In the waning seconds of his final high school basketball game, CA senior Christian Hyatt squared up to the opposing point guard around mid-court and cleanly poked the ball out of the opponent’s left hand, deftly slipped around the astonished guard’s right, picked up the ball without hesitation in mid-bounce and dunked the ball, uncontested, in an emphatic act that put an exclamation point on Hyatt’s CA basketball career.

 

Hyatt, a recent Denver Post Student-Athlete of the Week, and the rest of his teammates were victorious in the contest over #3 seed Manitou Springs 65-54 to take home the 3A consolation championship. This is the fourth time in a row that the CA boys basketball team has made it to at least the Great 8 and twice in that span played in the state championship game, coming up short in both title games by a total of 4 points. During this year’s championship run, the #11-seeded Mustangs, dispatched the #3 seed, and also downed the #1 seed (DSST- Stapleton) and the #4 seed (Sterling, in Sterling). For sure, the Mustangs established themselves as a top boys basketball team in the state, regardless of classification.

 

Head coach Steve Hyatt, in his third season at the helm of the CA basketball program, cemented his legacy as a leader of outstanding basketball teams and young men. I am grateful for Coach Hyatt’s leadership in what has to be acknowledged as the best four-year span of boys basketball in CA’s history. The coach and his charges have raised the bar. Never before has the boys basketball program achieved such consistent success. Sure, there have been regional championship teams and outstanding players, but never over a four-year span have the boys gone to the Great 8 twice and the championship game twice. Also, Christian Hyatt and fellow senior Justin Bassey now lead all CA basketball scorers with both players surpassing Marcus King Stockton ’04 in total points scored. Both players were also recognized for their outstanding play by being named First Team All-Metro League this year. Harvard-bound Bassey, also the 3A basketball player of the year last year, is now ranked # 8 all time in points in the State of Colorado, having scored 2159 points while at CA, and Colorado Christian commit Hyatt scored 1675 points while suiting up for the Mustangs.

 

Justin’s 2159 points surpass Denver East graduate and current CU Buff starting point guard, Dominique Collier (2044 pts). Christian ranks in the top 20 in total points scored in the state.

 

It will be fun to watch the team transition and build toward next season. Certainly, all of the seniors, including Peter Vukovich-Simonson, Spencer Bittman, Will Creedon, and Winston Palmeri will be missed; however, varsity returners, juniors Pepijn Van Ede, Tye Thompson, and James Jensen, along with freshmen Hunter Shkapich, Alex Mushkin, and Spencer Wootten will be counted on to work hard and join forces with an outstanding JV and C group as well as some terrific incoming eighth graders to propel the program to further success.

 

Special thanks to seniors Piper Bittman and Samah Mohamed for their oversight and managerial duties directed towards the boys basketball program. Their attention to detail, organization, and positive attitude were essential to the team’s success. Girls, you will be missed. Thank you.

 

With the basketball season concluded, all attention can now be focused on the spring season. As of press time, boys and girls lacrosse, baseball, and girls soccer all opened up their 2016 schedules with victories. The boys lacrosse team, led by head coach Randy Colley was dominant in their win over Boulder, 16-5.

 

Scoring was spread out among many players, including Winston Palmeri, fellow senior Mac Mease, junior Matt Pollack, and sophomores Alexander Archie and Brooks Brown.

 

The girls lacrosse team, coached by CA faculty member Steph Sanders, was also convincing in its victory over Regis 16-5. Returning All-American goalie and CA junior Bridget Sutter, and defender and CA senior Anna Gallagher, along with senior CA defender Sammy Little, were all outstanding for the Mustangs.

 

Head coach JT Putt’s varsity baseball team saw a dominant pitching effort from  sophomores Sam Richards and Emmett Ela in its 9-5 victory over Summit. Hot bats were provided by sophomore Walker Hamilton, who went 3-4ı and junior Ben Cole, who had 3 RBIs.

 

Girls soccer, coached by LS PE teacher Sean Stedeford, was terrific in its 2016 debut. Sophomore goalie Kyra Kurtz notched a shutout in the girls’ 9-0 win over Resurrection Christian. Juniors Kelsey Stone, Riley Brook, and Isabel Chandler provided depth and consistent effort, as the girls were relentless in their pursuit of victory.

 

LS PE teacher Beth Folsom’s girls golf team will push for state dominance after finishing second in 4A last spring, and Bob Ulrich’s tennis program will look to extend their winning ways after finishing third in the state tournament last season.

 

I am hopeful that the spring will offer as much athletic excitement as the winter season provided. Certainly, sacrifices have to be made to compete at a high level; however, anybody who has been involved in sincere, competitive athletics knows that it is worth it, and they wouldn’t trade the camaraderie, highs, lows, and hard work for anything. I hope you get a chance to see the CA spring teams compete this spring. Check the school website for upcoming games. It’s great to be a CA Mustang!