The Colorado Academy fall athletic season finished up in fine fashion on the weekend of November 8 and 9 with the boys soccer program team playing in the state championship game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the third straight year and the Ultimate Frisbee program playing in their state championship games in Broomfield.

 

The coed ultimate team, led by Head Coach Eric Augustin, after making a run late in its season with two out of three victories over Denver East and Heritage, ran into  some stiff competition in the State Tournament. The Frisbee group dropped two games to Cherry Creek HS (13-6) and Littleton HS (15-1), but beat Monarch HS (13-8) on the Saturday of State competition. Sunday also proved to be a challenge with games against Lakewood HS (12-7 win), Arapahoe HS (11-3 loss) and Broomfield HS (13-7 loss). All in all though, the team was strong, with over 20 students competing for the red, white, and black and finishing up 12th in the state tournament against some very strong teams with long histories of success.

 

The Boys Soccer team, led by senior captains Ben Maffei and noah Henry, were spectacular in their playoff run with victories over Fountain Valley (3-0), Sheridan (1-0), Peak to Peak (1-0), and Salida (2-0) as the lead-up to the Championship Game against the Kent Denver School.

 

KDS was a formidable opponent in the final match with a senior laden team as they vied for their first state title in school history. KDS scored first at about the 20 minute mark in the first half on a penalty kick. The Sundevils then went up 2-0 just before the half, off of a direct kick just outside of the 18. The Mustangs fought valiantly but could not crack the veteran opponents’ defense and succumbed 3-0 in the end.

 

Of course the boys were upset at not being able to win their third straight state championship and seventh overall in program history. However, as a community, we are so proud of this team.

I was approached separately by Paul Angelico, head of the Colorado High School Activities Association and Bud Ozello, the CHSAA official in charge of Boys Soccer immediately after the game to congratulate me on the exemplary display of sportsmanship and grace exhibited by the team and Head Coach Bernstein during the awards ceremony. As runners up, the Mustangs’ ethical behavior was obvious to all those in attendance.

 

Angelico and Ozzello said in a letter sent to Coach Bernstein, and me days after the final game, “In an era where sometimes the message of being runner-up is not a significant accomplishment and therefore less than a capable opponent, you  (Bernstein) showed otherwise in a very profound manner. What you did by waiting with your team at midfield to give your applause, until Kent Denver went to their fans in celebration of their win and then come back to receive their trophy, blew us away. Your actions are what we believe high school sports reveals and that is good character.”

Bernstein and the team were honored with a CHSAA Award of Excellence. I am thankful for the leadership of coaches like Gabe Bernstein and Eric Augustin to model the kind of behavior and work ethic that is becoming less apparent in our society.

 

Too often, players and parents are sheltered from displeasure and allowed to be selfish and unsportsmanlike. We need to recognize humble actions like Bernstein’s and the soccer guys and Augustin’s and the Ultimate team for preparing and growing with vigor throughout the season, facing challenges valiantly, and representing the community with class and humility in the face of defeat.

 

We of course like to win, but thanks to these fall sports teams for providing an example we can all look up to.