AURORA | A look back at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Sept. 15-21, 2016:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
Eleven Aurora boys golfers extended their 2016 season by qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament this week.
City teams competed in all four of the 5A regionals and at least one state qualifier came from each of the tournaments, headed by six from the Sept. 15 Western Regional at Broadlands G.C.
Regis Jesuit earned the chance to defend its 5A state title when the foursome of seniors Justin Markel and Tyler Zhang and juniors Cal McCoy and Drew Anderson all qualified individually. Markel’s 2-under-par 70 led the way for the Raiders, who were unable to secure one of the two automatic team spots at state, which were grabbed by Fairview and Lakewood.
Smoky Hill senior Kyle Colen shot 75 to return to state for the first time since his freshman year and his sophomore teammate, Christopher Kennedy, shot 76 to make a second straight trip.
Cherokee Trail senior Bradley Scalia earned his fourth state trip in style by winning the championship at the Sept. 19 Northern Regional at Aurora’s Saddle Rock G.C. Scalia carded a 1-under-par 71 for a 1-stroke victory and was joined in state by Gateway’s Michael Milton, who shot 83 to grab one of the final two qualifying spots. Milton will be the first Olympian at the state tournament since 2007.
Grandview seniors Danny Taggart and Brandon Armitage navigated the 5A Southern Regional Sept. 19 at South Suburban G.C. to make state themelves, while Eaglecrest junior Davis Bryant shot 1-under-par on Sept. 20 at City Park in Denver to earn his third state trip.
• The rolling Cherokee Trail softball team posted an 11-1 win over Cherry Creek Sept. 20 to open Centennial League play. The Cougars pounded out 13 hits and got 3 RBI each from Meghan Medhus and Delanie Cox, while Madison Depakakibo had three hits in Grandview’s big 6-4 win over Smoky Hill and Rachel Sabourin and Shayelyn Allen drove in 3 runs each in Eaglecrest’s mercy-rule shortened win against Overland.
• Ivan Enriquez and Jalen Sanchez scored and the Rangeview boys soccer team continued its impressive start to the 2016 season with a 2-1 victory over Smoky Hill on Sept. 19 at Legacy Stadium.
• Grandview senior Brie Oakley followed up her impressive win at the Liberty Bell Invitational with a dazzling performance in California in the girls Sweepstakes race at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic Sept. 17. Running at sea level, Oakley dropped a time of 15 minutes, 53.6 seconds, to win the elite multi-state race by a full 27 seconds.
• Derrick Smashum piled up five touchdowns and Dylan Holt caught a pair of TD passes as the Vista PEAK football team got in the win column for the first time with a 56-16 win over Adams City on Sept. 17.
• The Eaglecrest football team posted its first win over former Centennial League rival Grandview since 2010 with a rousing 36-29 victory Sept. 16 at Legacy Stadium. Junior quarterback Jalen Mergerson ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw another to senior Tyler Peabody and junior Victor Garnes rushed for 127 yards and scored twice for the Raptors (3-0), who also came away with three turnovers. The Wolves (2-1) got 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns from senior running back Hayden Blubaugh, a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Gunnar Lamphere to sophomore Amaris Duggan and a defensive score from junior Luke LaFlam.
• Seniors De’Oveya Johnson and Jouan Kennedy scored two touchdowns apiece and Fransisco Aranda piled up 247 yards of total offense as Aurora Central remained unbeaten with a 36-31 win over Smoky Hill on Sept. 16 at Stutler Bowl. The Trojans moved to 3-0 for the second straight season. Karson Avila accounted for four TDs for the Buffs, who dropped their homecoming contest.
