AURORA – The Class 4A state tournament was anything but a made for television event. There wasn’t one ounce of drama after Day 1 for either Holy Family’s Jessica Mason or the Discovery Canyon Thunder.

Both had sizable leads after Monday’s first round, and both expanded on them on a blazing Tuesday afternoon at CommonGround Golf Course.

Mason kept the medalist honors at Holy Family, following her teammate Hailey Schalk’s three-year hold on the event from 2017-19. She won by 10 shots and of the three subpar rounds that were shot over the two days, she had two of them, going 69-71, for a two-day total of 140. She was 10 shots better than Mullen’s Sofia Choi, whose eagle on No. 18 to close out her second round helped her match Mason’s 71.

Discovery Canyon’s foursome of Emily and Christina Cheng, Mena Song-Lew and Lauren Jaworowski were even better on Day 2 and blew out the field by 34 shots over a Windsor team that rallied from a tough first day to earn some hardware.

Emily Cheng (74), Lauren Cheng (78) and Song-Lew (78) all placed in the top 15 and Joworowski was 23rd for the Thunder, who claimed their first state title in the sport and the first girls title for the school that opened in 2007.

“This means everything,” said an emotional Thunder coach Mark Liggett, whose wife Susan begged her husband to join his team on Tuesday after missing Day 1 to be by her side in the hospital in Colorado Springs as she recovered from multiple surgeries.

“They are all really serious about their games and they came out here and they got down to business.”

It was a brilliant run for Discovery Canyon, which graduates just Christina Cheng, and will return its full compliments including several up and coming freshmen. The Thunder rolled through regionals and with their No. 1 ranking through iWanamaker, had their sights firmly set on proving to those north of I-70 that good golf was being played down south.

“We don’t deal with the Northern teams that much (especially this year), so we didn’t really know what they were thinking,” Liggett said.

Tuesday may very well have been the perfect elixir for Liggett’s soul.

“Just being up here and being with them, I didn’t want to miss it,” said Liggett, who has been married to his lovely for 35 years.. “She was feeling a little better and she told me last night to go, you can’t do anything else for me at the hospital.

“I love being able to cheer them on and watch them play their game and watch them break through.”

As for Mason, she was in control from the start. She just kept making pars and her nearest playing competitors — Mead’s Timbre Shehee and Emily Cheng — were making random bogeys to fall further behind.

“I wasn’t super nervous on No. 1 because I knew I had an eight shot lead and I just kept telling myself ‘I’m not going to blow it today and if I do, I’m going to be very upset,” Mason said. “When the lead  continued to grow, I just had to keep doing what I was doing, but don’t be arrogant about it. Be who you are and play your game.”

Mason was fearless throughout the day and the highlight of her day came at the 451-yard par-5 No. 11. She hit 8-iron in from 196 yards and just missed the elusive albatross by inches as the ball rolled over the cup and settled 2 feet behind it for a tap in eagle that took her to 6-under for the tournament.

“This means a lot, because freshman year (after finishing fifth) I was just kind of behind (Hailey) and now that I’m not, it’s nice to say that I’ve always been here,” Mason said. “It’s just coming to grips with my game and getting better.

“Feels good to keep the legacy going and hopefully next year too.”

AURORA – You have to hand it to the Discovery Canyon foursome on their performance on Monday at CommonGround G.C. in the opening round of the Class 4A state golf tournament.

Mere moments before their collective morning tee times, the Thunder group of Emily Cheng, Christina Cheng, Lauren Jaworowski and Mena Song-Lew got the usual words of encouragement from their coach Mark Liggett.

But they didn’t get to see his face, just heard his voice from back home in Colorado Springs, where he was at the bedside of his wife Susan, who is still in the hospital after complications from a surgery the week prior.

The Thunder (team score of 255), who to a player will admit they didn’t play their best golf on Monday in the ideal conditions at CommonGround, played for their coach and will carry an eight-shot lead over Holy Family (263) into Tuesday’s second round. Cheyenne Mountain (266) is in third and both Windsor (272) and Mullen (272) are lurking in fourth.

“They were all in a better mood this morning when they got the news last night that (Susan) had come out of her third surgery and found out what was making her so sick,” said Discovery Canyon assistant coach David Schwartz, whose team is in search of its first title in the sport. “They were happy to hear that and they all had a chance to talk to him on the phone and that put them all at ease that she is in a better place at least physically.”

Sophomore Emily Cheng led the way for Discovery Canyon, firing a 6-over par 78 on the 5,907-yard layout. She sits alone in third place and will be in the final pairing tomorrow with Holy Family’s Jessica Mason (3-under par, 69) and Mead’s Timbre Shehee (77).

Christina Cheng (88) and Jaworowski (89) rounded out the scoring three for Discovery Canyon.

“They did exactly what they needed to do today, finish in first place, and I think tomorrow will be a better day,” Schwartz said. “They didn’t play their best today and our top three really weren’t on their game, but we are looking forward to tomorrow and the warm weather.”

Schwartz and his team, who are hoping to have Liggett back tomorrow, know that the course they saw on Monday – damp and somewhat receptive after the overnight rains – will play a lot differently on Tuesday in what is supposed to be a 90-plus degree dry day.

“It did play a little slower as compared to the practice round yesterday and that is the most difficult thing for younger players is to readapt to changing conditions,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a totally different day and now that they have the bad rounds out of the way, they know what is in store for them tomorrow.”

As for Mason, who is attempting to keep the medalist honors at Holy Family after three straight wins by Hailey Schalk from 2017-2019, it was a nearly flawless round of golf.

The Tigers junior had it to 4-under after pouring in a 12-foot eagle putt on No. 15, and ultimately finished with a 3-under score of 69. The only blemishes on the card were a couple of three putt bogeys on the inward nine’s two difficult par-3’s.

Mason will carry an eight shot lead into tomorrow’s final round and will have a front row seat to watch her two closest chasers try and catch her.

“I was relaxed today and everything was good today, so tomorrow I just have to come back out and do the same thing,” said Mason, who went a perfect 5-for-5 in Northern Colorado Athletic Conference tournaments this season. “Even if you do have an eight-shot lead, you still have to play well.”

Results from the 2021 Class 4A girls tennis regionals, which includes info on who has qualified for the state championships.

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In the latest coaches poll, Cheyenne Mountain and Eaton took over the top spots in their respective classes.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

Coaches looking to vote should email bcochi@chsaa.org.

The Season C all-state boys soccer teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These team were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of coaches.

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Class 5A

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

Player of the year: Sebastien Mazur, Fairview

Coach of the year: Eric Schuler, Fairview

Honorable mention:

• Alam Bushara, Eaglecrest, Senior
• Eric Cerna, FORW, Rangeview, Senior
• Tyler Egan, D, Valor Christian, Senior
• Andy Galvan, Adams City, Senior
• Cameron Gerber, MF, Boulder, Sophomore
• Jackson Isaacs, FORW/STRK, Pine Creek, Senior
• Domyniko Jordan, FORW, Rampart, Senior
• Komil Khatamov, STRK/FORW/MF, Overland, Senior
• Darwin Leiva, MF, Aurora Central, Junior
• Mason Louth, MF, Valor Christian, Junior
• Jake Milanski, Fairview, Junior
• Aiden Mott, Mountain Vista, Junior
• Nash Mullen, Legend, Senior
• Joe Murtagh, D/MF/FORW, Skyline, Senior
• Milas Norwood, MF, Liberty, Junior
• Karl Pankratz, D, Arvada West, Senior
• Collin Pearson, GK, Lakewood, Senior
• David Pousma, D, Rock Canyon, Senior
• Shandelle Quintanilla, Hinkley, Senior
• Kevin Ramirez, MF, Horizon, Senior
• John Rosa, D, Silver Creek, Senior
• Dante Russo-Delee, FORW/MF, Poudre, Senior
• Tanner Scarth, D, Regis Jesuit, Senior
• Evans Sims, GK, Boulder, Junior
• Landon Sutterby, Cherokee Trail, Junior
• Jake Swan, Rocky Mountain, Senior
• Peyton Voelker, Fossil Ridge, Senior
• Carter Watson, GK, Monarch, Senior

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Class 4A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: John Burnett, Windsor

Coach of the year: Philip Weiser, Windsor

Honorable mention:

• Alejandro Arellano, MF/HB, Centaurus, Sophomore
• Jonathan Baylon, D’Evelyn, Senior
• Evan Berg, Golden, Senior
• Quincy Cooling, STRK/MF, Montrose, Sophomore
• Cole Dempsey, D, Mullen, Senior
• Joseph Fernandez, D, Battle Mountain, Junior
• Ismael Flores, STRK, Coronado, Junior
• Brody Foote, D, Mead, Sophomore
• Cully Freeman, D/MF, Evergreen, Senior
• Justin Garces, MF/FORW, Glenwood Springs, Senior
• Max Garfield, Northfield, Junior
• Javi Gonzalez, GK, Regis Groff, Senior
• Jack Hanson, FORW, Cheyenne Mountain, Senior
• Carter Kruse, D, Niwot, Senior
• Patrick Maxwell, GK, Severance, Sophomore
• Wade McWhorter, Thompson Valley, Junior
• Matthew Mondragon, FORW, Regis Groff, Senior
• Angel Navarro, MF, Mesa Ridge, Senior
• Blake Nemeth, D, Erie, Senior
• Isaac Perez, MF, Greeley West, Senior
• Alexis Ricalday, Fort Morgan, Senior
• Kai Rubin, STRK/MF, Loveland, Junior
• Emmanuel Sanchez, Harrison, Freshman
• Jace Sandler, FORW, Wheat Ridge, Senior
• Collin Sheehan, D, Pueblo West, Junior
• Brandon Shull, GK, Golden, Senior
• Kyle Smith, Canon City, Senior
• Anderso Sugia, MF/FORW/D, Palmer, Sophomore
• Connor Taylor, GK, Longmont, Senior
• Tucker Terlizzi, Palmer Ridge, Senior
• Nate Van Keulen, FORW, Air Academy, Senior
• Devon Whiting, The Classical Academy, Senior
• Alejandro Zarate, STRK, Northridge, Senior

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Class 3A

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

Player of the year: Nick Maffei, Colorado Academy

Coach of the year: Gabe Bernstein, Colorado Academy

Honorable mention:

• Quinn Conger, D, St. Mary’s, Senior
• Axel Espinoza, MF/FORW, KIPP Denver Collegiate, Senior
• Oscar Estrada, DSST: Conservatory Green, Freshman
• Max Ferguson, D, Salida, Senior
• Jesus Fernandez, SWEP, Lamar, Senior
• Gustavo Galaviz, FORW/MF, Middle Park, Senior
• Jared Garcia, Strive Prep – Smart Academy, Senior
• Jair Hernandez, James Irwin, Senior
• Justin Kleen, FORW, Liberty Common, Senior
• Sebastian Kohlhofer, Vail Mountain, Junior
• Sean Lowe, MF, Manitou Springs, Junior
• Andy Lupercio, FB/MF/STRK, Arrupe Jesuit, Senior
• Ian MacKay, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior
• Sean Maulhardt, MF/HB, Delta, Senior
• Izaak Menindez, /D, Eagle Ridge Academy, Junior
• Aidan O’Donnell, Pagosa Springs, Senior
• Connor Phillips, D/MF, Frontier Academy, Junior
• Josefat Rodriguez Duran, STRK/MF, Manual, Freshman
• Alejandro Salas, Atlas Preparatory School, Senior
• Joshua Salehi, MF, Liberty Common, Junior
• Sofonias Semie, STRK/FORW, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Junior
• Omar Sierra, STRK/SWEP, KIPP Denver Collegiate, Senior
• Julio Sixtos, FORW, Fort Lupton, Senior
• Hayden Tallmadge, D, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Garret Thom, Lutheran, Senior
• Isaiah Thomas, FORW/FB, Manitou Springs, Senior

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Class 2A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Gabi Marmolejo, Crested Butte

Coach of the year: Than Acuff, Crested Butte

Honorable mention:

• Jaxon Borchardt, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Luciano Camerena, MF/FORW, The Vanguard School, Sophomore
• Gio Garcia, MF, Ellicott, Junior
• Grayson Gresham, D, Colorado Springs School, Junior
• Adani Hassan, Lotus School For Excellence, Junior
• Noah Martin, Front Range Christian, Sophomore
• Hall Matthews, D, Heritage Christian, Junior
• Samuel Ross, Evangelical Christian, Sophomore
• William Shade, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Junior
• Gabe Skur, MF/FORW, The Vanguard School, Senior
• Hugh Sperber, D/FORW, Fountain Valley, Sophomore
• Jayden Taylor, MF, Heritage Christian, Sophomore

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.

In the latest coaches poll, there is a new top team in four of the five classifications.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

Coaches looking to vote should email bcochi@chsaa.org.

In the latest coaches poll, Jefferson Academy claimed the top spot in Class 3A.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

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CHSAANow.com Girls Soccer Polls

Coaches looking to vote should email bcochi@chsaa.org.

In the latest coaches poll, Holly moved into the top spot in Class 1A.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

Coaches looking to vote should email bcochi@chsaa.org.

(Brad Cochi)

COLORADO SPRINGS — It wasn’t the most ideal start for Palmer Ridge, but it’s not the start that counts. It’s the finish. The Bears completed a 25-17, 25-9, 25-14 sweep over No. 3 Palisade to advance to the semifinals of the Class 4A girls volleyball tournament.

It’s the second straight state semifinal appearance for Palmer Ridge and the team is hoping to get back to the state championship match, where they made it last year before losing to rival Lewis-Palmer.

But there is no Lewis-Palmer to overcome this season. And by knocking out the No. 3 team on the bracket, advancing to a state title match is very much in the cards and something the Bears expect out of themselves after being there in November 2019.

“Our games this season were a little rougher than last season,” senior Riley Anderson said. “I feel like with that (win over Palisade), we finally showed what we were made of and what we could do.”

The Bears had to battle through some nerves early as Palisade jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set. Once they found their footing, the Bears clawed right back into the match and eventually jumped out to a 10-7 lead, forcing the Bulldogs to call timeout and try to make some adjustments.

But that was easier said than done. The Bears took firm control of the first set and never let up through the next two to get the win and remain alive for Thursday’s slate of games.

In this single-elimination bracket, the stakes tend to feel a bit higher with each points and even after getting a win, the Bears know how much pressure each team is facing. To alleviate the pressure, the Bears have taken a stance to play more aggressively to maintain an element of control.

“We’ve talked all season about being more aggressive,” Anderson said. “We have to give it our all from the start and we’ve shown that here.”

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(1) Windsor 3, (8) The Classical Academy 0

(Brad Cochi)

Top-seeded Windsor had to fend off a scrappy TCA team but came away with a 26-24, 25-22, 25-20 win to advance to the 4A semifinals.

The Titans hung tough through the first set, extending it past the necessary 25-point mark to determine a winner. After the Wizards claimed the first set, they were able to keep TCA at an arm’s length for the rest of the match to remain undefeated on the year. Windsor will be back on the floor at at 2 p.m. Thursday for their semifinal match against Mead.

(2) Cheyenne Mountain 3, (7) Discovery Canyon 0

In the first match of the season, Discovery Canyon had Cheyenne Mountain down 2-0 before Cheyenne Mountain roared back to tie the match and send it to a deciding fifth set where they closed it out.

Cheyenne Mountain learned a valuable lesson in starting strong so that battling from behind isn’t necessary. This time, the Thunder wasn’t given an opportunity to take the lead as Cheyenne Mountain pulled away in the third set to get a 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 win and advance to the semifinals for the second straight year.

Cheyenne Mountain will meet PPAC rival Palmer Ridge at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

(5) Mead 3, (4) Coronado 1

Coronado claimed the first set, but ran out of steam allowing Mead to climb back and get a 16-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-16 win to move on to Thursday’s semifinals.

Mead entered the 2019 tournament as the No. 4 seed but dropped their first two matches for a stunning early exit. That’s not the case this year as the Mavericks will meet Windsor on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Windsor won the regular season meeting 3-2 on April 19.