A handful of Aurora prep athletes head to Alamosa for the 56th annual Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State Games, which run June 6-9 at Adams State College.
Competition in boys and girls basketball, football, softball, volleyball and wrestling are on the schedule over four days and athletes — who all just finished their senior years — can stay in the dorms during the week.
On the basketball floor, Rangeview’s Gabe Solarin — who helped the Raiders make the Class 5A Final Four in the winter season — was the lone Aurora player selected and he is on the roster of the Red Team, which will be coached by legendary Denver Christian coach Dick Katte, who is retiring after 48 years and nearly 900 victories.
Basketball is scheduled to run all day June 9 starting at 9 a.m., with most games at Alamosa High School and the championship at Plachy Hall on the Adams State campus.
The all-state football game — scheduled for 7:15 p.m. June 8 at Rex Stadium — will see good representation from Aurora, with Gateway lineman Sady Sumbunu suiting up for the North Team while Grandview lineman Taylor Schultz and Cherokee Trail teammates Thomas Singleton (quarterback/cornerback) and Dillon Zacharias (defensive tackle) reside on the South Team roster.
The mother-daughter combination of Overland’s Jill and Taylor Carlson get a few more volleyball matches together, as Jill Carlson will coach the White Team and Taylor Carlson, a setter, is on the roster. Volleyball begins at 9 a.m. June 9 and is played primarily at Plachy Hall.
The All-State wrestling match includes a pair of Aurora Central teammates suiting up for a last time, as Kevin Nguyen and Bryan Calderon will wrestle for the Red Team.
Notes: The prestigious Fred Steinmark Award will be presented at halftime of the football game. Eight finalists and the final winner of the award — named after former Wheat Ridge High School star Fred Steinmark — will be selected by a committee of athletic directors, coaches, and former Steinmark Award winners. Aurora’s last Steinmark winner was Smoky Hill’s Annie Perizzolo in 2007.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2012 CHSCA ALL-STATE GAMES
At Adams State College, Alamosa
Wednesday, June 6 — 2 p.m.: Softball game, ASC Softball Complex
Friday, June 8 — 6:15 p.m.: Parade of Athletes, Rex Football Stadium; 6:45 p.m.: Football Introductions, Rex Football Stadium; 7:15 p.m.: Football game, Rex Football Stadium
Saturday, June 9 — 9 a.m.: Boys Basketball (Alamosa High School) and Volleyball (Plachy Hall); 11 a.m.: Girls Basketball (Alamosa High School); Noon: Wrestling match (Plachy Hall); 1:30 p.m.: Boys Basketball 3rd-place game (Alamosa HS)/championship game (Plachy Hall); 3:30 p.m.: Girls Basketball 3rd-place game (Alamosa HS)/championship game (Plachy Hall); 5:30 p.m.: Volleyball 3rd-place match (Alamosa HS)/championship (Plachy Hall)