If you believe in omens, Kent Denver has the odds against it to repeat as 3A state champion. Why? Because it hasn’t really been done. Lewis-Palmer won consecutive small-school titles in 1993 and 1994, but that was the 1A-4A classification back when the sport went up to 6A. The Sun Devils, at least on paper, do appear to have as good a chance as anyone this season. The loss of player of the year Alex Marsh is obviously huge, because the do-everything midfielder was the heart, soul and glue of the team. Faith Christian retains its lofty perch atop a top 10 that includes six teams from the Metropolitan League, which should still lead the state no matter how many playoff berths its teams earn. Tournament seeding is vital. Remember: A Metro League team has won the state title every year since 1998. Basalt heads the non-Metro list, slightly ahead of Alexander Dawson and Manitou Springs.
TOP TEAMS
1. Faith Christian
2. Kent Denver
3. Colorado Academy
4. Basalt
5. Denver Christian
6. Alexander Dawson
7. Manitou Springs
8. St. Mary’s Academy
9. Fountain Valley
10. Peak to Peak
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Megan Ausec, Manitou Springs, Sr.; Katie Bell, St. Mary’s Academy, Sr.; Amanda Chandler, Peak to Peak, Jr.; Heidi Chandler, Peak to Peak, Jr.; Jessi Graf, Basalt, Jr.; Krysta Grimm, Pikes Peak Chr., So.; Marsha Harper, Kent Denver, Jr.; Lindsay Landhuis, Denver Chr., Jr.; Athena Lopez, Faith Christian, So.; Erin McGonagle, Kent Denver, Jr.; Ellie Peterson, Heritage Chr., Sr.; Wrendy Rayhill, Fountain Valley, So.; Laurel Reinhardt, Pagosa Sp., Sr.; Evette Salazar, Center, Jr.; Katie Staerkel, Basalt, Sr.; Suzanne Stawiarski, Kent D., Sr.; Wendy Stephens, Classical Acad., Sr.; Beth Tatlock, St. Mary’s Acad., Sr.; Olivia Wagner, A. Dawson, So.; Megan Xavier, B. Machebeuf, Jr.; Ryndi Zastrow, Middle Park, So.
