Gazette Preps week in sports: Recap of notable Pikes Peak region performances
The prep season is underway and various Pikes Peak region athletes have already pieced together memorable performances in their respective realm.
Here are some of the standouts from the previous week in athletics.
14ners
Kailani Scheidler, jr., Pine Creek, softball — In two games against Doherty last week, Scheidler left her stamp on the game.
In a 14-2 win last Tuesday, Scheidler finished with two runs and two hits to go with three RBIs and a home run. In the second match Thursday, which Pine Creek won 5-1, Scheidler had two RBIs along with a hit for the Eagles.
Jocelynn Kalkman, sr., Vista Ridge, softball/flag football — Kalkman displayed her excellence in two sports last week. Last Wednesday, Kalkman played QB for the Wolves’ flag football team and finished 4-of-7 passing for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 40-0 win against Coronado.
On the softball diamond, Kalkman hit a homer and ended the game with four RBIs and two runs in a 14-0 win against Discovery Canyon.
Max Miller, sr., Vanguard, cross country — No one at the Cherry Creek Steve Lohman Invitational had a chance of catching Miller at Cherry Creek State Park.
Miller clocked in at 15 minutes, 40.60 seconds for 5K and placed first in a field of 223 runners in his first listed race of the season.
Cayden Besler, so., Falcon, boys golf — The Falcon sophomore has enjoyed an incredible start to his second prep season on the links.
On Aug. 25 at the Sand Creek Scorpion Invite at Valley Hi Golf Course, Besler shot a 3-under-par 69 to win and followed with a 6-under 65 on Monday at the Rampart/ECA Invite at Colorado Springs Country Club for another victory. Through four tournaments, Besler has shot under par at each event.
Wyatt Sherman, so., Thomas MacLaren, boys soccer — The Highlanders striker had a monster match in an 11-1 win against Pikes Peak Christian/Evangel Christian’s co-op team last week.
Sherman earned a hat trick for the Highlanders, which pushed him into the top 40 of the state’s goal scorers, and dished two assists to give him eight points in the victory.
Bryce Bischoff, sr., Woodland Park, football — The Panthers senior was a force no matter where he lined up against Palmer last week.
In the Panthers’ 27-14 win against the Terrors, on offense, Bischoff finished 8-of-16 passing for 105 yards and a touchdown. Bischoff also carried the ball 15 times for 141 yards and two scores. On defense, Bischoff led the Panthers with 11 tackles and had an interception.
Kiptoo Barmasai, jr., Mesa Ridge, cross country — Barmasai was the lone competitor to run sub-17 minutes at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo on Saturday.
The Grizzlies junior placed first in 16:46.41 in the field of 111 runners at the Pueblo Central Pete Falleta Cross Country Invitational and earned his second first-place finish of his cross-country career.
Jaida Moody, sr., Sand Creek, softball — Moody scorched the Terrors in last week’s 18-3 victory against Palmer.
The Scorpions senior finished with six RBIs, a home run, three hits, three runs and a pair of doubles.
Raegan McRae, sr., Cheyenne Mountain, cross country — At the John Martin XC Invitational, McRae set a personal best at the meet and ran sub 18 minutes.
McRae finished second in Fort Collins and clocked in at 17:42.70, the senior’s fastest 5,000-meter time by more than 7 seconds.
Reagan Harter, jr., The Classical Academy, flag football — “Menace” is an accurate description for Harter as she harassed opposing offenses last week.
In a 46-0 win against Palmer, Harter had five flag pulls for loss and three sacks against the Terrors. Against Skyview, which TCA beat 40-0, Harter ended the game with two flag pulls, a sack and an interception.
Annabelle Jackson, jr., Mesa Ridge, cross country — Jackson’s first win since September 2025 came in dominant fashion in Pueblo.
Jackson clocked in at 19:07.73 for first place at the Pueblo Central Pete Falleta Cross Country Invitational at Elmwood Golf Course and finished more than 30 seconds faster than second place.
Ethan Mangrum, sr., Sand Creek, football — Not only did Mangrum reach 20 consecutive games over 100 rushing yards, but he torched Highlands Ranch for his sixth career 200-yard rushing performance.
Mangrum ran for 215 yards on 27 carries for five touchdowns in the Scorpions’ 51-27 victory Friday. Mangrum also completed one pass for 57 yards.
Nadia Falton, so., Manitou Springs, girls volleyball — As a freshman, Falton had three double-digit kill matches. In seven sets this year, she already has a pair.
Falton opened the season with 11 kills and seven blocks in a loss to Pueblo Central and followed with a game-high 13 kills in a sweep of Fowler last Thursday.
Payton Porter, jr., Woodland Park, boys soccer — The Panthers opened the season with a 5-0 win against Ellicott and Porter scored more than half his team’s goals.
Porter finished the match with his first career hat trick, which gave him triple his goal total from his previous two seasons.
Notable contests to watch this week
Football
Friday
Mesa Ridge (2-0) at Palmer Ridge (2-0) (at Don Breese), 7 p.m.
This serves as the first meeting since these schools played in last year’s 4A playoffs. Both defenses have been nearly untouchable and have not allowed more than 14 points in a game. Mesa Ridge and Palmer Ridge have both forced three turnovers thus far.
The Bears and Grizzlies each have astute quarterbacks. Mesa Ridge’s Koa Dietrich is 24-of-38 passing for 343 yards, four touchdowns and just two interceptions. Palmer Ridge’s Knox Tinlin is 33 of 53 for 441 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Colorado Springs Christian at Woodland Park, 7 p.m.
Both schools earned their first victory last week and hope to carry that momentum into their tilt Friday.
The Panthers are 3-1 all time against the Lions, but CSCS handed Woodland Park a 41-8 loss in 2025 and now-sophomore Saie Soto ran wild for 157 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. Last week against Palmer, the Panthers had four tackles for loss and four sacks with Zach Summeril leading the way with three.
Softball
Saturday
The Classical Academy at Widefield (at Widefield Parks and Rec), 6 p.m.
Two upperclassmen in the circle and a pair of the area’s top squads highlight this matchup.
Titan senior Ada Wilson has 11 strikeouts through eight innings while Gladiator junior Olivia McEwen has 40 Ks in 29 innings. The Gladiators are 12-0 all time against the Titans, but TCA enters this contest ranked No. 2 in 3A and 20th in the state, per MaxPreps. Widefield is ranked 35th.
Week 1 football scores
Vista Ridge 42, Liberty 7
Woodland Park 27, Palmer 14
Widefield 25, Harrison 22
Palisade 45, Lewis-Palmer 20
Rampart 14, Falcon 13
Manitou Springs 34, Valley 6
Cheyenne Mountain 34, Cañon City 0
Air Academy 49, Coronado 19
Palmer Ridge 29, La Cueva (N.M.) 10
Bennett 48, Mitchell 6
Olathe 21, Peyton 7
McClave 54, Ellicott 0
Las Animas 72, Elbert 36
Hanover 54, Kiowa 6
Mesa Ridge 50, Discovery Canyon 0
Sand Creek 51, Highlands Ranch 27
Western (Fla.) 41, Pine Creek 7
The Classical Academy 17, Eaton 14
Colorado Springs Christian 49, Holyoke 14
Banning Lewis 30, Fort Lupton 14
Akron 58, Calhan 18
Rangeview 54, Doherty 6
Miami-Yoder 38, Primero 13
Sierra 48, Alameda 14
Week 2 football contests
Thursday
Sierra vs. Mitchell (at Garry Berry Stadium), 6 p.m.
Pueblo Central at Discovery Canyon (at District 20 Stadium), 6 p.m.
Rampart at Widefield, 6 p.m.
Pueblo East at Lewis-Palmer, 7 p.m.
Friday
Harrison at Standley Lake, 4 p.m.
St. Mary’s at Front Range Christian, 4 p.m.
Doherty at Aurora Central, 6:30 p.m.
Cañon City at Falcon, 7 p.m.
Fountain-Fort Carson at Grandview, 7 p.m.
Mesa Ridge vs. Palmer Ridge (at Don Breese Stadium), 7 p.m.
Overland at Vista Ridge, 7 p.m.
Palmer vs. Coronado (at Garry Berry Stadium), 7 p.m.
The Pinnacle at Manitou Springs, 7 p.m.
Calhan at Stratton, 7 p.m.
Elizabeth at Banning Lewis, 7 p.m.
Hanover at Weldon Valley, 7 p.m.
Liberty at Pueblo South, 7 p.m.
Northfield vs. Pine Creek (at District 20 Stadium), 7 p.m.
Colorado Springs Christian at Woodland Park, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Miami-Yoder at Mountain Valley, 1 p.m.
The Classical Academy at Alamosa, 2 p.m.