Fruita Monument 29, Golden 20, Hinkley 17, Ponderosa 8, Longmont 6, Wheat Ridge 6, Skyline 5, Vista Ridge 5, Greeley West 3, Monarch 2, Air Academy 1, Mesa Ridge 1, Windsor 1.
Dropped out
Hinkley (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (16)
5-1
194
1
W
2
Mead (4)
6-0
173
2
W
3
Pueblo South
5-1
165
3
W
4
Discovery Canyon
5-1
111
4
W
5
Conifer
6-0
100
8
W
6
Frederick
6-0
85
6
W
7
Durango
4-2
55
9
W
8
Lutheran
4-2
51
7
L
9
Green Mountain
4-2
47
5
L
10
Harrison
5-1
27
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Holy Family 21, Thomas Jefferson 21, Erie 19, Pueblo Central 19, Palisade 15, Roosevelt 11, Northridge 10, Fort Morgan 9, Pueblo East 8, Battle Mountain 6, Evergreen 4, Littleton 3, Eagle Valley 1.
Dropped out
Palisade (10).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (18)
6-0
223
1
W
2
Sterling (2)
5-1
189
4
W
3
Platte Valley (1)
5-1
180
3
W
4
Resurrection Christian (2)
5-1
169
5
W
5
Delta
5-1
125
2
–
6
Faith Christian (1)
5-1
124
6
W
7
Basalt
6-0
114
7
W
8
Elizabeth
5-1
53
–
W
9
Eaton
4-2
48
9
W
10
The Classical Academy
4-2
42
10
W
Others receiving votes:
Lamar 14, Englewood 13, La Junta 12, Alamosa 9, Bennett 2, University 2, Aspen 1.
Dropped out
La Junta (8).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (16)
6-0
178
1
W
2
Limon
5-1
151
2
W
3
Holyoke (2)
6-0
134
3
W
4
Florence
6-0
124
4
W
5
Colorado Springs Christian
5-1
95
7
W
6
Meeker
5-1
83
6
W
7
Centauri
5-1
81
5
W
8
Wray
5-1
38
8
W
9
Hotchkiss
5-1
32
10
W
10
Highland
3-3
22
9
L
Others receiving votes:
Flatirons Academy 15, Rye 14, Peyton 8, Buena Vista 7, Burlington 5, Grand Valley 3.
Dropped out
None.
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (11)
7-0
145
1
W
2
Fowler (3)
6-0
134
2
W
3
Sanford
6-0
115
7
W
4
Merino
5-1
85
5
W
5
Mancos
5-1
76
3
L
6
Dayspring Christian Academy
5-1
66
4
L
7
Vail Christian (1)
6-0
57
8
W
8
Pikes Peak Christian
4-1
46
9
W
9
Caliche
4-2
30
6
L
10
Dove Creek
5-1
18
10
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Rangely 11, West Grand 10, Elbert 9, Holly 7, Hoehne 6, Sargent 6, Soroco 4.
Four new teams joined this week’s softball rankings: Castle View (5A), Smoky Hill (5A), Mead (4A), Pueblo West (4A).
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
Rock Canyon (11)
16-1-0
143
1
2-0-0
2
Columbine
17-2-0
115
5
3-0-0
3
Loveland (2)
17-1-0
114
3
2-0-0
4
Chatfield
17-2-0
81
2
1-1-0
5
Broomfield (1)
16-3-0
76
4
2-1-0
6
Grand Junction Central
15-2-0
64
7
5-0-0
7
Rocky Mountain
15-3-0
58
6
2-0-0
8
Castle View
14-4-0
28
–
3-1-0
9
Brighton
13-4-1
22
8
3-0-0
10
Smoky Hill
15-3-0
21
–
2-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Fossil Ridge 18, Legacy 18, Arapahoe 14, Lakewood 13, Hinkley 9, ThunderRidge 6, Cherry Creek 5, Prairie View 4, Cherokee Trail 3, Dakota Ridge 3, Fruita Monument 3, Pomona 2, Rampart 2, Arvada West 1, Douglas County 1, Liberty 1.
Rock Canyon has moved up to the top spot in this week’s Class 5A softball 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
Rock Canyon (11)
14-1-0
125
2
3-0-0
2
Chatfield
16-1-0
96
1
1-1-0
3
Loveland (1)
15-1-0
94
5
4-0-0
4
Broomfield (1)
14-2-0
82
3
3-1-0
5
Columbine
14-2-0
77
4
0-2-0
6
Rocky Mountain
13-3-0
47
6
1-2-0
7
Grand Junction Central
10-2-0
46
–
1-0-0
8
Brighton
10-4-1
26
–
2-0-0
9
Lakewood
15-2-0
21
–
2-0-0
10
Legacy
9-4-0
19
8
2-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Castle View 18, Fossil Ridge 14, Smoky Hill 13, Arapahoe 11, Prairie View 10, Hinkley 9, Cherokee Trail 6, Arvada West 1, Douglas County 1.
Dropped out
Prairie View (7), Castle View (9), Smoky Hill (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Holy Family (6)
12-1-0
104
1
3-0-0
2
Golden (2)
14-1-0
91
3
1-1-0
3
Pueblo South (3)
12-1-0
81
4
3-1-0
4
Wheat Ridge
13-2-0
72
5
3-0-0
5
Erie
13-2-0
64
2
1-2-0
6
Silver Creek
13-4-0
58
6
3-0-0
7
Pueblo County
11-2-0
46
8
3-1-0
8
Pueblo Central
8-5-0
31
7
1-2-0
9
Rifle
10-2-0
13
10
2-0-0
10
D’Evelyn
8-6-0
9
–
1-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Coronado 6, Berthoud 5, Mountain View 5, Pueblo East 4, Roosevelt 4, Mead 3, Mullen 2, Northridge 2, Pueblo Centennial 2, Evergreen 1, Longmont 1, Pueblo West 1.
Dropped out
Pueblo West (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
University (13)
14-1-0
130
1
2-1-0
2
Eaton
12-3-0
105
2
2-1-0
3
Brush
11-4-0
76
5
2-1-0
4
Basalt
12-1-0
73
6
4-0-0
5
Riverdale Ridge
11-1-0
73
4
3-0-0
6
Strasburg
8-6-0
72
8
2-1-0
7
Lyons
9-4-0
64
7
3-0-0
8
Sterling
10-5-0
46
3
1-2-0
9
Limon
10-4-0
34
9
2-0-0
10
Fort Lupton
13-4-0
12
–
2-0-0
Others receiving votes:
Rocky Ford 7, Montezuma-Cortez 5, Platte Valley 5, Meeker 4, Cedaredge 3, Peak to Peak 3, La Junta 2, Lamar 1.
LAKEWOOD — Chatfield’s defense isn’t going to let the Chargers’ offense steal all the headlines this football season.
Squaring off against a Brighton defense that had only allowed 12 points in its first two wins of the season — including a shutout victory last week against Wheat Ridge — Chatfield’s defense wanted to make its own mark Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium.
Chatfield senior Shane Compton (7) and Brighton junior Eli Griffeth (10) battle in the air during the opening minutes Thursday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We know that our strength is in our back-seven,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin said of the Chargers’ defense after a 42-10 victory against Brighton. “They fly to the football. I know if we can hold teams to under 14 points we have a good shot.”
Chatfield — ranked No. 6 in this week’s CHSAANow.com Class 4A football poll — got down early when Brighton quarterback Alex Griffeth connected with junior Eli Bowman for a 45-yard touchdown pass in a flea flicker. It was the Bulldogs’ first offensive play from scrimmage.
“It just caught me off guard. I thought I had it,” Chatfield defensive back Shane Compton said of Brighton’s trick play that Compton nearly intercepted when he went up with Bowman for the ball. “It was kind of depressing.”
It was a different story for Chatfield’s defense for the remainder of the night. The Chargers (2-1) forced three Brighton turnovers, including interceptions by Compton and senior Nathan Freeman. The Bulldogs also had six drives that were three downs and out.
“Defense played lights out,” Chatfield senior quarterback Matt Canino said. “They did struggle in that first quarter, but they turned it around and set the tone. Everyone did their job defensively.”
Chatfield senior Colin Simcox (17) wraps up Brighton senior Elijah Cortez during the non-league game Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield got its high-powered offense into gear in the second quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to take a 21-7 lead. Canino led the charge with his legs and arm. After Brighton fumbled, the Chargers took advantage with Canino finding the end zone on a 27-yard scamper down Chatfield’s sideline.
Chatfield’s defense forced Brighton into back-to-back three downs and out. Canino capitalized with a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior Daniel Nickels and followed that up with a 45-yard scoring strike to senior Jon Dorrance with 2:22 left before halftime.
On the touchdown to Dorrance, Canino was nearly sacked before slipping a pass over the middle. Dorrance did the rest splitting the Bulldogs’ defense.
“That was awesome,” McGatlin said of the touchdown pass to Dorrance. “He (Canino) grew up a lot tonight.”
Canino finished 14-for-23 passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the Chargers’ leading rushing with 10 carries for 86 yards and another score.
Chatfield senior Daniel Nickels (1) tries to breakaway from a Brighton defender during the first half Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. Nickels scored a touchdown during the Chargers’ 21-point second quarter. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield running back Malcolm Boyd was bottled up for the most of the night. He finished with 16 carries for 47 yards, but did have a pair of touchdown runs in the third quarter that helped extend Chatfield’s lead to 35-10.
Sophomore Jake Marschall put the icing on the homecoming game victory with a 57-yard touchdown late after McGatlin pulled his starters out of the game.
“We lost our homecoming game last year. We wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again,” Compton said. “We turned it up defensively. We have absolute ball hawks back there.”
Chatfield is prepared for a run of three straight Thursday night games that began against Brighton. The Chargers face Fruita-Monument in Grand Junction next Thursday and travel to Greeley West on Sept. 26 to finish of their non-conference schedule.
“I prefer Friday night games, but tonight we can proved we can come off a short week and come out with the ‘W’ on homecoming,” Canino said.
Chatfield senior Colin Simcox (17) tackles Brighton senior Elijah Cortez (3) to the ground. After giving up an early touchdown, the Chargers’ defense was stellar in the 42-10 victory over the Bulldogs. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Brighton senior Angel Mollel celebrating at second base after her RBI double signaled the final swing of momentum in a wild final few innings on the softball field Thursday afternoon.
Mollel’s double drove in senior Sarah Tiffany in the top of the seventh inning to tie things up 6-6 on Ralston Valley’s home field. A deep fly ball by senior Alexia Apodaca moments later scored Mollel from third base for the eventual game-winning run in a 7-6 win for the Bulldogs (2-0 record).
Ralston Valley junior McKenna Fitzgerald takes a hard swing during Thursday’s non-league game against Brighton. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“A win like this early in the season is huge. To go through a little adversity there in the middle, but see the bats wake-up in the seventh inning,” Brighton coach Marty Stricklett said. “To watch Angel jump up and down at second base was pure joy for herself and teammates. That’s what this is about. Kids having fun and playing the game right.”
Mollel reached base on all four at-bats, scoring three times. Her double was the lone hit Ralston Valley sophomore Ashley West gave up during her four innings on the mound.
“I was kind of expecting a change-up,” Mollel said. “I just timed it.”
Brighton led for most of the game until the Mustangs (0-2) put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie things up 5-5. West ripped an inside-the-park, three-run home run to highlight the inning.
Ralston Valley grabbed a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI triple by junior Jaiden Geist. However, Brighton’s two-run top of the seventh inning gave the lead back to the Bulldogs and senior pitcher Tori Haug retired the Mustangs in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
“We have a lot of things to work on,” Ralston Valley coach Wendy Davies said. “I did tell them we had some good hits, but we needed more timely hits. We needed to execute.”
Ralston Valley sophomore Ashley West fires toward the plate against Brighton. West’s three-run home run help the Mustangs mount a comeback against the Bulldogs. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
A glaring issue Ralston Valley had came on the defensive side. The Mustangs committed seven errors in the loss. West and Ralston Valley starting pitcher Maya Bachman combined to give up just five hits, but the errors were costly.
“Probably a few defensive changes, but it’s a good group of girls,” Davies said after the Mustangs’ second game of the season. “They work hard, but as far as coaching goes, I’ve got some things to look at and change to make us better.”
It didn’t help Ralston Valley that it lost Class 5A Jeffco League first-team all-conference selection and starting shortstop Jordan West — Ashley’s older sister — before the season even started.
“That is a huge loss,” Davies said of losing starting Jordan due to knee surgery she had over the off-season. “She is an amazing kid. By far the best leader that we have vocally and physically. It was a horrible loss for us.”
Jordan batted .365 with 24 RBIs and six home runs during her sophomore campaign. Davies said she is still a tremendous leader in the dugout despite not being able to take the field this fall while recovering from surgery.
“I feel super confident with her (Jordan) behind me, but we just have to move on and come together as a team,” Ashley said of playing without her sister on the field. “We need to play for her and play for ourselves.”
Ashley could have more put on her shoulders with Bachman having to leave the game Thursday with an injury to her non-throwing shoulder. Ashley struggled with her control at times last season during her 56 innings pitched, but has been solid in the circle for the Mustangs through two games.
“I’ve been proud of her (Ashley). Even over the summer she struggled I think. We talked at the beginning of the year,” Davies said. “She is an amazing athlete at 6-foot-2 on the mound. Everyone, including her, thinks she should be striking everyone out and she has to get out of the mindset. She just needs to throw strikes and get ahead of the batters. She has been amazing so far.”
Ralston Valley and Brighton will actually see each other again just before regionals in early October.
“We are going to focus on the positive and we’ll see (Brighton) again in a couple of weeks,” Ashley said.
Brighton seniors Chloe Doyle (16) and Angel Mollel celebrate during the Bulldogs’ 7-6 road victory over Ralston Valley on Thursday afternoon. Mollel drove in the game-tying run and scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The 2019 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.
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.
Brighton has named Jeff Giger its next football coach, hiring the two-time state champion away from Class 1A power Strasburg.
The move was first reported by Steve Smith of the Brighton Blade. Brighton athletic director Ty Gordon confirmed the hire to CHSAANow on Thursday afternoon.
Giger built an immensely successful program at Strasburg, winning state championships in 2016 and 2017, and also finishing as runner-up in 2018. He has been at Strasburg since 2008, and was 86-36 in 11 seasons.
Since 2014, Giger’s teams have won at least 10 games four times, and Strasburg was 36-3 over the past three seasons.
