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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
COLORADO SPRINGS – Liberty boys basketball is headed to the Class 5A Sweet 16.
The Lancers, seeded No. 12, beat No. 44 Monarch 57-52 on Saturday afternoon at Liberty High School.
“We knew that Monarch was coming off a five-game winning streak against some good teams and didn’t have anything to lose and would battle,” said Liberty coach Ivan Chambers. “Fortunately, our guys were prepared and came out on top.”
The game consisted of a constant back-and-forth battle between these two teams. Monarch opened with a 3-pointer, but Liberty responded with an 11-0 run that made it 11-3.
The next two quarters were the same narrative, and Liberty hung onto the lead by only four points going into the final quarter.
That quarter started with a 3-pointer from Monarch’s Tylor Trihn and was followed by another 3-pointer from CJ Shamanski that gave Monarch the lead.
“We have been here before and have had to play from behind,” Chambers said of losing the lead. “But these guys are very smart when it comes to basketball and they know what to do in that situation and they were able to come out and take care of business.”
And the Liberty Lancers did just that.
With only four minutes left, Liberty drove the ball down the court and Moz Doria tossed the ball into the hoop to give the Lancers the lead again. After that, big rebounds and free throws sealed the win for Liberty.
Doria, a senior forward, led the Lancers with an impressive 20 points and was in the middle of every play. Sean Bohuslavsky added a nice 15 points and Kyle Bohuslavsky also provided 11 points.
“We knew this was going to be a hard game because Monarch has a really good team,” Doria said. “But this team is more like a family and we’ve known each other since we were in fifth grade, so that really helps us to come together and be successful like we were today.”
Monarch stayed in the fight till the very last few minutes of the game but couldn’t quite catch Liberty.
The Coyotes were led by Shamanski, who put up 17 points, and he was accompanied by 10 points from Keegan Johnson. Monarch finishes the season with a 13-12 record.
Liberty will play at No. 5 George Washington in the Sweet 16 on Feb. 28. The Patriots beat No. 37 Bear Creek 76-54 on Saturday.
“This is a fun group of guys and when we can play together as a team we can be pretty dangerous,” Chambers said.
Liberty has named Erick Gossage its new football coach, the school announced on Monday.
Gossage had been the offensive and defensive line coach for the Lancers the past two seasons. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator at Sand Creek and Palmer, and has also been an assistant at Coronado, Wasson, Watson Junior High and Palmer.
He takes over for Marc Sites, who was 13-27 in four seasons.
Liberty was 2-8 last year in Class 4A.
Gossage is a cousin of baseball Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, who went to high school at Wasson.
COLORADO SPRINGS — In a game that was consistently back and forth, the Doherty boys basketball had just enough to edge Liberty on Thursday night.
Grasping onto a 38-35 lead at the end of the third quarter, the Spartans, ranked No. 9 in Class 5A, held off Liberty 57-54.
In such a close game, it was free throws that made an impact. Doherty made 9-of-15 shots from the line, while the Lancers made 15-of-18.
“I don’t think that both teams played well, just at times,” Doherty coach Eric Steinert said. “But when the game did get tough, we played our best and I’m proud of our guys for that.”
Doherty was led by senior Kyrele Benford, who scored a vital 18 points even though he was sick.
“He was throwing up all of half time and came out and played one of his best halves of basketball,” Steinert said. “Defensively he was locked in and he didn’t come out even when he was sick, and that is a special thing.”
Doherty was also helped by junior Alijah Bates, who supplied 12 points, and seniors Joe golden and Josh Walker, who both provided 10 points.
It was a five-point game or closer throughout the final quarter. Liberty surged back with a jump shot by senior Kyle Bohuslavsky, and Moz Doria drove in a layup in the final minutes of the game.
However, Doherty’s Bates scored the final bucket with a monumental dunk and eventual game-winning basket within the last seconds of the game.
The Lancers had a thrilling drive of eight points within the last few minutes thanks to shots made by Doria, Jacob Burns, and Bohuslavsky. Doria led Liberty with 28 points. Despite the impressive numbers put up by Liberty, missed rebounds and turnovers proved to be the difference-maker in a well-fought battle.
With Doherty beating Liberty for the second time in a month, the Spartans will need to keep this momentum as they play league games against Coronado and Pine Creek in the next week.
“Close games like these have value for playoffs because everyone gives you their best shot,” Steinert said. “And playing games like these that are tough against good teams can help us get better prepared for that.”
The 2017 all-state football teams 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 across the state.
Players were placed onto the first-team, second-team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-1A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.
CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created entirely from the results of the coaches’ vote.
