They christened the official beginning of field hockey in Colorado by winning the first state championship, but since 1997, Colorado Academy has come up empty.
However, in qualifying last year for its first championship appearance this decade, the Mustangs let the rest of the state know they still belong.
“I’ve always thought we were a part of that elite group,” Mustangs coach Katy Hills said. “We’ve always finished near the top.
“For this group of individuals, (the championship game) was really a confidence builder, but it was not really surprising.”
Colorado Academy, which lost to Kent Denver 2-0 in the title game last year, has often ceded to the Sun Devils come playoff time. Kent Denver has knocked Colorado Academy out of the playoffs four of the past five seasons. And the Sun Devils have nearly owned Colorado field hockey, winning five of the eight sanctioned titles.
But Hills thinks there is more to worry about than Kent Denver.
“They’re not the last challenge, because you still have to beat everybody out there,” she said. “There is so much more talent coming up in our state that any team can sneak up on you.”
That being said, “Kent does have quite a few returning this season,” Hills said.
Among its bevy of returning all-state and other top-notch players, Kent Denver fields a team that includes Greta Meyer, Lauren Miller, Danielle Kachulis, Lauren Woodman, Caroline Duke, Molly Parker, Caroline Taylor and several others who would be starters on any other team in the state.
Kent Denver coach Kathy James said preparing for another Sun Devils championship “is the goal every year.”
Colorado Academy, which lost just two starters from last season, counters with a lineup built for another run through the playoffs. The Mustangs are led by Brittany Bland, Jordan Sedlacek, Logan Brown, Maria Schuette, Morgan Miller and several standouts at midfield and defense.
“I have a strong team,” Hills said. “We’d like to play in the state finals again.”
Cherry Creek (with Abby Hein, Keleigh McClaughlin, Morgan Saylor) and Smoky Hill (Amber Lister, Lindsey Graf, Alisha Miyazawa) round out the perennial cast of contending teams.
