Horace Mann Middle School hadn’t even played in a championship game in the Nuggets/Avalanche Prep League, let alone win a league trophy before this week. The Tigers finished the week with championships in volleyball and boys’ soccer.

Boys’ soccer was introduced to middle school athletics this fall, and Horace Mann won the first-ever boys’ soccer championship, which was also the Tigers’ first league championship. Horace Mann defeated Slavens School on Tuesday (Nov. 4) in a game at All City Stadium that went to penalty kicks to break a 1-1 tie. The Tigers won the shootout, 3-1.

Then on Thursday (Nov. 6), Horace Mann upset undefeated and top-seeded Kepner Middle School in two straight games to win the league volleyball championship at South High School.

The Denver Nuggets/Colorado Avalanche Prep League has been a success since its inception in 1997. By creating a sports league (volleyball, basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, softball and flag football) for boys and girls in 23 DPS middle schools, more than 3,000 middle school students who maintain a C average or better in each class participate in 1,560 games in the league annually. The existence of this academic requirement helps students develop good study habits and appreciate the importance of maintaining good grades in order to have the privilege of playing organized sports.
       
The participating middle schools are: Baker, Cole, Gove, Grant Ranch K-8, Grant, Hamilton, Henry, Hill, Horace Mann, Kepner, Kunsmiller, Lake, Martin Luther King Jr., Merrill, Moore K-8, Morey, Noel, Place, Randolph, Rishel, Skinner, Slavens K-8 and Smiley.

        For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 720-423-3414.