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DENVER – At last year’s state meet, Castle View missed out on competing in the Class 5A Co-Ed finals because of a legality during the Sabercats’ preliminary routine.

That slight error that cost them a shot at the title motivated the Sabercats to make certain they made the most of any opportunities they had in 2023. On Friday night at the Denver Coliseum, they showed that determination to the rest of the state’s best, reaching the finals and scoring a 91.45 to claim their third title in the last four years.

“To come back and make it to finals with a zero-deduction routine and pull out two zeros in one day,” Castle View head coach Alicia Zaragoza said. “These were our first hits of our season and they happened at the right time. These kids work really hard and it all paid off. We had 12 seniors last year, so this year’s team is a brand new, very, very young team and they’re very passionate and hard-working. I’m very proud of them.”

Just behind Castle View with a score of 91.4, Vista Ridge, last year’s champion, finished runner-up. Highland Ranch scored an 89.3 in the finals to place third.

In 4A, Roosevelt scored a 93 to win the title after finishing runner-up last year. That victory halted Thompson Valley’s win streak at four in a row. Thompson Valley finished runner-up with a score of 86.5 and Windsor was third at 81.65.

In 2A/3A, Coal Ridge won its sixth straight title and seventh overall with a score of 87.9.

“I think we’ve had a rough few weeks with hard practices and stuff,” Coal Ridge head coach Alyssa Thurmon said. “Just the fact that they’ve pulled it off here is just amazing but they did it. They just keep coming and doing it over and over so I really just don’t know what to say. I’m kind of speechless.”

After finishing runner-up last year while still named DSST: Byers, the Falcons were runners-up again in 2023 with a finals score of 82.3.