Cheyenne Mountain expectations remain high
In Class 4A boys soccer, an array of programs has mastered the details to building a championship-caliber program — dedication, talent and buy-in at the grassroots level of its community.
That fact will again translate to a wide-open title chase this season, with No. 1 Cheyenne Mountain leading the preseason power rankings thanks to a tradition that encapsulates all of those details.
“There was a high bar that was set when coach Jack Busher started the program, and the expectations that were there within the kids from Day One,” Cheyenne Mountain coach Tomas Martinez explained. “We’ll get first- or second-graders who do our youth camps, and their goal is to play here some day. We’ve created that culture where players work hard to become a part of this community and this tradition.”
The senior trio of midfielder Sam Kilimann, striker Evan Mcconnell and defender Chase McCleary lead the Indians in pursuit of their fourth state title and first since 2013, and an arduous early-season schedule featuring three opening matches against top-10 teams should mold Cheyenne Mountain for Pikes Peak Conference play and the playoffs.
“Our conference will be strong, but not as strong as it’s been, because I think there will be a bit of a gap between those top two, three teams and the rest of the conference,” Martinez said. “But I feel good about us, and we have a tough road for the first several weeks, so it will be good to see
4A boys soccer
Preseason power rankings 1. Cheyenne Mountain 2. Durango
3. Battle Mountain
4. Air Academy
5. The Classical Academy 6. Valor Christian 7. D’Evelyn
8. Lewis-Palmer 9. Standley Lake
10. Denver West where we’re at early in the season.”
No. 2 Durango, a 2016 semifinalist, also is dangerous. The Demons graduated 13 seniors but return an experienced core highlighted by senior striker Eli Fenton, senior striker Max Wilson and senior keeper Trey Furnas as the team seeks its first state title.
“Last season showed us we can always continue to get better, even in the latter part of the season,” Durango coach Dalon Parker said. “We have to do that, because we thought we were good enough to get (to the championship), but it showed our kids that we have to continue to work.”
No. 3 Battle Mountain, last season’s runner-up, and No. 4 Air Academy — who, along with No. 8 Lewis-Palmer will challenge Cheyenne Mountain for the Pikes Peak crown — are also in the title race, as is defending champion No. 5 The Classical Academy.
“That Classical Academy team was an amazing team last year, and they’ll go down as one of the top teams we’ll ever see, especially the freshman class they had that went to the state finals all four years,” Parker said. “And even though it seems like they lost the world (to graduation), you’ve still got to look at T.C.A., because Blake Gavlin does a great job of recycling and getting younger players quickly acclimated to varsity play.”
And out of the Jeffco League, No. 6 Valor Christian, No. 7 D’Evelyn and No. 9 Standley Lake all are potent, as is No. 10 Denver West from the Denver Prep League in an overall classification where a litany of more quality teams lurk just outside the preseason power rankings.