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Thanks for the memories, Part III
  
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County earns first links team title with Fribbs out front
After a 2-stroke runner-up finish at state in 2007, Douglas County boys golf was determined to bring it all home the next season time. And that they did. The Huskies brought home the high school’s first state golf title in its history after the state outing at Eisenhower Golf Club in Colorado Springs.
The team championship came after senior Derek Fribbs won the individual title, having shot a 2-under-par 142 over the two-day tournament. Junior Cody Kent followed as the state’s runner up, shooting a 4-over 148. Huskies coach Jeff Riley said the difference between last year’s visit to the state tournament and the year prior was County golfers embraced the team concept more in tournaments, practice and at regionals.
“Two years ago, we probably had the best team in the state, but we failed to qualify,” Riley said. “We’ve really worked on getting better in every tournament and towards the end of the year when it really maters. ... I think we did a good job focusing on the team aspect. In the end, that’s what it came down to.”
Having one player as the state’s title winner and another as runner-up was something the Huskies predicted long ago, since Fribbs and Kent were first on the team together.
Ranch volleyball makes surprise run for 5A title
As the state’s No. 4 seed, having won its regional title with a win over cross-town rival Mountain Vista, Highlands Ranch volleyball posted wins over Columbine and Doherty Nov. 7 at the Denver Coliseum to make the state’s final four.
Four-year varsity outside hitter Holly Sabatka, who later signed a commitment to play for the University of Charleston (West Virginia) said, “We were fifth [at state] last year. We lost nine seniors and people didn’t think we’d be very good, but we still finished third.”
Once past Columbine and Doherty, the Falcons were swept by No. 1-seeded Cherry Creek, which eventually won the state title, the next morning. Ranch faced Grandview, the No. 2 seed, in the semis and were sent home after a 3-0 loss.
“Coming out of regionals, we had confidence that we had done it. We took regionals, beat our rival and got a good [state] pool to break out of,” junior middle hitter Erica Winkler said.
Chaparral and Ponderosa wrestling dual ends in tie score
In one of the most anticipated high school wrestling rivalries in the state, Chaparral High School played host to cross-town rival Ponderosa. The Wolverines were initially proclaimed the victor in the 33-33 tie. At the end of the final bout of the evening, at 112 pounds, the Wolverines earned back a 33-29 lead. It was up to the Mustangs’ John Lewis to pick up a major decision to tie Chaparral, or a technical fall or better to win the final score. Lewis did win the bout with a 9-1 major decision, but Chaparral was still announced the winners, with the score at 33-33. The reason being, as determined by referee Bob McCaslin, Chaparral won by criteria — it had won eight of the dual bouts to Ponderosa’s six.
It was the first time Chaparral had beaten its cross-town rival in school history. And it was the first time Ponderosa lost a Continental dual since it joined the league. And on the Ponderosa side of the mat, wrestlers were either quiet or visibly upset.
After the crowds from both sides were dispersed out of the gymnasium for the most part, McCaslin, coaches and administration from both schools gathered at the score keeper’s table and reviewed the night’s bout. It was then realized that Ponderosa actually had the eight wins on the night, and Chaparral had six.
As it turns out, Lewis got to be the night’s hero for the Mustangs, having won the final bout, giving Ponderosa its eighth. Referee McCaslin said in his 30-plus years of officiating the sport, he had never seen a dual meet end by criteria. As it stands, Ponderosa once again won the cross-town rivalry by criteria eight bouts to six with a final score of 33-33.
“That’ll never take the wind out of us,” Chaparral coach Rod Padilla said. “That’s what it’s all about. I’ve been to two Super Bowls and a Rose Bowl, and there’s nothing better than that [meet]. We put on a good show and gave it everything we had.”
Although the match was one of the most exciting duals of the Colorado high school wrestling season, it was possibly the most heartbreaking as well.
Schulthies’ single sends Heritage diamond to state
Heritage commanded a lot of attention from Continental League eyes through the regular season, but its most exciting game was during the 5A regional playoffs against Fort Collins on May 2. The Lambkins were the No. 7 seed playing at home and Heritage was the No. 11 seed. The Eagles upset Fort Collins 10-7 in eight innings, sending the Eagles to the tournament’s Elite 8.
Against the Lambkins, senior pitcher Daron Schulthies came in to relieve in the bottom of the seventh inning with Heritage leading 7-5. With two outs and and the bases loaded, Schulthies got the batter to hit a fly to center field, but the ball was misplayed when the center-fielder stumbled in a hole.
Two runs scored to tie it up 7-7 with runners on second and third base. Heritage walked the next batter to load the bases and set up a force at all bases; however, Schulthies threw three balls to the next batter.
Now, in a dire situation of two outs, bases loaded, winning run at third base, one Fort Collins run away from a win and a 3-0 count to the batter, one more ball from Schulthies would have ended the season. Schulthies then threw four strikes in a row, with the batter fouling off a 3-2 pitch, and struck the batter out to end the inning. Heritage went on to win in the eighth inning after a 2-run single from Schulthies with two outs. The Eagles finished the state tournament in fifth place.
Both Lutheran-Parker basketball teams win first district titles
Plenty of hoops history was made at Lutheran High School-Parker last season. After both the girls and boys hoops teams won their respective District 7 championships for the first time for both programs, the Lions boys earned their place in the Class 2A Great 8 state championship playoffs at Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.
The boys team opened its state hopes as the Great 8’s No. 6 seed with a 17-7 overall record against the No. 3 seeded Colorado Springs School Kodiaks (22-2), who later went on to win the state 2A title. The Lions lost to Springs 50-41.
As for the Lions girls, they defeated No. 5 Front Range Christian 31-28 for the District 7 bragging rights Feb. 28 at Erie High School. On March 6, the girls team lost its regional game against Hayden in a heartbreaking 48-46 overtime finale. With both the boys and girls programs having strong seasons, resulting in district titles, it was easy to see their success feeding off each other. Adam said there was a great synergy between the two programs all season long.
“[The girls] were technically the first team in our school’s history to win a district championship in basketball, since they played the game right before ours,” Lions boys coach John Adam said. “Seeing them win gave our players confidence knowing that it could be done. Their players would routinely come and support our games, and our boys did the same throughout the year.”
Scott Kaniewski, Louis Zoldy and Courtney Johnson contributed to this report
After a 2-stroke runner-up finish at state in 2007, Douglas County boys golf was determined to bring it all home the next season time. And that they did. The Huskies brought home the high school’s first state golf title in its history after the state outing at Eisenhower Golf Club in Colorado Springs.
The team championship came after senior Derek Fribbs won the individual title, having shot a 2-under-par 142 over the two-day tournament. Junior Cody Kent followed as the state’s runner up, shooting a 4-over 148. Huskies coach Jeff Riley said the difference between last year’s visit to the state tournament and the year prior was County golfers embraced the team concept more in tournaments, practice and at regionals.
“Two years ago, we probably had the best team in the state, but we failed to qualify,” Riley said. “We’ve really worked on getting better in every tournament and towards the end of the year when it really maters. ... I think we did a good job focusing on the team aspect. In the end, that’s what it came down to.”
Having one player as the state’s title winner and another as runner-up was something the Huskies predicted long ago, since Fribbs and Kent were first on the team together.
Ranch volleyball makes surprise run for 5A title
As the state’s No. 4 seed, having won its regional title with a win over cross-town rival Mountain Vista, Highlands Ranch volleyball posted wins over Columbine and Doherty Nov. 7 at the Denver Coliseum to make the state’s final four.
Four-year varsity outside hitter Holly Sabatka, who later signed a commitment to play for the University of Charleston (West Virginia) said, “We were fifth [at state] last year. We lost nine seniors and people didn’t think we’d be very good, but we still finished third.”
Once past Columbine and Doherty, the Falcons were swept by No. 1-seeded Cherry Creek, which eventually won the state title, the next morning. Ranch faced Grandview, the No. 2 seed, in the semis and were sent home after a 3-0 loss.
“Coming out of regionals, we had confidence that we had done it. We took regionals, beat our rival and got a good [state] pool to break out of,” junior middle hitter Erica Winkler said.
Chaparral and Ponderosa wrestling dual ends in tie score
In one of the most anticipated high school wrestling rivalries in the state, Chaparral High School played host to cross-town rival Ponderosa. The Wolverines were initially proclaimed the victor in the 33-33 tie. At the end of the final bout of the evening, at 112 pounds, the Wolverines earned back a 33-29 lead. It was up to the Mustangs’ John Lewis to pick up a major decision to tie Chaparral, or a technical fall or better to win the final score. Lewis did win the bout with a 9-1 major decision, but Chaparral was still announced the winners, with the score at 33-33. The reason being, as determined by referee Bob McCaslin, Chaparral won by criteria — it had won eight of the dual bouts to Ponderosa’s six.
It was the first time Chaparral had beaten its cross-town rival in school history. And it was the first time Ponderosa lost a Continental dual since it joined the league. And on the Ponderosa side of the mat, wrestlers were either quiet or visibly upset.
After the crowds from both sides were dispersed out of the gymnasium for the most part, McCaslin, coaches and administration from both schools gathered at the score keeper’s table and reviewed the night’s bout. It was then realized that Ponderosa actually had the eight wins on the night, and Chaparral had six.
As it turns out, Lewis got to be the night’s hero for the Mustangs, having won the final bout, giving Ponderosa its eighth. Referee McCaslin said in his 30-plus years of officiating the sport, he had never seen a dual meet end by criteria. As it stands, Ponderosa once again won the cross-town rivalry by criteria eight bouts to six with a final score of 33-33.
“That’ll never take the wind out of us,” Chaparral coach Rod Padilla said. “That’s what it’s all about. I’ve been to two Super Bowls and a Rose Bowl, and there’s nothing better than that [meet]. We put on a good show and gave it everything we had.”
Although the match was one of the most exciting duals of the Colorado high school wrestling season, it was possibly the most heartbreaking as well.
Schulthies’ single sends Heritage diamond to state
Heritage commanded a lot of attention from Continental League eyes through the regular season, but its most exciting game was during the 5A regional playoffs against Fort Collins on May 2. The Lambkins were the No. 7 seed playing at home and Heritage was the No. 11 seed. The Eagles upset Fort Collins 10-7 in eight innings, sending the Eagles to the tournament’s Elite 8.
Against the Lambkins, senior pitcher Daron Schulthies came in to relieve in the bottom of the seventh inning with Heritage leading 7-5. With two outs and and the bases loaded, Schulthies got the batter to hit a fly to center field, but the ball was misplayed when the center-fielder stumbled in a hole.
Two runs scored to tie it up 7-7 with runners on second and third base. Heritage walked the next batter to load the bases and set up a force at all bases; however, Schulthies threw three balls to the next batter.
Now, in a dire situation of two outs, bases loaded, winning run at third base, one Fort Collins run away from a win and a 3-0 count to the batter, one more ball from Schulthies would have ended the season. Schulthies then threw four strikes in a row, with the batter fouling off a 3-2 pitch, and struck the batter out to end the inning. Heritage went on to win in the eighth inning after a 2-run single from Schulthies with two outs. The Eagles finished the state tournament in fifth place.
Both Lutheran-Parker basketball teams win first district titles
Plenty of hoops history was made at Lutheran High School-Parker last season. After both the girls and boys hoops teams won their respective District 7 championships for the first time for both programs, the Lions boys earned their place in the Class 2A Great 8 state championship playoffs at Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.
The boys team opened its state hopes as the Great 8’s No. 6 seed with a 17-7 overall record against the No. 3 seeded Colorado Springs School Kodiaks (22-2), who later went on to win the state 2A title. The Lions lost to Springs 50-41.
As for the Lions girls, they defeated No. 5 Front Range Christian 31-28 for the District 7 bragging rights Feb. 28 at Erie High School. On March 6, the girls team lost its regional game against Hayden in a heartbreaking 48-46 overtime finale. With both the boys and girls programs having strong seasons, resulting in district titles, it was easy to see their success feeding off each other. Adam said there was a great synergy between the two programs all season long.
“[The girls] were technically the first team in our school’s history to win a district championship in basketball, since they played the game right before ours,” Lions boys coach John Adam said. “Seeing them win gave our players confidence knowing that it could be done. Their players would routinely come and support our games, and our boys did the same throughout the year.”
Scott Kaniewski, Louis Zoldy and Courtney Johnson contributed to this report
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