The spring sports season in Colorado is a bit like falling in love. Hits like a fierce wind sweeping away yesterday’s fallen leaves. Swings you around in the unexpected, and teases bright sunny days ahead.
Next week, the state is expected to reach 80 degrees.
The final nine sports of the high school calendar year — baseball, girls golf, boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, boys swimming, girls tennis, track and field and boys volleyball — are a month deep into their spring schedules. A ritual in Colorado’s two-faced weather front and school scheduling, the beginning has already seen plenty of sun, snow and spring breaks.
The month of April should have a little more stability. At least on paper, with more consistent game schedules as league play is underway. The weather — who knows.
Below, let’s take a look at four early spring storylines to monitor.
Can Broomfield return to title games in baseball and girls soccer?
The opening sure has been promising.
The defending champ baseball team, which beat crosstown-rival Legacy for the 5A crown last year, is off to its best start in at least 15 years at 6-0.
Recently, senior pitcher Noah Scott found himself on 9News’ highlight reel after his sensational defensive play on the mound against Valor Christian, where he just got his glove in front of a sharp liner screaming toward his head and recovered to throw out the runner.
Who says pitchers aren't athletes….
watch this incredible play from @noahscott_1 from yesterday! @BoCoPreps
photo cred: @NicoleFuruiye – Thank you!! pic.twitter.com/1rFlExJhjt
— Broomfield Baseball – 2022 CO 5A State Champions! (@BHSEaglesBsbl) March 23, 2023
In a matter of seconds, he got to his feet, ran and leapt on the ball before flipping to first in time. It seems as though he’s been stubbornly stingy at every turn through three appearances this season, allowing just one earned run across his first 15 1/3 innings.
The girls soccer team hasn’t budged, either. The Eagles came into the week ranked first in 5A after finishing runner-up in the class a season ago.
Midfielder Reagan Kotschau, who is committed to Washington State, is a player of the year candidate in 5A. Another rising star under coach Jim Davidson is junior forward Charlotte Hansen, who opened the season with a hat trick against Cheyenne Mountain and had four goals through her first three games.
The Eagles get a big test at No. 2 Valor Christian Saturday.
Legacy’s swim team — it’s going swimmingly
As of Wednesday morning, the Lightning had six top-three times in the state.
Coming off their best team finish in program history, where they took third in 5A led by six all-state swimmers, they have looked really good through a month.
Tegan Barrier and Sam White were a part of the school’s 2022 title win in the 200 freestyle relay and are again all over the top of the state’s leaderboard.
Barrier owns the fastest time in the 50-yard freestyle (21.11 seconds) and is on the 200 free relay, which sits third (1:27.55). He and White are both on the second-fastest relays in 200 medley (1:34.50) and 400 freestyle (3:11.66). White also has the third-quickest 200 IM (1:52.95).
Tracking (and fielding) more excitement
If you don’t already, get to know the name Tavon Underwood.
Mead’s uber-fast sprinter has the fastest time in the state this season in the 200-meter run (21.15 seconds) and 400 (47.17).
Other local individuals with the top times in Colorado include Skyline’s JJ Davis in the boys’ javelin throw (147 feet and 9 inches) and Niwot freshman Addison Ritzenhein in the girls’ 3,200 (10:39.25).
Legacy’s sprint medley (1:50.06) and Boulder’s 4×400 (3:55.43) also had top times as of Wednesday.
Lacrosse contenders?
Will this be the year Erie’s boys lacrosse program gets over that last hump and wins the 4A title? With arguably the state’s best attacking duo in the state in Charlie O’Brien (University of Vermont) and Liam Connors (University of Denver), chances always seem favorable.
How about a sleeper in 5A boys lacrosse? Monarch has the state’s leader in goals (30) and points (45) in Derek Duplechin, and the Coyotes are impressive at 6-2 following an undefeated trip to California.
Then there’s Fairview, ranked second in 5A girls lacrosse, and the new girls program at Mead, which sits fourth in 4A.
Cami Johnson, committed to the University of California-Davis, had 17 goals through five games alongside sophomore star Gabriella McCollester.
Allie Hartman, a former Knights player committed to Michigan, leads the state with 39 points (32 goals, seven assists) for the Mavs.