Jeffco student-athletes sign with colleges near and far
LITTLETON — From the University of Alaska to the University of Hawaii and beyond … Jeffco student-athletes will fan out to all corners of the United States to pursue their college dreams next school year.
Wednesday marked another National Letter of Intent Signing Day. A total of a dozen high schools within Jeffco Public Schools had signing celebrations on Wednesday.
“It’s always a special day,” Columbine principal Scott Christy said during the Rebels’ celebration.
While Jeffco students will be taking their talents to several local schools, along with out-of-state programs there seems to be a surprising pipeline from Jeffco to the University of North Dakota football program.
Columbine’s Mikey Griebel and Ralston Valley’s Ty Shannon signed to play football for the Fighting Hawks’ a year ago. Today, Columbine senior Ted Mullin continued the trend of UND tapping the football talent from Jeffco.
“Last year they (Fighting Hawks) showed some interest starting in April and they never stopped,” Mullin said of his recruitment by North Dakota. “The coaches were awesome. It’s a blessing to be able to play college football there. I’m excited about going up there to be with some dudes that I know. It will be fun.”
Griebel, a receiver at UND after being a two-way star for the Rebels during his three years at Columbine, ended up redshirting his freshman year due to injury.
“There are no words to describe how not only happy I am that Teddy is coming up to be a Hawk, but how eager I am,” Griebel said via text Tuesday. “There is no stopping short for Teddy and having a kid like that on your team is essential.”
Griebel describes Mullin as not only a high school teammate, but a “very close friend” and added he can’t wait until July when he gets to reunite on the football field with his former teammate.
“We (North Dakota) landed not only an intense competitor, but an even better person,” Griebel said.
The Fighting Hawks will also be getting a multi-sport athlete in Mullin. The senior is about to compete at regionals this coming weekend for Columbine’s wrestling team. Mullin is also planning on being on the Rebels’ track team again this spring.
“North Dakota has preached to me how much they enjoy multi-sport athletes,” said Mullin, who is expected to be an outside linebacker for the UND. “It’s been huge for me in high school. It has made me a better competitor and a better athlete. I’m really thankful I choose to do more than one sport.”
List of Jeffco student-athletes who signed Feb. 7
Arvada West High School
John ‘Jack’ Boyer, football, University of Wyoming
Vinson Britton, baseball, Barstow Community College (CA)
Morgan Clausen, softball, University of North Florida
Caden Crosby, football, Fort Lewis College
Katie Doucette, track/cross country, Western State Colorado University
Elena Drogheo, women’s soccer, Doane University (NE)
Anthony Gallardo, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Rebecca Jeambey, women’s soccer, Adams State University
Shea Mauser, softball, Colorado Mesa University
Claire Pauley, track/cross country, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Kailey Robb, softball, Augustana College (IL)
Bear Creek High School
Anna Branscome, women’s golf, Chadron State College (NE)
Kaitlyn Chavira, women’s soccer, Hastings College (NE)
Tanis Craiglow, football, Doane University (NE)
Nick Donahue, baseball, Benedictine College (KS)
Cooper Erickson, men’s soccer, Loyola Marymount (CA)
Octavio Lucero, diving, University of Hawaii
Kylan Martinez, football, Western State Colorado University
Peyton Propp, softball, Western Nebraska Community College
Joey Stenson, softball and track, Doane University (NE)
Chatfield High School
Chandler Callejo, football, South Dakota School of Mines
Meghan Dunning, women’s soccer, St. Edward’s University
Julia Eiken, volleyball, Colorado School of Mines
Raquel Gunkel, women’s soccer, California Lutheran University
Jared Hoerter, men’s lacrosse, Eastern University
Drew Johnson, track and cross country, University of Alaska
Connor Killion, men’s lacrosse, Eastern University
Kasey Koppelmaa, baseball, University of San Francisco
Riley Leichter, women’s lacrosse, Old Dominion
Christian Macy, men’s lacrosse, Adams State University
Aidan Mendoza, football, Doane University
Matt Moon, baseball, Trinidad State
Emma Peterson, women’s soccer, Colorado School of Mines
Tyler Sexton, football, Western State University
Columbine High School
Annie VanNorstrand, women’s lacrosse, University of Redlands
Skylar Alward, women’s soccer, University of Iowa
Chloe Cook, women’s soccer, Adams State University
Erin Smith, softball, Augustana College
Angela Naughton, women’s lacrosse, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Kai Valentino, football, Western Arizona
Madison Martinez, women’s soccer, Trinity International University
Ted Mullin, football, University of North Dakota
Camryn Huff, women’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Frankie Shearn, baseball, Colorado Christian University
Corbin Leyshock, football, Colorado School of Mines
Dakota Ridge High School
Samuel Arfsten, men’s lacrosse, University of Indianapolis
Jake Collins, baseball, Minot State University
Taylor Hicken, volleyball, Colorado School of Mines
Kailee Lammers, women’s lacrosse, University of Denver
D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School
Angi Reed, women’s basketball, Oregon Tech University
Bailey Marvel, softball, Chadron State College
Alexis Miller, women’s soccer, Bowling Green University
Sarah Anschutz, women’s soccer, Virginia Military Institute
Carolyn Anschutz, women’s soccer, University of Wisconsin
Payton Wright, volleyball, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Kendra Cerrone, volleyball, West Texas A&M University
Abbey Selin, women’s swimming, University of Wyoming
Jack Morantz, men’s swimming, University of Wisconsin
Chad Dines, football, University of Rhode Island
Charles Dinegar, men’s basketball, Carleton College
Evergreen High School
Sidney Fairbanks, softball, Mayville State
Cassidy Formanek, women’s soccer, University of Houston
Joshua Gauvin, men’s swimming, McKendree University
Zach Klein, men’s lacrosse, Marietta College
Evan Price, football, University of Colorado
Golden High School
Dawson Kennedy, football, Colorado Mesa University
Joe Madsen, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Jack McLaughlin, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Lakewood High School
William Gifford, baseball, Hillsdale College
Chase Dornbusch, cross country and track, University of Kansas
Parker Beastrom, football, Presentation College (SD)
Rex Desso, football, Macalester College (MN)
Weston Lee, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Robert Miller, football, Colorado School of Mines
Trenton Sanders, football, Concordia University-Nebraska
Ezekiel “EZ” Sundberg, football, Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Denaya Evans, women’s soccer, Emporia State University (KS)
Katherine Oehm, women’s soccer, St. Olaf College (MN)
Pomona High School
Alexus Spinks, softball, Dodge City Community College
Allie Hufford, softball, Dodge City Community College
Jessica Espinoza, softball, Dodge City Community College
Bre Shaffer, softball, Adams State University
Ryan Marquez, football, University of Wyoming
Brock Boyd, Western State Colorado University
Santos Meguina, football, University of Northern Colorado
Jesse Stuht, football, University of Alberta
Max Borghi, football Washington State University
Holly Ciberay, women’s soccer, Midland University
Kelsey Boychuk, gymnastics, Iowa State University
Standley Lake High School
Emma Smith, women’s soccer, University of Chicago
Emily Naysmith, women’s soccer, Fort Hays State University (KS)
Weston Short, men’s soccer, Sheridan College (WY)
Ralston Valley High School
Nikki Sefcik, volleyball, United States Coast Guard Academy (CT)
Brian Hendrickson, baseball, Belhaven University (MS)
Katharine Kimbro, volleyball, Lewis and Clark College (OR)
Mackenzi Kirschner, women’s soccer, Northern Oklahoma College
Laurel Rowe, women’s swimming, College of Idaho
Jackson Zinn, men’s golf, New Mexico Military Institute
Jameson Barnard, men’s soccer, Air Force Academy
