A special section to
Fall
Football & Sports
Preview 2012
PAGE 2 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
ourcoloradonews.com
Index
Football Football players look to take their game to the next level Page 3 Local football team capsules Page 4 Valor Christian moves up to Class 5A Page 6
Fall Sports Preview SPECIAL SECTION
On the Cover Football conferences Page 7 Stadium guide Page 7 Cherry Creek football starts new era Page 8 Lineman wage trench warfare Page 13 Other fall sports Softball preview Page 8 Volleyball preview Page 9 Cross country previews
Publisher....................... Jerry Healey Sports Editor............... John Rosa Advertising.................. Barb Stolte Production................... Kate Ferraro
To learn more about Colorado Community Media, visit our website at ourcoloradonews.com or call our office at 303-566-4100.
Colorado Community Media 9800 Nount Pyramid Ct. Ste 100 Englewood, CO 80112
Page 10 Soccer preview Page 11 Gymnastics preview Page 12 Boys tennis preview Page 12 Chaparral volleyball looks for three-peat Page 14 Soccer rivalries Page 14 Englewood moves to new league Page 16
The Heritage Eagles head into the 2012 season with high hopes, and the trio of Jon Wilson, left, Ryan Novak and Bryan Carlson are a big reason why. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Professional Advice
it’s game time Experience a team of motivated professionals who are dedicated to your success.
Unexpected Service
Exactly what you need, everything you want.
Path To Success
6 Front Range Athletic and Tennis Clubs
14 DAYS FREE GUEST ACCESS
when you mention this ad
Call 303.861.5646 or visit ColoradoAthleticClubs.com to get started. *Restrictions and terms may apply. Must be local resident, age 18 or older with valid photo ID. One pass per person, first time guest only. No cash value. Offer expires October 31, 2012. Š2012 Wellbridge
Call to make your appointment today for a Free Customized Workout Plan from a certified fitness professional.
ourcoloradonews.com
arapahoe County > August 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > page 3
Heritage’s Bryan Carlson has to juggle athletics and academics in hopes of earning a college scholarship. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com
Taking their game to the next level More Colorado football players are drawing interest from colleges By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
Being a high school athlete can be a full-time job. Just ask Heritage’s Bryan Carlson; he’ll clue you in on the hours and hours of time he’s put in at the gym lifting weights or running sprints. Throw in all the football-related drills, practices and of course, the games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the fall, and it’s easy to see how quickly one’s time evaporates into thin air. Carlson, though, must somehow find extra time in his schedule. He’s one of many Colorado football players drawing interest from colleges across the country. “It’s a great experience, but it’s also hectic,” said Carlson, a running back for the Eagles who is entering his senior year. With a keen eye on academics, Carlson has his sights set on potentially attending an Ivy League school. “Brown is my number one choice,” said Carlson before a recent Heritage practice. If Brown doesn’t pan out, Carlson said that Division III schools with high academic standings, like Johns Hopkins, are also on his radar. “You get pulled in a lot of different directions,” Carlson said of the recruiting experience. “For me, knowing that academics are important has helped make the process a little easier as I know what I’m looking for in a school.” Carlson is just one of three Heritage players drawing interest from colleges as he enters his senior year. Jon
Wilson, like Carlson a captain for the Eagles, is a defensive lineman that has heard from Division I schools Air Force, Colorado State and Wyoming. “My dad went to Wyoming and played football there,” Wilson said. “I’ve worked really hard and to get interest from those schools is great.” Quarterback Ryan Novak, who stands 6-foot-5, is also receiving interest from colleges. Like Carlson and Wilson, he’s a captain for the Eagles and admits that the recruiting process hasn’t always been rosy. “There’s been a lot of ups-and-downs,” said Novak, who was scheduled to visit several schools and attend some high-ranking quarterback camps in the off-season, but due to commitments from other kids, those plans were scrapped. “You just have to be confident in your ability and the right school will find you.” Novak knows that this senior season is key for him in terms of drawing the eye of Division I scouts. “I had a bit of a shaky junior year,” Novak said. “I have to go out and show (the scouts) that I’ve worked hard in the off-season and that last year is behind me.” Knowing that where he spends the next four years could come down to a pass here or there, Novak said that pressure doesn’t get to him. “You can’t worry about that,” Novak said. “You have to just go out there and play.” Novak said that currently Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado and Colorado State have shown interest, but again, more schools could jump into the mix if he performs well this season, starting with the team’s season opener against rival Arapahoe.
“I worked really hard this summer,” Novak said. “I put a lot of time in the weight room and throwing the football. I feel stronger and faster than last year.”
Technology helping Colorado athletes
Kent Denver football coach Scott Yates has been involved with Colorado prep football for more than three decades. He says that the era of Twitter, Facebook, iPhones and iPads has helped the Colorado athlete draw more attention from college scouts. “There’s more kids in the state now, so just from a pure numbers standpoint, there’s a bigger pool of kids playing now than ever before,” said Yates, who has a handful of players (Brannon Jones, Brian Bogman and Chantz Tanner) receiving calls from colleges. “Having access to all the technology, kids are able to send their videos to schools they want to go to or post them on websites where people will see them. The information colleges have on players is greater than it has ever been. “I think more Colorado players are getting looked at because of (the technology), and that’s a good thing because we do have a lot of talent in the state.” Valor Christian quarterback Luke Del Rio, who back in May committed to attending Oklahoma State University in 2013, agrees with Yates. “Colorado has a lot of talented kids,” said Del Rio, who previously played football in Florida before moving to Colorado. “Florida and Texas get a lot of national recognition, and rightfully so, but Colorado is in my opinion an under-recruited state.”
PAGE 4 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
2012 Football Capsules
ourcoloradonews.com
Class 5A
ARAPAHOE WARRIORS Coach: Mike Campbell, 10th year 2011 record: 5-5 (1-4 Class 5A Super 6), lost 28-14 to ThunderRidge in opening round of 5A state Returning players: QB Tavern Sparks; WR Mike Babb, RB Jose Cancannon; LB Will Albyn; LB Justin Escue. Newcomers: TE Griffin Hanson Season Outlook: The Class 5A Super 6 league isn’t short on talent. Last year’s state champion (Columbine) and state runner-up (Lakewood) make up a third of the league. Chatfield and Bear Creek are always solid teams and Mullen is under the direction of a new head coach, Tom Thenell, a former Bear Creek head coach. The Warriors bring some veteran skill position players back and should provide a healthy challenge to the other members of the league. Arapahoe opens its season against rival Heritage. Quote: “We feel our league is the toughest and that we can compete with all of the teams,” Campbell said. “If we can stay healthy, we can finish toward the top of the league. Columbine is the big favorite.”
HERITAGE EAGLES Coach: Mike Griebel, 16th year 2011 record: 4-6 (0-5 Class 5A Super 6) Returning players: QB Ryan Novak; DT Jon Wilson; RB Bryan Carlson Season Outlook: The Eagles will move to an optionbased attack, which figures to take a little pressure off of the 6-foot-5 Novak. Look for Carlson, as well as Novak, to get plenty of opportunities to make plays. Moving to a new league (5A Pioneer League) should help, as well. Quote: “I think we can improve on what we did last year,” Carlson said. “Moving to the option is going to make it harder for opponents to prepare for us because they’ll only have a week to try and come up with a way to stop (the option), as most teams don’t really run that style.”
CHERRY CREEK BRUINS Coach: Dave Logan, 1st year 2011 record: 6-5 (3-2 Centennial League), lost 51-31 to Grandview in second round of 5A state playoffs. Returning players: QB Luke Papilion; WR Hunter Burton; RB Darryl McNeil; DB Matt Rindal; DL Zach Bjornsen; DB Stanford Cooper. Season Outlook: The biggest addition for the Bruins in 2012 is no doubt their head coach. Logan has built a reputation as being able to turn around programs, and in a short amount of time. The Bruins used to be the talk of Colorado football, but haven’t won a state title since 1996. A state title may not be in the cards this year, but there’s no doubt that Logan will have his team ready to play each and every week. Quote: “We’re going to take baby steps and learn to walk before we can run,” Logan said. “We’re going back to the basics and as I said, it’s going to be a process. The thing I’m most excited about is the kids have been willing to work. If you’re willing to work, you can get better. You can improve.”
REGIS JESUIT RAIDERS Coach: Mark Nolan, 4th season 2011 record: 5-5 (3-2 Continental League), lost 28-24 to Fairview in opening round of 5A state playoffs. Returning players: OL Connor Warren; DE Antonio Broadus; TE Robert Orban; DT Mike Guenther. Newcomers: DE/FB Grant Neal; DB Will Deines; OL Aus-
Littleton quarterback Nick McNamee fires a pass against Legend High School last year. File photo by D.J. Becker tin Skinner; LB Quinn VanderKoppel; LB Joe Bozeman. Season Outlook: The six-team Continental League figures to be a wide-open race. All six teams are solid and it’s conceivable that any of them could jump up and win the league. Regis Jesuit has some good size on its defensive line as Broadus and Guenter both check in at over 230 pounds. They’ll be a tough tandem to slow down in 2012. Quote: “Our biggest strengths are that we are athletic, tough and have good team chemistry,” Nolan said. “Our biggest weakness is that we have a lot of inexperienced guys who will start for us this year.” VALOR CHRISTIAN EAGLES Coach: Brent Vieselmeyer, 5th year 2011 record: 14-0 (5-0 Class 4A South Metro), won Class 4A state championship. Returning players: RB Christian McCaffrey; FB Daryl Hawkins; RB/OLB Cameron Gray; OLB Carlos Aviles; DB Marcus Wilson. Newcomers: QB Luke Del Rio. Season Outlook: Valor Christian moves up to Class 5A this year and brings with it three-straight Colorado High School Activities Association state championships (one in 3A, two in 4A) and a 24-game winning streak. The addition of Del Rio (he’s committed to playing at Oklahoma State next year) should be a boost to an offense that fea-
tures one of the top backs in the state in McCaffrey. The defense is young in spots but is very athletic. The Eagles will play an independent schedule in 2012 but are postseason eligible. Quote: “I think depth will probably be our biggest issue,” Valor Christian coach Brent Vieselmeyer said. “There are bigger schools and bigger players, but we’ll be ready for the challenge. We’ve played Class 5A schools the last few years, and we’ve gone out of state and played some elite programs, so I think we’ll be well prepared and the move won’t be a shock to our players.”
Class 4A
LITTLETON LIONS Coach: Jay Lukes, 3rd year 2011 record: 1-9 (0-5 Class 4A South Metro) Returning players: C Paul Holden (three-year starter); QB Nick McNamee; WR Jake Bergman; DE Brayden Mehnert. Season Outlook: The Lions certainly don’t lack in experience, as they return eight players on offense (including four starters on the offensive line) and six on defense. The move to a new league (4A Mountain Plains) should help level the playing field a bit for Littleton. Quote: “The new league is exciting. It won’t be easy, but it’s exciting,” Lukes said. “Wheat Ridge and Dakota Ridge
Football capsules continues on Page 5
arapahoe County > August 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > page 5
ourcoloradonews.com Football capsules continued from Page 4
are very strong, Green Mountain was strong last year and they return some good players and then you have Denver South and JFK (John F. Kennedy) in there as well.”
Class 3A ENGLEWOOD PIRATES Coach: Jay Graves, 2nd year 2011 record: 4-6 (2-4 Class 3A Metro-South Conference) Returning players: Damasjae Currington, Sr. OL/DL; Tyler Harris, Jr. QB/LB; Greg Pearson, Jr. RB/DB; Mitch Pilarski, Sr. OL/DL; Jacob Helman, Sr. LB; Cody Mikulecky, Sr. K; Ken Gelinas, Jr. OL/DL; Trevor Kline, Sr. TE; Chris Gutierrez, Jr. CB/WR. Season outlook: With a strong core of returning lineman to anchor the team, the Pirates will once again focus on running the ball but will have the capability of going to the air with Harris behind center. While the lines will be strong, depth will be a factor in the trenches. They need to stay healthy to contend in the new Metro East league. Quote: “We have a lot of speed in the backfield. We will run the football but we have the capibility
to go to the air. And in the new league I expect us to do pretty well,” Graves said.
Class 2A KENT DENVER SUN DEVILS Coach: Scott Yates, 31st year 2011 record: 11-2 (5-0 Class 2A Colorado League), lost 52-35 to Florence in 2A state semifinals. Returning players: Brian Bogman, Sr. TE/DE; Brannon Jones, Sr. FB/LB; Chantz Tanner, Sr. LB/ OL; Matt Pettijohn, Sr. WR/DB; Joe Matarrazo, Jr. QB/DB; Jaden Franklin, So. RB; Lamin Cobb, OL. Season Outlook: Yates is optimistic about the 2012 season. With a solid core of players returning from last year’s team that reached the 2A state semifinals, the Sun Devils figure to be a factor in the title chase this year. Their non-league schedule is rough, though, as they face Platte Valley, Florence (defending state champions), Faith Christian and Middle Park. Those four games should be a good barometer for where Kent Denver stands in the 2A landscape. Quote: “If we can stay healthy, we have a reasonable chance at making the playoffs again and who knows what will happen after that,” Yates said.
OE H A AP NITY R A MU GE M CO LLE rt s CO s u ppo
d ly p rou d m wo rk a nll a t h e t e icat ion o f aet e s. d ed h oo l at h l c hig h s of luck ! on t bes s seas thi
Englewood running back Greg Pearson (4) runs a sweep as teammate Damasjae Currington (76) pulls to block for him in last year’s game against Arvada. File photo
PAGE 6 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
ourcoloradonews.com
From left, Valor Christian’s Luke Del Rio, Christian McCaffrey and Carlos Aviles will lead the Eagles into Class 5A this season. Valor Christian has won three consecutive state championships (one in 3A; the last two in 4A). Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com
Champs movin’ on up Valor Christian to run with the big boys in Class 5A football By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
As the 2012 prep football season gets underway, Valor Christian finds itself in a unique spot. The three-time state champion (one in Class 3A, the last two in 4A) has climbed the ranks yet again and is preparing for its inaugural year of competition in 5A. While 4A might have had its share of good teams, the cream of the crop in regards to football powerhouses in Colorado (Cherry Creek, Columbine, Mullen, to name a few) has typically resided in the largest classification. The Eagles, who have won 24 straight games, are ready for the challenge of hopefully pulling off an unprecedented four-peat spread out over three classifications. “I think depth will probably be our biggest issue,” Valor Christian coach Brent Vieselmeyer said. “There are bigger schools and bigger players, but we’ll be ready for the challenge. We’ve played Class 5A schools the last few years, and we’ve gone out of state and played some elite programs, so I think we’ll be well prepared and the move won’t be a shock to our players.” Vieselmeyer says that 2012 is a bit of a transition year for Valor Christian, as the team lost a group of talented seniors from 2011, but the cupboard of talent is hardly empty. “Valor’s going to be one of those teams that’s in the mix,” Cherry Creek coach Dave Logan said.
Running back Christian McCaffrey returns, and is considered the top back in the state. Last season, McCaffrey rushed for 1,153 yards on 113 carries (10.2 average) and scored 22 touchdowns for the Eagles. Defensively, linebacker Carlos Aviles will anchor the unit. Aviles’s strong suit is rushing the passer, and will attack the opposition off of the edge in Valor’s 3-4 base set. “I try and lead by example,” said Aviles, who had 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2011. “You’ve got to show the young guys the ropes and let them know what is expected of them.” Yet, it is the addition of quarterback Luke Del Rio (the son of Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio) that has most prognosticators once again picking the Eagles to soar above the competition in 2012. After a stellar junior year in Florida, Del Rio turned the heads of Division I scouts with his performance at several invite-only quarterback camps. After some wooing from a few schools, Del Rio announced back in May that he would be attending Oklahoma State University in 2013. With his college plans finalized, Del Rio is ready to get down to business and is excited about the opportunity that awaits him at Valor Christian. “We do feel like we have to prove ourselves a little bit with the move up to 5A,” he said. “The great thing about this team is that everyone is working hard and working towards a common goal.” Vieselmeyer said it didn’t take long for Del Rio to mesh
with his new teammates. “First off, he’s an outstanding young man, very humble and hard-working,” Vieselmeyer said. “He really gained the respect of his teammates early on, and that was due to his work ethic. The guys saw how hard he was working and knew he’d fit in with what we’re trying to do here. “Luke is a kid with a strong arm, mobile and a good decision-maker. You can tell he’s a coach’s son by how he plays and commands the game.” McCaffrey says that Del Rio’s addition makes the offense more potent. “It’s great because we have the ability to pass and the ability to run,” McCaffrey said. “We should be able to mix our play calling up, which will keep the defense honest.” Protecting Del Rio and creating running lanes for McCaffrey will be a relatively new offensive line (the Eagles lost four starters), led by three-year starter, Lelulai Io, as well as fullback, Daryl Hawkins. Other players to keep an eye on defensively for Valor Christian are outside linebacker Cameron Gray and defensive back Marcus Wilson, who was the only sophomore to start on defense last year. “It would be great to accomplish winning a state title in 3A, 4A and now 5A,” Aviles said. “We know nothing is promised to us that we have to go out and earn it. We’re working hard to make that happen.”
ARAPAHOE COUNTY > AUGUST 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > PAGE 7
OURCOLORADONEWS.COM
Football conferences CLASS 5A CENTENNIAL LEAGUE
Legend Palmer Rock Canyon
CLASS 5A INDEPENDENT
Cherokee Trail Cherry Creek Eaglecrest Grandview Overland Smoky Hill
Valor Christian
CLASS 4A PLAINS LEAGUE
CLASS 5A CONTINENTAL LEAGUE
Dakota Ridge Denver South Green Mountain John F. Kennedy Littleton Wheat Ridge
Chaparral Douglas County Highlands Ranch Mountian Vista Regis ThunderRidge
CLASS 3A METRO EAST
CLASS 5A SUPER 6 LEAGUE
Elizabeth Englewood Fort Morgan Skyview Vista Peak Weld Central
Arapahoe Bear Creek Chatfield Columbine Lakewood Mullen
CLASS 2A COLORADO LEAGUE
CLASS 5A PIONEER LEAGUE
Bennett Denver West Kent Denver Manual Middle Park Sheridan
Castle View Doherty Fountain Ft. Carson Heritage
STRUGGLING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL?
LOCAL STADIUMS • Adams 12 North Stadium: Behind Mountain Range High School at 12500 Delaware St. in Westminster. Cross streets are 128th and Huron. • Aurora Public School Stadium: Located on the Hinkley High School campus, 1250 Chambers Road in Aurora. • District 50 Stadium: Located at Westminster High School, 4276 W. 68th Ave. • DiTirro Stadium: Located on the Skyview High School campus, 9000 York Street. • Douglas County Schools Stadium: Located at Douglas Country High School, 2842 Front Street, Castle Rock • Englewood Stadium: Located on the Englewood High School campus, 3800 S. Logan Street in Englewood. • Everly-Montgomery Field: Located on the Longmont High School campus at 1040 Sunset Street in Longmont. • Five Star Stadium: Across the street from Thornton High School at 9351 N. Washington (93rd and Washington). • French Field: Located on the Rocky Mountain High School campus, 1300 W. Swallow Road in Fort Collins. • Jefferson County Stadium: Located at Kipling Street and West Sixth Avenue in Lakewood.
• Kellog Stadium: Located at Regis Jesuit High School, 16300 E Weaver PlAurora • Legacy Stadium: Located on the Cherokee Trail High School campus, 25901 E. Arapahoe Road in Aurora. • Littleton Public School Stadium: Located on the Littleton High School campus, 199 E. Littleton Blvd. in Littleton. • Mike G. Gabriel Stadium: Located on the Holy Family campus, 5195 W. 144th Ave. in Broomfield. • North Area Athletic Complex: Located at 19500 W. 64th Parkway in Arvada. • Prairie View High School: 12909 E. 120th Ave. in Henderson. • Recht Field: Located on the Boulder High School campus, 1604 Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder. •Shea Stadium: Located off Santa Fe in Highlands Ranch, 3270 Redstone Park Cir. • Sports Authority Stadium: Located at 11901 Newlin Gulch Blvd. in Parker. • Stutler Bowl: Located on the Cherry Creek High School campus, 9300 E. Union Ave. in Greenwood Village. • Trailblazer Stadium: Located at 170 S. Kipling Street in Lakewood. • Valor Stadium: Located at Valor Christian High School, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch.
DRIVER EDUCATION Now Enrolling Fall 2012
Now Enrolling 2012-13 School Year ! Group Support for Social, Emotional and Academic Success
Classroom plus 6 hours behind the wheel - $390 State driving tests - $35
(FREE with coupon below)
TRUSTED. PREFERRED. EXPERTS.
Online classroom lpsdriveredonline.net Visit us at
Barb Fraser M.A.
littletonpublicschoolsdrivered.net
“Positive Changes for a Happier Life”
for enrollment info. Or call Terri at 303.347.4380
Registered Psychotherapist Licensed School Counselor Individual & Family Therapy Services Provided
720-545-1876
barb@frasercounselingllc.com
FraserCounselingLLC
WWW.
.COM
HU R LIM RY! SEATITED ING!
FREE State Driving Test ($35 value)
Valid for new enrollment only.
14 1/2-18 years old Expires 8/31/13
We are proud to congratulate our clinic director, Dr. Joel (“Chip”) Carmichael, on his recent service to Team USA at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Dr. Carmichael was selected by the USOC as the official Team Chiropractor for Olympic Gold medalists Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Misty May-Treanor, Silver medalists April Ross and Jen Kessy, and the entire USA Beach Volleyball Team! “What I learned (again) by working with Kerri and Misty this past year, and especially in London, is the intense degree of focus and single-mindedness that goes into winning Olympic Gold. It’s an all-consuming passion. Beach volleyball is so physically demanding. Like many high performance athletes, these incredible women actively seek chiropractic care to perform their very best.” Our multidisciplinary team at I-25 & Orchard are EXPERTS. We’ll help you and your student athlete recover faster, perform better and enjoy life more. Clip this ad and bring it to your first chiropractic appointment to receive a FREE 30 MASSAGE like you’ve never had, ever! 303.290.8342 Center4Spine.com
PAGE 8 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
ourcoloradonews.com
Cherry Creek under new direction Dave Logan brings a wealth of experience, championship pedigree to Bruins By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
As daylight faded into a gorgeous sunset on Aug. 16, the practice football field at Cherry Creek High School was full of activity. In the center of it all was the team’s new football coach, Dave Logan, putting the Bruins through their paces in what proved to be a very spirited early-season practice. It’s hard to gauge how a team will fare after just a week’s worth of practice under its belt, but Logan, who has won state championships at Arvada West, Chatfield and Mullen (where he won four in a 10year span) was encouraged by what he saw. “We’ve worked hard and put a lot of stuff in,” said Logan after wrapping up a morning practice on Aug. 18. “I’ve been pleased with the effort, in terms of getting prepared. We had a great summer, but it’s going to be a process.” It’s been a long time since the Bruins have won a state championship in football — 1996 to be exact — and that fact is not lost on the former Wheat Ridge, University of Colorado, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos football player. “We’re going to take baby steps and learn to walk before we can run,” Logan said. “We’re going back to the basics and
as I said, it’s going to be a process. The thing I’m most excited about is the kids have been willing to work. If you’re willing to work, you can get better. You can improve.” The Bruins are coming off a 2011 season in which they finished 6-5 (3-2 in the Centennial League) and were booted from the Class 5A playoffs in the second round. A solid core does return, however, led by quarterback, Luke Papilion. The 6-foot-5 Papilion threw for over 1,100 yards and nine scores and rushed for nearly 600 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. Wideout Hunter Burton (29 catches, 401 yards; 299 rushing yards) and running back Darryl McNeil (100 carries, 463 yards; 11 catches for 123 yards) figure to be primary targets in Logan’s offense, while on defense, look for juniors Matt Rindal, Zach Bjornsen and Stanford Cooper to often be in the mix. “We just have to figure out what the strength of the kids is and try and maximize that and put them in the best positions to succeed,” Logan said. “Every team is different and so it takes a while to establish the personality of your team. “That’s a process that can go well into the regular season. My hope is that by week six, seven, eight is that we know who we are and what we have and we’re
Cherry Creek quarterback Luke Papilion practices Aug. 16. Papillion threw for over 1,100 yards and rushed for nearly 600 last year as a junior. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com
starting to play some good football.” Much was made of Logan’s exit from Mullen, but the change of scenery to Cherry Creek hasn’t altered the radio voice of the Denver Broncos (he also hosts his own drive-time sports-talk radio show) outlook on the game. “Honestly, I’m always pretty energized,” Logan said. “This is my passion
and this will be my 20th year as a head coach, and gosh, I’ve never entered a season where I wasn’t just really excited to be working with the kids and this year is no exception.” Cherry Creek opens its season Sept. 1 in California against Los Osos. Its first in-state game is set for Sept. 7 against Pomona.
Softball 2012: Depth should suit Valor Christian well Eagles return 13 players By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
The good news for Valor Christian’s softball team is that 13 players return from last year. What’s even better is that of those 13, just three are seniors, so the Eagles figure to see marked improvement over 2011’s 8-11 record this year … and beyond. Three-year letter winners Rachel Bruns and Emily Estes are two of the seniors that return for Valor Christian, along with Jordy Roberts. According to the Valor Christian softball website, sophomore Shelby Mann and freshman Zanny Kinder will see time on the mound. Catching will be Halle Murray. Other players of note are: Morgan Petrone, Jordy Roberts, Emily Carlson, Kendall Ohman and Makenna Roth. The Eagles will play an independent schedule in 2012, but will be eligible for postseason play in Class 4A.
Arapahoe hoping for improvement Jeannie Kruger has a couple of distinct goals in mind for her Arapahoe softball team. “I have set a team goal for us to have a .500 season,” said Kruger, whose team had just three wins in 2011. “I also hope to place higher (than sixth) in the Centennial League.” The battery of pitcher Allie Hanson and catcher Lanie McKennon return for the Warriors, and Kruger expects solid seasons from both. Kruger said that four freshmen should play a significant role this season. Those players are: Mackenzie Azzam (shortstop), Dasia Vavrick (centerfield), Delaney Mullins (first base and outfield) and Morgan Medina (outfield).
Other team notes Cherry Creek, with just three seniors, has a lot of youth on its roster, but Coach
Whitney Platten is excited about the influx of new players. “Everyone (in the Centennial League) knows we graduated eight seniors last year,” Platten said. “This is a very young and exciting team. I think we could maybe fly under the radar a bit this year.” The Bruins finished second in the Centennial League last year with an 11-3 record (15-7 overall), and should be in contention for the league title again. “We’re hoping to win league and regionals and then make it to state,” Platten said. Senior co-captains Taylor Tinberg (third base/first base) and Liz Imhoff (outfield) are both four-year players for Platten. Junior Katie McMillan will handle the pitching duties, and is also a threat at the plate. Newcomers of note for the Bruins include shortstop Cassidy Blakely and catcher Allie Harris.
“To have so many freshman and sophomores on the team, as a coach, is an exciting thing,” said Platten, whose team opened up play Aug. 25 against Arapahoe. “It gives me a chance to really see these girls work on their game and hopefully by the time they are seniors, they are like my first senior class and most of them will be going off to play in college.” Heritage has a deep senior class, with six players entering their final year. Mattie Gallegos (outfield), Courtney Harriman (pitcher, infield), Sabrina Janssen (infield, pitcher), Gabie Liguori (infield), Rachel Lukowicz (outfield, pitcher) and Kayleigh Schlag (catcher, utility) are those seniors. Out of the Continental League, the players to watch from the Regis Jesuit Raiders will be: Kylee Piper (senior, second base), Stephanie Xavier (catcher, shortstop), Lauren Caldwell (junior, third base, second base) and Grace Marriott (senior, pitcher, first base).
ARAPAHOE COUNTY > AUGUST 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > PAGE 9
OURCOLORADONEWS.COM
Volleyball teams ready to spike the opposition Arapahoe, Cherry Creek, Regis Jesuit figure to be in Class 5A mix By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
Expectations, especially in sports, can be difficult to deal with. Some people shy away from them, choosing to just let the season unfold organically. Others embrace the preseason hype and use all that talk as a rallying cry. Arapahoe’s volleyball team had a solid 2011 season, as they finished third in the Class 5A Centennial League and reached the regional round of the playoffs. The Warriors continued to work hard in the off-season and had a top-10 finish at the University of Northern Colorado summer tournament, which is typically a good gauge of the upcoming season’s state title contenders. With a solid core returning, Arapahoe will look to build off of last year’s and this summer’s success and get into that mix of state title contenders this fall. “We have high expectations for this season,” said coach Cara Syers, who enters her eighth year at Araparhoe. “We had a top-10 finish at the UNC Tournament this summer, so we hope to continue that success right from the start of the season.” The returning players from last year’s 15-11 squad (5-2 in Centennial League play) figure to have a significant impact on the 2012 team. Ryan Hoerdemann and Lexi Mercier, two seniors and middle hitters, were first-team All-Centennial League last year. Outside hitter Whitney Krantz, a junior, and setter Grace Marlowe will also return to the starting lineup. Tess Albyn, a junior outside hitter that has been on varsity since her freshman year, will likely move into the starting lineup this year, according to Syers. The addition of 6-foot-2 right-side hitter, Isabel Kovacic from Croatia (she’s a sophomore), also figures to be a significant addition to the Arapahoe lineup. “The Centennial League will once again be tough,” Syers said. “Cherokee Trail, Grandview and Cherry Creek will be very competitive teams.”
in pretty much every sport, and volleyball is no exception. The Bruins finished 2011 with a 22-7 record, took second in the Centennial League and placed fifth at the state tournament. Coach Sally Moos, who enters her 31st year, once again fields a team full of experience and the Bruins should not only compete for the Centennial League title, but should also be in that state championship mix as well. Back for the Bruins in 2012 are: libero/defensive specialist senior Hannah Merkle. Senior Lauren Marr, an outside hitter, will pair up with sophomore Emily Fish, an outside hitter/right-side hitter, to attack the opposition at the net. Setting Marr and Fish up will be junior Sarah Hellman. Like her colleague, Moos sees Cherokee Trail, Grandview and Arapahoe as teams that will vie for the Centennial League crown.
More team notes Regis Jesuit had a strong 2011 season. The Raiders fin-
‘We have high expectations for this season. We had a top-10 finish at the UNC Tournament this summer, so we hope to continue that success right from the start of the season.’
Cara Syers
ished second in the 5A Continental League, their 10-1 record just one off the pace set by undefeated and eventual state champion Chaparral. Regis Jesuit finished the year with a semifinal finish in the 5A state tournament and a 26-4 record. Expect the Raiders to be involved in the Continental League and 5A state championship races this year. Heritage finished in a fifth-place tie in the Continental League in 2011 and reached the regional round of the playoffs before bowing out. The Eagles posted a 1213 overall record in 2011. Littleton finished 2011 with a 5-14 mark. In Class 3A, Kent Denver had a 9-9 overall record, 3-7 in 3A/2A Metro League play. St. Mary’s Academy was 2-7.
HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT TODAY! (for 3, 5 or 10 months)
Pierre from France, 17 yrs.
Elisa from Italy, 16 yrs.
Loves the outdoors and playing soccer. Pierre’s dream has been to spend time in America learning about our customs.
Likes to play tennis, swim, and loves to dance. Elisa can’t wait to join her host family’s activities.
Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from Italy, France, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Thailand or china as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life. For more information or to select your own exchange student please call:
Abby at 303-906-7687 or Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students
Cherry Creek to be factor once again Cherry Creek is good
www.whhosts.com Arapahoe’s Whitney Krantz spikes the ball last season during a match against Chaparral. File photo by Courtney Kuhlen
World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA.
PAGE 10 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
ourcoloradonews.com
Local runners may have chance to shine Boys cross-country field appears wide-open By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
Nine of the top-10 finishers at the Class 5A cross-country state meet last year were seniors. The lone exception was Christian Martin of Heritage. The junior finished eighth with a time of 16 minutes, 26.64 seconds. By simply being younger, Martin eliminated ninetenths of his competition. Now a senior, Martin will be part of a crowded pack vying for this year’s 5A state championship. The Eagles, who finished fifth in the team standings, bring back several runners from last year’s team, including John Lundy. Lundy, a junior, cracked the top-50 at state last year with a time of 17:13.09 to finish 46th overall. Sam Payne, a senior, also returns for Heritage. Daniel Vavrick of Arapahoe is another of the 2011 underclassmen that figures to see a bump up in the individual standings this year. Vavrick finished 18th at state (16:37.39) as a junior, third-highest amongst returning runners this year. The Warriors finished eighth in the team standings in 2011 and in addition to Vavrick, return Nicholas Petersen (finished in 17:35.04 at state), Louis Hood (17:39.04) and
Cherry Creek’s Jordyn Colter starts her final kick to win the girls Division 1 cross country race during last year’s Liberty Bell Invitational. Colter also won the state title, and is after a repeat during her sophomore season. File photo by D.J. Becker
Ian Stockdill (17:52.14) to the lineup. Cherry Creek’s top runner from 2011, Grant Caswell, graduated, but Shane Rhodes, now a junior, was the team’s second-best finisher last year as he ran the state course in 17:21.59, good for 61st overall. Noah Westfall, a junior, also ran at state last year. Regis Jesuit will be led by a trio of seniors: Frank Morton, Tom Beasley and Sean Morton. John O’Hagan will also contribute, according to coach Bryan Bruno. The Raiders, along with Littleton and Kent Denver (Class 3A), will look to qualify for state as a team in 2012. The cross-country season gets underway this week, but the unofficial start of the season is Sept. 14 when Heritage High School hosts the Liberty Bell Invitational. All of the top teams from the state typically take part in the meet which serves as an early indicator of who the state title contenders — both team and individual — will be.
Arapahoe’s Danny Vavrik sprints to the finish line during last year’s Warrior Invitational. Vavrik is one of the top returning runners this year. File photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Colter ready to carry Cherry Creek Cherry Creek sophomore will contend with talented Class 5A field By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
Jordyn Colter burst onto the Class 5A girls cross-country scene a year ago. The sophomore from Cherry Creek may not be the tallest girl at the starting line, but she quickly established herself as the fastest. Colter won the 5A state title in 2011, finishing the 3.1mile race in 18 minutes, 24.60 seconds, nearly 20 seconds ahead of her next-closest competitor. Shortly after wrapping up an outstanding season, Colter suffered an injury that impacted her track season this past spring. While she rebounded in time to have a solid state meet, she already had an eye on this fall’s crosscountry season. “I’m looking forward to having the entire summer to train,” said Colter back in May at Jefferson County Stadium, site of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s State Track and Field Championships. “Having a chance to defend my title will be great.” The Bruins finished fourth in the team standings, and while they do lose some quality seniors, having Colter back certainly softens the blow. Sammi Bremmer finished 30th last year at state as a sophomore in a time of 20:02.20. Leading the charge for Arapahoe is junior Devon Foster, who won the 5A state track and field titles in the 800 and 1,600 meter races. Foster, who missed a quarter of last year’s cross-country season due to transferring from Chaparral, is part of a deep Warriors team that returns six of their top seven runners from last year’s fifth-place team. Emily Wolff finished 27th at state last year with a time of 19:50.20 as a sophomore. Erica Peterson, now a sopho-
‘Having a chance to defend my title will be great.’
Jordyn Colter
more, also ran at state for Arapahoe in 2011 and finished 50th overall in a time of 20:31.05. Lauren Lipski, a senior, also scored points for the Warriors at state, as she crossed the line 63rd overall in 20:41.95. Regis Jesuit, just like Arapahoe, will feature a team with plenty of experience. The Raiders had six underclassmen run at state in 2011, with juniors Erin Schilmoller (43rd overall, 20:23.60) and Meredith Hoggatt (55th, 20:33.70) leading the way. Regis Jesuit finished 12th in the team standings. “Hannah Feehan (a junior), Brooke Barlock (junior) and Madalyn Somer (junior) round out the team,” said Regis Jesuit coach Bryan Bruno. “The girls finished 12th in state (in 2011) and would love to crack the top-five this year.” Just behind Regis Jesuit was Heritage, which returns senior Rachel Street, sophomore Alyssa Biever and senior Kaitlyn Biever from last year’s 13th-place team. Littleton’s second-best runner from 2011, Elizabeth Bollendonk, returns for her junior year. In Class 3A, Kent Denver brings back a trio of runners, including the Kolberg twins, Courtney and Kristen. Courtney finished 42nd last year with a time of 21:48.37, while Kristen finished 51st with a time of 21:59.67. Both are entering the senior year, along with teammate Jennifer Lehr, who helped the Sun Devils to a 14th-place finish at state.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY > AUGUST 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > PAGE 11
OURCOLORADONEWS.COM
Heritage soccer hopes to take next step State runners-up in 2011, Eagles excited for 2012 By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
Heritage nearly did the impossible last year. The No. 24 seed in the Class 5A boys soccer state tournament, the Eagles pulled off several upests, including a 1-0 victory over top-seeded Cherry Creek, and advanced all the way to the state championship game. Just 80 minutes away from an improbable title, the Eagles’ Cinderella bid came up short as Denver East walked away with the championship following a 2-0 victory. While the run through the state tournament was nice, coach Adam Buseck knows there’s still work to be done. First on the list is improving upon last year’s fifth-place finish in the Continental League, where Heritage (14-6 overall) posted a 7-4 mark. “Our goal this year is to compete to win the Continental League,” said Buseck, who is entering his third year running the Heritage program. “Our biggest competition within the league will come from Rock Canyon, Regis Jesuit and Legend.” Buseck has a nice blend of experience and youth on his roster. He’s expecting newcomers Ryan Greenway and Nick Fedder to make an impact in their first year on the squad. Goalkeeper Tim Erwin highlights a list of returning players. Midfielder Clint Koury and defender Michael Day both should figure prominently into whatever success the Eagles achieve in 2012.
Creek looking for Centennial League four-peat
One of the teams that Heritage knocked off in its state tournament run in 2011 was Cherry Creek. The Bruins were the top-seed in the 32-team field after going through the regular season undefeated and winning its third-straight Centennial League title. The Eagles won the quarterfinal game 2-1 to advance to the state semifinals. Coach Chelo Curi returns for his 14th year, and he’s expecting big things from his team in 2012. “Our goals and expectations are to be the best high school soccer team in the nation,” Curi said. “We will face stiff competition in St. Louis (CBC, St. Thomas Aquinas, Rockhurst) and the usual top teams in the Centennial League, as well as some non-league matches against Fairview, Boulder, Adams City and Fort Collins.” The Bruins have several players back from last year’s team, including junior midfielder Jacob Hanlin, junior forward Miguel Jaime and sophomore goalkeeper Pierce Kassmeier. David Cabrera (son of Colorado Rapids assistant coach Wilmer Cabrera) and Cole Bildstein, a junior defender, are newcomers that Curi expects will make an impact on the team.
Valor’s depth could be key
Last year, Valor Christian’s boys soccer team got a taste of playoff experience. The Eagles, who finished the year with a 7-7-1 mark, qualified for the Class 4A state tournament, but were ousted in the opening round by Durango. With a wealth of experience back, coach Brian Shultz is excited about what 2012 could have in store for his team. “This is the deepest team we’ve ever had,” Shultz said. “We aim to make it to the playoffs and go further than we’ve gone in the past.” The Eagles are indeed deep, and at virtually every position. They return four defenders: Adam Gueting (senior), Jimmy Neal (senior), Jonathan Sands (senior) and Cooper Youngs (junior). In the midfield: Blake Hilles (junior), Colten Corey (senior), Carson Temby (senior) and Roby Boade (junior). Paul Grizzle (junior) and Andrew Davis
(senior) are both strikers. Shultz has a handful of newcomers that he believes will play a role in his team’s success in 2012. They are: Spencer Jamison (senior midfielder), Matt Arnold (junior defender), Gabe Krzywdzinski (sophomore forward), Alex Carvajal (junior midfielder), Josh Floyde (sophomore midfielder), Kirk Leftwich (junior defender), Ian Crawford (sophomore forward) and Riley Combs (junior defender). Valor Christian played in 4A Jeffco in 2011 and finished with a 6-3 league mark. They will play an independent schedule this year.
Other team breakdowns
Regis Jesuit had a solid 2011 campaign. The Raiders finished second in the 5A Continental League (8-2-1) and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. They finished the year with a record of 12-3-3. For 2012, the Raiders have a new coach in Rick Wolf. Wolf has coached at Regis Jesuit for 10 years, but this will be his first year as varsity head coach. Wolf has some experienced players returning from last year’s team in senior defender Conor Walsh, junior forward Luis Hernandez, senior midfielder Ian Shelton, junior midfielder Mitch Rossi and sophomore defender Joe Langenderfer. Sophomore goalkeeper Stephen Szachara is new to the Raiders’ team and Wolf says he’s confident that Szachara is going to have a big year. Littleton finished 2011 with an 8-7 overall record, 4-7 in Class 5A Continental League play. Head coach Pedja Vajzovic returns to the sidelines for the Lions, who open their season Sept. 1 at Northglenn. Arapahoe was the No. 6 seed in the 2011 5A state tour-
Heritage’s goalkeeper Tim Erwin makes a stop last year during the Eagles’ victory against Cherry Creek High School. File photo
nament, but were upset in the opening round by No. 27 Legacy 1-0. The Warriors finished the year with a 10-4-2 record and were tied with Mullen for second place in the Centennial League with a 4-1-2 league mark. In Class 3A, Kent Denver was one of the top teams in 2011. They advanced all the way to the semifinals.
/CollegeFootball
ourColoradonews.com
College Football Pick ’em NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Open only to legal residents of 50 United States and District of Columbia age 18 and older at time of entry. See Official Rules for registration and eligibility requirements. ARV of grand prize is $3,500. Chance of winning a prize depends on the number of eligible entries received. All portions of this contest are subject to the official rules located at http://www.ourcoloradonews.collegeexpertsclub.com/game/rules. Sponsored by: Dodge Ram
Your Community Connector to Boundless Rewards POWERED BY ATHLON SPORTS
/ProFootball ProFootball
ourColoradonews.com
Pro Football Pick ’em
Go Online and Sign up Today. Its Free!
PAGE 12 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
ourcoloradonews.com
Creek set to raise the bar After two-straight runner-up finishes, Bruins aiming for top spot By Daniel P. Johnson djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
Cherry Creek has been the bridesmaid two years running. This year, they want to be the ones wearing the wedding dress. The Bruins’ gymnastics team is a team built on experience and depth, and provided all the key players can stay healthy, there’s no reason to suspect that the Bruins won’t be in the Class 5A state gymnastics championship hunt in 2012. “After two years of being state runnerup, this team is motivated and hungry,” said Cherry Creek coach Melissa Holmberg. “We’ve been hard at work during the off-season and training a lot of big skills, but also have a lot of gymnasts coming off old injuries and will be up against some of the best competition high school gymnastics has ever seen. “Only time will tell how things will fall into place, but we plan on being in the fight for this year’s title.” Sela Buted, a junior who finished second in the All-Around in both 2010 and 2011, returns to the squad, along with Olivia Solow-Niederman, another junior. Sophomore Alaina Bolton was a big contributor to last year’s team before suffering an injury just before the regional meet. “She is pumped to be back and will be another powerhouse for the team,” Holmberg said. Newcomers that Holmberg says will play a part in the team’s success are
sophomore Elise Shalowitz and freshmen Brooke Connelly and Riley Mallory. Overland, the defending state champion, will be a team Cherry Creek will be directly competing against, and Broomfield, Fort Collins and Arvada West will be tough opponents.
Larger squad to favor Heritage This season figures to be a year of improvement for Heritage, which features its largest roster in the past few years. “We have everybody back from last year, and have a freshman that is a Level 10,” Coach Karen Griebel said. “We have eleven girls this year and that’s bigger than what we’ve had the last couple of years.” The Heritage squad (which typically also has girls from Arapahoe and Littleton high schools, but none from Littleton this year) is anchored by juniors Rachel Seikmeier and Gigi Gehrke, both of whom will be solid in the All-Around according to their coach. Madeleine Adams from Arapahoe will be another returning member and Carlee Reva is back after a two-year absence. The addition of freshman Kaela Schandle should provide better scoring opportunities for the Eagles. “The last few years we’ve had girls with little gymnastics experience,” Griebel said. “This year, all eleven girls are pretty solid. They all train at clubs, and it’s been fun working with them so far.” The Eagles won’t have any meets at
Cherry Creek gymnast Sela Buted flips on the beam during a competition last season. Buted is back to help lead the Bruins this year. Courtesy photo home this year, but their compacted schedule is full of big meets. They open the season against Overland, take on Cherry Creek the following week, then later in the season head over to Lakewood
for a meet that raises money for Breast Cancer Awareness. “We’ve attended (the Lakewood meet) the last few years and it’s just an amazing experience,” Griebel said.
Tennis 2012: Lions looking to re-load Littleton tennis replacing six seniors from 2011 team By Daniel P. Johnson
djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com Figuring out his lineup for the 2012 boys tennis season may take Littleton coach Don Zolla some time. Zolla lost six seniors off of last year’s team, and with just two seniors on the 2012 squad, he’s got a young team on his hands. “I’m not sure what to expect,” said Zolla, who is in his sixth year at Littleton. “I do know that I have a good group of kids and that we will be competitive.” Patrick Gray at No. 1 singles and Dom Mazzola at No. 2 singles (he made state at No. 4 doubles last year) are both juniors and Zolla added that freshman Jake Anderson is a good addition to the team. Corey Bowman (No. 1 doubles) and Morgan Reisacher (No. 2 doubles) are the Lions’ two seniors. The Lions will battle with the usual suspects in the always-competitive Continental League. Littleton opened its season with a 4-3 loss to ThunderRidge. “Regis and Highlands Ranch are good and Mountain Vista is supposed to be really good this year,” Zolla said.
Littleton will once again host its invitational tournament in mid-September that features teams from all across the state. “It’s a lot of fun,” Zolla said of the tournament. “We use it as a warm-up for regionals.” In addition, the Lions will be playing on newly re-surfaced courts at the high school.
Creek going for gold ... again When you’ve won 19 consecutive state titles, and 37 of the last 40, there’s really only one goal in mind at the start of a new season. Win another title. That’s exactly what longtime coach Kirk Price (entering his 43rd year) and his Bruins are setting out to do in 2012. There are a handful of players that return from last year’s state championship team that Price expects will lead the way for the Bruins. Daniel Steinhauser, Connor McPherson, Will Ro and Connor Petrou, all seniors, should provide plenty of leadership for the younger players. Steinhauser won the No.
3 singles state title last year; Ro was a part of the No. 2 doubles team, along with Jonathan Kaugman, that won state. McPherson won the No. 3 doubles title with teammate Parker Dannenberg, while Petrou and Jace Blackburn finished second at No. 4 doubles. Cherry Creek will no doubt once again be the favorite to win state, but expect Fairview to be in the mix as they were in 2011, where they finished just nine points behind the Bruins in the team standings.
Other team notes
Regis Jesuit finished ninth at state last year, but to improve on that positioning in 2012, the Raiders will have to rely on several new faces, as most of last year’s state qualifiers graduated. Enzo Abbott (sophomore), Trace Collins (sophomore), Chanon Penuari (freshman) and Nate Root (junior) will be the players to keep an eye on. Root teamed with Case Anderson (graduated) at No. 3 doubles in 2011 and the duo went on to a third-place finish at state.
arapahoe County > August 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > page 13
ourcoloradonews.com
Trench warfare The players up front often determines winners and losers in Douglas County By Benn Farrell bfarrell@ourcoloradonews.com
When it comes to high school football in the state of Colorado, the line starts in Douglas County. For more than a decade, area schools have produced some of the best high school linemen in the state. This year’s crop of players that do their work in the trenches is no different, with as many as three local lineman already making commitments to Division I college programs. “I don’t know what it is in our league (Continental), but we seem to have big athletic linemen at each of our schools year-in, year-out,” Douglas County coach Jeff Ketron said. “We (the Huskies) are not caught up in size so much as toughness. Two of our best linemen ever were 5 -foot-8, 200 pounds and played for a state championship.” This year’s crop of linemen entering the 2012 season isn’t short on anything — size, ability or experience — and colleges and universities have taken notice. Among the latest collegee recruits, Chaparral tight end Chris Parsons has verbally committed to play for the University of Colorado. Douglas County senior Blake
Nowland is head to Colorado State University, and standout Chris Fox of Ponderosa chose Michigan after being courted by programs such as Stanford, Tennessee and Ohio State. Linemen are unique players in that the glory of the “big play” is rarely credited to one of them, so a level of humility is required for the position. “I think offensive linemen are our team’s most unselfish players,” ThunderRidge coach Joe Johnson said. “They care more about the success of our team than their individual success.” Linemen are also key to strategies across the board for Douglas County teams, not only in the eyes of the sidelines but also those on the field. Parsons said all of Chaparral’s league games are won at the line first. “Our league is known for good defense like Mountain Vista, ThunderRidge and Regis,” the senior tight end said. “Last year, we put up some points against Highlands Ranch but their defense was tough. I would say you have to have a pretty good defense and a real strong defensive line.” Ketron said the Huskies’ offensive and defensive strategies start at the line as well. Any season when Douglas County had the toughness it looks for on the offensive line, the Huskies have pounded the football. When the team is lacking in certain areas, it has to find a different way to do things to give its offense a chance, the coach said. The same holds true on defense. “If we can just line up and play, it sure makes it easy to call a defense,” Ketron said. “We would take five linemen over five skilled kids any day. Our league is tough. There is not a finesse team in it.” CSU-bound lineman Nowland agreed, saying it’s the toughest team on the line which comes out on top in Continental match ups. Parsons, however, said some finesse is required and often seen among Douglas
Chaparral tight end Chris Parsons said there is a certain finesse to being a linemen. The University of Colorado-bound senior is considered a top-five recruit in the state and is excited to see how the Wolverines’ work over the summer pays off. Photo by Benn Farrell County linemen as well. “We’re not really a Columbine. Most of our offenses are pro style, so there’s finesse to it,” he said. “Obviously, Chris Fox and Blake Nowland are two main guys coming from Douglas County with very good feet. They are big boys, but they have finesse to it as well.” “Size helps, but the ability to move your feet and flexibility are key with linemen,” Nowland said. Fox and Parsons played on rival football teams in the Arapahoe Youth League during their younger years, Parsons said. Although, Chaparral, Ponderosa and Legend remain cross-town rival teams, Legend was placed in the newly formed Class 5A Pioneer League while Ponderosa sits
in the Class 4A Pikes Peak League with a majority of Colorado Springs-based programs. As linemen in Douglas County become more important with each progressive season, each team is challenged to find ways to separate their players at the line of scrimmage from others. Parsons said the difference with Chaparral is its coaching staff. “I think we have the best offensive line coach in the state,” Parsons said of Rod Dobbs, who helped the University of Northern Colorado to back-to-back Division II national championships (1996, 1997). “The preparation we go through every week, our foot work. No other offensive line in the state has the teaching we have.” Nowland said, for the Huskies, the difference is how they push each other. “The desire to beat the guy next to us is the thing that keeps us going,” he said. “Any team where all the guys get along is a successful team.” ThunderRidge also looks for toughness from its lines, especially when reloading those positions after having graduated starters from the previous season. “I am looking for tough kids,” said Johnson, who guided the Grizzlies to back-to-back 4A state titles (2004, 2005). “Size can be helpful, but it’s not that big a factor at the high school level. “I am excited about our team this year, because we will be considerably bigger, tougher and more experienced on both the O and D line this season than we have been in some time.” Parsons said he’s most excited to see how Chaparral’s hard work over the summer pays off. He aspires to be a team captain this season. “Being a senior, it’s going to be fun, hopefully being a captain and leading the team under the lights,” he said. “It’s my last year, and I can not wait to see what it has in store.”
EVERY GOAL, EVERY TOUCHDOWN, EVERY HOMERUN
FOLLOW EVERY GAME
Fall Sports Preview 2011
����
Follow your favorite local teams!$20
�������
����
17-SportS-Color
Wheat RidgeSportS
16-Color_SPORTS
Sentinel SportS S
orthglenn-Thornton Sentinel , 2012
Wheat Ridge Transcript 17 May 3, 2012
Quick hits Farmers head to postseason
Wheat Ridge’s boys lacrosse team earned the No. 12 seed in the state playoffs and will host Smoky Hill in the first round at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood. The Farmers (9-6) finished second in the Foothills League to Columbine, which received a first-round bye. Smoky Hill (7-8) finished fifth in the Centennial League. Arapahoe (15-0) received the No. 1 overall seed - the second round must be completed by May 9.
olympic-sized dreams
Honoring Capra
This Saturday’s regular-season home finale for Arvada West’s baseball team marks the final home game for longtime Wildcats coach Jim Capra. Currently an assistant, Capra will take over the baseball program at Adams State College in Alamosa. Arvada West is inviting any former players to attend Saturday’s game at 10 a.m. against Standley Lake. Those attending should show up at least 15 minutes before the game as the school honors Capra.
London is calling for Venezuelan gymnast López
... just 38¢ an issue Don’t miss a single week’s action in the pages of your local Colorado Community Media paper. In your mailbox every Thursday!
per
YE A R
Name _____________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________ City, State _____________________________________________ ZIP _______________________________ Phone Number ________________________________________
Check # __________________
Wresting camp at Legacy
16 Douglas County News-Press April 19, 2012
Douglas Countysports
Wheat Ridge senior Brooke Livingston, right, fights for the ball with Conifer’s Gabrielle Valenzuela during the first half of a 4A Jeffco contest April 25 at the NAAC in Arvada. The Farmers won 3-0. Photo by Brian Miller
Sabercats pick
The Northwestern University Wrestling Camp will take place from June 10-13 at Legacy High School in Broomfield. The camp is for experienced wrestlers ages 1018 for all schools and clubs. Northwestern coach Drew Pariano and wrestlers from the Big Ten school will be instructing and coaching at the camp. The cost is $200 per camper if they register prior to May 1. The cost is $225 for those who register after May 1; for every 10 wrestlers from the same team, there will be a 10% discount. For more information, contact Deon Hebel at 303-803-5051 or at deonhebel@yahoo. com.
up big win Farmers punch their Morris sprints way among nation’s elite postseason ticket
Golden High School is hosting a basketball camp for boys and girls from June 25-28. The camp runs from 9-11:30 a.m. for those in grades 1-5, and from 12:30-3 p.m. for those in grades 6-9. For more info, e-mail Golden boys basketball coach John Anderson at jdanders@jeffco.k12.co.us.
bmiller@ourcoloradonews.com
Mustangs win 5A Jeffco
By Daniel P. Johnson
djohnson@ourcoloradonews.com
When you set out to build a structure,
Shutout of Conifer sends Wheat Ridge into Class 4A state playoffs By Brian Miller will crack and your project will come crumbling down. Castle View’s baseball program has tak-
Visa
MC
AmEx
Disc EXP DATE _________________________________________
Offer FSP12
Golden hoops camp
Castle View defeats Heritage for the first time in school history
you never to rushOlympic construction. Golden grad competes in 100, 200 atwant U.S. Track trials If you do, chances are your foundation
en a final game-by-game to its By Brian Miller sixth and playoffapproach spot out ofbuild4A Jeffco and the results appear toat bethe plantbrianm@milehighnews.com withField a ing 3-0plan, victory over Conifer North When Joe Morris took to the track at Hayward ed very steadily into the ground. Areadash Athletic Complex in Arvada. in Oregon for the preliminaries of the 100-meter The Sabercats did something they had yet do in their history in on the April past The23Class 4AU.S. stateOlympic playoffs Track just wouldn’t A team has six-year competed June in the and Field Trials, he to that 13 — defeat Heritage — topping the Eagles be the same without girls three state games, winning twowin chamnoticed a familiar faceWheat in the Ridge’s lane next to him. 5-2 attitle Castle View High School. The soccer team - fortunately for the Farmers, struggled at times movedhas the team into a first-place tiethis with seaWant to talk about pressure? Morris was pionships, side-byRegis atop thehard Class 5A League they missing out. Gold medalist Justin son after getting byContinental graduation. When sidewon’t with be 2004 Olympic Gatlin. standings with a 3-0 record. Junior Macee Broer tallied a hatfortrick it mattered most Ridge That’s quite a leap in competition an athlete who“It’s a huge winthough, for us,” saidWheat Castle View coach, Shawn Wyss, whose team is 8-3 overApril as the helped lock through. four 25 years agoFarmers was competing in up thethe Class came 4A state
#_________________________________________________
Credit Card:
was the first time this season the Indians hadn’t scored multiple goals in a game. The Conifer game was the true test for Wheat Ridge though, given that the final playoff spot would go to one side or the other. Broer needed just more than six minutes to find the back of the net, taking a shot from a tough angle and slotting it past Lobos goalkeeper Samantha Prince.
Ralston Valley’s girls tennis team defeated Chatfield 6-1 on April 24 to claim the team’s first Class 5A Jeffco League title. Senior Olivia Anselmo finished the league season undefeated at No. 2 singles, and the No. 3 doubles team of Kelsey Maass and Allyson Goto also finished 8-0 in league play. The Mustangs will compete in the 5A Region 7 tournament this week hosted by Fos-
Please send in a payment of $20.00 for your year subscription.
Mail to: 110 N. Rubey Dr., #120, Golden, CO, 80403
PAGE 14 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > August 30, 2012 > Arapahoe CouNTY
ourcoloradonews.com
Three times charmed?
Chaparral volleyball reloads in quest for third title
By Benn Farrell
bfarrell@ourcoloradonews.com
Flying under the radar usually isn’t possible for a two-time defending state champion. But with most expecting Chaparral to experience a rebuilding year this season, that’s exactly what the Wolverines hope to do. After two seasons of being the team to beat not only in the Continental League, but in districts, regionals and the state as well, the two-time Class 5A defending state champion Wolverines have quietly reloaded and have aspirations of being as tough to beat as they have been for years. While standouts Nicole Dalton and Elizabeth Campbell and others graduated, some may question if Chaparral has the firepower it needs to win a third straight state title. However, that’s never been the goal for the Wolverines no matter how stacked the roster is. The goal is just “to play as a family and maintain the tradition of being one of the toughest teams to beat in Continental, rather than win the state championship,” according to Wolverines coach T.R. Ellis. For the last two years, that formula just
happened to lead them to a state championship. And no one associated with the team is ruling out another. “You have to remember all these (returning) kids practiced and played just as hard and many of them were on that 2011 championship team and the team before,” Ellis said. “They know what it takes in practice and how hard you have to work. They know everybody has a role on the team. They’re in it for the team, and we don’t have superstars.” Ellis said above all her players focus on continuing the reputation Chaparral has for being hard to beat and scrappy, rather than focusing on another state championship. “They want to maintain that family atmosphere, and that’s what helps them expect to win when they walk into the gym,” the coach said. “I just think a lot of people are not going to expect us to be as strong this season because we don’t have the preseason All-Americans this year. I think a lot of people are going to overlook us as a team.” Two outside hitters who had a hand in last season’s state championship did return
— seniors Morgan Stanley and Abby Shelton. Shelton also saw time in the first title run, being inserted into auto-rotation during the tournament solely in the front line. “She got real fired up and plays with a lot of emotion,” Ellis said. “She has so much fun out there. … She has a lot of skills. She scores a lot of points for us, swings hard and is very deceptive.” Shelton was an outside hitter the entire season last year. Morgan was a transfer student and was ineligible to play until halfway through her junior season with the Wolverines. But when she became eligible to play, she was also inserted into auto-rotation on the front line only, and she put up a good amount of points swinging from the right side. “She opened up our offense at the state tournament last year,” the coach said. Returning to set is 5-foot-1 Sarah Ellis, who worked the position last season. Coach Ellis said their were a couple other kids who may play that role this season, but as of preseason tryouts, Sarah Ellis had the nod. “So many of our kids play club, and we don’t play as a team a lot during the sum-
mer,” coach Ellis said. In addition, she said there were a lot of returning juniors with potential this season from a very strong junior varsity squad last year. However, it was going to be Shelton, Stanley and Ellis returning to make a solid front line, while defensive specialists Maddie Thorpe and Ahren Moydell were expected to be the anchors in the back.
Echtemeyer of Mountain Vista is a special case when Smith’s Grizzlies face her Golden Eagles. “She has played both mentor and teacher to me in my coach licensing, and we both work at Colorado United for Club soccer,” Smith said. “Mountain Vista is our biggest rival, as they are just up the road from us, and the school that dethroned us in so many ways when they opened up 10 years ago. “It’s true for all sports, and soccer is no exception. Since we’ve become a perennial threat for the past three years again, it has made it even more intense.” Smith said the Grizzlies’ games against Heritage, Regis Jesuit, Chaparral and Legend could rise to rivalry caliber this season, especially if there’s a playoffs spot at stake. Jaguars coach Sean Henning said with the school jumping in classification, leading up to its first year of Class 5A for football, Rock Canyon hasn’t had a chance to develop the be-all end-all rivalry in its history. That has been the same for Jaguars soccer, Henning said. “If I were to ask my team who our biggest rival would be, I’d probably get five different answers,” he said. Henning remembers the rivalry he had in high school against Regis Jesuit during ninth and 10th grades playing for Mullen.
His big rivalry switched to Golden after becoming a Wheat Ridge player his 11th and 12th-grade seasons. “We were always aware of who we were playing, and it motivated us,” Henning said. Henning also sees Mountain Vista as the biggest rival, along with Heritage, based on the Rock Canyon program’s history. In boys soccer, Henning and Echtermeyer have faced off five times with four of those games decided by one goal, including the last two. The winning goal was scored in the closing minutes of double overtime in both those games. It’s that kind of history between programs that fuels the fire season after season. Geography and the influence of club soccer also add to the shape of rivalries in the Continental League. Glantz said he uses rivalry games as a teaching tool. “We have attempted to emphasize the rivalry games to help the players understand that they are part of a program with a history that goes back beyond their freshmen year,” he said. “It helps to connect the current athletes to the alumni that helped to build the program.” Coordinating with Deigo Montoya, head coach of Douglas County Huskies soccer, Castle View and Douglas County now awards a trophy to the winner of their rivalry game, promoting the match as a Castle Rock city championship.
Chaparral’s Abby Shelton celebrates a point during last year’s state tournament. File photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Rivalries hit a fever pitch in Continental
Showdowns mean more for local soccer teams
By Benn Farrell
bfarrell@ourcoloradonews.com
When Continental League soccer teams hit the pitch, there’s usually more than just the typical neighborly bragging rights on the line. While there’s plenty of cross-town connections to feed into rivalries, proximity isn’t the only factor fueling the action on the field. Players from opposing schools may be teammates on local club teams and many have spent their entire childhood playing with or against each other. Even coaches have connections that go further than the post-game handshake. And that makes for a schedule loaded with redletter games. Take Castle View, for example. While Douglas County might be the closest school to them in terms of location, the Sabercats also bring extra intensity to their games with Ponderosa. The reason for this is Castle View head coach Perry Glantz was an assistant under Jim Engels at Ponderosa prior to taking the Sabercats reins. Glantz said he and Engels are best friends and always have a great time when their respective teams compete against each other. “We both coach club, and we are coach players from both high schools on our respective teams,” Glantz said. “So, when we
get together, we know we both want to win, and it will be a hard fought, fair match.” The respect between the two coaches is reflected by the players on the field as well. However, the intensity is heightened just that much more for those games. “The players from our club teams definitely want to beat their club coach when they get the chance,” Glantz said. “It is really a tremendous dynamic.” The league also features four cross-town rival schools playing against each other for community bragging rights in Highlands Ranch. Chris Smith, coach of ThunderRidge soccer, said every time a rivalry game comes up, it not only generates more enthusiasm in the young men and women who play but also in their school and classmates. “The biggest things I love about high school soccer is the kids get to play with their friends in front of their friends, for their school and for their community,” Smith said. “Teachers, administration, students and the community always seem to perk up when there is a rivalry match played.” Like the dynamic between Glantz and Engels’ teams playing each other, Smith’s relationship with Rock Canyon coach Sean Henning and Highlands Ranch’s Danny Main also help elevate the rival-factor for their conference games. However, Theresa
ourcoloradonews.com
arapahoe County > August 30, 2012 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > page 15
On the horizon ... These are just a few of the projects we are working on for upcoming editions of YOUR award-winning local newspaper. Colorado Community Media now offers access to 19 community newspapers and 21 online websites. Find customers near you. Call 720-409-4764 or email bstolte@OurColoradoNews. com. FREE DESIGN SERVICES are provided with any ad purchase! OurColoradoNews.com 19 community papers. 21 websites. 400,000 readers.
110 N Rubey Drive, Ste 120 | Golden 303-566-4100
AUGUST Fall Prep Sports Preview USA Pro Cycling Challenge SEPTEMBER Thornton Harvest Festival Westminster Business Appreciation Arvada Harvest Festival Adams 12 Five Star Journal OCTOBER Election Guide Jefferson School Quarterly Halloween
NORTH METRO Serving Adams & North Jefferson Counties Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel Westminster Window Westsider Castle Rock News-Press Centennial Citizen Douglas County News Press
NOVEMBER Veterans Day Hometown Holidays Special Holiday Package DECEMBER Adams 12 Five Star Journal Douglas County Schools Today New Years Resolutions
WEST METRO Arvada Press Golden Transcript Lakewood Sentinel Wheat Ridge Transcript SOUTH METRO Englewood Herald Highlands Ranch Herald Littleton Independent
COLORADO SPRINGS METRO Pikes Peak Courier View Teller County Extra Tri-Lakes Tribune
Lone Tree Voice Parker Chronicle Elbert County News
PAGE 16 > FALL FOOTBALL & SPORTS PREVIEW > AUGUST 30, 2012 > ARAPAHOE COUNTY
OURCOLORADONEWS.COM
Pirates ready to start play in a new league Englewood will be in league with schools about the same size By Tom Munds tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
Englewood High School is ready to make the move into a new sports league where they will face some familiar opponents as well as some new competition. “We have reached the agreement
to form this new Class 4A league for all sports except football, which will remain in a 3A league,” said Paul Evans, Englewood athletic director. “Our new league will include long-time time rival Elizabeth, along with Fort Lupton, Fort Morgan, Skyview, Vista Peak, a new Aurora school, and Weld Central.”
Worried about meeting
DEADLINE?
Evans said the Class 3A league opponents in football will be the same as before except for Weld Central. Tentatively, the grouping will be called the Metro East Conference. According to state association rules, league changes can only be made every two years, which is the same as classification changes for a school. “We made an effort to create the new league two years ago because all the schools considering membership wanted a more competitive, balanced league stressing sportsmanship and academics,” Evans said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make it happen. But the core membership agreed we still wanted to establish the new league so we decided to try again. This time, it looks like we’ll be successful.” Evans said the athletic directors from the school in the proposed new league agreed it will be an opportunity to establish a stable league where all member schools are about the same size and expectations is all schools will be competitive. League changes are nothing new to En-
‘The core membership agreed we still wanted to establish the new league so we decided to try again. This time, it looks like we’ll be successful.’ Paul Evans
glewood. Back in the 1970s and early ‘80s, the Pirates were in the Centennial League with schools like Cherry Creek and Fairview. Faced with declining enrollment and finding it difficult to be competitive against just about all the Centennial League schools, the Pirates moved to the Skyline League in 1981. While the majority of the sports remained there for almost two decades, the football team changed classification and played in several leagues. In the late 1990s, Englewood left the Skyline League and became a member of the 4A Jefferson County League. Again, the league alignment was different for football because the team classification in that sport was 3A. Englewood enrollment hovered within 20 students of the 3A classification cutoff so the school Elevation is the place. expected to move into that classification in 2009. The enrollment didn’t decline below the cutoff level so Englewood remained 4A. However, the Pirates teams in all sports but football played basically a 3A schedule although they were still a 4A school. That proved to be a challenge because, in order to get into the postseason 4A playoffs, a team had to win the 3A league championship. Now, in the fall, all the sports except football will be playing in the new 4A We offer 6 week youth leagues year round, competitive league while the Pirate club teams and more. Located in the Denver Tech football team plays in the Center. Founded by the Ponderosa High School coaches. new 3A league.
Want to play volleyball?
Leave your projects to us! Concept • Design • Photography • Printing • Distribution Mailing Lists • Newspapers • Postcards • Newsletters Brochures • Catalogs • Inserts • and more!
We can do it all for you. Find your Bright Ideas at Colorado Community Media!
303.566.4100
Come Reach Your Peak at Elevation!
Use coUpon code ccM-evc12 When registering to receive $25 off a leagUe session
next leagUe session is sept 6 - oct 17 www.ElevationVball.com info@elevationvball.com
303-747-4471
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Email your ideas to Sports Editor John Rosa at sports@ourcoloradonews. com or call him at 303279-5541 ext. 243.