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East High Sports: The Tradition Continues

East Angels Kick Off New Season of Football, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Soccer

Story by Adam Uribes, GPHN Intern
Photos by Reid Neureiter

East senior Marko Babiak fights past a George Washington defender in East’s 1-0 home conference victory on Sept. 13. Top of page: Denver East High varsity football team takes the field at All-City Stadium against Adams City High. East won the game 42-6
Denver East blockers junior Tess Widler (12) and senior Katie Lawton (7) leap to block a Ralston Valley hit in East’s Sept. 11 home match against Ralston Valley.
Denver East junior forward Zion Wagoner fights through GW defenders in East’s 1-0 victory over GW High on Sept. 13.


   The sound of the bell signals the cracking of the books – and the balls and buzzers at the start of fall sports at East High School.

For any high school athlete, it’s an exciting time, kicking off another season.

As of the third week in September, the Angels Football team has posted a 4-1 kickoff to the season. The team won four in a row after an early setback, falling to perennial Colorado powerhouse Columbine High School in their opener. In the newly created 5A Metro 10 league, the Angels sit in a three-way tie for first place in the conference. After a 44-6 win versus Mountain Range High School on Sept. 21, the team heads into a crucial stretch of the season with games versus fellow league leaders in Westminster High School and Smokey Hill High School in the coming weeks.

The East Girls’ Volleyball team stands at 9-3 as after a convincing win Sept. 20 versus Boulder. The Angels competed in the Eaglecrest tournament in mid-September, going a respectable 3-1. Always one of the top squads in the Denver Prep League, the year’s team has a couple of tough tests ahead with top-ranked Valor Christian and the Far Northeast Warriors.

Denver East junior defender Maggie Morrison tracks down a loose ball against Cherry Creek during East’s home match on Sept. 5.

Sitting at .500 as of Sept.12, Head Coach Katie Morris feels her squad is set to make a playoff push following a start that saw them take wins at Fossil Ridge High School, though they fell short to Cherry Creek early in September. Morris says that the adversity their team has gone through so far will only set them up for future success. “We always try to take some learning opportunities from our losses and we played some top teams, I think we’re right where we need to be,“ she said. Morris was right in her assessment, as the Angels reeled off two straight league wins since then against Liberty and Dakota Ridge High School.

Denver East senior wide receiver Corey Tate runs after a catch against Adams City High. Tate had two catches for 45 yards in East’s resounding victory.

The East Boys’ Soccer team wrapped up a brutal stretch that saw the Angels play four games in six days starting on Sept. 13 and ending on Sept. 18. The Angels set the tone early with a dramatic 1-0 win over rival George Washington. With both sides digging in for a hard-fought draw, senior mid-fielder Marko Babiak hit a dramatic free kick goal in the dying moments of the match that sent the crowd home happy. Coach Kirk Bast weighed in on the resiliency of his team: “There’s always a target on our backs, being Denver East. It’s a compliment to the traditions of Denver East Athletics and Denver East Soccer in the past. We always get everyone’s A game.” The Angels were off to another strong start at 7-1 and ranked number 8 in 5A, falling only to Castle View High School in the second game of the season.

Note: All rankings and records are updated as of Sept. 24.

Denver East senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley serves against Ralston Valley.

 

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