Colorado Team Wins State Title One Year After Heartbreak

Sometimes the sweetest victories are the ones you have to wait a year to taste. Valor Christian's boys lacrosse team did exactly that, beating Cherry Creek 8-5 in the Colorado Class 5A state championship game at the University of Denver.

The win was especially meaningful because it flipped the script on last year's heartbreak. The Bruins had defeated the Eagles by three goals in the previous championship, and that loss fueled an entire season of preparation and determination.

"It was tough for the seniors last year, so we didn't want to go out like that," senior goalie Ian Stefonowicz said after the game. "It felt great to get some revenge, especially against a great team like that."

Both teams entered the rematch undefeated against Colorado opponents, carrying identical 16-2 records. Together, they brought 11 combined state championships to the field, making this matchup between the state's top two programs a battle of titans.

The game stayed tight through the first half, with outstanding goalkeeping from both Stefonowicz and Cherry Creek's Cole Gallup keeping the score at 1-1. The defensive intensity matched the stakes, with neither team willing to give an inch.

Everything changed in the third quarter when junior Brandon Wright took control at the face-off circle. Wright won two crucial face-offs, scooped up the ball on the run, and scored both times to give Valor Christian the momentum they needed.

"I just tried to help my team any way I could," Wright said. "It was a great win."

Why This Inspires

This story captures something powerful about team sports and resilience. Valor Christian's players carried the weight of last year's loss through an entire season, but they didn't let it crush them.

Instead, they used it as motivation to work harder and stick together. Coach Jeremy Noble said his team felt overlooked this season despite reaching three straight championship games, with only three players earning first-team all-state honors.

But the Eagles embraced that underdog mentality. "It's not about individual awards, it's about winning a state championship," Noble said. "That's what they understood and that's what they did."

Senior Blake Ham added an insurance goal late in the game, and while Cherry Creek fought back with two late scores from Benji Davoll, the Eagles held strong. They played through cold rain, intense pressure, and the memories of last year's disappointment to claim the victory they'd dreamed about for 365 days.

The championship proves that how you respond to defeat matters more than the defeat itself.