Eagle Eye Issue 5, April 11, 2016 by Mark Newton

eagleeye we are

proud With a large amount of state champions and accomplished students and faculty, Mountain Vista has a multitude of reasons to be proud.

Vol. 15 Issue 5 4.11.16 Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Thank you for your business from Chick-fil-A Highlands Ranch Town Center To join our team, please visit www.CowsDeliver.com

EDITORS

Conner Davis Reagan Fitzke Amy Huang Regan Lavallee Zach McClenathan Kit Miller Tara O’Gorman

Kelsey Pharis Katie Pickrell Gannon Rushall Austin Sack Maleah Siegfried Lexi Weingardt

Gabe Barnard Tyler Felske Aly Hofmann Christian Holton Savanah Howard Haley Kolseth Lauren Lippert Jordan MacArthur

Hayley Mustin Mikayla Olave Charlie Penvari Staci Prevato Tamara Sorg Erica Venable Kenzie Winslow

STAFF

POLICY

Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published six times a year by the student journalism class at Mountain Vista High School. Expression made by students in the exercise of freedom of speech or freedom of press is not an expression of Douglas County school board policy. The views expressed in Eagle Eye do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, adviser, MVHS administration or the Douglas County School District administration. Board policy regarding student publications (JICEA and JI/JIA) are available in the publications room (U328) or the principal’s office.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Eagle Eye welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. This is a chance to express your viewpoint on important issues. Letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters will be edited for space and legal considerations, but not for inaccuracies, grammar or spelling. Letters must contain information pertinent to the students of MVHS. The staff retains the right to not publish any letter not meeting these requirements. Unsigned letters will not be published. Please submit typed letters in person to Room U328 or via mail or e-mail.

CONTACT

Eagle Eye | Mountain Vista High School 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 Phone: 303.387.1500 Adviser: Mark Newton— mark.newton@dcsdk12.org Editors— EagleEyeEditors@dcsdk12.org

DISTRIBUTION

Single copies are free. Where available, additional copies of this paper are available for purchase for 50 cents each. Contact Eagle Eye for more information. Taking more than one copy of this paper is prohibited (C.R.S. 18-4-419). Violators, subject to prosecution and penalty, will be prosecuted.

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contents

04 Ep!c! Photos 14 Ep!c! Photos talk about 05 we are vista 16 Let’s winning 24 successful by MVM Staff

by MVM Staff

by Austin Sack Mountain Vista is proud of its accomplishments, from stellar leadership to state championships.

by Mikayla Olave, Staci Prevato, Tamara Sorg and Greyson Koinzan

seasons by MVM Staff

fours years 26 trophy 18 06 editorial hunting and running cartooning 07 School news 20 Breaking records the 08 Local News 21 DougCo’s first 28 through madness TSa president 09 National News Hitting the 30 trails 10 on feminism 22 four finalists by MVM Editorial Staff

by Regan Lavallee

by MVM Staff

by MVM Staff As spring sports get into full swing, Golden Eagles teams are seeking out state championship titles.

by Haley Kolseth

by MVM Staff

by Kelsey Pharis

by Katie Pickrell

by Charlie Penvari

by Katie Pickrell & Christian Holton

by Amy Huang

by Katie Pickrell

OPEN FORUM CONTENT

Ep!c! Photos

1. Senior Ethan Lentz prepares to launch his Newton car in Jason Sickle’s Physics I class. His car traveled a total of 3.8 meters before coming to a stop. Photo by Kelsey Pharis 2. Senior Conner Humann sands down copper for a project dealing with altenative energies for AP Environmental Science. “[Global climate change] is really unfortunate because it’s obvious humans are at fault for it,” Humann said, “but instead of recognizing the problem and dealing with it, we’re just spending all of our time arguing about whether or not it is a problem.” Humann and his class will use the copper to see how to create solar energy. Photo by Katie Pickrell 3. Junior Sigourney Burch performs her original song “Radio Silence” at the Creative Arts Performance Night. “I was nervous because I’ve never really performed solo in front of people before. I think it went well,” Burch said. Burch was one of 25 individuals to perform this night. Photo by Tyler Merchant 4. Senior Ryan Fitzke attaches a wire to a multimeter to see if he’s able to make energy from the sun. Fitzke was working on this project with his science class as a study on solar power. Photo by Tyler Felske

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we are vista:

PROUD

Story by Austin Sack

ach coach at Vista has a strong sense of pride when it comes to their athletes. Vista’s athletic program gives coaches a lot of reasons to not only be proud of being a coach, but also to be proud of the athletes. These athletes have been ranked top in the state, gone to nationals, won back-to-back-toback state championships and won’t let anything get in the way of their accomplishments. Cross country and track and field head coach Jonathan Dalby and his team have beaten many school and state records and continue to do so each season. “[What makes me proud of Mountain Vista] is the great kids and the respect we have earned from around the state,” Dalby said. Although many coaches have different styles of coaching, they all have the same sense of Golden Eagle pride. “I like getting a chance to give kids an opportunity to do something more unconventional — a sport that most schools don’t have,” rock climbing coach Kristin Johnson said. “I love seeing students improve and enjoying the work it takes to get better. I would have loved to have an opportunity to be on a rock climbing team in high school. I like being able to give students that option.” Coaches aren’t the only ones with pride as many athletes have pride in themselves, their team, their coaches and their school. “I strive to make my coach proud of me by working hard and giving it my all,” sophomore Ashley Cushman, a volleyball player, said. “Effort is the most important thing and you just gotta show your love for the sport and put it all out there when you play.” It doesn’t matter what sport an athlete plays, from volleyball to field hockey, every athlete at Vista has the dedication to push through their boundaries to make them and their coaches proud. “Working hard everyday and persevering through any challenge you face will always show your ambitions. For me, that’s how I strive to make my coach proud,” sophomore Meghan Gordon, who plays lacrosse and field hockey, said.

The athletes at Vista aren’t just involved with sports, they are also full-time students. “[Mountain Vista is] really involved,” Dalby said. “Every student and teacher in the building is involved in something else besides solely being in the classroom. It’s very cool to see all of the extracurricular things going on with our staff and students.” Some teams strive to beat records and win competitions because they think it will bring pride to their team and school, but what makes Mountain Vista so full of pride is the ability to go to practice every day, overcome limits and come together as a team. That’s what gives Vista athletes and coaches the pride they need to win competitions and beat school records.

Illustration by Katie Pickrell

Illustration by Kelsey Pharis

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Co-editors-in-chief Kelsey Pharis and Katie Pickrell present their views of current news using visuals. If you have a cartoon idea youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to submit for the next Eagle Eye, contact us at: EagleEyeEditors@gmail.com

Steve Johnson, former MV principal, dies at age 58 Obituary by Kelsey Pharis

ormer Mountain Vista Principal Steve Johnson passed away March 27 — Easter Sunday. Prior to getting into education, Johnson was a pastor for 10 years. He was a teacher at Highlands Ranch High School. Johnson was hired in 2002 to become to be the second principal at MVHS and the first principal to graduate students. “He was the principal who created a culture of school acceptance and a feeling of family and belonging,” Spanish teacher Linda Hammerton-Morris said. Although at first he may have come off as intimidating, once someone got to know Johnson his huge heart and ability to comfort people was quite apparent. With his vast appreciation for all aspects of a student’s life, he created an atmosphere of acceptance within the school. “I was on the committee that hired him and I think that one of the things

that stuck out the most is his ability to be sort of a Renaissance Man because he was very musical, he was highly intelligent and he loved sports,” media specialist Julie Jacobs said. “There was a little bit of everything.” Johnson not only impacted the students he came into contact with, but also the teachers he hired and even the ones who came after he left Vista. Just over half of the teachers and administrators at Vista currently were hired by Johnson, continuing his legacy of excellence even after he left the school. “The legacy you leave on a building is the people you hire and the people who have created the culture of the building,” social studies teacher James Flanigan said of Johnson. Even after he left Vista his connections with the teachers never ended with many

Testing takes up another week at Mountain Vista Story by Lexi Weingardt

The week of April 18, the freshman, sophomore and junior classes will all be involved in at least one type of state-mandated testing. The freshman will participate in PARCC testing Monday through Wednesday and sophomores take the PSAT on Tuesday. Juniors take the ACT on Tuesday and the CMAS Science test on Thursday. Throughout this week of required testing, students will go to each of their classes once for an hour and ten minutes. Students may be opposed to state testing, but they are happy about only having to attend their classes once that week. “I am [excited for the testing week] because we get to sleep in,” sophomore Rachel Eccher said. “If I miss days that week I am not missing a lot.” Some students already are planning to opt out of the state tests such as PARCC and CMAS Science. “[I am opting out] mainly because I feel like it is not useful for me to take the test and I feel like I can use that time better for other things,” junior Cameron Mahoney said. Chemistry teacher Justin Villard said he has mised feelings on standardized testing. “I do believe there needs to be a common standard that all students and teachers are held to,” Villard said. “All students need to be evaluated using a common standard and tool.” However, Villard also said that testing does “impact instructional time, especially for AP teachers who are up against a test date that does not move.”

of the teachers and administrators keeping in contact with him. Once he got sick, teachers were able to visit during open house events and check in whenever needed. “Even when he couldn’t speak loudly he was always expressing his love he had for the people he worked with,” Jacobs said. Johnson was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. It took over his body quicker than expected. In his last few weeks, Johnson was able to see his son get married.

Journalism convention set to host thousands of students Story by Katie Pickrell

even student journalists with Mountain Vista Media will travel to Los Angeles, Calif. to accompany an estimated 4,000 other students at the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association’s 2016 Spring National High School Journalism Convention. Students and advisers will hear from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff, as well as a number of reporters from NBC, ABC and the Los Angeles Times. “I’m hoping to learn more about photography and its relationship with journalism,” junior Claire Beckman, a student in the Journalism I class, said. “I want to learn how to take pictures that tell a story.” While Beckman is looking forward to beginning her high school journalism career, the seniors on the trip are facing the end. “I’m looking forward to continuing learning in journalism and making new connections to people who can help me in the future,” senior co-editor-in-chief Kelsey Pharis said. “I’m excited to have one last thing to really remember my high school journalism experience by.”

Denver Broncos gain Mark Sanchez, could pick up draft pick for QB Story by Gabe Barnard

The offseason has been a wild ride for the Broncos as Super Bowl champions. In the middle of contract negotiations for the 2016 NFL season Brock Osweiler, who would have started as quarterback for Denver next year, accepted a contract with the Houston Texans. Osweiler signed a $72 million deal with Houston for four years. This left the Broncos searching for a quarterback to fill Osweiler’s and Manning’s shoes during the next season. In exchange for a seventh-round draft pick, the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Mark Sanchez to the Broncos. Sanchez started his career in the NFL in 2009 as a quarterback for the New York Jets until being picked up by Philadelphia for the 2014 season. The Bronco’s decision to grab Sanchez, who would fill the starting position despite not being a “big” quarterback in the football world, indicates that Denver is still considering other quarterback options, like Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers. Denver also has discussed the possibility of aquiring Ryan Fitzpatrick, a New York Yets quarterback with ten seasons of experience, or Robert Griffin III, a former quarterback for the Washington Redskins. This also leaves the Broncos with the option of picking up a college quarterback in the draft, like Connor Cook, Paxton Lynch or Christian Hackenberg, all of which would work well with Denver’s passing offense. John Elway seems to be handling the quarterback situation calmly so, if all goes well, the seas will be smooth by the end of the offseason.

Amendment 69 could make Colorado the first single-payer health care state Story by Katie Pickrell

olorado could become the first state to opt out of the Affordable Care Act coverage by November of 2016 . The decision would leave Colorado with a new, single-payer, publicly funded healthcare system through Amendment 69, also known as ColoradoCare. The plan would be paid for through a 3.33 percent tax on employee income and a 6.67 percent tax on employer income. These deductions are estimated to save $4.5 billion a year. ColoradoCare would be run by a board of trustees, elected locally from the district in which they reside. Proponents of the plan claim this would eliminate politics from the healthcare system as it’s a non-governmental program. Proponents also point out that ColoradoCare would provide access to health care — not health insurance. By eliminating co-pays and deductibles, health care would be readily available for anyone in need. “It’s time we get the insurance industry out of the driver’s seat and put families in charge of their health care,” medical doctor and state Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, said. Currently, healthcare spending is raising faster than average wages. Given this trend continues, it has been speculated that soon only wealthy individuals will be able to afford quality health care. Opponents of the plan are fearful of the impact a single-payer plan may have on doctors and hospitals. Whether or not the bill passes is dependant upon if Colorado citizes value the benefits of the plan over the tax increases that come with them. More information regarding ColoradoCare can be found on ColoradoCareYes.co.

DougCo reaches agreement on voucher program Story by Katie Pickrell & Tara O’Gorman

ouglas County School District plans to relaunch an altered voucher program after the current program was rejected by the Colorado Supreme Court for interfering with the “broad, unequivocal language forbidding the State from using public money to fund religious schools” put forth by the Colorado Constitution. Despite losing three pro-school choice board members to the most recent board of education election, the current board voted 4-3 to revamp the school choice program, this time disincluding religious-based institutions. “I believe it is illegal and deceitful to take funding that was intended to support public schools and have it applied to a private entity,” David Ray, one of three newly-elected school board members, said. “This is not based on need, it is based on a political agenda that wants to blur the lines between public and private education.” School Board President Meghann Silverthorn told Watchdog Colorado a fall start “would be ideal” for the new plan. The voucher program would grant each student 80 percent of what Colorado spends per pupil. If the program went into effect under the spending circumstances of the 2015-16 school year, each student would be awarded $5,992 to attend a private or charter school. “It is an unfortunate distraction away from serving the 67,000 students enrolled in our system. To approve a program that will take up to $3 million away from our public schools is irresponsible and negligent.” Ray said. Five hundred students could participate in the program. If more students applied, the plan proposed a lottery be held to determine who would be awarded enrollment. “My focus is on providing our students the education that they need,” Judith Reynolds, school board vice president said. “We all benefit from making sure all of our students are receiving an education, regardless of where that student is educated.” Unlike other voucher programs, the Douglas County plan isn’t directed towards helping low-income families, but can rather be awarded to any district student regardless of their family income. “When the needs of a student are not met in the public school, why should the dollars that were dedicated to the education of that student not follow them to the school of their choice?” Reynolds said.

Presidential impact

Post-secondary education is a key factor of the upcoming presidential races to many current and future college-level students. Here’s a look at how each candidate plans to address higher education. Analysis by Katie Pickrell

“

Every person in this country who has the desire and ability should be able to get all the education they need regardless of the income of their family. This is not a radical idea. In Germany, Scandinavia and many other countries, higher education is either free or very inexpensive. [The United States] must do the same.

“

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) wishes to make public colleges tuition-free for everyone in the United States, regardless of their income, if he is elected to office. His plans to pay for his $75 billion-per-year, higher education plan by imposing a speculatory tax on Wall Street trading that is expected to produce $300 billion in annual revenue. Sanders has repeatedly claimed that education is a right, not a privilege, and vowed to fight for equal educational opportunity for all U.S. residents.

We spend more money, and we’re ranked 28th [in the world]. Third World countries are ahead of us.

Donald Trump hasn’t discussed higher education explicitly, and consequently hasn’t outlined a plan to create a system for affordable education. As the owner of his own for-profit, online university, it could be speculated that Trump would be in favor of measures to support the growth of for-profit universities, such as loosening the rules on accreditation.

“

Economic growth is critical to young people if we want this generation to be able to pay off their loans and develop skills to live the American dream.

When it comes to education, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is better known for a desire to eradicate the Department of Education than for his commitment to lowering tuition rates. Because it’s a topic Cruz hasn’t brought up on practically any occassion, it’s hard to tell his stance on rising tuition rates, but it can be assumed college affordability and equality isn’t at the top of his list of issues to address.

“

With lower costs and a freeze on tuition, more students can afford college, hopefully finish without the huge debts.

“

Hillary Clinton plans to create debt-free college tuition for students in the United States who are unable to attain a higher education. Her plan, which will cost around $350 billion over 10 years, will be fully paid for by closing loopholes and limiting certain tax expenditures for high-income taxpayers. Clinton’s plan also allows for current and previous students to refinance their student loans to meet current interest rates and amounts.

“

...on the other

“

We ought to be making sure every qualified student can go to college and pursue his or her dreams. And you know, there’s a very easy way to do that. All we have to do is cut all the tax breaks for oil companies, pharmaceutical companies and billionaires and put it into student aid.

................................................................................................................................................................

on one hand...

on Education

“

The

Ohio Governor John Kasich believes in helping the higher education system by “paying colleges and universities based on helping students complete courses and graduation, not based on enrollment and incentivizing our higher education system to graduate more students.” He’s also said that increasing college accessibility by keeping costs low leads to higher employment rates and more economic success.

Why do we see a

Gender G

Opinion by Christian Holton

ew topics are as buzzworthy as that of gender income inequality. The fact of the matter is that equal pay statistics are oftentimes misleading and gender income inequality is nothing more than a misguided narrative. Perhaps the most quoted statistic pertaining to the issue of equal pay is that women are paid 82 cents on a man’s dollar. If this statistic were true it would definitely prove to be problematic and would inherently be proof of gender discrimination in the American workforce. However, this statistic is more complex than it initially appears. The study that is responsible for this 82-cent statistic was generated by examining the median salaries of men and women across the country. The study found that women working in the United States were, on average, paid 18 percent less than men. Contrary to what many people believe, this disparity is not attributed to workplace discrimination, but rather a difference in life choices between men and women. One of the reasons why women make less than men is because women take time off of work in order to raise a family. My family is the perfect example of this. My mom, who is an elementary school teacher, took 10 years off of teaching in order to raise my brothers and I. After my youngest brother was in elementary school, she returned to teaching. My dad, however, did the exact opposite and began to work even more when I was born in order to make sure he could provide for our family. My dad has made substantially more money than my mom over the past 18 years, not because of discrimination, but because my mom took time off of work. Now you could argue that this point is invalid since my mom and dad both work different professions and have different yearly salaries, but that is exactly what is wrong with the initial study that generated the 18-percent statistic: It does not focus on men and women in the same occupation, but rather men and

women with a multitude of jobs and salaries. Now, even when you look at men and women in the same profession, an income disparity can sometimes be spotted. For example, female doctors make 29 percent less than males. The reason for this is because there are a wide range of different professions that fall under the category of “doctor” and each of these professions have different salaries. Male doctors tend to pursue higher-paying jobs such as that of a cardiologist, while positions like that of a pediatrician are dominated by women. Since we have eliminated discrimination from the list of reasons why men make more than women, is it possible that men are just simply more qualified than women? In many areas that indicate job readiness, women aren’t doing as well as men, they are doing better. According to the American Psychological Association, women outperform boys in every single school subject. The study found that even though boys typically score higher on math and science achievement tests girls still “have the advantage on school grades regardless of the material.” Along with female domination in school, the U.S. Census Bureau also cites that for the first time since 1940 women are more likely to have a Bachelor’s degree than men. American women are just as able to contribute to the workforce as men, and in many ways women are more qualified. Therefore, the gender gap is not a result of a man’s superiority to work because this superiority doesn’t exist. American women are arguably the most liberated group of females in the world. The gender income gap is not attributable to discrimination, inequality or the fantastical notion that men are more qualified than women to work. It is solely a result of the fact that women make different career and life choices than men. The idea that women are paid less than men for doing the same work discredits one of the most powerful groups of people in the world: American women.

Read the full commentary on VistaNow.org

Opinion by Katie Pickrell

hen the gender gap is brought about in conversation, the term often refers to the systematic differences between men and women in the workforce. Whether we look at the percentages of men and women in the workforce, the occupations they work, their relative incomes or their hourly wages, distinct differences can be seen between the sexes. Over the past century, the United States has chipped away at the massive disparity between men and women, but to say the gender gap is gone or has faded beyond the need for appreciation is inaccurate at best and inconsiderate at worst. As of 2014, the Economic Policy Institute reported that full-time female employees are making 82 cents on male the dollar. Considering this statistic, the argument as to whether or not there is a gender gap seems irrelevant, regardless if it’s based off of job occupation or opportunity. Instead the question is this: What has caused the gender gap, and is it something society can truly alleviate? Many people often turn to say that women make lower wages because they choose not to pursue more prestigious careers. Thinking in this manner often prevents us from addressing the social and economic discrimination behind the entire issue. The most obvious fix for implementing a system of fair pay is to prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share information regarding their salaries. Passing pay transparency legislation would immediately solve this issue and allow the matter of equal pay for equal work to truly make its way to the forefront of gender income inequality. Taking a step beyond this notion, it cannot be overstated that women, especially women of color, work a disproportionate amount of low-wage jobs. Because of this, legislation must be passed to raise the minimum wage to a feasible, living wage. This would alleviate stress on working women and allow them to thrive in the economy where there are more male CEOs named John than total female executives. Oftentimes, the low-income jobs women work have rigid schedules. While this is difficult for anyone, it’s far worse for parents. Because many jobs women have don’t allow time for parenting, it puts working mothers at risk of sacrificing money or losing their jobs altogether. This issue is extremely complex, but it isn’t beyond help. For starters, there must be a system of paid family leave implemented for employees who are in need of it. Every developed nation in the world — except for the United States — guarantees paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Once a parent returns to the workforce, they’re often faced with the overwhelming cost of childcare. Every state in the country has an average childcare cost that is more than the median rent; if the United States was able to alter the way we go about childcare services for working parents, it would increase the wages of working parents. Reducing the cost of healthcare, or at least leveling the playing field, could also be beneficial to closing the gender gap. Prior to 2010, gender-based premiums forced women to pay more for basic health care for a variety of reasons. The Affordable Care Act has since disallowed insurance companies to impose discriminatory policies based solely on gender. To contradict this notion, the ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby decided that corporations still have the right to deny equal access to healthcare, leaving women between the ages of 19 and 44 to pay 69 percent more on insurance than men do. The gender inequality we see in the workforce, in turn, isn’t just based off of a lack of workplace motivation or the need for a parenting career among the female population, it’s based off of economic implications caused by a lack of legislation. But because the United States sees a widespread denial of this issue’s very existence, it’s difficult to take strides in the right direction.

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Ep!c! Photos

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1. Junior Jalen Saiz pitches during a game against Arvada West High School. “My favorite part of playing is the competition,” Saiz said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the younger kids on our team will contribute to helping us win this season.” Photo by Charlie Penvari 2. Senior Cooper Shearon passes home plate and heads back to the dugout in Vista’s season opener against Arvada West High School. The Golden Eagles won the matchup, 8-6. Photo by Katie Pickrell 3. Junior Evan Place cradles the ball as he runs down the field against Mullen High School. “If we keep working as hard as we’re working now, I think we’ll continue to do well this season,” Place said. Vista defeated Mullen, 8-6. Photo by Haley Kolseth 4. Junior Mia Bonifazi looks ahead as she dribbles a ball around a Douglas County defender moments before scoring a goal. Vista shut out DougCo, 3-0. Photo by Katie Pickrell 5. Junior John Krysa talks to Coach Higgins after successfully making it to first. “This year has been a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed working hard with my teammates and becoming a good team. I think if our confidence can remain high, we’ll have a very successful season,” Krysa said. At press time, the team was 1-4. Photo by Kelsey Pharis 6. Junior Jake Frane turns to chase down a ground ball in his first home game of the season against Mullen. “It was a hard game because it was our first game without Coach [Jake] Herman, so it was more of a grinder than we thought it would’ve been,” Frane said. Despite the difficulty, Vista won, 8-6. Photo by Erica Venable 7. Senior Darren Woon swims backstroke during a practice. “As one of the captains, I love seeing kids progress throughout the season” Woon said. “They work hard and it’s heartwarming to see the results.” Photo by Katie Pickrell

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Austin Bond & Peter Leonard The new duo that took their talents to the state level.

Story by Staci Prevato & Mikayla Olave Photos courtesy of Shannon Vance

or most teenagers, Saturdays are spent sleeping in or taking the day off. But for seniors Peter Leonard and Austin Bond, it’s a different story. Leonard and Bond participate in speech and debate, an activity in which they are required to be up and at it by 7 a.m. sharp for tournaments. The duo debaters compete in Public Forum Debate, a mode of speech and debate that involves arguing over a certain topic. From there, they compete in three rounds throughout the day in hopes to continue to finals, an achievement nicknamed among the speech and debate community as “breaking.” “It’s extremely competitive. You have kids who are on all different levels, especially when you go to the state level. There are kids who have been going around the national circuit and competing across the nation,” Leonard said. At a regular tournament, Leonard and Bond compete for one of six ranked spots in finals. This year, however, Leonard and Bond went above and beyond, ranking second place in Colorado. Because Public Forum Debate is one of the biggest events in speech and debate, qualifying for state is extremely difficult. To go to the state competition, any competitor must qualify at the regional

tournament. This requires the debaters to have won all of their rounds. Should the competitors qualify, they proceed to state where they compete in any number of rounds until finals, depending on whether they win or lose. Bond and Leonard were one of the duos that made it to the highest-up competition in the state. The duo debated about the United States’ military presence in Okinawa and whether or not it should be removed. Leonard and Bond competed in seven rounds, winning five. Public Forum not only betters the competitors debating and communicative abilities, but it also allows them to expand their knowledge to areas they otherwise wouldn’t have. “We did the most research for state even though it was only a one-tournament gig,” Bond said. “We spent lots of nights just researching both sides and it allowed me to learn so much more about Asian relations.” Appreciating both sides of an argument makes the participants more understanding and, in turn, more knowledgeable. “[Public Forum Debate] teaches you how to be analytical,” Leonard said. “You look at everything through a different frame of reference.” The progress Bond and Leonard have is apparent to their coach, Shannon Vance.

“I am very proud of them for what they have done, I don’t think that anyone at Mountain Vista has done that well at state for a very long time, and definitely not in my recent memory for debate,” Vance said. “They work very hard and are at the mercy of a judge that may or may not like what they do. It’s total validation for them because they are learning sustaining skills that will carry them through life.” While Leonard has competed all four years of high school, this was Bond’s’ first year of speech and debate. The two worked countless hours to prepare for the debate and offset the odds working against them. “It was really overwhelming because [this] was my first semester with Pete and we didn’t really know what it was going to be like going in or what the expectations were,” Bond said. “When we won a few tournaments earlier this semester, and then we did that well at state, it was kind of shocking. We still knew we were capable of it.” Leonard and Bond said they both came out of the season ready to graduate and prepared for the next step of their lives. “[Speech and debate] has helped me figure out the things I want to do,” Leonard said. “I have a better direction in life and it allows me to get to places I wouldn’t have gone otherwise.”

Q&Awith Alyssa Paradis

What is Congressional Debate?

Congress is a speech and debate event which simulates the legislative process in the Senate and the House of Representatives, according to the National Speech & Debate Association. In this event, students across the state or nation create a series of bills and resolutions for debate. Debaters, who are referred to as senators and representatives, alternates giving speeches for and against the topic in a group. An elected student serves as a presiding officer in order to ensure debate flows smoothly. Debaters are assessed on their research, argumentation and delivery skills, as well as their knowledge on the topic.

How does it feel to qualify two years in a row for nationals?

How did you prepare?

How does it feel, knowing that your hard work has payed off?

How did you start doing this event?

It feels awesome. Now that I have qualified again, I think I can return to nationals with a better idea of how the competition is and to do better than I did last year.

It feels really good because you like to see your results for all the time you put in.

I prepared very little for state, but I’ll prepare very well for nationals. Congress is not a type of debate where you necessarily need a lot of preparation for a less formal event such as National Qualifiers.

I knew I wanted to debate. I also enjoyed politics. I did [Congress] because I wanted to do something other than Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

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[Debate] teaches you how to be analytical. You look at everything through a different frame of reference.

â&#x20AC;? 17

” 18

Until I started in journalism, I didn’t really work with a purpose.

”

Katie Pickrell

Colorado High School Journalist of the Year Story by Regan Lavallee

pening the door to U328, there is always one editor of Mountain Vista Media working hard before the first bell. Senior Katie Pickrell is the 2016 Colorado Journalist of the Year (JOY). The award, she said, highlights her passion for writing, which has shaped her into the journalist and person she is today. “Ever since I was little, I’ve known that I wanted to write for a living,” Pickrell said. “In sixth grade I was even voted ‘Most Likely to be an Author.’” Pickrell has an appreciation for writing and is driven towards capturing different moments of time in her work. “It’s been a lot of hard work since I joined the journalism program my sophomore year and I couldn’t have done it without all of my friends and all of the other editors before me,” Pickrell said. Journalism, she said, is an important part of her life. Telling the stories of other people helped Pickrell find who she is and what is important to her. “Journalism itself has acted as an outlet for me to become more creative, it has improved my social skills and, most importantly, it’s deepened my curiosity for what goes on around me. “After my freshman year, I was kind of losing touch with what I wanted in life,” Pickrell said. “[Now] I’m constantly working on something meaningful, and I’ve really found a purpose in my work.” Pickrell admires the work of journalists

around the world and she hopes her work inspires readers in a similar way. Whenever Pickrell goes to write a story, she hopes that she will motivate them to take a stance on a controversial issue. “My favorite thing to write about is politics,” Pickrell said. “The reason I write anything political is to get people fired up in one way or another so that they feel more encouraged to go out and have their own voices heard. I feel accomplished in granting them more knowledge on a subject they may not have considered before.” Part of Pickrell’s love for journalism comes from the constant opportunities within the school’s program. “The fact that I’m able to be a writer, a photographer, a designer, a videographer and whatever else I may need to be for the time being is exhilarating,” Pickrell said. Pickrell has always respected the previous award recipients from Mountain Vista: Joanie Lyons (2013), Taylor Blatchford (2014) and Gabe Rodriguez (2015). Before this year, she never considered the idea that she would become one of them. “I had my doubts at first considering I’d never really designed until this year and had very little multimedia experience,” Pickrell said. “As I was first looking at the Colorado Student Media Association’s rubric, I realized how well prepared I was for every category, it’s really telling of how amazing our journalism program is.” To be considered for this award, Pickrell

Katie would like to thank...

Newt has been one of the most influential people I’ve ever met. He’s a phenomenal teacher, but he’s an even better life coach. For the past three years, he has encouraged me to think for myself, to take risks and, most importantly, to work with a purpose.

I also love my co-editors-in-chief, Kelsey Pharis and Amy Huang, who I couldn’t have managed without. They’re both the most committed people I know who work so hard to keep everything going smoothly. Working with them everyday has turned them into my best friends even though none of us even knew each other or, quite frankly, liked each other in the beginning. They also make journalism more fun than it already is with their dazzling senses of humor. Also, I love all of the other editors, especially my prom date, Conner Davis, and my favorite human being, Regan Lavallee. It’s people like them that are always trying their hardest to learn new things and help others out. They make me proud to be a part of Mountain Vista Media and assure me that the program is going to carry the success that comes with this title for years to come.

put together a portfolio that highlighted her journalism accomplishments since her sophomore year. When Pickrell found out she had won Colorado Journalist of the Year, she said she was in awe. “Becoming the Colorado JOY winner was amazing beyond belief,” Pickrell said. “To now be on the same level of some of the most amazing people I’ve ever come in contact with is beyond me.” Pickrell gives most of the credit to her adviser, Mark Newton. “Newt is seriously the best teacher and adviser anyone could ever ask for,” Pickrell said. “His dedication to the success of every student in all of his classes and in Mountain Vista Media is unmatched by the passion of anyone I’ve ever met.” Everyday, Newton pushes Pickrell and the rest of his students to have a purpose and accomplish it, Pickrell said. “He always asks “What’s you why?’ and I think that’s the most important question someone can ever think about because it shapes everything you do,” Pickrell said. Pickrell said having purpose and meaning to every element of her life is important. This outlook on life builds the tenacity that won her this award and what makes her a qualified candidate for the National Journalist of the Year, which will be announced in Los Angeles, Calif. April 17 at the National High School Journalism Convention.

Q&A

Why is journalism important to you?

Being a journalist, in my opinion, is the absolute most important thing you could ever be. I know I’m biased in saying that, but I’m still going to stand by it.

Why did you want to be journalist of the year?

Gabe Rodriguez and I always talked about making Colorado Journalist of the Year a Mountain Vista tradition, and I was trying my hardest to do my part to make it happen. Next year I’m confident in the leadership this year’s seniors are leaving behind and I know Mountain Vista Media has a stockpile of future Colorado and National Journalists of the Year just waiting to get their time to shine.

Morgan O’Connor Everything Vista revolves around the Student Body President. Story by Haley Kolseth & Erica Venable Photos by Haley Kolseth, Amy Huang & Katie Pickrell

through I am beyond proud to be a part of something so positive.” After coordinating the most successful Wish Week in Vista history, O’Connor is able to reap the benefits of her tireless effort from her peers. “The coolest part of [planning] these events is the feedback from other students. Each event takes anywhere from two to three months to brainstorm, plan and execute,” O’Connor said. “All of the stress and time spent planning isn’t paid off in how much money the event makes or how many people are there, but how the event affected students.” Being in Leadership since her sophomore year, O’Connor said most of the credit goes to her mentor and adviser, Lindsey Jaffe. “Jaffe has been my role model this year. She has taught me how to be resilient and never give up on myself or others,” O’Connor said. “Even in the hardest of times, she continued on with a positive attitude. I honestly would not have made it through high school without her.” Going forward, O’Connor is planning to attend the University of Wyoming to pursue a nursing career. She plans to join the freshman leadership and run for leadership office of the Faye Whitney School Of Nursing her sophomore, junior and senior years of college, continuing on with the leadership skills she learned at Vista.

“The Saturday before [Wish Week] we spent the entire day at the school decorating and finalizing plans.”

3. Homecoming

“Along with Jaffe and the other seniors in StudLe, we form the committees for homecoming week. This is a big responsibility because we have to make sure we place everybody according to their strengths and talents.”

4. In the Leadership Class

“The classwork is endless hours on top of school work to make sure that every event, spirit day, vendor at lunch and more goes seemlessly.”

5. The First Week of School

“[Leadership] came in the week before school started trying to make that week the best first week [the students] can have.”

Q&A

ist in V a Hig ta

2. Wish Week

Mo un

“I am responsible for key communication between Student Leadership and school administration.”

hool Stu Sc d Body Pre si

1. Connecting StudLe to Administration

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Top 5 SBP Responsibilities

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eader. Insane. Dedicated. Tireless. Motherly. Resilient. Composed. Outstanding. Friend. This is how Student Leadership members describe Student Body President Morgan O’Connor. From planning events such as homecoming and Wish Week, to decorating the school, to supporting a family and a cause through Pink Week, O’Connor dedicates a lot of time to her role as SBP. Still, O’Connor attributes the success of the events during the 2015-2016 school year to the 41 other members of Student Leadership. “Everyday, I walk into Leadership in complete awe at each person in the room. I walk in and strive to make myself a better person, and I’ve realized that they make me better,” O’Connor said. “They push me to be a good person and to think outside the box.” Wish Week was a positive event after a somber beginning to second semester. O’Connor and StudLe worked together to grant Marlee’s wish, as well as 12 other wishes, breaking the national Make-A-Wish Foundation total fundraising record. “Working with so many sponsors, elementary schools and community members, many long nights were put into Wish Week,” O’Connor said. “Seeing Marlee smile and each student at Vista smile made it all worth it. With what Vista [went]

What are you the most of proud of this year?

I am proud that I have had the opportunity to do all that I have and I can’t thank each student enough for voting me as student body president, and believing in what I could do.

What advice would you leave behind?

Have fun and trust yourself! There are many times that people ask hard questions and have big requests, but you have to trust that you were chosen for this position because you can do it. Trust in your decisions! Also, never forget to have fun! School isn’t just about the grade you get in class, but the experiences you make along the way.

Alec Yagey TSA State Champion

Story by Charlie Penvari Photos by Charlie Penvari & courtesy of Alec Yagey

ight after taking fifth place at the state conference, Mountain Vista’s Technology Student Association also had another victory to celebrate. Douglas County’s first State TSA President, Mountain Vista junior Alec Yagey, has big shoes to fill. Elected right after the state competition, Colorado TSA chose Yagey, a former state sergeant at arms. “It’s amazing to be able to build a legacy with the help of Mountain Vista TSA,” Yagey said. “I think that it is much less of a personal success than it is a group success, because I really do have great people behind me in the form of Kent Allison and all of MVHS TSA.” Yagey first joined TSA at the STEM School and Academy in seventh grade, where his TSA career took off. “By the time I was in high school, I was already hooked. I really just saw the opportunity to take the next step with TSA and I’ve always stuck with it.” said Yagey. Before being elected president, Yagey participated as a state sergeant at arms in 2015. “I think the ability to meet and interact with new people has been my favorite part, and being a state officer has really expanded my ability to do that,” Yagey said. “There’s no question that Mr. Allison has helped me the most. He’s been a phenomenal adviser for the past three years in state, and we’ve had many fun memories over the years. He’s always pushed me to do better in my events, take that extra step and eventually to become a state officer. “Without a doubt, I don’t think I would have even been in the position of running for president had it not been for my previous position as the sergeant at arms. It got my name out there and helped me reach the position I am in now,” Yagey said. “There’s no question that Mr. Allison has helped me the most. He’s been a phenomenal adviser for the past three years in state, and we’ve had many fun memories over the years. He’s always pushed me to do better in my events, take that extra step and eventually to become a state officer.” At the state event, Yagey also had the opportunity of awarding first place medals to various groups, many of which were from Vista. “It was an awesome moment for when I got to hand out their medal to them on the stage. It was an honor to see our chapter accomplish,” Yagey said. Yagey said he wants to do as much as he can as president. ”Something that I see with schools at the state conference is a strong sense of animosity between them. There’s no question that events are competitive and we are competing, but I believe this is something we can change,” Yagey said. “I want to bring together Colorado TSA as a whole and support more of a collaborative learning environment.” “[Yagey] provides a lot of leadership to the program. He’s a dynamic person so just having him in the club really gives us credibility and guidance for our new members,” Allison said. Allison is excited to have Yagey as the state president, representing Douglas County and Mountain Vista High School. “It’s a pretty amazing honor,” Allison said, “not just for him but for our chapter and our district.”

Boettcher Pretty Hype Four seniors were finalists for this prestigious scholarship Story by Amy Huang, Conner Davis & Hayley Mustin

he Boettcher Scholarship is a prestigious, full ride to any accredited, four-year Colorado undergraduate institution. This scholarship is extremely competitive but of thousands of applicants, a hundred were chosen as finalists, with four from Vista. Of those 100, 40 are chosen as Boettcher scholars who receive the scholarship. Meet our finalists and scholars.

Pranathi Durgempudi Boettcher Scholar

How does it feel to be a Boettcher finalist?

I consider it an honor to be a finalist. All of the other students who were also selected are all really great. I’m happy to have made it this far. It’s a very prestigious award and there are many people who deserve it.

What was it like to find out you were a finalist?

I was not expecting to make it that far, so it was a pleasant surprise for sure.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Community service is a really important part of my life, so if there’s something I’m proud of, it’s definitely all of the time and effort I have put into trying to help other people in any way I can.

How does it feel to be a Boettcher scholar?

It was really unexpected because so many students were definitely deserving of it. It’s nice to see hard work pay off. Durgempudi is active around the school and in the community. She is a co-vice president in both National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society and an officer for FCCLA and Key Club. Outside of school she volunteers at multiple hospitals, the James H. LaRue Library, Lighthouse Assisted Living and the Human Society.

Amy Zhou Boettcher Scholar

How does it feel to be a Boettcher finalist?

I feel very honored to be a finalist. I didn’t expect to be one, but I’m very blessed to have this opportunity.

What was it like to find out you were a finalist?

It was really exciting, I remember I didn’t know what day it would come out, but receiving the email was very surprising and very exciting.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Besides receiving the Boettcher, probably when I received a Gold Key in mixed media in the National Scholastic Art Competition last year.

How does it feel to be a Boettcher scholar? I feel incredibly blessed and honored!

Zhou has been involved inside and outside of the classroom. She is a National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar, FBLA president, Key Club leader, pianist and recieved a national silver key in art portfolio in 2016 scholastics art contest. Zhou plans on attending Harvard University in fall of 2016. “It was an extremely hard decisions between the Boettcher and Harvard, since both offer such amazing opportunities, but I just decided to commit to Harvard,” Zhou said.

Noah Hishorn

Boettcher finalist, alternate scholar

How does it feel to be a Boettcher finalist?

Being a finalist was really an honor. It felt great to realize that a lot of the hard work that I’ve done in high school was recognized by such a prestigious and well-known organization. So for me, it was an honor and definitely humbling to be a finalist.

What was your reaction when you found out?

When I found out I was a finalist I was pretty surprised. I didn’t know if I was going to make it to that point. I mean, I was trying to stay optimistic, but I was going through a pretty rough time and it was a piece of good news that I was able to receive so I was pretty excited.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of being able to maintain my grades while finding ways to get involved with the community. Hirshorn is a dedicated student and athlete. Hirshorn has a 4.2 GPA and is ranked 20th in the Senior Class. He is the president of National Honor Society and also an Eagle Scout. A dedicated athlete, Hishorn is the captain of the varsity lacrosse team and he also plays for the Israel lacrosse national team. Hishorn will attend Colorado College in Fall 2016 on a lacrosse scholarship.

Sarah Olson Boettcher finalist

How does it feel to be a Boettcher finalist?

It is really exciting and I’ve gotten to meet a lot of really cool people in the process.

What was it like to find out you were a finalist? I was really surprised and excited and nervous for the interview.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of being a part of Interact Club and helping start it. With the club we have been able to help at Summit View Elementary School, an Alzheimer’s home, food banks and many other places. As a seventh grader, Olson was already the founder of what would turn out to be a very succesful club, Interact Club. She is involved in the leadership of DECA and participates in Spanish National Honor Society and National Honor Society. Athletically, Olson is the captain of the JV tennis team. Olson has a job at the Summit View Elementary BASE program. She plans to attend CU next year.

100

there are...

scholars finalists chosen scholars are finalists from Vista

On to the next one A recap of Vista winter sports and how they finished their seasons.

Story by Conner Davis & Katie Pickrell

Wrestling Junior Trent Schultz earned Vista its first-ever state-champion title for wrestling. Schultz (441) placed first in the Class 5A 195-pound division after defeating Legacy senior Nolan Funk (45-2) by decision. Overall, the varsity team finished in 15th with 35 team points. The score tied with Thornton High School.

Boys Basketball

The Golden Eagles finished 15-8. After defeating Fairview, 64-54, in the first round of playoffs, Vista fell to Dakota Ridge High School, 64-60. The team was young, with only four seniors on the roster, and promises to come back next year with more strength and experience under its belt. This year, however, still held many records for the team. Senior Trey Boeyink made school history, scoring 37 points against Fairview High School during the regular season.

Girls Basketball

The varsity girls basketball team wrapped up the regular season with a 15-9 record. The girls made it to the second round of playoffs, first defeating Chatfield Senior High, 68-31. The season ended with a 56-44 loss to Cherry Creek. Two seniors, Chelsea Pearson and Molly McCabe, signed to play collegiate basketball: McCabe at South Dakota School of Mines and Pearson at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Ice Hockey With a regular season record of 14-5 (11-0 in league), ice hockey made it past both Aspen and Cherry Creek, 4-3, to advance to the Frozen Four of the playoffs before falling to Regis Jesuit, 4-2 in the semifinal.

Girls Tennis:

Storming the Court The Golden Eagles are just getting into the swing of things on the court, already grabbing titles left and right. Story by Savanah Howard Photos by Regan Lavallee

he girls varsity tennis team played in the Western Slope Invitational in Grand Junction March 11-12. In the Invitational the team competed against 16 teams from around Colorado. In the team’s second year playing in the tournament, the girls came out with a first-place win as a team to start the season. “We were able to come together as a team and come out with an amazing win,” senior co-captain Amy Zhong said. The Western Slope Invitational is one of the biggest tournaments of the season. It included teams outside of the Continental League giving the girls new competition. “My favorite part of the tournament was getting to know my team better and experience some competition outside of our regular league,” senior co-captain Kendra Lavallee said. The tournament marked the start of the season — and the start of building friendships.

Upcoming Schedule April 9, 8 a.m. @ Denver Phil Krous Invitational

April 12, TBA. @ Heritage High School

vs. Heritage High School

April 14, 3:30 p.m. @ MVHS vs. Douglas County High School

April 19, 3:30 p.m. @ MVHS vs. Castle View High School

April 20, 3:30 p.m. @ Regis Jesuit vs. Regis Jesuit High School

April 26, 3:30 p.m. @ MVHS

vs. Chaparral High School

dominating every aspect

With spring sports midseason, hopes are high for lengthy playoff runs and state titles. These are just some of the many leaders helping push their teams to victory.

Stories by Haley Kolseth, Erica Venable, Katie Pickrell & Conner Davis Photos by Katie Pickrell & Conner Davis Photos courtesy of Paul DiSalvo & Alan Versaw

MV HS

Vista’s sports teams are so successful thanks largely in part to the student-athletes who lead them. On and off the field, there’s a group at MVHS who not only perform at a higher level, but show others how to do the same. It’s this type of commitment and work ethic from a select few that allows entire teams to deliver success. Though Vista has already attained three state champion titles during the 20152016 school year, with some of Vista’s best programs dominating the spring season more are likely. Aside from the featured athletes to on these pages, it’s important to recognize the hundreds of students involved directly with their teams who dedicate so much time and effort to achieving their personal and team goals. Not only do MVHS athletes have to show up to practice for hours everyday, they are expected to preform spectacularly in school and in their communities.

Photo by Katie Pickrell

Courtesy of Paul DiSalvo

COLIN MUNRO BOYS LACROSSE

PEYTON JOSEPH GIRLS SOCCER

unior Colin Munro has been “throwing around with a lacrosse stick” for the past 16 years, and playing for Vista since his freshman year. Munro is now a varsity captain as well as a starting attacker and midfielder. In just the first two games of the season, Munro scored eight goals, four each game. “[Scoring goals] revolves around the whole offense. The team does a really good job of moving the ball and getting people open,” Munro said. “You just kind of pick your spots to dodge and fortunately the ball was going my way.” Last season, Munro was selected as a first-team-all-state attacker, and assisted in bringing Vista the furthest in school history. This year, Munro puts an emphasis accountability for the team and for himself. “We’ve talked a lot about [accountability] and we feel that if everyone can not only keep themselves accountable, but keep each other accountable everyday in practice and off the field, we can have a really special year,” Munro said. He said yhis season he hopes to bring Vista all the way to state. “We’ve all been through so much,” Munroe said, “but it’s brought us so tight together.”

arsity girl’s soccer captain senior Peyton Joseph has been playing soccer since she was four years old and started competing as a Golden Eagle her freshman year. “Soccer means so much to me,” Joseph said. “It has given me an opportunity to make friends I’ll never forget, to guide me on and off the field and so much more. It has shaped me into the person I am today, therefore it has become one of the biggest aspects of my life.” Since the beginning of high school, Joseph has been a part of one of the best soccer teams in the state. “Freshman year we won the state championship, so that set the tone for the years to come,” Joseph said. As for her personal achievements she has learned “how to adapt to the different styles and types of play and players.” The team lost many valuable seniors last year, but that’s not stopping her from keeping high expectations for the upcoming season. “My goal for this season is to be the best leader I can for the team, especially for the younger players,” Joseph said. “As a team, I hope we can pull together to get another state championship.”

Photo by Katie Pickrell

DARREN WOON BOYS SWIM AND DIVE

wim team captain senior Darren Woon has lettered the past three years on the varsity swim team, earned academic all-state, swam an all-American time at last year’s state meet as part of the 100 medley relay and got nominated for the Hoyt Award, an award for those who show leadership skills in and out of the pool. He the recent Lightning Invite, he placed first in the 50 free, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. Woon said his success is due to the fact that he dedicates the majority of his life to swimming and being the best that he can possibly be. “When practice gets cancelled, I don’t know what to do with the extra time. It keeps me disciplined and it’s taught me not only how to work with others, but how to lead and be patient as well as level headed,” Woon said. His best events are the 50 free, his best time being 21.77; and 100 free, his best time being 47.90. “This season, I hope to place top five at state in the 50 [and] win the 200 medley relay,” Woon said. “I want [my team] to beat Regis. I feel we have a pretty good chance this year.”

Photo by Charlie Penvari

COOPER SHEARON BASEBALL

enior baseball captain Cooper Shearon said he is looking forward to another successful season, complete with a lengthy playoff

run. “I feel great about the season so far,” Shearon said. “The scores don’t back my mentality [right now], but seeing how our team can function together and always fight back throughout a game is a real eye opener to the potential our team has this year.” The team is 1-4 as of April 7, but has yet to play in any league games. Its first league game is at Chaparral High School April 13. The team’s ability to work as a unit, Shearon said, will allow them to go deep into the playoffs and beat tough teams. “We will do a lot of damage and surprise a lot of teams if we play the game with style that best fits us,” he said. On an individual level, Shearon has been a key player for the Golden Eagles with a perfect fielding percentage and a .375 onbase percentage. And Shearon’s baseball career doesn’t end with this season. He’s one of the dozens of athletes who hvve signed to play collegiate sports next year. Shearon plans to attend Colby Community College.

Courtesy Alan Versaw/Colorado Track XC

JOSH ROMINE TRACK AND FIELD

unior Josh Romine has high expectations for the 2016 track season. “As a team, I think a really good goal we have is to win the league title. Personally, I’d like to qualify for state in the 3,200 meter,” Romine said. Romine said he has been working hard this season to improve his foot speed in order to lower his 800-meter time. Track team members are focusing on improving their overall times and distances. Last year was one of the best years for Vista track and field and the Golden Eagles just hope to continue that success. “This year, we had a lot of kids come out and train during the winter, which should help us in the long run,” Romine said. Romine’s best times include a 4:34 mile, 9:56 two mile and a 14:54 three mile. He also was one of the Vista Nation runners who attended the Nike cross country regional and national meets. Vista placed 12th in the nation. “We’ve been training hard as a team and we have a really great coaching staff [this year],” Romine said. “I think if we just trust the training plan, and focus on good nutrition and sleep, we should have a successful year.”

TOURNAMENT TIMELINE

No. 2 seed Michigan State University loses to Middle Tennesse in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and University of Texas loses to University of Northern Iowa during the first round.

UNI loses a double-digit lead with 30 seconds to go against Texas A&M.

MARCHING THROUGH THE

saturday. he pregame tailgate opened at 12:30 p.m., four hours before the first game. My cousin, Ian King, and I spent our time playing games, watching pregame TV shows that were being recorded as well as listening to live music and a MC who was helping get fans of all the teams hyped. After the tailgate, King and I headed into the stadium where we watched Villanova University and University of Oklahoma warm up from the front row. Eventually, we had to make our way back to our seats where we watched ‘Nova make history by beating OU, 95-51. Because I didn’t mind who won either game, it was crazy just to sit back and enjoy the games.

MADNESS Story by Kelsey Pharis Pictures by Kelsey Pharis

friday.

Because I wasn’t able to come to Houston until Friday night, the days events are from the perspective of my dad, Ken Pharis.

en Pharis and Warren Paul spent the day before the first games experiencing the tournament unlike the rest of the people in our group. “We went to the Syracuse University and University of North Carolina open practices,” Pharis said. “We also went to the Reese’s All-Star Game in order to see Wichita State Univeristy seniors Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker.” With Pharis and Paul both being from Wichita, Kansas any chance to see any of the Shockers play was taken.

No. 2 seed Villanova knocks out No. 1 overall seed Kansas University during the Elite 8.

The Villanova Wildcats win the tournament with a last-second threepoint shot against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, 77-74.

Villanova shoots over 70 percent in the Final Four game vs. University of Oklahoma to defeat OU, 95-51.

Monday. pril 4 was by far the most exciting day of the weekend. We began at “The Dan Patrick Show” where we watched the recording of my favorite sportstalk show. After that, we attended the NCAA Fan Fest that was hosted by all the major sponsors of the tournament. The convention center was filled with all types of games of all different sports. There were chances to win prizes and meet former players such as Colorado’s own Chauncey Billups. Once the Fan Fest ended, there was still time before the game where my cousin and I got into a ‘Nova pep rally. Seeing as neither my cousin or I were fans, we left and headed right to the stadium in hopes of getting a better seat than Saturday.

sunday. ecause there were no games on Sunday, it called for a more laid back day that involved visiting my dad’s best friend’s house, as well as attending two of the three concerts that day. The Final Four is something my dad goes to every year with his friends and because this year my cousin and I were allowed to go, Sunday was spent with family friends who live in Houston. After spending most of the day at their house, we traveled back to the city to enjoy the Pit Bull and Maroon 5 concerts. However, that didn’t happen. The park was at capacity around 4 p.m. Although the concerts weren’t set up well, the music could be heard from all around the park.

GAME RECAP

he game started at 8:19 p.m. on the dot and with King and I showing up early, we were able to sit in seats that weren’t sold. Altough the seats had a slightly obstructed view, the court was still visible and better than our original seats in the top bowl. Even before the start of the game, the atmosphere inside the stadium was incredible. The videos and graphics introducing both teams and their seasons were a great start to an amazing night. Unlike Saturday’s two games, the title game was close during both halves, never really allowing one team to gain a substantial lead. It seemed as though there were more ‘Nova fans around us, as well as throughout the stadium. When UNC’s Marcus Paige made the three-point jump shot in order to tie the game, 74-74, with four seconds left the crowd errupted. Not only were the Tar Heel fans going crazy and throwing the seat cushions, the ‘Nova fans were in disbelief. Although that shot was insane, the Wildcats’ Kris Jenkins game-winning shot was the craziest thing I had ever seen in my life. Watching the ‘Nova players hoist the trophy with confetti falling around them and pure joy on their faces was, indeed, “One Shining Moment.”

be ar pe ak hike & climb

boulder, colo

Story & photos by Katie Pickrell

ear Peak is a steep seven-mile out-and-back hike in Boulder. The trail takes about 4-5 hours to complete for more experienced hikers. The trail is mostly warm, but greatly shaded by forestry. For the most part, it is very wet. Since it’s early in spring, water is even flowing down the walkways like a smaller river in many areas. That being said, if you plan on getting out and about on the trail anytime soon, you’ll need hiking boots and spikes to complete the 2,810-foot incline as the water turns to snow and ice as you get higher up. The path is easy to follow, but steep in many areas once you hit the incline. It’s a great way to get back into shape before summer hits to be ready for bigger hikes and backpacking trips. Start out the hike on the South Mesa Trailhead. This will eventually connect to the Fern Canyon Trail (which you’ll find is more difficult than the rest of your hike), which will take you up the steep incline to the top of the peak. There are many other ways to reach the top, with a multitude of connecting trails with various sceneries along the way. From the top, you have a panoramic view of Boulder and the

areas surrounding Denver. Bring plenty of water and a few snacks. Expect to be a bit tired after hiking nearly 3,000 vertical feet in a single outing. The path is dog friendly, so feel free to bring your four-legged friend on this adventure.

Route Type: Out and back Length: 7.0 miles / 5 hours Elevation Gain: 2,810 feet Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced Directions: Take CO-470 W to US-6 W toward CO-93. Continue on Highway 93 for 15 miles before turning left onto Eldorado Springs Drive. The trailhead is 1.8 miles up the road on the right, but there’s parking all around if the lot is busy. If you park in the fire lane, you will get a ticket as you’ll be on the trail for five hours.

When in Boulder… Eat.

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant is one of the healthiest post-hike options around. The restaurant is just as well known for its eco-friendliness and emphasis on sustainable and local agriculture as it is for their delicious and gourmet-style food. The menu is 100 percent vegetarian, but they also offer vegan options for all of their dishes. It’s a little bit pricier than some other laid-back options, but shouldn’t cost you more than $25 for a meal. If you’re a little bit more tired and looking to eat quick and head back home, Motomaki is a fast, but still healthy, Japanese restaurant in Boulder’s 29th Street Mall area. The restaurant is notable for its Moto rolls which many dub as “Japanese burritos.” The pricetag is a bit smaller than Leaf’s probably costing you about $12 to fill yourself up. Say you don’t like sushi and aren’t open to trying some healthy vegetarian cuisine, La Choza is one of Boulder’s best hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants with great food and low prices. The food is renouned by many Boulderites as 100 percent authentic and many claim it’s the best place to get street tacos in Colorado.

Play. The Leanin’ Tree Museum and Sculpture Garden of Western Art is a

free museum that exhibits 250 paintings and 150 bronze sculptures by 100 artists. Fortyfive-minute tours include a brief video covering the history of Leanin’ Tree and a half-mile walking tour of the plant. Monday through Friday, tours run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, tours run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art always has a wide variety of provacotive

artwork. Admission is only $1, but is free April 23 and 24 for Día del Niño. The weekend will host family-friendly, traditional Latino festivities, including art-making, storytelling, live dance and musical performances. The museum is featuring Ballet de la Diversidad Cultural and Danza Matachina Guadalupana during the event.

Pearl Street art galleries host all different types of art. The street focuses on not only local artists, but also artists from all around the world.

Shop.

Boulder’s Art Mart is the perfect place to find unique gifts. Located on Pear Street in line with the other galleries, Art Mart is a favorite among visitors and locals.

The Hill is most popular among students. Right next to the University of Colorado, the

neighborhood is home to thrift stores and bookshops. Stores like Albums on the Hill are the perfect place to pick up vinyls without paying the $50 Urban Outfitters pricetag and CDs for anyone looking to get their favorite music on disc. Before heading back to Highlands Ranch, there are plenty of places to pick up a cup of joe or some tea, such as Buchanan’s Coffee Pub and Lollicup.

Vista

2016

Yearbooks arrive in May

Yearbook sales continue through the end of the school year, but a limited amount of books will be distributed on a first-come, firstserve basis. After May 1, the price of the book raises to $100. For purchasing information, talk with Mr. Mark Newton in U328.