Let the competition begin.

Prep sports return this week as all student-athletes returned to their respective fields and courts to prepare for the upcoming season.

Below are important dates for the fall season and notable teams or individuals from the 2024 campaign.

Cross country

Area returning team champion: Girls: The Classical Academy (3A)

Returning individual champion: Boys: Aiden Le Roux, sr., Cheyenne Mountain (4A)

First competition: Aug. 21

State meet: Nov. 1

TCA’s girls team looks to add a third consecutive title and 17th overall crown. Since 2018, the Titan girls have captured five of the past six state titles. In 2022, The Classical Academy finished as runners-up. On the boys’ side, Coronado (4A) will field another formidable team and hopes to capture its first team title since 2012 following a second-place finish in 2024.

Field hockey

Area returning champion: None

First competition: Aug. 21

State championship: Nov. 15

Pine Creek entered the playoffs with two victories last season and lost to eventual state champion Cherry Creek in the opening round. In the consolation bracket, however, the Eagles won a pair of games en route to the consolation finals, where they lost 2-1 to Smoky Hill. The Eagles will look to parlay that into success this year.

Flag football

Area returning champion: None

First competition: Aug. 16

State championship: Oct. 25

The Classical Academy advanced to the first-ever 4A Flag Football championship in 2024, but lost to Mountain View 25-0. The Titans have a new coach, Dale Meyerrose, and a slew of veteran players. The sport added several new teams.

Football

Area returning champion: The Classical Academy (2A)

First competition: Aug. 21 (Zero Week)

State championship: 6/8-Man: Nov. 28; 2A/1A: Nov. 29; 5A-3A: Dec. 6

The Classical Academy captured its first championship with a 42-36 victory over Wellington in the 2A state game in 2024. Though TCA graduated a wealth of experience, the Titans have 21 seniors ready to fill that void. In 4A, Mesa Ridge and Palmer Ridge, which both advanced to the quarterfinals, look to make deeper postseason pushes this year.

Boys golf

Area returning team champion: Cheyenne Mountain

Individual champion: Brayden Destefano, jr., Cheyenne Mountain

First competition: Aug. 7

State tournament: Oct. 6-7

Defending state champions Cheyenne Mountain, which holds the top ranking in 4A in CHSAA’s polls, sent three teams to its CM Invitational on Monday. The Red-Tailed Hawks’ second team earned fifth place. Cheyenne Mountain’s defending 4A individual state champion Brayden Destefano (tied for ninth, 3-over-par 74) and teammate Samuel Herholtz (11th, 4-over-par 74) placed in the top 15. Second-ranked Air Academy finished 12th.

Boys soccer

Area returning champion: Air Academy (4A)

First competition: Aug. 21

State championship: Nov. 15

Air Academy earned its first title since 2018 by winning a thriller in the semifinals and notching a 1-0 victory in the 4A title game against Mullen. The Kadets will look to repeat as champs for the first time since 2017-18, but will do so without the help of several seniors from last season. Woodland Park (3A) and Fountain Valley (2A) will seek another notable postseason run after both schools advanced to the quarterfinals in 2024.

Softball

Area returning champion: None

First competition: Aug. 14

State meet: Oct. 24-25

Palmer Ridge capped the school’s best softball season (21-5-1) with the team’s first-ever playoff win. Now, the Bears look to continue that success and expect another big season from sophomore and 2024 softball Peak Performer Kayleigh Garcia, who led the team in home runs (12), stolen bases (21), runs (46), RBI (41), slugging percentage (1.082) and triples (5).

Boys tennis

Area returning champion: None

First competition: Aug. 14

State tournament: Oct. 16-18 (individual); Oct. 21 (team)

Pine Creek’s Braylon Desquitado advanced to the championship of the individual tournament and made it to a third set as a freshman. Desquitado returns this season with a wealth of experience at his disposal as he tries to return to the championship round.

Girls volleyball

Area returning champion: Village (3A)

First competition: Aug. 21

State tournament: Nov. 13-15

Village’s historic run to a 26-3 season capped by the school’s first title in its first year of play will be a tough act to follow. The Mountaineers dropped just 12 sets all season and won their lone five-set match, which came against Platte Valley in the title game. Village enters this season with an unblemished record against Pikes Peak region schools (7-0) and has not lost to a Colorado team since Aug. 30, 2024, when 5A Cherry Creek defeated it 2-0.