AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from May 9-11:
(All events weather permitting)
• The three-day Class 5A girls state tennis tournament opens at 9 a.m. May 9 at Gates Tennis Center in Denver with three Aurora singles players and two doubles teams aiming for net titles. After a successful run at the 4A level, Regis Jesuit plays in the 5A state tournament for the first time with singles players Shelby Cerkovnik (No. 1) and Haley Chirico (No. 2), plus the No. 1 doubles team of Erica Dodson and Anna Finch and the No. 2 duo of Jessica Butler and Catherine Nemecek. Sydney Reese (No. 3 singles) represents Cherokee Trail.
• The Centennial League is loaded with top caliber track teams and they’re slated to compete May 9 & 11 at Stutler Bowl as teams get one final tune-up before the state meet and athletes get one more chance to record times or distances to put them in the top 18 of their respective events needed to qualify for state. Prelims are scheduled for 3 p.m. May 9 with finals set for 10 a.m. May 11. The Continental League Championships, including Regis Jesuit, is scheduled for Sports Authority Stadium in Parker on the same dates — 3 p.m. May 9 and 8 a.m. May 11.
• Boys swimming league championships get decided May 10-11 in the final competition before the Class 5A state meet. Smoky Hill plays host to the Centennial “A” League championships — which also include Cherokee Trail, Grandview and Overland — with prelims at 5 p.m. May 10 and finals at 3 p.m. May 11. Hinkley tries to defend last season’s EMAC title at Adams City (4:30 p.m. May 10; 12:30 p.m. May 11) and 5A state championship favorite Regis Jesuit is at the Continental “A” League Championships at Heritage (5 p.m. May 10, 2:30 p.m. May 11).
• Class 5A baseball district tournaments play at eight sites on May 11 including Grandview and Regis Jesuit, which earned hosting duties. City qualifiers Rangeview and Smoky Hill play at Grandview, while Cherokee Trail is at Dakota Ridge and Gateway heads to Rocky Mountain. Game times are 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Smoky Hill plays host to Liberty at 11 a.m. May 11 at Legacy Stadium in a 5A girls soccer state round state playoff game as the sixth-seeded Buffaloes — the only one of Aurora’s six playoff qualifiers to win in the first round — welcome in the 11th-seed Lancers. Smoky Hill has lost in the second round in each of the past two seasons.
• The boys and girls state lacrosse playoffs roll along May 11 as all boys quarterfinal games take place on that date, as well as the second round of the girls playoffs. All four boys quarterfinal games are scheduled for Regis Jesuit High School and could include the host Raiders.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
