Creek has always been recognized as an athletically prominent school. But now, it’s been redefined – ranking first in the nation. Max Preps, a national high school athletics data collection and reporting center, ranks which high schools have performed the best every year. This year, with five state championships, and four teams ranked in the top 25 nationally, Creek was ranked the best high school in the nation for the fall season.
The ranking allotted Creek a total of 1,337 points, 184 points in front of second place Lone Peak, located in Highland, Utah. Creek also had more than double the points of any other Colorado high school, with Mountain Vista placing second in the state with 628 points. Creek’s closest rival in the ranking was Valor, placing fourth in Colorado with 557 points, 780 points below Creek.
“It’s always nice to be recognized,” Athletics Director Jason Wilkins said. “But to be recognized as the number one athletic program in the whole country for the fall season is a little bit extra special ”
The points system mostly considers the strength of teams played, game scores for individual teams, the popularity of the sport, and playoff division for the schools. For the Creek athletics program, the recognition felt special, especially after placing 59th in the country last year, and second in Colorado, with less than half the amount of points than this year.
The coaches who led Creek teams to their state championships agreed that it’s an amazing accomplishment to be a part of. “It truly is an honor to be recognized as a school like this,” field hockey head coach Tori Karsten said.
The coaches aren’t the only ones responsible for this achievement, as the athletes are also very proud of the work they’ve done this fall.
“[The players] are so proud to be a top school in the nation and sport-wide,” soccer head coach Wilmer Barrera said. “And also, more importantly, being top in the nation academically too. That’s what I’m more proud of, that combination, that’s something big.”
Creek was given a 95.94 out of 100 by the U.S. News and World Report as the overall ranking of the school.
For players and coaches, this ranking has not only been seen as a great achievement but as a force of motivation to do even better next season.
“With this ranking, I think it helps catapult us into a position of looking to keep that title and ranking for as long as we can,” Karsten said. “Continue to put in the work for each of our respective sports and continue to rally around each other’s programs and help each other as coaches and support the other student-athletes at the same time.”
The size of the achievement has led players to hope that it will also shine light on athletes hoping to advance their athletic careers..
“We have athletes on the team, many actually, that want to play at the next level, and to be able to have other states and colleges see the rankings will hopefully help turn those goals into reality for them,” Karsten said.
