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Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.
To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.
LAKEWOOD — During the final day of the state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium, Fountain Fort-Carson continued a championship tradition that is nearly unmatched in Colorado.
The Trojans (100 points) won the 5A boys state crown for the fourth time in five years. Cherry Creek was the runner-up with 71.
A dynamic group of athletes featuring Jalen Lyon (200-meter dash and 400 champion), Deondre Ritter (2nd in 100), and Jequan Hogan (high jump champion, triple jump runner-up, third place in long jump) led the way in explosive events.
But, in the 800 relay final Cherry Creek was in first after three legs. Lyon, a University of Northern Colorado recruit, made up the gap on the anchor leg, helping Fountain win a thrilling race in 1 minute, 26.53 seconds. The Bruins were second in 1:26.65.
“We knew it was going to be close, because Cherry Creek always pushes us like that,” Lyon said. “I fought him at the end and that was probably the most adrenaline I’ve ever had in a race. I had my boys on my mind.”
The camaraderie and expectations within the program are elements of their success.
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We’re a family,” Lyon said. “We make jokes, we practice hard, we push each other hard, and we talk each other up. The coaches also push us to continue the legacy.”
Following in the footsteps of older brother Christian (100 and 200 titles in 2016), Lyon joined a lengthy list of sprinters who have won multiple sprint crowns in the same season for the Trojans. Donovan Williams (2017), Tevin Donnell (2015), and Markesh Woodson (2011) all claimed championships of their own in the shorter sprint races.
That is quite a run of talent. Fountain has now tallied 20 state championships (all since 1960) in boys track and field, tying Fort Collins for the state record.
Several of the terrific Trojans, ones who won’t soon be forgotten, have signed with college programs, including Jason Farrell (hurdler, Northern Colorado) and Jequan Hogan (Texas Tech). Hogan was the New Balance national champion indoors in the triple jump as a senior.
Jawuan Tate (158-9) added 10 more points to Fountain’s total with a discus crown. Iosua Maika (49-4) finished fifth in shot put.
[divider]
Class 5A
Devin Cadena of Rock Canyon (10.70) nipped Deondre Ritter (10.71) in a fast 100 final. The Jaguars tasted plenty of success this weekend.
Liberty veteran Andrew Doctor did the same to Overland’s Joel Nyatusah with times of 14.35 to 14.38 in the high hurdle final.
Michael Mooney (3,200 champion Thursday) capped a terrific career for Broomfield with a winning dive against Mountain Vista’s Carter Dillon in the 1,600. 4:16.15 and 4:16.17 were the final marks for the pair of Division I recruits.
The Broomfield Eagles also produced the 300 hurdle champion in Mitchell Gorman (37.83).
Highlands Ranch junior Drake Nugent launched a winning throw of 55 feet, 9.5 inches in shot put.
Fort Collins was exceptional in triple jump, finishing 1st (junior Allam Bushara, 49-9.25, outstanding mark), 3rd, 4th, and 8th. Micaylon Moore, the third place finisher, won long jump as well.
[divider]
Class 4A
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Silver Creek (3:23) finished runner-up in the 1,600 relay behind Mullen (3:22). That added enough points to their final tally to secure their first-ever title in track and field. The school’s last team championship came in football in 2012. The Raptors (60.5 points) pulled away from Pueblo South (52), Pine Creek (51), and Valor Christian (50).
Silver Creek’s James Lee (University of Pennsylvania recruit) won the 800 on Friday and finished as the runner-up in the 1,600 on Saturday as they received further contributions in distance, jumps, pole vault, throws, and relays. In cross country, the Raptors had gotten close to winning titles each of the last two seasons with Lee, Brock Dykema (Colorado State), and Logan Simington (Arkansas State) all among the top talents in the classification.
Pueblo South did win the 400 relay in a thriller over Mullen with times of 42.44 and 42.47 seconds.
185-9 was the winning mark in discus for Kain Medrano of Pueblo East. That surpassed a 28-year old classification record of 183-11 by Ron Wach of Estes Park.
Medrano’s teammate, Luc Andrada, claimed the 100 crown in 10.66 seconds.
Angelo Hurtado of Roosevelt cleared the 110 hurdles quicker than anyone in 4A with a time of 14.48.
Tyrese Van Horne (21.63) added to a rich tradition in sprints for the Harrison Panthers with a 200 championship. He’s only a sophomore.
Sensational underclassmen Cole Sprout of Valor Christian (4:14) responded to a strong move by James Lee (4:19) with a fast 300-meter finish to win the four-lapper.
Valor’s Dane Palazzo and Pine Creek’s Wyatt Wieland shared the 300 hurdles crown with a time of 38.01.
Yet another champion was crowned from Colorado Springs as Air Academy senior Josiah Molascon (14-6) won pole vault.
[divider]
Class 3A
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Bayfield’s Carl Heide (14.65) was unmatched in the 110 hurdles. He also won the 300 hurdles in 38.69 (state record in 3A yesterday). Heide provided a boatload of points for a program that has one other track championship in their history (girls in 1991).
Bayfield tallied 79.5 points to win their first boys track title, but the Wolverines have corralled plenty of hardware in other seasons this school year while winning 2A football and 3A basketball. The Classical Academy was the runner-up with 73 points.
Lutheran, always a major presence, especially in sprints, had won four team championships in a row (three in 3A, one in 2A).
Seven Lindsey of Kent Denver topped all challengers in the 100 (10.74) and 200 (21.78).
Junior Chad Jackson, an Alamosa stalwart, completed 400 meters in first place with a time of 49.91.
Woodland Park junior Skye Ciccarelli (6-4) conquered high jump.
No one was able to better RidgeView Academy senior Inaujee Ison in long jump (21-2.25).
The Spartans of Berthoud (43.18) celebrated a victorious 400 relay.
Ryan Moen, a senior for TCA who also won the 3,200, had just enough foot speed to outlean Denver West sophomore Yasin Sado in the 1,600. Sado was also the runner-up in the 800. 4:25.72 and 4:25.75 were the final times.
[divider]
Class 2A
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
The team competition between Resurrection Christian and Lyons was close, but the Cougars displayed the necessary depth to outlast the Boulder County power. The group donned in white and blue racked up 63 points, holding off both Lyons (58) and Cedaredge (58).
Rez had earned runner-up honors in recent years, but had never before won state. That changed this weekend with placers in most events on and off the track. Freshman Tanner Applebee (21-3.5) was the long jump champion on Thursday for a program that started only seven years ago.
Patrick Scoggins of Rangely (51.02) grabbed gold in the 400. The senior had an illustrious career with a number of state medals.
Ben Kelley further cemented his status as one of the greatest 2A competitors in state history in any event by going back-to-back in the 1,600 (4:23). The leap team was led by junior Grant Redmond (6-5 high jump) of Soroco, Kelley’s teammate.
14.90 was the winning mark in 110 hurdles by Austin Davis of Byers.
Michael Morgan of Buena Vista (11.23) was the 100 sprint king.
Hoehne has a veteran 300 hurdler in Jacob Yates (39.50) who proved his worth as a champion.
22.62 was the winning 200 time by Ty Grant of Cedaredge, continuing a proud tradition in sprints for the program. The 400 relay (45.12) and the 1,600 relay (3:30.01) crowns were also claimed by Cedaredge.
[divider]
Class 1A
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Heritage Christian boys compiled a monstrous total of 169 points to win their fifth state championship in six years.
Junior Levi Kilian (1:59, 4:34, 10:04) swept the 1A distance events and shattered 1A state meet records in the 1,600 and 3,200. Isaiah Bowsher (4:38) also broke a state meet record that was previously held by Ryan Dollerschell of Prairie in the 1,600 (4:42 in 2014). Seth Bruxvoort (4:45) and Keaton Case (4:47) ensured the Eagles of a sweep of the top four places.
HCA also flourished in the sprints as Josh Damir (11.28, 22.87) swept the 100 and 200. He was the runner-up in the 300 hurdles. The Eagles finished the meet with a victorious 1,600 relay of 3:35.
Cotopaxi junior Arlo Garner (15.42, 39.56) was the title winner of the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.
Holly sophomore Alex Ramos (50.72) proved his worth in the 400 as an underclassmen. He could be a force for years to come.
North Park (45.68) had a stronger foursome in the 400 relay than anyone else in 1A.
Pole vaulters will have to deal with Pikes Peak Christian again next year. Juniors Tommy Harmon (12-3) and Sam Smith (11-3) were wildly impressive in earning gold and silver.
Shane Ott of Regis Jesuit. (Renee Bourcier/bourcierphoto.com)
The 2017-18 all-state and all-conference hockey teams are a joint project between the Colorado High School Ice Hockey Coaches Association and CHSAANow.com.
These teams were created following a meeting of coaches. The player and coach of the year was a separate vote.
[divider]
All-State
Player of the year: Shane Ott, Regis Jesuit
Coach of the year: Marty Wittmer, Kent Denver
First Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Shane Ott
Regis Jesuit
F
George Kandel
Kent Denver
F
Luke Wheeler
Valor Christian
D
Nathaniel Benton
Standley Lake
D
Rowan Barnes
Regis Jesuit
G
Gage Redman
Aspen
Second Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Tyler Montoya
Rampart
F
Kolby Donovan
Resurrection Christian
F
Leo Felt
Monarch
D
Jake Eickelman
Dakota Ridge
D
Cole Cavey
Valor Christian
G
Trey Hirschfield
Valor Christian
Honorable mention: Connor Akerson, Monarch; Chase Allen, Rampart; Drew Bauer, Columbine; Hunter Beckett, Chatfield; Nathanial Benton, Standley Lake; Greg Bileck, Fort Collins; Zach Booth, Battle Mountain; Cole Cavey, Valor Christian; Anthony Chambers, Valor Christian; Corbin Divita, Heritage; Tim Debord, Valor Christian; Kolby Donovan, Resurrection Christian; Jake Eickelman, Dakota Ridge; Leo Felt, Monarch; Dalton Giesbrecht, Air Academy; Jared Goodmen, Mountain Vista; Gavin Gray, Air Academy; Max Harlan, Regis Jesuit; Theodore Havner, Resurrection Christian; Trey Hirschfield, Valor Christian; George Kandel, Kent Denver; Reese Kelly, Monarch; Connor Kilkenny, Regis Jesuit; Trey Konsella, Dakota Ridge; Dominic Lanese, Aspen; Breyton Laskey, Standley Lake; Luke Lonneman, Valor Christian; Max Malinski, Valor Christian; Brennan McFarland, Resurrection Christian; Tyler Montoya, Rampart; Matt More, Heritage; Zach Noyes, Columbine; Jake Pacheco, Pueblo County; Henry Raabe, Cherry Creek; Gage Redman, Aspen; Dale Richards, Dakota Ridge; Dixson Root, Pueblo County; Broc Schindler, Pueblo County; Ryan Smith, Cheyenne Mountain; Peyton Tritz, Steamboat Springs; Alex Walsh, Chaparral; Luke Wheeler, Valor Christian; Mikey Wilson, Liberty; Brian Wittmer, Kent Denver; Ty Yocum, Aspen; Ben Zimmerman, Kent Denver.
[divider]
All-Conference
Foothills Conference
First Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Leo Felt
Monarch
F
Shane Ott
Regis Jesuit
F
Connor Akerson
Monarch
D
Jake Eickleman
Dakota Ridge
D
Rowan Barnes
Regis Jesuit
G
Max Harlan
Regis Jesuit
Second Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Jared Goodmen
Mountain Vista
F
Dale Richards
Dakota Ridge
F
Connor Kilkenny
Regis Jesuit
D
Henry Raabe
Cherry Creek
D
Trey Konsella
Dakota Ridge
G
Reese Kelly
Monarch
Honorable mention: Yuta Young, Monarch; Jonathan Tanji, Dakota Ridge; Amir Kalani, Dakota Ridge; Drew Eickelman, Dakota Ridge; Neal Sklar, Cherry Creek; Colton Holub, Cherry Creek; Blake Benson, Cherry Creek; Andreas Fuentes, Ralston Valley; Armando Fowler, Ralston Valley; Tanner Colson, Lewis-Palmer; Addison Zeich, Lewis-Palmer; Justin Lico, Regis Jesuit; Anders Erickson, Regis Jesuit; Paxton Erickson, Regis Jesuit; Kale Lone, Regis Jesuit; Nolan Sargent, Regis Jesuit; Wyatt Verity, Regis Jesuit; Sam Miller, Denver East; Christian Backes, Denver East; Matt Pence, Denver East; Chad Kashiwa, Denver East.
[divider]
Peak Conference
First Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Kolby Donovan
Resurrection Christian
F
Zach Booth
Battle Mountain
F
Brennan McFarland
Resurrection Christian
D
Corbin Divita
Heritage
D
Ryan Smith
Cheyenne Mountain
G
Gage Redman
Aspen
Second Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Drew Bauer
Columbine
F
Dominic Lanese
Aspen
F
Matt More
Heritage
D
Ty Yocum
Aspen
D
Theodore Havner
Resurrection Christian
G
Zach Noyes
Columbine
Honorable mention: Nick DiPonio, Heritage; James Purse, Heritage; Trevor Taylor, Cheyenne Mountain; Chayse Heffler, Cheyenne Mountain; Dominic Lanese, Aspen.
[divider]
Pinnacle Conference
First Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Greg Bileck
Fort Collins
F
Dalton Giesbrecht
Air Academy
F
George Kandel
Kent Denver
D
Alex Walsh
Chaparral
D
Nathanial Benton
Standley Lake
G
Breyton Laskey
Standley Lake
Second Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Ben Zimmerman
Kent Denver
F
Gavin Gray
Air Academy
F
Hunter Beckett
Chatfield
D
Mikey Wilson
Liberty
D
Brian Wittmer
Kent Denver
G
Peyton Tritz
Steamboat Springs
Honorable mention: Paden Clark, Fort Collins; Connor McIlhany, Liberty; Cameron Lattemore, Liberty; Ryan Eichsteadt; Sean Gurlea, Summit; Ben Carlson, Summit; Luke Gosnell, Summit; Max Bonenberger, Summit; Isaac Eland, Summit; Will Caulkins, Kent Denver; Colby Moore, Kent Denver; Dalton Giesbrecht, Air Academy; Luke Borgerding, Steamboat Springs; Quinn Morton, Steamboat Springs; Jeremy Grove, Standley Lake; Ryan Iwanski, Standley Lake; Justus Aragon, Standley Lake; Dylan Riddley, Standley Lake; Phil Crespin, Standley Lake; Breyton Laskey, Standley Lake; Kayden Dormer, Chatfield; Calvin Knight, Chatfield.
[divider]
Highland Conference
First Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Luke Wheeler
Valor Christian
F
Tyler Montoya
Rampart
F
Tim Debord
Valor Christian
D
Jake Pacheco
Pueblo County
D
Cole Cavey
Valor Christian
G
Trey Hirschfield
Valor Christian
Second Team
Pos
Name
School
F
Dixson Root
Pueblo County
F
Broc Schindler
Pueblo County
F
Luke Lonneman
Valor Christian
D
Anthony Chambers
Valor Christian
D
Max Malinski
Valor Christian
G
Chase Allen
Rampart
Honorable mention: James Adams, Rampart; Trevor Jesse, Rampart; Garrett Cunfer, Rampart; Colten Criettendon, Pueblo County; Kaden Hardesty, Pueblo County; Andrew Burton, Coronado; Ian Wark, Coronado; Trevor Gordon, Coronado; Cole Brooker, Coronado; Nate Bradley, Woodland Park; Lou Levy, Woodland Park; Zack Swain, Palmer; Kyle Moore, Palmer; Andrew Rush, Palmer; Brandon Herd, Palmer; Dane Smith, Palmer; Blake Buchanan, Valor Christian; Mason Hoehn, Valor Christian; Colton Carslon, Valor Christian; Colten Crittendon, Crested Butte; Kaden Hardesty, Crested Butte; Michael Hensley, Crested Butte; Connor Mahon, Mullen; Matt Byerly, Mullen.
WOODLAND PARK — It was a party in the woods on Wednesday night in Woodland Park. And in the middle of it was a hockey game.
Wednesday marked the official home debut of the Woodland Park hockey team. Sure, they’ve played games where they have been classified as the home team. But they finally got to play at their designated home stadium, which just happens to be an outdoor facility.
And any outdoor facility in Woodland Park is, literally, in the middle of the woods. The Panthers fell to Dakota Ridge 11-1, but coach Chad Mason hopes that an annual outdoor came can serve as a building for a program in its infancy.
“The ability to play outdoor hockey — pond hockey — it’s second to none,” he said. “All of who played, all the coaches who played, we grew up on ponds. It’s a great opportunity to build our program.”
The atmosphere alone will make a great selling point in future years. Not just to get kids to come out and play, but for the community to come out and watch and support the team.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
It’s not uncommon to see fans dressed in jackets and beanies at a hockey game, but to see them bundled together under a light fixture that is more suited for a late-season football certainly provides a one-of-a-kind experience, not just for Woodland Park, but for anyone competing in that atmosphere.
“I think it’s great for high school hockey,” Dakota Ridge coach Jeff Towle said. “They said this has been the first time playing outdoor here for them. I don’t know if there’s been another one in the state, but I think it’s great. It gives the boys something to look forward to and gives them something adventurous to do in high school hockey.”
Even in a strange environment and unusual circumstances, the Eagles were able to block out any potential distractions and play sound hockey. They scored the first six goals, which allowed them to soak up the environment a little bit.
“It’s something different that you get to do,” forward Dale Richards said. “The main thing we were worried about was trying to stay warm because we knew it was going to be cold.”
In a town like Woodland Park, cold is not an issue on a January night. The town sits over 8,000 feet above sea level, causing the temperatures to normally take a bigger hit when the sun goes down.
In future years, Mason hopes that the area around the rink can fill with students, teachers and fans and become the highlight of the Panthers’ regular season schedule.
“That is the hope, absolutely,” Mason said. “This one was right after the holiday so I think people are kind of regrouping. We’re a 3A school competing with the big boys and we’re learning a lot. We’re building for the future.”
He wants to be able to point to this game as a pivotal moment in Woodland Park hockey history. He pointed out that with Colton Hudson’s second-period goal — with an assist from Lou Levy — was a historical moment for the team.
The players involved in Wednesday’s game will eventually get to look back fondly on it. They weren’t happy with the result of the game, but they were able to appreciate the unique atmosphere that they hope will eventually grow into one of the best high school sports traditions in the state.
“We want to become a winning team of course, but (future teams) will have fun playing out here,” team captain Colton Ivory said. “Woodland Park has always been good at keeping its head up and playing through the hard times.”
Woodland Park’s hockey team is in its first varsity season, and while they’ve played “home” games so far this season, nothing has actually been at their home rink.
That’s because the Panthers’ home ice, at the Meadow Wood Sports Complex in Woodland Park, is an outdoor facility. According to CHSAA policy, teams can play one outdoor game per season — and Woodland Park’s game is Wednesday night against Dakota Ridge.
It will be the first true home game in the program’s history. With a 6:15 p.m. start, it will be played under the lights.
“The kids are excited,” said Woodland Park athletic director Michael DeWall. And though many students remain on holiday break, “This one has been on the calendar for some time,” DeWall added, so the turnout should be good.
The complex doesn’t have an ice-maker. The process for making ice is entirely natural.
“It’s completely done by mother nature,” DeWall said.
Volunteers started making ice in mid-December. It was a process of wait-and-freeze.
The team has been practicing at the rink as soon as the ice was finished, but most of those slots have been the latest available, making for a cold workout.
Fortunately, the high in Woodland Park is 47 degrees on Wednesday, and is forecast to be 35 degrees at puck drop.
Dakota Ridge, No. 6 in the latest hockey rankings, enters at 3-2-0 this season. Woodland Park is 0-6-0 so far in its inaugural season.
WOODLAND PARK — The dense fog couldn’t stop a clear picture from emerging on Friday night. Harrison football might be the real deal.
A 58-7 win over Woodland Park improved Harrison to 5-0 on the season, the program’s best start in recent memory. As of Friday, the Panthers sat at No. 3 in the football RPI.
With nearly 200 passing yards per game and over 200 rushing yards per game, the offense is well-oiled. The defense proved to be opportunistic in the win over Woodland Park (2-3 overall).
Halfway through the season, the only question that might be lingering in regard to these Panthers is what are they capable of when looking at the big picture?
“That’s a good question,” Harrison coach Al Melo said. “I was happy with the way we ran the ball. We ran the ball pretty solid the whole game and when we have to throw it, we can.”
Leading the way for Harrison’s ground attack was Aumiere Sedrick. He went for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. That included runs of 53, 40 and 39 yards.
“I do this, not just for myself, but for the people on our team that aren’t able to do it,” Shedrick said. “I just take that to heart.”
The one thing Harrison was not on Friday was one dimensional. Quarterback Orlando Westbrook made the offense multi-dimensional and threw touchdown passes of 11 and 61 yards to wide receiver David Barrow.
Barrow also included a pick-six with 6:51 left in the third quarter.
Long runs and flashy plays might help a few individual names stand out for Harrison, but the overall roster is unified in its goals and doesn’t let one accomplishment overshadow another.
“We play as one,” Barrow said. “My catches don’t mean anything. Everything we do, we do as a team.”
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Harrison held a 20-0 lead early in the game before Woodland Park struck and scored its only touchdown of the game. Logan Taylor broke free on a 15-yard run to get into the end zone, keeping his Panthers with ear shot.
But things unraveled in the second half. Harrison intercepted passes on four-straight possessions to seal the game.
It didn’t help that three of Woodland Park’s captains were injured through the course of the game, but coach Joe Roskam knew there were many factors that led to Harrison running away with the game.
“Turnovers for sure,” he said. “It’s not like our kids didn’t play hard. They made some plays in the first half and it just ended up being ugly.”
Woodland Park begins league play next week when it travels to Discovery Canyon.
Harrison will look to make it six-straight wins to start the season when it hosts rival Sierra. And if Friday night was any indication, Harrison will continue to flex its muscles as a 3A contender.
“We never let up at all,” Barrows said. “We always have a foot on the gas.”
