Author: reporter

Columbine running back/defensive back Josh Synder is the winner of the 2023 Denver Post Gold Helmet Award, edging out six other worthy senior finalists. Here’s a look at each of them: Chaz Barnett Rock Canyon senior defensive lineman Chaz Barnett in action against ThunderRidge on Friday, Oct. 27, at Halftime Help Stadium in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Photo Courtesy of Robbie Wright) School: Rock Canyon On the field: A disruptive force up front for the Jaguars defense, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman has offers to play for Air Force, Army and Wyoming. As a senior, Barnett registered 52 tackles (4.0 for…

Mackenzie Blackwood spent five seasons together with Miles Wood as teammates in New Jersey, and had a unique view of the reputation his friend garnered in their younger days with the Devils. The first question for Blackwood about Wood started with, “Well, you’re a goalie and Miles …” “Is a goalie killer?” Blackwood interrupted with a laugh. “He tries to keep that in the games, but you do have to keep your head on a swivel out there. I love Woody. Great guy, great teammate, works hard. He’s a pretty easy-going guy, pretty relatable I think. Just a good friend…

Of the several mistakes Cherry Creek made on special teams in the Class 5A state title game, allowing Josh Snyder to return a kickoff proved the most critical. After a pair of Snyder rushing touchdowns put Columbine up 14-0 early, the Bruins responded with an interception and then a score a few minutes later to close the gap. That is, until Snyder housed a 98-yard kickoff return, using his blazing speed and vision to return the mojo to the Rebels for good. “My hopes shot up in a huge way after that play,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry recalled. “After they…

Is Trump a threat to Democracy or isn’t he? Re: “Colorado Supreme Court: Trump off the ’24 ballot,” Dec. 20 news story The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump cannot be on the 2024 Colorado ballot. Why? Mr. Trump has not been charged, let alone convicted, of any crime from the Jan. 6, 2021, events at the U.S. Capitol. Our top justices have resorted to convicting someone prior to any fair trial or following the constitutional requirements of due process. These actions have eliminated any creditability and judicial independence the Colorado Supreme Court had. Trump may or…

Nobody has had a rooting interest in Colorado’s climate for reasons more unusual than Reggie Jackson’s. He thinks it was fall of his sophomore year in high school. By then, he had lived in Colorado Springs since sixth grade and found close friends in Palmer High School teammates Zach Hawkins and Jonathan Burnley. Whenever it was, he and Burnley were at Hawkins’ house — where they spent most of their free time — when Hawkins’ stepmom mentioned she was waiting for the first snow of the season to collect a sample for an ice cream recipe. Jackson had never heard…

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns and Zac Larrier passed for one TD and ran for another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday. Air Force (9-4) posted its fifth consecutive bowl win after losing its last four games of the season. James Madison (11-2) lost in regulation for the first time this season while playing in the program’s first bowl game. The Dukes, who are completing their transition to the FBS level from FCS after…

College athletics have gone through significant changes in recent years, giving more freedom to student-athletes than ever before. Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser is joining the fight to give even more freedom to the athletes by allowing them to transfer as often as they want without penalty. Meanwhile, Colorado athletic director Rick George is among the many administrators hoping that won’t happen. “I think we’re forgetting about the fact that education is primary,” George said. “Ninety-five to 98% of these student athletes are not going pro in their sport, so that degree and that education is extremely important. And when…

With no room for error in the Broncos’ pursuit of a playoff berth, are the final three tests on the regular-season schedule also elimination games for quarterback Russell Wilson? From the jump, Wilson and coach Sean Payton have made for an odd couple. One’s a choir boy; the other’s a class (and crass) clown. How do you meld a small quarterback whose skill set requires strategic compromises with a big, complex playsheet authored by a huge ego? Now, in a relationship that only was going to be built on winning, DangeRuss doesn’t cook and Payton admits he must devise game…

LOUISVILLE — Every ornament on Heather Szucs’ donated Christmas tree is special. There’s one signed by Isabella, age 4, from Alaska. There are family photos a friend secretly printed off Szucs’ Facebook page and then placed into tiny Christmas frames. Santa Clauses, glass bulbs, reindeer, the blinking yellow star on top — all donated. Heather Szucs said the ornaments on her family’s tree are special because they’ve been donated from all over the United States. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) “To me, now, the tree is more special,” Szucs said. “I never in my life realized how much community…

A mother and her 14-year-old daughter are advocating for better protections for victims after AI-generated nude images of the teen and other female classmates were circulated at a high school in New Jersey. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, officials are investigating an incident involving a teenage boy who allegedly used artificial intelligence to create and distribute similar images of other students – also teen girls – that attend a high school in suburban Seattle, Washington. The disturbing cases have put a spotlight yet again on explicit AI-generated material that overwhelmingly harms women and children and is booming…