State Field Hockey: Cherry Creek wins 2024 state title
The Cherry Creek High School field hockey team has been close to the mountain top in recent seasons, and last Monday evening the Bruins finally got there. Creek defeated Kent Denver 1-0 at All-City Stadium to take home the championship trophy. Senior Neilly Watts scored the eventual winning goal in the third quarter and the Bruins held on for the win.
“So awesome,” Watts said. “I love this team, I love this program. I couldn’t be more proud. I pulled around the goalie, and it went in! It felt so good to celebrate once we got there.”
Cherry Creek got wins over Pine Creek, Mountain Vista, and Arapahoe to advance to the championship match. The Bruins have been in the state final five times since 2013, including last season, and have been disappointed each time, until 2024. First-year Head Coach Tori Karsten was ecstatic.
“It's a great first year,” she said. “The girls are incredible. We just talked about playing our game plan. We passed really well, we got open for each other really well. When we trust each other, and we let the ball do the work, we're unstoppable.”
Kent Denver was a formidable opponent, having won the most field hockey championships (10) in state history. The Sun Devils knocked off No. 1 and undefeated Colorado Academy in the semifinals to get to the championship match.
“Kent is such a second half team,” Karsten said. “We knew that coming in to the third quarter, and the girls stepped to the ball, and we dominated the third, and I knew we could we could take the match.”
The Bruins finish a great year at 17-2 overall. Congratulations to the State Champion CCHS field hockey team!
State Field Hockey: Smoky Hill wins the Consolation Bracket final
Steady progress. That would describe the Smoky Hill High School field hockey program in the last three seasons. The 2024 edition of the Buffs beat Pine Creek 2-1 in overtime to take the inaugural Consolation Bracket championship last Monday evening at All-City Stadium. While it’s not a state title, this was a huge step for the Buffaloes, after going a win for several seasons.
Enter new Head Coach Lisa Griffiths, now in her third year. Her charges were eliminated in the Championship bracket in a close game with St. Mary’s on Oct. 28. However, with Consolation Bracket wins over Grandview and Cheyenne Mountain, the Buffaloes advanced to the first Consolation Bracket final in state history, held on Monday at All-City Stadium.
Smoky senior Henley Whitehead scored in the third quarter to tie the Eagles in regulation. The two teams remained tied at 1 going into overtime. Freshman Carmella Trujillo then buried the game winner on a great crossing pass from senior Elyse Bailey to take the match.
“It was awesome,” Trujillo said. “I was just like, ‘Okay, I got this,’ and then it was in. I was just trying to stay calm, and it was a really good pass. I couldn’t have done it without that pass.”
Coach Griffiths was appreciative of the team’s progress.
“This is a pretty amazing season to finish out as consolation pool winners,” she said. “Obviously, we're disappointed after our loss to Saint Mary's (in the Championship Bracket), but you know, the girls regrouped, and tonight it's amazing to win. I took over a program that hadn't won in six years, and our record now for this season winning this game is 12-6-1.”
Congratulations to the Smoky Hill field hockey team!
5A Boys State Soccer: Cherry Creek is 2024 State Champion
The Cherry Creek High School Bruins defeated defending State Champion Broomfield 2-1 in an overtime thriller on Nov. 16 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. Creek got to the championship match after upsetting undefeated and No. 1 Northfield last Wednesday night at the University of Denver.
On Saturday, the winning tally was scored by senior Cole Wearner in the 12th minute of the first overtime period to give the Bruins their seventh state title in program history. Adding to the storybook finish, senior and twin brother Reed Wearner assisted his brother on the winning goal.
“It's a great feeling,” said Cole. “We’ve been playing together since age three. I didn't even have time to think much. Everything just kind of happened and played out, but I'm so happy to end on a great note.”
Twin brother Reed agreed.
“I can't even remember it (the winning goal) all that much,” he said. “But I do remember having the ball in the middle of the field and then I see Cole. He just puts his hand up, so I just take a touch and bang it to him. He takes his touch and it was a beautiful finish.”
The Bruins (18-1-1) were down 1-0 after a second half score in the 44th minute by the Eagles. But Creek senior Austin Hall was pulled down by a defender near the goal, which resulted in a penalty kick. Hall blasted the ball through the back of the goal, and the game was tied at one at the end of regulation.
Enter the Wearner brothers, who gave Creek the magical ending. Cherry Creek Head Coach Wilmer Barrera said his club prevailed over a very tough opponent.
“It feels great,” Coach Barrera said. “I cannot be more proud of these boys. I’ve had some of these players since they were freshmen, and they're my seniors, I'm so happy for them. Broomfield played a very tough defense. We have so much respect for that program. To be the king, you had to beat the king. You know, Broomfield fought like a champion too. But now we are the champions.”
Congratulations to the Cherry Creek State Champion boys soccer team!
Unified Bowling: Cherry Creek makes State
The Cherry Creek Bruins Unified Bowling team is headed to the State Tournament. The Bruins hosted Region 3 play last Thursday at Arapahoe Bowling Center in Greenwood Village. Creek placed second behind Regional Champion Vista Peak. Rangeview qualified, finishing third.
The 2024 Unified Bowling State Championships will take place on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Bowlero in Lone Tree. Warm-ups will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a start time of 10:45 a.m.
Good luck to the Bruins!
5A State Girls Volleyball: Cherokee Trail and Cherry Creek make early exits
The 5A State Girls Volleyball Tournament was held this past weekend, and Cherokee Trail and Cherry Creek were part of the 12-team field going into first-round play on Nov. 14 at the Denver Coliseum.
11th-seeded Cherokee Trail fell to No. 6 Pine Creek 3 sets to none on Thursday, and then was eliminated 3-1 by No. 4 Legend in the first round of the Elimination Bracket on Friday morning. The Cougars finish the 2024 campaign at 18-8.
The No. 8 Bruins got by No. 9 Rock Canyon 3-0 on Thursday morning and then took down overall No. 1 Chaparral 3-1 in the afternoon, advancing the Bruins to Winners Bracket matches on Nov. 15. Creek was shut out by No. 5 Fossil Ridge 3-0. The Bruins were then eliminated by Pine Creek 3 sets to 1 on Saturday morning, ending the season. Cherry Creek finished with a record of 22-7.
5A State Football: District teams compete in second round play
Round 2 of the 2024 5A State Football Playoffs was completed on Nov. 16.
On Nov. 15, the top-seeded Cherry Creek Bruins eliminated No. 17 Grandview at the Stutler Bowl. The final score was Bruins 38, Wolves 10. Next Creek (10-1) will host Erie at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Stutler Bowl. Grandview finishes its season with a record of 6-6.
No. 20 Cherokee Trail was eliminated by No. 4 Columbine this past Saturday at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood. The Cougars were doubled-up by the Rebels 42-21. CT finishes the 2024 campaign at 5-7.
College Commitment Day: Student athletes commit to play college sports
Cherry Creek School District student athletes, parents and families, coaches, staff and friends looked on last Wednesday as high school seniors from Cherokee Trail, Cherry Creek, and Eaglecrest high schools committed to play their sports in college.
Commitment Day is a new term being used, as the NCAA officially did away with the National Letter of Intent signing process earlier this fall.
Grandview, Overland, and Smoky Hill high schools will hold commitment ceremonies later in the school year.
Congratulations to these college-bound student athletes!
Cherokee Trail:
Delainey Miller – Basketball – Northern Arizona University
Cherry Creek:
Sullivan Arledge – Soccer – Fort Lewis College, Colorado
Sophia Baal – Basketball – Colorado School of Mines
Braelynn Barnett – Basketball – Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Ryan Brennan – Baseball – Monterey Peninsula College, California
Tianna Chambers – Basketball – University of Alabama
John Corsi – Lacrosse – High Point University, North Carolina
Molly Dorighi – Basketball – Denison University, Ohio
Owen Elser – Baseball – Colorado School of Mines
Ryan Falke – Baseball – Washington State University
Sean Goldy – Baseball – West Virginia University
Brittan Gulick – Lacrosse – Missouri Western University
Theo Harzbecker – Soccer – United States Military Academy, New York
Wyatt Isgrig – Golf – Gettysburg University, Pennsylvania
Sean Klaess – Baseball – Pacific University Oregon
Cael Knobbe – Baseball – Colorado State University, Pueblo
Connor Larkin – Baseball – University of Oklahoma
Caroline Laughlin – Track/Cross Country – Fort Lewis College, Colorado
Ana Loveridge – Swimming – Brigham Young University, Utah
Oliver Nolting – Lacrosse – Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
Elijah Rose – Baseball – Fort Hayes State University, Kansas
Candela Ruano Fiuza – Volleyball – Saint Mary’s College of California
Wyatt Rudden – Baseball – University of Michigan
Mason Scott – Baseball - United States Military Academy, New York
Ruth Spiegel – Diving – University of Connecticut
Henry Starr – Golf – Colorado Mesa University
Cole Wearner – Soccer – University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Eaglecrest:
Jada Bobb – Basketball – Colorado State University Pueblo
Annika Boex – Soccer – Northern Arizona University
Danika Gonzales – Dance - Northwest Mississippi Community College
Callie Johnson – Softball – Southeast Community College, Nebraska
Isabella Kollmann – Dance - Northwest Mississippi Community College
Nolan Tepper – Lacrosse – Adams State University, Colorado
Neveah Yrineo – Soccer – Trinidad State College, Colorado
Posted 11/18/2024.
