District 1

Favorite: La Veta

Contenders: Antonito, Center, Del Norte, Sanford, Sangre de Cristo, Sargent

Key players: Jodi Beiriger, Sangre de Cristo, 5-2, Sr.; Megan Beiriger, Sangre de Cristo, 5-6, Jr.; Shea Brgoch, La Veta, 5-9, Sr.; Lauren Bukkemper, Sangre de Cristo, 5-5, Jr.; Danielle Dieckman, Sangre de Cristo, 5-4, Sr.; Christina Koutnik, La Veta, 5-9, So.; Brooke McKinley, Sangre de Cristo, 5-9, Jr.; Emily Moll, La Veta, 5-8, Sr.; Shelby Morgan, La Veta, 5-8, Jr.; Morgan Neese, Sanford, 5-3, So.; Jessica New, Sangre de Cristo, 5-8, Jr.; JoBeth Willhoite, La Veta, 5-5, Sr.; Kaily Yarbrough, Sangre de Cristo, 5-5, Jr.

Outlook: Sangre de Cristo has been a good team in recent seasons, but finally the last of its star contingent graduated. La Veta is ready to take over, although coach Trenda Howard resigned in favor of her assistant, Bree Lessar.

District 2

Favorite: Sedgwick County

Contender: Merino

Others to watch: Akron, Frontier Academy, Holyoke, Wiggins, Wray

Key players: Sabrina Becker, Merino, 5-5, Sr.; Phawn Carper, Holyoke, 5-9, Sr.; Larissa Conger, Merino, 5-9, So.; Emily Owens, Merino, 5-10, So.; Chasity Pelle, Holyoke, 5-8, Jr.; Danielle Rinaldo, Merino, 5-5, Fr.; Nora Roth, Holyoke, 5-9, Jr.; Nikki Schmidt, Merino, 5-10 So.; Simone Shinpaugh, Merino, 5-6, Sr.; Marissa Smith, Holyoke, 5-4, Jr.; Kendra Timm, Holyoke, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: Sedgwick County, a co-op team formed of Julesburg and Revere, is playing up this season. It figures to get its toughest challenge from perennial power Merino.

District 3

Favorite: Mancos

Contenders: Dolores, Ignacio, Telluride

Outlook: Mancos has been the best team here in recent years. None of the four coaches in this district responded to requests for information.

District 4

Favorite: Burlington

Contenders: Crowley County, Las Animas, Rocky Ford, Swink

Key players: Kirstin Anderson, Burlington, 5-7, So.; Jerae David, Burlington, 5-7, Sr.; Alex Hinkhouse, Burlington, 5-7, So.; Autumn Nider, Burlington, 5-4, Sr.; Hayley Orth, Burlington, 5-9, Sr.; Meagan Sullivan, Burlington, 5-3, Sr.

Outlook: Burlington comes over from the Union Pacific League for districts, and, with four returning starters, likely will come away as champion over the Santa Fe League schools. Burlington coach Julie Anderson sings the praises of senior Jerae David, a right side hitter, and other UP coaches share her opinion of the four-year starter. Autumn Nider is an all-league setter for the Cougars, and Meagan Sullivan also made her mark as a defensive specialist, although she will be switching to outside hitter this season. Swink had considerable graduation losses, but always is competitive.

District 5

Favorite: Vail Mountain

Contenders: Rangely, Meeker

Others to watch: Hayden, Paonia, Plateau Valley, Soroco, Vail Christian, West Grand

Key players: Kelcy Brown, Meeker, 5-5, Sr.; Marki Cook, Meeker, 5-2, Sr.; Sydney Cook, Meeker, 5-7, Sr.; Cynthia Edgerton, Vail Mountain, 5-6 Jr.; Brigitta Gehl, Vail Mountain, 5-11, Jr.; Janae Kedall, Meeker, 5-11, Sr.; Lynnie Somes, Vail Mountain, 5-8 Sr.; Chanda Wilcox, Vail Mountain, 5-10, Sr.

Outlook: Vail Mountain has had a long string of successful seasons under coach Mike Garvey. The Gore Rangers have good size in the middle and still look to be the best in this district, composed entirely of Western Slope League teams. Rangely, another well-coached team und Dave Walck, had four important seniors graduate after last season. Meeker has some size and experience and should battle well this year.

District 6

Favorite: Fowler

Contender: Hoehne

Others to watch: Cotopaxi, Cripple Creek-Victor, Custer County, Fountain Valley, John Mall, South Park

Key players: April Gonzales, Fowler, 5-7, So.; Shelby Hartless, Fowler, 5-6, So.; Bethany Klinkerman, Fowler, 5-8, So.; Bethany Moss, 5-8, Fr.; Morgan Moss, Fowler, 5-5, Sr.; Chelsey Wager, Fowler, 5-4, So.; Karlee Wager, Fowler, 5-4, So.

Outlook: It was tempting to come up with a new favorite and contender for this district, which has teams from the Black Forest, Fishers Peak, Santa Fe and West Central leagues. But other coaches who scrimmaged or saw Fowler and Hoehne said the two powers were still quite good. Fowler has quite a small lineup, but freshman Bethany Moss now joins her sister Morgan and mother Sandy, the Grizzlies head coach. Hoehne, which won the past two state titles, lost several star players and also has a new coach.

District 7

Favorite: Dayspring Christian

Contenders: Resurrection Christian, Longmont Christian

Others to watch: Alexander Dawson, Front Range Christian, Gilpin County, Heritage Christian, Lutheran-Parker, Maranatha, Nederland

Key players: Megan Ball, Gilpin County, 5-8, So.; Michelle Betsinger, Alexander Dawson, 5-6, So.; Ashton Collins, Alexander Dawson, 5-11, So.; Anna Dewald, Resurrection Christian, 6-0, Jr.; Kaylie Dueck,, Front Range Christian, 5-10, Sr.; Julia Feis, Alexander Dawson, 5-7, Sr.; Rachel Flowers, Longmont Christian, 5-3, Sr.; Megann Hudson, Alexander Dawson, 5-6, Sr.; Julia Karlin, Resurrection Christian, 5-6, Jr.; Jamie Lundquist, Resurrection Christian, 5-7, Sr.; Kendall Marie, Front Range Christian, 5-9, Sr.; Emily Mathews, Front Range Christian, 5-8, Sr.; Megan Meier, Longmont Christian, 5-9, Sr.; Stephie Michael, Front Range Christian, 5-0, So.; Kate Peine, Longmont Christian, 5-6, Sr.; Kellsie Pierce, Longmont Christian, 5-4, Jr.; Stephanie Powers, Longmont Christian, 5-9, So.; Lauren Schroeder, Longmont Christian, 5-0, So.; Kaila Van Akkeren, Alexander Dawson, 5-7, So.; Jordyn Wallace, Longmont Christian, 5-6, Jr.; Ellyn Weaver, Resurrection Christian, 5-8, Jr.; Bri Williamson, Resurrection Christian, 5-11 Sr.

Outlook: It could be a tight season for the three Christian schools at the top: Dayspring, Longmont and Resurrection. Gilpin County has only one returning starter, Megan Ball.

District 8

Favorite: Simla

Contenders: Calhan, Colorado Springs School, Limon, Byers

Others to watch: Evangelical Christian, Hanover, Kiowa, Miami-Yoder, Pikes Peak Christian, Vanguard

Key players: Caroline Alexander, Simla, 5-10, Sr.; Cassidy Austin, Pikes Peak Christian, 5-10, Sr.; Danni Bandy, Limon, 5-6, Jr.; Kelsey Berends, Kiowa, 5-8, Jr.; Taylor Castillo, Kiowa, 6-2, Jr.; Brianna Eulcer, Pikes Peak Christian, 5-6, Jr.; Kayla Gabehart, Kiowa, 5-9, Jr.; Taylor Goodhue, Simla, 5-10, Sr.; Caitlyn Hubbard, Limon, 6-0, So.; Brittany Kelly, Calhan, 5-2, Sr.; Laci Liggett, Limon, 5-7, Sr.; Brianna Notz, Calhan, 5-9, Sr.; Nicole O’Dwyer, Limon, 5-4, Jr.; Allanah Ricketts, Calhan, 5-11 Sr.; DaeLynne Roswald, Simla, 5-5, Sr.; Amanda Sheldon, Pikes Peak Christian, 5-8, Sr.; Joy Smith, Kiowa, 5-5, Jr.; Ashley Stevens, Pikes Peak Christian, 5-7, Jr.; Christine Tompkins, Simla 5-11, Sr.; Jessica Toney, Simla, 5-7, Jr.; Jessi Tubbs, Calhan, 6-0, So.; Danielle Wilson, Simla, 5-4, Sr.

Outlook: This is one of the toughest districts, both in numbers and quality. Simla lost a close one in last year’s state final and graduated the best player in 2A. The Cubs still bring back another top-notch player in Caroline Alexander, but Calhan and Limon are ready to take over if Simla stumbles in districts.

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