“It’s crazy. I’ve been here every year we’ve won, because my older sisters were both on the team,” Vail Christian captain Isabelle Carlson said. “How far this team has come this year is really inspiring. We pulled it together and got it done.”
Patti Carlson — in her seventh year as the coach of the Saints — has a state championship for every year dating back to 2011. Vail Christian has not won a title in any other sport.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” Patti Carlson said. “These kids did everything. They’re smart, they work hard. We’re here, and we won.”
The championship win puts the Saints in a tie for the eighth-most spirit spirit titles in state history.
Vail Christian turned in a score of 76.9833 to beat out Sanford, who finished with a final score of 68.9333. The Saints made it to the finals with a score of 77.3833 in Friday’s competition.
“Our school is small, so it feels like a family,” Patti Carlson said. “We’ve had so many sisters on our team. It’s family support.”
Elsewhere in poms, Bayfield took the 3A title over Aspen with an impressive score of 84.9167. Bayfield finished runner-up at last year’s competition.
Wheat Ridge claimed a repeat title in 4A with its score of 88.4333. Valor Christian edged out Erie to take second place with an 85.0333.
ThunderRidge won its first title in 5A poms with a score of 94.2333. Grandview finished in second for a second straight runner-up finish.
Cherokee Trail won the school’s first title in 5A cheer, beating last year’s champion Rock Canyon.
Valor Christian won the 4A championship by virtue of a tiebreak over Thompson Valley. The two teams tied with 83.0500 points, but Valor had a higher average score from the cheer judges, which gave them the title.
Valor Christian won the 2016 title, while Thompson Valley finished runner-up.
In 3A, The Academy topped Pinnacle and Prospect Ridge with a score of 80.35. That’s the school’s first 3A cheer title.
Highland won a second-straight title in 2A cheer, finishing ahead of Cheyenne Wells.
[divider]
Co-ed Cheer
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Castle View won its fourth-straight title in 4A/5A, topping Mountain Vista and Vista Ridge.
St. Mary’s claimed the title in 2A/3A for a third-straight championship. Coal Ridge, Bayfield and Salida finished behind the Pirates.
[divider]
Jazz
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Ponderosa won the Jazz title, moving the Mustangs into a tie for the most spirit titles in state history. Ponderosa now has 11 state spirit championships after turning in a 95.2.
Mountain Vista finished in second place with 93.5833 points.
[divider]
Hip Hop
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Broomfield rocked the house with it’s hip hop performance and took the state title.
Eaglecrest finished in the runner-up spot, while Overland gave longtime coach Becky Grasser a solid sendoff with a third-place finish.
Monarch, which won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, finished in fourth.
Belleview Christian won its first football game since 2012 on Saturday.
The Bruins beat Miami-Yoder 18-14 during their homecoming contest. It was their first victory since Oct. 6, 2012 against Justice — five years and one day ago.
The 8-man football program started in the fall of 2012, and went 2-6. Belleview Christian was then 0-7 in 2013, and didn’t field a team in 2014 nor 2015. The Bruins returned to the field last season, and went 0-6.
It means Saturday’s win, which was the first varsity win for second-year coach Darius Oller, also snapped a 17-game losing streak.
[divider]
Notables:
Coaches Scott Yates (Kent Denver) and Chris Brown (West Grand) remained tied atop Colorado’s all-times wins list this week as both of their teams won. Kent Denver beat Ridge View Academy on Friday, and West Grand beat Plateau Valley 46-0 on Saturday.
In a 6-man game that was delayed from Friday night because of a faulty light, No. 2 Stratton/Liberty cruised to a 53-6 win over No. 3 Cheyenne Wells.
5A No. 10 Highlands Ranch (5-1) handed Lakewood (5-1) its first loss this season with a 35-28 victory.
4A No. 9 Pueblo South is now 5-1 following a 42-14 win over Grand Junction Central.
2A No. 2 Bayfield rolled to a 56-12 win over Montezuma-Cortez.
1A No. 1 Bennett continued its roll, beating Vail Christian 52-8. Bennett is averaging 54.5 points per game.
1A No. 3 Strasburg is 5-1 after a 57-20 win over Byers.
1A No. 2 Meeker is 6-0 after beating Grand Valley 34-7.
6-man No. 6 Kit Carson rolled to a 77-0 win over Branson/Kim. Kit Carson is now 5-1.
6-man No. 10 Genoa-Hugo is 4-2 after beating Edison 73-25.
Far Northeast edged out a win over city foe Denver East in 5A, 28-27.
Pueblo Central football snapped a 15-game losing streak on Saturday.
Nico Martin ran for three touchdowns as Pueblo Central beat Glenwood Springs 27-17.
The Wildcats grabbed a 21-7 lead in the second half, but the Demons were able to battle back and pull to within four points thanks to a 30-yard field goal.
But just as he had been the hero on offense all day, Martin shut down any hopes that Glenwood had of making a full comeback as he picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
And just like that our boys get their first W in 15 games…with plenty more on the way #OA ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/njnraBscy9
This year, Bayfield wants to start fresh in more ways than one. Captain Katelyn Gosney, who made up half of that tandem, is one of the few constants in Bayfield’s reinvention.
“(Gosney) has been in it the whole time,” First year head coach Annette French said. “She’s been hanging in there. This is her senior year, so finally I’m glad she gets to go out with a good team. The majority of our team is freshman that have had tumbling and all-star experience.
“I’ve got to give credit to our seniors, they’ve just hung in there with the program for the past few years.”
French and Gosney are looking forward to showing her small town what Bayfield cheer is capable of. To start, French has a team of 12 girls, including Gosney, and four boys. Three of those boys also play football at Bayfield.
“I’ve had a vision for the team for a long time,” French said. “It’s exciting to finally see all the work ethic that I’ve been instilling in these kids and finally now have the opportunity to coach a team and see them succeed.”
French runs a gymnastics facility in Bayfield and has been able to work with most of the girls she has on Bayfield’s team prior to this year.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of the girls,” French said on her facility that she’s owned for seven years. “A bunch of the girls this year were (with me). A lot of them have had the gymnastics tumbling experience and did the middle school program with me for cheer.”
That familiarity is certainly going to help the new additions at Bayfield as they try to navigate a new school and a new program. To French, building a strong foundation of trust and experience is the most important aspect.
“Having that instilled in them definitely helps. I’m hoping to get these girls the opportunity to be able to go compete and do what they’re capable of and take it from there,” French said. “Get the trust of the community and my school. Actions are going to speak louder than words.”
(Aislyn Carrillo/CHSAANow.com)
She has an uphill battle as the cheer program has not gotten very much support in recent years.
“When they went to state with two cheerleaders, it was definitely one of those years where people were not supporting our cheer team,” French said. “Those two girls were still proud to be able to represent Bayfield.”
But, French is looking to change that. She wants to go out and create a better name for the Bayfield cheer program.
“I want to be able to prove it to our school and community,” French said. “I’m trying to instill in them that I’m a new coach, it’s a new year with a new set of girls. What’s happened in the past, we’re changing that.
“We’re going to show Bayfield what these girls are really capable of.”
And, French wouldn’t mind adding more names to the Bayfield roster.
“To me, as long as they have a good attitude and they’re teachable, I can teach kids how to tumble and stunt. But, what I truly what’s more important to me is empowering the girls. I love giving everyone the opportunity to be a part of this.”
French wants to take Bayfield to another competition in addition to state this year to give her team more experience.
“As far as competing, I’m hoping that we do well and can walk off that mat with our heads held high because they worked hard,” French said. “I’m not expecting a certain place (at state). In their heads, they’re all thinking we’re going to be top five this year. I hope that happens.
“For them knowing that I’m backing them and supporting them and want to take them to another competition, they’re over the moon about that.”
French finally gets to be at the helm of the team she’s watched for so many years as a bystander. She’s in it for the long-term success of Bayfield.
“I want to finally see my team succeed in the right direction,” French said. “Whether that’s building the program up right now, or if that’s doing well in state or getting a bid to go to nationals. I would love the opportunity to go and keep learning.
“That’s what I want these girls to be doing: learning and building skills. When they’re done with high school on the other side, they can deal with whatever comes their way.”
The 2017 spirit season will feature Vail Christian in search of a seventh-straight title in 2A poms, while Castle View’s co-ed team will be looking for a fourth-straight championship.
St. Mary’s (2A/3A co-ed), Cherry Creek (5A poms) and Monarch (hip-hop) all could win their third-straight title should they take first come December.
DENVER — Going into Saturday night’s final round of the State Spirit Championships, four points and two teams stood between the Class 5A cheer squads from four-place Rock Canyon and first-place Grandview.
And, at the end of the night, a fully executed routine by Rock Canyon sealed the 5A state title for its third time in the last four years.
“Having their hard work pay off is a phenomenal feeling and I’m unbelievably proud of them,” said Rock Canyon coach Amanda Mundaca.
By hitting a clean, solid routine, the Jaguars overcame an overwhelming four point deficit, performing skills such as switch-up pull throughs, one-and-a-half ups, inverted twisting variations, high-to-high full arounds, and impressive squad tumbling.
There is an clearly an incredible amount of difficulty within the routine, which was a major contribution to the errors made during prelims on Day 1.
All coaches deal with the deduction sheet differently, but Mundaca made the executive decision to keep everything the same heading into Day 2 and with lots of encouragement, teamwork, and motivation. The Jaguars were able to come together as one and perform a routine that will forever be remembered.
“It was just amazing to put something on the mat that we could be proud of,” said senior captain Schyler Geck.
The Jaguars finished with a score of 92.4. Eaglecrest (88.9) finished second, while Grandview (86.3) was third. Chaparral (85.8) was fourth.
Alongside Mundaca, stood Geck and the three other seniors on the team when Rock Canyon won its first State Championship back in 2012. With the Jaguar’s most recent accomplishment, these upcoming graduates can add another ring to their collection.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“I couldn’t be prouder to end their senior year with another state championship so it’s an awesome send off for them,” said Mundaca.
Even though the Jaguars will lose their four seniors next year, a great amount of returning talent will remain on the team and Mundaca hopes to continue this win streak next year by “coming out and hitting another clean routine.”
Coming off of last year’s streak-breaking sixth place finish, the Jaguars stayed determined and motivated throughout their entire season. On top of the traditional gameday situations, Mundaca consistently held five practices per week in order to properly prepare the team for State.
Throughout the season, the Jaguars have developed a growing passion for the team and its routine. The results made everything pay off for all of the time and energy that each individual athlete has put into it.
“I’m glad we could end with a bang and leave it all on the mat and I’m also happy that I could leave the team knowing that I did everything I could for them,” said Geck.
[divider]
Notables
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Five teams successfully defended championships from a season ago: Vail Christian (2A pom), St. Mary’s (2A/3A co-ed), Castle View (4A/5A co-ed), Cherry Creek (5A pom), and Monarch (hip-hop). Vail Christian’s title was an astonishing sixth-straight, while Castle View has now won three-straight championships.
Strasburg rebounded from losing a teammate to a serious injury in warmups to finish second in 2A/3A co-ed.
Highland ended Cheyenne Wells’ run of three-straight titles by winning 2A cheer. Cheyenne Wells finished third, while Swink was runner-up.
Coal Ridge (cheer) and University (pom) took home championships in 3A.
Valor Christian (cheer) and Wheat Ridge (pom) were crowned in 4A.
Ponderosa won the Jazz championship, edging out defending champion Mountain Vista.
The 2016 girls soccer players of the year are (from left): Sage DiGiulio of Kent Denver (3A); Taylor Parker of Grandview (5A); Brianna Alger of Lewis-Palmer (4A); and Hannah Isenhart of Dawson (2A). (Photos: Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com; Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)
The 2016 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
Grandview’s Taylor Parker is the 5A girls soccer player of the year. (Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)
Player of the year: Taylor Parker, Grandview
Coach of the year: Tari Wood, Grandview
First Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Makena Bambei
Broomfield
MF
Senior
Kristin Barbour
Monarch
D
Senior
Tatum Barton
Columbine
FORW
Senior
Mandi Duggan
Grandview
FORW
Senior
Jessica Hixson
Grandview
D
Junior
Peyton Joseph
Mountain Vista
D
Senior
Nicole Lyubenko
Grandview
MF
Junior
Taylor Parker
Grandview
D
Junior
Haley Schueppert
Mountain Vista
MF
Junior
Michaela Stark
Broomfield
FORW
Senior
Brittany Wilson
Columbine
GK
Senior
Second Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Rebekah Burton
Cherokee Trail
–
Junior
Kelcey Cavarra
Columbine
MF
Senior
Remi Clarke
Fossil Ridge
MF
Sophomore
Mealii Enos
ThunderRidge
D
Senior
Libby Geraghty
Cherry Creek
FORW
Junior
Emily Griffith
Regis Jesuit
GK
Senior
Jayne Lydiatt
Pine Creek
MF/FORW
Senior
Julie Mackin
Castle View
–
Senior
Giselle Sawaged
Mountain Vista
D/MF
Senior
Tea Smith
Fairview
–
Junior
Sierra Szeto
Fairview
–
Senior
Madison Williams
Rocky Mountain
FORW
Sophomore
Honorable mention:
Baylee Bedard, Senior, Rocky Mountain
Sami Brooks, Senior, Smoky Hill
Izzy DePinto, Junior, Highlands Ranch
Kylee Duren, Senior, ThunderRidge
Carly George, Senior, Chatfield
Alli Gray, Senior, Poudre
Meg Halvorson, Junior, Cherry Creek
Taylor Heil, Senior, Cherokee Trail
Cassie Hiatt, Sophomore, Chaparral
Shae Holmes, Sophomore, ThunderRidge
Reece Hummel, Senior, Pine Creek
Raquel Isaac, Senior, Hinkley
Alyssa Kaiser, Senior, Ralston Valley
Rebecca Kholos, Senior, Legend
Makayla Kolberg, Senior, Rock Canyon
Emily Langenderfer, Senior, Regis Jesuit
Alex Lanning, Senior, Doherty
Caeley Lordemann, Senior, Greeley West
Sydney Maxon, Junior, Arapahoe
Gabi McDonald, Sophomore, Rocky Mountain
Morgan Metcalf, Junior, Liberty
Lauren Moss, Junior, Boulder
Rachel Muller, Senior, Douglas County
Bailey Nemechek, Sophomore, Fort Collins
Emiko Patterson, Senior, Monarch
Sydney Pulver, Junior, Regis Jesuit
Sierra Serna, Senior, Horizon
Jessica Smith, Senior, Fruita Monument
Madeline Stesney, Senior, Denver East
Kelsey Vogel, Senior, Arapahoe
[divider]
Class 4A
Lewis-Palmer’s Brianna Alger is the 4A girls soccer player of the year. (Josh Watt/CHSAANow.com)
Player of the year: Brianna Alger, Lewis-Palmer
Coach of the year: Joe Martin, Lewis-Palmer
First Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Brianna Alger
Lewis-Palmer
FORW/MF
Junior
Emily Cope
Battle Mountain
MF
Senior
Megan Delmonico
Mullen
MF
Senior
Camryn Dyke
Valor Christian
MF
Junior
Cori Dyke
Valor Christian
FORW/MF
Freshman
Lauren Jones
Cheyenne Mountain
D
Junior
Chaynee Kingsbury
Windsor
FORW
Sophomore
Sarah Lyons
Lewis-Palmer
MF
Senior
Karly Sandoval
Lewis-Palmer
D
Junior
Susan Whitney
Wheat Ridge
FORW
Senior
Ocoee Wilson
Steamboat Springs
GK/STRK
Senior
Second Team
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Frankee Broer
Wheat Ridge
MF
Senior
Hannah Burgo
The Classical Academy
MF
Junior
Ellese Lupori
Steamboat Springs
MF/STRK/FB
Senior
Justine Martinez
Pueblo Centennial
FORW
Senior
Caleigh Michael
Mullen
D
Junior
Aleesa Muir
The Classical Academy
D
Senior
Caroline Noonan
Valor Christian
MF/D
Sophomore
Casey Quirk
D’Evelyn
MF
Senior
Katie Scott
Air Academy
GK
Senior
Adalyn Vergara
Windsor
MF/FORW
Sophomore
Sophia Weiner
Evergreen
–
Junior
Honorable mention:
Jessica Adams, Sophomore, Eagle Valley
Kalynn Batterton, Senior, Mountain View
Darby Bolt, Senior, Alamosa
Kinley Carter, Freshman, Pueblo Centennial
Kierra Cox, Sophomore, Vista Peak Prep
Lexi Dageenakis, Senior, Silver Creek
Bryn Decker, Sophomore, Pueblo West
Sami Feller, Sophomore, Palisade
Bailee Fowler, Senior, Longmont
Abby Gearhart, Freshman, Windsor
Annette Gomez, Sophomore, Denver North
Mollee Heeney, Senior, Air Academy
Kaitlin Hinkle, Freshman, Pueblo County
Maddison Hogan, Senior, Centaurus
Maddie Kessler, Senior, Mead
Hannah Kochen, Junior, Pueblo South
Kaitlyn Krieg, Junior, Denver South
Maryssa Lucero, Sophomore, Northridge
Caroline Miller, Senior, Erie
Emily Mueller, Senior, The Classical Academy
Lily Nordell, Junior, Canon City
Alexandra Palmer, Junior, Discovery Canyon
Zoe Peterson, Senior, Evergreen
Nina Scruton, Junior, Glenwood Springs
Kailee Stobbe, Junior, Niwot
Kaitlyn Sullivan, Senior, Skyline
Courtney Turner, Junior, Pueblo South
Danielle Wellman, Senior, Windsor
Tianna Wright, Sophomore, D’Evelyn
[divider]
Class 3A
Kent Denver’s Sage DiGiulio is the 3A girls soccer player of the year. (Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)
The seven titles are the most since Regis Jesuit and Cheyenne Mountain each won seven in 2010-11.
Five teams tied for second place in the state with three team championships this season: Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Academy, Kent Denver, Pomona and Regis Jesuit.
Colorado Academy and Valor Christian each had a state-best three girls championships, while Valor’s four titles were the most on the boys’ side.
In all, 67 different teams won a team championship in 2015-16, including 16 teams which won multiple championships.
A breakdown of team championships is below.
Rank
Team
Girls
Boys
Co-Ed
Total
1
Valor Christian
3
4
0
7
2
Cheyenne Mountain
2
1
0
3
2
Colorado Academy
3
0
0
3
2
Kent Denver
1
2
0
3
2
Pomona
1
2
0
3
2
Regis Jesuit
0
3
0
3
7
Broomfield
1
1
0
2
7
Cherokee Trail
1
1
0
2
7
Cherry Creek
1
1
0
2
7
Eaton
2
0
0
2
7
Fairview
2
0
0
2
7
Grandview
2
0
0
2
7
Heritage Christian
1
1
0
2
7
Lutheran
1
1
0
2
7
Mountain Vista
1
1
0
2
7
Yuma
2
0
0
2
17
Air Academy
1
0
0
1
17
Alamosa
0
1
0
1
17
Aspen
1
0
0
1
17
Battle Mountain
0
1
0
1
17
Bayfield
0
1
0
1
17
Bennett
1
0
0
1
17
Buena Vista
0
1
0
1
17
Castle View
0
0
1
1
17
Cedaredge
0
1
0
1
17
Cheyenne Wells
1
0
0
1
17
Colorado Springs Christian
0
1
0
1
17
Dawson School
0
1
0
1
17
Durango
0
1
0
1
17
Eads
0
1
0
1
17
Eaglecrest
1
0
0
1
17
Evergreen
0
1
0
1
17
Faith Christian
0
1
0
1
17
Fleming
0
1
0
1
17
Fort Collins
1
0
0
1
17
Fossil Ridge
0
1
0
1
17
Holly
0
1
0
1
17
Idalia
1
0
0
1
17
Lewis-Palmer
1
0
0
1
17
Lyons
0
1
0
1
17
Meeker
0
1
0
1
17
Monarch
1
0
0
1
17
Mountain Range
1
0
0
1
17
Mountain View
0
1
0
1
17
Niwot
1
0
0
1
17
Otis
1
0
0
1
17
Overland
0
1
0
1
17
Palmer Ridge
1
0
0
1
17
Paonia
1
0
0
1
17
Peak to Peak
0
1
0
1
17
Ponderosa
1
0
0
1
17
Pueblo County
0
1
0
1
17
Pueblo East
0
1
0
1
17
Pueblo West
0
1
0
1
17
Salida
1
0
0
1
17
Sanford
0
1
0
1
17
Sedgwick County
0
1
0
1
17
St. Mary’s
0
0
1
1
17
Strasburg
1
0
0
1
17
Telluride
1
0
0
1
17
The Classical Academy
1
0
0
1
17
ThunderRidge
1
0
0
1
17
University
1
0
0
1
17
Vail Christian
1
0
0
1
17
Vail Mountain
1
0
0
1
17
Valley
0
1
0
1
17
Windsor
0
1
0
1
[divider]
Individual Championships
Cheyenne Mountain had a state-best 11 individual champions in 2015-16. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Cheyenne Mountain also had an outstanding year in terms of individual titles, leading the state with 11 championships. The program was well balanced: Six championships came from its girls teams, and five came from the boys.
Lutheran’s 10 individual championships were the second-most in the state, including a state-best nine boys titles. Regis Jesuit was third with nine individual titles, and Air Academy and Pomona tied for fourth with eight apiece.
A total of 135 schools had at least one individual champion, and 82 had multiple champions. Of those, 21 schools had at least five individual champions.
