The Season D all-state girls tennis teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created based upon results at the state tournament.

The athletes who won championships at their classification were named players of the year. Coaches of the year were awarded to the coaches of championship teams.

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(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow.com)

Class 5A

Player of the year: Lily Chitamber, Boulder

Coach of the year: Chris Jacob, Cherry Creek

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(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Class 4A

Player of the year: Lauren Manwiller, Mullen

Coach of the year: Jera Sturgell, Mullen

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(Luke Zahlmann/Pueblo Chieftain)

Class 3A

Player of the year: Anna Jordaan, Colorado Academy

Coach of the year: Woody Oliver, D’Evelyn

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A quick lead only grew as No. 2 Dawson toppled No. 7 Front Range Christian to advance to the Class 2A girls soccer semifinals.

Results from the 2021 Class 3A girls tennis regionals, which includes info on who has qualified for the state championships.

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A list of girls tennis regional schedules for the 2021 season.

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Class 5A

Region 1

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Cherry Creek HS
• Site contact: Chris Jacobs
• Schools: Cherry Creek, Boulder, Legend, Northglenn, Columbine, Overland.

Region 2

• Date: June 2
• Site: Fairview
• Site contact: Rod Beauchamp
• Schools: Fairview, Valor Christian, ThunderRidge, Horizon, Grandview, Highlands Ranch.

Region 3

• Date: June 2
• Site: Denver City Park
• Site contact: Michelle Topf
• Schools: Denver East, Castle View, Legacy, Hinkley, Far Northeast, Eaglecrest.

Region 4

• Date: June 2
• Site: Fossil Ridge
• Site contact: Brandon Carlucci
• Schools: Fossil Ridge, Cherokee Trail, Chaparral, Rocky Mountain, Adams City, Arvada West.

Region 5

• Date: June 2
• Site: Mountain Vista
• Site contact: Jim Flanigan
• Schools: Mountain Vista, Arapahoe, Fountain-Fort Carson, Monarch, Mountain Range.

Region 6

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: Ken Caryl
• Site contact: Craig Aukland
• Schools: Chatfield, Regis Jesuit, Fort Collins, Doherty, Lakewood.

Region 7

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: APEX
• Site contact: Kim Greason
• Schools: Ralston Valley, Poudre, Rock Canyon, Prairie View, Douglas County.

Region 8

• Date: June 4
• Site: CMU
• Site contact: Paul Cain
• Schools: Fruita, Heritage, Smoky Hill, Broomfield, Rangeview.

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Class 4A

Region 1

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: Pine Creek & John Venezia Park
• Site contact: Ron Sukle
• Schools: Discovery Canyon, Air Academy, Falcon, Palmer Ridge, Pine Creek, Ponderosa, Sand Creek.

Region 2

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Kent Denver
• Site contact: Richard Judd
• Schools: Kent Denver, Aurora Central, Denver South, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Gateway, Vista PEAK, Littleton.

Region 3

• Date: June 1-2 (June 3-4 rain dates)
• Site: Mullen (doubles) & Harlow Park Courts (singles)
• Site contact: Hank Hooper
• Schools: Mullen, Bear Creek, Denver North, Golden, Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Green Mountain, Dakota Ridge, Pomona.

Region 4

• Date: June 3
• Site: North Lake Park
• Site contact: Chris Stine
• Schools: Loveland, Frederick, Greeley Central, Greeley West, Mead, Mountain View, Severance, Windsor, Thompson Valley.

Region 5

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Niwot
• Site contact: Joe Brown
• Schools: Niwot, Centaurus, Erie, Longmont, Thornton, Silver Creek, Skyline, Standley Lake.

Region 6

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Cheyenne Mountain HS
• Site contact: Kris Roberts
• Schools: Cheyenne Mountain, Coronado, Lewis-Palmer, Liberty, Mitchell, Palmer, Rampart.

Region 7

• Date: June 4-5
• Site: Pueblo City Park
• Site contact: Ed Francis
• Schools: Pueblo East, Canon City, Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo West, Mesa Ridge, Widefield.

Region 8

• Date: June 4
• Site: CMU
• Site contact: Paul Cain
• Schools: Grand Junction, Durango, Grand Junction Central, Montrose.

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Class 3A

Region 1

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Colorado Academy
• Site contact: Jon Hill
• Schools: Colorado Academy, Lincoln, Lutheran, Denver West, Kennedy, St. Mary’s Academy.

Region 2

• Date: June 2
• Site: Holy Family
• Site contact: Ben Peterson
• Schools: Holy Family, Prospect Ridge, Justice, Skyview, Northfield.

Region 3

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Dakota Ridge HS
• Site contact: Jerry McWhorter
• Schools: D’Evelyn, Arvada, Conifer, Englewood, Jefferson, Alameda.

Region 4

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Windsor
• Site contact: Steve Longwell
• Schools: Eaton, Fort Morgan, Northridge, Severance, Sterling, University.

Region 5

• Date: June 3
• Site: Dawson
• Site contact: Mike Jacobsma
• Schools: Dawson, Berthoud, Fort Lupton, Peak to Peak.

Region 6

• Date: June 2-3
• Site: Memorial Park
• Site contact: Marc Knutila
• Schools: St. Mary’s, Colorado Springs Christian, Colorado Springs School, Sierra, Vanguard, Fountain Valley.

Region 7

• Date: June 3-4
• Site: Pueblo City Park
• Site contact: Ed Francis
• Schools: Pueblo South, Pueblo Central, Pueblo County, La Junta, Harrison, Salida.

Region 8

• Date: June 1-2
• Site: Canyon View Park (GJ)
• Site contact: Christina Curtis
• Schools: Delta, Aspen, Basalt, Cedaredge, Glenwood Springs, Montezuma-Cortez, Paonia, Steamboat Springs, Vail Mountain.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

When the CHSAA boys basketball record book got updated two weeks ago, it provided a reminder of some memorable performances that fans saw throughout the year. It also provided fitting ends for some of the best basketball players to come through the state.

There were top performances from both individual players and overall teams that stand out for years down the road.

There were standout defensive numbers combined with plenty of offensive output that makes the last boys basketball season one to remember.

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Mancos’ Caden Showalter ended his career as one of the most efficient players in state history. At the conclusion of this last year, he totaled 58 career double-doubles, besting Colorado Springs Christian’s Sam Howard by five.

A few other players broke into the top 10 of the same category. Pomona’s Trevor Baskin ended with 38 to finish 10th with Mile High Academy’s Blake Essex coming in for a tie at eighth with 40.

Vanguard’s Dominique Clifford finished fifth in career double-doubles with 43. He had 24 this last season which is second most in a single season. The University of Colorado commit’s career was capped with several notable spots in the record book.

He finished third in career rebounds in the state tournament (109), fifth in career triple-doubles (3), sixth in rebounds in a single state tournament (51) and second in triple-doubles for a year (2).

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From a percentage standpoint, no one had a better free throw shooting year than DSST: Byers’ Kyrie Thomas. He made his way to the line 84 times and sank 79 shots to shoot 94.048 percent, the best season for anyone with at least 50 attempts.

He also knocked down 30 consecutive free throws during the season, the fourth longest streak in state history.

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(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Conifer’s Landon Wallace will always hold a place in state history as one of the top all-time assists men. He cracked the top five in career assists with 697 and dished out 239 in 2019-20 alone, fifth most in a single year.

In 2018-19, he dished out 256 which is the second most in state history.

From a team standpoint, Resurrection Christian made its mark as one of the most unselfish teams on record. The Cougars recorded 569 assists this year, No. 3 on the all-time list. Denver East (550) and Highland (533) also cracked into the top 10 of the category.

Peaking of Highland, Tate Bessire had another season in which he finished top 10 in a single season in steals with 128. He finished his career with 392, which is second most all-time.

Sterling and Mead turned in some of the best long-range shooting seasons on record. The Tigers set a state record for most 3-pointers made by a team in a single season at 272. That tops Eagle Calley’s 2017-18 mark of 268. Mead ended the season with a respectable 237 made 3-pointers, fifth most all-time.

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Notables

• • Loveland’s Austin Bierhaus recorded 13 blocks in a Dec. 20 win over Northridge. It’s tied for fifth most in a game by a single player. He finished with 162 for the season which is No. 4 in the category. The team overall had 201 blocks, eighth most all-time for a team.
  • Lutheran’s Baye Fall scored 456 points last season which is seventh most for a freshman.
  • Longmont Christian’s Kyle Saunders recorded 144 steals, fourth most in a single season for any player.
  • Sheridan’s David Marquez III ended his career as one of the most efficient 3-point shooters in state history. His 48.052 career percentage from behind the arc is No. 9 in the category. He shot 56.923 percent from long range last year for the seventh best season on record.
  • Chaparral guard Kobe Sanders was never shy about firing up shots. His 613 career 3-point attempts are 10th most in state history.
  • Dawson’s Riley Burridge and Peak to Peak’s Garrett Shriver each attempted 21 3-pointers in a game this last year, tied for third most. In all, Burridge fired up 265 shots from long range, the sixth most in a single season. He made 97 of them, tying him for No. 8 in a single season with Rye’s Bryan Ribaudo and Fossil Ridge’s Braxton Bertolette.
  • Sedgwick County ended the years as the toughest team to ever score against in Colorado history. The Cougars gave up just 34 points per game, the best points against average of all-time.
  • Highland attempted 1,804 field goals last year, more than any other team in state history. It made 852 of them which is also more than any team before it. The Huskies scored a total of 2,155 points, seventh most for a single team, and averaged 86.2 per game, second most all-time.

(PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Typically, the Colorado Athletic Directors Association announces their annual awards at their conference each year. However, with no conference this year, they are announcing the awards online.

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Annual Awards

CADA 1A Athletic Director of the Year: Brett Williams, Hanover JSHS School District 28

CADA 2A Athletic Director of the Year: David Schuessler, Clear Creek

CADA 3A Athletic Director of the Year: Jesse Shawcroft, Centauri High School

CADA 4A Athletic Director of the Year: Kris Roberts, Cheyenne Mountain HS

CADA 5A Athletic Director of the Year: Adam Kelsey, Denver South High School

CADA Administrative Assistant of the Year: Joyce Cunningham, Littleton High School

CADA Administrator of the Year: Diana Sirko, Mesa County Valley School District

CADA Board Member of the Year: Reynaldo “Chico” Garcia, St. Vrain

CADA Award for Distinguished Service: Sue Prahl, Niwot High School

CADA Media Representative of the Year: Dan Mohrmann, CHSAANow/Southern Colorado

CADA Middle School Athletic Director of the Year: Jeff Conway, Coal Ridge MS

CADA New Athletic Director of the Year: Jimmy Cottrell, Kiowa High School

CADA Retired Athletic Director of the Year: Frank Lee, Fairview High School

State Award of Merit: Denny Squibb, Fruita Monument High School

Student Athlete Scholar award:

• Male: Elijah Meyers, Arickaree High School
• Female: Susan Puchino, Littleton High School

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CADA Committee Awards

Kurby Lyle Service Award: Mike Jacobsma, Dawson High School

Frank Kovaleski Professional Development Award: Karen Higel, Denver Public Schools

NFHS Citation Award: Mike Hughes, Lakewood High School

Distinguished Service Award: LeRoy Lopez, Fredrick High School

Saturday featured three thrilling championship games as Kent Denver, Ridgway and Skyview all claimed boys soccer championships.

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3A: (2) Kent Denver 5, (5) Roaring Fork 0

By Derek Lee & Tim Bourke

• Link to gallery

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

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2A: (10) Ridgway 2, (4) Dawson 1

By Tim Bourke

• Link to gallery

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

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4A: (3) Skyview 2, (5) Air Academy 1

By Tim Bourke

• Link to gallery

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

COMMERCE CITY — Pick your Cinderella storyline, and Ridgway’s boys soccer team probably fit the criteria this postseason.

A small school of 99 students, and one that had not won a state championship in any sport since 1995. A No. 10 seed that struggled late in the season and was overlooked coming into the state tournament.

None of that mattered Saturday afternoon, as the Demons completed their historic run through the Class 2A state bracket with a 2-1 victory over Dawson School at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The victory gave Ridgway its first state title in the sport and first overall since winning a boys basketball crown 24 years ago.

“We come from a school with 99 kids. The team we just played has an enrollment of like 250,” Demons coach Jon Kornbluh said. “That’s the story almost every time we step on the field. It’s really just a story about these boys, and me, starting years and years and years ago.
“We’ve been punching above our weight all our lives.”

Robert Beserra scored both of Ridgway’s goals, the game-winner coming with only 37 seconds remaining in regulation. Beserra, who finished his senior season with 41 goals, went up and headed the ball over a defender and a charging goalkeeper into the back of the net. It slowly rolled into the back of the net, setting off a wild celebration.

“My keeper (Kaden Forrest) punted it like three-quarters of the way down the field,” Beserra said. “I was like ‘this is my chance.’ I went up for it and I capitalized. It was a proud moment.”

More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Kornbluh said it was nothing new from his senior midfielder, but added that it doesn’t happen without the work of the entire squad. In his words, the Demons are a “beautiful possessing team with a phenom up top.”

“It was a courageous play. He’s looking to get hammered by that goalie,” Kornbluh added. “Robert is the total package. He’s got courage, intensity, skill and a huge heart. He’s our workhorse.”

Ridgway (12-3-3) dropped three of its final five regular season games, but opened the 2A playoffs with a 5-1 victory over No. 7 Lotus School For Excellence. From there the team upset defending state champion Crested Butte 3-1, and then upended No. 3 Fountain Valley 5-1 in the semifinals.

“It’s insane,” Beserra said. “I saw this is like the lowest seed that’s made it to the finals since like 2007 or something, so that’s really special.”

Dawson School (12-4-2) defeated Telluride and Denver Christian to reach its first 2A championship game. The Mustangs fell behind in the 12th minute after Beserra scored his first goal, but Jesse Isenhart knotted it up at 1-1 not quite 11 minutes later, sending a direct kick from just outside the top of box past Forrest.

The senior had two more chances on set pieces in the first half, but one went a little high and the second was deflected away by Forrest.

He had another direct kick hit the crossbar in the second half, and Forrest finished with four saves on the afternoon.

“Kaden came up really big,” Beserra said. “Our defense has been playing good all playoffs. They’re playing good when we needed it.”

Ridgway managed only one other shot on goal, and Christian Lindler had a chance go just wide right in the closing minutes. With the game looking as though it would go to overtime, Beserra made the most of his biggest chance of the season.

“Everyone talks about how big the moment is – at the end, I just kept talking about ‘no, this is about your first touch. This is about defensive intensity. This is about playing clinical soccer,’” Kornbluh said. “Take the moment out of it. It helped to watch the game before us and be in the space and place.

“It wasn’t too big for us. They really seized the moment.”

More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

ENGLEWOOD — The scariest thing a goalkeeper can see on a Saturday afternoon is Ridgway’s Rob Beserra dribbling through defenders and making his way into open space.

The lesson there: If he gets an open shot, he’s not going to miss.

In the Class 2A boys soccer semifinals, he had two open shots and connected on both of them to help the Demons beat Fountain Valley 5-1 and advance to next week’s state championship match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

“I was feeling confident,” Beserra said. “I like playing on turf and it was a good finish.”

He scored his first goal in the eighth minute after cutting through the Fountain Valley defense and drawing keeper Jacob Thomassen to the near corner of the net. He ripped his shot to the back right corner to get the Demons (11-3-3 overall) on the board.

The Danes (13-4) answered just minutes later on a scrum right in front of the net on a corner kick. With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, Beserra again navigated through the Danes’ defenders and into open space. His shot was on point again and turned out to be the game winner.

But that doesn’t mean Ridgway was done. Road warriors all tournament, the Demons kept attacking in the second half and scored three more goals. One of which came from Ruben Kornbluh, the son of coach Jon Kornbluh.

“The story on that is in the hotel room last night he was sick as a dog,” Coach Kornbluh said. “He didn’t think he’d be able to get out of bed, let alone make it on the pitch. He’s also coming off knee surgery in May, so this was his best game in 12 months.”

Both Beserra and Coach Kornbluh acknowledged that the Demons thrive when playing on the road. The good news on that front is that they’ll have to travel just one more time and that will be next week when they take the field with the 2A state title on the line.

If they continue to play the way they have all tournament, they believe they can bring a championship trophy home with them on next week’s long bus ride home.

“Anytime we’ve stepped on the field we’ve been the better team,” Kornbluh said. “We play the right way, we know how to possess, we know how to attack. We’ve just made it about playing the right way.”

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(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

(4) Dawson 3, (9) Denver Christian 2

A two goal lead is often said to be the most dangerous, and that proved to be the case in the second 2A boys soccer semifinal match.

After neither team was able to convert on numerous chances throughout the day, Dawson appeared to a state championship appearance wrapped up with a 2-0 lead in the final five minutes of regulation.

But the game was just beginning. Two late goals from Denver Christian put the game into overtime before the Mustangs came away with a win and a berth in next week’s 2A state championship game.

Jonas Ricke scored the golden goal with a minute left in the first overtime period to give Dawson the 3-2 win.

Sam Freedman scored the game’s first goal in the 49th minute to keep the Mustangs’ season alive.

It was anything but the dominant performance that Ridgway saw in the day’s first game. 

The best look for the Thunder (10-7-1)  came in the first half came off a free kick from Josh Schlernitzauer. His shot was just out of reach of Dawson keeper Tony Aieta’s hand, but slammed off the post, keeping the game scoreless.

Dawson had a look of its own six minutes later on a loss ball in front of the net, but keeper Max Atwood was able to knock it away and give his back line a few precious seconds to get composed. 

Schlernitzauer had a second free kick chance in the 36th minute, but that attempt sailed high. 

The Mustangs (12-3-2) pressed at the start of the second half and ripped off a couple of early shots, but much like the first half, to no avail.

In the 49th minute, Nick Knobel made a break down the right side of the field and had a look at the net, but Atwood again came up big with the save.

The stalemate was finally broken off a Rio Sueyoshi free kick. The loose ball bounced around in front of the net before Isenhart got it by Atwood to put the Mustangs up 1-0.

Knobel added a second goal in the 65th minute to add some breathing room.

But it wasn’t enough.

With just under three minutes to play, Zach Johnson sent a booming ball toward the net to get the Thunder on the board. With time and ideas running out, Johnson figured what worked once might just work twice.

He sent a second ball in the direction of the cross bar. It was low enough to sneak under and high enough that Aieta couldn’t get a hand on it. In the final minute of play, Denver Christian suddenly had new life.

But Ricke ended things 14 minutes into the first overtime period. The Mustangs will face Ridgway at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

A complete list of individual qualifiers for Saturday’s state cross country meet.

Find a state meet schedule here.

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Class 2A

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Class 3A

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Class 4A

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Class 5A

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Unified