5A Girls State Volleyball: District clubs end their seasons in disappointment
The 2022 Girls Volleyball State Championships were held last weekend at the Denver Coliseum and things looked promising for the Cherry Creek School District as the three teams from CCSD qualified for state tourney play. Grandview, Cherry Creek and Cherokee Trail all started play last Thursday, Nov. 10.
Fifth-seeded Grandview began the day sweeping No. 12 Denver South 3-0 (25-6)(25-15)(25-16). The Wolves then had a big comeback in their 2nd match of the day as they got down two sets to none to No. 4 Rampart. Grandview then swept the next three sets (25-23)(25-20)(15-9), to advance to the winners' bracket on Friday.
No. 10 Cherokee Trail and 7th-seeded Cherry Creek had to play each other in the first match of the day for each club on Thursday, with the Bruins toughing out a 3 sets to 2 (19-25)(25-23)(25-23)(26-28)(15-10) win over their Centennial League rivals, sending CT to Saturday’s elimination bracket.
On Thursday afternoon, Cherry Creek swept 2nd-seeded Mountain Vista in the second round with an impressive 3-0 sweep (25-20)(25-22)(25-15) setting the stage for Friday play.
On Nov. 11, round three began with Cherokee Trail falling to No. 8 Fossil Ridge in a tough 3-2 loss (25-19)(19-25)(25-18)(23-25)(15-6), which eliminated the Cougars, who finished their season at 17-10.
Later on Friday, the Bruins took on No. 3 Rock Canyon, and took the opening set (25-16). But the Jaguars took the next two sets (14-25)(19-25) and then Creek forced a fifth set by winning set four (25-19). Rock Canyon prevailed (9-15) sending the Bruins to the elimination bracket on Saturday.
Grandview’s first match on Friday was with top-seeded and eventual State Champion Valor Christian. The Wolves, despite a great effort, were swept by the Eagles in straight sets (15-25)(13-25)(17-25), sending the Wolves to the elimination bracket as well on Nov. 12.
The first match of the day on Championship Saturday saw Cherry Creek’s season come to an end as they fell in closely-contested sets 3-1 to Rampart (25-18)(20-25)(22-25)(23-25). The Bruins finish the season at 20-9 overall.
Grandview began its final day by eliminating No. 6 Chaparral in four sets (25-18)(25-17)(18-25)(26-24) to move on to Saturday afternoon’s semifinal play.
A highly competitive Final Four match ensued, which saw Rock Canyon eliminate the Wolves 3 sets to 1, which featured an amazing 68-point set 2. Final scores were (25-16)(33-35)(27-29) and (20-25) which advanced the Jaguars to the state final against Valor. Grandview finished a great season at 22-8.
5A State Football: Cherry Creek and Grandview advance
Second round play in the 2022 5A State Football Playoffs took place on Nov. 11, with the Bruins and Wolves getting convincing wins.
Top-seeded Cherry Creek took on No. 18 Fountain-Fort Carson on Friday night at the Stutler Bowl. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bruins took advantage of Trojan turnovers and took a 21-0 lead into the halftime break. Senior Carlson (Bubba) Tann rushed for two scores, and junior Jordan Herron added another in the second quarter.
The second half opened with Herron taking the opening kickoff 88 yards for the touchdown, increasing the lead to 28-0 seconds into the third quarter. Then freshman quarterback Brady Vodicka connected with senior Ismael Cisse for 73 yards and the touchdown to make it 35-0, on the way to an emphatic 42-6 win.
Up next, the Bruins (9-2) will host No. 9 ThunderRidge in a quarterfinal contest at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Stutler Bowl.
The 4th-seeded Grandview Wolves advanced in their second round game with a 20-0 shutout of No.20 Rocky Mountain. The Wolves took a 14-0 first quarter lead as junior quarterback Liam Szarka threw touchdown passes to sophomore Xay Nieto for 30 yards and senior Davion Henderson for 10 yards to take a 14-0 lead into the halftime break.
The Wolves survived a first half injury to starter Szarka and three consecutive Rocky Mountain interceptions, as the defense stopped the Lobos on several fourth down attempts to retake possession. Senior Luke Trinrud capped off the evening’s scoring with a 95-yard pick-6 in the victory.
Up next, the Wolves (9-2) will host 5th-seeded Pine Creek at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Legacy Stadium.
All ticket sales are online only. Here’s the link:
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National Letter of Intent Day: Cherry Creek and Eaglecrest host signing ceremonies
Senior student athletes from Cherry Creek and Eaglecrest committed to play collegiate sports during signing ceremonies held at each school on Nov. 9.
Cherry Creek High School signees:
Nick Herrick - Baseball, Ouachita Baptist University, AR
Reid Johansen - Baseball, St. Bonaventure, NY
Thomas Marsh - Baseball, Tulane University, LA
Addison Price - Cross Country & Track and Field, Indiana University
Kael Deganhart -Boys Lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Alex Frederich - Boys Lacrosse, University of Utah
Jack Kiefer - Boys Lacrosse, Duke University, NC
Matthew Kirton - Boys Lacrosse, Bellarmine Univesity, KY
Logan Lee - Boys Lacrosse, Tufts University, MA
Jack Moxcey - Boys Lacrosse, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Grace Ayres - Girls Lacrosse, Rollins College, FL
Sawyer Billings - Girls Lacrosse, Stanford University, CA
Greer Simonton - Girls Lacrosse, Xavier University, OH
Miles Steinberg – Rowing, Loyola University, IL
Nikayla Sullivan – Girls Soccer, San Jose State, CA
Katie Cohen – Girls Swimming, Emory University, GA
Lawson Ficken – Girls Swimming, Auburn University, AL
Lexi Greenhawt – Girls Swimming, University of Michigan
Maren McDonald – Girls Swimming, Emory University, GA
Haley Ross – Girls Swimming, Queens University of Chalotte, NC
Teagan Steinmetz – Girls Swimming, North Carolina State
Zoe Wolfe – Girls Swimming, Western Colorado University
Gracie Fleming – Girls Volleyball, Flagler College, FL
Jaida Johnson – Girls Volleyball, Purdue Northwest University, IN
Natalie Murphy – Girls Volleyball, Edgewood College, WI
Anna Van Wyk – Girls Volleyball, Lafayette College, PA
Eaglecrest High School signees:
Nia McKenzie – Girls Basketball, Washburn University, KS
Jolene Romiro – Girls Basketall, CSU- Pueblo, CO
Laci Roffle – Girls Basketball, Metro State, Denver
Ryann Bergen – Softball, Hiram College, OH
Hailey Buttshaw – Softball, Colby Community College, KS
Maddie Demoss – Softball, Colby Community College, KS
Micala Boex – Girls Soccer, Northern Arizona University
Rilyn Snyder – Girls Soccer, Washburn University, KS
Maddie Jones - Girls Volleyball, Avila University, MO
2022 Fall All-State Teams named in four sports
The 2022 All-State teams were presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
All-State team rosters in boys golf, boys tennis, softball and field hockey were compiled from nominations and votes by coaches, or from final results from state tournaments. The Cherry Creek School District was well represented.
Congratulations to all our district student athletes!
CCHS football photo courtesy Theodore A. Stark. GHS football photo courtesy Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado.
Posted 11-14-2022.
