After their 41-34 upset of top-seeded Bennett Nov. 18, the Strasburg Indians travel to the San Luis Valley this weekend where they will take on the third-seeded Centauri Falcons at 1 p.m. Saturday in La Jara (about 15 miles south of Alamosa) for the 1A state football title.
The fourth-seeded red-and black is looking for the program’s second set of back-to-back championships and the fourth gridiron title in school history.
The game will be televised online via CHSAA.tv through the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) Network. A $10 subscription fee is required to access the broadcast.
For additional postseason updates, visit www.i-70scout.com.
CSU Live Performance Stadium Sessions at the Colorado State University campus will feature Dubskin, Porlolo and Stella Luce before the home football game against Boise State on Nov. 11.
DubskinStella Luce
Stadium Sessions is a series of free live performances by top Colorado bands launched this fall as part of the 2017 football season.
On Friday, Nov. 10, during “Football Friday” at the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center, Porlolo performs at 4:15 p.m., followed by Stella Luce at 5:15 p.m.
The Other Black and Def Knock are scheduled to play Saturday, Nov. 11, at The MOB, which opens at 4:30 p.m. in the Ramskeller at the Lory Student Center. Def Knock starts at 5:10 p.m. and The Other Black starts at 6:50 p.m. The event will also feature free food, video games, a trivia competition and Ram swag.
At the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center, Eli Slocumb & Grace Kuch perform at 6 p.m., followed by Dubskin at 6:30 p.m.
Stadium Sessions, made possible by CSU’s partnerships with The Music District and Bohemian Foundation, is open to the public and features more than 30 bands on three on-campus stages during weekends when the Rams are playing at home.
The Bennett Lady Tigers were the last of 12 teams to stamp their ticket to this weekend’s 3A State Volleyball Championships at the Denver Coliseum after outlasting Cedaredge and Eagle Ridge in Region 9 Nov. 4. The orange-and-black needed an extra game to 25 points against Eagle Ridge to garner their berth.
The seventh-seeded Tigers are in Pool II at the state tournament with No. 2 Lutheran and 11th-seeded Sterling and won’t be on the court until the seventh match on Friday against Lutheran. Eight matches are scheduled for Friday with the first one to start at 8 a.m. The Colorado High School Activities Association has scheduled matches to start 8 minutes after the previous one has concluded. There are no set start times after the first match.
On Saturday, Bennett and Sterling are slated to play the third match with the first match again slated to begin at 8 a.m. The winner of Pool II will play the champion of Pool III in the semifinals later Saturday afternoon. The other semifinal pits the winners of Pools I and IV against each other. The championship match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday.
Tricia Bader-Binford • Bobbi Brown-Vandenberg • Jenny Coalson, L. D. Elarton • Don Kimble • Brian Richmond • Ken Shaw • Kent Smith • Joe Silva
Aurora, Colo. – The Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame has announced its 29th Hall of Fame class, a nine-member group that depicts the rich history of the Association, along with providing real-life examples of what participation, coaching, leading and advocating for students can do. Each of these people has established themselves as a role model for today’s young people seeking their way to adulthood.
The CHSAA Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 includes three of the state’s top former athletes in Tricia Bader-Binford (Roaring Fork), Jenny Coalson (Ellicott) and Joe Silva (Fruita Monument), along with four coaches in Bobbi Brown-Vandenberg (Boulder), Don Kimble (Limon), Ken Shaw (Regis Jesuit) and Kent Smith (Boulder/Highlands Ranch/Ponderosa). Official Brian Richmond (Fort Collins) and an administrator L. D. Elarton (Lamar) round out the Class of 2017.
Being selected for the CHSAA Hall of Fame speaks volumes about the impact the honorees have made to the high school landscape in Colorado. The CHSAA is humbled to be a part of the ceremonies that elevate and recognize these individuals and teams who excel amongst their peers.” CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said in making the announcement.
The selection committee struggles with the make-up of the class every year. They debate and advocate knowing that there are so many good people deserving of this recognition. The single most important item to the committee is the impact that each of these inductees, like those that came before them, have had in their respective areas of the state. The 29th class reflects the efforts, passion and love Colorado has for high school activities. — CHSAA Hall of Fame administrator Bert Borgmann
The committee, which is headed by Bob Marken (Buena Vista). Committee members aside from Marken include Kevin Boley (Legend), Larry Brunson (CHSAA Hall of Fame), Michele DeBerry (Boulder Valley Schools), Dick Katte (CHSAA/NFHS Hall of Fame), Jeremy Kerns (Byers), Shelli Miles (Widefield), Mike Miller (Cheyenne Wells), Dan Mohrmann (CHSAANow.com), Carol Sams (Grand Junction), Cherie Toussaint (Pueblo SD 70 Schools) and Kendall Wilson (Poudre).
CHSAA CEREMONIAL INDUCTION
The Class of 2017 will be inducted during a ceremony on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at the Radisson Hotel-Denver Southeast (I‑225 and Parker). Individual tickets may be purchased for $50 each by contacting the CHSAA. The festivities get underway at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.
The selection of the one student participant to the CHSAA Hall of Fame puts the total number of participants in the hall at 68. There are now 69 coaches/sponsors, 28 administrators, 17 officials and 11 significant service contributors enshrined in the CHSAA Hall of Fame that began in 1989. There are also four teams in the hall. The Hall of Fame now features 197 inductees.
2017 CHSAA Winner Biographies
Tricia Bader Binford
Tricia Bader Binford (Roaring Fork HS) – A three-sport athlete – basketball, volleyball and track – Bader was a five-time state track champion, three-time all-state basketball player and led the Rams to the 1989, 1990 and 1991 state basketball titles. She was a three-time all-state player and the player of the year as a senior. She won the 1991 Rocky Mountain News’ Steinmark Award and RHS has named its “Three-Sport Athlete Award” after her. A former WNBA and Australian professional player, Bader is the head coach at Montana State where she was the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 2015-16. As great as she was on the court, she was equally great off it, maintaining great character, and inspiring many young women in rural communities to become involved in sports.
Bobbi Brown Vandenberg
Bobbi Brown-Vandenberg (Boulder HS) – A girls’ coach for 32 years in Colorado and Wisconsin, Brown was the architect of one of the strongest girls’ basketball programs in Colorado. Her BHS teams were 182-28, winning the 1984, 1986, 1989 (undefeated), 1990 and 1991 state titles. Her 1985 and 1992 teams finished second. She also took a leave of absence in the middle of her Boulder tenue to finish her graduate studies. A former CU basketball player, was also an assistant varsity football coach in 1990, coaching wide receivers and defensive backs. She coached at Fairview and Boulder from 1981 until 1992. She was Coach of the Year by The Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and Boulder Daily Camera five times. She is currently the Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) women’s basketball coach.
Jenny Coalson
Jenny Coalson (Ellicott HS) – Coalson was a three-sport athlete at Ellicott, leading her team to two state basketball championships and winning four state individual track titles, while placing 10 more times. She won the triple jump as a freshman, the 200 meters and shot put as a junior, along with winning the long jump as a senior. The 2A Basketball Player of the Year twice in basketball, Coalson was all-state in basketball (twice) and volleyball (once). She was selected to the CCGS and CHSCA All-State Teams in both sports as a senior. In addition, she is a Little Britches world champion rodeo performer. She won the 1995 Rocky Mountain News’ Steinmark Award She went on to play and excel in basketball at Kansas State.
LD Elarton
Eldon “L.D.” Elarton (Lamar Schools) – One of the state’s most respected administrators, Elarton’s career as a student participant, teacher, coach and administrator was steeped in Lamar. A native of the community, he played baseball, basketball and football, was student body president and an all-state participant for LHS. After college, he returned home to teach and coach, starting in 1968 and moved up the ranks, serving as teacher, assistant principal, principal, finance director and superintendent. As a coach, Elarton earned Baseball Coach of the Year honors in the Will Rogers League at Widefield High School. Once returning to Lamar, he initiated the Academic Letter Award, host numerous CHSAA Music and Speech events, while the school’s baseball, wrestling and girls’ basketball teams won 10 state titles among them. He was active on the state and national scene through CASE and NASSP.
Donald Kimble
Don Kimble (Limon HS) – A music teacher who established one of the finest music programs, the late Don Kimble taught music for the Badgers for 29 years after one year at Flagler. His bands received 26 first division ratings in state large group festivals, both in performance and sight-reading. The marching band also won state recognition in 1977 for its field performances. Kimble directed four different bands at Limon, the fourth-grade band, fifth-grade beginning band, the Cadet Band (6, 7 & 8 graders) and the Senior High School Band. He taught Music Appreciation and took his pep bands to many out-of-town athletic contests. He was also assigned three choirs to conduct. Kimble was a master at balancing the demands for his students between athletics and his music programs.
Brian Richmond
Brian Richmond (Fort Collins) – One of the state’s top gymnastics coaches and judge, Richmond coached high school for 17 years, but has been a high school judge since 1971. He coached gymnastics at four high schools – Jefferson, Poudre, Fort Collins and Thompson Valley – with the PHS team winning the 1984 title and runners up in 1985. A former CSU gymnast and coach, Richmond became one of the top judges in the state, as well as one the national and international scene. He judged 20 CHSAA boys’ state meets and has been a mainstay with the girls’ state meet, having worked 35 of those. He has judged on the national and international stage. He was inducted in the National Gymnastics Judges Association Hall of Fame in 2011.
Ken Shaw
Ken Shaw (Merino, Yuma, Sterling, Rocky Mountain, Smoky Hill, Regis Jesuit HS) – One of the state’s legendary athletes who became one of Colorado’s top prep basketball coaches, Shaw guided his Merino team to a pair of state tiles, while going undefeated. He was a prolific high school athlete at Merino, and held the career scoring record when his career was over. That mark has since been broken, but Shaw’s name still dots the basketball record book as a player. Additionally, Shaw was a standout football player, and has his name in that sport’s record book. As a coach, his teams have won more than 710 games and he guided Regis to three straight 5A championships. His teams also won titles two other times, at Yuma and Sterling. His teams have a record 29 state tournament appearances.
Joe Silva
Joe Silva (Fruita Monument HS) – A Bronze Star Recipient in Vietnam, Silva was a three-time state wrestling champion for Fruita Monument and compiled a 58-0-2 mark in his career. In 12 state matches, opponents scored just 6 points on him. He also participated in football and baseball. He is a former District 51 Teacher of the Year and taught 29 years at Fruita Middle School. During that time, he, along with 2016 inductee Ray Coca and others broadcast the Western Slope State Championship matches on radio and television. From 1963-65, Fruita enjoyed much success in wrestling, baseball and football. The constant on these teams was Silva. The school won two wrestling team titles and the football team was state runner up twice and baseball once over the period.
Kent Smith
Kent Smith (Boulder, Ponderosa, Aurora Central, Highlands Ranch, La Veta, Alamosa) – Having just retired after 53 years of coaching, Smith is one of the state’s top coaches, regardless of sport. And, he is noted for his integrity and ability to build better people through activities. He has been the head boys’ basketball coach at Boulder and Ponderosa, the head cross country coach at Ponderosa and Highlands Ranch, as well as the head boys’ soccer coach at Aurora Central. Additionally, he served as head girls’ basketball coach at La Veta and Alamosa. His teams have won state titles in basketball (twice at Boulder) and cross country (six times at Highlands Ranch). He runs a dog and horse rescue ranch near Walsenburg.
Additionally, the staff has selected Varsity, a company dedicated to the dynamic, athletic and high-profile sport of spirit to receive the Colorado Tradition Award. The staff has also selected Woodie Smith, a former coach and athletic director at Overland High School to receive the Distinguished Service Award this year.
Tickets are $50 per seat or $500 per table of 10. Please contact Whitney Webermeier () for reservations. Contact the CHSAA office with questions.
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
AURORA — The Colorado High School Activities Association on Oct. 30 unveiled the 36 teams that qualified for 3A regional volleyball play this weekend and Bennett is among the dozen host schools.
Bennett is the No. 9 seed and will host No. 16 Eagle Ridge Academy and 28th-seeded Cedaredge on Saturday, Nov. 4. Bennett will face Cedaredge at 1 p.m.; Eagle Ridge versus Cedaredge is scheduled at approximately 2:45 p.m.; and Bennett against Eagle Ridge should take place about 4:30 p.m. The winner of Saturday’s round-robin will advance to the Colorado State Volleyball Championships Nov. 10-11 at the Denver Coliseum.
For updated postseason schedules, visit i-70scout.com.
AURORA — Bennett and Strasburg are on the top half of the 16-team 1A state football playoff bracket, which was released by the Colorado High School Activities Association Oct. 29. Both teams will host a first-round matchup this weekend.
Bennett is the top seed, according to CHSAA, and will host No. 16 Highland at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3. The game was moved forward from the usual 1 p.m. Saturday playoff kickoff as Bennett hosts a 3A regional tournament the next day.
The No. 4 Indians will play host to 13th-seeded Wray starting at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4.
With wins, Bennett would either travel to Paonia or host Peyton Nov. 10 or 11, while the Indians would host Burlington or travel to Bailey to face off with Platte Canyon.
If Strasburg and Bennett both win the next two weekends, they would play each other in a state semifinal Nov. 17 or 18 with the winner receiving a berth into the state championship game Nov. 25.
AURORA — The third-seeded Strasburg Lady Indians overcame a slow start to down No. 14 Delta 13-3 in the first round of the 3A State Softball Tournament at the Aurora Sports Complex this afternoon and then sweated out a 2-0 pitcher’s dual against sixth-seeded La Junta in the quarterfinals to advance to tomorrow’s semifinals.
The red-and-black will face off for the third time this season against conference foe Eaton at 10 a.m. tomorrow with the winner advancing to play either Faith Christian or Brush in the championship game at 1:15 p.m
The original 3A State Tournament bracket is below:
BENNETT — The Bennett Lady Tigers will host a three-team round-robin for the first round of the Frontier League Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 19.
Bennett will face off with Arrupe Jesuit beginning at 4 p.m. The middle match will be between Arrupe Jesuit and Lake County at approximately 5:15 p.m. The Lady Tigers will return to the court about 6:30 p.m. to take on Lake County.
The winner of the night advances to the conference tournament semifinals and finals Saturday, Oct. 21, at Middle Park in Granby. Semifinal matches — pitting the highest seed against No. 4 and second and third seeds against each other — will take place at 11 a.m and approximately 12:30 p.m. The third-place match will follow the semifinals with the day to conclude with the championship match at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Bennett enters the tournament as the second seed with a 13-2 record overall, 7-1 in conference play.
For additional playoff information, visit www.i-70scout.com.
Lady Tigers Jazmyn Brown, above, Isabelle Babi, below, and the rest of the Bennett volleyball team will start Frontier League Tournament play this Thursday on their home court against Arrupe Jesuit and Lake County in a three-team round robin.
BENNETT — The Bennett Tigers will end the weekend 7-0 on the gridiron without playing a game on Friday.
Front Range Christian has forfeited the Oct. 13 game at Paul Read Field because of a lack of healthy players meaning no Friday night lights action at Bennett.
The orange-and-black has two more regular season Foothills Conference games — Oct. 20 at Manual and Oct. 27 at home against undefeated Platte Canyon — before the 1A playoffs start Nov. 4.
BENNETT — The Bennett Park & Recreation District will celebrate its 10th anniversary during its Customer Appreciation Day, Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The event will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bennett Rec District, 455 S. First St., and will feature birthday cake and other party foods and coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
The celebration is sponsored by the Town of Bennett, McDonald’s, King Soopers and employees of the Bennett Park & Recreation District.
Members of the public are invited to not only partake in the celebration but see all of the offerings available through the recreation district and rec center.
