14ners

Kaysen Morgan, Vista Ridge, jr., softball – Morgan’s opposition swung at heat and continually missed in one of the Vista Ridge pitcher’s best performances of the season.

In a 16-4 win against Doherty, Morgan struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed a season-low two hits in four innings pitched for the Wolves. 

At the time and in Morgan’s previous four games, it marked the third occurrence of four or fewer hits the Wolves junior allowed.

Kenna Winters, Palmer Ridge, sr., girls volleyball – In the Bears’ previous three games, Winters finished with a total of eight blocks. Winters managed that in one night against Air Academy.

The Bears senior finished with a season-high eight blocks in a loss to the Kadets and after the Sept. 23 tilt with Air Academy, Winters was second in the Pikes Peak Athletic Conference with 28 total.

Brenna Moerman, Doherty, fr., girls volleyball – The electric season continues for the Spartan freshman who came up clutch in a five-set victory against Fountain-Fort Carson last week.

In the 3-2 victory (23-25, 13-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-12) against the Trojans, Moerman finished with a team-high 18 kills, her second-best total of the season, and added four blocks.

Moerman also had 11 receptions along with 12 digs, both second on the team, and committed no errors on either occasion.

Katie Gieske, The Classical Academy, sr., girls volleyball – Gieske earned one-third of her aces for the season after the Titans’ sweep of Sierra last Tuesday.

Gieske finished the match with a career-high 10 aces against the Stallions, which brought her total to 30, and the middle blocker also tied the team high of eight kills in the matchup.  

Sebastian Colella, Rampart, sr., boys soccer – The Rams striker has spent four years on varsity and on Sept. 27 against Widefield, he managed to have a career “first.”

In an 8-0 victory against Widefield, Colella earned a hat trick for his fifth strike of the season. It’s his first multigoal game of the season and Colella’s third time in his career scoring at least two goals in a game.

Shawn Kipchumba, Thomas MacLaren, sr., boys cross country – A pair of Highlanders approached the finish line at a nearly identical pace Saturday at Cottonwood Creek Park with “nearly” being the operative word.

Kipchumba earned first at the Rampart Koziuk Classic Invitational at 17 minutes, 30.59 seconds – just .22 seconds ahead of teammate Braddock Hewitt – for his best finish of the season. This is Kipchumba’s first victory of the season and first time in the top five since last year’s state meet, where he placed fifth. 

Annabelle Jackson, Mesa Ridge, so., girls cross country – Jackson’s first-place finish at the Rampart Koziuk Classic Invitational required a late push from the Grizzlies runner.

Jackson clocked in at 21:35.27, just seven seconds ahead of Thomas MacLaren’s Lucy Alvarado at 21:42.76. For Jackson, her win marked the first victory of her career and her fourth top-five finish of the season.

Chamorra Cooper, Air Academy, jr., girls cross country – Cooper’s consistency in her third year led to a pair of first-place finishes to end September.

At the Cañon City Middle and High School Cross Country Invitational, Cooper clocked in at 17:47.50 and won the girls section by nearly one minute. This is Cooper’s third race in the top 10 and the junior has run times of 17:56, 17:40.40 and 17:47.50.

Michelle Morales, Falcon, jr., softball – Prior to the Falcons’ game against Sierra last Tuesday, Morales had one career home run. After their 17-2 victory against the Stallions, Morales had four.

The Falcons catcher finished with three home runs and five RBIs to help lead Falcon to its sixth win. Morales also scored three runs in the contest and finished 3-of-3 hitting.

Gavin Reddick, Cañon City, sr., football – Reddick followed his career high in rushing yards with another all-time mark toting the football.

The Tigers running back rushed for a career-best five touchdowns and 124 yards in a 42-0 victory over Harrison on Friday. Reddick has back-to-back games with 100 or more yards and at least one touchdown.

Jahil Ray, Air Academy, jr., football – Sierra’s offense had no chance to ignite with Ray on the field. The Kadets’ defensive lineman finished the night against the Stallions with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a 43-6 win.

Ray also tallied a season-high 10 tackles to bring his total to 22 for the year.

Nadia Anderson, Air Academy, fr., flag football – Anderson fell shy of a new high in passing yards by 6 in a 39-6 win against Coronado, but she still had a commendable outing on the field.

The Kadets quarterback finished 20-of-30 passing for 270 yards and matched a season-best three touchdowns against the Cougars to help lead Air Academy to its third consecutive win. It marked Anderson’s third game in a row at 170 yards or better.

Reghan Klem, Vanguard, jr., flag football – The Coursers’ second win came with a bit of flair from the quarterback.

Klem threw for four touchdowns on 31-of-44 passing in the matchup with Colorado Springs Christian last week and finished with 186 yards. Klem carried the ball five times for 13 yards and a score against the Lions.

Her performance was the second consecutive game where Klem finished without an interception.

Thomas Griffin, Hanover, sr., football – Eight-man football always offers a unique experience. Last week was the Thomas Griffin experience.

The Hornets running back had career highs in yardage (340), touchdowns (seven) and carries (28) in a 77-43 win against Deer Trail last Friday.

In five games, Griffin has at least three touchdowns in four contests and reached 300 yards in two of those matchups. On Sept. 19 in a 57-6 win over Manzanola, Griffin finished with 12 carries for 185 yards and six touchdowns.

Exciting finishes

Softball

Fountain-Fort Carson 10, Liberty 9

A five-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning extended the Trojans’ then-winning streak to three and helped F-FC earn its ninth win of the year – nearly five times the two wins the Trojans managed in 2024.

Brynlee Torres finished 4-of-4 hitting and was one of four Trojan players with four RBIs. For Torres, it was the sixth time this season she had three or more hits in a game and, after the Sept. 24 contest, her batting average grew to .622.

In the circle, Torres struck out two batters while Kaleigha Holmes pitched five innings and struck out four while allowing three runs.

Flag football

Vista Ridge 7, Doherty 6

Bella Blaisdell only had one catch in the tilt with Doherty last week, and that’s all she required to leave her stamp on the game.

Blaisdell’s lone reception was a 10-yard TD from Aubrey Leong to give the Wolves the lead and their fifth win of the season. After a 1-4 start, Vista Ridge has flipped its game and, in its last five games, has a 4-1 record.

If you haven’t heard…

Widefield football earns redemption, scores huge upset on go-ahead touchdown against Discovery Canyon

This is why coaches constantly preach “one week at a time.”

After an 80-35 loss at Sand Creek on Sept. 19, the Gladiators returned home and shocked 3A’s No. 7-ranked Discovery Canyon 31-27 to snap the Thunder’s four-game winning streak and hand the Thunder their first loss.

For the Gladiators, the win ended a two-game losing streak and marked their second-highest scoring outing of the year.

Zariack Duran finished 9-of-18 passing for three touchdowns and 214 yards. A bulk of that yardage came on Widefield’s final score. Duran connected with Lonnie Dorsey who carried the ball 89 yards for a touchdown with 3:56 left. Dorsey finished with two catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Harrison boys soccer holds 7-1-2 record as playoffs loom

With six games left in the regular season, the Panthers continue their hot streak. Harrison last lost Sept. 2 – 4-3 to Woodland Park – and has a 5-0-2 record since the 2-1 start.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Panthers hold the 11 seed in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 4A RPI poll and could host a home playoff game. Harrison finished 10-3-3 last season and if the Panthers win four of their remaining six games, they would have at least 11 wins for the third time since 2022.

Defending volleyball champs heating up after rugged start

After finishing its inaugural year 26-3 and with a 3A girls volleyball championship, Village began its title defense with a 1-5 record. Since their five-set (26-28, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 10-15) loss Aug. 30 to Rocky Mountain, the Mountaineers need butter with the roll they’re on to end September.

Prior to Tuesday night’s match with D’Evelyn, the Mountaineers are 10-6 and have won nine of their past 10. The Mountaineers are 25^th in RPI and the top 36 teams qualify for the regional tournament.  

Last week’s football results

Thursday

Coronado 40, Berthoud 22

Clear Creek 46, St. Mary’s 43

Cherry Creek 42, Pine Creek 0

Widefield 31, Discovery Canyon 27

Friday

Elbert 18, Calhan 14

Peyton 32, Estes Park 6

Palmer Ridge 35, Mesa Ridge 7

Mead 50 Lewis-Palmer 9

Cheyenne Mountain 41, Doherty 6

Pueblo West 20, Vista Ridge 0

Cañon City 42, Harrison 0

Cedaredge 21, Ellicott 2

Rangeview 41, Liberty 7

Sand Creek 50, Palmer 0

Rye 20, Woodland Park 13

Forge Christian 63, Manitou Springs 0

Hanover 77, Deer Trail 43

Air Academy 43, Sierra 6

Saturday

Colorado Springs Christian 24, Platte Canyon 6