Improvement has been the name of the game for Swallows Charter Academy girls basketball this season.

The 2018 all-state volleyball 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

Player of the year: Courtney Lane, Valor Christian

Coach of the year: Kaitlyn Hastings, Valor Christian

First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Qairo Bentley	Denver East	OH/RS	Senior
Sydney Cole	Cherokee Trail	S	Junior
Courtney Lane	Valor Christian	OH	Senior
Lorrin Poulter	Eaglecrest	OH/S	Senior
Lily Thomason	Valor Christian	OH	Senior
Kira Thomsen	Chaparral	OH	Senior
Riley Zuhn	Fossil Ridge	MB/OH	Senior

Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Emma Ammerman	Chaparral	RS/S	Junior
Julianna Dalton	Chaparral	MH	Junior
Anna Davis	Valor Christian	MB	Junior
Ally Kennis	Windsor	MH/OH/OPP	Senior
Elsa Lamphere	Grandview	OH	Junior
Leanne Lowry	Castle View	L/OH	Junior
Savannah Spitzer	Cherokee Trail	MB	Senior

Honorable mention: Chloe Bailey, Senior, ThunderRidge; Audrey Black, Junior, Eaglecrest; Morgan Browne, Senior, Bear Creek; Meme Chhay, Senior, Westminster; Cassie Davis, Junior, Highlands Ranch; Jaeda Davis-Golliher, Junior, Heritage; Ana De Los Santos, Senior, Aurora Central; Charlie Durbin, Senior, Fossil Ridge; Natasha Eberle, Senior, Ralston Valley; Emily Ellis, Senior, Rampart; Kita Elsner, Senior, Liberty; Destiny Gardner, Junior, Grand Junction Central; Ellie Garrett, Junior, Windsor; Kyla Gerson, Senior, Chaparral; Abby Heimlicher, Senior, Chaparral; Myles Hilbert, Senior, Rocky Mountain; Hope Hines, Senior, Doherty; Lexi Hurtado, Senior, Rangeview; Elle Jiron-Bujanda, Junior, Denver South; Erika Jones, Senior, Fort Collins; Annika Larson, Senior, Rocky Mountain; Abi Leitner, Senior, Rock Canyon; Kaylah Lewis, Senior, Brighton; Katelyn McMoore, Junior, Liberty; Mataya Megson, Senior, Fossil Ridge; Meridian Montoya, Senior, Thornton; Savannah Nott, Senior, Pine Creek; Cassie Pyles, Senior, Mountain Vista; Katie Sherman, Senior, Cherry Creek; Riley Simpson, Sophomore, Rampart; Camden Strain, Senior, Horizon; Hope Theander, Senior, Chatfield.

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Class 4A

Player of the year: McKenna Sciacca, Lewis-Palmer

Coach of the year: Wade Baxter, Lewis-Palmer

First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Taylor Buckley	Lewis-Palmer	OH	Senior
Claudia Dillon	Evergreen	OH	Senior
Emma Falk	Niwot		Senior
Kessandra Krutsinger	Lewis-Palmer	MB	Senior
Madison Schoeder	Niwot	S	Senior
McKenna Sciacca	Lewis-Palmer	S	Senior
Ali Travis	Holy Family	OH	Senior

Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Anna Allsberry	Steamboat Springs	OH	Senior
Gianna Bartalo	Lewis-Palmer	L	Junior
Sydney Crites	Erie	OH/RS	Senior
Trinity Jackson	Lewis-Palmer	OH	Senior
Hannah Pethtel	Discovery Canyon	S/RS	Senior
Caitlin Volkmann	Silver Creek	OH	Junior
Annika Wetterstrom	Longmont	S/RS	Senior

Honorable mention: Mari Benitez, Junior, Pueblo County; Lillian Benway, Senior, Battle Mountain; Kailey Berry, Senior, Berthoud; Madalyn Bigley, Senior, Pueblo Centennial; Hope Borger, Senior, Mead; Kaelen Boyles, Sophomore, The Classical Academy; Quincey Coyle, Freshman, Mead; Logan DeRock, Senior, Roosevelt; Hayley Dillon, Junior, Evergreen; Reagan Emery, Junior, Pueblo West; Ashley Emery, Senior, Glenwood Springs; Peyton Frank, Junior, Holy Family; Sarah Garner, Junior, Woodland Park; Bree Gates, Senior, Eagle Valley; Ellen Goodwin, Senior, Longmont; Allison Groustra, Sophomore, Littleton; Sophia Hoffman, Junior, D’Evelyn; Lyla Hollis, Junior, Air Academy; Megan Hurr, Senior, Mountain View; Mallory Hutchison, Junior, Widefield; Gracey Jarecke, Senior, Thomas Jefferson; Kelsey Kalous, Senior, Fort Morgan; Alicia Lest, Sophomore, Pueblo Central; Alexandra MacAskill, Senior, Palisade; Abbie McCrimmon, Sophomore, Thompson Valley; Makenna Metzger, Senior, Northridge; Savannah Ott, Senior, Green Mountain; Ashten Prechtel, Senior, Discovery Canyon; Aubree Raimer, Senior, Greeley Central; Audrey Richard, Senior, Niwot; Emma Roberts, Senior, Golden; Joviana Romero, Senior, Pueblo East; Becca Rugg, Senior, Coronado; Makenna Sawyer, Senior, Canon City; Megan Sotiroff, Freshman, Silver Creek; Danielle Specht, Senior, Weld Central; Abbey Telesz, Sophomore, Ponderosa; Julia White, Senior, Frederick; Grace Whiting, Sophomore, Pueblo South; Taylor Wiebold, Senior, Ponderosa.

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Class 3A

Player of the year: Payton Brgoch, Lutheran

Coach of the year: Alicia Oates, Lutheran

First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Payton Brgoch	Lutheran	MH	Junior
Ryanne Ferro	Faith Christian	OH/MH	Senior
Mackenzie Harris	Eaton	OH	Senior
Kennedey Johnson	Lutheran	S	Junior
Madelyn Malm	University	MH/OH	Senior
Maddie Uyemura	Platte Valley	S	Senior
Christa Vogt	Colorado Springs Christian	MH/RS	Senior

Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Sylvie Caton	Alamosa	OH	Senior
Delaney Eckhardt	Valley	S/MB	Junior
Megan Engesser	Colorado Springs Christian	MB/RS/L	Senior
Ashlynn Hainey	Englewood	S	Junior
Jordan Mobbley	Alamosa	S	Junior
Kara Morgan	Coal Ridge	OH	Senior
Giulia Vidossi	Manitou Springs	OH/MH	Senior

Honorable mention: Cortney Arrasmith, Junior, The Vanguard School; Emma Cable, Junior, Eagle Ridge Academy; Abby Carlson, Senior, Delta; Shaya Chenoweth, Senior, Grand Valley; Jubilee Diamond, Junior, Colorado Springs Christian; Jade Feather, Junior, Sterling; Aliceson Fierro, Senior, Lamar; Kaela France, Sophomore, Ellicott; Courtney Freeman, Senior, Cedaredge; Ailyn Graciano, Senior, DSST: College View; Kristen Hopwood, Senior, The Academy; Quinci Johnson, Senior, Eaton; Jillian Kellick, Sophomore, St. Mary’s; Alexa LaMack, Junior, St. Mary’s; Asofitu Lefano, Junior, James Irwin; Haley Maeurer, Junior, St. Mary’s Academy; Hayden Mayo, Junior, La Junta; Faythe McKellip, Senior, Bennett; Heather Meining, Senior, Valley; Kaitlyn Newbanks, Senior, Resurrection Christian; Allure Padilla, Junior, Faith Christian; Lauryn Parker, Senior, Prospect Ridge Academy; Sammy Phillips, Senior, Middle Park; Lindsey Pratt, Junior, Buena Vista; Kaitlin Reynolds, Junior, Florence; Merrill Rollhaus, Junior, Colorado Academy; Abby Schaefer, Senior, University; Allie Schumacher, Sophomore, Sterling; Claire Smith, Junior, Platte Valley; Morgan Starner, Senior, Stargate School; Teagan Stretton, Junior, Pagosa Springs; Millie Swetkovich, Senior, Eagle Ridge Academy; Alexsei Vierya, Senior, University; Jenna Wise, Junior, Gunnison.

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Class 2A

Player of the year: Chasey Blach, Yuma

Coach of the year: Russ Haman, Denver Christian

First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Chloe Baker	Wiggins	S/OPP	Senior
Chasey Blach	Yuma	MB/OH	Senior
Sarah Evans	Vail Mountain	OH	Senior
Anna Kaemingk	Denver Christian	OH	Junior
Kassie Luce	Meeker	S	Senior
Krissie Luce	Meeker	OH	Senior
Cody Robinson	Yuma	OH	Senior

Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Kallie Cathcart	Holly	S/OH	Senior
Kylen Christiansen	Lyons	S	Senior
Mayson Fago	Union Colony Prep	OH/OPP	Junior
Olivia Himmel	Highland		Senior
Lacie Jones	Del Norte	MH/OH	Senior
Taylor Maguire	Lyons	OH	Junior
Rachel Shaffer	Rye	OH	Senior

Honorable mention: Hannah Ambler, Senior, Rye; Molly Batts, Senior, South Park; Molly Bigbee, Senior, Colorado Springs School; Carson Collins, Senior, Hotchkiss; Saedee Davis, Junior, Holly; Brianna Denton, Senior, Swink; Emma Desanti, Junior, West Grand; Amanda Dotter, Junior, John Mall; Kylie Drake, Senior, Caprock Academy; Becca Earl, Senior, Byers; Myka Glover, Sophomore, Del Norte; Kegan Hamacher, Senior, Simla; Tanna Hansen, Senior, Wiggins; Taylor Hansen, Senior, Yuma; Sidney Hines, Junior, Limon; Skyler Jones, Senior, Swink; Lila Klinglesmith, Senior, Meeker; Poppy Lightfoot, Senior, Paonia; Keely Long, Senior, Plateau Valley; Tatum Majors, Senior, Dolores; Tiffany Montoya, Senior, Hoehne; Rylee Nickodemus, Senior, Heritage Christian; Reagan Nolin, Junior, Yuma; Kate Pachner, Senior, Akron; Chloe Pesso, Senior, Vail Mountain; Jenna Peters, Senior, Denver Christian; Kiera Porrey, Junior, Dawson School; Tressa Reed, Senior, Fowler; Morgan Rose, Senior, Mancos; Sierra Shambaugh, Senior, Telluride; Skylar Thacker, Senior, Rangely; Jessie Vallejos, Junior, Swallows Charter Academy; Anna Weisensee, Senior, Limon.

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Class 1A

Player of the year: Tess Hornung, Kit Carson

Coach of the year: Penny Isenbart, Kit Carson

First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Whitney Chintala	Fleming	OH	Freshman
Kaylee Corsentino	La Veta	OH/MH	Senior
Tess Hornung	Kit Carson		Senior
Olivia Isenbart	Kit Carson		Senior
Dawson Knode	Haxtun	MH	Senior
Desi Ortivez	La Veta	OH/MB	Junior
Kirsten Wood	Weldon Valley	S/OPP	Senior

Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Kaybree Keating	Weldon Valley	OH	Senior
Kimberlyn Krise	Briggsdale		Junior
Sydney Reynolds	Otis		Senior
Nya Sciacca	La Veta	OH/DS/MB	Junior
Jessica Slane	Sangre de Cristo	OH/MB	Senior
McKenzie Smith	Kit Carson		Senior
Madison Sutter	Merino	S	Sophomore

Honorable mention: Ava Ahalt, Senior, Denver Waldorf; Makayla Baker, Junior, Prairie; Jordyn Cantu, Sophomore, Sangre de Cristo; Kaci Chadwick, Senior, Cheyenne Wells; Shiann Fritzler, Senior, Walsh; Koylynn Gulliford, Sophomore, Cotopaxi; Tatum Hall, Senior, Springfield; Madilyn Hankins, Senior, Dove Creek; Christa Harvey, Senior, Pikes Peak Christian; Skyler Hawks, Sophomore, Flagler/Hi-Plains; Brooklynn Jones, Senior, Eads; Kendyl Kirkwood, Sophomore, Fleming; Jentry Largent, Senior, De Beque; Taryn Lee, Senior, Elbert; Jenna Lengfelder, Senior, Fleming; Brooke Long, Senior, Belleview Christian; Tycie Lueck, Senior, Stratton/Liberty; Bailey Martell, Junior, Kiowa; Brooke Mertens, Junior, Merino; Makenna Metzler, Senior, Otis; Breea Meyer, Senior, Dove Creek; Kaley Muth, Senior, Evangelical Christian; Faith Novess, Senior, De Beque; Jordan Parker, Senior, McClave; Ryely Smartt, Junior, Genoa-Hugo/Karval; Ruby Valle, Senior, Weldon Valley.

AURORA — Valor Christian’s athletic programs will reside in the Jefferson County League for the 2014-16 cycle.

The school, which is independent of a league during the current two-year cycle, had requested to join the Centennial League. And though the Centennial previously denied Valor’s request through a vote at a league meeting, there was still a chance that move would be approved at Tuesday’s Classification and League Organizing Committee (CLOC) meeting.

However, at the meeting, CLOC voted to not approve Valor’s move to the Centennial. Instead, through a 6-4 vote, it placed the Eagles in the Class 5A Jeffco League. Valor previously played in the 4A Jeffco from 2010-12. Their teams will continue to compete at the 4A level.

“That’s our job: to put them in a league. They had to be in a league,” CLOC chair Tom Arensdorf said after the meeting. “Every member has the right to be in a league after they’ve done their probationary period. They were not placed in a league two years ago … because basically their membership was in jeopardy. We felt it was best at that time not to put them in a league. No one wanted them, but the reasons for not wanting them were based on past issues that were pretty valid.

“In this past two-year cycle, Valor has done a lot of things to correct those issues. And they deserve to be placed in a league. That’s this committee’s job, to get them in a league.”

So Valor, finally, has a league for all of it’s sports — excepting football, which is still awaiting a conference. (That alignment will be finalized later in November.)

But that doesn’t mean it was easy.

Valor athletic director Rod Sherman spoke briefly at the meeting about the reasons his school sought to join the Centennial. He also said, in part, “We believe now is the time for Valor’s transition from an independent status to being a full-time member of a league. It would be an honor for us to be a member of the Centennial League; there’s much we can learn. We believe we have respected the process of being placed and we humbly request placement in the Centennial League.”

A long discussion ensued, with Centennial and Jeffco reps also speaking, and emphasizing Valor Christian’s private status. Then, CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico spoke up.

“We’ve had a public-private school discussion going on for over two years now,” Angelico said. “I’m afraid I’m to blame for that because I wanted that to be an open and above-board discussion, rather than all the back-biting that was going on behind the scenes. If I would have known that it would have turned into this bickering that will never end, I think I would have stopped it … and not allowed it to start. There’s no end to this.

“A couple of points I need to make: There is no written or unwritten policy of any sort regarding public and private schools and league placement,” Angelico continued. “Secondly, in the last 24 months, I would say to you, that since that discussion started, it’s not the private schools I’m worried about. … The private school people have heard loudly your message of discontent. Their response has been one of that I can’t complain about. Whatever it takes to be above-board and avoid issues, they’re doing. That applies to Valor doubly. They’ve hired a consultant, they’ve done everything I’ve asked. To the point that last night, in our discussions, we talked about, ‘Well Valor had four ADs show up at the (All-School) Summit.’ I said, ‘Yeah, they did. I told them to, and they did what they were told.’

“I think we have our priorities goofed up and have kind of started turning around what we’re supposed to be about,” he added. “This isn’t a public/private school issue. I hear loudly that it’s an issue about unfair advantage or differences in schools. … Frankly, I would just like to get this conversation back to what it’s about: somebody needs a home. The fact that they’re a public or private school is not the reason you place them in a conference. Nor has it ever been. Let’s talk about what’s the best fit.

“The association has certainly survived with several public and private schools together in the same league. I just want to center this. This becomes a ‘Who can win the argument?’ not, ‘What’s the best thing?’ And I think we need to go back to what are we supposed to be doing here. The committee is charged with placing a school, and they will place a school, and they’ll have to do it to somebody’s chagrin.”

Shortly after, the committee broke into a private session, and then for lunch. When they came back, the vote on Valor request to join the Centennial League was quickly called. Three CLOC members abstained, three voted in favor of the request, and seven against.

Moments later, committee member Rich Wildenhaus from Erie proposed moving Valor to the 5A Jeffco League. There was no discussion from the audience, and the vote ended with six agreeing with the move, four against it and three abstaining. The entire process was swift.

“Honestly, that surprised me,” Arensdorf said afterward. “Over the last two days, we probably discussed this issue as a committee for three-and-a-half hours — because whatever decision was made by the committee was going to be unpopular with some schools and cause some angst within leagues. There is no perfect fit.

“We went through a process that, if the first request did not pass, we — as a committee, it’s our responsibility to come up with something before the end of the day. And different committee members had different proposals,” he continued. “I was surprised that we finished that quickly. And I was surprised there was no feedback from the floor when that proposal was made by Richie Wildenhaus. I didn’t know what to expect at that point, because, as a committee, no one felt comfortable with any solution. There were no solutions that were going to make everybody happy.

“But, in the end, it is what it is, and all these people are professionals and they’ll deal with what they have to deal with and hopefully make the best situation for all the kids that participate in those programs.”

Valor Christian did approach Jeffco about joining the league prior to the CLOC meeting. Jeffco has 5A and 4A leagues.

“Right now, the CLOC committee voted for them to be in 5A Jeffco. I think that discussion still needs to happen,” Jim Thyfault, Jefferson County’s district athletic director, and a member of CLOC, said after the meeting. “Since we do have a 4A option, I think that needs to be discussed.

“I respect Rod Sherman and the people at Valor, I really do. They were in our league before. And, you know what? We’ll all be very professional about it, and I’m sure they will be, too.”

CLOC’s actions on Tuesday still need to be confirmed by the Legislative Council in January.

More league changes

Earlier, Burlington’s request to join the Lower Platte League was denied. That league had previously voted 9-0 against allowing Burlington admittance. CLOC voted 11-2 against overruling that vote. So Burlington will stay in the Union Pacific League.

Approved league changes:

• Broomfield (Northern to Front Range)
• Canon City (South Central to Colorado Springs Metro)
• The Classical Academy (Tri-Peaks to Colorado Springs Metro)
• Clear Creek (3A Frontier to 2A Frontier)
• Ellicott (Tri-Peaks to Black Forest)
• Highland (Patriot to Mile High)
• Holy Family (Metro to Tri-Valley)
• Littleton (Continental to Jeffco)
• Lyons (Patriot to Mile High)
• Manzanola (Southeastern to High Plains)
• Northridge (Tri-Valley to Northern)
• Skyview Academy (Independent to Metro 3A)
• Swallows Charter Academy (Independent to Santa Fe)
• Twin Peaks Charter (New school, joining Mile High)
• Vanguard (Black Forest to Tri-Peaks)

New members

Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s request for membership was denied. The school has a unique schedule to allow its students to train on the mountain during the week — training from 8 a.m. to noon, and then attending classes from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Tuesday through Friday during the winter.

However, after a lengthy discussion, the committee said they were uneasy going down the road of adding a sports academy as a member.

“It seems so fundamentally different than what our membership is now,” said committee member Mark Kanagy, Windsor’s athletic director.

The committee did approve membership for Caprock Charter Academy in Grand Junction, as well as Denver School of Science & Technology – Green Valley Ranch, and Venture Preparatory School in Denver.

Playdowns

The overwhelming majority of playdowns were approved, save for Abraham Lincoln football (5A to 4A), Estes Park football (2A to 1A) and Palmer football (5A to 4A). Approved playdowns:

• Adams City football (5A to 4A)
• Alameda football (5A to 4A)
• Antonito football (8-man to 6-man)
• Aurora Central football (5A to 4A)
• Boulder softball (5A to 4A)
• Centaurus volleyball (4A to 3A)
• Central (Grand Junction) football (4A to 3A)
• Civa Charter boys/girls basketbal, volleyball (2A to 1A)
• Denver North football (3A to 2A)
• Dolores Huerta girls basketball (3A to 2A)
• Greeley Central softball (4A to 3A)
• Greeley West boys soccer (5A to 4A)
• Miami-Yoder football (8-man to 6-man)
• Mitchell football (4A to 3A)
• Montbello girls soccer (5A to 4A)
• Montezuma-Cortez soccer (4A to 3A)
• Montezuma-Cortez football (3A to 2A)
• Nederland football (1A to 8-man)
• Niwot football (4A to 3A)
• Rifle boys/girls soccer (4A to 3A)
• Roosevelt boys soccer (4A to 3A)
• Skyline softball (4A to 3A)
• South Park football (8-man to 6-man)

Noteable

The committee set the 1A/2A cutoff at 92 students. So schools with 92 and below will be 1A in basketball and all other sports, while those with 93-240 students will be 2A.