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Luke Graham

Stories by Luke

Valor advances through its defense

Sailors, Eagles to face off in finals at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Stadium

Valor Christian, who came into the Class 3A semifinals with an offense that could be compared to Steamboat Springs High School's, used a little defense Saturday against Mountain View, advancing to Saturday’s state championship with a 21-7 win.

Steamboat Springs High School's season-defining series

As defining a season as it has been up to this point, maybe the most defining moment of the Steamboat Springs High School football team’s season came midway through Saturday’s Class 3A semifinal game against Pueblo Central.

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Sailors football smashes past Pueblo Central

Team beat Central, 35-7, for bid to state 3A title game against Valor Christian

Steamboat Springs High School defeated Pueblo Central, 35-7, in Saturday's 3A semifinal playoff game in Pueblo. The Sailors football team will play Valor Christian for the state title at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. Steamboat, who had seen its season end twice in the past four years in Pueblo, put together its best performance of the year.

Sailors boys basketball prepares for season

It was only 24 hours after a season-ending loss to Longmont in the second round of the Class 4A basketball playoffs, and Isiah Forsyth found himself back in the gym.

3A Football Playoff capsules

So much for the long road trip negatively affecting Class 3A No. 1 seed Pueblo Central. The Wildcats were making their longest trip of the season, about five hours and 250 miles to Delta on Saturday.

Luke Graham: Playing both ways brings team together

In football, there usually are three unique sets of players that make a team. There is the offense, the defense and the special teams. It’s not uncommon for one group to get on the other group. But in Steamboat, it’s almost impossible for one unit to get mad at another. If the team did, it would be schizophrenic.

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Defensive line helps propel Sailors defense

Darian Buelter will argue that each member of the Steamboat Springs High School football team’s defensive line weighs 190 pounds. Of course, if the roster is taken into account, Buelter is listed at 195 pounds, Keenan Starbuck is listed at 185 pounds and Carl Steele is the big guy of the bunch, listed at a whopping 210 pounds.

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Sailors advance to semis with 31-7 win

Steamboat to play Pueblo Central next weekend

Steamboat Springs High School beat the Windsor Wizards, 31-7, to move ahead in the Class 3A playoffs. The team will take on Pueblo Central in the semifinals next weekend. The Sailors limited Windsor to 172 yards of offense and two of 10 on third downs, created four turnovers and constantly put the Steamboat offense in a position to win.

3A state football playoff roundup

Western Slope teams looking to advance

By any stretch of the imagination, it would have been a little crazy to expect Delta and Glenwood Springs to be where the two football teams are now. Plain and simple, before the 2009 season, they were two teams that looked like they would be building for the future.

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Steamboat football prepares for showdown with Windsor

At least for the moment, things are back to normal for the Steamboat Springs High School football team. With a week separating the team from its first-round Class 3A playoff victory against Berthoud, and on the eve of its second-round showdown with Windsor, Steamboat coach Aaron Finch said this week feels more like the rest of them.

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Routt County athletes recognized for fall performances

As practices for winter sports continue, with games just a couple of weeks away, honors for fall athletes continue to roll in. Maybe the biggest one went to Steamboat Springs High School volleyball player Colleen King, who earned Western Slope League Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Sailors hockey team gears up for weekend action

As a senior and returning cornerstone of the Steamboat Springs High School hockey team, Jon Winkelblech knows what he can bring to the ice. But Winkelblech admits that even after a couple weeks of practice for the 2009-10 season, he’s not totally sure what type of team the Sailors have.

Sports briefs: Football playoff game time set

A game time and day have been secured for the Steamboat Springs High School football team’s second-round playoff game against Windsor. Steamboat and Windsor will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gardner Field in Steamboat.

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Luke Graham: Football on the brain

What a week for Sailors football, but what tough times for the University of Colorado Buffs. Here are some notes on Steamboat's upcoming game with Windsor in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs and the state of college football in Colorado.

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Sussman joins Tennis Center as pro

Greg Sussman was named the new pro at the Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs. Tennis Center Director Jim Swiggart said he had 13 applicants for the position, but none fit the way Sussman did.

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Steamboat preps for Windsor

2nd playoff game expected to be Saturday in Steamboat

Coming off its first playoff win in two years, the Steamboat Springs High School football team got good news Saturday when Windsor beat Pueblo County. The Wizards’ 33-20 win against the Hornets means the Sailors will host the second round of the playoffs.

Sailors football looks to Windsor

Windsor defeats Pueblo County, will come to Steamboat next

Steamboat Springs High School will probably host its second playoff game Nov. 21, Steamboat coach Aaron Finch said this afternoon.

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Steamboat wins playoff opener

If Friday’s 24-13 opening-round playoff win against Berthoud proved anything, it’s that this Steamboat Springs High School football team is so much more than the glitz and glamour of stats in a box score.

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Steamboat welcomes Berthoud to Gardner Field for playoffs

Despite having an undefeated year, a league championship and a team that many think can make a run at the Class 3A football crown, most of Steamboat’s team could enter new territory today. Fourth-seeded Steamboat welcomes 13-seeded Berthoud for a first-round playoff game at 7 p.m. at Gardner Field. The X factor in tonight's game might be the snowy weather. As of 12:30 p.m., school officials reported that the game was still on and that the Berthoud team was on its way.

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Colleen King inks with Pioneers

Steamboat Springs volleyball star plans to play for University of Denver

Steamboat Springs High School senior Colleen King signed her letter of intent Wednesday to continue her volleyball career at the University of Denver. King, who orally committed to the Division I Pioneers after visiting in January, leaves as one of the Sailors’ most decorated volleyball players.

Sports briefs: Blake Worsley places 12th in Sweden

Steamboat swimmer misses final World Cup qualifying spot

Blake Worsley finished 12th in the 200-meter freestyle Wednesday at the Fina World Cup in Stockholm, failing to make the finals.

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Sports briefs: Girls U-14 team places 2nd

Three Steamboat Springs girls hockey teams went to Aspen during the weekend to play in the Aspen Fall Face Off. The U-14 girls team finished second, losing to Aspen in the finals. U-19 and U-12 teams also played.

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Boulder duo promotes benefits of barefoot running

Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee, co-founders the Barefoot Running Club, offer barefoot running clinics in Boulder and plan to release a book in the spring about barefoot running and shoe reviews.

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Luke Graham: I'm a believer

I’ve covered a lot of Steam­boat Springs High School football. I’ve seen a lot of good athletes and a lot of good teams, and I’ve always seen the year come up just a little bit short. This team has the ability to go deep into the playoffs. They won’t say it, but I will. This team has everything it takes to win a state championship.

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Game time announced for Sailors football playoff opener

Steamboat to open postseason against Berthoud

The Sailors will square off against No. 13 seed Berthoud at 7 p.m. Friday at Gardner Field in Steamboat. The Colorado High School Activities Association released the 16-team Class 3A state football playoff bracket on Sunday.

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Steamboat soccer star’s college career comes to a close

Kelly Labor jokes that her house is finally clean, she’s finally caught up on sleep and her homework is finally all done. But Labor, a 2006 Steamboat Springs High School graduate, admits that the most different thing for her now that her soccer career is done is trying to plan her own day. For the better part of her life, soccer has been her life.

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Sailors football preps for playoff fate

Steamboat Springs team awaits brackets today

If at any point the Steamboat Springs High School football team needed to redeem itself this season, the Sailors always delivered. But now that Steamboat has clinched a top seed, won their league for the first time since 2006 and had an undefeated regular season, the next monkey off the back is the playoffs.

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DeWolfe named interim athletic director

Steamboat Springs High School physical education teacher Luke DeWolfe has been named interim athletic director. DeWolfe, who has been in the school district for three years, will take over the role vacated by Ken Webbe.

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Football league title at stake for Sailors

Steamboat heads to Glenwood for final regular season game

Technically, the Class 3A football playoffs start in a week. But as far as the Western Slope League goes, the playoffs might as well start at 7 p.m. today in Glenwood Springs when the Demons welcome the Sailors. The winner will earn the league championship and a better playoff spot.

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Swiggart a High School Heisman finalist

Kylee Swiggart has been named one of 20 state finalists for the 2009 Wendy's High School Heisman Award. More than 50,000 seniors applied nationwide, and 10,848 were selected as finalists.

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Bantam A hockey team wins tournament

The Steamboat Springs Bantam A hockey team started the season just how it wanted to during the weekend, winning the Fright Fest Tournament in Denver. Steamboat went 4-1 in the tournament, beating rival Littleton for the title.

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Steamboat winter sports camps open

High school teams to start training before official practices

Steamboat Springs High School hockey coach Jeff Ruff said the benefits are endless. Starting a preseason conditioning camp allows his players - new and old - to get into the system, get their legs under them and get a jump on the winter season.

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Luke Graham: A team to believe in

The Steamboat Springs High School football team is dangerous. Offensively, there might not be a match in Class 3A, where they arguably have a trio of top-of-the-class players: the best quarterback in Austin Hinder, the best running back in Joe Dover and the best wide receiver in Jack Spady.

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Storied 1979 football season 'set the tone for the football family'

As storied a season as the 1979 Steamboat Springs High School football season was, that season wasn't necessarily about wins and losses. Sure, Steamboat finished on top, but when players talk about that game and season, it's the tears of never getting to line up next to one another.

Sailors volleyball team loses at districts

The Steamboat Springs High School volleyball team's season came to an end Saturday at the District 8 volleyball tournament in Montrose. Steamboat lost, 3-1, to Montezuma-Cortez and 3-0 to Mullen in pool play. The 18-25, 25-17, 25-21 and 25-17 loss to Montezuma-Cortez proved to be the deal-breaker.

Sailors volleyball falls at districts

Steamboat Springs High School started out strong but lost to Montezuma-Cortez and Mullen today, eliminating its chances to advance to next weekend's regional tournament. The Sailors finished 15-6 on the season.

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Steamboat Springs football blast past Buena Vista, 58-13

Like a snowball rolling down a hill, the Steamboat Springs High School football team is nearly impossible to stop when it gets going. Steamboat found that momentum and rhythm early, kept building it up and turned Friday's game against Buena Vista into a complete 58-13 avalanche.

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Sailors hope to stay undefeated

As storied a coaching career as Bob Marken has had, the Buena Vista High School football coach knows what his team faces. Class 2A Buena Vista isn't just playing up a classification against Steamboat Springs at 7 p.m. today at Gardner Field. The Demons might be playing the best team in Class 3A.

Broncos all-star game set

Event Saturday is fundraiser for high school booster club

Former Denver Broncos players will be in town Saturday for an all-star basketball game that serves as a fundraiser for the Steamboat Springs High School Booster Club.

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Sailors volleyball ready for regionals

Tournament begins Saturday at Montrose

As fair or unfair as the District 8 seeding might be, that's the farthest thing from Steamboat Springs volleyball players' minds. Steamboat has an opportunity to keep its season alive Saturday when the team joins Montrose, Mullen, Palisade, Montezuma-Cortez and Pueblo East in the district tournament at Montrose High School.

Steamboat Springs athletic director resigns

SSHS plans to fill role in interim, advertise in spring

Steamboat Springs High School Athletic Director Ken Webbe has resigned from his post, less than seven months after accepting the position. The Steamboat Springs School Board accepted his resignation Monday, effective immediately. Webbe accepted the position April 1, after previous Athletic Director Richard Lee left to spend more time with family.

Steamboat Springs quarterback to get San Antonio invite

Austin Hinder would rather deflect the attention from himself. But the quarterback many have touted as the top in the state and among the country's elite will be recognized again at 3 p.m. today at the Kelly Meek Gymnasium in Steamboat Springs High School. There, representatives from the U.S. Army All-American Bowl will present Hinder a jersey and an invitation to play in the Jan. 9 game at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

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Steamboat soccer slips, 1-0, in snowy game

Sailors lose in first round of playoffs, end season

The one thing that's plagued the Steamboat Springs High School boys soccer team for most of the year again reared its ugly head: finding the back of the net. Steamboat fell to D'Evelyn, 1-0. The loss ended the Sailors season.

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Luke Graham: Playoff forecast

A look ahead to the postseason

With regular seasons coming to a close this fall, here's a look at Steamboat Springs High School's postseason chances in football, soccer, volleyball and cross-country, along with a glimpse of playoff possibilities for the Hayden and Soroco volleyball teams.

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Steamboat boys cross-country qualifies for state

The Steamboat Springs High School boys cross-country team finished third at the regional meet Saturday in Aspen, punching its ticket for the state meet next weekend.

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Steamboat soccer inconsistent in '08, No. 1 in '09

Andrew White was on tilt. The Steamboat Springs High School senior soccer player may have been the worst poker player in town Thursday after Steamboat beat Moffat County, 3-0. That feeling only got better when Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley played to a scoreless draw, giving Steamboat its first league title since 2001.

Steamboat boys cross-country makes state

Team's success at today's Aspen meet qualified it to run next weekend in Fort Collins

Sailors boys team, led by Gus Allen's fifth-place finish, ran well enough today to qualify for next weekend's state meet in Fort Collins.

Steamboat Springs volleyball wraps up 2nd in league

The Steamboat Springs High School volleyball team secured second place in the Western Slope League on Friday in Delta, winning 3-1. Steamboat, at 15-4 overall, won 25-13, 22-25, 25-20 and 25-15.

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Steamboat Springs football takes rivalry game against Moffat

The difference between the 2008 and 2009 versions of the Steamboat Springs High School football team was on full display Friday against rival Moffat County.

Steamboat volleyball spikers fall in 4

>The good news is the Steamboat Springs High School volleyball team still controls its own destiny. So even with a 25-20, 25-16, 23-25 and 25-22 loss at Palisade on Thursday, Steamboat still has the opportunity to finish in second place in the Western Slope League with a win today at Delta.

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