A look at the Fall boy’s soccer seasons:
CLASS 5A
Most dynasties end via war or economic collapse. Smoky Hill’s run of four consecutive trips to the state championship (with a record of 3-1) could be over as coach Danny Winsor is opening the doors at Parker’s Legend High School.
Of course, the Buffaloes didn’t do it all with Winsor, so things could change, which would make for another amazing story.
By virtue of three returning all-state players, Rangeview is the new blood at the No. 1 spot. The Raiders head up a Continental League (watch for Heritage, 4A Rock Canyon, Chaparral and Mountain Vista) that loses Arapahoe to the Centennial.
The Centennial remains tough with Grandview and Cherry Creek, but the improving Boulder duo moves to the Front Range, which is loaded. Only six teams will qualify for state in a league that will be nasty with Rocky Mountain, Poudre, Fort Collins, Fairview, Boulder, Northglenn, Horizon and talented newcomers Mountain Range.
Chatfield remains the class of Jeffco, but watch Lakewood. East should be kings of the city, although Abraham Lincoln and South will compete.
Liberty, Air Academy and Pine Creek will be the class of the Colorado Springs Metro.
Durango, with eight starters returning, will be a force in the playoffs.
Class 5A top teams
Rangeview
Grandview
Rocky Mountain
Arapahoe
Poudre
Durango
Cherry Creek
Chatfield
Liberty
East
Returning all-state players
David Armstrong, Rangeview, Jr.; Zach Bolden, East, Jr.; Christian Caruso, Mountain Range, Sr.; Robbie Derschang, Cherry Creek, Jr.; Josh Euell, Rangeview, Sr.; Dustin Geist, Durango, Sr.; Paul Gulian, Pine Creek, Sr.; Marc Hershberger, Northglenn, Sr.; Scott Kisling, Liberty, Jr.; Adrian Lockett, Rangeview, Sr.; Alex Nass, Poudre, Sr.; Zach Portillos-Grant, Grandview, Jr.; Javy Salome, Liberty, Sr.; Steven Solano-Cargill, Smoky Hill, Jr.
CLASS 4A
Rejoice, 4A teams!
Liberty, an enviable factory of soccer talent under coach Mike Goyden, is in 5A for the next two years. Lament, 4A teams! Lewis-Palmer, an enviable factory of soccer talent under coach Kurt Clark, is back in 4A for the conceivable future.
Speaking of factories, it all begins with defending champions Broomfield, which will head up the rough Northern League.
Rock Canyon returns 15 of 19 players, and nine of 11 starters. The Jaguars will get seasoned in the 5A Continental League and qualify for the playoffs through the Colorado Springs Metro League, which includes a salty Cheyenne Mountain.
Valor Christian and Castle View will add some spice. Further south, it appears the torch passes to Pueblo West, which returns nine starters and is heavy with sophomores and juniors.
Cañon City and Pueblo East will also be game.
Mullen, finalists in 2007, will qualify for the playoffs through the South Central for the next two seasons. Jeffco gets Wheat Ridge and Centaurus, both of which could usurp Golden and Conifer as league heavyweights. Battle Mountain, Montrose and Eagle Valley will be tough out west.
Class 4A top teams
Broomfield
Lewis-Palmer
Rock Canyon
Cheyenne Mountain
Battle Mountain
Niwot
Pueblo West
Fossil Ridge
Wheat Ridge
Centaurus
Returning all-state players
Scott Branson, Rock Canyon, Sr.; Cesar Castillo, Eagle Valley, Sr.; Cole Chapleski, Broomfield, Jr.; Rob McLaren, Montrose, Sr.; Daniel Nunez, Centaurus, Sr.; Marco Ordono, Battle Mountain, Jr.; Garret Seitz, Broomfield, Jr.; Alex Tarnoczi, Rock Canyon, Sr.; Connor Tedstrom, Battle Mountain, Jr.
CLASS 3A
Stange days are here. The state’s smallest classification has wrestled with playoff seeding for years as the Metropolitan League has dominated.
The new spin is 10 regions – two for the Metro, which will leave behind just two schools. Oh, and that Metro group has perennial strugglers Lookout Academy and newcomers Manual. The feel-good news is that 32 teams now will make the postseason.
Enjoy it, although it seems life at the top is unchanged. Kent Denver gets the early nod at No. 1 behind an athletic defense and proven goal scorers, two critical pieces to success.
Defending champion Denver Christian returns 12 varsity players, although spots are open in the middle of the formation. Colorado Academy returns arguably the most talented individual in Alex Gunberg and Faith Christian has 13 seniors after falling off the map.
Remember what Faith’s girls team did in the spring? Basalt is the western wild card and The Classical Academy, C.S. Christian and 2007 finalists Fountain Valley should power the south.
Class 3A top teams
Kent Denver
Denver Christian
Colorado Academy
Faith Christian
Basalt
The Classical Academy
Colorado Springs Christian
Alexander Dawson
Bishop Machebeuf
Fountain Valley
Returning all-state players
Toby Bopp, Basalt, Sr.; Alex Gunberg, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Brent Ham, Denver Christian, Jr.; James Hsueh, The Classical Academy, Sr.; Jose Ordaz, Alexander Dawson, Sr.; Tony Ryerson, Vail Mountain, Sr.; Cody Schmeling, Weld Central, Sr.; Willy Strazza, Kent Denver, Sr.; Bobby Thalman, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Peter Walker, Kent Denver, Jr.
