Mile High Sports

The Year in Pictures 2017: Victory

This story originally appeared in Mile High Sports Magazine. Read the full digital edition.

The Denver Pioneers delivered their eighth national championship. Rocktober returned. Mikaela Shiffrin set a new standards on the slopes. The Eagles were crowned champs once again. Martin Truex Jr. drove his team to a title.

Athletes and teams across Colorado gave fans plenty to cheer about in 2017. These photos capture many of the great triumphs this year brought us.

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Vail’s Mikaela Shiffrin secured her first overall FIS World Cup title and the “Skieur d’Or” award, alpine skiing’s top honor.

Mar 18, 2017; Aspen, CO, USA; Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States during the women’s slalom alpine skiing race in the 2017 Audi FIS World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

History might forget that the Vance Joseph era of Denver Broncos football actually began with a bang. The Broncos jumped out to a 3-1 start including an unexpected blowout win against the Cowboys and this “Monday Night Football” victory over the Chargers (pictured) in the opener.

Sep 11, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph greets wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Junior forward Evan Janssen hoists the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey trophy, the Pioneers’ eighth national title in hockey.

Apr 8, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Denver Pioneers forward Evan Janssen (26) celebrates with the championship trophy following a game against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at the United Center. Denver won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets sensation Nikola Jokic twice crossed the 40-point mark in 2017 – in February against the Knicks (40, pictured) and then again against Nets (41) in November.

Feb 10, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Denver Nuggets power forward Nikola Jokic (15) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the New York Knicks during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

In his MLB debut, Thomas Jefferson High School grad Kyle Freeland defeated the Dodgers on Opening Day at Coors Field.

Apr 7, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (31) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

In May, Martin Truex Jr. celebrated his second victory of the season after a dominant performance at the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. Truex and his Furniture Row Racing team collected a career-high eight wins on the season, two at Kansas and seven on 1.5-mile tracks.

May 13, 2017; Kansas City, KS, USA; Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates his victory at the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

As per usual, the Colorado State University volleyball team was dominant. When the season had concluded, the Rams held an overall record of 29-4 and a Mountain West Conference mark of 17-1.

Colorado State Volleyball vs. Boise State, Nov. 4, 2017 | Mandatory Credit: Colorado State Athletics-Tomas Redondo

On Mother’s Day, rookie hurler Antonio Senzatela dedicated his start to his mother, Nidya Yusbelis Rondon, who lost a battle with breast cancer in July of 2016. Wearing an appropriate “pink” uniform, Senzatela gave the Rockies five strong innings and ultimately earned the win – for his mother, who never got the chance to see her son pitch in the majors.

May 14, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

If winning a state championship in 5A Boys Basketball wasn’t good enough, going out a winner was certainly the cherry atop the sundae. That was the case for Eaglecrest head coach John Olander, who announced his impending retirement prior to season’s end, and senior guard Colby Ross, who headed off to play for Pepperdine.

Mandatory Credit: Casey Light-Mile High Sports

The Colorado Eagles brought home their third championship trophy in club history, hoisting the ECHL’s Kelly Cup in June.

Mandatory Credit: Colorado Eagles

Broncos tight end A.J. Derby didn’t stick around for the entire season (he was released/injured prior to Week 11 against Cincinnati), but his amazing, one-handed touchdown grab against the Raiders in Week 4 started things off right. Derby’s first-quarter score proved to be the difference in Denver’s 16-10 win.

Oct 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end A.J. Derby (83) pulls in the football for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The 2017 CSU men’s cross country team turned in a historic season, finishing ninth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. That finish was the third-best in program history and ranks as the team’s best since 1978. The Rams also won their first-ever Mountain West Conference title. Jerrell Mock won his second conference individual title.

Mandatory Credit: Eric Miller-Colorado State Athletics

Following a walk-off single against the Mets, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is greeted by centerfielder Charlie Blackmon, who scored the winning run. On the season, Blackmon and Arenado combined for 400 hits, 234 RBI and 80 home runs.

Aug 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) celebrates with third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) after he hit a walk off single in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Behind Tanner Jaillet’s season-high 38 saves in the national championship game, Jim Montgomery’s DU Pioneers bested Minnesota-Duluth 3-2. Jaillet was the season’s Mike Richter Award winner, while defenseman Will Butcher took home the Hobey Baker Award.

Apr 8, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; The Denver Pioneers celebrate after winning the championship game of the 2017 Frozen Four against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated New Zealand 3-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Colorado’s own Lindsey Horan (pointing skyward) tallied an assist in the win.

Sep 15, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; Members of the United States women’s soccer team celebrate a goal against New Zealand in the first half of the match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

While legions of local football fans bemoaned the shortcomings of their respective team, the ThunderWolves of CSU-Pueblo just never seem to disappoint. John Wristen’s team went 9-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference before eventually falling to Minnesota State-Mankato in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Mandatory Credit: Dax Larson – CSU-Pueblo Athletics

It was Coors beer and goggles inside the locker room on the night Rocktober officially returned to Colorado. The Rockies earned the NL’s second Wild Card berth and a spot in the Major League Baseball postseason, their first since 2009. On the season, the Rockies finished 87-75 while playing in a daunting NL West.

Sep 30, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Rockies celebrate after securing a national league wild card berth following a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports

By taking the checkered flag at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Nov 19, 2017; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2017 NASCAR Cup Championship and the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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