Each full week of the spring season, BoCoPreps will highlight 10 teams and 10 athletes that had exceptional performances. Readers are encouraged to submit nominations to bwnew@prairiemountainmedia.com.
10 teams
Boulder baseball: The Panthers (3-1) have looked strong coming off a four-win season last spring, winning three of their first four games in 2024. After getting edged by Arvada West Tuesday, they beat Denver North and Fairview. Doug Holleman is hitting .571 and has allowed no earned runs in nine innings pitched.
Short of breath? Not Boulder baseball as it finds calm amid new expectations
Centaurus boys’ track and field: Jacob Schwarting, Jesse Hatland, Manny Schneeberger and Jacoby Ennis won the distance-medley relay at the 84th Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational in Arizona. Their time of 10 minutes and 40.32 seconds was the third-fastest in meet history, per the school.
Congrats to Jacob Schwarting, Jesse Hatland, Manny Schneeberger, and Jacoby Ennis on taking home FIRST PLACE in the Distance Medley Relay at the Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational! Their time of 10:40:32 was the third-fastest time in meet history! @BVSDcolorado @BoCoPreps pic.twitter.com/QrwUud7IVo
— Centaurus Athletics & Activities (@WeAreCentaurus) March 25, 2024
Erie baseball: The Tigers (3-1) won three games in Arizona last week. Junior Varek Van Aelstyn is 8 for 10 with three RBIs at the plate this season.
Fairview girls’ soccer: The Knights (2-0-1) tied Denver East last week, then blew out Mountain Range. Junior Lucy Ochs has two hat tricks this season, totaling six goals and four assists through three games.
Holy Family baseball: The Tigers (5-0-1) had a win and tie against Palisade Friday, then swept Greeley West in Saturday’s doubleheader. Sophomore Isaiah Sandoval is hitting .571 with six RBIs through six games.
Legacy girls’ tennis: The Lightning won three dual matches last week, beating Northglenn, Fort Collins and Fairview. Their No. 1 doubles team of senior Lan Tran and freshman Madeleine Gorrell won all three matches in straight sets.
Mead girls’ lacrosse: The Mavericks (3-0) won both of their games on their spring break trip to California. The defending 4A champs have gotten 16 goals and seven assists through three games from their star junior, Lucy Connors.
Monarch baseball: The Coyotes (1-0) opened their season with a 19-0 win at Denver South Friday. Seniors Clay Hafner, Mark Gleason and Riley Hall each drove in three runs.
Niwot track and field: The girls’ team won the 22-team Murray Kula Invitational at Windsor High School last week, while the boys took second behind Fort Collins. Among winners, Jade West won girls’ shot put there, then won it again at the Broomfield Shootout with the state’s longest throw from a girl this season (42 feet, 11 inches). Rocco Culpepper won the boys’ 800 (1:55.69) with the state’s best time.
Field day: Local athletes excel at hyper-competitive Broomfield Shootout
Peak to Peak girls’ golf: The Pumas finished second to Berthoud at the 14th-annual Chilly Chili Invitational at Eagle Trace Golf Club Saturday. Seniors Ava Sommer and Kaylee Craig tied for sixth, shooting 19-over-par 91.
10 athletes
Emma Brusate, Holy Family girls’ lacrosse: The freshman scored seven times and had two assists in her high school debut, leading the Tigers (1-0) past Palmer, 15-1.
Addy Colangelo, Broomfield girls’ soccer: The junior goalkeeper hasn’t allowed a goal for the Eagles (4-0-1) through five games. Most recently, she stopped five shots in a 3-0 win over Arapahoe Wednesday.
Salif Diawara, Centaurus boys’ volleyball: The sophomore had 13 blocks in a loss to Greeley Central Tuesday. He is fifth in the state with 32 blocks this season.
Diego Estebanes, Broomfield boys’ track and field: The senior posted the state’s fastest time this season in the 300-meter hurdles at the Broomfield Shootout Saturday (39.22 seconds).
Tessa McCollester, Fairview girls’ lacrosse: The junior combined for five goals and two assists in two games for the Knights (2-1) last week. She had three points in a loss to Colorado Academy Tuesday, then scored four times in a 9-8 win over Kent Denver Thursday.
Kai Modica, Fairview boys’ lacrosse: The sophomore had four goals and three helpers as the Knights (1-4) beat Boulder, 16-8, on Thursday for their first win of the season.
Mina O’Dell, Niwot girls’ golf: The senior finished third at the Chilly Chili Invitational at Eagle Trace Golf Club Saturday, shooting 16-over-par 88. Teammate Wendy Cheruiyot was fourth (90) as the Cougars placed third.
Kourtney Rathke, Peak to Peak girls’ track and field: The senior won the girls’ long jump (19 feet and 11 inches) with the state’s furthest leap in 2024 at the 50-team Broomfield Shootout Saturday. She also placed second in the pole vault (12-10), fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.50) and sixth in the triple jump (35-10.50).
Nyah Ringer, Centaurus girls’ soccer: The senior had three goals and two assists, leading the Warriors (1-2) past George Washington, 5-2, Tuesday for their first win of the spring. In three games, Ringer has two hat tricks and seven goals.
Tyler Rowan, Monarch boys’ track and field: The senior and defending 5A pole vault champ’s leap of 16 feet, 1 inch at the Broomfield Shootout Saturday was the best of his career and the highest anybody has gone from Colorado this season.
