Centennial League

Favorite: Cherry Creek

Contenders: Mullen, Smoky Hill, Fairview

Outlook: With back-to-back titles, Cherry Creek has a good thing going and many expect the Bruins to get back to the title game. Ryan Driver will take over as the team’s go-to player. A strong senior class should lead Mullen’s playoff run, but junior Kyle Wollenhaupt will be a force as well. The Mustangs will attempt to fend off Fairview and a vastly improved Smoky Hill squad. Boulder will rally behind all-league middie Luke Segars and goalkeeper Dan Mills, while Eaglecrest looks to gain a top-six spot within the league behind standout attackman Kevin McGinnis.

Top players: Mario Angulo, Overland, Jr.; Peter Beer, Boulder, Jr.; Jacob Bock, Grandview, Jr.; Justin Brown, Smoky Hill, Sr.; Brian Collins, Mullen, Sr.; Tramell Cox, Grandview, Sr.; Jake Craney, Grandview, Sr.; Joshua Denton, Ridge View Academy, Sr.; Kyle Driver, Cherry Creek, Sr.; Jonathan Fasano, Smoky Hill, Sr.; Kyle Kachta, Cherokee Trail, Jr.; Nathan Kinney, Grandview, Sr.; Austin Lowe, Overland, Sr.; Kevin McGinnis, Eaglecrest, Sr.; Cam McKillip, Cherokee Trail, Jr.; Dan Mills, Boulder, Sr.; Jimmy Mitchell, Eaglecrest, Sr.; Charlie Mullens, Mullen, Sr.; Luke Segars, Boulder, Sr.; Jon Watt, Cherokee Trail, Jr.; Joseph Williamson, Ridge View Academy, Sr.; Adam Wohel, Overland, Jr.; Kyle Wollenhaupt, Mullen, Jr.; Schuyler Yost, Smoky Hill, Sr.; Austin Zilis, Cherry Creek, Sr.; Jake Zolna, Eaglecrest, Sr.

Continental League

Favorite: Regis

Contenders: Arapahoe, Mountain Vista, Heritage

Outlook: Regis and Arapahoe have a stranglehold on the league, but Mountain Vista is a team on the rise. The Golden Eagles won their first round playoff game last year and are looking for more with 10 returning starters. Still, it will take a lot to challenge the Raiders and the Warriors. Arapahoe lost a strong defender with Chase Clark transferring to Cherry Creek, but it will still have a shot at consecutive semifinal appearances. Flinn Fowler will help Rock Canyon make a run in its first year with the league. The Jaguars went 8-6 as an independent team last year.

Top players: Brian Amore, Rangeview, Sr.; Colton Baines, Chaparral, Sr.; Ross Bennett, Mountain Vista, Sr.; Adam Booth, Douglas County, Jr.; Mike Brandt, Chaparral, So.; Sean Byrne, Rock Canyon, Sr.; Andrew Chapman, Littleton, Sr.; Mike Facchinello, Douglas County, Sr.; Michael Fields, Rangeview, Sr.; Flinn Fowler, Rock Canyon, Jr.; Garrett Fugier, Regis, Sr.; Michael Gordon, Regis, Jr.; Keefe Gray, Rock Canyon, Sr.; Ryan Hamerstadt, Mountain Vista, Sr.; Colton Hankowski, Littleton, Sr.; Mychal Hayes, Rangeview, Sr.; Brian Kerigan, Douglas County, So.; Trevor Moody, Chaparral, Jr.; Patrick Mullaney, Littleton, Sr.; Troy Orzech, Regis, Jr.; Steven Unkrich, Mountain Vista, Sr.

Foothills League

Favorite: Fort Collins

Contenders: Golden, Columbine, Monarch, Wheat Ridge

Outlook: Fort Collins returns a ton of players, including its entire starting attack line. That line is headed by Henry Miketa, who has led the team in scoring the past two years. Golden has a ton of depth in the midfield but its talent lies mostly at defense. Defense is the name of Columbine’s game as well, and coach Steve Bailey believes his offense will step up to make the Rebels a frontrunner. Monarch’s Michael Christman is a scoring machine, and the Coyotes will battle with Wheat Ridge and Alexander Dawson for positioning in the playoffs. Alexander Dawson returns one of the state’s top players in Henry Hughes, while coach Chris Knott is hoping to guide Wheat Ridge back to its mid-90s prominence.

Top players: Albert Amaya, Englewood, Sr.; Brooks Barron, Alexander Dawson, Sr.; Kevin Bertrand, Steamboat Springs, Jr.; Karl Buck, Evergreen, Sr.; Lukas Cantwell, Golden, Sr.; Michael Christman, Monarch, Sr.; Sam DeKoven, Evergreen, Jr.; Matt Dowell, Columbine, Sr.; Taylor Fields, Fort Collins, Sr.; Evan Fordyce, Englewood, Sr.; Scott Forney, Steamboat Springs, Jr.; Mitch Hanson, Fort Collins, Jr.; Henry Hughes, Alexander Dawson, Sr.; Matt Jui, Columbine, Sr.; Will Kaley, Wheat Ridge, Jr.; Ty Maryama, Green Mountain, Jr.; Joey Melius, Steamboat Springs, Sr.; Mark Moskovics, Monarch, Sr.; Jerry Nemeth, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; Robert Ogez, Alexander Dawson, Jr.; Zak Oletski, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; Chris Paulsen, Golden, Sr.; Mike Philbin, Evergreen, Jr.; Dak Riecke, Green Mountain, Sr.; Mark Salaney, Green Mountain, Sr.; Conner Saller, Fort Collins, Sr.; Tim Wolaver, Golden, Sr.

Southern League

Favorite: Kent Denver

Contenders: Denver East, Air Academy, Colorado Academy

Outlook: A heated battle at the top is expected to ensue, but the playoff positioning throughout the top six should be intriguing. Kent Denver lost a lot on its attack but will make up for it with midfield and transition specialists to create opportunities. Denver East, last year’s runners-up, will have a lot of question marks but always seems to reload under longtime coach Jon Barocas. The Angels boast on of the state’s best finishers in Josh Russell. Air Academy’s offensive explosiveness will help them compete along with well-rounded Colorado Academy. Lewis-Palmer and Palmer should garner some attention, while Telluride and Pueblo West aim for .500 or better in their first full varsity seasons.

Top players: Chris Anderson, Colorado Academy, Jr.; Josh Anderson, George Washington, Sr.; Jenson Bigelow, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Drake Binero, Pueblo West, Sr.; John Cannon, Telluride, Sr.; Tim D’Amore, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Pat Ehelzes, Telluride, Sr.; Taylor Henricks, Air Academy, Sr.; Josh Horton, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Jon Horvath, Palmer, Sr.; Dustin Jones, Pueblo West, Sr.; Brian Kearny, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Jameson Keating, Air Academy, Sr.; Pat McNerney, Denver South, Sr.; Gabe Mann, Denver East, Sr.; Cole Moberly, Palmer, Jr.; Patrick Murray, Kent Denver, So.; Nick Nakazono, George Washington, So.; Cody Novak, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Max Pluss, Kent Denver, Sr.; Michael Reilly, Kent Denver, Jr.; Jay Roberts, Kent Denver, Sr.; Marvin Starkweather, Pueblo West, Sr.; Ian Swallow, Denver South, Sr.; Cory Thomas, Lewis-Palmer, Jr.; Colby Ward, Telluride, Jr.