Eagle Eye Issue 4, February 11, 2015 by Mark Newton

eagleeye we are caring

Each year, the Vista community comes out to support one Wish Kid. This year, we stand with Marlee.

Vol. 15 Issue 4 2.11.15

Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Contents

EDITORS

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

STAFF

Gabe Barnard Tyler Felske Aly Hofmann Christian Holton Cameron Hogan Savanah Howard Haley Kolseth Lauren Lippert

POLICY

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

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

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.

06 NEWS 10 ON GUNS 13 DR. JAKE HERMAN

by MVM Staff

14 coming together; supporting Marlee for Wish Week

Wish Week THE LEGACY

Looking back, Vista has dominated fundraising during Wish Week. by Kelsey Pharis

{20{ 18

16 THE PLAN by Regan Lavallee

Feature

MARLEE’S WISH Check out the Wish Kid Vista will be supporting during the next week. by Kenzie Winslow

20 GIVING LIFE 21 KAIOS KLOTHING 22 TAKING A STAND 23 EL CRUCERO 24 JILL LAPLANTE by MVM Staff

by Amy Huang

by MVM Staff

by Hayley Mustin

by MVM Editorial Staff

Culture

26 EP!C! PHOTOS

The winter sports teams are showcasing impressive talent. by MVM Staff

28 SLEDDING SEASON 30 SUPER BOWL CHAMPS 31 VISTA’S FINEST by Austin Sack

by Austin Sack

by Christian Holton & Katie Pickrell

CONTACT

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.

Teachers show their support for their students in any way they possibly can.

by MVM Editorial Staff

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

04 EP!C! PHOTOS 05 WE ARE CARING by MVM Staff

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.

Briefing

by Gabe Barnard

by Katie Pickrell

1. Junior Matt Doddemead tosses a Frisbee towards the upper level while practicing with his team indoors. “The game is a great mental and physical way to have fun,” Doddemead said. Ultimate Frisbee season lasts all year long, so the team is still hard at work preparing for upcoming games against nearby schools. Photo credits: Katie Pickrell 2. Senior Tony Swope plays the flute during the band feeder festival. “I like playing the flute because it’s different from the violin,” Swope, who’s also a violinist, said. “It creates a different color when you play it.” Photo credits: Tyler Merchant 3. Math teacher Brian Wood plays with his son during the varsity basketball game against Ponderosa High School. “The kids enjoy coming to basketball games. It’s something they share with their dad and there’s lots of excitement with high school kids. When I was a kid, I grew up in the gym so I’d like my kids to have the same experiences,” Wood said. Photo credits: Amy Huang 4. Senior Nick Gunnare performs during All Wrong’s concert at the Marquis Theater in downtown Denver. The concert was the second the band had played at the Marquis, but the first it headlined. “I was a little bit nervous,” Gunnare, who’s a guitarist and vocalist, said, “but I was thinking our last show at the Marquis went really, really well and there’s no reason we couldn’t do even better this time.” Photo credits: Katie Pickrell

ep!c!

photos

We Are Vista:Teachers

Story by Austin Sack Photos by Austin Sack

eachers who care for their students make the biggest impact on students. Luckily for students around here, Vista is home to some of the most caring teachers around. Every teacher shows how much they care for their students in a different way. For some it can be just as simple as asking how the student is and actually listening to them, showing up to extracurricular events or maybe even just a hug. “To show my students I care about them I show up for basketball games, concerts, fashion shows or graduation parties,” criminal justice teacher Jaclyn Caschetta said. “I want my students to know that my ability to teach them and care for them is not confined to the classroom.” Teachers have the ability to make or break a student’s day or even their semester, so the ones who take the time to build relationships with the student are the ones who are remembered for years. A positive student-teacher relationship is important for a good semester and building these relationships is a great way to show students that their teachers care for them. “I try to care for my students by always reminding them that I am there for them. I try to get to know my students as much as possible and also allow them to get to know me. I think it is important to establish relationships at the beginning of the year so there is a mutual trust between students and teachers,” English teacher Elena Paich said. “As soon as my students know that I care about them and their well-being, then it becomes easier for me to be there for them in time of need and becomes easier for them to allow me and trust me to be there for them.” With the recent tragedies at Mountain Vista, students need care from their teachers more than ever. It always nice to know that a teacher out there always has a student’s back. “Everyone grieves differently and first acknowledging that fact is a good place to start. From there it is all about reading your students. Some wanted to continue the lesson, others wanted to be distracted with music or games, others wanted to draw or talk about the tragedy. I allowed the students who needed time to take that time to cry, be angry, ask questions. Students need to be reassured that things are going to be okay,” history teacher Dillon Turpin said. “But mostly I reiterated that there is nothing that can’t be overcome in life, especially if you have someone there showing that they care for you.”

edi

tor

ial cartoon MVM editors presents their views of current news with 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 or in U328.

Illustration by Katie Pickrell

Illustration by Kit Miller

SAT

VS.

ACT

The Colorado Department of Education’s decision about switching to the SAT this year caused confusion and frusturation among the students, parents, teachers and counselors.

Story by Lexi Weingardt On Jan. 2, the day after Wendy Strait, head of the Mountain Vista Counseling Department, sent an email to all sophomore and junior students and their parents announcing that Colorado was switching from the ACT to the SAT test, there was a palpable sense of panic and irritation among the Junior Class. In the email, Strait explained that, although students had previously been told they would not have to take the SAT, and even that they should not take it, it was now required by the state of Colorado that all junior students take the SAT instead of the ACT. Strait promised the Counseling Department would “do everything in our power to look for a way to prepare students for this test.” Many students were surprised and upset by the unexpected switch to the SAT. “I planned on taking the new SAT regardless,” junior Alec Yagey admits, “but it was a surprise to me, especially with no test prep available for a test that has never been seen before. It didn’t seem right.” Luckily, many educators were equally shocked by this news. Specifically, Interim Education Commissioner Elliott Asp, who sent an email after the announcement was made, telling school district superintendents that the department was “working with the two testing providers on a plan that would keep the ACT status quo for one more year.” Asp also was of the opinion that forcing current juniors to take the SAT this spring would be unfair “with college entrance, placement, and scholarships on the line.” After complaints from parents, teachers, students and administration, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) announced Jan. 11 that in the spring of 2016 juniors would take the ACT for one more year. Yagey said it seemed to him that the CDE made the right decision when deciding to push the test back a year. In the end, the CDE allowed this year’s Junior Class to be the exception, stating students could take the ACT. “This year’s 10th-graders will take the PSAT in preparation for Colorado’s full transition to the SAT in spring 2017,” CDE explained in a press release, “NEW 11th-Grade & 10th-Grade Exams.”

Q&A

Josh Romine

What are your general opinions about each test, the ACT and the SAT? From my experience with the new PSAT/SAT, the tests are more similar than they used to be. Which do you think is better or prefer? I prefer the ACT. I thought it was easier. It was not as much of a time crunch, and in my opinion, the questions weren’t as difficult. For the PSAT, I especially did not like the free response questions for the math — it’s not as easy to use process of elimination to arrive at a reasonable answer.

SAT

• Reading: 1, 65-min. section • Math: 1, 25-min. section.(no calculator) and 1, 55-min. section (with calculator). • Writing & Langauge: 1, 35-min. section. • Essay (optional): 1, 50-min. section. • Covers reading, relevant words in context, math, grammar and usage, and (optional) analytical writing. • Questions are evidence based. • Focuses on real-world situations, problem solving. • Do not lose points for answering incorrectly. • Questions increase in difficulty in each section. • Formulas are provided for the math section. • Scoring Scale: 400-1,600.

ACT

• English: 1, 45-min. section. • Math: 1, 60-min. section. • Reading: 1, 35-min. section. • Science: 1, 35-min. section. • Writing (optional): 1, 40-min. essay. • Covers mainly grammar and usage, math, reading, science reasoning, and (optional) writing. • Questions are more straightforward. • Do not lose points for answering incorrectly. • Difficulty of questions is random. • Formulas are not provided for the math section. • Scoring Scale: 1-36.

Two former MV students on trial as adults for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder O Story by Savanah Howard, Lauren Lippert & Katie Pickrell n Dec. 13, 2015 information arrested two 16-year-old girls for allegedly plotting violence against staff and students at Mountain Vista High School. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) reported authorities were made aware of the threat on Saturday, Dec. 12, but information wasn’t released to the public until Tuesday, Dec. 15. Officials were made aware of the threat through “Text-A-Tip,” an anonymous texting hotline where people can express their concerns to deputies. Brooke Higgins and Sienna Johnson, both previous sophomores at Mountain Vista, face felony charges, including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Hit with big news, a large part of the student body originally responded on Twitter expressing how thankful they are for each other and how the Dec. 14 snow day was a miracle. With the hashtag “SoarAboveTheRest,” the entire community came together to show their love and support for Vista. “It’s scary because you never think it would happen to you,” senior Jess Gonzales said. “If they hadn’t caught the girls who were planning to do this, I might not have seen some of the people I love ever again.” The first email sent out to parents throughout Douglas County briefly explained how all schools in the Douglas County area were impacted by the murder attempt. “Due to the nature and gravity of this particular situation, we felt it important to share these recent events with all of Douglas County School District families to reiterate and emphasize the importance of our partnership in keeping all DCSD students and staff safe,” the email explained. Many students from other schools in the DCSD area have reached out to MV students. Alexandra Kinder, a student from Valor Christian High School, was one of many who expressed support. Because she attended Mountain Ridge Middle School and has a younger sibling in the Mountain Vista feeder area, she knows many students at Vista. “It’s horrifying,” Kinder said. “I think this shook everyone and made them realize that this is the reality we’re having to deal with. This wasn’t just something on the news in a different state. This

is down the street from my school and it’s mind blowing to think that this is something that can happen. “They caught them this time, thank God, but it makes you more wide-eyed and aware of your surroundings because this could happen anywhere.” Since the event, Text-A-Tip has been revered for its ability to halt a planned act of violence at Mountain Vista. The prosecution has asserted that the tip potentially saved lives of students and faculty at Vista. The tip was texted in by a single anonymous person and led to the arrest of the students. Johnson was the first student to appear in court. Higgins’ hearing came after the completion of a lengthy psychiatric evaluation. Authorities released information stating that Higgins and Johnson both obtained detailed maps of Mountain Vista that included the location of security officers and other specific individuals who were posted to protect students and faculty. The judge will not release details of the attacks until both individuals are officially charged as adults. Authorities report that the plans revolved around inflicting “mass casualties” to Mountain Vista. Prosecutors claim Johnson and Higgins referred to “NBK” or “Natural Born Killers” in their journals. Johnson also made the comparison on her Tumblr, which was taken down soon after her arrest. Prosectutors also claim that the two have written about Columbine High School, claiming they wished they could have been involved with the attacks that killed 12 students and one teacher in 1999. Though Johnson is said to not show any signs of remorse during her hearing, Higgins reportedly broke down in court upon hearing the details of her bond according to The Denver Post. Both Higgins and Johnson are currently being held on $1 million bail. Higgins has requested both a new judge and a new lawyer, extending the legal process. Further court dates have not been established at this time. If you have any information regarding the case please contact Detective Aaron Lemaster at ALemaster@DCSheriff.net.

2016’s

Biggest Issues Commentary by Kelsey Pharis & Katie Pickrell

Commentary by Katie Pickrell

Climate change has suddenly become one of the most partisan issues in the United States as Democrats tend to face the issue head-on, while Republicans are slow to admit its existence. Leading Republican candidates are slow to call for action against climate change. Iowa caucus winner Ted Cruz claims that climate change hasn’t existed for at least the past 17 years. Donald Trump doesn’t think climate change is real and doesn’t want to do anything about it, but it’s hard to say if his opinion is based off his knowledge or his lack thereof. Marco Rubio acknowledges climate change is existent, but claims it isn’t a result of human activity. All Republican candidates do not plan to enact legislation to protect the environment, especially if it endangers economic prosperity. Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both agree climate change is real, a result of human activity and an important aspect of upcoming legislation. Clinton recently opposed the Keystone XL deal, but alienated many environmentalist when she refused to provide a stance on it until President Obama rejected it. Sanders’ main basis for his campaign has long been working to combat climate change by breaking apart the fossil fuel lobby, working towards sustainable energy, increasing transportation infrastructure and working with the international community.

Commentary by Amy Huang

Recent acts of gun violence around the nation, and even around our community, have sparked debate among Democrats and Republicans — particularly those running for the presidential office in the upcoming election. Marco Rubio wants to “restore Second Amendment Rights in the District of Columbia” bill to amend the capital’s gun laws to make it easier to obtain firearms. Even after the Sandy Hook massacre, Rubio voted against the Senate legislation to expand background checks on gun purchases, according to Business Insider. On Donald Trump’s website, he wrote “Our Founding Fathers knew, and our Supreme Court has upheld, that the Second Amendment’s purpose is to guarantee our right to defend ourselves and our families. This is about selfdefense, plain and simple.” Democratic nominee Bernie Sanders voted against the 1993 Brady Act which required background checks before obtaining a gun because there was a waiting period for background checks while he was for instant background checks. Sanders is a strong advocate for gun control. Hillary Clinton has repeatedly stressed the importance of ending gun violence, especially after the Oregon shooting when she tweeted, “Another devastating shooting. We need sensible gun control measures to save lives, and I will do everything I can to achieve that. -H”

Many candidates on the right believe the nation should repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with more private providers. If this were to happen, reports estimate 11.4 million people would not have health care. Many of the front runners on the Republican side have proposed plans to change the the current system. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has said on multiple occasions that “Washington wants Obama Care, the people want liberty.” Cruz, like all other Republican candidates, pledges to repeal Obama Care, if elected to office. Democrats, on the other hand, hope to increase coverage for those who cannot afford it and make healthcare even more available to all people in the U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) supports the Affordable Care Act as a step in the right direction. Sanders’ end hope is a single-payer health care system that would allow all Americans, regardless of income, access to medical necessities. Sanders points out his single-payer system would cost less than the current system, and saving the typical middle-class family $5,000. It would, however, be funded by increased tax rates. Sanders’ proposals make him one of the only candidates to ever openly admit to raising taxes. Hillary Clinton has stood by President Obama’s legislation and now pledges to defend the Affordable Care Act. Clinton also said she wants to lower out-ofpocket deductibles and reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

The

very time a mass shooting occurs in America those on the left are quick to release the same repetitive talking points calling for more restrictions and ultimately limiting the amount of access law-abiding citizens have to guns. At first glance it would seem that passing further gun legislation would be a great way to prevent the mass shootings that ensue in America every year. However, the undeniable fact of the matter is that further gun control is not only detrimental to the safety of American citizens, but also unconstitutional. The Founding Fathers drafted the Second Amendment to ensure “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Often times the purpose of the Second Amendment is misconstrued. The purpose of the Second Amendment isn’t to make sure citizens have guns for recreational use but to ensure that each citizen has the ability to protect themselves from a tyrannical government. Historically, the first step in a government exercising complete control over its citizens is to deprive them of weapons. In 1929 Joseph Stalin disarmed the citizens of Russia only to then kill 20 million of his own people between 1929 and 1953. Adolf Hitler also implemented strict gun laws prior to exterminating millions of people in the 1940s. A defenseless population is much easier

gun Dilemma Opinion by Christian Holton

to control for obvious reasons, and while the thought of the American government turning tyrannical seems outlandish, it is always a possibility. Further gun restrictions would also do little to prevent mass shootings. President Obama recently attempted to curb gun violence through executive action by increasing background checks. Shortly after Obama’s executive action announcement the Associated Press reported it researched the mass shootings that reportedly would have been prevented by Obama’s actions. They found that the San Bernardino shooting, the Oregon Community College shooting, the Chattanooga shooting, the Washington Navy Yard shooting, the Sandy Hook shooting, the Aurora theatre shooting and several additional mass shootings, all would have likely still occurred even with Obama’s executive actions. The reason Obama’s efforts to diminish gun violence are futile is because a majority of guns used in mass shootings are acquired legally. According to a database compiled by Mother Jones magazine, in the last three decades 82 percent of guns used in mass shootings were purchased legally. It therefore follows that virtually all of the mass shootings that have taken place in the last three decades would not have been prevented by Obama’s executive action or further background checks. Statistics show that some of the most violent cities have the toughest gun laws. One of the best examples of this is Chicago. The city has completely outlawed gun stores and has been referred to as the model

city for gun control, yet it is one of the most violent cities in America. Last September Chicago had its deadliest September in over 13 years, recording a total of 129 shooting incidents. Chicago also had more homicides than any other city in 2015 with a homicide rate that increased 12.5 percent from 2014. One of the main reasons that Chicago’s crime rate is so high is because of its citizens inability to defend themselves. Since legal gun ownership in Chicago is for the most part unheard of, a majority of of the gun owners in Chicago are criminals who obtained their guns illegally, which means that law-abiding citizens have no effective way to protect themselves. Guns prevent 2.5 million crimes a year. One can only imagine the amount of crimes that they would prevent in Chicago if they were in the hands of law-abiding citizens. Washington, D.C. is another example of a city with reckless gun legislation. The city has very tough gun laws and a murder rate of 56.6 per 100,000. Only a few miles east of Washington, D.C the city of Arlington, Virginia has a much lower rate of 1.6 homicides per 100,000 people. Arlington also has looser gun laws. The problem with further gun restrictions is that there is absolutely no bit of legislation that will prevent a criminal from acquiring a gun so at the end of the day. The only people who are affected by further gun control are law abiding citizens. Only when we take a look at the facts and realize that gun control is a dangerous path will we truly make progress on the issue.

“A

well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Confusing grammar and misconstrued connotation aside, the Second Amendment is now the most modified, explained and complex amendments in the United States’ Constitution. To present this best, let’s consider that U.S. v. Cruikshank ruled “The right to bear arms is not granted by the Constitution; neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence” in 1876. When Founding Fathers like

Opinion by Katie Pickrell James Madison sat down with quill pen in hand to propose legislation to ensure “well-regulated” restrictions could be imposed upon gun ownership, massacres of kindergarteners and college students, skyrocketing suicide rates, gang violence and a disproportionate amount of dead minorities were not the first circumstances that popped into their minds. Instead, men like Madison were likely thinking of what benefits a “well-regulated Militia” holds in terms of a free society — and they likely came up with the idea that without regulation, the proposed citizenled army would be a bunch of freelancing, gun-toting individuals causing tyranny over those who held no weapon or had no means of other protection. But, some would argue, Madison wrote down that it’s an American right — even if that’s in the case of an assault rifle or an automatic gun or a high-capacity magazines. The answer is yes: It is the right of the people to keep and bear arms. The answer is also yes: It is the responsibility of the people to make sure that in doing so, the people are safe. On the other hand, the answer is also no: Madison didn’t jot down all persons who have no business owning a gun can waltz into whatever store they please and grab a weapon no questions asked. In this sense, Madison geniusly scripted this so that we may now abandon the argument of who gets what and work towards solving the issues at

hand (although our nation never does that). Pew Research reports that Americans, for the first time ever, are massively more concerned with protecting their right to own a weapon than they are with ensuring the safety of the people by limiting that right for others. This study comes at a time when gun production is at an all-time high. And of course, a gun in 1791 was exponentially more pathetic than any you’ll find nowadays. (If Madison was here today to see that the government allows anyone to buy literally any fully-automatic gun crafted before the mid 1980s, I’m sure he wouldn’t be too happy.) But to avoid an endless, circular argument regarding Madison’s intentions and to hopefully keep him from turning over in his grave, our nation seems to humor itself on assuming the Second Amendment actually means what the gun lobby has portrayed it to mean: That any U.S. citizen maintains the constitutional right to gun ownership. This idea is completely flawed, alarming and dangerous. Whether it’s homicide, suicide or terrorism, our gun legislation allows tens of thousands to fall victim to bullets every year without once questioning the sanity of our disposition. But unfortunately, Madison isn’t here to set the far-right of the gun lobby and the NRA straight. And so we’ll continue to fight over why states should not be obliged to require background checks, why gun shows selling weapons with only limited restraint is A-OK, why we can’t do anything to prevent mentally ill individuals from obtaining guns and why it shouldn’t be our problem that our government is condoning criminals and terrorists to possess weapons that potentially wipe law-abiding citizens of their future freedoms.

To read more about gun violence in the United States, find the full story on VistaNow.org.

vista_now

@vista_now

Courage By: Kit Miller

Don’t go down without a fight. I won’t back down in fright. I’ll stand strong and show my might.

Living life is such a delight, Climbing to the highest height. I won’t back down in fright.

I’ll do what is right, That courage will remain within sight. Don’t go down without a fight.

I’ll stand strong and show my might.

I’ll fly like a kite, Even when the future is not bright. I won’t back down in fright.

“D.I.A.” by Kit Miller

I’ll be an eagle in flight, Soaring for that glorious light. I’ll stand strong and show my might. I’ll be a dog with a fearsome bite, I’ll protect my friends; keep them alright. Don’t go down without a fight. To submit your own work to the literary magazine: jeffrey.hoefs@dcsdk12.org.

Dr. Jake Herman 1977-2016

Father, Husband, Brother, Friend, Doctor, Teacher, Coach, Mentor: Jake Herman was a lot of things to a lot of different people. He influenced lives in the many avenues he took throughout his 38 years of life. He without a doubt, left a mark on everybody he met. No matter how long you knew him, he made you feel one of a kind and important. Rest in peace Herman, you will be missed.

“

Coby Petau, senior

“

Herman was probably one of the biggest role models to the whole lacrosse team. Everytime you needed someone to help you along the road, he would always give you his undivided attention. He had a special knack for making you feel like you were the only person he wanted to talk to at that moment.

Herman was someone that always believed in us to achieve our dreams. We would go through highs and lows, but no matter what, he always had faith that in the end we would achieve what we set out to do.

Noah Hirshorn, senior

“

Herman always helped me develop not only as a lacrosse player, but as a man and he was like a father figure to me. He was a better father than my own father was and for that I’ll be forever grateful for all the lessons he taught me on and off the field. Paxton Boyer, senior

Last Year’s Wish Week Legacy Last year’s Wish Week broke records for Mountain Vista, raising the most money in school history. Story by Kelsey Pharis

he 2015 Wish Week was the first time in school history in which the school raised more than $60,000 to grant a child’s wish. “This week is not about anything other than serving and giving to others,” Student Leadership sponsor Lindsey Jaffe Miller said. With that knowledge, the pressure is on for this year to break that record and possibly break the record for most money raised from any Highlands Ranch school. “Last year set the expectation. It was so empowering and special,” Miller said. “I think kids are excited to see what we can do this year.” Last year $61,620 was raised in total from all the events, which included things such as the Wish Kits, the Wish Walk, the Miracle Minute during both the assemblies and the basketball game and a Harlem Wizards charity basketball game. “It’s not about what club you are in, sport you play or group you hand out with,” Miller said. “It’s about being a Golden Eagle — and nothing is better than that.” Wish Kits were $25 last year and included a T-shirt, wristband and Make-A-Wish star that students could write their name on to show support for Asher, the 2015 Wish Kid. The Wish Walk and Harlem Wizards charity game had massive turnouts, raising hundreds of dollars from those who attended. The price of the Wish Walk was increased this year to $25 to help raise more money and increase support for Marlee, the 2016 Wish Kid). It is no surprise that last year’s basketball game was one of the biggest moneymaking events of the week. Not only was it a rival game against Rock Canyon, it was also Canyon’s Wish Week. The gym was packed and people were feeling generous during the Miracle Minute that happened during halftime raising $7,722. Lucky for this year, the game will most likely be the highest attended game with the matchup being against ThunderRidge. Not only is the ThunderRidge game the most attended basketball game of the year, it is also the final game of the season before playoffs, causing for even more excitement than usual.

Then

Now

Wish Week By Regan Lavallee

Three months, 41 student planners and 14 days in the making. Wish Week 2016 has finally arrived. This week is about coming together as a school to help grant a kid’s wish. During this week of school, there are many fundraisers and events to help raise money for the wish. Behind each spirit day and down to every detail on each poster, there is a meaningful purpose. It’s time to break down the week that is dedicated to this year’s Wish Kid, Marlee.

Tuesday

Meet the voices inside each other’s heads! Marlee’s favorite movie is Inside Out. Dress-up with your clothes inside out or with the colors of your favorite character from the movie to support the idea of putting others before yourself.

Thursday

In honor of Marlee, the entire theme of this week is surrounded by being a good person and giving. By pairing with the Be A Good Person brand, the Wish Week T-shirts encourage everyone to spread positivity.

This year, the Wish Kid’s color is gold. In addition, her favorite color is green. To kick-off the week, the spirit day will be green and gold to support Marlee.

Wake up and come to school in your pajamas, ready to take on the day!

Wednesday

Friday

Aside from spirit days, Student Leadership designed the entrances to the pods to relate to Marlee. This week is meant to be anything but ordinary, and the decorations help make it stand out.

Janey Galligan, sophomore

Lauren Lamb, senior Seher Puri, junior

Monday Events:

Boy’s Hockey Game at 6:30 p.m. at South Suburban

Food:

Nicolo’s Pizza from 4-8:30 p.m. Dickey’s BBQ from 11a.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday Events:

Silent Auction begins after school in the Commons Unified Basketball Game at 5:30 p.m. Girl’s Basketball Game at 7 p.m.

Food:

Chipotle from 5-9 p.m.

Thursday Events:

Silent Auction after school in the Commons Wish Walk at 3 p.m. by the tennis courts Vista Idol at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium

Food:

Little Ricci’s, all day Cold Stone from 5-8 p.m.

Friday Events:

Silent Auction after school in the Commons Boys Basketball Game vs. ThunderRidge at 7 p.m. in the Main Gym

Food:

U200’s — Goal for Marlee! Marlee loves soccer and used to play. This pod is split in half with soccer decorations and gold ribbons that symbolize her illness, rhabdomyosarcoma. U300’s — Marlee’s wish is to give back to the community. With the help of Build-a-Bear, she is going to give bears to kids in Children’s Hospital. The 300’s pod commemorates her wish by being Build-aBear themed. U400’s — Under the sea! Marlee loves turtles, and this pod is an under-the=sea adventure. U500’s — First it’s sour, then it’s sweet. This pod is full of Sour Patch Kids, Marlee’s favorite candy.

Wednesday Events:

Silent Auction after school in the Commons Vista Madness at 7 p.m. in the Main Gym

Food:

Buffalo Wild Wings from 4-10 p.m.

Other Salon at the Village Fundraiser 6660 Timberline Rd. #100, Littleton Monday from 11 a.m.7 p.m. $10 for a hair braid, buzz cut or a green streak

Key Club Spaghetti Dinner from 5-7 p.m. in the Commons

Featured Fundraiser

Honors Biology Bone Marrow Drive with Be The Match Wednesday-Friday from 4-7p.m. in the main entrance of the school Must be 18-44 years old to participate

Marlee’s Wish Mountain Vista’s Wish Kid wishes to make stuffed animals for kids in the hospital. Find out why and what she’s dealing with. Interview by Kenzie Winslow

he first thing you notice about Marlee is her smile. It lights up the room and you immediately fall in love with her. The second thing you notice about her is the panda hat. Then you ask yourself, “How can such a small person eat a Gotta Have It the size of her face?” Minutes after meeting her it’s easy to see she is not afraid of a challenge. Whether it’s eating ice cream or battling cancer, she doesn’t back down. Marlee is a nine-year-old cancer survivor and her radiation treatment has caused her hair to fall out, explaining her panda hat. Marlee doesn’t define herself by her diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma cancer. She defines herself through her passion for soccer, her love of Dolphin Tale and her wish to improve the lives of children like her. To Marlee, it’s all about the people. It’s not about the cancer. It’s about how she can improve the lives of those with cancer. Marlee is a selfless little girl and this week she’s going to be using us to better others. It’s easy to talk about a girl who has such an infectious energy — two minutes with Marlee will impact your life more than anyone you’ve ever met… and we get to help make her wish come true. Imagine what she can do in our lives in only one week.

Why did she pick the Wish she did?

Marlee has met Taylor Swift and she’s gone to meet Winter, the dolphin in a Dolphin Tale. “If I have to think this hard about what I want, I must not need anything,” she told her parents. That’s when she decided she wished to give bears to the children at Children’s Hospital. An eight-year-old girl battling cancer was so content with life that she is now giving her wish away. We can all learn something from the compassion she shows.

What was her diagnosis and how did they discover she had cancer?

Marlee was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in April 2015. She noticed a lump on her foot in January last year, but brushed it off as a soccer injury. As time went on her mom noticed that the bump was not going away. They went to a doctor who also brushed it off, calling it a hemoglobin. “No, I want to see a specialist. This isn’t a hemoglobin,” Shelly, Marlee’s mom, remembers saying to the doctor. The specialist then diagnosed her with cancer. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancer that attacks the connective tissue. For two weeks Marlee went through extensive tests and then her leg was amputated below the knee three weeks later she began chemotherapy. She has gone through 32 rounds of chemo, but Feb. 9 was her last treatment.

What’s Marlee’s favorite movie?

Due to a Wish Enhancement, Marlee was able to meet Winter and Hope. Winter also has a prosthesis creating an instant connection for the two, making “Dolphin Tale” her favorite.

What was Marlee’s reaction to her diagnosis? Marlee loves soccer and the thought of not being able to play crushed her. Then she found Amy Purdy, a professional snowboarder with two prosthetic legs. Purdy gave Marlee the hope she needed to get through the amputation. She realized that if someone who lost two legs could continue doing what she loves, then she could do what she loves with one prosthetic leg. That’s when she decided to work hard at her recovery. Within weeks she was in her backyard kicking the ball. She has more work to do, but she says she is ready for the challenge.

Marlee is far from average.

Marlee celebrated her ninth birthday a few months ago. Because of her hair loss, she wore a hat with fake hair at her party. You could hardly notice a difference though because her spirit is what defines her, not her appearance. She reads, she draws and she plays games just as an average nine-yearold girl does.

What is a Wish to Give?

Children given a Wish most commonly Wish to Go to some place, but an Wish to Give is the rarest of all. “A Wish to Give is when a child offers the benefit of their wish to someone else or to another organization. It’s incredibly impactful because the reach of their wish is multiplied. In the case of Marlee and Mountain Vista, we have no idea how many cancer patient’s lives will be impacted,” Stacie Winslow, MakeA-Wish employee, said. Marlee’s wish will reach deep into the lives of children and their families. Vista has the chance to change the life of one little girl, and the lives of many more.

How does Marlee describe herself?

When asked to pick three words to describe herself, she fell silent. It’s a big question for someone who has been through what she has, but she finally decided on determined, brave and caring. After talking with her for a few hours, I realized those couldn’t be more accurate. She has fought cancer, she’s never backed down and she cares deeply for others.

What’s Marlee’s favorite color?

Marlee loves the color green. As is true for any nine year old, her face lit up at such a simple question. Though green was an automatic answer, she later added that she also loves blue.

Hannah Jason Cochrane Lovell Sophomore Hannah Lovell and her group made the winning video for an Honors Biology bone marrow registry project. Their video will be shown during the Wish Week assembly.

Interview by Haley Kolseth and Gabe Barnard What has been your favorite part of the project?

“I liked being able to use creativity to inform people about a good cause. I had to make a video and we got to use music and animations to make it more fun.”

Honors Biology teachers Jason Cochrane and Jody Lanterna-Lewis are hosting a bone marrow registry drive Feb. 17-19 to benefit BeTheMatch.org. Cochrane, who has registered himself for the registry, hopes that the more individuals who register will add diversity to the bone marrow registry.

Interview by Haley Kolseth and Gabe Barnard

Where did the idea for this registry drive come from?

“When Ms. Lanterna-Lewis and I were trying to come up with some project ideas for our [Honors Biology] unit on cancer, we had talked about how we had never really done cancer justice when we talked about it because so many people are affected by it. [For us], rambling off facts about [cancer] did not seem like a good way to [teach] it. It probably took three weeks of meeting during PLC time and other time to derive [this idea for the registry drive].”

How do you hope this will impact the community?

What does this project mean to you?

“We just want to raise awareness, support cancer research and make it so that individuals know that they can contribute more than just by donating money.”

“It means a chance in life for other people, like letting them experience things that I like to do.“

Where did you come up with the idea for your video?

“I guess I just saw the videos that were made when people came into school for the presentation and showed us all of the bone marrow stuff, so I saw all of the information we needed. I saw how scary it would be to actually join the registry, so I tried to make it less scary and more simple so that people joining the registry wouldn’t be afraid of all those things.”

What went into the making of the video? “My group contributed information and it was my job to bring all that information together and make it interesting and not just factual. I used a PowToon, which made it more interesting to watch.”

Why host a bone marrow drive instead of something like a blood drive?

“Bone marrow seemed to mesh a little bit better with some of the stuff that we were teaching about like stem cells, a topic that we would come to later on, so this was a good way to introduce that. A lot of blood cancers are common with leukemia and other kinds. There is somewhat of a success rate with bone marrow and from what I knew of the organization they have a lot of stuff ready to go so it isn’t a huge time commitment for me or the students.”

Why is it important for people to join the registry?

“The biggest thing individuals can contribute to the registry is ethnic diversity and hopefully through this we can contribute more diverse blood types of different ethnic backgrounds to the registry.”

What is bone marow ?

“Bone marrow contains bloodforming stem cells that are capable of differentiating into white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Those who benefit from bone marrow transplants have irregularities in these cells. The hope is that normal donor marrow can replace the marrow in these patients so they may have functioning blood cells.”

Kaios Klothing Senior Tyler Neyland raised $1,000 for Dr. Jake Herman’s family by selling shirts through his successful clothing company. Interview by Amy Huang. Photos courtesy of Kaios Why did you make shirts for Herman?

I felt like he was such a big impact in this community. In the Vista community especially, a lot of people knew him, so I wanted to do everything we could to start up a college fund for his kids and do everything we could.

I want to do with my brands. I want to make people go, “Oh, Wow!” and stand out not just try to be another every-day brand.

How did your company become so successful so fast?

We launched on Nov. 1, but we have over 28,000 Twitter followers now. We spend a decent amount on marketing each day. It’s also targeting who you’re marketing to, so we target Colorado especially. We’re trying to expand to L.A. and some of the big cities and grow our brand ambassador team to all over the country.

What’s the process of coming up with a new item?

What made you want to start a clothing company?

I’ve always had a knack for clothing. I used to make cover art for musicians and one day I came up with Kaios. It was gonna be Kaios Cover Arts actually, but I liked the logo too much to just put it on cover art. I put it on a t-shirt and start selling it and it kinda grew from there. Brands like Supreme, Huff and Stussy inspired Kaios.] They use culture to inspire their clothing. They take everyday trends and change them a little bit. Supreme’s the guy that never says anything, but the one time he does it’s like the coolest thing anyone ever says. That’s something

I’ll come up with an idea and sketch it. I’ll do a rough copy on my phone and convert it over to Photoshop and clean it up a little bit. For signature collections, the musicians and designer that we work with send us some ideas. I have my graphic designer use a Wacom, a sketchpad for the computer and they’ll sketch it out on that. Then, we get it imaged and slap it on a shirt, send it over to our printer Superior, Inc.

Are you planning anything for Wish Week?

Yes, we’re going to do a light blue tie dye. We’re going to try to sell them at school or look for it on KaiosKlothing.com.

For more information:

Check out VistaNow.org for a in-depth story on Tyler Neyland and Kaios.

Juliana Orsini Sophomore Juliana Orsini is the only underclassman on the list of the top fifteen students with the most volunteer hours.

Interview by Savanah Howard & Katie Pickrell

What do you do to volunteer?

“I work at a rescue ranch, the nonprofit Zuma’s Rescue Ranch (an experiential learning center that pairs at-risk children and families with rescue horses). And I just loved it, so I got a bunch of hours.”

How did you get involved with volunteering?

“I went to one of their fundraisers and I really liked it there so I decided to stay. That’s where I’ve gotten all of my community service hours.”

What’s the most impactful experience you’ve had?

“Volunteering has taught me a lot about responsibility and just putting in hard work.”

What do you plan to do in the future?

“I think if I ever move away or anything, I’ll just work to find more non-profits that need help that I’ll be able to volunteer for.

Zoe Johnston Freshman Zoe Johnston is already an activist throughout our community. Interview by Tamara Sorg & Greyson Koinzan What do you stand for?

“I stand for social equality of all genders, sexual orientation, race and class, so that everyone has a fair chance to express who they are and who they want to be... to do the most with what they have. “

How do you show your activism for social equality?

“What I do is be vocal about it — don’t let things slide under. If someone says something that I don’t believe is right or is discriminatory or derogatory towards anyone, I make sure to call them out on it by telling them to maybe choose another word or say something differently because what you mean isn’t always what you’re saying. Also, just being loud about it and causing people to know about what’s going on and being aware.”

Why do you think being an activist is important?

“Being an activist is important because you can stand up for what you think is right. To do anything about what you think is right, you have to take action, which is basically what an activist is. You can’t create change without action and by doing things silently. Even by stepping out of your comfort zone you can still create a change for you or the people around you.”

What have you done to support your thoughts?

“I am in GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) here. Also for MLK weekend, I was apart of a Black Lives Matter protest in Denver. We disrupted traffic and we sang a lot. It was great to be with a group of people who had the same thoughts and actions as me. It was also very emotional because everyone was singing and taking vigil of those who had died because of police brutality because of their race.”

Do you plan on paying it forward in the future?

“I would hope so because I wouldn’t want to have all these ideas and not do anything with them. It’s sorta hard to do that when you’re younger, which is a form of ageism. Just being in high school though limits you to what you can and cannot do, but I try to do as much as I can and hope to do much more in the world after graduating.”

What do you want the future to look like?

“I want the future to look like where everyone can agree to disagree, to say everyone has a valued opinion and to say your opinion matters and is true to you. We can also agree that everyone has their own opinion that makes them so unique and they have their own worth.”

El Crucero Senior Reagan Tonner and others support Project El Crucero for prom week in hopes to raise awareness. Interview by Hayley Mustin What is Project El Crucero? “It’s a non-profit organization that supports a medical and dental clinic located in El Crucero, Nicaragua. It serves the people in the surrounding area by providing medical and dental treatments as well as a feeding program for children.”

What is Project El Crucero’s goal for Prom Week? “We are supporting Project El Crucero during Prom Week and the goal is to raise awareness of what we are trying to do and to raise money to keep the clinic open for the people of El Crucero.”

How well do you know the kids at the orphanage and how does that affect how hard you work for them?

“I’ve been going every year for 11 years, so I have become very close with the kids and families of El Crucero. I have grown up with them and watched them all grow up. Since I have experienced first-hand how difficult their living situation is, it makes me want to do everything possible to help them. I have watched how much the town has changed from our influence there and it makes me so happy to see all the good we have done and makes me excited to do even more.”

How much has the program grown since you first started going to Nicaragua? “The program has grown a lot. Now we are able to have the clinic running three days out of the week and our feeding program now feeds 80-90 children each week instead of none when we started. We have about 15 kids in our sponsorship program, which allows them to go to school. Our clinic has also created jobs for the citizens of El Crucero and we created a soccer program that goes and plays against other teams all around Nicaragua.”

How did you find out about El Crucero and what made you want to help?

“We always knew we wanted to do a mission trip and the Hendren family told us about how they went to Nicaragua through Cherry Hills Community Church, so we decided to go back with them. We fell in love, but saw so much more could be done, so we decided, with the church, it would be best if we broke off and started our own non-profit organization.”

Two-Percent Chance of a Miracle Only two percent of the kidney-donor population could be a match for sophomore Jillian Laplante, by miracle the first donor tested was a match. Laplante is patiently waiting for her upcoming kidney transplant in one to two months. She keeps high spirits surrounded by her caring friends. Interviews by Savanah Howard and Lauren Lippert What have you learned from Jillian and the challenges she has overcome?

“Life is super valuable and you should be grateful for everything that you have, including health. I’ve also learned that even when a moment was dark, she always had a positive look on it. She made the negatives positive.” —Sam Hutto, sophomore “There is always something worse, but Jill still puts good vibes out even though she has it worse than a lot of people.” —Annalisa Ingui, sophomore

What has been your favorite moment with Jillian?

“We went to Copper Mountain and [skied] with a couple friends and her family. She’s a snowboarding fanatic so she showed me how to go over jumps.” —S.H.

How have you supported her?

“I’ve always been there for her to talk to. I’ve visited her in the hospital, gone to get food anytime. I was there for the big event we threw for her.” —A.I.

How do you feel about your upcoming transplant?

“Getting this transplant will save my life and I will be able to do all the things a normal kid can do like play sports. It’s also hard with eating and drinking, so once I get my transplant, I’ll be able to eat and drink normally.” —Jillian Laplante, sophomore

How has the support from friends and family helped you through difficult times?

“Well, my friends and family definitely are amazing and today I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m very thankful for all of their support and for sticking with me through everything. It means a lot. My friend Savanah Howard (sophomore) and her family set up a banquet fundraiser [at the Alibi Bar and Grill] to help raise money and awareness for my situation. We raised over $500. I’m amazed at how many kind strangers there are in the world willing to help a kid in need.” —J.L.

fall in

LOVE

with your 2016 Aerie yearbook

Yearbooks are $85 until Monday, Feb. 29. Beginning March 1, a yearbook will cost $95. For purchasing information, visit Jostens.com.

ep!c!

photos 1 1. Freshman Teagan Haberkorn swims in the 100-meter butterfly on senior night during a meet against ThunderRidge. “I was a little off my best time so I was proud of that,” Haberkorn said. Throughout the entire season, she was able to achieve a personal best of 1:06 in the 100-meter fly. Photo credits: Conner Davis 2. Freshman Makenna Hollingshed performs with the varsity poms team during the state championship assembly. Vista took first in state in the jazz division, granting them state titles in all three dance divisions. Photo credits: Katie Pickrell 3. Principal Michael Weaver tosses a ball back in bounds as the MV Unit goes crazy during the game against Highlands Ranch High School. “The best part of the basketball games is cheering with Mr. Weaver,” senior Will Eslinger said. “He always tells us to stay organized when we get too rowdy!” The Eagles managed to beat the Falcons, 89-61. Photo credits: Katie Pickrell 4. Junior Nolan Stritchko gets a guillotine pin on a Berthoud wrestler on Dec. 18. Photo credits: Greyson Koinzan 5. Junior Madison Urbana dribbles the ball against Denver East High School. Girl’s varsity took down Denver East, 67-53, January 12. “The team is always there for you and we always look out for each other,” Urbana said. “They are my Vista Sistas.” Photo credits: Lauren Lippert

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4 6. Junior Boston Lucero throws a backflip cheering at the varsity basketball game against Heritage High School on Jan. 26. “My favorite part about cheering at basketball games is definitely hanging out with all my teammates, especially Cole and Nick,” Lucero said, “and seeing the crowd get super-hyped when I do flips.” Photo credits: Amy Huang 7. Junior Pieter Rossouw runs through a tunnel after the Unified Basketball team beat Rock Canyon High School, 54-53. The team was able to win by Rossouw making a last-minute shot that Rock Canyon was unable to answer allowing Vista to go up by one. “Pieter has a lot of energy and is always excited to play. He’s always willing to help his teammates out,” senior coach Erika Soderholm said. “I love being able to help the kids be a part of a team and it’s so much fun to watch them enjoy being on the court.” Photo credits: Kelsey Pharis 8. Junior Isaac Essien goes up for two against two defenders during a game against Fossil Ridge High School. “My favorite part of basketball is being able to step up during the really close games,” Essien said. Vista won the matchup, 75-67. Photo credits: Charlie Penvari

DASHING THROUGH

THE SNOW story. Austin Sack photo courtesy. Stacy Mouw and Alli Popowski

TOP THREE

Snow Sleds

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This sled is one of the most traditional sleds out there. The toboggan shape makes this sled sturdy, but you will still fly down the hill.

The saucer shape of this sled allows the rider to spin like crazy and go fast down the hill. This is deffiently a sled for someone looking for some extra excitment.

This tube sled is generally used for tubing, but still makes for a pretty great sled. The tube gives the rider some extra cushion making it ideal for bumpy hills.

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halfway down the hill my friend would try and jump on. As I was going down he jumped on and landed on my arm and ended up dislocated my shoulder,” junior Noah Rawls said. “I told him to put it back into place because I was afraid my parents would get mad at me. We kinda ended up just shoving my arm back and forth until we heard a loud pop sound and I could move my arm again.” Everyone has their favorite sledding hill, but sometimes it’s not necessarily in the best spot, or it just might have some pretty interesting terrain. “One time we were sledding in my open space and my brother and I were sitting on the edges of the tub. When we went down the hill it was going really fast so he jumped off, but I slid down into the tube and didn’t have enough time to get out so then I went over this iced-over river and then the ice broke and I got all wet,” junior Heather Hewitt said. “I didn’t go sledding for two years after that, but once I did it was a lot of fun.” Sometimes as we get older just going down the same old sledding hill isn’t as adventurous as it used to be, so we conjure up ideas of how to make it more fun and exciting, but some of these ideas are all fun until the cops get involved. “One day I got the idea to tow my friends behind my ATV. One time as we were going around our neighborhood the cops stopped us and told us we couldn’t tow each other anymore. It’s also all fun and games until someone hits a car,” sophomore Max Ruppert said.

Because we always want to go faster or go off of the bigger jump, injuries often occur in such an innocent winter activity. “My friend and I were sledding out in the ditch and we had the idea that I would go down the hill first and

Sledding is an exciting winter activity that has the ability as we grow older to create even crazier stories. So, the next snowy day, grab some friends, a good sled, hit the hills and remember to hold on tight, because you are in for quite the ride.

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old on tight your parents said as they pushed you down your childhood sledding hill. As a kid, sledding was the best way to spend a snowy winter day and as you grew older the hills got steeper, the jumps got bigger and the love for sledding grew stronger. Sledding is one of the fondest memories that many Coloradans have from their childhood through their adulthood. As a teenager in high school, sledding or tubing is generally experienced in the very rare occasion of a snow day or the family trip up to the mountains. Even at this age sledding and tubing is still a fun way to spend that winter day. “My dad and I would build this huge jump and a snowman that would sit right behind the jump. Then we would gain some serious speed and destroy the snowman,” junior Jack McCombs said. Teenagers who are just now experiencing their first time sledding still have the same thrill and excitement as younger kids do — although the stories they tell about their experience is a little different. “We went to this hill and it wasn’t even that big of a hill, but I thought it was a lot of fun,” junior Makenna Hemmerle said. “While we were sledding there was another group sledding next to us, they tried making a ramp and one of them went over it and fell on their back. The ambulance had to come, which freaked me out because that’s not what you want to see the first time you go sledding.”

I couldn’t open my eyes the whole time because of the snow powder and I coudn’t smile because the cold hurt my teeth, so I was trying hard not to laugh. –Junior Alli Popowski

bucking out

the Competition

Story by Gabe Barnard

he Broncos bucked the Panthers out of Super Bowl 50, securing the title of Super Bowl Champions for 2016. The victory marks the first time since 1999 the Broncos have won the NFL championship and the second time that the Panthers have lost the title game. Despite having won MVP for the NFL this year, Cam Newton failed to keep the momentum going through the final game. Over the course of the game, Denver’s defense, including Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, relentlessly pounded the Panthers’ offense, forcing three fumbles that were recovered by the Broncos, as well as seven sacks. “There was a certain point where guys on the sideline were saying, ‘Cam is very stressed,’” Denver cornerback Bradley Roby told ESPN. “We wanted to come out and prove that we’re the best.” Denver kept the Panthers shut out for most of the first quarter, with a field goal from Brandon McManus and a fumble recovery touchdown by Malik Jackson for a 10-0 lead. That lead was maintained until the last seconds of the first quarter when Newton led a scoring drive for the Panthers that narrowed the Broncos lead to 10-7. Denver increased its lead over Panthers again with a field goal by Brandon McManus, leaving the score at 13-7 with 6:58 remaining in the second quarter. The Panthers failed to respond for the rest of the half, and the Broncos went into the locker room leading by six. In the course of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, both teams scored field goals, allowing the Broncos to maintain their six-point lead and preventing the Panthers from catching up. As the game neared an end, the Broncos hammered in the final nail with a touchdown run by C.J. Anderson and a completed twopoint conversion catch by Bennie Fowler from Peyton Mamnning. Carolina again failed to make use of the opportunities, and the game ended with 24-10 Bronco victory. As the celebrations commenced, Miller was named MVP. Highlights from his game include two sacks, six tackles and two forced fumbles. “It feels great,” Miller told the media. “Peyton and DeMarcus (Ware) and Coach Phillips and all the guys that have been deserving their whole career. I did this for them, I put my neck on the line for those guys.” In his season with the Broncos, Miller

achieved a total of 11 quarterbacl sacks, giving him a career total of 60. He also had four forced fumbles on the season and 30 tackles. A number of records were set in the game, including one by Gary Kubiak, who became the first person to win the Super Bowl both as a player and a coach for the same team. Manning also made history, becoming the first quarterback to win with two franchises, the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts. He threw for a total of 141 yards in the game, and was instrumental in two of the Broncos’ scoring drives. It is unclear whether or not this victory will mark the end of Manning’s career, but it seems that whatever decision The Sheriff makes will be a wise one. “I’ll take some time to reflect,” Manning told reporters. “I got a couple priorities first.”

Photo by Denver Jeffrey via Flickr Image Sharing, Creative Commons licensinsing

Mal Pugh

Senior Mallory Pugh was called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team last December.

Story by Katie Pickrell

nly one student at Mountain Vista High School can claim to share a field with Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd — quite frankly, only one student in the nation can. Senior Mallory Pugh started her journey to the U.S. Women’s National Team when she was only four years old, dribbling the soccer ball with her sister Bri as an aspiration. “Ever since I was little, I’ve always looked up to my sister,” Pugh said. “That’s why I started playing.” Now, she’s a forward for Mountain Vista, Real Colorado and, most notably, the USWNT. Prior to her involvement with the National Team, Pugh was originally on the roster of the U.S. U-15 Girl’s National Team, but missed a hefty amount of the season after fracturing her femur. “The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome was breaking my leg when I was a freshman,” Pugh said. “Any injury in any sport kind of sets you back but just being positive with everything can get you moving again.” Pugh got back up from the injury and went on to be a key player throughout 2013 and 2014 on the U-17 team. As the leading scorer at the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship, Pugh reeled in five goals and three assists. Pugh finished her U-17 career with 15 goals in 12 caps, including the game-winning goal against Japan in her final U-17 match-up in February of 2014. Following her involvement with the U-17 team in 2014, Pugh was called up to the U-20 team, making her the youngest on the roster. In her first camp with the U-20s, she scored two goals and one assist in two games against China. She captained the team to the CONCACAF Championship victory, clinching a 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup berth. During the tournament, Pugh won the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals in the tournament. Soon after, Pugh was called up to the Women’s National Team. “I never really expected it at all. When I got the call I was really excited,” Pugh said. In her USWNT debut against Ireland, Pugh headed in a goal

during the 83rd minute of the game that ended in 5-0 U.S. victory. This made Pugh the sixth youngest player in US women’s soccer history to score a goal, the youngest to do so in the last 16 years and only the 19th of any age to score in a debut game. “It was amazing,” Pugh said about her first goal. “I was super nervous, and most people can relate to that. But if you just go in and start playing, everything goes away.” Pugh has long been the top recruit in the nation for her class. Despite speculation she would bypass college to play for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League, instead she decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles on a full-ride scholarship. “Looking forward, hopefully I’ll keep playing on the national team and play for UCLA,” Pugh said, adding that the school aspect of playing in college and the UCLA atmosphere influenced her decision. The decision to play at UCLA is just one example of the pressure being set on Pugh, as many sources, notably Bleacher Report, called her the “future of the U.S. national team.” “I know the support system around me is really good, so I always lean on them if I need help,” Pugh said. “I just try to not think about the pressure.” Just like when she was four years old.

Vista’s Top Three tanner gillis Jamie Nats

With over 25 goals on the season so far, senior Tanner Gillis gains his spot among Vista’s top athletes. Gillis has been on the varsity ice hockey team since his freshmen year. He also plays baseball during the spring.

Trey Boeyink

Since beginning his season with Mountain Vista after sitting out the first 11 games, Boeyink already has broken the school’s Senior Jamie Nats is a key player on single game scoring record with a 37-point Mountain Vista’s swim and dive team. Nats performance against Fairview. The senior has nine first-place finishes and plans to transfer has inched his way to the top of the attend Boise State University to continue team, leading the Golden Eagles in overall her swimming career. points scored with a 16 ppg average.

Make a wish. Make a change. If you still need a Wish Kit…

They are available for purchase for $30 before school, during lunch and after school in the commons.

Bring your change to the boy’s basketball game vs. ThunderRidge for the Miracle Minute during halftime. All proceeds go to Make-A-Wish.

Can’t make it to the ThunderRidge game? Mountain Vista Media will be covering the game. Add us on Snapchat and follow us on Twitter for live tweeting, score updates and savage commentary. VistaNow Video will be livestreaming it.

VNV

Go to thecube. com on Feb.19 for a live broadcast by the VistaNow Video team.

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