Story by: Koby Tordjman and Elijah Rodriguez
The ultimate pinnacle of success. The top of the totem pole. The head honcho.
The ThunderRidge Grizzlies.
The latest addition to the rafters in the ThunderRidge gym is a 2015-’16 Girls Basketball State Championship banner that the team earned against local rivals, the Highlands Ranch Falcons, in a 47-32 win on Saturday, March 12 at Coors Event Center in Boulder. ThunderRidge High School athletics now boast 20 state titles, with four coming from the girls basketball program.
The team went 25-3 throughout the duration of the season, knocking off two top 15 nationally-ranked teams in the final two rounds en route to being named the 5A State Champions. The team is lead by seniors Jaz’Myne Snipes, Alyssia Martinez and Taylor Rusk, who combined for 89 of the team’s 116 points in the two games.
First-year head coach Matthew Asik -- formerly a girls basketball assistant coach -- guided the girls to a title after coming up short a year ago in a 47-42 loss to Broomfield High School.
“It was definitely tough adjusting, but his style was a combination of our last few coaches, so that helped a lot. We knew that we were all going to have to buy in if we wanted to accomplish our overall goal,” said outstanding senior guard Madison Ward.
Last year’s loss in the state title game left the Lady Grizzlies with a bad taste in their mouths, firing up the squad up for another year of great basketball.
“Although it crushed us, it gave us more motivation to work harder at practice and in games. We were determined to win it,” said senior guard Alyssia Martinez. “Ever since we were little, a State Championship is all we, as a team, ever wanted and we made it come true. It was a redemption year for us.”
Through hardwork and perseverance, the Grizzlies have accomplished their goal and now look ahead to repeat--just as any champion would.
The ThunderRidge Grizzlies.
The latest addition to the rafters in the ThunderRidge gym is a 2015-’16 Girls Basketball State Championship banner that the team earned against local rivals, the Highlands Ranch Falcons, in a 47-32 win on Saturday, March 12 at Coors Event Center in Boulder. ThunderRidge High School athletics now boast 20 state titles, with four coming from the girls basketball program.
The team went 25-3 throughout the duration of the season, knocking off two top 15 nationally-ranked teams in the final two rounds en route to being named the 5A State Champions. The team is lead by seniors Jaz’Myne Snipes, Alyssia Martinez and Taylor Rusk, who combined for 89 of the team’s 116 points in the two games.
First-year head coach Matthew Asik -- formerly a girls basketball assistant coach -- guided the girls to a title after coming up short a year ago in a 47-42 loss to Broomfield High School.
“It was definitely tough adjusting, but his style was a combination of our last few coaches, so that helped a lot. We knew that we were all going to have to buy in if we wanted to accomplish our overall goal,” said outstanding senior guard Madison Ward.
Last year’s loss in the state title game left the Lady Grizzlies with a bad taste in their mouths, firing up the squad up for another year of great basketball.
“Although it crushed us, it gave us more motivation to work harder at practice and in games. We were determined to win it,” said senior guard Alyssia Martinez. “Ever since we were little, a State Championship is all we, as a team, ever wanted and we made it come true. It was a redemption year for us.”
Through hardwork and perseverance, the Grizzlies have accomplished their goal and now look ahead to repeat--just as any champion would.