Under new Athletic Director Jim Porter and following a stellar 2016-2017 showing that included 24 all-league athletes and 10+ committed college athletes, Coronado Athletics is set for a promising 2017-2018 fall campaign; here’s a look at the upcoming season for each of Coronado’s fall sports.

Football

Last Season: 3-7

Home Opener: 9/15 @ 7 P.M. v. Sand Creek @ Garry Berry

Coronado football returns much of its starting lineup for the 2017-2018 campaign and proves hopeful for this year’s season under new head coach Monte Gutowski and returning Coronado 2014 3A State Championship staff members Coaches Edmund, Muth, Lobato, and Carle. Notable returning players include senior quarterback Toby Smith, tallying 1715 total yards last season with a 0.553 pass completion percentage, as well as first team all-league honors. The Cougars also return senior Jordan Evans, who racked up 564 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns in the 2016-2017 season, as well as seniors Tyler Clark and Justin “Gronk” Dwinell. Clark accumulated 450 total yards and 6 touchdowns last season while Dwinell accounted for 891 total yards and 4 touchdowns, earning him first team all-league and second team all-state recognition. On defense, the Cougars are led by junior Deegan Foster, who racked up 69 total tackles last season, and Brock Stinson, who gathered 59 total tackles last season.

Men’s Cross Country

2016-2017 Finish:

2017-2018 Host Meet: The Cougar Classic, 9/21 @ 3 P.M. @ Monument Valley Park

The Coronado men’s cross country team takes a hit going into the 2017-2018 season, having graduated varsity #2-ranked runner Clay Rahaman. The Cougars return second team all leaguers and two-sport athletes Conor Strizich, 12, and Ben Swanson, 11, for the 2017-2018 campaign, as well as well-ranked sophomores Eric White and Charlie Schroeder and senior Andrew Burton. 

Men’s Golf

2016-2017 Finish:

2017-2018 Home Opener: 8/17 @ 3 P.M. v. Fountain Fort Carson and Pine Creek

Coronado men’s golf enters the 2017-2018 season a young team, with five of the Cougar’s eight varsity golfers being underclassmen. Following the 2016-2017 season, the Cougars graduated two seniors including Luke Travins, the only remaining member of Coronado’s 2014 State Championship and 2015 State Runner-Up teams. Returning varsity juniors Jacob Crandall and Jack Cintron, as well as freshman Andrew Merz will likely be the Cougars’ top performers in the 2016-2017 season. The Cougars turn over a new leaf in the 2017-2018 season with the departure of head coach Marty Cornell and the arrival of new program head Rick Rienks.

Men’s Soccer

Last Season:  5-10

Home Opener: 8/24 @ 4:30 P.M.  v. Sand Creek @ Garry Berry

Coronado men’s soccer returns for the 2017-2018 season having lost nearly half the varsity roster to 2017 graduation but having gained new head coach Eddie Hurt. The Cougars, however, return last season’s second-highest scoring player, junior Hayden Field, who accounted for eight of Coronado’s goals during the 2016-2017 season.

Men’s Tennis

Last Season: 9-1

Home Opener: 8/28 @ 3:45 v. Palmer Ridge

After an extremely successful 2016-2017 season, Coronado men’s tennis returns a strong line-up even after graduating two of the program’s top three players, including #3 singles player James Boehlke who went undefeated in 2016-2017 regular season play. The Cougars return #1 singles player and multi-sport athlete Ashton Rogers, who went 13-4 last season and garnered second team all-league honors. Coronado also returns both members of its killer #2 doubles duo, juniors Reilly Fredell and Tucker Travins. The pair went undefeated in the regular season, and represented the Cougars as the team’s only members to make it to the 5A state tournament. Fredell and Travins snagged 2016-2017 first team all-league honors.

Softball

2016-2017 Record: 1-16

Home Opener: 8/24 @ 4:30 P.M. v. Mesa Ridge @ Holmes

After fighting through a tough 2016-2017 season, accumulating a record of 1-16, Coronado softball returns with renewed tenacity in the 2017-2018 season. A key advantage for the Cougars is the return of 2016-2017 team Most Valuable Player and second-team all-league honoree Julie Callan, 11, who lead last year’s team not only in batting percentage, 0.460, but in fielding percentage, 0.625. The team also returns sophomore Nevaeh Santistiven. Recipient of all league honorable mention honors, Santistiven fielded 0.333 and hit 0.435 last season. The Cougars are further aided by Grace Leahy, a strong senior fielder.

Volleyball

Last season: 18-9, tied for 9th at the 5A state tournament

Home opener: 8/29 @ 6 P.M. v. Liberty

Coronado volleyball looks into the 2017-2018 season with high prospects, having graduated only one member of its 2016-2017 state tournament roster, and boasting a highly unusual quantity of seniors, nine on the team. Notable returners include senior outside Jaelyn Hershberger who allotted 206 digs, 40 aces, and 215 kills on the 2016-2017 season, as well as senior setter Delaney St. Pierre who accumulated 48 aces, 55 blocks, and 743 assists, as well as first team all league honors, last season. The Cougars also return senior middle blocker and 2016-2017 CSML Player of the Year Mara Abernethy, who tallied 315 kills last season as well as 72 blocks, and honorable-mention all-state honors. Leading the Cougars in the back row is senior libero Bethany Heitland, who lead the 2016-2017 Cougars in digs, with 403 on the season, as well as contributing 44 aces.

Women’s Cross Country

2016-2017 Finish: 7th at the 5A state meet

2017-2018 Host Meet: The Cougar Classic, 9/21 @ 3 P.M. @ Monument Valley Park

Among the most intact of Coronado’s fall sports teams is women’s cross country. The Cougars enter the fall season with high hopes, returning the entirety of their 2016-2017 top-ten in 5A roster for the upcoming season, including varsity top three runners Taylor Dutton, 12, Chloe Cassens, 12, and Layla Roebke, 11, in addition to six other all-league honorees. The Cougars will however, have a new head coach for the 2017-2018 campaign with Coronado newspaper adviser and long-time track and cross country coach Grant Stoughton taking over for retired Coronado physics teacher and DJ, Doug Hugill.