As the page turns to 2019 and the stretch run of the second of three prep sports seasons, here’s a look back at the best performers in the fall of 2018.
The collection of Sentinel’s All-Aurora teams from fall sports — as selected by the Sentinel based on state results or in conjunction with balloting of city coaches — is full of some of the state’s best performers in volleyball, boys soccer, softball, cross country, boys tennis, field hockey and boys golf.
Here’s a look at the first team selections, with larger stories and full teams to come at sentinelcolorado.com/preps:
All-Aurora Volleyball
Aurora’s return to the Class 5A state tournament for the first time since 2015 came with a considerable amount of firepower citywide as highlighted on the 2018 All-Aurora Volleyball Team. The city’s two semifinalists — Cherokee Trail and Eaglecrest — had a great deal of the top talent — with Sydney Cole, Amaya Messier and Savannah Spitzer heading a strong group of Cougars, while the trio of Lorrin Poulter, Audrey Black and Gabby Vogt formed a powerful punch for the Raptors. Elsa Lamphere and Sarah Majka keyed a bounce back season for Grandview — Aurora’s third state tournament qualifier — repeat EMAC MVP Lexi Hurtado helped lead Rangeview to another league championship and Aurora Central relied on libero Ana De Los Santos to do just about everything from the back row with a lot of roster turnover.
All-Aurora Boys Soccer
Grandview gave the city a chance for its first boys state soccer championship in a decade with a run to the Class 5A finals and provides much of the talent on the 2018 All-Aurora Boys Soccer Team. The Wolves had standouts at each level of the field, including a defense that was keyed by seniors Peter Goldy and Raymond Jackson in front of goalie Cobi Wood, a midfield impacted heavily by transfer Noe Ortiz Pena and an attack keyed by forward Jaime Luna. Cherokee Trail’s deepest and most talented team led to its best-ever finish in 5A with forward Mike Menzies and midfielder Ben Garcia at the forefront, Rangeview proved dangerous yet again with the highest-scoring duo in 5A of Alexis Flores (the EMAC MVP) and Rashid Seidu-Aroza, while midfielder Colton Barry’s clutch performance down the stretch helped Regis Jesuit finish atop the Continental League and make the state playoffs after a slow start and Eaglecrest had one of the top defenders around in A.J. Garza.
All-Aurora Softball
One of the strongest softball seasons overall in recent years for Aurora concluded with four city teams (Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Regis Jesuit and Smoky Hill) reaching the Class 5A state tournament stocked with much of the talent that appears on the 2018 All-Aurora Softball Team. The top seed going in, the Cougars reached the state final with the help off a gutty performance by Delanie Cox, the city’s most fearsome hitter who swung the bat with one hand after she suffered a finger injury in the regular season finale. Versatile freshman Jenna Mudhus was a huge addition. Eaglecrest had another outstanding campaign led by the senior trio of infielders Shayelyn Allen and Rachel Sabourin, plus the sister act of Rylee and Reese Waggoner. Regis Jesuit’s first-ever trip to the 5A state tournament came with a big push from the senior battery of pitcher Jackie Cal and catcher Izzy Macias, who guided a young, talented group to the postseason. Yasmine Ybarra provided pop and leadership in the middle of Smoky Hill’s freshmen-infused lineup.
All-Aurora Cross Country
Aurora’s sister act of Cherokee Trail’s Cameron and Caitlin McConnell paced Aurora with third and fourth-place finishes at the Class 5A state race. The McConnells had plenty of teammates on the 2018 All-Aurora girls cross country team, as senior Kyra Stevenson and juniors Tarikwa Woldemariam and Soonhee Han of the third-place Cougars join them. Regis Jesuit’s Isalina Colsman and Grandview’s Anna Swanson also were among the seven top city finishers, while the Wolves’ Kaitlyn Mercer, the Aurora city champion, rounds out the All-Aurora girls team. On the boys side, the city’s performer of the year was Gateway’s Yonas Mogos, whose second season in cross country included the EMAC championship, a regional title and a fifth-place state finish, the highest for the program in 30 years. The Regis Jesuit duo of Owen Buehler and Thomas Beatty, Dalton Seymor of resurgent Smoky Hill, Grandview’s Jake Sheykhet, Rangeview’s Tesamichael Wolde and Overland’s Abdi rounded out the top seven runners from Aurora at state. Rangeview’s Luke Sundberg, the Aurora city champion who suffered an injury during the state race, also appears on the All-Aurora boys team.
All-Aurora Boys Tennis
Regis Jesuit’s remarkable run to the Class 5A state championship came as the Raiders had six of seven positions earn top-three places at Gates Tennis Center and gave them a clean sweep of the 2018 All-Aurora Boys Tennis Team. Evan Nuss and Emilio Gonzalez-Cruz won their third straight state championship when the pair took the No. 1 doubles title, while first-time state champs came at Nos. 2 and 3 singles in Kosta Garger and Connor Kaczmarczyk, respectively. Morgan Schilling (No. 1 singles) and the No. 4 doubles tandem of Nathan Tolva and Jack Carbone finished as 5A runners-up, while Philip Albright and Grigor Karakelyan placed third at No. 2 doubles. The No. 3 doubles team of Matthew Rau and Thomas Williams didn’t place at state, but won a regional title and were Aurora’s lone state qualifiers at the position.
All-Aurora Field Hockey
Regis Jesuit won the first state championship in program history and did so on the strength of an extremely talented lineup. Junior forward Lauren Pendergast scored both of the Raiders’ goals in a 2-1 overtime win over Cherry Creek in the final and leads the way on the 2018 All-Aurora Field Hockey team, which includes plenty of other Raiders in Elizabeth Dewey, Sarah Tartell, Zoey Dale, Cate Lord and Shay Zilvitis in the goal. Grandview seniors Olivia Wayne and Dani Armitage also earned spots among the city’s best.
All-Aurora Boys Golf
In one of the rare times in recent years, neither the individual or team champion at the Class 5A boys state golf tournament hailed from Aurora. But the city had plenty of quality players, including a pair of top-10 placers in Regis Jesuit junior Bo Wardynski (seventh) and Smoky Hill senior Chris Kennedy, a four-time state qualifier who finished with a career-best 10th-place finish. Cherokee Trail junior Beam Boonta and Regis Jesuit seniors Walker Fuller and Eddie Custy round out the top five city performers at state.
All-Aurora Football
Aurora’s best on the football field will be included in the Jan. 10 edition.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports