Broomfield junior Kiley Wheaton has already chosen her next softball destination: Wichita State.

Before moving on to that, however, she said she’s got some more to accomplish with the Eagles.

For starters, the Broomfield slugger hopes her swan song in 2025 will include a state title. It was just about the only thing her team didn’t claim this past fall after it finally bowed out in the Class 5A semifinals, finishing the year 27-1.

“We’ve always known that we can win it,” the Daily Camera softball player of the year said, now nearly two months after the Eagles’ 27-game winning streak ended in a 9-8 heartbreaker to eventual champion Riverdale Ridge. “As soon as we lost, we knew we could make a run for it next year.”

It’s something to look forward to as the Eagles expect to bring most of their production back next fall. Wheaton just wished it’d all fallen into place this year.

“For the seniors,” she said. “We were really trying to do for our seniors because they are just amazing people.”

Almost never looked so dominant.

In October, Broomfield became the first team to reach 5A’s Final Four undefeated since at least before 2011 (which is as far as reliable records go back on MaxPreps).

On the way, the Eagles beat opponents in the Granite Peaks League by an average of 11 runs, with most of their 12 conference games being called on account of the state’s mercy rule.

They beat No. 1 Cherokee Trail in their regular-season finale before sweeping regionals with a two-game score of 19-0.

They then reached the state tournament’s final day before Riverdale Ridge rallied past them in the semifinals. “It was so special,” Wheaton said. “I’m so grateful that I get to be a part of this team. I love all the girls. We’re all like family.”

Wheaton herself was at the forefront. Putting up video-game numbers for a second straight year, she hit .607 with 37 RBIs, 51 runs scored and seven home runs this fall.

She also stole 25 bases — one of just two 5A players with at least 50 runs, 25 steals and a .600 batting average. (Columbine’s Liv Keiter, who is committed to Alabama, was the other — 51, 28, .644).

But the postseason is where Wheaton really shined. And certainly, where she showed off her next-level power.

Her five home runs in the playoffs were the most in the classification. In those five games, she finished 10-of-16 from the plate with nine extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. “If your best players aren’t your best players in those big games, you just don’t win,” Broomfield coach Kale Gilmore said. “And Kiley is a big player and always rises to the occasion.”

Wheatley was named the player of the year in the Granite Peaks League.

She and ace Ireland Heer, meanwhile, were named to CHSAA’s 5A softball first team, marking the first time a Broomfield player made the state’s top team since Hadlee Reichert in 2020.