The Season D all-state baseball 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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Class 5A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Radek Birkholz, Valor Christian

Coach of the year: Ron Quintana, Mountain Vista

Honorable mention:

• Tucker Buniger, UTIL, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Gerardo Caldera, C/P, Adams City, Senior
• Caleb Cancino, C, Castle View, Junior
• Benji Carrington, Rampart, Junior
• Reese Chapman, OF/RHP, Grandview, Junior
• Ty Chapman, SS, Grandview, Senior
• Cade Collins, 2B/SS, Dakota Ridge, Freshman
• Cory Cooper, Denver South, Sophomore
• Carter Dorighi, INF, Cherry Creek, Senior
• Braden Doumer, C/OF/1B, Legend, Junior
• Garrett Dykstra, LHP/1B, Arapahoe, Senior
• Jacob Frazzini, P/1B, Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Matt Glover, Denver South, Senior
• Nathan Gutierrez, LHP/OF, Douglas County, Senior
• Jacob Hill, P/2B, Ralston Valley, Senior
• Liam Hohenstein, OF/RHP, Rock Canyon, Junior
• Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B, Rock Canyon, Sophomore
• Brant Kragel, 1B/P, Valor Christian, Junior
• Cale Lansville, RHP/1B, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Dallas Macias, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Cort McDaniel, C, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Miguel Medina, CF/P/SS, Hinkley, Senior
• Adam Moser, Fairview, Senior
• Matthew Oberlander, OF/P, Fort Collins, Senior
• Brooks Rodarte, Castle View, Sophomore
• Camden Ross, Broomfield, Junior
• Jeremiah Sanchez, OF/LHP, Pueblo West, Junior
• Jace Schlegel, LHP/1B/OF, Pueblo West, Senior
• Landen Sehr, Legacy, Junior
• Luke Silverman, Fairview, Senior
• Danny Spence, INF/RHP, Pueblo West, Junior
• Tyler Stonebraker, OF/UTIL, Douglas County, Junior
• Tommy Valdez, Broomfield, Senior
• Will Vasseur, INF/RHP, Rocky Mountain, Junior
• Isaac Wachsmann, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Chris Wallace, Poudre, Senior
• Jacob Weaver, P/SS, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Kody Woods, P/C/3B, Palmer, Senior

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Class 4A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Dom Lopez, Ponderosa

Coach of the year: Bob Maloney, Ponderosa

Honorable mention:

• Tony Benko, D’Evelyn, Junior
• Bradley Blakemore, CF/LF/RHP, D’Evelyn, Junior
• Nate Bollinger, 3B, Palisade, Senior
• Nolan Boone, INF/P, Montrose, Senior
• Sammy Cabral, Thornton, Senior
• Jimmy Chastain, 1B, Windsor, Senior
• Connor Cooney, CF, Holy Family, Senior
• Derrick Domenico, 3B/SS, Pueblo County, Junior
• Nick Espinola, INF/RHP/OF, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
• Sage Ferguson, P/INF, Elizabeth, Senior
• Connor Frickey, 1B/RHP, Cheyenne Mountain, Junior
• Logan Gross, P/3B/SS, Rifle, Freshman
• Mason Hamlin, 2B/SS, Falcon, Junior
• Nolan Hertzke, RHP/3B, Severance, Sophomore
• George Hogan, SS/P, Evergreen, Senior
• Nolan Hydock, 1B/RHP, Greeley West, Senior
• Carson King, INF/P, Evergreen, Junior
• Cael Langford, Fort Morgan, Senior
• Derek Lukes, C/P/1B, Ponderosa, Junior
• Gage Mestas, Durango, Senior
• Westin Miller, SS, Wheat Ridge, Senior
• Nate Moorehead, INF/P/OF, Falcon, Senior
• Elijah Morales, OF/IF/P, Battle Mountain, Junior
• Isaiah Padilla, INF/P, Denver North, Sophomore
• Anders Page-Roth, SS, Golden, Sophomore
• Holden Pantier, SS/3B, Erie, Sophomore
• Melesio Perez, INF, Palisade, Junior
• Chase Prestwich, Frederick, Senior
• Dakota Pruitt, SS/P, Riverdale Ridge, Senior
• Caleb Ralph, RHP/INF, Lewis-Palmer, Senior
• Coletin Renn, INF/P, Canon City, Junior
• Rocco Salvatore, 1B, Roosevelt, Senior
• Clayton Sanger, 1B/LHP, Falcon, Senior
• Brock Saya, SS/RHP, Roosevelt, Junior
• Dylan Sayler, LF/SS/CF, Mesa Ridge, Senior
• Gavin Shary, INF/OF, Denver North, Junior
• Cole Simms, C/P, Canon City, Senior
• Nick Spidel, P/OF, Elizabeth, Senior
• Andrew Syverson, C/2B, Holy Family, Junior
• Nick Vilims, P/OF, Evergreen, Senior
• Cal Walsh, Durango, Senior
• Nick Weiderholt, OF/1B/LHP, George Washington, Junior
• Briggs Wheatley, Fort Morgan, Junior
• Noah Wicks, C/RHP, Golden, Sophomore
• Cruz Zamudio, C, Frederick, Sophomore

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Class 3A

(Nick Jurney)

Player of the year: Ryan Ure, Eaton

Coach of the year: Todd Hernandez, Eaton

Honorable mention:

• Daniel Alvarado, 1B/P, Strasburg, Senior
• Ty Blackmer, 2B/SS/RHP, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Tyler Bowdridge, CF/RHP, Pagosa Springs, Senior
• Elliot Bowen, RHP/C/CF, DSST: Montview, Junior
• Blake Buxton, OF/DH, Lamar, Senior
• Cade Carlson, 2B/INF, Bayfield, Senior
• Dylan Diorio, Sterling, Junior
• Jonah Ellis, Salida, Senior
• Carter Evans, Resurrection Christian, Sophomore
• Davis Evans, C/SS/P, Kent Denver, Senior
• Garrett Everitt, 1B/RHP, Faith Christian, Senior
• Greg Garza, INF, University, Junior
• Ben Greenberg, Colorado Academy, Junior
• Josh Greiving, Lutheran, Senior
• Ty Griffith, Brush, Sophomore
• Isaiah Elliot, CF/INF/RHP, The Academy, Sophomore
• Braden Hallman, C/DH/3B, Montezuma-Cortez, Sophomore
• Bryson Knapp, Resurrection Christian, Senior
• Alex Martinez, C, University, Senior
• Gabi Marmolejo, OF/P, Gunnison, Senior
• Alex Martinez, C, University, Senior
• Andrew Meick, Sterling, Junior
• Jonathan Monroe, LHP/OF/1B, The Academy, Junior
• Wish Moore, Basalt, Junior
• Aaron Morgan, Lutheran, Senior
• Ty Myers, 1B/P, University, Senior
• Ernie Padilla, CF/RHP/UTIL, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Zaymien Peteque, INF/P, La Junta, Senior
• Aaron Rice, Colorado Academy, Senior
• Luke Ruby, Junior, Resurrection Christian
• Cole Schumacher, Eaton, Senior
• Sam Sherry, Basalt, Junior
• Hunter Smilanich, Moffat County, Senior
• Evan Sowards, OF/P, Alamosa, Junior
• Coy Spitz, INF/P/C, Lamar, Junior
• Ryder True, Eaton, Sophomore
• Skylor Wild, Gunnison, Junior

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Class 2A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Kory Tacha, Limon

Coach of the year: Rocky Rockwell, Limon

Honorable mention:

• Anthony Aldretti, P/OF/C, John Mall, Senior
• Brenton Battista, OF/P/INF, Peyton, Senior
• Haden Camp, INF/P, Buena Vista, Sophomore
• JP Clune, C/RHP, St. Mary’s, Junior
• David Clutter, C/OF, Monte Vista, Junior
• Ben Compton, 1B/3B/RHP, Rye, Senior
• Liam Deming, Meeker, Junior
• Braydon Garcia, Meeker, Senior
• Michael Garza, CF/P, Dolores Huerta Prep, Senior
• Logan Glaser, 2B/3B, Calhan, Senior
• Matthew Gutierrez, Burlington, Sophomore
• Tyler Higgins, Limon, Senior
• Sam Hnizdil, INF/P, Highland, Junior
• Trevin Holland, INF/P, Swink, Junior
• Evan Larrick, County Line [Wiley/McClave], Freshman
• Val Leone, INF/P, Fowler, Senior
• Junior Lopez, 2B/INF, Monte Vista, Senior
• Garrett Oloman, SS/P, Custer County, Sophomore
• TJ Ortiz, 3B/P, Las Animas, Freshman
• Matt Pachl, INF/P, North Fork, Junior
• Nathan Paolucci, INF/P, Swink, Senior
• Dimitri Prisbrey, OF/P, Olathe, Senior
• Cole Reavis, OF, Buena Vista, Junior
• Rafael Ruiz Jr., SS/RHP, Lyons, Senior
• Colby Rupp, 1B/OF, Cedaredge, Senior
• Seattle Schuessler, CF/SS/P, Clear Creek, Senior
• Byron Shawcroft, P/SS, Centauri, Junior
• Cameron Stringfellow, SS/P/OF, Dolores Huerta, Freshman
• Yahir Trejo, SS/2B, Yuma, Junior
• Sam Uyemura, SS/P, Wray, Senior
• Michael Valdez, LF/3B/RHP, Rye, Senior
• Henry VanDenBerg, 1B/P, Denver Christian, Senior
• Bobby Wallace, INF/P/C, South Park, Senior
• Michael Wishowski, P/OF/1B, South Park, Senior

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Class 1A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Jose Magallanes, Holly

Coach of the year: Dayne Eaton, Holly

Honorable mention:

• Pavel Bernlohr, Evangelical Christian, Senior
• Jaxon Borchardt, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Noah Coddington, Evangelical Christian, Junior
• Dominic Coleman, P/SS, Granada, Junior
• Micah Dannelly, UTIL/RHP, Flatirons Academy, Sophomore
• Brayden Glover, Simla, Sophomore
• Bobby Larsen, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Maguire Lind, Pikes Peak Christian, Junior
• Hatch Nelson, Eads, Senior
• Kevin Purkat, SS/RHP, Dove Creek, Senior
• Tyler Reynolds, P/SS, Otis, Senior
• Gavin Rose, C, Elbert, Junior
• Colton Rowan, INF/RHP, Flatirons Academy, Freshman
• Logan Weimer, Nucla, Senior

The Season D all-state boys track and field teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

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

In order to be considered for athlete of the year, they must first have made the all-state team by winning an event.

Athletes of the year were selected based upon their performance at the state meet. Coaches of the year were selected based upon the team champions.

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(Claire Semerod/Cherry Creek High School)

Class 5A

Athlete of the year: Ky Oday, Cherry Creek

Coach of the year: John Reyes, Grandview

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(Brent Murphy/brentmurphyphoto.com)

Class 4A

Athlete of the year: Zane Bergen, Niwot

Coach of the year: Maurice Henriques, Niwot

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(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Class 3A

Athlete of the year: Joshua Medina, Alamosa

Coach of the year: Mark Roggy & Eileen Phillips, Resurrection Christian

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Class 2A

Athlete of the year: Anthony Martinez, Lake County

Coach of the year: Lucas Lubbers, Yuma

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Class 1A

Athlete of the year: Jacob Jefferson, Arickaree/Woodlin

Coach of the year: Joe Packard, Heritage Christian

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

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

In order to be considered for athlete of the year, they must first have made the all-state team by winning an event.

Athletes of the year were selected based upon their performance at the state meet. Coaches of the year were selected based upon the team champions.

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Class 5A

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

Athlete of the year: Riley Stewart, Cherry Creek

Coach of the year: Brian Kula, Valor Christian

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Class 4A

(Kevin McNearny)

Athlete of the year: Lucca Fulkerson, Niwot

Coach of the year: Maurice Henriques, Niwot

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Class 3A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Athlete of the year: Peyton Garrison, Coal Ridge

Coach of the year: Ben Kirk, Coal Ridge

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Class 2A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Athlete of the year: Eboselulu Omofoma, Dayspring Christian

Coach of the year: Kirby Henderson, Cedaredge

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Class 1A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Athlete of the year: Alivia Weathers, Lone Star

Coach of the year: Joe Packard, Heritage Christian

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD – When he’s ready to start his run toward the high jump bar, Longmont’s Eddie Kurjak stands, raises his arms and begins a slow clap, urging the crowd to join him.

On Friday, the fans at Jefferson County Stadium followed his lead with the slow clap and then Kurjak cleared the bar with a Class 4A state-meet record leap of 7 feet to win the state title in the high jump.

“It feels amazing, man,” Kurjak said. “I love this environment. I’ve been psyching myself up all week for it just trying to prepare every night the best I can. A good season’s work finally paid off. I’m really proud of myself.”

Kurjak, headed to Colorado Mesa to play basketball and compete in track and field, said getting the slow clap going helps him.

“Me personally, it helps me flush out over-thinking to get the whole crowd involved,” he said. “Obviously it’s not going to make me jump higher, but it helps me not be so in my head about things. It just enables me to run and jump.”

It completed a long quest for a state title. He was second in the high jump in 2019 and likely would have been the favorite in 2020, but the season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kurjak said clearing 7 feet – the previous 4A record was 6-11 by Cheyenne Mountain’s Colt Sessions in 2013 – added a lot to his title, but that winning was sweet.

“They were both big personal goals for me, but I think winning state means a little more because I came up short sophomore year and last year I didn’t have a season,” he said. “Both years I’ve wanted to win. To finally get it this year just feels really, really amazing.”

It was an amazing feeling for the Class 4A girls high jump champion, as well.

Pueblo West’s Shayla Padilla won the title with a season-best leap of 5-6. She followed in the footsteps of her brother, Cisco, who beat Kurjak for the 4A boys title in 2019.

“It’s so exciting,” she said. “I’m literally just filling in my brother’s shoes because my brother won two years ago. It feels so good to come out here and compete with all these girls and it felt great.”

Padilla said her brother has given her some grief for not having a title, but he gave her some works of encouragement before Friday’s final.

“I think me and my brother are really competitive and he always used to make fun of me and be like, ‘Don’t talk to me because you don’t have a ring yet,’” she said. “It just made me  want to win so bad, so here I am and I got a ring.”

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Class 5A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart knew she would be busy this weekend, but the junior has made it worth it.

On Friday, she won state titles in the 800 (2:09.60) and 3,200 meters (10:31.45), adding to the 3,200-meter relay championship she helped the Bruins on Thursday.

“I’m a little tired,” she said with a laugh. “I knew it was going to be a struggle coming in, but I need to do what’s best for my team and this would be best for the points.”

Stewart, favored to win the 1,600 on Saturday, picked up 20 valuable points for the Bruins with her two victories Friday.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“It’s so exciting,” said Stewart, who was top-five in all three individual events in 2019. “It’s like momentum building into the 1,600. I’m just so happy to come back from freshman year (in 2019) and to have these opportunities again. It’s just a great feeling to come out with two state titles.

“It’s been a great meet so far. It honestly just keeps getting better and better.”

Stewart’s teammate, Parker Wolfe, cruised to the boys 3,200-meter championship in 9:07.87, but scratched in the 800 so he could focus on Saturday’s 1,600.

In the boys 800, Mountain Vista’s Harrison Witt set a 5A meet record with a time of 1:48.75. He cruised to the title by more than three seconds over the rest of the field. It’s the first individual state title for Witt, who helped the Golden Eagles win the 3,200 relay in 2019.

Grandview, meanwhile, dominated the relays on Friday – winning all three finals that were contested.

The Grandview girls won the 800 medley relay and 800-meter relay. Saniya Craft, Molly Skurcenski and Amber Davis were a part of both relays, while Ava Robinson ran on the 800 relay and McKenzie Droughns on the medley.

For the boys, Charlie Dick, Kahden Rullo, Evan  Johnson and David Maldonado teamed up to win the 800-meter relay for the Wolves.

In the only field events contested Friday in 5A, Brandon Hills of Vista Ridge won the boys long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 2 inches, while Fabiola Belibi of Regis Jesuit won the girls long jump with a leap of 18 feet.

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Class 4A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Erie has been chasing Air Academy all season in the boys 800-meter relay and on Friday, the Tigers finally caught the Kadets.

The team of Sean Thomas-Francisco, Mason Veve, Blake Donaldson and Quintin Hartel crossed the finish line in a school-record time of 1:29.52, edging rival Mead by just .56 of a second. Air Academy, the top seed coming in, was disqualified for a zone violation.

“It’s amazing,” Hartel said. “We’ve always known we had a good team since two great football players (Thomas-Francisco and Veve) came into the program. We’ve been working all year. We’re always ranked No.2  behind Air Academy. We use that as encouragement to run as hard as we could. It worked out and it’s amazing to come away with a school record and a state championship.”

Friday was another big day for Niwot, as well.

The favorite to repeat as girls champion, the Cougars took home three titles Friday, including a Class 4A meet record in the 800-meter relay. The Cougars finished in 1:39.49, just ahead of the previous record of 1:39.80, by Valor Christian in 2016.

Niwot also won the girls 800 medley relay and swept the individual 800 meters, with Madison Shults winning the girls race and Zane Bergen the boys race.

In the girls shot put, Northfield junior Giavonna Meeks was the overwhelming favorite, but injured her ankle during warm-ups and was taken to the hospital. Meeks, who won the discus on Thursday, was unable to compete. In her absence, Skyview senior Bahati Nabindu won the state title, with a season-best throw of 36 feet, 5.5 inches.

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Class 3A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Two down, one to go for Joshua Medina of Alamosa.

On Friday, the senior won the 800-meter run and 3,200-meter run for the first state titles of his career.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in,” he said. “It’s kind of unreal.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Runner-up at the state cross country meet earlier this year, Medina had an exceptional time of 9:28.27 in the 3,200 meters, beating Gunnison’s Alex Baca – who beat Medina in cross country – by nearly eight seconds.

In the 800, he hung on to post a time of 1:54.78 and get the win.

“All week I’ve been telling myself I’m going to triple crown, so it wasn’t unexpected,” said Medina, who will aim for the 1,600-meter title on Saturday. “I would say I expected to win, but it was certainly a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. With around 300 left (in the 800), I didn’t think I was going to win. I was just able to dig deep and pull through.”

Medina closed the 3,200 meters with a 63-second split, by far his fastest of the eight laps.

“I think they were both just kind of surreal,” he said. “I feel like the 800 afterwards was a lot more exciting  because I didn’t think I was going to come back on him and I did. The 3,200, pulling away like I did felt really good.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

While Medina is closing his career strong, Classical Academy’s Anna Willis is starting her career on a high note.

The freshman won the girls pole vault, becoming the fourth Willis sister to win the event at state for TCA. Andrea Willis won state titles from 2014-16, Erika Willis in 2017 and 2018 and Kristina Willis in 2019.

Anna posted a winning vault of 12 feet, 6 inches. She came up just short of the 3A state meet record set by Erika in 2018 (12-9). Andrea has the Colorado prep record, at 13-9 in 2016.

On the girls side, other champions included Peak to Peak’s Allison Beasley with a 22-second personal-best in the 3,200 meters (11:02.51); Jefferson Academy’s Aaliyah Robinson in the long jump (17-8.5); Lamar’s Alexandria Tice in the shot put (40-5.25); Coal Ridge’s Mikayla Cheney in the 800 (2:15.22); Eaton in the 800 medley relay (1:51.10); and Moffat County in the 800-meter relay (1:45.46).

On the boys side, other champions included Lutheran’s Noah Kelly in the pole vault (14 feet); Classical Academy’s Mitchell Anderson in the discus (150-2); Sterling’s Tucker Myers in the triple jump (45-2.75); and University in the 800-meter relay (1:29.79).

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Class 2A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Aiming for a team title, the Cedaredge girls took a big step forward on Friday with a pair of wins in relays. The Bruins took home state titles in the 800 medley relay and 800-meter relay and lead the team race, 34-23 over Hayden.

Seniors Baylee Harris and Kimmy Milholland teamed with junior Bailey Nelson and sophomore Kylee Terry to post a time of 1:52.55 in the medley, beating second-place Hayden by more than two seconds.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

In the 800 relay, Harris, Nelson and Terry teamed with senior Kammie Henderson to post a time of 1:49.62, just edging Hoehne by .25 of a second.

In other girls finals, Holyoke’s Lauren Herman won the discus with a throw of 126 feet, 1 inch; Isabel Case of Colorado Springs Christian won the 800 meters (2:23.41); and Hannah Grover of Platte Canyon won the pole vault (9-5) in a jump-off.

On the boys side, Wiggins junior Mohamed Ibrahim had a big day in the shot put. Although he came up short of his personal best, Ibrahim had a throw of 56 feet, 4 inches to win the title by nearly six feet over Wray’s Bryant Schoenthal (50-8). On Thursday, Ibrahim was second to Schoenthal in the discus.

Also on Friday, Connor Williams of Crested Butte pulled an upset in the 800 meters. Seeded fifth coming in, he ran a blistering time of 1:54.21 – more than 10 seconds better than his season-best – to win the title. Custer County’s Micah Zeller, the favorite coming in, also had a season-best time (1:57.61) to finish second.

Centauri took home a state title in the boys 800 relay, posting a time of 1:31.60.

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Class 1A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Just a sophomore, Maggie Haase of Eads had never been to state before this week, but she has looked comfortable at Jeffco Stadium.

On Friday, Haase won the girls high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 3 inches, and then finished third in the triple jump.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“It was very exciting,” she said. I’ve never been to a state tournament before and I was just really looking forward to it. I’m so glad we could still have it with everything going on.”

Haase was favored to win both events and set a personal best in the high jump. In the triple jump, she came up short of her best, but still posted a solid leap of 33 feet, 9.5 inches.

Lone Star’s Alivia Weathers had a season-best jump of 34-8 to win the title, while Merino’s Taysa Conger had her best leap of the season (34-6) to finish second.

“I’m not disappointed getting third,” Haase said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy for the other two jumpers. They deserve it.”

Heritage Christian dominated in the 3,200-meter relays, sweeping the titles. The boys team posted a time of 9:08.64 to win by 21 seconds, while the girls finished their race in 10:46.85 to win by nearly 11 seconds.

In other girls finals, Brakelle Westphal of Springfield won the 800 meters (2:28.93) and helped her team win the 800-meter relay (1:52.92).

In other boys events, Elbert’s Nick Dahm won the triple jump (41-10.25); DeBeque’s Trevor Lewis won the 800 (2:01.84); Prairie’s Erik Lebsock won the discus (138-4); and Cheyenne Wells had a strong final kick to win the 800 relay (1:36.30).

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD – Perfect weather led to a record-breaking day for the top pole vaulters in Class 4A on Thursday at the state meet at Jefferson County Stadium.

Thompson Valley’s Becker Ell and Silver Creek’s Megan Kelleghan both broke Class 4A state meet records en route to winning their first state titles.

Ell cleared 16 feet to cruise to the title and top the previous mark of 15-8.5, set by Sam Pierson of Pueblo South in 2006.

“It feels kind of surreal, especially because I’ve been trying at it for the last two or three meets and just getting closer and closer,” said Ell, a senior. “It just feels unreal, to be honest. I’m so stoked.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Ell had been the heavy favorite, coming in with a previous best of 15-7, nearly two feet ahead of anyone else. Still, he had to perform on the biggest stage.

“Nerves at the state meet your last year, it’s always kind of iffy and nerve-wracking, but I just went out there and wanted to have some fun and try to do as best as I could,” he said.

Kelleghan, just a sophomore, was also a heavy favorite and delivered with a vault of 13-4.5, a half inch above the previous mark of 13-4 by Andrea Willis of The Classical Academy in 2016.

“That was great,” she said. “It was very exciting because I’ve been so close. … Today it just pieced together. I was scared at first because there was supposed to be rain and wind. It ended up being perfect weather, so I’m very relieved with it and happy I was able to clear that.”

Kelleghan had a previous best of 13 feet, with nobody else better than 10-9 coming in. If there was pressure, however, she didn’t feel it.

“More pressure on myself, personally,” she said. “Even when I’m with people who vault close to me I try to stay in  my own little bubble around myself. You can’t compete against people in this because it’s all about the bar, it’s all about your form. It’s you and your own self. That’s what I try to think about.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

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Class 5A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Poudre’s Rhys Travis was the star on what is typically a light day for the state’s largest classification.

Only four state titles were awarded in 5A boys on Thursday, but Travis took two of them.

A junior, Travis won the boys high jump and triple jump. He was favored coming into state. In the high jump, Travis had a season-best leap of 6 feet, 7 inches, topping his previous best by two inches. In the triple jump, he was under his season best, but still had a leap of 46 feet, 3 inches to win the title.

Travis wasn’t the only athlete from Fort Collins to win a state title on Thursday.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Brooke Naughton of Fort Collins won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 7 inches. The junior was the favorite coming in.

In the boys shot put, Braiden Dishman of Fossil Ridge was projected to win and he came through. The senior had a throw of 52 feet, 3.25 inches to claim his title.

Also in field event, Lakewood senior Amanda Opp had a season-best throw of 40 feet, 9.5 inches to win the girls shot put, while Grandview senior Melody Nwagwu had a leap of 39 feet, 9 inches to win the girls triple jump.

On the track, just one event – the 3,200-meter relay – had a final in Class 5A. Cherry Creek cruised to the title on the girls side, with a time of 9 minutes, 5.73 seconds, while Mountain Vista won the boys title, in 7:57.13.

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Class 4A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

At the most recent state track and field meet, in 2019, Niwot swept the boys and girls team titles. The Cougars are aiming for a repeat performance this year and got off to a great start Thursday.

Senior Lucca Fulkerson won the girls 3,200 meters, with teammate Mia Prok finishing second. That duo then led the Cougars to a win in the 3,200 relay.

“Everybody has trained so hard, so it’s definitely within grasp,” Fulkerson said of a team championship. “Every day everybody is out there running as hard as they can, especially in the heat right now.

“I’m so proud of our whole team. Everybody deserves it and they work so hard. I’m so glad that they’re my teammates and I get to race with them.”

Fulkerson, who had three top-seven medals as a sophomore in 2019, won her first individual title in the 3,200.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“It was definitely amazing,” she said. “I didn’t really think about anything until the last 20 meters, because I didn’t want to think with the last lap to go. It was really amazing and I was so excited.”

Niwot had four top-eight finishers in the girls 3,200 and scored 35 points on the day.

The boys, meanwhile, were led by junior Zane Bergen, who won the 3,200 meters and anchored the Cougars’ victory in the 3,200 relay.

In the 3,200, Niwot’s Simon Saia was second, with Grayden Rauba fourth. The Cougars closed the day with 34 team points.

“Kind of the plan going in was try to set up the race so that we could score as many team points as possible,” Bergen said. “We’re going for the team championship and we needed to score a decent amount of points in the two-mile to make that happen.

“It’s really, really cool (to win an individual title), but, like I said, I just came here to score the most points for the team as possible. I’m happy that we did that today in both events.”

The girls also set a 4A state meet record in the 800-meter relay prelims, posting a time of 1:39.72.

In the boys discus, Avery Shunneson of Thomas Jefferson won the title and set a new 4A state meet record. The Princeton-bound  Shunneson had a throw of 192 feet, 6 inches to shatter the record of 188-6 previously set by Pueblo East’s Kain Medrano in 2019.

In other events, Mitchell’s Daryon Wilson won the boys long jump with a leap of 23-5.25; Mullen’s Agur Dwol won the girls long jump with a leap of 18-11.25; and Northfield’s Giovanna Meeks won the girls discus with a throw of 141-2.

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Class 3A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Jefferson Academy’s Crisly Kelly-Cannon’s freshman track and field season was supposed to be in 2020, but the pandemic prevented that from happening. Based on what the sophomore has done so far in is state meet debut, it would have been fun to see what he could have done as a ninth-grader.

On Thursday, Kelly-Cannon won the first finals event he has competed in as a high schooler and qualified for several others throughout the meet. His mark of 23 feet, 1.5 inches in the long jump was also a Class 3A state meet record.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“My freshman year was cancelled so I haven’t been to a state meet before,” Kelly-Cannon said. “It was weird because I went into my freshman year all hyped up and everything. I was ready to get started and then I had to take a year off. That threw us all off but I just hit the gym and started getting better and better.

“I’m feeling really good. I started off with the 100 today and PR’d in that. So that set me up for the long jump and energized me. In the 200, we ran into some headwind so that’s alright. It was a pretty good first day.”

Kelly-Cannon’s teammate Sierra Haberman won the 3A girls high jump, clearing 5-4.

In one of the most exciting races of the season, the Liberty Common 3,200-meter relay team edged The Classical Academy (8:15.11) in a photo finish to claim the title with a time of 8:15.08.

Holy Family’s Brody Welch won the 3A boys shot put with a mark of 50-4.5.

“They were getting close and I knew they could pop one as far as I did,” said Welch, who finished ninth as a freshman in discus and will try and improve on that tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. “Once I saw the last guys throw, I knew I had it.”

The Berthoud girls won the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 9:26.23.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

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Class 2A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Dayspring Christian’s Eboselulu Omofoma didn’t waste any time in winning her first state title.

Still just a freshman, Omofoma cleared a personal best 5-3.5 in the Class 2A high jump to win the state championship. It was an exciting opening day to her first state meet, but Omofoma also hopes her early-career victory is a sign of things to come.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“I totally thought these other girls would come in and take first, second, third place,” Omofoma said. “But I PR’d by half an inch, so that’s great. God gave me the strength to do it. That’s it. I hope I can do better in the next years.”

Over on the track, Thursday was a good day for Buena Vista. Demons girls picked up a win in the 3,200 courtesy of Zaila Smith, who finished first with a time of 12:00.18.

The Wray girls won the 3,200-meter relay title with a time of 10:30.38.

Hayden’s Alison Rajzer won the girls triple jump, clearing 35-7.

On the boys side, Peyton won the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 8:29.76. Custer County’s Micah Zeller won the 3,200 with a time of 9:47.00.

Yuma’s Braden Smith cleared 13-01 to claim the pole vault gold.

True to his name, Limon’s Jeremiah Leeper won the triple jump with a mark of 42-6.75.

Wray’s Bryant Schoenthal won the 2A boys discus with a mark of 173-8.

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Class 1A

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

There were no preliminary races in Class 1A on Thursday, but several state titles were claimed in the classification.

In the 800 medley relay, Springfield won the gold with a time of 1:57.77.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Heritage Christian’s Ainsley Stanton won the girls 3,200 in 12:44.87.

Lone Star’s Alivia Weathers won the 1A girls pole vault, clearing 10 feet.

Elbert’s Olivia Lay wont the discus with a mark of 127-5.

On the boys side, Heritage Christian runner Jack Nauman’s 10:27.15 was plenty fast enough to win the 3,200.

DeBeque’s Jaden Jordan won the long jump with a mark of 21-6.50.

Granada’s John Hainer threw 45-0.25 to win the discus.

In the final coaches poll of the season, Mountain Vista, Windsor, Eaton, Wiggins and Fleming were voted No. 1 in their respective classifications.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

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CHSAANow.com Volleyball Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing bcochi@chsaa.org. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.

Cheyenne Mountain and Wiggins are the new top-ranked teams in their respective classifications.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

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CHSAANow.com Volleyball Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing bcochi@chsaa.org. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.

Meeker took over the top spot in Class 2A this week.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Volleyball Polls

Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

#N/A

Mountain Vista took over as the new No. 1 in Class 5A.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Volleyball Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.

(Holyoke yearbook staff)

The final girls basketball coaches polls of season are out as part of the process for seeding the state basketball tournaments.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. Each vote went through an audit process.

Complete rankings are below.

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CHSAANow.com Girls Basketball Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state.

First-place votes are in parentheses.