CENTENNIAL – When 杏吧视频 coach Andrew Soeldner held the school鈥檚 first boys鈥� volleyball practice six years ago, he asked the team who had played organized volleyball before signing up.

鈥淣o one raised their hands,鈥� Soeldner said.

But it took just a year for 杏吧视频 to appear in the 3A state championship, which sparked a near-perfect run the next four years.

Saturday, 杏吧视频 defeated Faith Christian for the championship 2-0 (25-15, 25-18) for the program鈥檚 fourth consecutive title, increasing its unbelievable 3A winning streak to 90 matches.

Soeldner said celebrating their fourth title felt just as good as the first, but he went through an emotional journey throughout the day.

鈥淭he first time was great because it was new, we were all working together, we were figuring it out, but this time they are my family,鈥� Soeldner said. 鈥淚鈥檝e known them all for five years now and then there鈥檚 this sadness throughout the whole day, knowing and counting down – 150 points left, 100 points left, 50鈥� 0. And I鈥檓 not going to coach these seniors ever again.鈥�

Soeldner has coached a large core of the seven-member senior class since they were in eighth grade – the first time 杏吧视频 made it to the state championship.

The Coursers started the day with a 2-0 win over St. Mary鈥檚 in the first round, but according to Soeldner, fell off a bit in the second set of their second-round game against D-20 White. 杏吧视频 ultimately defeated the other Pikes Peak region team 25-23 in the second set for a 2-0 sweep, setting up their third title match against Faith Christian in four years.

The Coursers set the tone early thanks in part to senior Hayden Frear smacking down four kills on the way to a 7-1 lead in the first set. 杏吧视频 began the second set in similar fashion, earning a 5-0 lead. Faith Christian kept the set tight the whole way, tying it up early, before battling back from a four-point deficit to close within one.

But behind senior Carter Milroy at the service line, 杏吧视频 used a 6-0 run to put it on ice.

Frear delivered a powerful jump serve that was too much for Faith Christian to handle, sending the ball into the stands for the win.

Frear told The Gazette last week that he hoped to meet Faith Christian in the final again after developing a rivalry with the Eagles over the years. He said the Coursers鈥� second state title win over Faith Christian in 2016-17 sparked the idea that they could potentially sweep the championships through his high school career.

鈥淎t that point we thought we could actually go for the full run. We thought no one was going to outwork us in the state,鈥� Frear said last week.

The decision to add boys’ volleyball as a Colorado high school sanctioned sport has been decades in the making.

But while the debate raged on at the Colorado High School Activities Association, one school was building a boys’ volleyball dynasty in Colorado Springs.

This weekend 杏吧视频 will compete for its fourth straight Colorado 3A state championship – this time with more eyes than ever on the growing sport.

Just two weeks ago, CHSAA approved boys鈥� volleyball as a sanctioned sport starting the 2020-21 school year, making this year鈥檚 state tournament the first of its kind as a pilot program, and a glimpse into what the sport will look like under CHSAA鈥檚 umbrella in spring 2021.

杏吧视频, which has an enrollment of just 305 according to the latest CHSAA numbers, began a boys鈥� volleyball club program six years ago. The Coursers made it to the state finals in their second year and won three consecutive after that – including two undefeated seasons.

鈥淔or some reason this really tiny school just got really good boys鈥� volleyball,鈥� said senior Seth Fuqua, who was also the captain of the boys鈥� basketball team that took second in 3A this year.

But coach Andrew Soeldner implemented a system early that could be responsible for the Coursers鈥� consistent success.

鈥淚鈥檓 an engineer, so I approach things in an analytical way. So I use stats heavily, and film, and every week we go over our body position and how we react to the other team,鈥� Soeldner said. 鈥淭hat kind of analysis and breakdown has really helped. I think they have a good grasp of the game and I think that鈥檚 showing now in this crew.鈥�

Of the six players on 杏吧视频鈥檚 varsity roster, five are seniors, and three have been with the team the past four years.

Senior Hayden Frear, who has signed to play Division I men鈥檚 volleyball, said he believes it鈥檚 a combination of the culture at 杏吧视频 and the athleticism of the team, which has been together for years.

12 Denver-area high schools named among Colorado鈥檚 best in new rankings.

Schools in Denver and surrounding metro-area communities took 12 spots in the top 20 in a ranking of high school quality in Colorado.

U.S. News & World Report ranked 475 Colorado schools based on how many students took and passed an exam for college credit, such as the Advanced Placement tests; test scores on math and reading; whether those scores were higher or lower than expected, given a school鈥檚 demographics; scores among students of color and those from low-incomes families; how many students took more than one exam for college credit; and graduation rates.

No Colorado schools cracked the top 100 nationwide. The state鈥檚 top performers ranked from 131st to 946th out of nearly 13,000 schools that were ranked across the United States.

U.S. News鈥� ranking of top Colorado high schools:

1. D鈥橢velyn Junior/Senior High School, Jeffco Public Schools, #131 nationally
2. Denver School of the Arts, Denver Public Schools, #153 nationally
3. 杏吧视频, Cheyenne Mountain School District, #176 nationally
4. Peak to Peak Charter School, Boulder Valley School District, #233 nationally
5. Crested Butte Community School, Gunnison Watershed School District, #236 nationally
6. Liberty Common Charter School, Poudre School District, #250 nationally
7. KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, DPS, #344 nationally
8. Strive Prep-Smart Academy, DPS, #448 nationally
9. STEM Middle and High School, Douglas County School District, #475 nationally
10. Fairview High School, Boulder Valley School District, #558 nationally
11. Denver Center for International Studies, DPS, #566 nationally
12. Cherry Creek High School, Cherry Creek School District, #599 nationally
13. Ridgeview Classical Charter Schools, Poudre, #607 nationally
14. Boulder High School, Boulder Valley, #656 nationally
15. Evergreen High School, Jeffco, #693 nationally
16. Conifer Senior High School, Jeffco, #705 nationally
17. Telluride High School, Telluride School District, #710 nationally
18. Palmer Ridge High School, Lewis-Palmer School District, #857 nationally
19. Classical Academy High School, Academy School District 20, #936 nationally
20. Cheyenne Mountain High School, Cheyenne Mountain, #946 nationally

2nd annual awards program highlights exceptional schools and the educators who lead them

As evidence has mounted that distance running is not just a natural human activity enjoyed by millions, but one that played a key role in evolution, a puzzle has emerged. Why, if humans are so well adapted to running long distances, do runners get hurt so often?

PORTLAND, Ore. April 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ —聽, the first national financial services provider exclusively focused on charter schools and the students they serve, has named 30 charter schools to its 2019 “.” Winners each receive one complimentary ticket to the in Las Vegas, Nev., June 30-July 3, 2019, and will be honored at an exclusive event hosted by Charter School Capital at the conference. A total of 177 schools entered the second annual awards program.

Honorees are recognized in the categories of school growth, student achievement, community service, school leadership, and positive school climate:

School Growth聽鈥� The growth of these schools reflects the growing demand for school choice in communities across the country.

• Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy 鈥� Louisiana
  • Opened in 2013 with 420 students, now serving 1,536 students
• International Leadership of Texas 鈥� Texas
  • Opened two campuses in 2013 serving 2,500 students, now operating 18 campuses serving more than 10,000 students
• Manatee School for the Arts 鈥� Florida
  • The only accredited public middle school in Manatee County, it’s one of five Gold Seal Excellence Charter Schools in Florida, serving more than 2,100 students
• Visions in Education 鈥� California
  • Opened in 2008 with 2,500 students, now serving 6,500 students
• Basis-Scottsdale Arizona 鈥� Arizona
• Towpath Trail High School 鈥� Ohio

Student Achievement 鈥� These schools are recognized for overall academic performance 鈥� some metrics include increases in Advanced Placement students, standardized assessments, SAT scores and high school graduation rates.

• 杏吧视频 鈥� Colorado
• Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts & Sciences Charter School 鈥� South Carolina
• ASU Prep Poly STEM Academy K8 鈥� Arizona
• D’Arbonne Woods Charter School 鈥� Louisiana
• Michigan Math and Science Academy Dequindre 鈥� Michigan
• Scholarship Prep-Santa Ana 鈥� California
• East End Preparatory 鈥� Tennessee
• STRIVE Prep-RISE 鈥� Colorado
• Mare Island Technology (MIT) Academy 鈥� California
• Signature School 鈥� Indiana

Community Service 鈥� These schools activate and nurture student interest in serving their communities through service projects, fundraisers and in-kind donations.

• Early College High School @ DSU 鈥� Delaware
• Leadership Preparatory School 鈥� Texas
• East Tampa Academy 鈥� Florida

School Leadership 鈥� Leaders at these schools have grown their programs, overcome obstacles and/or turned the public tide of opinion in favor of their school communities.

• DuBois Integrity Academy 鈥� Georgia
• Mission View Public Charter 鈥� California
• Compass Charter Schools 鈥� California
• Amana Academy 鈥� Georgia
• Basis-San Antonio Primary 鈥� Texas

Positive School Climate 鈥� These schools provide positive environments for cultivating critical thinkers and creativity.

• Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Warner (CAFA) 鈥� Arizona
• Imagine Schools-Chancellor Campus 鈥� Florida
• Pine Springs Preparatory Academy 鈥� North Carolina
• Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School 鈥� Pennsylvania
• Presidio School 鈥� Arizona
• Bronx Charter School Better Learning 鈥� New York

Administrators, teachers, parents and community leaders were among those who nominated their schools. Nominations were open for one category per person per school.

“The Charter School Honor Roll celebrates the top charter schools in America,” said Stuart Ellis, president and CEO of Charter School Capital. “We’re proud to recognize these schools for their student achievement, forward-thinking leadership and dedicated educators, and for doing everything in their power to support students with innovative education programs that nurture the power of the human mind.”

About Charter School Capital:
Launched in 2006, Charter School Capital delivers access to growth capital and facilities financing to charter schools nationwide. Charter School Capital has invested more than $1.8 billion in funding to 600+ charter schools, helping them provide a high-quality education to more than one million students across the country. For more information, visit or email GrowCharters@charterschoolcapital.org.

SOURCE Charter School Capital

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BY KEVIN CARMODY,

BASKETBALL

The Show

At Denver: Fountain-Fort Carson senior Samiyah Worrell and Seth Fuqua of 杏吧视频 each were named most valuable players for their respective games Saturday in action from The Show, an annual showcase started in 2001 by the Denver Nuggets.

Worrell, the Trojans鈥� all-time leading scorer, was MVP of the Navy team in the top 20 girls’ seniors game, while Fuqua, who surpassed 2,000 career points and led the Coursers to the 3A boys鈥� state-title contest, earned honors in the small-school boys’ all-star game.

A total of 31 players representing Pikes Peak region schools were selected to play in one of eight games that made up the showcase.

TRACK AND FIELD

Terror Invitational

At Garry Berry Stadium: Tyrese Vanhorne, the 4A reigning state champion in the 200 meters, won his signature event and added another in the 400 to help Harrison to the boys鈥� team title.

The Panthers also got a title in the 400-meter relay and an individual crown from Darius Cheatom, who claimed the title in the triple jump.

Palmer鈥檚 Elijah Brown won both hurdles races.

In the girls鈥� division, TCA won the team title, highlighted by victories by Kaylee Thompson (1,600), Kennedy McDonald (3,200), Shenna Daum (300 hurdles) and Kristina Willis (pole vault), in addition to a relay win in the 3,200 event.

Palmer sprinter Keyanda Bolton won the 100 and 200, while Widefield鈥檚 Aaliyah Ricketts took individual titles in the long jump and triple jump.

GIRLS鈥� SOCCER

Liberty 2, Smoky Hill 1

At District 20 Stadium: Cortney Cowles and Kimberly McKinney scored for Liberty (4-1), which already equaled its win total from last season (4-9-2).

Vista Ridge 2, Pueblo East 1

At Pueblo East: Vista Ridge (2-2) scored twice in the first half to edge Pueblo East in nonleague action.

BOYS鈥� LACROSSE

West Potomac 10, Cheyenne Mountain 7

At Lorton, Va.: James LaCerte scored twice, and Wiley Burkett added two assists for Cheyenne Mountain (4-1), which suffered its first loss of the season after being outscored 5-2 in the second half.

The Indians conclude their spring-break trip to the East Coast when they meet W.T. Woodson at 5 p.m. Monday.

GIRLS鈥� LACROSSE

George Washington 13, Rampart 10

At District 20 Stadium: Madeline Fontana scored three goals, and Brianna Jennings and Kenzie Fontana added two each in Rampart鈥檚 nonleague loss to George Washington in the Rams鈥� season opener.

BASEBALL

Doherty 4, FNE Warriors 0

At Doherty: Noah Schiff struck out 14 and allowed only two hits in a complete-game shutout to help Doherty snap a five-game losing streak.

Jordan Cornelison went 3 for 3 and had a run-scoring double to highlight a three-run third inning as the Spartans (2-5) broke open a close game.

Palmer Ridge 8, Rampart 1

At Palmer Ridge: Jack Wotta and Zach Shepherd drove in two runs each, and Bridger Havens and Brayton Wilmes combined on a five-hitter as Palmer Ridge (5-2) won its third straight.

Brandon White had two hits for Rampart (3-3), which found itself down 7-1 after four innings.

ECA 5, Longmont Christian 4

At El Pomar: A bases-loaded walk to Justin West capped a five-run rally in the seventh inning as Evangelical Christian Academy came back to beat Longmont Christian.

Spencer Hamilton鈥檚 run-scoring single started the comeback, then another run scored after Daniel Perry was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. One out later, Andrew Bronson tied the game on a two-run double to left field.

Sand Creek 22, Olathe 5 (5 innings)

At Grace Center: Adam Brock doubled and drove in four runs, and Kaden Levi, Zachary Howe and Dylan Hastings had three RBIs apiece as Sand Creek scored 17 unanswered runs late to pull away from Olathe.

Domingo Ruiz got the win for the Scorpions (4-3), allowing only two hits in four innings and striking out three.

Columbine 12, F-FC 0 (4 innings)

At Fountain-Fort Carson: Five errors paved the way for seven unearned runs as Columbine led 9-0 after two innings and cruised to a run-rule shortened victory over Fountain-Fort Carson (4-2-1).

Eaton 7, Lewis-Palmer 4

At Lewis-Palmer: Eaton broke open a close game by scoring six runs in the fourth inning as the Reds downed Lewis-Palmer in nonleague action.

Brandon Reynolds tripled and drove in three runs to pace the Rangers (5-2), who struck out 15 times against two Eaton pitchers.

Delta 9, St. Mary鈥檚 8

At Grace Center: Delta ended a three-game St. Mary鈥檚 winning streak on final-day action from the Pirate Spring Invitational tournament.

Montrose 7, Coronado 2

At Coronado: A six-run fifth-inning outburst helped Montrose break away from Coronado in second-day action from the Coronado Adidas Slugfest.

Haden Sedatole and Graehame Webb drove in runs for the Cougars (1-4).

Calhan 8, Centauri 4

At Las Animas: Eddie Glaser struck out 10 and allowed only four hits and added two RBIs to help Calhan win its fourth straight and all three games at the Las Animas Tournament.

Brayden Dillingham added a 3-for 4 effort with two RBIs for the Bulldogs (5-2).