Spring Sports Finish in Fine Fashion
By Bill Hall
Director of Athletics
Director of Athletics
Mustang athletes competed at a very high level throughout this past spring. All teams and athletes were involved well into the playoffs, and many of them brought home championship hardware and post-season accolades.
Head of Girls Golf, Beth Folsom, and her team swept the Regional Golf Tournament, which was played in early May in Parachute, Colorado. The girls then rolled into the state tournament held in mid May at the Broadlands and beat their next closest competitor, Holy Family, by 28 strokes and clinched their second Colorado State championship in as many years. State tournament individual scores by senior Cassie Kneen 147, sophomore Caroline Jordaan 147, freshman Marie Jordaan 153, and senior Trinity Goderstad 160 were all good enough for top 10 state tournament finishes overall. All four girls were also named first team All-State and Coach Folsom was named State Girls Golf Coach of the Year. Certainly this was an outstanding year for the girls golf team. It’s not easy to win a state championship, let alone win two in a row. Congratulations girls and Coach Folsom!
Boys Lacrosse, led by head of program Randy Colley, had a strong regular season finishing 11-4 and 4-2 in the league. The Mustangs came up short in the first round of the 5A state playoffs, bowing out to a strong Columbine squad. Leading the way offensively was senior Matt Pollack, who finished the season with 44 points on 34 goals and 10 assists and freshman Nate Kay, who had 17 goals and 13 assists for a total of 30 points. Defensively, seniors Jack Cahill, Andrew Maffei and Beau Lawrence were stalwarts on that side of the field as were junior goalie, Tyler Little, who finished the season with a strong 65.2% save average and freshman Paul Chandler who concluded the year with a 54.8% save average. Also supplying grit and determination was senior face-off specialist Jack Cmil, who had a stellar 61.8% faceoff average. Post season accolades included: Matt Pollack Honorable mention All-State and 1st team All-League; Beau Lawrence and sophomore Connor Brook 1st team All-League, Tyler Little, Andrew Maffei, Jack Cmil, junior Brooks Brown, sophomore Jack Oberg and Nate Kay 2nd Team All-League and senior Jack Cahill Honorable Mention All-League. The Mustangs will build upon the lessons learned from this spring and be ready to take on any and all 5A opponents next year.
The Mustang Girls Tennis program gave Bob Ulrich “his most enjoyable coaching experience in the past 37 years!” Bob credits the senior leadership of his captains for providing a supportive and competitive environment where all girls were challenged to get better on a daily basis. The Mustangs finished second in the state behind Freshman Samantha Moore Thompson’s dominating performance at the #1 singles position. Moore Thompson won her final championship match 6-0, 6-0. Other standout performers were junior Savannah Mease, who took second in state at #2 singles, and sophomores Alex Ford and Story Wolf-Tinsman, who made up the #4 doubles team who also took second in state. A lot of youth provides high expectations and great energy for this group as they head into next season.
Mustang Girls Soccer, led by head of program Sean Stedeford, also had a fantastic year finishing the regular season 11-3-1 while playing the most competitive schedule in 3A and only losing 1 game against another 3A opponent. The Mustangs had a strong postseason run before bowing out in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Certainly the girls had expectations of making a run at another state championship, which they last won in 2014 and 2015, however, the competition in the Colorado High School girls soccer ranks is getting stronger every year, and to make a late playoff push is extraordinary. The efforts by this group were strong and led by seniors Isabel Chandler, Celia Osman, and Sarah Masinter. Masinter was named 1st Team All-State for her work as was sophomore Mari Annest. Key players return from this year's group, and the Mustangs will be back in the thick of it next year and be up for any challenge thrown their way.
Coach JT Putt, head of CA baseball, and his players provided many entertaining games for the Mustang faithful. Putt’s group, led by Metro League Player of the Year senior Evan Reiter, put together the best baseball season in Colorado Academy baseball history finishing the year with an overall record of 20-6. In the ever-strong Metro League, which sent 2 teams to this year’s state final 4, the Mustangs were 8-3. In the postseason, Putt’s nine went on to win their region, by sweeping Buena Vista and host Bennett in convincing fashion. The team then took on #1 ranked Lamar in the first round of the state tournament. The CA group rallied from a 5-1 deficit against Lamar with 6 runs in the top of the 6th to win in thrilling fashion, 7-6. The team then continued to march through the state tournament with a determination and confidence usually reserved for more veteran squads. The team finished 3rd in the state which bodes well for this group considering they only graduate four seniors, Reiter, Ben Cole, Nathan Keplinger, and Bryce Okazaki. Post season accolades include Reiter, junior Wyatt Westfall, junior Bo Dodge, and sophomore Graham Osman being named First Team all Metro League, Reiter was also first team all state and Osman was Honorable mention all state, sophomore Ari Fierer being named second team all Metro League and Honorable mention All State, and freshman Chase Allen garnered Honorable Mention All-Metro League honors. JT Putt for his masterful coaching and strong leadership was recognized as the Coach of the Year in the Metro League. Congratulations to this hard-working group of talented multi-sport athletes who really shined this spring. Here’s to next year and another exciting season!
Finally, rounding out the 2017 spring Mustang athletic success stories is the Girls Lacrosse program, which is led by CA 2nd grade teacher, Steph Sanders. Sanders’ group was strong throughout the year and finished with their third straight Colorado State Championship and an overall record of 17-2 with their only two losses coming to out-of-state teams. In the playoffs, the team rolled through the competition by beating much larger schools Dakota Ridge, Arapahoe, and Cherry Creek. The atmosphere provided by the girls at the state final game vs. Creek was unparalleled as a CA community event. Alumni, LS, MS, and US students, parents, faculty, staff, family and friends all came in droves to support the team. It was truly a fantastic scene and according to Sanders, “the sweetest championship yet!” The girls were led by league Player of the Year senior Nellie Turnage and fellow First Team All-League performers senior Sydney Prokupek and senior Claire Wright, sophomore Sloane Murphy, junior Lauren Russell, and senior Bridget Sutter were named second team all league and junior Eliza Davis, senior Tate Woolley, senior Jacqueline Patel, and sophomore Ally Gallagher were recognized as Honorable Mention all league. For their efforts, Prokupek, Wright, and senior Bridget Sutter were also named All-American. All League honors were also bestowed on Coach Sanders as she was named League Coach of the Year!
The 2016-17 year was another fantastic year for Colorado Academy and CA athletics. The hard work, determination, and “team-first” attitude exhibited by many of the CA student athletes and their coaches was exemplary. I am grateful for the time and efforts put forth by all who are involved in the accomplishments of this year’s teams and student athletes. If it weren’t for the community and school support, none of the success would be achievable. The life lessons learned throughout this past school year from our educationally based athletics leaves positive, indelible memories on those involved. I am proud of all the individual and group accomplishments and achievements. I look forward to watching new CA teams form next year and following new successes! We are all in all the time! Happy summer and go Mustangs!
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