Each full week of the fall season, BoCoPreps will highlight 10 teams and 10 players that had exceptional performances. While our staff will utilize multiple avenues to compile these lists, readers are encouraged to submit nominations to our email (results@bocopreps.com).
10 teams
Niwot boys tennis: Luke Weber led a large team of boys at the Class 4A state tournament this weekend when he finished runner-up in No. 1 singles. LiChen Liao played his way to third at 2 singles as the pair headlined a strong, six-line effort from the Cougars. Each of the players at 3 singles, 1 doubles, 3 doubles and 4 doubles won one match.
Monarch boys tennis: Senior leaders Luke Jensen and Callum Conaghan both earned fourth place at 1 singles and 2 singles, respectively, at the Class 5A state tournament on Saturday. They led a Coyotes team that qualified boys at every line except for 3 singles and 2 doubles and earned at least one win in the other five lines.
Lyons softball: The Lions were one of eight local teams to earn a bid to their respective state tournaments when they finished runner-up in the 3A Region 5 tournament. Unlike the other seven teams, however, they achieved the feat with only nine girls available to play. Junior ace Ceci Chiaravalle ranks second in the state — among all classifications — in strikeouts with 252 to date.
Erie softball: New classification, no problem. The Tigers have rocked 5A in their first year among the highest classification, and that dominance continued into the 5A Region 3 tournament on Friday. They not only won the regional championship, but they did so behind the strong performance of ace Gracie Sackett, who threw eight scoreless innings over two games.
Frederick softball: This season has seen the Golden Eagles soar toward the top of the 4A competition, and they ensured their ride wouldn’t end prematurely when they won their 4A Region 3 tournament over the weekend. Chief thief Makenzie Sais led her team with six hits in the two games.
Niwot cross country: The Cougar girls blew away the competition at the Longs Peak League meet on Wednesday as they nabbed the top eight spots, led by Bella Nelson. On the boys’ side, Rocco Culpepper took home the crown by defeating the runner-up by nearly 23 seconds.
Holy Family softball: Surprising absolutely no one, the Tigers easily won their 4A Region 8 tournament to make a case for state this weekend. Isabella Arroyo and Makaila Moosbrugger each hit for the cycle between their two games as neither Arroyo nor Emmaline Humphreys allowed a single earned run between them.
Longmont football: The Trojans collectively staved off a late-game run from Monarch on Friday night, especially thanks to freshman Joey Foot, who secured two key first downs in a long, fourth-quarter drive. He finished the game with 71 receiving yards as Cole Gaddis added two touchdowns and 94 offensive yards.
Mead football: The Mavericks snapped a five-game skid with a 45-0 win over Denver North as quarterback Taylon Adler threw three touchdowns of 36, 35 and 55 yards as Danny Brewington added two short rushing TDs.
Dawson volleyball: After a rough start to their season, the Mustangs have righted the ship and are currently enjoying a five-game winning streak, including three victories over Campion Academy, Heritage Christian and Mile High Academy in the last week.
10 athletes
Luke Weber, Niwot boys tennis: Weber came within striking distance of a Class 4A 1 singles title but fell short when he faced off with Kent Denver’s Nathan Gold in the championship match to finish second in the classification’s top line.
Joslynn Veltien, Mead softball: In a weekend filled with dominant diamond performances, Veltien stood out with 17 strikeouts over 12 innings at the 4A Region 7 tournament. She helped lead her Mavericks to a 4A Region 7 title and a berth to the 4A state tournament this weekend.
Ben Mischke, Centaurus football: Mischke added his name to the list of Warriors players to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, the first to do so in at least 15 years. In a 42-32 win over Thornton on Thursday, he collected 270 yards on the ground to bring his season total to 1,071.
Kullen Lerma, Legacy football: Lerma has stiffed the competition all season long and he continued to wow in Legacy’s 40-0 blanking of Mullen on Friday night. The junior quarterback did a little bit of everything, throwing 135 yards for two touchdowns and adding another 111 yards and two scores on the run.
Blake Barnett, Erie football: Barnett threw for 250 yards on 11 completions with three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 53-15 win over Silver Creek. He added 58 yards with an additional touchdown on the ground as he tries to steer the Tigers back in the right direction.
Kylee Schlepp, Niwot gymnastics: Schlepp, a freshman, rose to the top of the competition during the Cougars’ home meet against 5A defending state champion Broomfield, scoring 34.850 in the all-around. The Cougars defeated the Eagles 171.90 to 169.85.
Rylan Cooney, Holy Family football: Cooney put together a strong, double-edged performance in the Tigers’ 48-6 win over Northfield. He collected four touchdowns off of 349 passing yards and added another one on the ground with 59 extra rushing yards.
Delaney Frank, Frederick volleyball: In Frederick’s 3-0 victory over Northridge on Wednesday, Delaney recorded an eye-popping 10 aces while adding six kills, four digs and 16 assists to complete her all-around performance.
Hannah Waldron, Niwot volleyball: In two wins over Frederick and Mountain View last week, Waldron played killer queen as she recorded 28 kills between the two contests
Alexandra Urbina, Legacy volleyball: Much like Waldron, Urbina proved pivotal to her team’s three victories last week after recording 38 total kills and 28 digs.
