Tri Lakes Tribune > Sports
Top 10 local sports stories of 2008
 |
| Pine Creek junior quarterback Josh Chance ran for over 1,300 yards and passed for 600 more this season, combining for a total of 20 TDs as he led the Eagles to a No. 1-ranking, a 12-1 record and a semifinal appearance in the state playoffs. File photo by Ken Mellott |
By Ryan Boldrey
As 2008 comes to a close and we ready ourselves for 2009, The Tribune would like to take a moment of reflection to look back and re-examine some of the top sports stories of 2008. The year was great for local sports and it was very difficult to choose just 10 stories, but we figured these stood out the most. So without further ado, in reverse order, here they are.
10. Make a wish
Taking special mention here, for being the most heartwarming story of the year, a local under-11 little league team, the Colorado Wildcats became involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and adopted a 13-year-old boy, Nathan, who had been severely neglected and abused. The Wildcats made Nathan, who is confined to a wheelchair due to an extreme case of muscular dystrophy, their team captain and raised enough money throughout the season to fulfill Nathan’s wish, sending him to Disney World with his grandmother.
9. Slick start
In just the second year of the program, Lewis-Palmer hockey coach Steve Fillo led the Rangers all the way to the state frozen four this past spring. And there is no stopping there; the orange and black are back at it again this season, having already defeated three top-five opponents and having skated to a perfect 6-0 record and No. 2- ranking at the break.
8. Gone bowling
The Falcons made consecutive bowl games for the first time in 10 years as Troy Calhoun and freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson led the cadets to the Armed Forces Bowl with an 8-4 record this season. The Falcons are 17-8 since Calhoun has taken over.
7. Big splash
Junior swimmer and Lewis-Palmer Ranger Jackie Cromer brought home the 5A state title in the 200 freestyle this past February and did so in All-American time. Cromer, the Ranger record holder in six individual events and two relays, looks to be a favorite in both the 100 and 200 free this season in 4A.
6. Grappling with success
Nick Adams became the first Discovery Canyon student to win a state championship, when as a freshman, in the school’s first year of existence, he brought home the 2A state title in wrestling in the 112-pound weight class.
5. Legacy?
The Bears kicked off a new era of athletics in D-38 this fall, as with the launching of a brand new high school has come multiple varsity sports. PRHS has already made some strong showings in cross country, volleyball, soccer and boys basketball and we will look for much more from the Bears in years and seasons to come.
4. The Falcons? Really?
Air Force hockey got off to a school record 13-0 start on the ice this season and entered the holiday break as the nation’s highest-scoring team. The Academy’s icers are currently ranked No.11 in the country and earlier this season cracked the top 10 for the first time in school history. In one of their biggest highlights so far this year, the Falcons defeated then No. 3 Colorado College 4-1, marking the first time Air Force has defeated a team in the top three and the first time it has beaten the cross-town Tigers in the last 31 meetings.
3. Welcome to the Minors
2008 Lewis-Palmer graduate Bobby Hansen became the third former Ranger chosen in the Major League Baseball draft in four years. Hansen, who signed a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals organization, started his professional career in the Gulf Coast League this past summer.
1b. Where Eagles soar
Pine Creek football ran the table en route to a perfect 10-0 regular season and became the first Colorado Springs area team to make it to the state semifinals in 10 years. Ranked No.1 in 4A for much of the season Pine Creek dominated opponents on both sides of the ball, outscoring its opposition 477-146.
1a. For the Red, White and Blue
Eli Bremer, a Lewis-Palmer graduate and Air Force Academy alumnus, became the first person from Monument to ever compete in the Olympic Games. The 30-year-old former Ranger and 2007 Pan-Am Games gold medalist in the modern pentathlon, finished 23rd overall in the Beijing Games in the event which combines pistol shooting, fencing, equestrian show jumping, swimming and running.
10. Make a wish
Taking special mention here, for being the most heartwarming story of the year, a local under-11 little league team, the Colorado Wildcats became involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and adopted a 13-year-old boy, Nathan, who had been severely neglected and abused. The Wildcats made Nathan, who is confined to a wheelchair due to an extreme case of muscular dystrophy, their team captain and raised enough money throughout the season to fulfill Nathan’s wish, sending him to Disney World with his grandmother.
9. Slick start
In just the second year of the program, Lewis-Palmer hockey coach Steve Fillo led the Rangers all the way to the state frozen four this past spring. And there is no stopping there; the orange and black are back at it again this season, having already defeated three top-five opponents and having skated to a perfect 6-0 record and No. 2- ranking at the break.
8. Gone bowling
The Falcons made consecutive bowl games for the first time in 10 years as Troy Calhoun and freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson led the cadets to the Armed Forces Bowl with an 8-4 record this season. The Falcons are 17-8 since Calhoun has taken over.
7. Big splash
Junior swimmer and Lewis-Palmer Ranger Jackie Cromer brought home the 5A state title in the 200 freestyle this past February and did so in All-American time. Cromer, the Ranger record holder in six individual events and two relays, looks to be a favorite in both the 100 and 200 free this season in 4A.
6. Grappling with success
Nick Adams became the first Discovery Canyon student to win a state championship, when as a freshman, in the school’s first year of existence, he brought home the 2A state title in wrestling in the 112-pound weight class.
5. Legacy?
The Bears kicked off a new era of athletics in D-38 this fall, as with the launching of a brand new high school has come multiple varsity sports. PRHS has already made some strong showings in cross country, volleyball, soccer and boys basketball and we will look for much more from the Bears in years and seasons to come.
4. The Falcons? Really?
Air Force hockey got off to a school record 13-0 start on the ice this season and entered the holiday break as the nation’s highest-scoring team. The Academy’s icers are currently ranked No.11 in the country and earlier this season cracked the top 10 for the first time in school history. In one of their biggest highlights so far this year, the Falcons defeated then No. 3 Colorado College 4-1, marking the first time Air Force has defeated a team in the top three and the first time it has beaten the cross-town Tigers in the last 31 meetings.
3. Welcome to the Minors
2008 Lewis-Palmer graduate Bobby Hansen became the third former Ranger chosen in the Major League Baseball draft in four years. Hansen, who signed a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals organization, started his professional career in the Gulf Coast League this past summer.
1b. Where Eagles soar
Pine Creek football ran the table en route to a perfect 10-0 regular season and became the first Colorado Springs area team to make it to the state semifinals in 10 years. Ranked No.1 in 4A for much of the season Pine Creek dominated opponents on both sides of the ball, outscoring its opposition 477-146.
1a. For the Red, White and Blue
Eli Bremer, a Lewis-Palmer graduate and Air Force Academy alumnus, became the first person from Monument to ever compete in the Olympic Games. The 30-year-old former Ranger and 2007 Pan-Am Games gold medalist in the modern pentathlon, finished 23rd overall in the Beijing Games in the event which combines pistol shooting, fencing, equestrian show jumping, swimming and running.
Copyright © 2009 - Colorado Community Newspapers Online