Montezuma-Cortez’s Kescoleigh Boeckman (7) prepares to set a back-row attack, September 9, against Bayfield, with libero Keeley Clarke (2) a possible recipient. M-CHS wrapped up their season in the 3A Region 12 tournament. (Joel Priest/Special to The Journal file)
M-CHS closes out season in playoffs for first time in four years
BROOMFIELD – Making the first playoff appearances of their careers, the M-CHS seniors made sure to leave an impression in their career finale. Taking on one of the toughest regions in the 3A postseason, the Panthers put a scare into a pair of state powers, but came up just short of sending the program back to the state championships.
The No. 25 seeded Panthers (11-14) opened with the regional host Prospect Ridge Academy, who emerged from the 3A/2A Metro League, arguably the deepest league in the state among mid-size schools. Unfazed, M-CHS promptly proceeded to show the strength of the Intermountain League, stuffing the ball into the Miners back line to post wins in the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-22. Prospect Ridge answered back, however, taking the next two sets 25-19 and 25-14 to force a tiebreaking fifth set.
M-CHS couldn’t quite find the same gear that earned them the early lead, and Prospect Ridge took advantage, closing out the five-setter with a 15-6 win in the clinching set. For Panthers head coach Danielle Waltman and her collection of upperclassmen, the pathway to state became very narrow at that point, making their match against defending 3A state champion Village a must-win situation. The defending titlists proved why they took down the trophy last year as the Mountaineers surged to a 25-19, 25-15, 25-14 win to end the Panthers postseason pursuits.
Village would go on to take a 3-1 win over the Miners to capture the 3A Region 12 title and advance to the state tournament next weekend in Denver. M-CHS, meanwhile, sent off a collection of five seniors that helped the program to its first double-digit win season since 2021, earning a regional berth for the first time in that span.
The IML state title hopes live on through three regional champions, as No. 1 Alamosa, No. 6 Bayfield, and No. 10 Centauri also advanced on to the Denver Coliseum for state matches that begin on Nov. 13.
