The 2019 all-state girls lacrosse 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.
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Player of the year: Sloane Murphy, Colorado Academy
JEFFERSON COUNTY — The latest National Letter of Intent signing period has pushed the number of Jeffco student-athletes continuing at the next level to well over 200.
Several Jeffco high schools across the district has had signing celebrations since the final signing date period of the coming 2019-2020 academic school year began on April 17. The final signing date for Division I basketball programs wraps up May 15 and the last signing day for Division II football programs is August 1.
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Jeffco’s signers on National Letter of Intent — April 17
Bear Creek High School
KarlieAnn Bauer, softball, Dodge City Community College
Morgan Browne, volleyball, Colorado State University
Nathan Madrid, baseball, Metro State University
Miranda Manfre, track, Colorado School of Mines
Megan McGriff, women’s lacrosse, Marietta College
Ciara Navarro, softball, Trinidad Community College
Leon Sebastion, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Julian Vargas, baseball, Doane University
Chatfield Senior High School
Kira Coffee, women’s tennis, University of Nebraska-Kearney
Martha Geering, ice hockey, University of Colorado
Columbine High School
Ellie Barrow, women’s basketball, Ellsworth Community College
Daysha Mendez, softball, Dodge City Community College
Conifer High School
John Votaw, baseball, Augustana College
Avery Fulord, baseball, Trine University
Mitch Marinaro, men’s lacrosse, Midland University
Laurel Ainsworth, softball, Hawaii Pacific University
D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Brady Sullivan, football, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Leah Sommer, volleyball, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Luca McIntyre, football, Avila University
Dakota Ridge High School
Zoe Plechaty, cross country/track, St. Olaf
Lucile Pidek, cross country/track, Fort Lewis College
Evergreen High School
Jina Alvis, women’s soccer, Johnson Wales University-Denver
Maggie McDonald, women’s soccer, West Point Military Academy
Bryce Pearson, baseball, Garden City Kansas
Paul Schreffler, baseball, Trinity University-San Antonio
Golden High School
Elizabeth Henshaw, women’s soccer, Culver-Stockton
Katie Dunson, softball, Lamar Community College
Jack Walters, football, Colorado School of Mines
Jonah Wimbish, men’s soccer, Augustana
Cassidy Paulson, softball, Neosho Community College
David O’Connell, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jade Gomez-Chavarria, softball, Western Nebraska Community College
Tristen Emory, boys lacrosse, Fort Lewis College
Joe Quintana, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Green Mountain High School
Jessica Greenwood, softball, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Summer Olson, cross country/track, College of Saint Mary
Lakewood High School
Elias Borjas, baseball, Iowa Western Community College
Carley Bennett, cross country/track, University of Colorado
Pierce Holley, football, Georgetown University
Jacob Brunner, men’s lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University
Elyse Hatch Rivera, women’s soccer, Macalester College
Kayla Colangelo, softball, Dodge City Community College
Lauren Rice, softball, University of Puget Sound
Isaac Garcia, swim and dive, St. Ambrose University
Rose Nadelhoffer, swim and dive, Macalester College
Kayleigh Knodel, volleyball, Colby Community College
Emily Booth, volleyball, Johnson & Wales University
Pomona High School
Mary Franssen, track, Northern State University
Ralston Valley High School
McKenna Bennett, swimming, Southern Illinois University
Lauren Foley, fencing, Wagner College
Myranda Grygorcewicz, cheer, University of Wyoming
Cole Jesch, football, South Dakota School of Mines
Shaun McDonnell, men’s soccer, Western Illinois University
Katie Olson, cheer, Brigham Young University
Tori Sayer, diving, University of Northern Colorado
Jordan Stratch, men’s basketball, Colorado Northwestern Community College
Standley Lake High School
Alex France, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Tyler Williams, track, Southern Utah University
Brady Rose, baseball, McLennan Junior College
Tyler Dorn, men’s golf, Lamar Community College
Haley Klasner, women’s soccer, Colorado Mesa University
Tate Minch, men’s soccer, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Nathan Adams, baseball, Labette Community College
Wheat Ridge High School
Jack Bozik, men’s lacrosse, Bellarmine University
Logan Duford, women’s soccer, University of Texas, San Antonio
Molly Kratzer, women’s soccer, Regis University
Ryan Peterson, men’s swimming, University of Southern California
AJ Wyse, football, Luther College
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from March with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features state wrestling action where Pomona came away with another Class 5A team title, along with three individual crowns and Jefferson captured a pair of individual titles. The spring season got underway despite the ‘Bomb Cyclone’. Green Mountain scored a shutout victory over area-rival Lakewood in girls soccer action at Lakewood Memorial Field. At Trailblazer Stadium, Wheat Ridge boys lacrosse suffered a tough overtime loss and Conifer girls lacrosse dominated Summit. We finish with action from the 2019 Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Games at the Gold Crown Field House.
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from December with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features boys basketball action with Green Mountain, Lakewood, D’Evelyn, Pomona and Wheat Ridge. Defending Class 5A Jeffco League girls swimming champion Ralston Valley tested the water at Meyers Pool with Golden and Conifer. Also, girls basketball highlights with Dakota Ridge upsetting two-time defending 4A state champion Evergreen. We wrap up with Standley Lake’s pom squad winning the 4A state title.
DENVER — Conifer boys basketball team raced out to quick lead Thursday night against former Class 4A Jeffco League rival and never looked back in a 71-51 win over D’Evelyn.
The Lobos hits the 20-point mark less than six minutes into the game at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. Junior Elijah Cook’s 3-pointer with 2:24 left in the first quarter pushed Conifer’s lead to 21-4 on the Jaguars’ home court.
Conifer junior Elijah Cook squares up for a 3-pointer Thursday night against D’Evelyn. Cook drained seven 3-pointers, one short of the school record. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We have in spurts,” Conifer coach Eric Valerio said of the Lobos’ hot shooing. “We’ve got guys who get streaky and hot. Elijah Cook is just an unbelievable shooter.”
Cook finished with a game-high 27 points, including seven 3-pointer. The junior guard was one 3-pointer short of tying the school record. As a team, Conifer finished with a dozen 3-pointers on the night.
“I just came in and knew I’d be hitting my shots for some reason,” said Cook, who said he has hit 10 3-pointers in a summer game.
The Lobos (5-3 record) had good balanced scoring. Juniors Landon Wallace, Connor Long and Cody Jacobson each scored 10 points. Senior Will Ratzer pitched in 12 points to give the Lobos five players in double-figures.
“I’m just so proud of the guys,” Valerio said. “They are fun to watch, especially when they are shooting the ball like that.”
Conifer junior Landon Wallace (0) kicks the ball to the outside after driving the lane. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The victory ended a long losing streak against D’Evelyn. It has been at least a decade since the Lobos had defeated the Jaguars in boys basketball. Valerio was 0-6 coaching against D’Evelyn since he took over the Jaguars’ program in the 2013-14 season.
“It’s a big win to kind of get this monkey off our back,” Valerio said of defeating D’Evelyn.
The Jaguars (0-7) are still looking for their first victory. D’Evelyn did show signs of turning things around in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars scored 23 points in the final quarter after being held to 28 points through the first three quarters.
D’Evelyn senior Dan Brady led the way with 18 points for the Jaguars. D’Evelyn attempts to get in the win column Saturday night in a road game against Erie (1-3).
D’Evelyn senior Mac Brandon, left, is guarded by Conifer senior Wil Ratzer during the second half Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Conifer tries to grab its fourth victory in five games when the Lobos face rival Evergreen at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at Conifer High School. It will be the first time in the rivalry game where Valerio will go head-to-head against Evergreen’s new coach Jeff Dolan. Valerio and Dolan were teammates at Conifer.
“We have Evergreen on Monday, so we’ve got to be good for that,” Cook said. “We’ve got to come out like we did tonight.”
Looking a little ahead, the Lobos begin play in the 4A/3A Colorado 8 League in mid-January. A conference title would like nice on Conifer’s resume.
“There are some good quality teams in there,” Valerio said of the Colorado 8 League. “Our goal is to win everything. My goal is to get better each game and teach them to play the right way.”
Conifer junior Elijah Cook (3) plays tight defense on D’Evelyn junior Jack Grant (11) during the Lobos’ 20-point victory Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
