Obviously, you won’t be seeing any state titles handed out in mid-January.
That certainly doesn’t mean that local teams aren’t positioning themselves for potential runs at championship hardware in February and March.
In fact, if midseason statewide rankings are any indication, there should be no shortage of local teams firmly in the hunt when titles are being decided weeks from now.
For instance, in CHSAANow.com’s latest girls basketball rankings, seven local teams are represented in the top 10 of five classes.
Roosevelt (11-1) is the fourth-ranked team in Class 5A, and Windsor (8-5) sits just three spots back, in seventh. Both teams could be big-time sleepers in late February on to March. The Wizards were a longtime contender — and, most recently, a back-to-back runner-up — in 4A, while Roosevelt is one of the latest schools to emerge as a legitimate contender in big-school girls hoops.
University’s girls (10-2) are fourth in 4A, and Eaton (10-3) is sixth. These two teams were regular contenders in 3A and they have carried all their success and confidence over into the 4A classification.
GREELEY, CO – FEBRUARY 15:University’s Taryn Kravig (2) drives toward the basket ahead of Platte Valley’s Brooke Bunting (11) during the Platte Valley Broncos girls basketball game against the University Bulldogs at University Middle School in Greeley Feb. 15, 2022. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
Resurrection Christian (6-7) is eighth in 4A. The Cougars have faced some of the top teams in the state in recent weeks, which could aid them when the postseason kicks off in about a month.
Platte Valley (3-6) is sixth in 3A. Though this slightly younger Broncos team took some lumps against elite competition from higher classifications early in the season, it would be foolish to count out the two-time defending 3A champion.
Briggsdale (7-0) is always in the hunt for a 1A title, and this could be the year when the Falcons finally get over that hump and claim the first title in program history. They are currently second in 1A behind Flatirons Academy (10-1), the team Briggsdale finished second to in the state tournament a year ago.
Shooting stars
There are also plenty of local boys teams in CHSAANow.com’s top 10 rankings — eight, to be exact.
Windsor (9-4) is ranked seventh in 5A.
Three local teams are in 4A’s top 10: No. 4 Eaton (12-1), No. 5 Resurrection Christian (9-3) and No. 7 Severance (10-3).
Three are also in the top 10 in 4A: No. 3 Highland (8-2), No. 8 Platte Valley (6-3) and No. 10 Windsor Charter Academy (8-1).
Briggsdale (5-1) is ranked fourth in 1A.
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 19:Fort Lupton’s D’mitri Garza-Alarcon reacts after defeating Woodland Park’s Brady Hankin during their 3A 138 pound state final match on the third day of the 2022 CHSAA State Wrestling Tournament in Ball Arena in Denver Feb. 19, 2022. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
Gritty grapplers
Sometimes maintaining the status quo isn’t such a bad thing, especially when you’re the Eaton Reds boys wrestling team.
With just a few weeks to go before state titles are decided Feb. 16-18 at Denver’s Ball Arena, Eaton has again positioned itself as the team to beat in 3A after winning its second title in three years a season ago.
The Reds are ranked first in 3A by Tim Yount of On the Mat (Tim@onthematrankings.com). Also in 3A, Severance is fourth, Fort Lupton is fifth and Valley is ninth.
Windsor is fourth and Roosevelt is seventh in 4A.
Speaking is Windsor
Per usual, Windsor’s girls swimming and diving program appears well-positioned to contend, with the state meet just a couple weeks away — Feb. 8-11 at the Veteran’s Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton.
The Wizards are ranked 10th in 4A by PrepSwimCo.com.
University’s Katie Bauer (13) reacts as the Eaton Reds score a point during the Eaton Reds 3A state quarterfinal volleyball match against the University Bulldogs at the Denver Coliseum in Denver Nov. 11, 2022. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
Spike on
University senior Katie Bauer assured she has plenty more volleyball in her future after signing a national letter of intent earlier this week to play women’s volleyball for Adams State University in Alamosa.
This past fall, Bauer recorded a team-high 294 kills to go with 46 aces (third on the team), 45 blocks (second) and 221 digs (third) for the perennially contending Bulldogs (22-7).
Bobby Fernandez covers high school sports for the Greeley Tribune. Reach him at (970) 392-4478, by email at bfernandez@greeleytribune.com or on Twitter @BobbyDFernandez.
This article was originally published in Greeley Tribune