Colorado

Opinion: Colorado ranchers, restaurants worried about ballot issue that would shutter meat processing plant

Published

3 months ago

September 16, 2024

Opinion: Colorado ranchers, restaurants worried about ballot issue that would shutter meat processing plant

Lamb is as Colorado as 14,000-foot peaks and Palisade peaches. Raised in rugged terrain, Colorado lamb is known for its lean meat and rich flavor. Many connoisseurs have long claimed its superiority over its New Zealand counterpart.

It’s also less niche across culinary cultures than you might realize. It is served as birria or barbacoa in Mexican restaurants; Aleppo kebab in Syrian restaurants; on extra-large noodles in spicy northern and Sichuan Chinese menus; stewed in a dark gravy on Indian dosa or in a curry; shawarma or burgers in Mediterranean cuisine; in Nepalese dumplings; or in Moroccan tagines.

Some of Denver’s best or most well-known restaurants serve it, including Buckhorn Exchange, El Taco de Mexico and Michelin-starred Brutø. Most of it is Colorado-raised. A5 serves Buckner Ranch rack of lamb, as do Safta and Blackbelly. Chef Paul Reilly of Coperta gets lamb from Longs Peak Lamb. Alma Fonda Fina and Frasca Food and Wine get their lamb from Superior Farms.

“Diners eat meat,” Reilly said. “That’s just not going to change. They like beef and pork and lamb and chasing an essential service — the slaughterhouse — out of the city of Denver is not going to change that. It will only make it more expensive for diners and harder for ranchers. No one wins.”

“Colorado Lamb has been a staple on my menus for as long as I’ve lived here,” shared chef Max Mackissock of A5 and the Culinary Creative Group. “There is no other protein that is as synonymous with our state. Chefs locally, as well as around the world, cherish the amazing product for its mild yet nuanced flavor, and unparalleled texture. Colorado Lamb is one of the few local products that us Coloradans can share with pride wherever we go.”

Chef Matt Vawters, this year’s James Beard winner for Best Chef: Mountain category, regularly features Colorado lamb at his two restaurants in Breckenridge, though said it has become harder to source since a prominent facility in Greeley shuttered.

This November, lamb will also be served up on a Denver ballot referendum. The measure, proposed by an animal-rights group, would shut down the only lamb slaughterhouse in Denver and prevent any others from opening.

Superior Farms, located on Clarkson Street in northwest Denver, is a 70-year-old business responsible for processing between 15 and 20% of all the lamb raised in the United States. The employee-owned company is the only Halal-certified slaughterhouse in Colorado; its staff of 160 workers, predominantly Latinos, help supply meat to many restaurants, but also to retailers like King Soopers, local favorite Tonali’s Meats, and renowned gourmet food purveyor D’Artagnan.

The Denver Slaughterhouse Ban would shut down its operations by 2026 and ban any other meatpacking businesses from the city and county of Denver. A group called Pro Animal Future submitted the measure, arguing that “slaughterhouses are inhumane to workers, animals and the surrounding communities they pollute.”

As it is the only business affected, Superior Farms feels specifically targeted.

“I take pride in my work and the work of my colleagues,” said Gustavo Fernandez, general manager at Superior Farms. “I started here as a janitor when my brother was already employed by the company and worked my way up. We train our staff and see ourselves as an important link between ranchers and people who love to eat lamb. This proposal to shut us down could really hurt our employees, but also the ranchers and restaurants and the American lamb supply chain.”

Pro Animal Future maintains it is focusing on the bigger picture: ending factory farming across the U.S. While there are no factory farms in Denver, spokewsoman Natalie Fulton acknowledged on a local radio show recently, the group sees this as a first step in its long-term mission.

But Superior Farms does not get its lambs from factory farms; it sources them from a collective of ranchers, most of them in Colorado — and most of them are worried.

“This would have a huge impact on our industry as a whole,” Julie Hansmire, rancher at Colorado’s Campbell Hansmire Sheep, said. “We care for our animals and we are lucky. Sure, we have to manage around hikers, skiers and other land use, but our lambs thrive on the native forage in the mountains and desert.”

Hansmire owns three herds, each with around 1,000 animals, in Eagle County, north of Edwards. They graze in Colorado in the summer and fall, and are moved to Utah in the winter and spring.

According to Colorado Agricultural Statistics, in 2023 there were 415,000 lambs and sheep in the state in 2023, making it the third-largest sheep and lamb inventory in the United States, behind Texas and Wyoming. About half are ready to be processed at any time, Colorado Food Systems Council statistics show, which makes Colorado second nationally, behind California, in terms of slaughter-ready lamb inventory.

The majority of sheep and lambs raised in Colorado are harvested in USDA-inspected facilities or custom-exempt facilities in Colorado, according to the council. The USDA seal ensures that facilities comply with rigorous federal animal welfare standards. Of 21 such facilities in Colorado, two stand out for capacity over 1,000 heads. One is Colorado Lamb Processors in Brush, which handles up to 165,000 head a year and ships full carcasses to the East Coast for fabrication, further processing and distribution. Lambs harvested there are not distributed within Colorado.

The other one is Superior Farms, which processes only lamb.

Sheep ranchers all over the state are concerned with the possibility of losing a vital link in making their business viable, whether they use Superior Farms or not for processing. Reducing the capacity of lamb slaughter in Colorado and in the United States by nearly 20% will exacerbate the issue at a time when less than a quarter of the lamb consumed in the United States is American lamb. The other 75% is imported, mainly from New Zealand and Australia.

Mary-Kay Buckner, a supplier of restaurants and consistent presence at farmers markets, is not among Superior Farms’ clients, but she’s still worried.

“Sheep ranching, like much of agriculture, is a lovely but fragile business model with small margins and many variables that can shatter one’s plans,” she said. Buckner, who raised animals in Boulder County for 13 years, stumbled into the industry. “I was a vegetarian in college and after, mostly because I didn’t know how animals were being raised and didn’t like that,” she said. “My grandparents were butchers and farmers and agriculture just made sense to me through my family background.

“For our family, it is important to give animals the best life, let them roam and graze and never feed them grain. They only have one bad day in their lives.”

There is a lot of emotion in the way Hansmire and Buckner speak about their animals, their livelihoods, and about this proposed ordinance. There is also a lot of emotion in how the ordinance is presented by Pro Animal Future, and rightfully so. “A slaughterhouse is a facility where animals are brought for the purpose of being killed to be processed into food,” reads the Pro Animal Future website. “Denver’s last slaughterhouse kills over 1,000 baby lambs every day,” blasts a poster.

Meat eaters should recognize that our diet choices mean the taking of animals’ lives. While we as diners support trendy, hip phrases like nose-to-tail butchery, whole animal kitchens, and farm-to-table restaurants, we brush aside the uncomfortable reality of animals dying for that.

But that isn’t going away.

Nick Maneotis of High Country Lamb is also worried about the the Denver Slaughterhouse Ban. When his grandfather immigrated from Greece, he arrived in Utah and worked in mines, but soon bought sheep and traveled with them to Colorado, near Craig, where lots of Greeks also established their ranching roots.

A third-generation sheep rancher, Maneotis has been on high alert since the beginning of 2024, after wolves have been reintroduced to his area following a state ballot measure, approved by voters. “We are right in between where the wolves are between Jackson County and Grand County, holding our breath hoping they don’t come our way. This new proposed ordinance in Denver would affect sheep ranchers in a new way, when we already have a lot of serious challenges,” he said.

Chefs and restaurateurs are also concerned. EatDenver, an independent restaurant association, is opposing the ballot measure, as well as the Colorado Restaurant Association.

Restaurant consultant John Imbergamo, a vegetarian for over three decades, said: “I like Colorado lamb being available to restaurants and their guests. Closing that plant will increase financial and environmental costs to consumers during a time that everyone is concerned about value and climate change.”

Pro Animal Future, meanwhile, is hoping to change the national tide of the agricultural system away from using animals and toward a more plant-based food system.

Denver voters will decide this fall.

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Colorado

Colorado Springs police search for missing 20-year-old

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Colorado Springs police search for missing 20-year-old

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Police are searching for a missing at-risk adult.

They said 20-year-old Brandon Hugney was last seen Saturday night, around 7 p.m., at the Walmart on Platte avenue.

They shared a picture of Hugney, describing him as a 6′ man last seen wearing black-framed glasses with red trim, a grey fleece, blue pajama pants and black and white slippers.

Police said he likely isn’t properly dressed for the weather and was last seen heading west behind Walmart.

If you know where he is or see him, call police at (719) 444-7000.

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Colorado

Assane Diop scores 15 points and Colorado breezes past Bellarmine 79-55

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Assane Diop scores 15 points and Colorado breezes past Bellarmine 79-55

Associated Press

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Assane Diop scored 15 points and Colorado built a 29-point halftime lead before cruising past Bellarmine 79-55 on Saturday for its fourth straight win.

Bellarmine led 6-4 three minutes into the game, but Colorado allowed just 10 points the rest of the half. Diop scored seven points in a 15-0 run that gave the Buffaloes a 29-10 lead with about 5 minutes left and they took a 45-16 lead at halftime.

Bellarmine made 1 of 14 3-pointers and was 5 for 27 overall in the first half for 18.5%. Colorado shot 52%, led by Diop who made 6 of 8 and scored 13 points.

Colorado cooled off to 42% in the second half and was outscored 39-34. Bellarmine shot 61.5% in the second half.

Colorado led 60-23 before the Lions chipped away with five 3-pointers in their next six made shots but it only got them within 70-41 with 7 minutes remaining.

RJ Smith scored 11 points and Julian Hammond III had 10 points for Colorado (9-2), which is 8-0 at home.

Dezmond McKinney scored 12 points for Bellarmine (3-10).

Colorado makes its Big 12 debut on Dec. 30 with a home game against Iowa State.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Colorado

The Denver Post’s 2024 All-Colorado football team

Published

18 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

The Denver Post’s 2024 All-Colorado football team

The 2024 All-Colorado football team, as selected by The Denver Post staff based on statistical analysis, relative value to team success, postseason production and the old-fashioned eye test.

Austyn Modrzewski

All-Colorado selection Austyn Modrzewski of Mountain Vista poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

QB | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 6-foot-5 | 203 pounds

The CHSAA Class 5A player of the year rewrote the record book this fall, setting Colorado career marks for passing yards (11,911), passing touchdowns (147) and passing completions (814). The South Dakota commit led the state with 3,407 passing yards and 57 passing TDs while steering the Golden Eagles to another quarterfinal appearance following an undefeated regular season.

Gavin Ishmael

QB | Frederick | Sr. | 6-2 | 210

The Golden Eagles star was a dual threat, as he threw for 2,780 yards with 31 touchdowns to just four interceptions and ran for 697 yards with 12 touchdowns. He played through injuries, including a partial quad tear and a shoulder sprain, to lead Frederick to the playoffs. Ishmael is weighing RMAC offers from CSU Pueblo, Colorado Mesa, Mines, Chadron State and Black Hills State.

Zeke Andrews

QB | Ralston Valley | Jr. | 6-5 | 205

Andrews had big shoes to fill taking over for two-time All-Colorado QB Logan Madden, but he did it. The Mustangs star and Metro League Offensive MVP led his team to the Class 5A quarterfinals with 2,383 passing yards and a 70% completion rate that was second in the state behind Modrzewski. He also threw 19 TDs to three picks and rushed for 701 yards and eight touchdowns.

Gavin Lockett

QB | Pueblo West | Sr. | 6-0 | 185

The Northern Colorado pledge led the Cyclones to the Class 4A semifinals as a true dual-threat quarterback. Lockett passed for 1,274 yards and 14 touchdowns while also running for 1,369 yards and 22 touchdowns, for an average of 105.3 yards per game on the ground. The dynamic athlete who can fly with a 10.90-second time in the 100 meters was named the SoCo 1 League Offensive MVP.

Elijah Womack

RB | Montrose | Jr. | 6-0 | 190

Womack led the state with 2,285 rushing yards, averaging 163.2 yards per game and 7.01 yards per carry. He was the centerpiece of a Red Hawks team that was a Class 4A finalist. Womack ran for 30 touchdowns and had just one fumble on the season, and he ran for over 100 yards in each of Montrose’s 14 games, including cracking the 200-yard mark twice in four-touchdown performances.

James Basinger

RB | Columbine | Sr. | 5-11 | 192

The heart and soul of the Rebels’ ground-and-pound offense, Basinger ran for 1,743 yards with 25 touchdowns as part of Columbine’s two-headed monster alongside junior Mark Snyder. The South Dakota State commit was the Class 5A Metro League MVP while helping the Rebels to the quarterfinals and was also Columbine’s leading receiver, adding two TDs by air.

Jaden Lawrence

RB | Legend | Sr. | 5-11 | 185

The Wyoming commit was a central reason for Legend’s run to its first state title appearance. Lawrence showed off his track speed in the open field and could also bruise for yards between the tackles as a physical runner who was tough to bring down. Legend’s best-ever running back ran for 1,743 yards and 12 touchdowns, and his sure hands also added 24 catches for 276 yards and five TDs.

Jayden Fox

RB | Cherry Creek | Jr. | 5-11 | 185

Fox battled through an ankle injury in the latter stages of the playoffs but was still an impactful force in the run game en route to Cherry Creek winning the Class 5A crown again. Fox, a Bruins captain and the MVP on a team stacked with Division I players, has an offer from Charlotte. He ran for 1,815 yards and 10 touchdowns, breaking the 100-yard mark in 10 of the Bruins’ 14 games.

Zayne DeSouza

TE | Loveland | Sr. | 6-6 | 255

The CU pledge came into his own at tight end following a weight-loss journey that saw him shed roughly 75 pounds since the start of his sophomore year. DeSouza was a premier blocker at the position in Loveland’s run-heavy offense, and he was the Red Wolves’ leading receiver with 51 catches for 446 yards and six TDs. He also played impactful snaps at defensive end.

Camden Jensen

TE | Heritage | Jr. | 6-7 | 250

One of Colorado’s most highly recruited players passes the eye test, hence why he has more than 20 Division I offers, most of them Power 4. Jensen was a monster in the run game, with the ability to block at the line of scrimmage and pancake linebackers in the second level, too. He had 32 catches for 250 yards and four touchdowns, and Heritage also used his size and physicality on defense.

Tanner Terch

WR | Heritage | Sr. | 6-2 | 180

Heritage’s other star was the team’s Player of the Year after putting up dazzling numbers. The Nebraska commit had 58 catches for 1,312 yards and 16 touchdowns and averaged 100.9 yards receiving per game. Terch’s speed, route-running and ability to beat cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage stood out while catching passes from QB Jamison Seese. He also chipped in two rushing TDs.

Andrew Smart

WR | Arapahoe | Sr. | 6-3 | 185

The Warriors’ speedy wideout was tough to pin down with just one defensive back. Smart had 67 catches for 1,098 yards and 14 TDs. He was also Arapahoe’s punter and punt returner, bringing a wrinkle to special teams. He was capable of clutch catches, stretching the field and racking up yards after catch on short routes as well. He has an offer from Dartmouth, with potentially more coming.

Marcus Mozer

WR | Fossil Ridge | Sr. | 6-3 | 210

The 2024 Denver Post Gold Helmet award winner was a force for Fossil Ridge, despite facing double- and sometimes triple-coverage throughout the season. Mozer had 66 catches for 933 yards and 13 touchdowns as he used his track speed and size to dominate opposing defensive backs. The San Diego State commit also had five rushing TDs and saw time at free safety.

Sean Conway

WR | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 6-0 | 160

Modrzewski’s top target was always a threat to zoom past the defense and catch a go-route. His longest this fall was an 87-yard TD. He has RMAC offers from Western Colorado, Colorado School of Mines and CSU Pueblo. Conway had 38 catches for 771 yards and 14 touchdowns, with ultra-reliable hands and the ability to catch the ball in traffic while taking a hit to his relatively thin frame.

Jeremiah Hoffman

WR | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-1 | 175

The Bruins’ top wideout was committed to Charlotte but reopened his recruitment after a coaching change. Hoffman had 44 catches for 874 yards, good for 19.9 yards per catch, as well as seven touchdowns. He has bona fide track speed (10.8 seconds in the 100 meters), and the wideout nicknamed “Head Top” has an uncanny ability to win jump balls over cornerbacks short and tall.

Xay Neto

WR | Grandview | Sr. | 5-11 | 170

Neto’s production dipped slightly this season from his 1,000-yard campaign as an All-Colorado junior, but he remained one of the most explosive and dangerous players on the field regardless of who the Wolves were playing. Neto had 52 catches for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns. The speedster with sure hands is committed to Garden City and could be a star at the juco level.

Soren Shinofield

OL | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-6 | 285

After taking on a rotational role last season, Shinofield came into his own as a senior to help pave the way for Cherry Creek’s run game that averaged 226.6 yards per game. The Utah commit played left tackle and also helped protect quarterback Brady Vodicka’s blind side. When faced with the challenge of a stiff Legend defensive line in the title game, his play helped rally the Bruins in the second half.

Aidan Martin

OL | Northfield | Sr. | 6-6 | 265

The Nighthawks captain has length, size and an edge to his game that set him apart over the last few years and during the recruiting process. The right tackle was a big reason for Northfield’s first winning seasons over the past four years, and the Washington State commit led the Nighthawks to the Class 4A Denver Metro League championship while setting the tone in pass- and run-blocking.

Jack Heath

OL | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 6-6 | 300

While the Golden Eagles skill guys got plenty of recognition this season — three are on this team — Heath helped set the tone up front. His play at guard enabled Modrzewski to have plenty of time to drop back and pick defenses apart, while his dominance in the run game consistently opened up huge holes for Mountain Vista tailback Jack Blais. He also saw time on the defensive line.

Cole Powell

OL | Erie | Sr. | 6-7 | 265

The Eastern Michigan commit was a force at left tackle for the Tigers as they made the quarterfinals in their first season in Class 5A. Erie’s captain helped them to the Front Range South League championship, and he was a driving factor in the Tigers averaging 235.5 rushing yards per game. That included a 1,000-yard rusher in junior Braylon Toliver, plus three other guys over 350 yards.

Kannon Smith

OL | Valor Christian | Jr. | 6-5 | 280

As the Eagles made a push to the Class 5A semifinals before falling to champion Cherry Creek, Smith was a linchpin at left tackle. He has eight Division I offers, including Michigan, Miami, Ole Miss, Kansas State and Colorado State, as one of the most sought-after junior linemen in the state. He also played on the defensive line, where he had 32 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Jordan Rechel

ATH | Fairview | Sr. | 5-11 | 180

The Knights star keyed their run to the Class 5A semifinals. He was a game-breaker at wideout, running back and defensive back, was Fairview’s team MVP and also finished as the program’s all-time TDs leader. He had 891 yards and 19 TDs on the ground, 1,001 yards and eight TDs by air, and 78 tackles and three picks. He has offers from New Mexico, Northern Colorado and CSU Pueblo.

Cash Spence

ATH | Valor Christian | Jr. | 5-10 | 175

The Eagles’ do-everything athlete could, to quote “Friday Night Lights,” do everything up to and including painting your back porch. He played wideout, running back, safety and returner. Spence had 72 catches for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per catch. He had 15 rushing TDs and threw a TD, too. He was also a dynamic returner and had 52 tackles (5.5 for loss) on defense.

Max Mervin

ATH | Ponderosa | Sr. | 6-0 | 185

As Ponderosa’s star, “Swervin” Mervin was elusive in the open field with the ball in his hands. He had 50 catches for 642 yards and six touchdowns, and was also one of the top kick returners in the state, earning him the honor of South Metro League Specialist of the Year. The Colorado School of Mines commit also saw time in the secondary, where he had three interceptions, including a pick-six.

Levi Hermsen

ATH | Fort Collins | Sr. | 5-11 | 180

The Lambkin of the Year did a bit of everything for Fort Collins this season as they made the Class 5A playoffs. Hermsen was first in the state in receptions with 93, second in the state in receiving yards (1,311) and yards per game (119.2), and caught 12 touchdowns while averaging 14.1 yards per catch. He also racked up 1,007 yards in returns, with a 34.9-yard average on kickoffs and two TDs.

Jack Blais

ATH | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 5-7 | 160

Talk about tough to tackle. Once Blais got the ball in open space, his speed and shiftiness made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. With Modrzewski throwing him the ball, Blais had 32 catches for 631 yards and 12 touchdowns. And on the ground, he racked up 1,013 yards with an eye-popping 8.8 yards-per-carry average, including 14 touchdowns and five 100-yard games.

Keegan Perea

DL | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-3 | 250

The Nevada commit is a handful to block, and the opposition had a tough time doing so. Perea faced consistent double-teams all season, and his ability to stuff the run was a major reason for Cherry Creek’s comeback in the Class 5A title game. Perea finished with 78 tackles (five for loss) and four sacks. He was a game-changer on the edge with speed and strength to keep plays inside.

Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais

All-Colorado selection Tufanua Umu~Cais poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

DL | Cherry Creek | Jr. | 6-3 | 285

Part of the Division I-laden Bruins defensive line along with Perea, Umu-Cais has more than 20 Division I offers, most of them Power 4. Being sick and out of practice all week leading up to the championship game didn’t stop him from being a force in the trenches. He had 75 tackles (eight for loss), with two sacks. He also bolstered Cherry Creek’s offensive line in his first full season at right guard.

John Niedringhaus

DL | Legend | Sr. | 6-3 | 220

Legend had several playmakers along its D-line, but Niedringhaus was the centerpiece. He led Legend with 120 tackles, including 20 for loss, as well as nine sacks and seven hurries. He was one reason the Titans shut out Cherry Creek in the first half of the Class 5A championship in a defensive slugfest that not many saw coming. Uncommitted, but has the talent to play at the next level.

DJ Crowe

DL | Denver East | Sr. | 6-4 | 220

The Angels’ star pass-rusher terrorized opposing quarterbacks for three seasons. Crowe ranked third in Class 5A with 11.5 sacks and also posted 27 hurries. With the word out on him after notching double-digit sack totals as a sophomore and junior, he routinely faced double- and triple-teams and opposing offenses consistently ran away from him. He holds offers from a handful of RMAC schools.

Jaxon Pyatt

LB | Arvada West | Jr. | 6-2 | 220

Amid the Wildcats’ resurgence as a program, Pyatt emerged as a star. Strong and fast, he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Class 5A Metro League. He has offers from Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Missouri and Wisconsin. He led the Wildcats with 140 tackles, including 18 for loss, four sacks and an interception as he was a serious mismatch for would-be blockers.

CJ James

LB | Thompson Valley | Sr. | 6-6 | 220

As the Eagles went 14-0 en route to the program’s first state title, James was a stalwart on both sides of the ball. In addition to 27 catches for 324 yards and four TDs as a wideout, the CSU Pueblo commit plugged up the second level on defense. James had 68 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks that helped the Eagles defense hold opponents to a paltry 6.36 points per game.

Carson Hageman

LB | Erie | Sr. | 6-0 | 205

The stout middle linebacker is committed to Air Force, and his physicality and skill were one big reason the Tigers were able to run with the big dogs in their first year in Class 5A. He paced Erie with 134 tackles, including 18 for loss. He also posted six sacks and nine hurries as a defensive star who was able to tackle in open space, stuff tailbacks at the line and get to the quarterback.

Landon Kalsbeck

LB | Dakota Ridge | Jr. | 6-2 | 210

Dakota Ridge’s two-way star propelled the Eagles to the Class 4A semifinals. Kalsbeck has an offer from Hawaii and was named the CHSAA Class 4A player of the year. He had 1,511 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns on offense, and was a menace on defense, too. Kalsbeck recorded 90 tackles, including 15.5 for loss, as well as a team-best 11 sacks, 20 hurries and three forced fumbles.

Jace Filleman

LB | Regis Jesuit | Sr. | 6-3 | 225

The Colorado School of Mines commit, who also stars in baseball for the Raiders, highlighted for Regis at edge/outside linebacker. He had 70 tackles, including 12 for loss, as well as a team-best 6.5 sacks and 12 hurries. He brought a seasoned, physical presence to a young team. He also made an impact on offense with nine catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns at tight end.

Mikhail Benner

DB | Broomfield | Sr. | 6-0 | 185

Benner played big in the final games of the tournament, as his flashy play helped the Eagles cruise by Dakota Ridge in the semifinals and then rally to beat Montrose for the Class 4A title. He had 46 tackles on the season, with three interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass-break ups. The Air Force pledge was also Broomfield’s leading wideout with 31 catches for 710 yards and 10 TDs.

Elvin Ampofo

DB | Eaglecrest | Sr. | 6-1 | 170

A central force in the Eaglecrest defense, Ampofo consistently stuck his nose into plays as a physical defensive back who tallied 90 tackles. He had four interceptions, nine pass deflections and three forced fumbles. Opposing offenses often threw away from the Wyoming commit’s side of the field due to his athleticism, ability to cover on deep routes and his playmaking on jump balls.

Bennett Wilkes

DB | Wheat Ridge | Sr. | 6-1 | 200

The Farmers’ two-way star tied for third in the state with seven picks, and he also had 48 tackles and a forced fumble. The Northern Colorado commit was Wheat Ridge’s best wideout, too, with 77 catches for 1,201 yards and 14 touchdowns. His track speed (10.9 seconds in the 100 meters) showed on both sides of the ball, and he was able to consistently lock down the other team’s top wideout.

Aiden Knapke

DB | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-0 | 190

The Washington State commit has been a staple in the Cherry Creek secondary since he was a freshman and capped off his high school career with another strong season. Knapke led the Bruins defense with 128 tackles, including five for loss, and had two interceptions and 16 passes defensed. He had several clutch break-ups in the second half of the Class 5A title game to lead the Bruins.

Rhett Armstrong

K/P | Palmer Ridge | Sr. | 6-6 | 200

Palmer Ridge’s star kicker — who stepped in at quarterback in the Class 4A quarterfinals and threw for 208 yards — went 57 of 57 on PATs this year. The Baylor commit was also 5 of 6 on field goal attempts, including a classification-record 62-yarder on Sept. 13 that’s tied for the third-longest field goal in CHSAA history. Armstrong had 69 touchbacks on 77 kickoffs and a 43-yard punt average.

Jamie Steele

Coach of the Year, Thompson Valley

The Eagles’ boss led Thompson Valley to the first state title in program history with a 16-14 victory over Mead in the Class 3A championship. Steele’s personable approach led him to develop a rapport with his players after taking over as interim head coach in 2023. Thompson Valley is Steele’s first head coaching gig in 28 years coaching high school football, and he’s making the most of it.

Honorable Mention

Fairview High School's Toray Davis (21) is defended by Mountain Vista High School's Bryce Bailey (12) during the 5A state playoff game at EchoPark Stadium, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 in Parker. Fairview High School won the game in the last few moments 49-45 and will advance to the final four. The game was moved from Halftime Help Stadium after the lights went out. (Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post) — Fairview’s Toray Davis (21) is defended by Mountain Vista’s Bryce Bailey (12) during the 5A state playoff game at EchoPark Stadium on Nov. 22 in Parker. Fairview won the game in the last few moments 49-45 and will advance to the final four. The game was moved from Halftime Help Stadium after the lights went out. (Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)

Quarterback

Jamison Seese, Jr., Heritage; Brady Vodicka, Jr., Cherry Creek; Bryce Riehl, Sr., Mesa Ridge; Nick Kubat, Sr., Fossil Ridge; Andrew Brown, Sr., The Classical Academy; Ki Ellison, So., Fairview; Dawson Olk, Jr., Valor Christian; Kellen Behrendsen, Jr., Dakota Ridge

Running Back

Amari Brown, Sr., Pueblo Central; Tay Wheat, Sr., Montezuma-Cortez; Mark Snyder, Jr., Columbine; Braylon Toliver, Jr., Erie; Adrian Symalla, Jr., Arvada West; Colton Lucero, Jr., Pagosa Springs; Tyler Meyer, Sr. Rock Canyon; Colin Torres, Sr., Broomfield

Tight End

Jackson Blanchard, Sr., Castle View; Henry Hurd, Sr., Aspen; Caleb Kasayka, Sr., Air Academy

Wide Receiver

Nico Benallo, Jr., Ralston Valley; Ben Herbek, Sr., Valor Christian; Luke Strickland, Sr., Fairview; Cael Buxton, Sr., Lamar; Kobe Dooley, Jr., Mesa Ridge; Alijah Landrum-Hamilton, So., Cherry Creek; Maxwell Lovett, Jr., Cherry Creek

Offensive Line

Ned Zilinskas, Sr., Cherry Creek; Mason Bandhauer, Jr., Fort Collins; Isaac Schmitz, Sr., Legend; Ben Brown, Sr., Arapahoe; Peyton Burcar, Sr., Columbine; Gage Turnbull, Jr., Legend; Jesse Wolf, Sr., Chatfield; Kaden Clough, Sr., Pueblo West; Isaiah Garcia Perez, Jr., Broomfield; Court Towns, Sr., Palmer Ridge; Deacon Schmitt, Jr., Windsor; Oliver Miller, Jr., Cherry Creek

Athletes

Toray Davis, Jr., Fairview; Samuel Meisner, Sr., Wray; Elijah Roy, Sr., Pine Creek; Jakhai Mack, Sr., Mountain Vista; Mason Bonner, Jr., Mullen; De’Alcapon Veazy, Sr., Ponderosa; Emmitt Munson, Jr., Pomona; Casey Midcap, Sr., Wray; Tanner Gray, Jr., Wellington; Sawyer Wald, Sr., Lutheran; Mason Markovich, Sr., Glenwood Springs; Brock Kolstad, Sr., Fairview

Defensive Line

Adrian Lee, Jr., Chaparral; Will Monroe, Jr., Columbine; Tatum O’Donnell, Sr., Legend; Andreas Distel, Sr., Montrose; Ty Lacrue, Sr., Broomfield; Justus Derickson, Sr., Rampart; Matthew Zeck, Jr., Pueblo West; Izaya Hawkins, Sr., Pomona; Cade Brooke, Sr., Cherokee Trail; Brody Sieck, Jr., Arapahoe; Enzo Hernandez, Jr., Jefferson; Tristan Montanez, Sr., Roosevelt; Elliot Smyth, Sr., Valor Christian

Linebacker

Ashton Shepardson, Sr., Cherry Creek; Brody Flores, Jr., Grandview; Carter Daniels, Sr., Mountain Vista; Grayson Isenhart, Sr., Coal Ridge; Logan Kundred, Sr., Chatfield; Matt Gates, Sr., Ralston Valley; Wyatt Bartel, Sr., Durango; Josh Gonsalves, Jr., Mead; Will Daniel, Sr., Basalt; Maverick Powers, Sr., Montrose; Caden Absher, Sr., Douglas County; Moises Freeman, Sr., Valor Christian

Defensive Back

Brody Shuss, Sr., Legend; Payton Aukland, Sr., Legend; Jack Offerdahl, Jr., Dakota Ridge; Devin Szabelski, Sr., Westminster; Robert Wittke, Jr., Denver West; Elijah Brotherns, Sr., Sand Creek; Atticus Tillman, Jr., Arvada West; Trevon Polk, Sr., Cherry Creek

Kicker/Punter

Mason Walters, Sr. Valor Christian; Andrew Astone, Sr., Chatfield; Jack Manthey, Jr., Regis Jesuit; Alekzander Britt, Sr., Mountain Range; Mason Crosby, Sr., Chaparral

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