I photographed the 4A football playoff game between Riverdale Ridge and Monarch last weekend. I witnessed my first high school overtime game. The rules are related to college rule but the ball is placed at the opponent’s 10-yard line. Monarch stopped Riverdale at 1 to seal the victory, 14-7. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen as much action in such a low-scoring game. Monarch’s defense line had a field day recording 4 sacks and 2 strip fumbles in the second half to make like miserable for the Riverdale quarterbacks.
I spent last Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs photographing the 2025 CHSAA Boy’s Soccer Finals. It was a lot of fun as usual although a very long day with 4 matches.. Congrats to Crested (2A), Kent Denver (3A), Mullen (4A), and Regis (5A) on taking home the state crowns. The best match of the day was Crested Butte -Forge Christian as no goals were scored in regulation or overtime despite several chances. Crested Butte came back from a 3-1 deficit in penalty kicks to prevail 4-3.
Another year has come and gone and Colorado has crowned its high school basketball champions. Congratulations to Kent Denver for taking home the trophy in 4A boys, Windsor in 5A boys and Eaglecrest in 6A boys basketball. On the girls’ side, University edged out Delta to take the 4A crown while Mullen took home the 5A trophy and Grandview secured the 6A title. It was a fun tournament as always to photograph Enjoy some of the best shots form the weekend.
There is nothing better than an upset bid in sports. Last night, the Erie boy’s basketball team gave everything it had to take down ninth-ranked Horizon. But Erie’s dream died at the buzzer as Callen Gebhardt’s jumper in the lane rimmed out as time expired. The Hawks had led most of the night until Erie surged ahead 50-48, with under a minute left. But Horizon’s Noah Sokolowski hit a put back and converted the and 1 to put Horizon up 1, 51-50 with just a few seconds remaining.
Congratulations to the Riverdale Ridge girls and Resurrection Christian boys basketball teams for winning the CHSAA 4A 2024 high school basketball state titles.
It was time in Colorado football for the #2 seeds to finally get their due. Erie defeated #1 seed Palmer Ridge 20-6 to take the 4A title while Columbine ran all over Cherry Creek 28-14 to claim the 5A title. Columbine ended Creek’s bid to claim its fifth consecutive state title. Perhaps the most enduring scene of the day was Erie quarterback Blake Barnett holding the championship trophy aloft after barely being able to walk the last part of the game due to a badly sprained ankle.
A Palmer Ridge cheerleader tries to fire up the crowd in the 4A football final.
An Erie running back hurdles a Palmer Ridge defender in the 4A final.
Erie quarterback Blake Barnett throws a touchdown pass against Palmer Ridge to help Erie win 20-6 in the 4A final.
An Erie wide receiver celebrates his touchdown catch against Palmer Ridge in the 4A final.
Erie fans celebrate their state football championship over #1 seed Palmer Ridge.
Young Erie fans cheer on their team against Palmer Ridge in the 4A title football game.
The Palmer Ridge running back tries to stretch for a first down in the 4A final against Erie. Unfortunately for him, he was turned backwards and did not make the line to gain.
An Erie defender can’t quite catch Palmer Ridge quarterback in the 4A title game.
Erie QB Blake Barnett avoids a tackler in the 4A title game.
Erie running back Braylon Toliver breaks a long run for a touchdown in the 4th quarter to seal the victory over Palmer Ridge, 20-6.
Erie helmets dot the field at Canvas Stadium after the Tigers captured the 4A crown, defeating Palmer Ridge 20-6.
An Erie offensive lineman celebrates his team’s victory in the 4A final.
Erie quarterback Blake Barnett celebrates the Tigers’ 4A title as he holds up the championship trophy.
The Erie Tigers football team celebrate their upset win over Palmer Ridge.
Erie football team celebrates its win over Palmer Ridge with its fans.
Erie football team celebrates its win over Palmer Ridge in the 4A title game.
The referee does the opening coin toss in the 5A title game between Cherry Creek and Palmer Ridge.
Columbine cheerleaders have fun before the 5A final against Cherry Creek.
Cherry Creek fans have fun during the 5A title football game.
Cherry Creek fans have fun dancing during the 5A title game against Columbine.
Columbine running back Josh Snyder hurdles a Cherry Creek defender en route to the end zone in the 5A title game.
Snyder heads to the end zone in the 5A title game against Cherry Creek.
The Columbine quarterback and running back Josh Snyder celebrate a touchdown against Cherry Creek in the 5A final.
A Cherry Creek running back stiff arms a Columbine defender in the 5A title game. .
Cherry Creek QB rolls out in the 5A title game against Columbine.
The Cherry Creek QB looks to make a play against Columbine in the 5A title game.
Columbine fans cheer on their team against Cherry Creek in the 5A title football game.
A Cherry Creek defender knocks away a pass from the Columbine wide receiver in the 3rd quarter of the 5A final.
A Columbine defensive back almost snags an interception in the fourth quarter of the 5A final against Cherry Creek.
A Columbine defensive end battle a Cherry Creek lineman in the 5A final.
The Columbine head coach, Andy Lowry, celebrates his team’s victory over Cherry Creek in the 5A football final.
Columbine celebrates its victory over Cherry Creek in the 5A football final.
Columbine celebrates its victory over Cherry Creek in the 5A football final.
Columbine celebrates its victory over Cherry Creek in the 5A football final.
It was state championship Saturday yesterday for high school basketball in Colorado. Grandview defeated Monarch for the 6A girl’s title 38-28 while Denver East raced past Fossil Ridge 82-61 to take home the 6A boy’s crown. Lack of height did in Monarch as Grandview’s 6′-4″ Sienna Betts dominated inside, scoring 20 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. Meanwhile, Denver East used a balanced attack to blitz Nick Randall and the Fossil Ridge Sabercats. In 4A action, Holy Family took home both state titles. The girls were a season-long #1 seed but the boys surprised a lot of observers, taking home the crown as the #17 seed. They never had a hone playoff game en route to grabbing the trophy.
Centaurus played Holy Family in both girl’s and boy’s basketball last night in Broomfield, CO. Holy Family swept the slate as both the girl’s and boy’s won their respective games. The girls won 54-35, holding Centaurus to 23% shooting. Fiona Seashell led the way with 18 points. The girls remain undefeated and stay atop the 4A rankings win the win. Meanwhile, the boys won the nightcap, 52-34.
I photographed the Colorado high school softball tournament for the 10th consecutive year. Congrats to Columbine who beat Douglas County in 5A and Lutheran who beat Holy Family in 4A. There were some great moments in the tournament. Horizon squandered a 8-0 lead in the top half of the 7th inning in its first round match-up with Arvada West only to win in in the 10th on a walk off homer. Lutheran’s Hailey Maestretti struck out 17 of the 26 batters she faced en route to a 3-0 shutout of Holy Family in the 4A final. Erie made it close in an upset bid over #1 seed Columbine only to go down to defeat 3-2. A close play at the plate was the difference as a runner was called out.
The Academy charter school took on D’Evelyn Christina in 2A football Saturday afternoon. The Academy had their way with D’Evelyn all afternoon. They prevailed 54-6.
