With a team like that, how can you lose it?”
Medrano, Padula, and Oscar Flores were the other members of that relay as they gave Andrada the baton in a close battle with Pueblo West (runner-up).
For all of Andrada’s accomplishments in football, East was the state runner-up his senior year and the champion in 2016, Medrano has been a decorated athlete as well. He broke the 4A state meet record in discus on Thursday (188-6) and finished runner-up in shot put.
Medrano will soon be a football player for UCLA, while Andrada will compete at Brigham Young University in both football and track.
“He motivates me to be a better person day in and day out,” Andrada said of their friendship. “He’s always pushing me to be better. He deserves every accomplishment.”
[divider]
Class 5A
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
The Valor Christian boys won their first state championship as a track and field team with 90 points. They also won the girls title as Fort Collins (57 boys points) was the runner-up for both genders.
Cian Quiroga will bring a title back to Valor in the discus (182-4) and Cole Sprout won his second 1,600 crown (4A in 2018) in 4:13. They also earned gold in the 4×100 relay (42.46).
Fort Collins’ Joseph Maguire, the anchor of their 4×400 relay group, just barely edged out Arapahoe at the line as the teams ran 3:18.77 and 3:18.78.
A terrific 110 hurdles showdown between seniors Zion Gordon of Regis Jesuit and Cameron Harris of Brighton produced swift times of 13.85 and 14.03. Gordon, a University of Southern California recruit, won the 5A crown.
Gordon (10.67) got the better of Harris (10.72) again in the 100-meter dash, the next event on Saturday. Both will be competing at the collegiate level as Brighton’s super sprinter signed with Air Force.
Harris was also the runner-up in the 300 hurdles to Garrett Nelson of Poudre (37.16). Nelson’s time was sixth-fastest in Colorado prep history.
Eaglecrest’s Langston Williams will bring a gold medal back to Aurora with his 400 win (48.59).
Monarch’s Max Manson capped his storied career with three pole vault state titles. He cleared 16 feet, 8 inches in his prep finale.
[divider]
Class 4A
Niwot needed to finish at least fifth in the final event of the weekend, the 4×400 relay, to capture the team crown over Pueblo East but instead the Cougars won the event in a time of 3:22.86. Niwot bettered Pueblo East 66-60 in the final team standings. The Cougars also won the girls crown.
Zhaire Jackson (Northfield) topped the 110 hurdles field in 14.60 seconds.
Niwot junior Cruz Culpepper smoothly crossed the line in 4:16.69 to earn a 1,600 championship, adding to his 800 crown on Friday and helping Niwot earn a team trophy.
Brendan Young, the pride of Canon City, won a pair of jump titles this weekend (long and triple). He leapt 47 feet, 11 inches in triple jump Saturday.
[divider]
Class 3A
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Manitou Springs produced the 100 and 200 champion in Jayden Omi. His times were 10.97 and 22.14 seconds.
Nate Hanson of Lutheran (14.31) was the 110-hurdles champion as the Lions swept the boys (91.5 points) and girls team titles. Mike Ciccio was second in the 400 and Lutheran piled up points with great depth.
Lutheran has won six state titles in boys track and field.
Denver West, with brothers Yasin and Ahmed Sado finishing 1-2 in the 1,600, was the runner-up with 65 points.
Elizabeth’s Mason Anthony, the 3A state record holder in the 300 hurdles, didn’t quite top his best time but still finished 1st in 38.67.
Alamosa won the boys (3:23) and girls (3:58) 4×400 relays, while Ian Jackson and Lilly Lavier were individual 400 champions for Alamosa.
[divider]
Class 2A
Lyons boys (68 points) claimed their fifth team title in track and field, but first since 2015. Mancos was the runner-up with 57. Lyons excelled in distance events once again.
Both competitors, Grant Redmond of Soroco and and Jake Chrisman of Yuma, cleared 6 feet, 7 inches in the high jump but Redmond won with fewer attempts. Chrisman was the pole vault gold medal winner on Thursday.
David Trujillo of Rocky Ford was the champion in the 100 with a time of 11.19.
Clear Creek boys won the 4×100 relay (44.10).
Alex Ramos (Holly, 50.14) cruised in the 400.
Jaden Evans of Telluride (4:30.27) held off Isaac Roberts of Lyons (4:30.77) in the 1,600.
Victor Mendoza (20 feet, 10.5 inches) of Yuma was the long jump champion.
[divider]
Class 1A
The Heritage Christian boys scored points in bunches, securing the team title again with 148 points. They won in 2018 in much the same way with firepower in distance as Levi Kilian (4:28) and Seth Bruxvoort (4:32) both shattered the 1A State meet record in the 1,600 and were 1st and 2nd.
HCA tallied points in many other events, as well, including the 300 hurdles (Ryan Zrubek, champion) and the 200 (Jaden Johnson, 1st).
Arlo Garner of Cotopaxi (15.48) was the state champion in 110 hurdles.
Elton Yarger of Stratton/Liberty broke the triple jump state record yesterday and clinched the 400 title in 50.61 seconds today.
Pikes Peak Christian’s Tommy Harmon (12-10) climbed higher than anyone in pole vault.
Simla (3:37.82) won the 4×400 relay and finished runner-up in the team standings. Simla also claimed the 4×100 title and Darias Harms was the 100 champion in a new 1A State Meet record of 11.18.
