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Thanks for the memories
  
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By Benn Farrell
History is exactly that.
And over the past school year, prep sports in Colorado Community Newspapers’ coverage areas weren’t shy on its history making moments.
Every year, the sports staff of Colorado Community Newspapers revisits the previous academic sports seasons and remembers 15 or more of the most unforgettable moments and achievements on the field, in the gymnasium, on the links or in the water during league action or state tournaments over the 2008-09 school year.
This year, CCN looks at 15 of the greatest moments in prep sports from teams in its coverage areas as determined by its sports staff. They are listed in no particular order. Part I is below. Parts II and III follow on this newspaper’s Web site.
4A championships galore for Jags
As high school athletics departments go, Rock Canyon had plenty to be proud about in 2008-09. Five state championships returned to Highlands Ranch’s fourth public high school in the Douglas County School District. The first was in the form of the boys Class 4A soccer title.
“I dreamed we’d win 3-0 and then to come out [that night] and actually do it — it just feels amazing. I don’t even know how to describe it,” said Jaguars senior captain Nick Croley, who was full of emotion and had tears of joy welling in his eyes. “You know, we’ve come so far. Freshman year, no one would have thought this. We’ve just grown so much as a team and as individuals and now we’re state champs.”
After two years of finishing as the state’s runner-up, Rock Canyon girls swimming finally turned the corner and took its first 4A title.
“We had a little more depth this year,” said Jags coach Ruthie Milberg, who was voted Coach of the Year at the state meet in Fort Collins, said. “Just about every girl made it back to have a second swim. ... It was more of a team effort [at state this time] instead of just a few standouts. They swam great races and got themselves into the finals to score points. The whole team just outdid themselves.”
Although the Rock Canyon spirit program had already claimed the school’s first team title — the 3A poms title in 2005, in 2008-09, it was time to show how much the girls had learned from being among 4A competition. Both the cheer and poms squad won their respective state titles during last year’s spirit campaign at the 4A level, unseating two-year defending cheer champs Broomfield.
“This was a pretty amazing feat,” Jags coach Alicia Heimerdinger said. “We’ve been chasing Broomfield. We’ve always seemed to be right behind them since we moved up to 4A, so it’s nice to finally get to the point where our technique was as good as theirs.”
Lastly, without even a fourth golfer swinging iron on the course, Rock Canyon girls golf took its best shots and grabbed a little luck during the 4A state tournament this year to bring home the school’s first golf team title. And they did it with only two freshmen and a sophomore; Alexandra Pedrinan, Carlie McAlister and Allie Johnston, each of whom finished among the state’s top 12.
Jags coach Dave Vahling said, “In girls golf, it’s very rare you can get three girls who can play as well as they did. They really came through. They all did their parts. ... It was very close going down to the end, towards the last 3-4 holes. We heard Salida, who was leading, had had some trouble, and Cheyenne Mountain was coming after us.”
The Douglas County-ThunderRidge gridiron battle
Preps football fans in Douglas County had plenty to talk about in the competition between the Douglas County Huskies and the ThunderRidge Grizzlies. Both having won the respective 4A and 5A titles in 2005, the day finally came when the two powerhouse programs had a chance to square off in the first week of the season. It was also the first live game for T-Ridge after having moved up to 5A.
The opener went into an overtime battle after an amazing pass from quarterback Eddie Williams to Jose Astorga in triple coverage to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation; however, it was ThunderRidge to pick up the win in overtime.
“We have everything to prove [in Castle Rock], especially at home at Douglas County,” the Grizzlies now graduated senior Chris Nwoke said after the win. “We wanted to do it big, with a whole-team effort.”
ThunderRidge went on to battle threw the newly formed Southern League to finish undefeated in their 5A debut and favored as a contender for the state finals; however, County improved by the time November rolled around, and the playoffs would be another story. County proved it was ready for another visit to the state finals, tearing the Grizzlies up front to a blistering halftime lead and eventually handing ThunderRidge their only loss of the 2008 football season. For the Huskies, a successful 2008 season meant peaking at the right time.
“We’ve talked about this for several years,” Huskies coach Jeff Ketron said. “That’s how we do everything. We don’t try and overload our kids with a summer. Other programs may do that, but we want our kids to be fresh and hungry [that] time in the year. ... People don’t remember you for what you did in June, July or August. People remember what you did in November, and that’s what we’re going for.”
The Huskies later saw the end of their own season in the state quarterfinals.
First state title for Arapahoe boys lacrosse
For four years, the Arapahoe High School boys lacrosse had been fighting for this season. A group of 18 seniors had worked its way through three coaching staffs, two semifinals berths and a crushing overtime semifinal loss in its sophomore season. Last season, the Warriors [7-0 Centennial League, 10-3 overall going into the playoffs] were determined not to let the season end short.
The Warriors didn’t see the end until winning its first state championship over Mullen at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“I can’t even explain,” Parietti said. “We’ve been working for four years, a bunch of us, the same group of guys. We’ve wanted it so bad. This is so unreal that we finally got it.”
The Arapahoe High School boys lacrosse team sat in a circle at the middle of Invesco Field after the title win. They took turns, raising their hands and saying what they loved about the moment, what it meant to them. One pointed out it was the best season ever in Arapahoe boys lacrosse. He wasn’t wrong.
Ponderosa wrestling breaks state consecutive title record
In one of the most exciting moments of not only South Metro Denver or Douglas County sports, but in the state as well, Ponderosa High School wrestling broke a long-standing state record for most consecutive team championships, set by Denver North in 1960 at six titles. The Mustangs won their seventh straight team trophy last season at the Pepsi Center in Denver at the Class 5A state wrestling championships.
While Pine Creek and Loveland gave chase to the six-time defending champions a few times throughout the three-day tournament, Ponderosa pulled ahead through the fifth place and third place matches and reached the top of the podium.
“What we tried to tell our guys is, you can’t worry about the team scores,” he said. “You can’t worry about something bad happening or your teammates. You only have one person to worry about and that’s you.”
The Mustangs had four state champions between the 140-160 classes in three-time champion Jake Snider, a junior, two-time champion Daniel Kelly in his final high school season, younger brother Steven Kelly, a junior, and sophomore Austin Gabel who won his first title after having knee surgery only one month prior to state.
Scott Kaniewski, Louis Zoldy and Courtney Johnson contributed to this report
And over the past school year, prep sports in Colorado Community Newspapers’ coverage areas weren’t shy on its history making moments.
Every year, the sports staff of Colorado Community Newspapers revisits the previous academic sports seasons and remembers 15 or more of the most unforgettable moments and achievements on the field, in the gymnasium, on the links or in the water during league action or state tournaments over the 2008-09 school year.
This year, CCN looks at 15 of the greatest moments in prep sports from teams in its coverage areas as determined by its sports staff. They are listed in no particular order. Part I is below. Parts II and III follow on this newspaper’s Web site.
4A championships galore for Jags
As high school athletics departments go, Rock Canyon had plenty to be proud about in 2008-09. Five state championships returned to Highlands Ranch’s fourth public high school in the Douglas County School District. The first was in the form of the boys Class 4A soccer title.
“I dreamed we’d win 3-0 and then to come out [that night] and actually do it — it just feels amazing. I don’t even know how to describe it,” said Jaguars senior captain Nick Croley, who was full of emotion and had tears of joy welling in his eyes. “You know, we’ve come so far. Freshman year, no one would have thought this. We’ve just grown so much as a team and as individuals and now we’re state champs.”
After two years of finishing as the state’s runner-up, Rock Canyon girls swimming finally turned the corner and took its first 4A title.
“We had a little more depth this year,” said Jags coach Ruthie Milberg, who was voted Coach of the Year at the state meet in Fort Collins, said. “Just about every girl made it back to have a second swim. ... It was more of a team effort [at state this time] instead of just a few standouts. They swam great races and got themselves into the finals to score points. The whole team just outdid themselves.”
Although the Rock Canyon spirit program had already claimed the school’s first team title — the 3A poms title in 2005, in 2008-09, it was time to show how much the girls had learned from being among 4A competition. Both the cheer and poms squad won their respective state titles during last year’s spirit campaign at the 4A level, unseating two-year defending cheer champs Broomfield.
“This was a pretty amazing feat,” Jags coach Alicia Heimerdinger said. “We’ve been chasing Broomfield. We’ve always seemed to be right behind them since we moved up to 4A, so it’s nice to finally get to the point where our technique was as good as theirs.”
Lastly, without even a fourth golfer swinging iron on the course, Rock Canyon girls golf took its best shots and grabbed a little luck during the 4A state tournament this year to bring home the school’s first golf team title. And they did it with only two freshmen and a sophomore; Alexandra Pedrinan, Carlie McAlister and Allie Johnston, each of whom finished among the state’s top 12.
Jags coach Dave Vahling said, “In girls golf, it’s very rare you can get three girls who can play as well as they did. They really came through. They all did their parts. ... It was very close going down to the end, towards the last 3-4 holes. We heard Salida, who was leading, had had some trouble, and Cheyenne Mountain was coming after us.”
The Douglas County-ThunderRidge gridiron battle
Preps football fans in Douglas County had plenty to talk about in the competition between the Douglas County Huskies and the ThunderRidge Grizzlies. Both having won the respective 4A and 5A titles in 2005, the day finally came when the two powerhouse programs had a chance to square off in the first week of the season. It was also the first live game for T-Ridge after having moved up to 5A.
The opener went into an overtime battle after an amazing pass from quarterback Eddie Williams to Jose Astorga in triple coverage to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation; however, it was ThunderRidge to pick up the win in overtime.
“We have everything to prove [in Castle Rock], especially at home at Douglas County,” the Grizzlies now graduated senior Chris Nwoke said after the win. “We wanted to do it big, with a whole-team effort.”
ThunderRidge went on to battle threw the newly formed Southern League to finish undefeated in their 5A debut and favored as a contender for the state finals; however, County improved by the time November rolled around, and the playoffs would be another story. County proved it was ready for another visit to the state finals, tearing the Grizzlies up front to a blistering halftime lead and eventually handing ThunderRidge their only loss of the 2008 football season. For the Huskies, a successful 2008 season meant peaking at the right time.
“We’ve talked about this for several years,” Huskies coach Jeff Ketron said. “That’s how we do everything. We don’t try and overload our kids with a summer. Other programs may do that, but we want our kids to be fresh and hungry [that] time in the year. ... People don’t remember you for what you did in June, July or August. People remember what you did in November, and that’s what we’re going for.”
The Huskies later saw the end of their own season in the state quarterfinals.
First state title for Arapahoe boys lacrosse
For four years, the Arapahoe High School boys lacrosse had been fighting for this season. A group of 18 seniors had worked its way through three coaching staffs, two semifinals berths and a crushing overtime semifinal loss in its sophomore season. Last season, the Warriors [7-0 Centennial League, 10-3 overall going into the playoffs] were determined not to let the season end short.
The Warriors didn’t see the end until winning its first state championship over Mullen at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“I can’t even explain,” Parietti said. “We’ve been working for four years, a bunch of us, the same group of guys. We’ve wanted it so bad. This is so unreal that we finally got it.”
The Arapahoe High School boys lacrosse team sat in a circle at the middle of Invesco Field after the title win. They took turns, raising their hands and saying what they loved about the moment, what it meant to them. One pointed out it was the best season ever in Arapahoe boys lacrosse. He wasn’t wrong.
Ponderosa wrestling breaks state consecutive title record
In one of the most exciting moments of not only South Metro Denver or Douglas County sports, but in the state as well, Ponderosa High School wrestling broke a long-standing state record for most consecutive team championships, set by Denver North in 1960 at six titles. The Mustangs won their seventh straight team trophy last season at the Pepsi Center in Denver at the Class 5A state wrestling championships.
While Pine Creek and Loveland gave chase to the six-time defending champions a few times throughout the three-day tournament, Ponderosa pulled ahead through the fifth place and third place matches and reached the top of the podium.
“What we tried to tell our guys is, you can’t worry about the team scores,” he said. “You can’t worry about something bad happening or your teammates. You only have one person to worry about and that’s you.”
The Mustangs had four state champions between the 140-160 classes in three-time champion Jake Snider, a junior, two-time champion Daniel Kelly in his final high school season, younger brother Steven Kelly, a junior, and sophomore Austin Gabel who won his first title after having knee surgery only one month prior to state.
Scott Kaniewski, Louis Zoldy and Courtney Johnson contributed to this report
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