CHSAA state Titles awarded to Legend, Mullen, Jefferson Academy and St. John Paul the Great

On a Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs, an unbeaten season collided with three first-time champions at Weidner Field, where four state title matches were decided by shutouts and three were settled by a single goal.

Legend claimed its first 5A state title by defeating Ralston Valley 1-0. Playing without leading scorer Maximus Wilson due to a red card in the semifinals and watching senior captain Will Winsor hobble through the first half, Legend turned to the bench for salvation.

With just under nine minutes remaining on the clock, Alex Venalonzo poked in a loose ball after Ralston Valley keeper Cody Anderson blocked a shot from junior Dean Pemberton. Venalonzo had not played in the playoffs before Saturday’s final.

That late breakthrough arrived moments after Legend junior goalie Camden Bradler denied two point-blank chances from Ralston Valley junior Sawyer Lee. The 1-0 victory capped a 15-1-3 campaign for the 5A champions.

In the 4A classification, top-seeded Mullen secured its second straight title and third overall by edging Kent Denver 1-0. Senior Alexander Escala broke the scoreless deadlock with just over three minutes left in regulation, converting a cross from sophomore London Marquardt after senior Liam Sapuppo let the ball run past him.

Kent Denver nearly forced overtime in the final seconds when keeper Max Baker’s free kick from just inside midfield clipped the top of the crossbar. Mullen’s only loss was a season-opening loss to Evergreen on August 20, leaving the victors with an 18-1-1 record.

The 3A bracket featured a turnaround, as Jefferson Academy completed an 18-0-2 run three years after going winless. Junior Matteo Gagliano headed home a cross from sophomore Arnel Mihidic roughly 60 minutes into the match for the game’s only score.

Senior keeper Trevor Chichirico anchored the defense to record his 17th clean sheet of the season, sealing the 1-0 triumph over DSST: Conservatory Green. Meanwhile, in the 2A division, St. John Paul the Great capped its first season as a CHSAA member by defeating defending champion Crested Butte 3-0 to claim its first state title in any sport.

Senior Luke Sri, the 2A goals leader, opened the scoring on a free kick in the first half and added his 40th goal of the season late in the match. Senior Giovanni Chilelli chipped in the second goal while sophomore keeper Landon Schlipmann and the back line shut out Crested Butte.