EagleEye Breaking the bubble
Featuring: drew Lennon Hockey player who moves to Colorado without his family to play the sport he loves p. 12
Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Vol. 14 Issue 1 10.3.14
Get Ready to Move Mountains YOU CAN
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Littleton • Parker • Castle Rock • Online
VISTAj STAFF Editors
Gretchen Cope Jacob Cushatt Reagan Fitzke Antonia Fornaro Tyler Kraft Tara O’Gorman
Gabe Rodriguez Daley Smith Tori Soper Erica Tagliarino Francesco Viola Kaitlin Zenoni
John Bellipanni Graham Carroll Conner Davis Taylor Desmond Max Dunevitz Sara Hainsey Christian Holton Amy Huang Gowri Kalyani Ana Krasuski Kit Miller
Hayley Mustin Kelsey Pharis Katie Pickrell Emy Pye Peyton Reeves Josh Romine Austin Sack Savannah Taylor Lexi Weingardt Maddy Worley Taylor Zakhem
Staff
Coach Ric Cash reflects on the beginning of the varsity football season. p. 31
Policy
Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published six to nine times a year by the Journalism class for students 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 journalism/publications room (U328) or in 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 Unsigned letters will not be published.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 email: mark.newton@dcsdk12.org Publication email: 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 under C.R.S. 13-21-123, will be prosecuted.
Open Forum Content Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service and Creative Commons licensing. ©2014 Eagle Eye/Mountain Vista High School. All rights reserved.
Photo by Erica Tagliarino
contents FEATURES
LEADING OFF
6 school news
Stories and statistics pertaining to the new year are given.
7 stuff that ticks me off
Editor Tyler Kraft discusses the new parking lot system.
8 commentary
Editor Reagan Fitzke shares her view on college tuition.
9 the new schedule
John Bellipanni talks about MVHS changing back to the seven-period schedule.
11 staff editorial
Sara Hainsey explains “breaking the bubble.“
12 drew lennon
Junior Drew Lennon moves to Highlands Ranch to pursue a hockey team. by Christian Holton
16 noah hirshorn
Junior Noah Hirshorn plays for Israel lacrosse. by Peyton Reeves
18 lexi burbey
Senior Lexi Burbey travels to Tanzania on a mission trip. by Josh Romine
20 olivia smith
Sophomore Olivia Smith goes on a mission trip to Haiti. by Lexi Weingardt
NEWS
22 colleen kinstler
Junior Colleen Kinstler counsels at Camp Geneva Glen over the summer. by Amy Huang
24 camp barnabas
28 homecoming week
Students prepare for the homecoming events that take place the week of Oct. 6-10.
31 sports briefing
Several MVHS students travel to Missouri to help out at a Christian camp. by Katie Pickrell
Statistics for the fall sports season thus far are given, including varsity football. Cover Photo by Tyler Kraft
Sophomore Levi Smith takes part in several mission trips. by Austin Sack and Gowri Kalyani
Note: Thank you to Street Smart Driving School for its platinum sponsorship of VISTAj Student Media.
26 Levi Smith
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EP!C Photos
Jared Connell
IRON EAGLE STRENGTH: Sophomore Jared Connell jumps over an obstacle at the Iron Eagle challenge hosted by the wrestling team. “I decided to do the Iron Eagle Challenge because the season is coming around, and you might as well just start getting back into shape now,” Connell said. “It’s a good thing to help train and test your physical abilities to see where you are, and it’s fun.” Connell also says wrestling is important to him and he has been doing MMA since he was a kid. “It’s important to me because wrestling is kind a dying sport. People don’t give it the credit it deserves,” Connell said. “It’s one of the hardest sports of the world.”
photo by reagan fitzke 4
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1. Sophomore Hunter Hostelley goes for a volley during his tennis match against Fossil Ridge High School. “I really like seeing how the other team reacts when we win a point,” Hostelley said. Hostelley, along with his partner, senior Sean Barich, won the point with that stroke. 2. Senior Connor Mawhinney cheers with the rest of the school during the pep assembly. “We have the most dedicated and enthusiastic fans in Colorado,” Mawhinney said. 3. Sophomore Tristen Dean celebrates with a teammate after he scores a touchdown against Brighton High School. “It’s all about proving yourself,” Dean said. 4. Senior Kelsey Heiland makes contact with the ball in the game against Rock Canyon High School. “It’s a good feeling because you get to help out your team,” Heiland said. 5. Sophomore Gannon Rushall plays the baritone during a marching band performance at halftime during a football game. “When you get out on the field, you get nervous [warming up],” Rushall said, ”but once you get out on the field and warmed up and get into the routine, it feels as if you’ve done it a hundred times.” 6. Sophomore Patrick Veihman celebrates winning a game during practice as his teammate, sophomore Chris Raap, yells upon losing. “The team always tries to encourage each other, because as a team, we are trying to beat the other team,” Veihman said. “We just encourage each other to do their best.”
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Faculty ofthe Month Aaron Ragon
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or counselor Aaron Ragon, it took living halfway across the world in the heart of Japan to decide on his profession. “I wanted a job where I could work with kids, have meaningful conversations and 12 weeks off a year,” Ragon said. He said his time abroad gave him a different lens when spending time with Mountain Vista kids. “The problems we face are a product of our culture,” Ragon said. Students at Ragon’s school in Japan use the same Naviance program that MVHS students use and also take part in the same personality survey. The results show 80 percent of Japanese students are introverted and 80 percent of MVHS students are extroverted. “(Japan’s) culture as a whole is more serious,” Ragon said. Having lived in Japan makes Ragon appreciate the suburban lifestyle of Highlands Ranch. He said it is a place he wants his two kids to grow up. “I love the community at Vista and I am enjoying being back,” Ragon said. Someday Ragon said he might want to give his kids that experience, but for now he is glad to be back at Vista doing what he loves.
numbers By the
VISTAj recently took a look at some interesting statistics for the 2014-2015 school year. Here is what we found:
143 graduation.
3:
6:
No Place Like Home Colorado Day. After school, the homecoming
7:
Emerald City Green and Gold Day. Powder puff will be held at Shea Stadium at 7 p.m.
8:
Wacky Wednesday Rainbow. Unified Soccer will play at Mountain Vista at 5:15 p.m. Afterward a bonfire will be held.
9:Blackout,
Wicked Witch
683 this year.
This year, there are
594Mountain Vista, freshmen at
biggestyear. class this
making them the
October dodgeball tournament will be held at 6 p.m.
parking lots have
parking Seniors only have spaces. days Every left parking space until has been filled
What’s going on in
Varsity football plays Rock Canyon at Sports Authority Stadium at 7 p.m.
The student
Homecoming football game at 7 p.m. and car decoration party and tailgate
10:
The 2014 homecoming is today. The theme is “No Place Like Home.” The dance
in the Mountain Vista Main Gym and will go from 8-11 p.m.
14:
Men’s varsity soccer plays Thunderridge at Shea Stadium 6:30 p.m.
15:
Varsity field hockey plays Grandview at Shea Stadium 4:15 p.m.
Regis Jesuit at Regis Jesuit High School at 7 p.m.
Women’s varsity : 21 volleyball plays
ThunderRidge in the Mountain Vista Main Gym at 6:30.
Varsity football plays : 26 Highlands Ranch at Shea Stadium 7 p.m.
football plays 17:Varsity
What has been the best part of the school year so far? “The best part has been going to all the school games and the school events.” —John Krysa, 10
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“Tennis is the most fun. Being a senior is also nice because it is laid back and you can just hang out with friends.” —Anirudh Mathukumilli, 12
“[The best part of the year has been] going to the ThunderRidge game and volleyball games.” —Brandon Cattich,12
Stuff that Well at least we can all remember where we parked now (or me off at least some of us)
ticks Tyler Kraft
Photo Illustration by Reagan Fitzke
M
ountain Vista High School currently has 2,147 students who roam the hallways every single day. One thousand and thirty-six of these students have or will soon have a driver’s license. Unfortunately for two hundred of these students, there are no more parking passes available. This year is the first year in which Mountain Vista is implementing assigned parking spaces. Students who applied for and received passes must park in their assigned spot each of the 180 school days. Currently the system is working well. Students with passes are guaranteed a spot every day and do not have to worry about their spot being taken if they leave during the day. “It’s worked out well so far because you always have your spot,” senior Erick Sherwood said. “It used to be that if you are running late you could never find a spot. It was just a hassle and made you even more late.” Unfortunately I see a few flaws in our
otherwise perfect bingo spot selecting system. These problems are not of the small variety. They may just be able to topple the system only one year after its debut. Here’s the situation that we are in now. The numbers and letters are painted in white on the pavement. They are placed right in the center of the space opening so that students will have no trouble in seeing the spot they paid $50 for. The keyword in that last sentence is seeing. There is one obstacle that Colorado will throw at the Vista parking lot that will turn seeing into guessing. According to the National Weather Service, the Denver area receives 57.5 inches of snow per year on average. Snow is, in fact, white like the spot labels and tends to cover things like roads, or in this case, parking spots. I was curious as to how the Mountain Vista staff are planning to defeat Mother Nature so I tracked down Lead Security Officer George Gardner. Gardner is confident in the memories of the Vista students. “The plan is that
you know by now where you park. You know who parks on the right and left of you,” Gardner said. That is both inspiring and concerning at the same time. The staff is trusting students to be responsible about their parking spaces. This trust could come back to haunt them if students decide to take advantage of the situation. The success of the parking lot is resting in a bunch of teenagers’ hands. Another problem that could result in serious confusion is that a domino effect could come into play. There are four temporary spots in the lower lot and only one in the upper lot. That means that only two students can screw up at a time. That is a lot to expect from 1,036 teenagers who have much more important things in life than to focus on other than reading the difference between 24 and 25. So far the students have surprised the staff. “You guys have been great,” Gardner said. “The first day we filled up all of our spots (in the lower lot) and we had to use some other parking areas. The second day was better and we have never had a problem since. People don’t like paying $50.” The biggest problem with spots being taken is actually coming from the adults who go to exercise in the open spaces behind Vista. “We have signs everywhere that state ‘Do not park in a numbered spot’ and people still do it,” Gardner said. He sees those offenders differently than he sees the paying students of Mountain Vista. “I have no problem booting (the adults),” Gardner said. Garder foresees larger problems coming in the future. The freshman class has 590 students. The lower lot only has 565 spots. That means that when the current freshman class will completely fill the lower lot and part of the upper lot if all of them receive their license. “If we don’t have a solution by the time they are seniors, there will be seniors who will not be able to park,” Gardner said. No one knows if the current solution will solve the problem. Only time will tell if the students will be able to keep the bingo parking system stable or if the whole thing will come crashing down like dominoes.
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paying the price I
REAGAN FITZKE
n a 2013 speech in Buffalo, N.Y., President Obama stated college tuition has become “a barrier and a burden for too many American families.” That is an understatement. The price for a proper college education is at an all-time high. Statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics show that “prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public institutions rose 40 percent, and prices at private nonprofit institutions rose 28 percent.” The average costs of education were reported to be $14,300 at public institutions, $37,800 at private nonprofit institutions, and $23,300 at private forprofit institutions in the 2011-12 year. The simple way around the costly price of a college education would be to apply for as many scholarships as possible. However, this is where living in places like Highlands Ranch can be a disadvantage. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly abbreviated to be FAFSA, is a branch of the U.S. Department of Education dedicated to granting financial aid to those in need. It seemed like an ideal place for me to look, until I realized what I would need to have (or not have) in order to qualify. FAFSA bases the scholarships it gives off of the income of the student’s parents. My parents, especially my father, both make a substantial amount of money per year. This means I’m unlikely to qualify for any form of financial aid since the income that flows into both my mother’s and my father’s household is far too high. I believe FAFSA’s system is rather flawed. Rather than focusing on the student’s needs for financial aid, the department keeps its interest in the financial status of the parents. What this does not take into account is the wants and needs of the parent. Parents have several financial responsibilities to concern themselves with, including their own debts that seem to be growing nowadays. Then there is insurance, retirement funds and basic necessities to name just a few. Not every leftover penny of a salary is sent toward the college education of children. What does this mean for a student at Mountain Vista High School? Well, as stated before, obtaining financial aid is difficult for me because of my parents’ income. So as a junior, the pressure to
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Financial aid is essential for the typical student, so why is it based off of needs of the parent?
Photo Illustration by Tyler Kraft
perform exceptionally well is increasing as my hopes for scholarships decrease. I am an honors and AP student, involved in several extracurriculars, like a lot of my colleagues. Yet this is still not enough. I am privileged. I fluctuate between two lovely homes with plenty to get me through life comfortably. That is why college tuition is such a burden. Only those who are exceptionally wealthy can afford to send their children to college without having to worry about scholarships or loans. If that is you, consider yourself lucky. According to a recent study from the Institute for College Access & Success, 71 percent of college students who graduated in 2013 had student loan debt, with an average of $29,400 per borrower.
Loans and student debt are things I do not want to worry about, but even as a junior in high school, the issue concerns me. I simply cannot fully afford to go to college without looking for scholarships. As I stated before, these will be nearly impossible for me to obtain, especially from FAFSA. Though I myself am in need, I will not receive a substantial amount of financial aid simply because my parents are not in need. FAFSA does have good intentions. The federal government provides about $150 billion per year in student financial aid as stated by USA Today. But I believe the system would be far more beneficial for the multitudes of families like mine (and possibly yours) if tuition was given with the financial situation of students in mind, not the situation of parents.
Photo by Gabe Rodriguez
means numbers schedule new There were only problems 120in passing New
By the
minutes per week
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john bellipanni
he 2014 school year schedule is a controversial subject among the students and staff. Late last year, Mountain Vista teachers took a survey detailing whether they preferred an eight-period schedule or a seven-period schedule. It is apparent to me that the results influenced the decision to change the schedule from eight periods to seven periods, causing loads of backlash from students and teachers. Students were issued course signup forms with eight periods before the schedule was suddenly changed, so it came as a shock when the number of periods was cut by one. Many students signed up for eight classes, and had to speak with counselors in April and May about dropping a class. Others budgeted their anticipated workload with an off period that disappeared. To students, the logic behind creating the schedule after distributing inaccurate sign-up forms is baffling. “I was unhappy” senior Zach Esteppe said, “It [would be] easier to finish up [the] courses [I] need with eight classes.” Another confusing aspect of the schedule is that, originally, it was titled “five of seven plus one”. Many students were concerned about the “plus one.” The plan last spring was that there would be another elective-like class that students attended periodically in order to achieve
the graduation requirements. Principal Michael Weaver said, “We didn’t quite get to the ‘plus one’ addition. In the big master plan, that’s down the road still. ” Now, there are seven periods on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. That means more homework and half-an-hour each day spent on just getting from room to room. Because there are over 100 fewer minutes of class time per week this year, classes are less impactful for students as well. On Wednesday, students have periods 1, 3, 5 and 7, for the third day in a row. For teachers, the morning on Wednesday entails a Professional Learning Conference in which they work for 30 minutes as a team to develop curriculum. Meanwhile students congregate in the commons, halls and parking lots and do nothing because all the teachers are unavailable. On Thursday, from 7:35-9:03 a.m. students participate in SOAR, where they have the opportunity to beg their teachers to let them retake all the tests they bombed on Wednesday because they did not have time to ask for help. SOAR is followed by periods 2, 4 and 6. “I would rather have two SOARs per week because it is easy to spend an entire SOAR with one teacher,” said senior Andrew Demey. Put simply, I find it disheartening to see the drawbacks the new schedule provides and the cost at which the changes had to be met.
periods last year. This year, there are . In a hypothetical
140
full schedule,
1824 had minutes of class time students
per week last year.
1711 This year, students have
minutes of class
time per week. Eagle Eye
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Staff Editorial
The Bubble Highlands Ranch is more than just a
suburb, it is a mindset and a lifestyle.
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Sara Hainsey
et’s talk about The Bubble. It’s what keeps our groups together without expansion for fear that it will pop. It’s the fact that most of us dress the same or use the same catch phrases. We all know that it’s there, it exists, and it’s real. The Bubble restricts those who are in it. It almost distorts our perceptions and creates fear of the unknown and those of us who are different. It almost seems too hard to find a creative-soul in such a huge school. Where do those of us who dare to be different lie? We’re all different in little ways, of course. No one was created to be the same, but most of us seem to try and fit to a certain mold. The mold is comforting because no one seems to question your motives. Peer pressure is tempting and tends to be the path most commonly chosen. By trying to fit into this mold we lose who we truly are and sometimes it’s hard to be found by ourselves again. The Bubble creates fear for people to wear creative clothing, speak their minds, or expand our friend groups. It is our comfort zone that we
fear to step out of. The term “non-conformist” is almost non-existent. It seems as though we’re so consumed with who we are seen with that we seem to forget if we truly enjoy their company. We also fail to remember that everyone is human and everyone has a lesson to offer. We may come from similar walks of life, but we’ve all learned variations of different life lessons. It’s a matter of what you want to learn from and if you’re too proud to learn life lessons from someone who is far too “different” than you are. Let’s step outside of The Bubble. I know it’s cliche, but dare to be different and enjoy doing so. Some of the greatest leaders and public figures were different or didn’t fit in, but they made a difference. The Bubble is dangerous and “stunts our growth” as individuals. If you don’t have the money to travel the world then the second best thing is to talk to the people that have. Learn about different cultures and keep your eyes and mind open.
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drew lennon and others share their stories on what it was like to break out of the Highlands Ranch “Bubble�.
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Drew Lennon
moves away from his family in Illinois in order to play travel hockey in Colorado.
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Christian Holton | PHOTOS courtesy of Drew Lennon
or most teenagers, having parents to help you through high school is something that is taken for granted. Living without your parents becomes a reality to most teens as they enter college, but living without his own parents is a normal part of Mountain Vista High Shcool junior Drew Lennon’s everyday life. Lennon, originally from Illinois, moved to Colorado last year to play hockey for the Rocky Mountain Roughriders U16AAA. Lennon lived with his mom in an apartment in Westminster for last year’s season and attended Standley Lake High School. After the season was over Drew’s mom decided
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to move back to Illinois to live with Drew’s dad. In order to keep playing for the same hockey team, Lennon moved in with fellow teammate, junior Sam Cote, who also attends Mountain Vista. Some people might find it strange to move away from family in high school in order to play on a specific sports team, but for Lennon this sacrifice is completely necessary in order to achieve his end goal in hockey: a Division I scholarship. Playing AAA travel hockey gives Lennon the most exposure for scouting and gives him the best chance to play Division I hockey one day. “I think it would be cool to go to the
University of Denver, North Dakota or Union,” said Lennon. “Those are definitely my dream schools.” With a combined 36 Frozen Four appearances and 15 National Championships between the three schools, it is easy to see that they all host very prestigious hockey programs. With his parents living over 1,000 miles away Drew goes months without seeing them. “You realize how much your parents do for you once you move away from them,” Lennon said. “Sometimes it’s hard, but I just remind myself why I do it.” Drew sees his parents on most of the out-of-state trips and occasionally they come to visit, but other than that the only
Hockey Home:
Some people might find it strange to move away from your family in high school in order to play on a specific sports team, but for Drew this sacrifice is completely necessary in order to achieve his end goal in hockey, a Division I scholarship. Playing AAA travel hockey gives Lennon the most exposure for scouting and gives him the best chance to play Division I hockey.
contact he has with his parents is over the phone. “I call them everyday and let them know how I am doing,” Lennon said. “We talk about my day at school and how things are going with hockey.” Drew says that living so far away, it takes a toll on his parents. “My mom and dad miss me a lot, but whose parents wouldn’t?” he said. His host family, the Cotes, treat him like their own son. “They make it really easy to live away from home and Mrs. Cote is like my second mom. I don’t know how I would do it if the Cote’s weren’t easy to live with.” Lennon said. Moving in with a host family can
be very different than living with a real family and Lennon has had to make a lot of adjustments. “I was an only child before and now I have a ‘brother’, I like having one, but it is way different than what I’m used to.” Lennon said. The Cote’s are a big and close knit family. “They are all super nice and accept me as one of their own,” Lennon said. Drew says the hardest part about not having his parents with him is that “they aren’t always there to help you.” Lennon said he has learned how to cope with this issue. “Anytime I need help with school work or advice or anything I know I can go to Mrs. Cote,” Lennon said. Knowing that
definitely makes the daunting situation of living away from home easier for Drew. Lennon also added that managing money on his own and staying organized with school work is a daily struggle he faces, but he is getting better with it and it has become less of an intimidating task. Lennon said he plans to have a breakout season this year and get himself on the college scouts’ radar. He will live with the Cote’s until the end of the school year and then will move back to be with his family in Illinois.
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In Action
Hirshorn stands with one of the children he had the opportunity to coach and looks forward to seeing him again. “You play because you love the game and want to teach them how just to become better people through the game,� Hirshorn said.
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Noah Hirshorn
has had the chance to travel to Israel to play and teach children about lacrosse.
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Peyton reeves | PHOTOs Courtesy of Noah Hirshorn
any students at Mountain Vista do not have the opportunity to travel outside of the states, much less the country. Junior Noah Hirshorn has had the opportunity to travel to Ashkelon, Israel, located about five miles from the Gaza Strip. Hirshorn, who is planning to go back this December, not only plays lacrosse on the U19 Israel National Team, but also teaches kids there about the sport. “It’s a lot different than playing in the states because the reason you play in Israel is to use it as building blocks to help sometimes troubled youth to expand and become leaders through the game of lacrosse,” Hirshorn said. This not only serves as a teaching opportunity but also gives Hirshorn a chance to act as a role model to the kids. He aims to not only teach them about the sport but to help the kids become better people through the game. Hirshorn said his passion for the game really motivates him to not only play better as an individual, but to also teach to the best of his abilities. Hirshorn said he loves going to play in Israel because it gives him a different reason to play. “It’s a lot different because in America, you play lacrosse just for
competition,” Hirshorn said. Having the opportunity to teach the children about the sport gives the sport a new meaning to Hirshorn. Hirshorn has been playing the sport since the fall of his sixth-grade-year and has been loving the game ever since. “I wanted to try something new so I decided to try lacrosse,” Hirshorn said. He acts as the midfielder on the team. “Being athletic is something I have always been very passionate about,” Hirshorn said. Hirshorn played multiple sports however they stopped appealing to him. Hirshorn was introduced to lacrosse in large part due to his father. “Since my dad grew up there, I have a connection to Israel,” Hirshorn said. Hirshorn’s entire family is very involved in this sport and it brings the whole family together. The kids and Noah have grown closer together and have bonded through the game. “One of my favorite memories was just signing autographs for the kids,” Hirshorn said. The children in Israel do not have prior knowledge or experience with the sport and Hirshorn embraces that. Some of his best memories from this experience was watching the kids improve and learn about
the sport. “One kid put my elbow pads on his knees, thinking they were knee pads and ran around. I think just seeing all the kids really open minded about something they’ve never experienced was fascinating and a great memory,” Hirshorn said. While the children seem happy, they must live through the constant fear of conflict. A lot of the times the children Hirshorn is around need to spend nights in their family’s bomb shelters. Playing a sport in a war zone is not the easiest or the safest thing but Hirshorn’s love of the sport and the kids makes it all worth it. “You play because you love the game and want to teach them how just to become better people through the game,” Hirshorn said. Hirshorn is eager to return and see the kids. “I’m really, really looking forward to going back and seeing how they all got better,” Hirshorn said. Lacrosse is a very big part of Hirshorn’s life and it just would not be the same without it. He plans to continue playing this sport in his future. “One of my goals and aspirations is to play through college and I hope to make this dream come true,” he said.
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LEXI BURBEY trip to Tanzania.
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josh romine | PHOTOS courtesy of lexi burbey
met kids who hadn’t eaten in four days.” This was the stark reality that senior Lexi Burbey faced on her 12-day mission trip to Tanzania this summer. While many students in Highlands Ranch are unaware of or apathetic about the struggles people face in other parts of the world, Burbey experienced those struggles firsthand. “It was one of the most heart-breaking, but one of the most life-changing things,” Burbey said. “Seeing how hard people have it, and how those people are still so happy, that was the biggest shock to me. Even though they have nothing, they still act like they have everything.” Burbey traveled to the East African country with her grandparents’ church. “The church opened up a school there, so we volunteered at the school,” Burbey said. Highlands Ranch is a place where nearly everyone has a roof above their heads and food on the table. Few kids leave the comfort and prosperity of the bubble to understand the issues in developing countries. For a brief time Burbey left the bubble, brave enough to take action and do what she could to make the world a better place. “I really love to help people, so working
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encounters both hardship and joy during a mission
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with one group to accomplish a goal and help other people was the best possible situation,” Burbey said. Life in Tanzania is drastically different from Highlands Ranch. “People would carry everything on their heads. People are really dependent on themselves and they use a lot of their resources,” Burbey said. “I saw people who had blankets made out of straw and all the things that they could find. They’re really resourceful. I think that’s better than the U.S. because they actually know how to use what they have,” Burbey said. The kids still have fun despite the circumstances. “We gave each of the kids balloons and it was the cutest thing ever because every single one wanted a crown or sword or literally anything that we could give them. We came back a couple days later and they were still playing with the popped balloon ... they’d never seen balloons before,” Burbey said. Poverty forces Tanzanians to be resourceful Burbey said. Burbey explained how she met a little boy whose family was going through rough times. So, she bought a goat for them, which was only $10 in American currency. The poverty was overwhelming at times. “One of the biggest struggles was trying to
keep a positive attitude even though you were surrounded by all these bad things that were happening around you,” Burbey said. In addition to these challenges, there was the issue of physical safety. Some areas of the country were deemed unsafe for Americans. Burbey said they avoided some markets altogether because “a lot of the people weren’t really that keen on Americans coming into their culture ... [our drivers] said it was going to be an unsafe environment because there are a lot of kidnappings of Americans because they’re looking for the ransom money.” None of the hardships prevented Burbey from having fun. “[My favorite part was] playing with the kids, because they couldn’t help their situation, but they still loved being in it and they love just interacting with new people,” Burbey said. Tanzania was Burbey’s first foreign mission trip, and it added a new element that domestic mission trips lack. “Definitely, after that trip, international business is one of my top priorities,” she said. Burbey encourages others to step out of Highlands Ranch to help others. “If there’s a mission trip that you are interested in,” Burbey said. I would definitely recommend doing it.”
ENDLESS FUN:
The kids Burbey met still have fun despite difficult circumstances. “We gave each of the kids balloons and it was the cutest thing ever because every single one wanted a crown or sword or literally anything that we could give them. We came back a couple days later and they were still playing with the popped balloon ... they’d never seen balloons before,” Burbey said.
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Olivia Smith
finds that sometimes the simplest things in life are the most beautiful in her mission trip to Haiti.
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Lexi Weingardt | PHOTOS courtesy of Olivia smith
n March 23, 2014, sophomore Olivia Smith set out on a week long mission trip to Haiti with Cherry Hills Community Church through an organization in Haiti called Global Vision Citadelle Ministries. Smith raised around $2,000 to go on the trip by fundraising and sending out letters to her family and friends. “I wanted to go [on the mission trip] because I have been going for the past four years, and I absolutely love going back!” Smith said. “I remember the kids’ names and they remember mine.” On Smith’s last mission trip, she stayed at an orphanage in a mountainous region of Haiti. At the orphanage, Smith primarily played with the kids and helped take care of the babies. The most eye-opening part of the trip was the women’s retreat accordng to Smith. “I was able to be part of a women’s retreat where the ladies on the team went out into the poorest and most remote areas to hand out invitations to come to the church for a “Ladies Day,” Smith said. They picked up 25 Haitian women most of whom had never ridden in a car before. “The ladies’ ages ranged from a 14-yearold mother to a 70-year-old woman with no teeth but the biggest smile,” Smith said. “We brought them to the church and proceeded to wash all of their feet, give them pedicures, let them pick out a new dress, and feed them a meal.” One of the girls on Smith’s team
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brought a Polaroid camera and she photographed all of the women and gave them the photographs. When the Haitian women received the photos, they were overwhelmed with joy and excitement. “The simplicity of their joy from a picture humbled me so much and it was such a special moment for me,” Smith said. While in Haiti, the person who was most memorable to Smith was Bernardo, a 14-yearold boy named who was HIV-positive and very small for his age. His mother died when
he was young and his dad remarried and had more kids with his second wife. “He isn’t an orphan, but he spent most of his time at the orphanage taking care of younger kids and helping however he could,” Smith said. “He was one of the most selfless and joyful people I have ever met.” When reflecting on her time in Haiti, Smith makes a point to talk about the simplicity of life. “Most of the village people I interacted with lived in one-room huts and have large
Life In Haiti:
Smith reflects on her temporary stay in Haiti. “Most of the village people I interacted with lived in one-room huts and have large families, and the kids spend most of their day getting water from the closest well and a few are lucky enough to afford school. They find joy in the smallest of things and are the kindest people,” Smith said.
families, and the kids spend most of their day getting water from the closest well and a few are lucky enough to afford school,” Smith said. “They find joy in the smallest of things and are the kindest people.” Smith will return to Haiti this spring and, at some point in her life, she hopes to temporarily take up residence in Haiti. “I want to be able to stay longer than a week and build stronger relationships with the people there. It would also be awesome to work for a nonprofit temporarily doing something I love!”
80 40.6
percent of the population is below the poverty line percent of the population is unemployed
63.18 37.6
is the average life expectancy in Haiti
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percent of Haitians do not have clean drinking water.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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Colleen kinstler Camp Geneva Glen in Indian Hills, Colo.
L
amy huang | PHOTOS COURTESY OF colleen Kinstler
uxurious cars, Starbucks on every corner, designer clothes; this is what comes to mind when the “bubble” is spoken of. Only 30 minutes away from Highlands Ranch the scenery completely changes. Trails, cabins, green trees and happy kids running around. Junior Colleen Kinstler spent nine weeks of the summer at Camp Geneva Glen in Indian Hills. Kinstler has been attending Geneva Glen for 11 summers as a camper. She first attended camp when she was five years old and continued to go because of the loving environment that is created there. There are about 250 campers per session from all over the globe. Because of the camp, Kinstler has made many new friendships “that will last forever because we are comfortable being the genuine person we are around one another,” she said. The atmosphere in Highlands Ranch and in Geneva Glen is completely different she said. Kinstler said she feels more at home at camp. “I don’t have to change
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the person I am at camp,” Kinstler said. “In Highlands Ranch, however, there is a lot of pressure to fit in, even altering who you are to fit that bill.” Kinstler personally tries to be the same person at camp and in Highlands Ranch but she said she’s a better version of herself at camp. Although Kinstler spends the majority of the year in Highlands Ranch, she remembers her childhood as camp. “[Attending camp as a child] seeds the admirable person people grow up to be and puts an emphasis on childhood,” Kinstler said. As a trainee, she had more responsibilities than an average camper but first and foremost she was a camper. This past summer Kinstler helped kids find themselves the way she did many summers ago. “I feel like the best version of myself at camp because I am surrounded by people who I look up to,” Kinstler said. The motto of Geneva Glen is cherishing the past, seeding the future. Kinstler applied the motto to her role as a trainee. “I got to be a clown and a fairy for five
to eight-year-olds. The most rewarding thing for me was seeing a child’s face light up about something that I lost wonder in long ago,” Kinstler said. Geneva Glen brings out the best in her, Kinstler said. This summer she was assigned to cabins with children ranging from seven to 11-years-old. “A child’s imagination is breathtaking and seeing kids be kids instead of hurrying to grow up is invaluable,” Kinstler said. For future summers, Kinstler hopes to be a part of the camp staff and eventually a counselor. She said she looks forward to connecting on a more personal level with the people who inspired her growing up and helping people fall in love with camp. She said she hopes to contribute to the withstanding traditions and help make camp the loving, care free environment where it is acceptable to fail and make mistakes she experienced as a camper. “I am very blessed to have a place I can call home outside of where I live and each year I count down the days until I can go back,” Kinstler said.
clownin’ around: Colleen Kinstler acts as a clown for campers for the Myths and Magic session of camp Geneva Glen. “The most rewarding thing for me was seeing a childs face light up about something that I lost wonder in long ago,” Kinstler said. “I am very blessed to have a place I can call home outside of where I live and each year I count down the days until I can go back.”
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Gabby Salinas:
Gabby Salinas smiles for a photo with camper Justin Lee MIller. Salinas learned a lot from Miller while at Camp Barnabas. “We are so blessed here, but no one realizes it. [We] don’t understand how much pain and hurt [we] can cause with [our] words. I’m always going to be careful about what I say now. I am never going to think ‘this is the worst situation,’ because I know that it’s not,” Salinas said.
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Camp Barnabas numerous Mountain Vista students.
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changed lives and minds of
Katie pickrell | PHOTOS courtesy of Cherry Hills Community Church
his past summer, a crowd of Mountain Vista High School students took one week out of their summer vacation to attend a retreat for adults and children with special needs at Camp Barnabas. Camp Barnabas is a Christian-based organization located in Purdy, Missouri. It runs all summer, changing its theme every week. The first week is devoted to elders, the third to children, the fifth to people in wheelchairs, the seventh for the deaf and blind and so on. All of the themes base themselves around people with mental or physical disabilities. Some MVHS volunteers from Cherry Hills Community Church spent one full week with their own camper. “Throughout the week, when you start to become closer to your camper, you really feel like you’re becoming a parent figure to them,” senior Grace Vigliotti said. “It’s like you just become best friends.” Other student volunteers, such as sophomore Gabrielle Taglarino, were “barnstormers” at the camp. Taglarino had to wake up 30 minutes before the other volunteers to get ready. “I worked in the kitchen all week making meals and cleaning bathrooms. [It] was awful, and so was waking up really
early,” Taglarino said. Aside from working, Barnabas allowed plenty of opportunity for the volunteers and campers to have fun. For junior Jenna Ramsey spending time with her camper was the best experience she had at the camp. “My favorite part was Bible study with my camper,” Ramsey said. “She was really passionate about Barnabas and about the Bible. It was great to see her get to her happy place.” Another volunteerwho enjoyed spending time with her camper was junior Aubreigh-Ana Tubbs. “We had fun doing whatever she wanted to do,” Tubbs said. “You had to have patience.” The camp had an astounding impact on all of the students that volunteered. Everyone took away a different lesson from the camp, but all the volunteers agree the camp had a positive effect on them. Many students even said the lessons they learned now affect how they act every day. “We are so blessed here,” junior Gabby Salinas said, “but no one realizes it. [We] don’t understand how much pain and hurt [we] can cause with [our] words.” Ramsey gained a new outlook on life from her time at Barnabas as well. “I got to experience pure joy in seeing
the happiness of the campers,” Ramsey said. “It made me realize that, this world isn’t too bad,” she said, “and now I see everything in a positive light. I now see the cup as half full.” Sophomore Noah Rawls said he is also kinder now because of the time he spent at Camp Barnabas. “I’m a lot more respectful to people with disabilities now,” Rawls said. “When I have the opportunity to do so, I try to be nice to them and help them.” Vigliotti explained the lesson she learned changed the way she looks at different situations. “Barnabas made [me] grow up for a week and [I] just got a really different perspective on a lot of things in the world,” Vigliotti said. She, like many other students, also added the volunteer opportunity changed how she acts everyday. “You learn to be kinder and more laid back,” Vigliotti said. Junior Tori Tongen said Barnabas strengthened her faith. “[Barnabas] taught me that God is present everywhere, even when you don’t think he is,” Tongen said. “Everywhere I go now, I know that He is there.”
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Levi Smith
traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and shared his smile with the world.
H
Austin Sack & Gowri Kalyani|PHOTOS Courtesyof Levi smith
ighlands Ranch is often referred to as the bubble. It has this nickname because the people in it are given opportunities not many other communities are fortunate enough to experience. It is important to take advantage of these opportunities and to get out of the community to experience other cultures. Sophomore Levi Smith gets out by going on missions trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and will be going to South Africa next year. A lot of people go on mission trips for different reasons. Smith said he goes to “share the love and word of God to people that either do not understand it or do not get to hear it.” “It’s very important for people to get out of Highlands Ranch because it really gets you out of your comfort zone and it’s really easy to get trapped in the mindset of school and the way that we live.” Smith said. “Going on a mission trip really pops your bubble and rips you out of this place of luxury of which we live in.” It is easy to get stuck in the mindset of living in a place like Highlands Ranch and to get stuck in doing the same thing over and over. Not only is it important for someone to travel out of where they live and experience other people and places, but also we need to help people that are the less fortunate. We need to be able to see
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who you are outside of the community. “It’s easy to learn about other cultures, but I really learned a lot about myself,” Smith said. Smith said that being in a place such as Haiti, he missed the things from home, like the food. “What I missed the most was probably good food like steak and McDonald’s french fries,” Smith said. Being in a location far from home
definitely can be frightening at some times, Smith said. “It was scary knowing you didn’t have your mom there to make sure you did everything right. It was like living on your own. It was also scary knowing you’re really far away from home and there is no way home but forward through every day.” Another indivdual that went on this mission trip with Smith was Sophomore
Sharing Smiles:
Sophomore Levi Smith went to Haiti and the Dominican Republic for a mission trip and has some intriguing stories. “It’s easy to learn about other cultures, but I really learned a lot about myself, “ Smith said. A mission trip is a great way to get involved with other cultures and be able to escape the Highlands Ranch bubble.
Emil Niessnek, “There is just so much that can happen in those ten days that can change a persons life,” Niessnek said. Smith said, some of the challenges are just about being in a different environment. “It was really hot and really humid,” Smith said. Some of the challenges he faced were a bit more challenging than the weather. “We put cement floors in for the
church and their schools, the hardest thing that we did was taking three inches of dirt from the ground of an acre of land with nothing but broken shovels and five gallon buckets.” Living in Haiti or the Dominican Republic is challenging, Smith said. “It’s very poor. No one has anything, things are a lot cheaper to get and everybody wants stuff from you,”Smith said.
“Everyone knows you have money so they’re either trying to sell you things, or they’re trying to get stuff from you.” Smith pushes other individuals to step out of their comfort zone to experience different cultures and environments and to not only learn about different cultures, but to help others who are in need all around the world.
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Homecoming
Photo by Reagan Fitzke
PROPOSALS A
LEADERSHIP GRETCHEN COPE
W
e want as many kids to be involved in the week as possible,” said student leadership adviser Lindsey Jaffe. With an-all access pass to celebrate the Mountain Vista community, Student Leadership encourages students to participate in homecoming week. The hours of planning, decorating and contacting the entertainment far surpass those spent in previous years. Communication and collaboration among the 30 leadership representatives is crucial, says Student Body President Erick Sherwood. “There are groups of people
taylor desmond
s one of the biggest events of first semester, homecoming proposals have taken over Mountain Vista High School. Sophomore Hunter Tonner was one of the first to ask sophomore Bre Luke to homecoming. Tonner, on Saturday Sept. 20, prepared himself for “scoring” a date to the dance. Coming up with the creative proposal was not any challenge for Tonner. “I just tried to think of something that was Bre’s hobby and something unique,” Tonner said. After thinking it through he came up with a sign that displayed the words “you are
quite striking and it’s been my goal to kick it with you at homecoming. So what do you say? Did I score a date with you?” Once Tonner found his way of asking Luke, he topped it off with a soccer ball with “HC” written all over it and her favorite drink. “I was really surprised and I thought he knew me well with the Arnold Palmer. It was cute when he passed me the ball with ‘HC?’ on it,” said Luke. Tonner said he was relieved when Luke said yes. They said they are both looking forward to of what homecoming could bring on Oct. 10. Photo Courtesy of Bre Luke
takes on the week who take care of each day and update the rest of us on what they are doing. We’re looking at it all from a new perspective and playing with different ideas,” Sherwood said. These decisions are made with the goal of uniting the Golden Eagles through dressup days, after-school events and the homecoming football game in preparation for the dance at the “Emerald City.” “I’d hope that the student body understands the amount of work that leadership has put into making this the most incredible homecoming,” Jaffe said. “All of this will happen because of them. We’re so excited.”
Essentials for Homecoming Week by date
OCTOBER
6 Dodgeball T-shirts 7 Kicking off the week is the dodgeball tournament that is free with entry. Gather a team from your respective class and compete with T-shirts that fit with the theme “There’s No Place Like Home.”
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Green & Gold
Senior and juniors will face off at powder puff at 7 p.m. at Shea Stadium. Wear your green MV Unit T-shirts or pick up a shirt at Michael’s to show your spirit. On Instagram, tag your pictures with #NPLVista for a chance to win prizes.
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Black + 8 Rainbow Colors 9 Car Paint 10 Wednesday is all about “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The Unified game is at 5:15 p.m. on the grass fields, with free pizza for those with a wristband. Following this will be a chili cookoff in the commons and bonfire at dark.
Use #theresastormcoming at the homecoming football game and the events leading up to it. Bring supplies for the car decoration party in the student parking lot followed by a police escort to tailgate before the big game.
Corsages & Boutineers
The tradition of exchanging boutineers and corsages for dates still exists for dances today. If you have forgotten to get one, stop by King Soopers to customize your own and pick one up before the dance.
There’s no place like
vista Monday:
Dress Up Theme: There’s No Place Like Home – Colorado Day What’s Happening? Kick-off Assembly Dodgeball @ 6 p.m.
Tuesday:
Dress Up Theme: Emerald City – Green and Gold Out What’s Happening? Powder Puff Game @ 7 p.m. @ Shea Stadium
Wednesday:
Dress Up Theme: Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Wacky Wednesday What’s Happening? Unified Soccer Game @ 5:15 p.m. @ Mountain Vista Chili Cook-off @ 6 p.m. in the Commons (Bring $5) Bonfire when the sun sets @ Mountain Vista
Thursday:
Dress Up Theme: Wicked Witch – Black Out What’s Happening? Homecoming Assembly Car Decoration Party – police escort to the game @ 4:30 p.m. in student parking lot (bring supplies) Tailgate @ 5:30 p.m. @ Shea Stadium Homecoming Football Game against Fruita Monument High School @ 7 p.m. @ Shea Stadium (Use #TheresAStormComing for the game!)
Friday:
What’s Happening? Homecoming Dance @ 8-11 p.m. with Decadon as our DJ
Tweet about home coming with #NPLVista Eagle Eye
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seniors, if you Haven’t turned in your photo fee & quote, you are late!
1.
Log onto your Naviance account. Hit the “My Planner” tab. Then under the “tasks assigned to me” tab, click the “2015 Senior Submissions” link and complete the form.
2.
Turn in your photo according to what you put on the form. This gives us the ability to make sure your picture gets to us. For more information about photo requirements go to http://www.vistanow.org/aerie-yearbook/
3.
Turn in your fee according to what you put on the form. And place it in the box in the front office.
Remember, quotes are submitted through Naviance. No printed or handwritten quotes will be accepted at this time. Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. is your final deadline. After this, a school ID photo will be used and the quote will be left blank.
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Men’s Tennis The Mountain Vista men’s varsity tennis team is currently 10-0 on the season. Its next matches are in the Class 5A regional. They won the Continental League uncontested after defeating Regis Jesuit, 4-3, September 15.
Women’s Volleyball The Mountain Vista women’s vasity volleyball team is currently 4-9 on the season. Their next game is against Heritage tonight. Heritage is currently 4-8 in the season. The game will be held at Heritage at 6:30 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
The Mountain Vista men’s varsity soccer team is currently 4-1-2 on the season. Their next game is against Legend on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Legend is 7-2-1 on the season. The game will be held at Mountain Vista at 4:30 p.m.
Are you serious? The Mountain Vista varsity football team is off to one of the best starts in school history. The Mountain Vista High School varsity football team had one of its best starts in the 2014 fall season, winning its first five games and beating ThunderRidge for the first time. Coach Ric Cash attributes this success to none other than the teamwork of the players. “They are playing with confidence and a belief in each other that allows them to achieve more together,” Cash said. “The boys have worked very hard in anticipation of this season and I believe that the hard work is paying obvious dividends.” Cash has high expectations for the performance of the team for the rest of the football season.
“While I can say, and I know that they would agree, that we have not played our best yet. We have played well and are excited to see what the remainder of the season has in store for us,” he said. The team’s strategies are different than last year’s. “We have installed a new offense this year and are really just starting to get comfortable with the scheme. Defensively, we have many players who are stepping up and allowing us to play at a high level, which is a direct reflection on what I mentioned earlier about having confidence in one another,” Cash said. The team will play a total of nine games in the regular season.
With Senior Varsity Football Captain Matthew Morris What is your overall reaction of winning against Thunder Ridge?
with each and every week. We just have got to keep working hard.
Matthew Morris: My overall reaction is that this is the best thing that has ever happened to the football program. We beat our rival for the first time. We made history. It was a pretty amazing thing. I was really happy but eventhough we won, there are still things to work on and get better
How is the team different than the one last year? MM: The team is different because there are a lot less individuals on the team than before. We had a lot of bonding experiences in the offseason so we got closer and can rely on each everyone to
do their job. We have a better chance of getting the win and having a good season because of it. What are your expectations for the season? MM: I fully expect us to win every game of our season. We definitely have the potential. We just need to do the right things and do our jobs. I definitely think that we
can have a great season. How does the team support one another? MM: The team supports each other by a practice. We always go 100 percent to always make the offense and defense better. That would help our chances to be better. I think that giving it our all every day really helps the team and all of the players out a lot.
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