AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between Aug. 23-Aug. 29:
• Zero Week football is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 23 when Vista PEAK visits Hinkley in the lone early game among several around Colorado featuring Aurora teams. Coach Pat Rock’s Bison won their first varsity game a season ago against the Thunderbirds — by a 20-14 count — but new Hinkley coach Jaron Cohen, who is hoping to turn around the program after coming over from Liberty in Colorado Springs, sees an opportunity to win his debut at Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
• The annual Raptor Rally is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at Eaglecrest as the school’s football and volleyball teams play host to significant scrimmages designed to give a sneak peak at the teams that will debut less than a week later. Grandview is among the volleyball teams set to scrimmage. At 3:30 p.m., the Eaglecrest boys tennis team is on the court against visiting Rangeview in a non-league Aurora dual match to open the season.
• Cherokee Trail plays at Grandview at 10 a.m. Aug. 24 in an important early Centennial League softball contest as both talent-laden teams look for a leg up in what figures to be a tight league title chase. The rivals — who both finished behind Eaglecrest in last season’s standings — split a pair of games in league play last season. Coach Dave Thies’ Wolves then get their first chance to see former coach Bill Kramm in an opposing dugout when they play Cherry Creek at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Village Green Park.
• All fall prep sports can begin play Aug. 29 with football, volleyball, boys soccer, cross country, field hockey and gymnastics join the early-starting sports — boys golf and tennis and softball — in regular season action. Two football games are on the slate immediately, as Grandview opens against Horizon at 7 p.m. at the North Stadium in Thornton, while Overland is also in action as it faces Arvada West at 7 p.m. at Golden’s North Area Athletic Complex.
• The cross country season opens Aug. 29 with the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede which will be run on the same course at the Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs that will play host to the state cross country meet on Oct. 28. Grandview, Regis Jesuit and Smoky Hill competed in last season’s pre-state race.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
