2015 Coronado fall sports proved among the most successful in Coronado’s history, totaling three top-five 5A all-state finishes.

Girls Cross Country

The Coronado Girls Cross Country team concluded its season in 5th at the Colorado Girls 5A State Cross Country Championships. In a girls’ team entirely comprised of freshmen and sophomores, Coronado’s first female runner, freshman Madeline Morland, took 24th place at the race at Bear Creek State Park and the Norris-Penrose Event Center, followed by Faith Roth, 9, in 29th place, Elana Muzzy, 10, in 34th place, Taylor Dutton, 10, in 46th place, Chloe Cassens,10, in 66th place, Layla Roebke, 9, in 172nd place, and Lindsey Murray,10, in 186th place.  Cassens was diagnosed with strep throat just three days before the state meet and Murray was running on an injured foot and wore a medical boot as soon the race was over. The team was unranked and largely unknown heading into the race, but the young Cougars introduced themselves to the state in grand fashion.

Boys Cross Country

The Coronado Boys Cross Country team concluded its season in 21st at the Colorado Boys 5A State Cross Country Championships.  The foremost runners in the boys’ race were seniors Nicholas Vai, 12, finishing in 55th place, and Michael Swanson, 12, in 77th. Varsity’s only seniors were followed by junior Daniel Roth in 118th, Mac Roberts, 9, in 144th place, Andrew Burton, 10, in 145th place, Clay Rahaman, 11, in 156th place, and Conor Strizich, 10, taking 157th place. Both varsity programs are only graduating two seniors total.

Boys Tennis

Boys varsity tennis, under new head coach Tyler Philipsen, finished the season with an overall standing of 8-2, completing a successful season. The Cougars placed second at the Spartan Invite, and the entirety of varsity advanced to regionals, eventually sending junior James Boehlke, 9-1, to the Colorado 5A Boys Tennis State Tournament in number three singles. At state, James went 0-2 but gained experience for the next season of competition.

Softball

Girls varsity softball had a fantastic 2015 season with a record of 11-7-1 and were ranked 86th of 162 in the state. Coronado softball accumulated 5 triples, 22 doubles, and 101 runs  throughout the season. Cougar softball was led in batting average by seniors Kelly Weil and Riley Afshari with averages of 0.410 and 0.407, Weil also accounting for the Cougars’ single home run of the season. Freshmen Julie Callan lead the team in runs, totalling 16 throughout the season, followed by seniors Jill Dragosh, Megan Urban, and Reina Gonzales, accumulating a total of 43 runs throughout the season. Bethany college commit and Coronado pitcher Afshari struck out 144 batters for the season.

Boys Golf

Coronado’s Men’s Golf Team finished another winning season, taking 2nd  at the 5A state competitions in Ft. Collins, coming in right after Regis Jesuit and tied with Lakewood. Individually, the three Coronado players that golfed at state all placed in the top twenty. Austin Burgess, 12, took 16th, Wes Moran, 12, got 11th, and Isaac Petersilie, 12, placed 10th. The state tournament capped off an impressive regular season from the Men’s Cougar Golf Team. It was the last Coronado season for Moran, Burgess, and Petersilie, but their golf careers aren’t ending by any means; Moran will join a college golf team but is currently undecided, while Burgess has signed to play for the CSU Pueblo Thunder Wolves and Petersilie will compete for the University of Denver Pioneers.The four varsity players, which include the three previously stated, along with Luke Travins, 11, all made Cougar nation proud with their exceptional play and successes on the course.

Football

The Cougar Football, 1-9, had a constructive 2015 season, orienting a young team to a new head coach and the varsity field. Cougar quarterback, Toby Smith, 10, had 70 completions on the season and totaled 633 yards through the air, and a touchdown. Instrumental in Coronado’s success in an offense primarily run on the ground was senior Marquis Arrington, who lead the Cougars in yards, totalling 1163 yards on 191 carries and 10 touchdowns throughout the season, also having the biggest play of the year with a 97 yard touchdown run. The defense was led by senior Ryan Strabala, 12, finishing the season with 118 total tackles on the year and leading the team in tackles per game (13.1) and tackles for loss (5.0). The 2015 Coronado Football season proved successful in establishing a great foundation upon which to build the program under first year head coach Rob Wetta.

Volleyball

Following victories against 5A second-ranked team Mountain Vista at regionals, and 5A first-ranked team Chatfield at the Colorado State 5A Volleyball Tournament, Coronado volleyball concluded the season 20-7 and 5th in Colorado 5A volleyball. Delaney St. Pierre, 10, and Madison Brown, 12, lead the team in aces, both totalling 48 in the season. Mara Abernethy lead the team in blocks with 88 for the season, while Kaira Smith lead the team in kills collecting 275 for her senior season. Senior Allie Garcia, selectee for the Colorado 5A First Team All-State (academics and athletics), lead the team in digs with 605 for the season, second in Colorado 5A, followed by Madison Brown and Kaira Smith, accumulating 309 and 306 digs for the season respectively. With seven sophomores, volleyball boasts talent and potential for the coming season.

Boys Soccer

Men’s soccer concluded the season 41st in the state and 15-4, and were undefeated for much of the season. Though they ended up not going to state, they had a great season with impressive plays and stats. Key contributors included seniors Angelo Salazar (captain), Eli Stauffer, and Chase McElhany, Salazar with 24 goals and 8 assists, Stauffer accumulating 14 goals and 9 assists, and McElhany totalling 64 saves as goalkeeper on the season. In addition to the victorious senior class, juniors Dane Meyers and Joey Callen, both accumulated 6 goals and 9 assists. The soccer team’s success in 2015 was a team effort, and it has paid off well.