The 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Colorado on Wednesday, January 30 to recognize
Arapahoe (Centennial, Colo.) High School and its boys soccer team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment
Having upended Grandview 2-1 in the
CHSAA Class 5A state championship contest, the 17-1-2 Warriors claimed the sixth boys state soccer title in program history and earned the No. 28 ranking in
MaxPreps' National Rankings!
MaxPreps and the Colorado Army National Guard were on hand to celebrate Warrior boys soccer at halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against Mullen. As intermission approached, the crowd remained still. There was no hustle and bustle that typically follows any pause in the action, just a gymnasium full of fans waiting to celebrate as the Warriors receive national recognition for an outstanding soccer season.
Having experienced extreme loss with the passing of some members of the student body, the 2018-19 school year has been tough for the Arapahoe High School community. "Our soccer team helped lift the community with this State Championship," head boys soccer coach Mark Hampshire said. "It was a privilege to be a source of encouragement."
As the halftime festivities began, the presence of the Army National Guard was evident. Sergeant First Class Joe Ziser of the Colorado Army National Guard greeted the appreciative crowd before bringing Hampshire and the Warriors onto the basketball court to present them with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and a nationally ranked rafter banner.
SFC Ziser explained the significance of the trophy, a statue of the Minuteman symbolizing readiness, perseverance, commitment to one cause and leadership, bringing even more meaning to the honor the Warriors received. Absolutely thrilled to meet members of the Colorado Army National Guard, Hampshire was humbled by the national recognition his program received from MaxPreps and the Army National Guard. It was a special night for a special community that has endured so much this past year.
Click
here to view the Arapahoe TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Soccer TOC, please visit the
MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment