Last spring, Erie’s boys lacrosse team ascended to the top of the Class 4A mountain, capturing the state championship one year after falling short in a two-overtime title-game thriller.
So what do the Tigers do for an encore? Take the next step.
Erie has moved into 5A for the 2025 season, but does so without the combined 112 goals scored by Liam Connors and Charlie O’Brien last season. The No. 7 Tigers are off to a 4-1 start, with the only loss coming in overtime to Blue Valley Southwest of Kansas on March 28. With league play set to get under way this week, Erie will be challenged quickly with unbeaten and ninth-ranked Columbine waiting Saturday. Sophomore Drake Chivukula has led the team in scoring early this season, with seniors Cooper Riley and Tyler Chivukula right there as well.
Valor Christian is the defending 5A champion, and the No. 2 Eagles have won six of their first seven games.
Here is a quick look at the two classifications on the boys side headed into the first full week of April:
Class 5A
Cherry Creek is off to another strong start, with seven consecutive victories to open the season. The top-ranked Bruins have scored 93 goals and have their League 4 opener Saturday against Denver South. Sophomore Wyatt Branish had 19 goals in six games, with senior Ollie Nolting leading the team in scoring with 17 goals and 17 assists. … Arapahoe, also in League 4, is 6-0 going into league play against Kent Denver. The Warriors, who reached the 2024 title game before falling to Valor, have three players with at least 16 points. Sophomore Tyler Napolilli has 14 goals. … Valor Christian dropped its opener to St. Ignatius College Preparatory before reeling off six wins in a row, including Tuesday night’s 10-2 triumph over No. 5 Denver East. JT Cross, who had 35 goals as a freshman, is already off to a strong start in his sophomore season. … Grandview has dropped its past three games, but junior Mason Kelly was leading the state with 23 goals and was just behind Nolting with 16 assists.
Class 4A
Air Academy, which lost to Northfield in the semifinals last May, is off to a 7-0 start with 105 goals to its credit. The Kadets have two of the state’s top scorers in sophomore Alex Sirois (22 goals) and senior Lucas Obringer (21 goals, 24 assists). … Brayden Wilson isn’t far behind Obringer, with 16 goals and 28 assists for No. 8 Pueblo West (5-2). … Top-ranked Dakota Ridge won its first five games, including a 17-5 rout of 5A’s No. 6 Chatfield. The Eagles face No. 9 Columbine and No. 10 Fairview the first week of the month. Senior Nolan Hartman has 16 goals and 14 assists in those five games, and senior Tyler Read has 17 goals. … No. 2 Evergreen (5-1) dropped its only game to Fairview, but the Cougars also own a victory over No. 4 Telluride, No. 6 Battle Mountain and No. 9 Resurrection Christian.
