Colorado State Championship Preview

Although Easterns action is sure to overshadow it, May 12-13th mark the final days of High School Ultimate in Colorado. This year’s championship looks to be a toss up. The strongest team in the state (Lakewood) has decided to split into two teams for the tournament, spreading it’s skill across both. The thought process behind this can only be that they are looking to Westerns as their priority. This puts several teams in vying position for first. The tournament will be played in a 5-2 mixed format. The 6 teams to look at for contention to first place are: Broomfield (1), East (3), Cherry Creek (4), Lakewood Orange (5), Lakewood Black (7), and Fairview (8). Even split up Lakewood’s teams could surprise a few schools. With 24 teams participating in the tournament, each team will play five, 85 minute games on Saturday with no byes (except for lunch and in A pool). Read on for more.

The final seedings are as follows:

1. Broomfield
2. Arapahoe
3. East
4. Creek
5. Lakewood Orange
6. CA
7. Lakewood black
8. Fairview
9. Dakota Ridge
10. Boulder
11. Open
12. A-West
13. Monarch
14. Columbine
15. North
16. PS1
17. Grandview
18. DU High school
19. Compass
20. Overland
21. Rocky Mountain
22. CA-B
23. Heritage

Twenty-three teams is a few too many to do a profile for, so I will opt instead to profile the top 8, the “contenders”:
1. Broomfield. This may be Broomfield’s year. Following with the usual cycle of junior’s ultimate in Colorado; this team has a line up of mostly seniors with a legitimate ability to play. After a reasonable finish at the OPEN East invitational (5), the team looks poised to strike, if they can beat East—who they lost to 14-6 at the Invitational.
2. Arapahoe. The 2nd seed is given to Arapahoe mostly for their season record (they did not participate in the East Invitational). Arapahoe will fall in seeding at the end of Sunday, though they do have the ability to remain in the top 6.
3. East. A team that, annually, has the highest level of intensity, East finally has the skill to match. The only team in Colorado with a team USA member (junior Brenna Hokanson), East may well be crowned champion by the end of Day 2. Their OPEN team at the Invite took third after a Fairview forfeit and their Women’s team took first in the women’s division. The mixed format certainly favor East.
4. Cherry Creek. Creek is one of the best teams in the state every year. In the first year of a state tournament, this was the school that won. With the number four athletic program for public high schools in the nation, athleticism is a perk Creek enjoys. This year Creek is in a “rebuilding” year, with a team consisting of several seniors and juniors and a lone freshman. The team could be a dark horse of sorts, seeded fourth and poised to win their pool.
5. Lakewood Orange. The first division of the otherwise dominant (9-0 in Open, 8-0 in Mixed) Lakewood team, may be strong enough to upset seed. Certain to beat anyone seeded below them in their pool, their biggest challenge on Saturday will be whether or not they can overcome the #1 seed in their pool, earning a bye on Sunday and a near certain semi’s berth.
6. CA. Colorado Academy is a school with amazing spirit. This year they certainly have the ability to place in the top four, though 6th is likely where they will end up (narrowly beating Arapahoe).
7. Lakewood black. The second division of the ever so dominant Lakewood squad, this team WILL take their pool, earning a bye on Sunday.
8. Fairview. At the East invitational Fairview took fourth place (though they did come out of a much weaker pool). This team is coached by Club/College all-stars Hector Valvidia (Bravo) and Josh “Richter” Ackley (Mamabird/Bravo).

Predictions:
Finals: East-15 to Broomfield- 9
3rd Place Game: Lakewood Orange-15 vs Creek- 12

These are guesses, but who knows. Here are the pools, updates Sunday evening.

A (in order): Broomfield, Fairview, Dakota Ridge, PS1, Grandview
B (in order: Arapahoe, Lakewood Black, Boulder, North, DUHS, Heritage
C (in order): East, CA, Open, Columbine, Compass, CA-B
D (in order): Creek, Lakewood Orange, A-West, Monarch, Overland, Rocky Mountain