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DENVER — It wasn't exactly a punchline, but Windsor High School basketball players could feel it.
So many Wizards had come excruciatingly close. Nearly 10 varsity sports runner-up finishes across five different teams since a 2021 boys soccer state title.
Three straight girls basketball second-place finishes. A boys one last year. Wrestling, softball and girls soccer teams all met similar fates in the 2020s.
"We’ve joked about it like, 'We’re the school of runner-ups. Just can’t get it done,' " Windsor star Madden Smiley said sarcastically.
"Not anymore, though. We’re bringing that golden trophy home."
The Windsor boys made sure of it with a cathartic 60-49 Colorado Class 5A basketball championship win over Green Mountain on Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.
It was the boys basketball program's first title since going back-to-back way back in 1923-24. Redemption for so much recent heartbreak.
"This is a championship for our whole community," Windsor athletic director Eric Johnson said. "They support these kids across the board, in school and all our sports teams."
So the red carpet had to be rolled out, right?
Johnson said Windsor Severance Fire Rescue crews would welcome the Wizards home late Saturday, with fire trucks escorting the team bus from the Windsor exit along Interstate 25 all the way into and through the town.
A parade for champions. The welcoming party for conquering heroes.
According to Windsor players in the postgame mayhem, the party was set to continue at teammate Camden Smith's house.
Soak it in, Wizards. You'll be remembered for this one in the small, tight-knit Northern Colorado town, maybe as long as those 1924 national and state champions.
Because this Windsor team was beyond worthy of snapping the second-place frustrations.
They had Smiley, an outright star who doesn't act like one, unless it's flashing that camera-ready grin.
Brady Kingsley delivered a legendary playoff run with clutch 3-pointers galore, including two more rainbow swishes in the championship.
How it happened: Live recap as Windsor beats Green Mountain for Colorado 5A basketball state championship
John Backhaus and Tadese Keyworth can ride off into the senior sunset fully satisfied. Thales Price delivered in the Coliseum games. Smith was a super role player. Marcus Martinez and Morgan Sholder absorbed critical minutes in the title game.
It goes deeper than just the on-court success, though.
The Wizards played like their head coach, former Colorado State player Jon Rakiecki. They embodied his even-keeled poise on the sidelines and carried it onto the floor.
The ninth-year Windsor head man said it's no coincidence, with players not merely absorbing his demeanor.
"When I was a younger coach, I got technical fouls all the time and screamed at officials," Rakiecki said. "As I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to be intentional about modeling a good example for our players."
"If I’m out of control, our guys will play like it," Rakiecki added. "I exhibit the attitude I expect of them."
Intangibles can be a sports cliché, but this Windsor team is Exhibit A that they matter. No one was going to play more like a true unit, all hands rowing the same direction in unison.
The Wizards compete for the close-knit community they represent. Many players have known each other for years, their bonds only further forged in the runner-up and Final 4 finishes the past two years.
Take Backhaus and Kingsley, who have grown up together across the travels of club ball, summer leagues or even just hoops in the driveway before their Windsor careers.
"I’ve known (Brady) since we were little kids, like 5 years old," Backhaus said. "... It builds a chemistry and trust between us and we let that show tonight."
Devastating defeats by Mesa Ridge on the season's final weekend the last two years proved mere speed bumps in hindsight. Iron that ultimately sharpened champions.
It only made the celebration sweeter.
"Failure is a good thing, and shows how hard it is," Rakiecki said. "People take winning titles for granted. You need luck on your side, to click at the right time. Things went our way, but we had to make it happen, too."
"Those moments made us grow. I’m grateful now for those losses," Smiley added.
The work was finally done. All that was left to do? Party like it's 1924 again.
Rakiecki said he could finally exhale, ready to appreciate the achievement with everybody back home.
Backhaus expected "an epic time," one last time for now, with this group. Smiley hugged his parents and FaceTimed his girlfriend, the patented smile verging on tears.
The breakthrough win was particularly meaningful to Johnson, a longtime Windsor administrator whose daughter (Raegan) was on all three Wizard runner-up girls basketball teams from 2021-23.
"I can’t tell you how glad I am to get that monkey off our back like this. The hard days and tough stuff as an AD is all worth it for the joy on these kids faces when they realize their dreams," Johnson said.
It may not take another century for the next boys title.
Who knows? With only two two seniors graduating and Smiley back, these Wizards could have designs on their own back-to-back run.
But this banner will live on, a crowning achievement etched in Windsor lore.
"That’s crazy to think about, being over 100 years. I don’t have the words to explain that feeling," Backhaus said.
"But I do know that leaving a legacy like this at Windsor is special to all of us."
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Windsor boys basketball can party like it's 1924 after 5A state title
Continue reading...
So many Wizards had come excruciatingly close. Nearly 10 varsity sports runner-up finishes across five different teams since a 2021 boys soccer state title.
Three straight girls basketball second-place finishes. A boys one last year. Wrestling, softball and girls soccer teams all met similar fates in the 2020s.
"We’ve joked about it like, 'We’re the school of runner-ups. Just can’t get it done,' " Windsor star Madden Smiley said sarcastically.
"Not anymore, though. We’re bringing that golden trophy home."
The Windsor boys made sure of it with a cathartic 60-49 Colorado Class 5A basketball championship win over Green Mountain on Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.
It was the boys basketball program's first title since going back-to-back way back in 1923-24. Redemption for so much recent heartbreak.
"This is a championship for our whole community," Windsor athletic director Eric Johnson said. "They support these kids across the board, in school and all our sports teams."
So the red carpet had to be rolled out, right?
Johnson said Windsor Severance Fire Rescue crews would welcome the Wizards home late Saturday, with fire trucks escorting the team bus from the Windsor exit along Interstate 25 all the way into and through the town.
A parade for champions. The welcoming party for conquering heroes.
According to Windsor players in the postgame mayhem, the party was set to continue at teammate Camden Smith's house.
Soak it in, Wizards. You'll be remembered for this one in the small, tight-knit Northern Colorado town, maybe as long as those 1924 national and state champions.
Because this Windsor team was beyond worthy of snapping the second-place frustrations.
They had Smiley, an outright star who doesn't act like one, unless it's flashing that camera-ready grin.
Brady Kingsley delivered a legendary playoff run with clutch 3-pointers galore, including two more rainbow swishes in the championship.
How it happened: Live recap as Windsor beats Green Mountain for Colorado 5A basketball state championship
John Backhaus and Tadese Keyworth can ride off into the senior sunset fully satisfied. Thales Price delivered in the Coliseum games. Smith was a super role player. Marcus Martinez and Morgan Sholder absorbed critical minutes in the title game.
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It goes deeper than just the on-court success, though.
The Wizards played like their head coach, former Colorado State player Jon Rakiecki. They embodied his even-keeled poise on the sidelines and carried it onto the floor.
The ninth-year Windsor head man said it's no coincidence, with players not merely absorbing his demeanor.
"When I was a younger coach, I got technical fouls all the time and screamed at officials," Rakiecki said. "As I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to be intentional about modeling a good example for our players."
"If I’m out of control, our guys will play like it," Rakiecki added. "I exhibit the attitude I expect of them."
Intangibles can be a sports cliché, but this Windsor team is Exhibit A that they matter. No one was going to play more like a true unit, all hands rowing the same direction in unison.
The Wizards compete for the close-knit community they represent. Many players have known each other for years, their bonds only further forged in the runner-up and Final 4 finishes the past two years.
Take Backhaus and Kingsley, who have grown up together across the travels of club ball, summer leagues or even just hoops in the driveway before their Windsor careers.
"I’ve known (Brady) since we were little kids, like 5 years old," Backhaus said. "... It builds a chemistry and trust between us and we let that show tonight."
Devastating defeats by Mesa Ridge on the season's final weekend the last two years proved mere speed bumps in hindsight. Iron that ultimately sharpened champions.
It only made the celebration sweeter.
"Failure is a good thing, and shows how hard it is," Rakiecki said. "People take winning titles for granted. You need luck on your side, to click at the right time. Things went our way, but we had to make it happen, too."
"Those moments made us grow. I’m grateful now for those losses," Smiley added.
You must be registered for see images attach
The work was finally done. All that was left to do? Party like it's 1924 again.
Rakiecki said he could finally exhale, ready to appreciate the achievement with everybody back home.
Backhaus expected "an epic time," one last time for now, with this group. Smiley hugged his parents and FaceTimed his girlfriend, the patented smile verging on tears.
The breakthrough win was particularly meaningful to Johnson, a longtime Windsor administrator whose daughter (Raegan) was on all three Wizard runner-up girls basketball teams from 2021-23.
"I can’t tell you how glad I am to get that monkey off our back like this. The hard days and tough stuff as an AD is all worth it for the joy on these kids faces when they realize their dreams," Johnson said.
It may not take another century for the next boys title.
Who knows? With only two two seniors graduating and Smiley back, these Wizards could have designs on their own back-to-back run.
But this banner will live on, a crowning achievement etched in Windsor lore.
"That’s crazy to think about, being over 100 years. I don’t have the words to explain that feeling," Backhaus said.
"But I do know that leaving a legacy like this at Windsor is special to all of us."
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Windsor boys basketball can party like it's 1924 after 5A state title
Continue reading...
