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High school sports weekend preview for March 27 to 29

Ben Ingersoll

Steamboat girls soccer

6 p.m. Friday: Steamboat (4-1) at Delta (0-4-1)

11 a.m. Saturday: Steamboat at Montezuma-Cortez (0-3)

Although the Sailors are surely not overlooking their weekend opponents, it may be hard not to with what looms early next week.



Steamboat has a pair of contests against winless opponents Friday and Saturday, its final tuneups before heading to undefeated and No. 8-ranked Battle Mountain Tuesday.

Both Panthers (Delta and Montezuma-Cortez share the same mascot) have been outgunned in their losses by an average of five goals per game. Montezuma-Cortez has yet to find the net this season on offense.



If Steamboat can coast through the weekend with a pair of wins, it could potentially set up the biggest game in the 4A Western Slope League’s early season. Battle Mountain also plays 6-1 Eagle Valley Saturday, so the league standings could look a bit different by this time next week.

Steamboat boys lacrosse

6:30 p.m. Friday: No. 8 Steamboat (2-1) at No. 9 Thompson Valley (3-2)

noon Saturday: Steamboat at Windsor (1-2)

This weekend should give the Sailors boys lacrosse team a clearer idea of where it stands across the Class 4A landscape.

Thompson Valley looks to be a solid test for the Sailors. The Eagles’ only two losses came to reigning state champion Ponderosa in overtime in the season opener, and to Cheyenne Mountain, which is ranked No. 4 in the state.

Steamboat will then do a Front Range overnighter in preparation for its noon game against a strong Windsor squad. The Wizards’ 1-2 record isn’t indicative of how good they are. Their first loss was by three goals to top-ranked Valor Christian, and their second was an overtime loss to No. 6 Air Academy.

The Sailors are getting strong offensive play this season out of seniors Andrew Firestone and Willy Gunn and are using a trio of goalies (Aaron VanderGraaff, Peter Wharton and Connor Smith) to get the job done on the defensive side.

Steamboat girls tennis

3:30 p.m. Friday: Steamboat at Fossil Ridge

9 a.m. Saturday: Steamboat at Thompson Valley

Steamboat girls tennis had last week off from competition, and now the Sailors turn their attention to arguably their toughest test of the spring.

Fossil Ridge is regularly among the state’s elite Class 5A programs. According to CHSAANow.com, the Sabercats have placed in the top five as a team at state in each of their 11 seasons on court.

For those who are able to be in Fort Collins, it should be a fun No. 1 singles match to watch between Steamboat freshman Tatum Burger and Sabercats junior Shawnea Pagat, who has played No. 1 singles her entire high school career.

In the Saturday session, Steamboat will head to Thompson Valley, a team the Sailors have handled each of the past two years.

Steamboat and Soroco track and field

noon Friday: Steamboat and Soroco at Broomfield Shootout

A week removed from taking on some of the state’s best, both the Soroco and Steamboat track and field teams will again be lining up versus some elite programs at this Friday’s Broomfield Shootout.

Thirty-five schools are scheduled to be in Broomfield, with Soroco sporting the smallest enrollment by a mile. There will be a handful of schools that finished in the top five of their respective classifications at last season’s state championships.

For Soroco, high jumper Kali Constine could factor into the finals mix. It will also be a good test for the Rams’ relays against a wealth of 4A and 5A competition.

For Steamboat, Austin Kerbs made his shot put debut last weekend with strong results. Some of this spring’s top state placers will be in Broomfield, so he’ll see how he stacks up. Steamboat’s girls 800-meter sprint medley team took home a silver medal last weekend at a big Grand Junction meet, so they are another group of athletes to watch.

To reach Ben Ingersoll, call 970-871-4204, email bingersoll@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @BenMIngersoll


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