Though the fall high school sports season isn’t quite wrapped up, top local prep athletes are already embarking on a new season.
Some early winter sports action has already taken place with much more to come next week.
Here is a look at five of the most intriguing local storylines heading into the winter high school sports season:
1. Windsor’s pursuit of a second consecutive boys basketball state championship
A season ago, the Windsor boys basketball program ended a century-plus drought of state championships when it defeated Green Mountain 60-49 on March 15 to cap a 22-6 season with the 5A title.
The Wizards should be right back in contention this winter as they return much of their roster from a year ago, including leading scorers Madden Smiley and Brady Kingsley, who are both seniors this year.
A season ago, Smiley led the team in points (20.9), rebounds (7.6), assists (3.4) and steals (2.1) per game en route to being named the 5A player of the year by CHSAANow.com/MaxPreps.
Windsor player Brady Kingsley is fouled while playing Standley Lake during the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Windsor. (Jim Rydbom/Greeley Tribune file photo)Kingsley was second on the team in points per game (12.6), while recording 3.1 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Windsor opens its season against Liberty on Dec. 3 in the Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Fossil Ridge High School.
The Wizards are first, ahead of Green Mountain, in CHSAANow.com’s 5A preseason coaches poll.
2. Eight individual wrestling champions will look to defend their titles
Of the 11 local wrestlers that won individual state wrestling championships this past February at Denver’s Ball Arena, eight are slated to return this winter.
Severance junior Drake Vombaur will attempt to defend his boys title (4A), as will Roosevelt senior Chris LaLonde (4A), Windsor senior Adrian Czyszczon (4A), Windsor senior Robert Kendall (4A), Windsor senior Evan Perez (4A), Eaton senior Blake Hawkins (3A) and Resurrection Christian senior Samuel Stockton (3A).
Drake Vombaur of Severance celebrates his 4A 113-pound final match victory after defeating Manuel Amaro of Pueblo East at the 2025 Colorado wrestling state championships at Ball Arena in Denver on Feb. 15, 2025. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post)Severance sophomore Eila Schultz was the sole local girls champion a year ago, and she’ll also look to defend her 4A title this winter.
3. University will attempt to continue the school’s run of state titles
University made school history when it won its first girls basketball state title, capturing the 4A crown with a 42-35 win over Delta in the championship game March 15 at the Denver Coliseum.
That ignited a barrage of girls state championships for the Bulldogs, who went on to win a softball and girls volleyball state title this fall.
University will try to develop some new leaders as it looks to repeat as state champion this winter.
The Bulldogs graduated their leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks from a season ago.
University player Natalie Trujillo takes a 3-point shot while playing D'Evelyn at the Denver Coliseum on Saturday March 2, 2024.(Jim Rydbom/Greeley Tribune file photo)A pair of senior leaders from a year ago — Addison Harding and Janay Kravig — led University in most categories a year ago.
Harding, who was CHSAANow.com’s/MaxPreps’ 4A player of the year, averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Kravig, an all-state first-team selection, averaged 10.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
One prime candidate to fill the leadership void — senior Natalie Trujillo — was University’s third leading scorer a year ago, averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 steals and 2.5 assists this past season.
The Bulldogs open their season against Mitchell in Lamar’s home tournament Dec. 4. They are ranked second behind Holy Family in CHSAA’s 4A preseason coaches poll.
4. Eaton, Windsor, Roosevelt and others look to ascend back up the wrestling ranks
In a bit of a rare occurrence, not a single local team walked away with a team title during the wrestling state tournaments this past February at Ball Arena.
Multiple local programs came close, as Roosevelt was second and Windsor placed third — behind Pueblo East — in 4A. Eaton was third behind first-place Brush and second-place Alamosa in 3A.
Windsor's Robert Kendall, right, picks up Lutheran's Lincoln Feagans in the 165-pound match in the 4A Region Wrestling Tournament in Windsor on Feb. 8, 2025. Kendall went on to win his first state title this past season. (Jim Rydbom/Greeley Tribune file photo)Numerous other local programs also placed in the top 10. Valley, Resurrection Christian and Fort Lupton were sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in 3A.
Highland was fifth in 2A. Severance was fourth in the 4A girls standings.
The local wrestling scene’s now two-year drought of team state titles could very well come to an end this winter with a ton of top talent returning to the mat.
Perennial contender Eaton is the top-ranked team ahead of No. 2 Alamosa and No. 3 Brush in CHSAA’s preseason 3A boys wrestling coaches poll. Fort Lupton is fourth, and Valley is seventh.
Windsor is second, Roosevelt is third and Severance is fourth — all behind No. 1 Pueblo East — in the 4A boys poll. Highland is fifth in 2A.
Up-and-coming Severance is tied with Moffat County for third in the 4A girls poll.
Resurrection Christian player Callie Gillespie, right, hugs teammate Bethany Vrooman after the Cougars won the Class 3A state championship Saturday at the University of Denver. (Nathan Wright/Loveland Reporter-Herald)5. Resurrection Christian’s continued dominance in 3A boys and girls hoops
Resurrection Christian completed a perfect sweep of 3A basketball state titles a season ago.
The girls capped a 26-2 campaign with a 54-32 finals win against Denver Christian on March 15 at Denver University’s Hamilton Gymnasium.
The boys finished their perfect 28-0 season with a decisive 55-42 win against Strasburg in the title game, claiming their second consecutive state championship.
The Cougars girls team will look to rebuild on the fly after graduating their top 5 scorers and rebounders from a season ago.
The boys team also has big shoes to fill after graduating their top 3 scorers and top 4 rebounders from this past season. Senior Egan Koenig is a prime candidate to step up after averaging 10.8 points and 3 assists a season ago.
Resurrection Christian’s boys and girls open their seasons at home against Severance on Dec. 5.
Hence then, the article about 5 northern colorado storylines heading into the winter prep sports season was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 5 northern Colorado storylines heading into the winter prep sports season )
Also on site :
- Alonso and Stroll turned frustration into fun in Suzuka scrap
- Shock new VAR plan by Premier League as fans set to vote on decisions via an app
- England’s World Cup 2026 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s almost there and who still has work to do?