Ark Valley Roundup by Randy Robinson
Well folks, we’re three weeks into the High School sports season, and yeah I’ve been slacking just a bit, but like they say “better late than never”. We have a lot to catch up on with all that has happened in the last few weeks, so let’s get started.
CHERAW
Volleyball
The Lady Wolverines are one of our teams that has seen limited action in the opening month of the season. But the game they have played was one that will look good on the record come late October. They hosted McClave to begin their campaign with the Cardinals getting the upper hand in that one 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 25-15). Cheraw looked good in this one. Although no stats have been posted on MaxPreps, look for the Wolverines to start the trend up as the season moves along. This week the Lady Wolverines will travel to La Veta Thursday for a non-conference matchup.
Football
The Wolverine football team opened their season last Friday with a home game against the always tough Sierra Grande. A game that on the scoreboard was a close one was won by Sierra Grande 46-34, the Panthers are ranked in this week’s Mile High Prep Media/Coaches poll, so it is not a bad loss on the Wolverine side. This week they’ll host Flagler in a 7pm matchup Saturday.
CROWLEY COUNTY
Volleyball
The Lady Chargers have seen five games this season, three of those coming at the Walsenburg Tournament this last weekend. They opened the season with a tough Santa Fe League matchup with Hoehne which saw the Farmers take the win 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-16). It was a much better weekend for the Chargers as they went 2-1 at the Walsenburg Tournament to finish 3rd. They would open up with a 2-1 win over Trinidad (21-25, 25-13, 15-10), before seeing Sangre de Cristo. The Thunderbirds would better Crowley County 2-0 in a match that honestly could’ve gone either way (26-24, 25-21). The Lady Chargers would end the day against Ellicott and come out on top in the 3rd Place match 2-0 (25-16, 25-15). To catch us up with the Lady Chargers they traveled down Highway 50 to take on Swink on Tuesday where Swink would handle them easily 3-0. To end their week Crowley County will host Holly on Thursday.
Football
The Chargers continued our schedule of ranked opponents for week one as they welcomed in #5 Merino for their home opener. In a game that was close at the half with Merino only leading 14-0, it quickly turned the way of the Rams as they would take the win 60-14. The Chargers will have their bye week this week before welcoming in Calhan for non-conference action next Friday. And then a matchup with the always tough Haxtun hangs in the balance on September 21st.
FOWLER
Volleyball
Fowler is another one of our volleyball teams that has seen limited action in the first few weeks of the season. The Lady Grizzlies currently sit at 2-1 Overall and 1-0 in the 2A Santa Fe League. They opened the season taking on Swink, Fowler would take that tough five set match 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 23-25, 16-14). The Lady Grizzlies would then split with two 3A teams as they would fall against Vanguard in 5 sets (25-22, 10-25, 25-12, 26-28, 15-11) and then bounce back with a win against Manitou Springs in 3 sets (25-17, 25-14, 25-11). This week is another light week for Fowler as their lone game is a road Santa Fe League matchup with Rocky Ford on Thursday.
Football
We had a treat in the Arkansas Valley last Friday as we saw our first head to head football game with the Grizzlies hosting the Swink Lions. Fowler would come out on top of the closely contested game 33-22. Fowler would score in three of the four quarters exploding for 19 points in the second to take a 27-14 lead into the half. The Grizzlies would add six in the fourth to take the win. A tough road test awaits Fowler this week as they head to take on #1 Simla on Friday night.
LAS ANIMAS
Volleyball
The Lady Trojans have had a busy start to the season, having two games every week since the beginning of the season. They, like Crowley County, opened the season with a match against Hoehne with the Trojans falling in three straight (25-18, 25-16, 25-20). The first week didn’t get much easier for Las Animas as they’d then host 1A Cheyenne Wells with the Tigers picking up the win 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 25-16). A Santa Fe League matchup with Swink would start Week 2 for Las Animas, the Lady Trojans would pick up set one but Swink would come out hot in the second set and not look back. Swink would win 3-1 (20-25, 25-6, 25-12, 25-14). The losing streak did come to an end last Friday as Las Animas picked up a 5 set win over Sangre de Cristo (25-17, 27-25, 19-25, 20-25, 15-10). On Tuesday another Santa Fe League foe was awaiting Las Animas as Rye would sweep the Lady Trojans (25-12, 25-12, 25-22). This week ends for Las Animas as they will host 1A and Arkansas Valley foe Manzanola on Thursday.
Football
Las Animas completed the double header sweep over Sangre de Cristo on Friday night as they picked up a win 49-24. Las Animas would score in all four quarters, their biggest outburst in the fourth with 19 points to pull away. Orion Martinez was the workhouse for the Trojans, rushing for 243 yards. The Trojans will open up their home portion of the season this Friday as they host Walsenburg.
LA JUNTA
Volleyball
La Junta has played four matches this season with none of them being at the friendly confines of Tiger Gym. They would participate in the Monte Vista tournament to begin the year going 1-2. It led off with a two set sweep against Sargent (25-14, 25-19), followed by a competitive 3 set match loss to Sangre de Cristo (25-23, 21-25, 15-13), the Lady Tigers would find the win column against host Monte Vista in another tight 3 sets (25-15, 22-25, 16-14). La Junta would travel to Hoehne on Tuesday for a matchup with the 2A Farmers. Hoehne would best La Junta in 3 straight (25-18, 28-26, 25-17). The Lady Tigers will get the weekend off from competition before they travel to Vanguard on Monday.
Softball
The Lady Tiger softball team has seen its fair share of ups and downs in the early part of the season. A 2-2 showing at the Eaton Softball Extravaganza saw La Junta fall to Peak to Peak 9-7 and defeat Weld Central 9-6 on the first day of action. Day two ended the same for the Lady Tigers as they would fall to Meeker 11-8 but pick up a huge win over then ranked #2 University 6-5 to wrap up the tournament. The Lady Tigers would keep the winning ways going as they easily handled Limon 13-1 and Burlington 17-2. A tough test last Saturday with Pueblo Centennial ended the 3 game win streak for La Junta as the Bulldogs would pull away late for the 7-2 win. The Lady Tigers will be at the Pueblo County Tournament this weekend with two games Friday against Pueblo County and Coronado, their Saturday schedule in Pueblo is to be determined.
Football
La Junta traveled up to the historic Dutch Clark Stadium last Friday for a meeting with 3A Pueblo Centennial and it was all Tigers from the get go. La Junta exploded for 21 points in both the first and third quarters to take home the win 42-0. La Junta looked great offensively and defensively. Look for the Tigers to get back to the La Junta we know as the season continues. They’ll open the home schedule this Friday as they host Mitchell.
MANZANOLA
Volleyball
The Lady Bobcat volleyball team has been our busiest in the early part of the season as they have played nine matches. Although none of those nine have ended with wins for them, it can only go up from here. Manzanola started off the year at the Hanover Tournament going 0-3 with losses to Hanover 2-0 (25-19, 25-18), North Park 2-0 (25-13, 25-15) and Elbert 2-0 (25-12, 25-11). The Lady Bobcats would then take on Arickaree and fall 2-0 (25-15, 25-10). A matchup with cross valley foe Holly continued the rough start for Manzanola as they would fall 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-14). A trip to Antonito came up empty handed for the Lady Bobcats as they would fall 3-0 to the Lady Trojans (25-17, 25-15, 28-26). Manzanola would then compete at the Primero Tournament where they would go 0-3 with losses coming against Primero 2-0 (25-17, 25-7), Sierra Grande 2-0 and Center 2-0 (25-13, 25-20). The Bobcats travel down Highway 50 on Thursday for an Arkansas Valley matchup with Las Animas, before a home date with Primero on Friday.
Football
The Bobcat football team got a big win against Antonito on Friday night as they would roll to a 61-10 victory. Manzanola would score in every quarter of the ballgame including exploding for 27 in the third. They’ll have a tough test this week as they travel to Primero on Friday night.
ROCKY FORD
Volleyball
The Lady Meloneer volleyball team has had a rough go to begin the 2024 campaign currently sitting 1-4 Overall and 1-1 in the Santa Fe League. They would open the season at the Melon Dome against Walsenburg in a match that saw Rocky For firing on all cylinders to a 3-0 win (25-14, 25-16, 25-22). Since then it’s been four straight losses by the Lady Meloneers as they went 0-2 at the Del Norte Tournament with losses to La Veta 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-10) and Del Norte 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-19). A 2A Santa Fe matchup with Swallows Charter saw the same result for Rocky Ford as the Spartans got the sweep (25-14, 25-12, 25-14). The Lady Meloneers would host 3A Vanguard last week but they would fall 3-1 (26-24, 24-26, 25-10, 25-22). Rocky Ford will end their week on Thursday with another Santa Fe League matchup against Fowler.
Softball
The Lady Meloneer softball team is off to a .500 start currently sitting at 4-4 Overall. In those 8 games Rocky Ford has seen 4 ranked teams (Eaton, University, Lyons and Strasburg). The season started off with a 7-2 win over Lyons on the road. Followed up by a 2-2 finish at the Eaton Softball Extravaganza with a split on day one the Lady Meloneers defeated Limon 15-0 and lost to University 8-0. Day two saw much of the same as Rocky Ford would go 1-1 again this time with a loss to Eaton 13-1 and a win over Fort Lupton 11-3. The Lady Meloneers competed at the Strasburg Tri last weekend finishing 1-1 with a 12-2 win over Gunnison and a 15-5 loss to Strasburg. This week Rocky Ford took off up I-25 to Widefield to take on the Gladiators in a game that went back and forth for six innings. The Gladiators would come out on top 8-5. Rocky Ford ends their week at the Brush Tournament on Friday and Satruday.
Football
The Meloneers began their transition into 8-man football this season and their opponent was not very welcoming. Rocky Ford went down I-70 to meet up with Byers and the Bulldogs pulled away for a 52-8 win. Bright spots happened for the Meloneers as a pass connection led to a touchdown in the second half. Look for the Meloneers to pick up on the 8-man game and string some wins along. Rocky Ford travels up to Littleton this week for a meeting with Front Range Christian in the early evening Friday.
SWINK
Volleyball
We’ve mentioned Swink volleyball a couple times in this write-up but it’s time for the Lady Lions to get their own spotlight. Swink has played four games this season with three coming in the Santa Fe League. They opened the season with a tough 5 set match against Fowler that saw the Grizzlies come out on top (25-23, 22-25, 25-19. 25-23, 16-14). The Lady Lions got their first win of the year against Las Animas 3-1 (20-25, 25-6, 25-12, 25-14). A ranked matchup against 1A #3 McClave proved tough for Swink as they fell to the Cardinals 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-19). Swink got back to .500 with a three set sweep of Crowley County on Tuesday. The Lady Lions continue their string of league matchups this week as they travel to Pueblo West to take on Swallows Charter. The next three games for Swink are in the Santa Fe League.
Football
As we mentioned earlier Swink was involved in an early season Arkansas Valley matchup with Fowler with the Grizzlies coming out on top of that one 33-22. Swink would go down at the half 27-14 against the Grizzlies. The Lions would only muster 8 points in the second half, those coming in the third quarter. Swink will host Sanford to end the week here in the Arkansas Valley on Saturday.
GAMES TO WATCH:
Volleyball
● Las Animas hosts Manzanola (Thursday, 5:30pm)
● La Veta hosts Cheraw (Thursday, 5pm)
Softball
● Rocky Ford @ Brush Tournament (Friday/Saturday TBD)
● La Junta @ Pueblo County Tournament (Friday/Saturday TBD)
Football
● Front Range Christian hosts Rocky Ford (Friday, 4pm)
● Las Animas hosts Walsenburg (Friday, 7pm)
● La Junta hosts Mitchell (Friday, 7pm)
● Swink hosts Sanford (Saturday, 2pm)
● Cheraw hosts Flagler (Saturday, 7pm)
MileHigh Prep Report 