Tag: peak performers
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Peak Performer: Pine Creek tennis freshman Advait Jadhav’s winning mindset powers him to near undefeated season, first state tournament
Tennis is a mental game as much as physical, and Advait Jadhav has embraced that ahead of his first state appearance. After an 11-2 season and cruising through regionals, Jadhav will be making his first state tournament appearance Thursday when he faces Mountain Vista’s Josh Hoefs in No. 2 singles at Denver Tennis Park. The…
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Peak Performer: Fountain-Fort Carson running back Da’Kari Releford Jr. continues school’s tradition of dominant running backs
Da’Kari Releford Jr.’s father gave the younger Releford the nickname “The Flash” when he was a kid. “He was always running around and has been super fast his whole life,” the senior Releford said. Releford, who now goes by “D.K.” has embodied “The Flash” nickname as a starting running back for Fountain-Fort Carson, a coveted…
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Overcoming injury, The Vanguard School goalkeeper Avery Banzhaf excels in historic season for the Coursers
Avery Banzhaf rolled his ankle, twice, in a preseason scrimmage just three days before The Vanguard School’s soccer season opener. It was painful, but the team’s starting goalkeeper didn’t think twice about continuing to play. Injured for the first six games, Banzhaf has allowed six goals in nine games to help the Coursers to an…
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Peak Performer: Air Academy girls basketball’s Caitlin Kramer sacrifices personal goals for the great good
Caitlin Kramer hopes to leave a legacy at Air Academy. To start the girls basketball season, Kramer briefly pondered the details of said legacy: State title or 2,000 career points? Preferably both, but the Kadets lost in the opening round, Sweet 16 and Great 8 in her first three seasons, making the former goal difficult…
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Peak Performer: Pine Creek’s Isabella Burton believes iron sharpens iron
As parents and coaches described Isabella Burton, each landed on the same adjective: Tenacious. Burton, a Pine Creek senior and this week’s Peak Performer, continues the grind in the swimming pool despite helping the Eagles earn a state title last season and signing to swim at Division I Denver next year. “Our swimmers see that…
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Peak Performer: Pine Creek’s Isabella Burton believes iron sharpens iron (copy)
As parents and coaches described Isabella Burton, each landed on the same adjective: Tenacious. Burton, a Pine Creek senior and this week’s Peak Performer, continues the grind in the swimming pool despite helping Pine Creek earn a state title last season and signing to swim at Division I Denver next year. “Our swimmers see that…
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Peak Performer: Peyton’s AJ Mannering evolves her game in final season
As the embers from AJ Mannering’s junior season faded, the Peyton senior received a spark to reignite her flame in the 2023 season finale. The Panthers lost in the second round of the Class 3A girls state basketball playoffs by two points to Buena Vista, ending a 22-game win streak for the Panthers and dashing…
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Peak Performer: James Irwin’s Matthew Lebron becomes student of the game, blossoms as a sophomore
One glance at Matthew Lebron’s frame on a basketball court could make an opposing team scoff at his appearance. After the James Irwin sophomore drops 20 on their defense in a half, that scoff changes into confusion. The 5-foot-10, 135-pound sophomore earned this week’s Peak Performer as he continues to scorch his opponents and has…
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Boys’ Tennis Peak Performers | All-area team
The Gazette Preps 2023 Peak Performers All-Area Boys’ Tennis Team First team Miles Hoover, sr., Coronado Andrew Ballenger, jr., Cheyenne Mountain Sean Bratkowsky, sr., Discovery Canyon Gurman Goraya, so., Pine Creek Thomas Stewart, sr., Coronado Second team Ethan Ploetz, Fountain-Fort Carson Cameron Ford, sr., Cheyenne Mountain Jake Schultz, sr., Cheyenne Mountain Cody Ross, sr., Coronado…
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Peak Performer of the Year: Marisa Reyes leads Sierra softball to state for first time in over two decades
Marisa Reyes is only a junior in high school, but she has already piled on accomplishment after accomplishment as a softball player. A star pitcher for Sierra, Reyes has played softball since she was 5. Since then, Reyes has become a standout for the Stallions, leading them to their first state appearance since 2002 this…