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

For every champion that is crowned, there is someone who comes up just short. For every winner that walks off the field of play, there is another who will use defeat as motivation.

The Colorado sports scene had many moments of triumph in 2017, but it was also met with its fair share of disappointment. These photos capture the losses that will linger and inspire improvement for the future.

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In an admirable early season effort against SEC powerhouse Alabama, the CSU Rams ultimately fell to the Tide 41-23 in Tuscaloosa.