It was another whirlwind of a week in the world of Colorado sports. This time, though, it was mostly good news.

CU and CSU announced that they would be playing football in the fall after all, CHSAA football began practice for the fall season, and the Sterling boys’ golf team qualified for the state tournament. Now, the week to come will all be about postseason preparation, and in some cases, postseason qualification.

First, we’ll start with the Sterling Lady Tigers’ softball team. SHS will have their second consecutive three game week, having gone 1-2 last week against Lyons (L), Platte Valley (W), and Eaton (L). Now, as Sterling is fighting for one of the final 3A playoff spots, they’ll need to get the job done this week.

The Lady Tigers will begin their week on the road on Tuesday as they visit Resurrection Christian on Tuesday at 4:00 pm. Sterling won the last meeting against the first year varsity Lady Cougars 10-0. It’s a game they’re expected to win and they’ll need it given the rest of their week.

Sterling will play the last two games of the regular season within the confines of Mason Field. Thursday, the Lady Tigers will host defending 3A state champion University. Sterling shocked the state the last time they played University, earning a 6-4 upset over the Lady Bulldogs. That game will be played at 4:00 pm and another upset win would be enormous for Sterling’s RPI standing.

Finally, Sterling will host Brush on Saturday at 11:00 am. First year head coach Kirk Smock even said that the Brush game could decide who makes it into the 16th and final playoff spot in 3A. Either way, it will be a huge week for Sterling softball.

While the Lady Tigers are fighting for the playoffs, the Sterling boys’ golf team already qualified last week at the 3A Region 3 Regional. The 3A state tournament will be played from October 5th-7th in Gunnison, but the Tigers will have one last warm up match to get ready.

Sterling will take part in the Holy Family Bobblehead Invite at Broadlands Golf Course on Tuesday, beginning at 8:00 am. It will be a good practice round for the quartet of Trey Kuntz, Tayleb Schaefer, Jace Wright, and Logan Bohler. Kuntz has finished in 1st place int 5 of the 11 tournaments the Tigers have participated in, Schaefer has take 1st place twice, Wright has been a consistent top 20 finisher, and Bohler is coming off his best performance of the year (he finished 10th at Regionals). It won’t affect who goes on to state, but the Tigers are always fun to watch.

It isn’t just Sterling with a lot on the line this week. The Merino Rams’ cross country team will be back in varsity action after getting last week off. The team of four girls (Madi Sutter, Faith Trenkle, Keila Nunez, and Courtney Bon) and two boys (Brock Dollershell and Kaiden Piel) will head to Wiggins on Friday for a Conference meet at 8 am. Following that, the next meet will be the 2A Regionals at Lyons on October 8th.

It will also be finale of sorts for the NJC golf team. The Plainsmen and Plainswomen will have their final Event of the fall before returning to play in March this week. NJC will stay in state as they take part in the Otero Junior College Dual in La Junta, Colorado on Friday beginning at 1:00 pm. NJC won’t golf again until March 25th.

It will be a big week for all most certainly. The following week will be even bigger as Merino heads to Regionals, Sterling boys’ golf heads to state, and Sterling softball will (hopefully) start the playoffs. The way things have gone this year, I probably shouldn’t speak so soon, but if everything goes as plan, that week will also mark the beginning of the CHSAA fall football season. This week is all about getting ready, so let’s get ready.