Tag: athletes
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5A-4A volleyball player of year: Kendall Gaffney, Cheyenne Mtn.
Kendall Gaffney was “close to flawless” on a team that achieved perfection. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Kendall. The versatile senior did a little bit of everything as Cheyenne Mountain claimed its second straight Class 4A volleyball title. “It’s not just her hitting, but blocking, defense, serve-receive,” coach David Barkley said. “Kendall’s gone…
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Softball athlete of the year: Mariah Peterson, L-P
Circumstance and determination collided in Mariah Peterson’s first season of softball, and the end result could be a long career on the diamond. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Mariah. “I was 11 years old and my little team needed a pitcher,” she said. “So I volunteered.” Early results didn’t suggest the success Peterson…
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Boys’ golf athlete of the year: Cam Harrell, Air Academy
Cam Harrell flashed his potential as a sophomore, tying for fifth in the Class 5A state tournament. But not even he anticipated the sensational season that came a year later. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Cam. The Air Academy junior started quickly, stayed consistent and won the Metro League title this fall by…
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Girls’ cross country athlete of year: Kaitlin Hanenburg, TCA
Alan Versaw makes it sound like Kaitlin Hanenburg is a better person than a runner. That is high praise, indeed. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Kaitlin. Hanenburg won her third straight Class 3A title — leading The Classical Academy to its seventh championship in a row — and earned Athlete of the Year…
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5A-4A football athlete of year: Phillip Rhodes, Mesa Ridge
Mesa Ridge running back Phillip Rhodes feels like he had “a pretty good year.” Check out a gallery of photos featuring Phillip. The junior carried the load as the Grizzlies nearly made the playoffs a year after winning only two games. “I was really just looking for a winning season,” said Rhodes, whose team finished…
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Boys’ tennis athlete of the year: Aidan Reid, Lewis-Palmer
By most standards, Aidan Reid had a phenomenal season. But the Lewis-Palmer Ranger wanted more. Check out a photo gallery of Aidan. A runner-up finish in No. 1 singles at the Class 4A tennis tournament wasn’t satisfying to Reid, even though he — at 16 years, 6 months — was almost certainly the youngest senior…
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Field hockey athlete of the year: Kaili Simmons, Palmer Ridge
Kaili Simmons feels like a relative newcomer to field hockey, but Palmer Ridge coach Paul Lewis insists she’s a natural. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Kaili. “She dominated the center of the field for us all year long,” he said. “Our whole midfield line was good, and that led to our success.” The…
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Gymnastics athlete of the year: Hannah Brown, Pine Creek
The days leading up to the state tournament were especially emotional for Hannah Brown. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Hannah. The clock was ticking down on a gymnastics career that started when she was 4. And the Pine Creek senior had recently tweaked a knee after battling a back injury all season. “Hannah…
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3A-A volleyball athlete of the year: Morgan Broekhuis, CSCS
Recognition and success are nothing new for Morgan Broekhuis. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Morgan. As a senior, the 6-foot-5 left-hander claimed a fourth consecutive Class 3A title with Colorado Springs Christian School and garnered Athlete of the Year honors from The Gazette for the third straight season. “I don’t really play for…
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3A-A football athlete of the year: Zac Blaha, TCA
The name Zac Blaha might not be familiar to many outside the Colorado Conference, but offensive coordinators throughout the league cringed every time they heard it this fall. Check out a gallery of photos featuring Zac. Blaha had a dominant season on a dominant defense, playing both linebacker and end for The Classical Academy. The…