Eagle Eye Issue 1, October 17, 2016 by Mark Newton

EAGLEEYE Homecoming, a review of the week The Colin Kaepernick controversey Life in Antartica

FEARless

Coming back to school can evoke fear, but this year, Vista is fearless. Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Vol. 16 Issue 1 10.17.16

SENIOR MATT BARICH dribbles the ball past a Boulder High School defender during a recent game. “The team chemistry is great and all the pieces are coming together close to playoffs,” Barich said. Vista was defeated, 2-0. Photo by Emma Friesen

1 JUNIOR GRACE MATSEY squirts colored powder during the homecoming color run. “It was such an amazing experience,” Matsey said. “I was throwing color along the run and it was really cool to see people having so much fun.” The course was 1,200 meters. Photo by Staci Prevato

SENIORS CHAD LONG and Evan Place moonwalk while performing as male poms. “Dancing allowed me to express my sexiness and dance better than the juniors,” Long said. The seniors won the powderpuff football game, 15-12. Photo by Tyler Merchant

issue 1 4 ep!c photos The best photos from clubs and activities at Vista

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arctic aaron

Aaron Ragon once took a trip to Antarctica for three months. Here’s his experience

politics

A brief introduction of state representative Paul Rosenthal and interim superintendent Erin Kane

opinion

Four students put in their two cents on the Colin Kaepernick protest controversy

athletics 26 featured athletes & news A closer look at athletes who

compete fearlessly and teams that have accomplished greatness

28 ep!c photos The best photos from fall sports at Vista

school stories mini30 vista stories

feature 12 FEARless

Stories from around Vista on topics from fearless freshmen to new business ventures

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emma campbell

Campbell writes op eds and other opinion articles to demonstrate fearlessness

briana scherrer

Scherrer takes part in a search and rescue team to help others

kenlyn darrah

Leavitt competed in the Junior Olympics for equestrian riding

school 22 homecoming

Thoughts on PEDs in baseball and an introduction of Vista’s foreign exchange students

claire beckman jett crowson leah deminski keaton deppey arianna dimercurio julia driggs jarom edwards caitlin english ian ferguson emma friesen charlie fu lauren gano keyahn golgoon katy harris addisyn hartman lauren irwin

emily kinney greyson koinzan morgan maclean matisse molina morgan nichols michael place lexi riga david robinson alex sedlakova andie srdoc drew stahl claire vandestouwe erica venable ben yoshida shayan zarrin

policy

The 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 email.

contact

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

A review of Mountain Vista’s first spirit week of the year

opinion 24 peds & foreign students

staff

letters to the editors

Darrah takes part in B.I.O.N.I.C. Club to show others that being kind takes courage

20 ryleigh leavitt

editors

mikayla olave charlie penvari staci prevato gannon rushall austin sack lexi weingardt

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 avaliable in the publications room (U328) or the principal’s office.

Students exhibit in various ways what it means to be fearless in their endeavors

gabe barnard conner davis savanah howard haley kolseth lauren lippert tyler merchant

distribution

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

open forum content

OVER 100 MOUNTAIN Vista students participated in the 2016 Color Run. “Although I only took pictures of the run, I could tell many students seemed to have a lot more fun than last year. Even though I didn’t run I had a blast,” senior Matt Doddemeade said. The Color Run has become a tradition during the annual Homecoming Week. Photo by Greyson Koinzan

SENIOR GANNON RUSHALL conducts the marching band at the MVHS vs. TRHS varsity football game. “Back in my sophomore year, I was about to quit band but Mr. DeLaup told me to try out marching band. It’s really fun. I gave it a lot of thought and I said, ‘Why not?’ I only have one shot to do this,” Rushall said. The marching band has played at three home football games so far this season. Photo by Greyson

REILEY, ONE OF three therapy dogs at Mountain Vista, jumps for a tennis` ball. “Therapy dogs help reduce stress,” said senior Grace Foster, one of the dog handlers. “[It] also helps to have something to cuddle with as well.” The dogs have been at MVHS since last spring and are available for visitation in L423 during periods 1-4 and 7. Photo by Caitlin English

THE ANNUAL HOMECOMING bonfire blazes as students from all grades enjoy its searing heat. “It was a memorable night because it was my last bonfire of my high school career,” senior Alex Puente said. After the fire burned out, students enjoyed watching fireworks later that evening. Photo by Emma Friesen

JUNIOR GIRLS PREPARE for the homecoming powderpuff game in the bleachers. “It was pretty sad because we came so close to winning,” junior Lauren Irwin said, “but overall it was such a good experience.” The Junior Class suffered a heartbreaking 15-12 loss in the fourth quarter to the Senior Class. Photo by Claire Beckman

mr. ragon: life in antarctica

Aaron Ragon spent five months in Antarctica operating heavy machinerey and learning valuable life lessons

Emma Friesen & Morgan Nichols t got so cold so fast that the mechanism on my loader froze up and my loader died. I was sitting inside with this raging storm around me and zero visibility — nothing, but snow and black,” counselor Aaron Ragon said, describing the most terrifying experience of the five months he spent working in Antarctica. There seems to be nothing that scares humans more than the idea of leaving behind all familiarity, all connections, and all comforts. However, this is precisely what Ragon did when he took a job working as a machine operator in Antarctica when he was only 24 years old. “I didn’t want to leave college and go into a conventional office job, that sounded totally awful to me,” Ragon said. Looking for an adventure, he and his future-wife suited up in 25-pound parkas and left behind the civilization they knew best. Working for Antarctic Support Associates, Ragon operated heavy equipment at the McMurdo Research Station in Antarctica. “I was a heavy equipment operator and so I drove a loader that had forks on it and I would unload gear that had flown in on planes from New Zealand and deliver that stuff all over the base,” Ragon said. Not only was the terrain different, but the very way in which the sun rose and set was no longer dependable. With what Ragon described as a “fivemonth-long day,” the darkness of night was foreign as the sun always shone. Missing the colorful landscape back home and the blackness of nighttime was not the only part of Ragon’s old life that he longed for. “I missed my family at Christmas. I missed my parents and my brother and our traditions,” Ragon

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said. He spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's on the base that year. Spending any amount of time in such a remote atmosphere can be overwhelmingly taxing on anybody’s sanity. “There were moments when I would look out across the ice and I could internalize the 30- to 40-below temperature. I could feel it at a deep level,” Ragon said. An unfamiliar situation, however, leaves room for unique adventures and personal growth. “It did not feel like the most isolated place I’d been because there was all of this support there,” Ragon said. “Twenty-below zero becomes normal. It doesn’t bother you.” In the five months he spent on the base Ragon met his hero, Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to summit Mount Everest. Ragon also explored glacial caves and met Vatican researchers looking for signs of extraterrestrial life in the ice sheets. Even after describing numerous difficulties he faced, Ragon said the positives far outweighed the negatives. “You learn a lot about yourself. I don’t regret it for a second.” In a harsh environment one has to be prepared to face the most demanding tasks and conditions. Ragon not only managed to survive the frigid temperatures in Antarctica, but also the challenges he faced being away from everything he was accustomed. After all, true fearlessness is exemplified in bidding goodbye the only life one knows and greeting the unknown with open arms covered in a 25-pound parka.

I would look out across the ice and I could internalize the 30- to 40-below temperature. I could feel it at a deep level

Antarctic Equipment »» 25-30 pound parka »» Heavily insulated Carhartt pants »» Hat/gloves »» Steel-toed boots

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paul rosenthal state representative In a year of politics so blurred by controversy, a hometown denver connection makes it clear education really matters. Keyahn Golgoon & Shayan Zarrin

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don’t think there has been an election so important in modern history,” Paul Rosenthal (D-Denver) said. “There is so much on the line.” Rosenthal, a former teacher and a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, knows the importance of education in the 21st century, something many politicians have been accused of overlooking. “As a teacher, I know that for Colorado to succeed in the 21st century, we need highly skilled and educated workers,” Rosenthal, who represents District 9 in south Denver, said. “It’s not right that oil and gas companies are receiving over $300 million in tax breaks in Colorado while we continue to cut the budget

for K-12 and higher education.” Rosenthal said all children in Colorado deserve access to a world class education. "I’ll work to make sure they get it." Rosenthal’s work with education in his past term and his promises to continue his work have earned him the endorsement of the Colorado Education Association. Rosenthal is running for House of Representatives against Republican Paul Martin, who ran unopposed in the Republican primaries. Martin has never held office. Rosenthal said he looks forward to serving his community more. “I always loved helping my community,” he said, adding he hopes for a win in the Nov. 8 election.

how to contact your local representative Contacting your local representatives is a important aspect of citizenship. Representatives need as much input as possible. Here's the easiest way to contact your local representative and make your voice heard:

Q&A erin kane interim superintendent Emily Kinney & Erica Venable

ED. EXPERIENCE • 11 YEARS PREVIOUS POSITION • AMERICAN ACADEMY DIRECTOR DCSD• INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HOW OFTEN DO YOU PLAN TO OVERSEE SCHOOLS IN PERSON? “Ater my initial visit, I hope to be able to visit schools. However, I will not personally be overseeing schools — that is what the assistant superintendents and the directors of schools do. I will be here to support their efforts and to support our schools.”

Area around Mountain Vista High School: Colorado House District 39 • Polly Lawrence | 303-866-2935 Colorado Senate District 30 • Chris Holbert | 303-866-4881

PAUL ROSENTHAL CLAPS at Keshet’s 5th Annual Queer Seder. “Passover seders are such an integral part of Jewish life. How about spending one with your favorite queer and allied friends?” Keshet’s website announced. Keshet’s hosts the passover event annually.

INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ERIN Kane is a mother by night and the head of one of the largest school districts in the state by day. “I am spending nine hours, five days a week in order to [visit all 85 schools in the district].” Kane said. During her first few months as DCSD interim superintendent, she said she holds high hopes for the future of DCSD. DID YOU COME IN WITH ANY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITY? "I have lived in Douglas County for almost 20 years and I have been part of our school district, as a charter school founder and leader, for 11 years. I am very familiar with the Douglas County community and I love our school district." WHERE DID YOU WORK PREVIOUSLY BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO DOUGLAS COUNTY? “When my children were very young, I left my full-time job to stay home and during that time I helped start a public charter school here in Douglas County: American Academy."

WHO IS HELPING YOU DRIVE THESE CHANGES? “I am talking directly to school leaders and teachers — those closest to our kids — to determine what my next-steps will be. The senior administrative staff are also dedicated to working together toward a positive culture.”

WHAT CHANGES ARE YOU HOPING TO MAKE TO THE DISTRICT DURING YOUR TIME AS SUPERINTENDENT? “I know one area I want to focus on is fostering a positive culture among staff students and parents and I want to work very hard to bring our school community together. If we start with that premise, that everyone wants what is best for our students, we will find common ground. Once we find common ground, there is nothing we cannot achieve by working together.”

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO HAVE A CAREER AS A SUPERINTENDENT? “I never imagined being a superintendent. It is my passion for our country and for kids that drove me into education to begin with. As cliché as it sounds, our children are our future, and I believe that the quality of the education our children receive will drive the future of our country.”

the presidential on the issues: education

Conner Davis THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL Election is at peak interest right now with all the presidential debates having passed before Fall Break. As of Oct. 2, according to Politifact.com, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is ahead of Republican nominee Donald Trump by 2.5 percentage points. Just within Colorado, she leads, but only by 1.8 points. The candidates viewpoints clash when it comes to issues like gun control, immigration, military and the environment. However, most applicable to Mountain Vista students would be their policy positions on education. It is these plans that students will feel the most significant effects of regardless of who takes office on Friday, January 20, 2017.

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Academic Standards Common Core standards have been a hot topic when it comes to education, and as expected, the two candidate’s opinions on the issue clash. While Clinton isn’t a supporter of Common Core, she has claimed that having national standards is important. She believes that having benchmarks is an inergral part of progressing through an education system.

Although Trump hasn’t stated much on where he stands pertaining to academic standards, he has put in his two cents on the Common Core debate. Although he hasn’t given reason for disliking the K-12 nationwide math and language arts standards, he said that as president he will ban them from public schools.

College Access

Clinton’s general approach to college access is to provide easier access to higher education for everybody. She has proposed a plan that would allow in-state public colleges to be tuition free for families who have an annual income of less than $125,000 — 83 percent of families in the United States. She wishes to hold colleges accountable for reigning in costs and says that in order to do so students should work ten hours on campus per week. In an effort to decrease existing student debt, Clinton hopes to have the debts of those involved in public services (teachers included) waved.

Trump has taken the belief that higher education should be a more exclusive experience, not one that just anybody can have. He proposes that student loans should be the responsibility of banks and not of the federal government. Not only should it be bank’s responsibility, but they should work with colleges to have more “skin in the game,” when it comes to these loans. This idea has raised concerns with low-income students’ ability to enroll in both public and private colleges or universities.

School Safety

Clinton has expressed concern for schools being a place where students feel safe — both physically and emotionally. She wants to expand programs aimed at bettering student behavior to help avoid situations where students act out and situations escalate out of control. Investigating schools that have shown discipline disparities, whether those be ones of race, gender or other discrepancies, is another aspect Clinton would like to improve upon with regards to a school’s social climate.

Trump has not spoken extensively on school social climate, however he has talked about school safety, taking a very pro-firearms stance. He is in great opposition to federal gun free school zones and claims that as president, he would get rid of these zones. His other big safety argument is that arming teachers would improve school safety overall. Aside from those two claims, his only other statement on the topic was during the Republican National Convention when he said he would help parents find a “safe school” for their children.

School Spending With school spending, Clinton has taken the stance that money needs to be focused on early education and emerging fields. She has called for new investments in computer science education and wishes to double funding for education in innovation and research grants. Aside from devoting more money to learning, she has also expressed interest in setting aside more money for colleges to provide better access to postsecondary education.

Trump says he envisions a better education system that also spends less, although hasn't given a specific plan. His only other claim regarding school spending was that the United States spends more money per pupil than any other country. However, the USA is ranked fourth internationally on per pupil spending when including college students. Excluding them, the USA is ranked fifth. When these expenditures are viewed as a percent of GDP though, the USA is ranked 15th.

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Presidential candidates need all the help they can get, even if it means putting a 12-year-old in charge. Keyahn Golgoon & Shayan Zarrin olitics are complicated, especially during a presidential race. This year's candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, could not be more polar opposites. Everybody has his or her own opinion on the candidates and which should be elected, but few take the issue into their own hands. Things are different for 12-yearold Weston Imer, field coordinator of the Trump campaign in Jefferson County. Though his mom is officially listed as the field coordinator, Imer is in charge most of the time. “You have a responsibility to your children to teach them,” Weston’s mom Laurel Imer said in an interview with KDVR. In the TV interview, she said the campaign was a good opportunity for her son to learn more about the political process. As field coordinator, Weston is given the responsibility of coordinating volunteers and the office’s get out to vote operation. Though Weston is only 12, he is deeply involved in the campaign events in Denver for Trump and running mate Mike Pence. He sang "America the Beautiful" at an campaign event on July 29 and introduced Pence at an Aug. 3 event. Weston said that the campaign relates directly to his generation’s daily life as well. “If we do not elect Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence, school shootings could triple under the next four to eight years under the poor leadership of Hillary Clinton," Weston told The Guardian newspaper. School life isn’t so easy for Weston though. He said he had suffered some personal

Photo used with permission of KDVR.

repercussions for supporting the controversial GOP nominee. “Even before I was the co-chair, kids were bullying me, especially the Ted Cruz supporters and their parents,” he told KDVR. “So did the Hillary Clinton supporters, and so did the Bernie Sanders supporters.” Weston said he hopes his experience will inspire people his age to get involved in the political process even though they cannot vote. "Get involved," Weston told KDVR. "That's what I'm going to say. Get involved. Kids need to be educated." Weston said he also has some plans for the future, and believes this experience will help him achieve his goals. “Watch for me — 2040," Weston told The Guardian. "And Barron Trump (the candidate's 10-year-old son), if you are watching, in 2040 I'll take you as my running mate."

colin right? Opinion by Conner Davis & Tyler Merchant As usual, the nation is in uproar over a current event, this time it’s not one where social injustice is demonstrated or an Olympic athlete falsely claiming he has been mugged. This time, it’s one where a man is practicing his First Amendment rights in protesting. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, started a peaceful protest amongst NFL players on Aug. 14 during the national anthem before he took on the Houston Texans. Kaepernick sat, rather than stand, while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed. He explained to media members that he was sitting because he felt that the flag he’d be standing for didn’t actually represent the qualities it’s meant to. Immediately many people reacted without thinking about what Kaepernick was protesting for and did things like burn his jersey and take to social media to rant and rave on his “unpatriotic” actions. To clear up his intentions, Kaepernick spoke with former Green Beret Nate Boyer in response to the large majority of the U.S. not seeing his true intentions. He decided that instead of sitting on the bench, he would take a knee. Since the decision to start kneeling, many NFL players have followed in his footsteps. The Bronco’s Brandon Marshall started kneeling during the anthem and because of it, lost two local sponsorships. One of the first to leave him was Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU). The company took to Facebook to explain its actions. AAFCU claimed it is an “organization that has proudly served the military community for over 60 years,” and Marshall’s actions are not an accurate representation of the organization’s beliefs. AAFCU might be confused because Marshall, Kaepernick and all the other players — and now marching bands — who have knelt aren’t kneeling because they don’t respect the military. In fact, Kaepernick even told media members that he respects the military. “I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country. I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country,” Kaepernick said in a media session three days after he first informed the public of his protest. “And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone.” It has also been said that the protest is disrespectful to the American flag. It’s not directed at the flag. The message is directed to everybody, and it’s saying that the message behind the flag isn’t being upheld. If those issues were better confronted and addressed, people wouldn’t be kneeling. So, to those claiming Kaepernick and company’s protest is disrespectful to the military or flag, you are mistaken. Those who are kneeling are doing

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so to speak for those who cannot, to show that the national anthem and American flag doesn’t represent some of the core qualities on which America was founded: freedom and equality. With tens of millions of eyes on him every week, Kaepernick and the other NFL players have a platform to exercise their freedom of speech that very few do. When they exercise this right, tens of millions of people see them doing so, so what better way to get their message out to the public? There really isn’t one for them. If you think he’s not going about it the right way or could be doing it in a less disrespectful way, (which doesn’t make sense because the protesters aren’t disrespecting anybody) what other way should he go about it? Should he not play? That affects the 49ers in a negative way which isn’t his intention, so that’s a no go. Kaepernick and the other protesters are doing exactly what they need to be doing in order to get their message across. They aren’t breaking laws, they aren’t disrespecting anybody, they’re simply not standing for something they don’t agree with. There are those who have seen pictures of Kaepernick, Marshall and others — including high school student-athletes — kneeling during their favorite patriotic tune and immediately assume each one is disrespecting the country. Their opinion is formed then and there and isn’t changing no matter how many times you explain the purpose. These people are ignorant. They choose to not listen to the facts of the matter. They choose to not listen to facts like 201 of the 816 people who have been killed by police this year have been black. The number of white men and women that have been killed thus far is 398. Yes, it’s higher, but then again, the number of white residents in the U.S. is 5.22 times larger than the number of black residents. So if these deaths really were equal in size, that 201 figure would be 1,049. We can’t imagine you’d still be reading if you didn’t know what this whole kneeling during the anthem protest is about, but we’ll clue you in if that’s the case. Kaepernick and so many others kneel because they believe the black community is treated unfairly. This belief is supported by fact though*. The numbers are very real and if you choose to ignore them, if you choose to not understand what NFL players everywhere are kneeling down and raising fists for, you invalidate your opinion. The black men and women who are killed unjustly by police are being spoken for by many public figures now, and all because of Kaepernick taking a stand — or rather a knee. Kaepernick is right in his actions. He’s right because he’s taking something that nobody will address and making everybody do so. * See The Counted on The Guardian for a live count of police caused deaths in the U.S.

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Opinion by Austin Sack & Lexi Weingardt As an American citizen you have the right to protest and the right to freedom of speech, but when you disrespect the national anthem of the country that gives you that right, are you getting your message out in the best way? Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, certainly started a firestorm when he decided not to stand for the national anthem on Aug. 14, during the first season game. Since then, many players on various NFL teams have been sitting or kneeling during the anthem, including Marcus Peters, a player for the Kansas City Chiefs, several Miami Dolphins players and Brandon Marshall, a player for the Denver Broncos. We would like to preface our column by saying that we completely support addressing the racial inequalities that Kaepernick is protesting. One of the most amazing things about America is the fact that we can speak freely about the issues we believe in. The problem with Kaepernick’s protest is in the way he is going about it. Instead of focusing on the issues he is protesting about, there is more debate about whether or not it is inappropriate to sit or kneel during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Kaepernick’s intentions were good, to help fight for equality for the black population in America. Instead, he has offended a whole other population of Americans: current members of the U.S. military as well as veterans of all races and nationalities. According to ESPN, the national anthem began being sung before every baseball game starting during World War II. This is extremely significant because WWII was a time when millions of young men were off fighting for our nation. Since then the national anthem has been sung at the beginning of all professional sporting events, as a tribute to the soldiers risking their lives every day for our freedoms. “We stand because we respect the ones who have fought, the ones who are still fighting and the ones who have given their lives for our nation,” Michelle Glaze of Lochbuie said in the Denver Post. Many NFL players have decided to join Kaepernick’s protest and use their platform to make a difference. This has started an uprising amongst many teams and their fans, but little has happened to the players, linebacker Brandon Marshall of the Broncos being the exception. After Marshall joined the protest in the Broncos season

opener against the Panthers, he made it clear after the game that he was not protesting the military, police or America. However, he has received some backlash for his decision. After this protest, some businesses, notably the Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) decided to revoked endorsement deals with Marshall. These companies have done this because they don’t agree with the way in which these players have decided to protest. “Although we have enjoyed Brandon Marshall as our spokesperson over the past five months, Air Academy Federal Credit Union has ended our partnership. AAFCU is a membership-based organization who has proudly served the military community for over 60 years. While we respect Brandon’s right of expression, his actions are not a representation of our organization and membership,” CEO Glenn Strebe said. Many football fans across the nation are outraged because the players of their favorite teams have decided to protest. There have been vulgar statements directed at the players and fans are encouraging other fans to boycott their team. “At the games, all patriotic Bronco fans should sit down for the first five minutes of the game as our act of protest,” said Bob Tatum, a Broncos fan, in comments to the Denver Post regarding Marshall’s protest. We were interested to find out how many people even knew, specifically, what Kaepernick and others were protesting. We asked 20 of our peers and these are some of the responses we received: “Umm…I don’t really know…something about racial something…” and “Inequality for races?” and “I guess social issues or something.” This is the problem Kaepernick and others now face. The actual messages they were trying to get to the public were lost along the way in favor of their actions. Kaepernick and others have to realize that the truth is the average American doesn’t actually know what they are even protesting. Most only know what they see on TV and social media and all they are seeing is a lot of talk of the national anthem and not much talk about racial injustice. Some may say that this is our fault, that it is our own ignorance that is allowing us to push their messages aside. This may be true. However, if the majority of Americans don’t even know what you are protesting for, you might want to try a new tactic.

FEAR SAVANAH HOWARD

earless; an adjective defined as lacking fear. But it’s not just about “lacking” fear, it’s about facing challenges head on and never backing down on one’s aspirations. It’s about not giving up when things get too hard and having dedicaton to what you are committed. This is a characteristic a multitude of students have shown here at Mountain Vista. The purpose of this theme is to bring light to the people who are setting fear aside and accomplishing great things. These students are pushing past the fear that fills their heads with doubts about themselves or their dreams and instead setting forth on life-changing journeys. It isn’t every day that somebody chooses to purposefully push past the obstacles or challenges holding them back and move forward. From search and resuce teams to helping others to chasing after Division I college sports dreams, students have taken extraordinary strides in their daily lives to achieve their goals while facing their fears head on. In this issue we intend to bring positive attention to these accomplishments. These students who exemplify the trait of being fearless are shaping our generation and attempting to change the world we live. This is something that should not go unnoticed, and should continue to be celebrated throughout our school every day. Mountain Vista is a place filled with artistic minds, hard workers, business thinkers, mathematicians, aspiring professional athletes, poets, programmers and many more who make this school unique. Being unique is what makes Mountain Vista different, exciting and bursting with students with high aspirations Here, students accomplish extraordinary things. Here, students make a difference. Here, at Vista, students are fearless.

JUNIOR EMMA CAMPBELL, a student in Josh Brandt’s A.P. English Language and Composition class, has found an outlet for expressing her belief about the voiceless. Campbell received the opportunity to share her opinion about fear in an editorial assigned to her in class. In her column Do you Dare to Speak of Fear? she explains the role that fear plays in every part of society. Writing from her own point of view, she aims to relate to students who read her work and encourage them not to let fear overwhelm them. Overcoming one of her own moments of fear, Campbell shared the editorial with her class in hopes of beginning to spread her message.

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JUNIOR BRIANA SCHERRER is part of a search and rescue team at Arapahoe High School. She trains daily by running and climbing up fourteeners as well as lifting weights to help endure harsh conditions. Her missions range from searching for a missing person to helping the police with evidence cases. “One of the things we value most as a team is safety,” Scherrer said. “I would trust every single person on that team with my life in an emergency situation. It would be pretty embarrassing to be seriously injured on a call, mostly because you are taking away other forces from helping the victim.”

SENIOR KENLYN DARRAH, a member of Believe It Or Not I Care Club, is not afraid to show her peers how much she cares. Being part of B.I.O.N.I.C., Darrah particpates in making posters, sending food and showing support to other schools in times of need. After the support Vista received last year, Darrah was eager to return the favor despite what other people may think. “Not many people want to step up, they think it’s a cool idea but never actually take the step to be courageous and help out other people,” Darrah said. With B.I.O.N.I.C. to back her, Darrah has the courage to demonstrate kindness.

SENIOR RYLEIGH LEAVITT is a perfect example when it comes to being fearless. This past July, Leavitt competed in the Federation Equestre Internationale North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), a Junior Olympic competition. Leavitt took fourth out of 43 North American and Canadian competitors. Competing in the NAJYRC had been one of her dreams since she was eight years old. Even though she has achieved one of her many goals, she still strives to improve every day to complete the others. To her, this is what it means to be fearless.

overcoming fear STORY BY: GABE BARNARD PHOTOS BY: GABE BARNARD

unior Emma Campbell sees people who are weak and without a voice in the world as those who are controlled by fear. Men and women, teens and children, whether they are oppressed by a ruler or afraid to speak out, are rendered silent across the world. To overcome fear, it has to be acknowledged as a force that is natural, but not all-powerful. “There is no right or wrong answer to who is weak,” Campbell said. “Fear is within everybody, it is human, it is entirely natural. It’s just something that you can’t let consume you.” A passionate writer for her entire life,

“High school is go time. These four years, freshman to senior, are what determine what you are going to be in life.”

JUNIOR EMMA CAMPBELL composes an essay in her spiral for her U.S. History class. “I just love writing, I have been writing my entire life,” Campbell said. “I surround myself with writers, writing, novels and literature.” Her passion for writing and literature led her to take the AP Language class where she found the opportunity to use writing for change in an opinion editorial. She plans to submit the editorial to local newspapers. attempting to spread the message about overcoming fear to people across Colorado.

Campbell has surrounded herself with novels, authors and literature. In Josh Brandt’s AP English Language and Composition class, students received the opportunity to write a 750-word editorial column about a topic of their choice. Topics ranged from global issues to problems that are unique to Mountain Vista. Campbell, one of Brandt’s students, seized this chance to share her idea about people in society without a voice. “[I chose to write about] it because it is important,” Campbell said. “People don’t realize, I don’t do a lot of things that I could probably succeed at because I am afraid of the results, I am afraid of failure and I am afraid of disappointment. All these things hold me back and I realize that this is a problem. People need to realize that fear is real but it is not something that is going to suffocate you.” Amongst the men, women and children, she sees high school students as one of the primary victims of doubt caused by society because of their tendency to be swayed by their surroundings. As students progress through their four years of high school education, they are challenged with big decisions that can have an even larger impact on their future. While they evaluate the path they will take, students are constantly influenced by societal norms and ideals that conflict with their previous identity. “High school is go time,” Campbell said. “These four years, freshman to senior, are what determines what you are going to be in life, you are going to loose some things and gain some things but it is your base. We are so uncertain of who we are right now because everybody is telling us to be different things.”

“There is no right or wrong answer to who is weak. Fear is within everybody, it is human, it is natural.”

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ST MARY’S GLACIER is located 2.5 miles southeast of James Peak. Having to hike through a forest, there’s a clear view of the Rocky Mountains. There are also plenty of activities to do when at the top such as picnicking, skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking.

KIDS RESCUED BY AMBER ALERT• 800 PERCENT OF FEMALES WHO GO MISSING •48 PERCENT OF MALES WHO GO MISSING• 52 SUCCESS RATE OF RESCUES• 95 ANNUAL FIRE RESCUES IN COLO.•1,200 AMOUNT OF HOURS SPENT TRAINING• 400 SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS IN COLO.• 61

high school search and rescue STORY BY: LAUREN LIPPERT PHOTOS BY: BRIANA SCHERRER

rom searching for missing persons to looking for evidence, junior Briana Scherrer puts her passion for helping others to use as part of a search and rescue team hosted by Arapahoe High School. “We are a search and rescue team that is completely run by high school students,” Scherrer said. “The calls that we go on are missing persons, Amber Alerts and evidence searches. We also have special teams who go on technical rescues like rock climbing and ropes.” Being primarily made up of high school students gives the search and rescue team an edge because of their youth

and ability to adapt to challenges. “High schoolers are also more apt to train for and ready for the physical challenge that some of our calls require,” Scherrer said. Split up into various groups that focus solely on one emergency situation, the team works to provide help for the special forces. “We have special teams [such as] avalanche teams, winter operations and rehab teams, which help the fire department with oxygen tanks and filling them up,” Scherrer said. “[There is] a Colorado Life Track Team, COLT, [which is when] a mental patient or a person with disabilities goes missing. They get tracking

“We are a search and rescue team, that is completely run by high school students.”

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JUNIOR, BRIANA SCHERRER climbed St. Mary’s Glacier and James Peak for training to help prepare for upcoming missions. “We had to wake up at 6 a.m., then we convoyed to the mountain and climbed to the top, had lunch, then went back down at 4:30 p.m.,” Scherrer said.

bracelets and we call them ‘frequent flyers’ because they go missing all the time.” The rigor and demand of a search and rescue team isn’t for everyone, but for Scherrer it’s something she sees as a potential career. “I like helping people and I am good with emergency situations so it was a good match,” Scherrer said. “My goal is to be a leader and to help my team and contribute in whatever way I can.” Before attending any mission, students must prepare by going through an intense summer training. “There are two weekends. The first one is basic searching skills and conditioning for difficult situations. The second one fine tunes the search skills and introduces the medical aspect,” Scherrer said. “Then we have week long class training about SAR (Search and Rescue) and what to do in certain situations. After basics, there is a monthly field training.” Aside from the basic CPR and medical training, the search and rescue program offers more in-depth training for special situations. “There are also other trainings offered to us

such as COLT, avalanche, hazmat, operations, communications, map and compass, mission coordination, survival, winter ops, CPR, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC), fire team, firearm safety, police team, rock rescue and swift water,” Scherrer said. “Once you have EMR and tech rescue, there are only monthly CE’s (a training that helps keep search and rescue skills fresh) for those.” Despite only being a part of the search and rescue team for a short amount of time, Scherrer said she has yet to experience a dull moment. “The most exciting thing I have done is when I went on my first search, which was late at night in Bennett. We were searching for a woman in a field [and] it was exciting because the police and fire departments were there,” Scherrer said. While being able to help people is a positive for the group, there are risks that come with being on the team. “It’s hard because you never know what situation you are going to be in. A lot of times the terrain is really rough to search [and] you are on your hands and knees crawling or running up a fourteener,” Scherrer said. “It’s not always safe but you get to help people. You don’t do it for yourself.” The most vital part of the search and rescue team is working together and being able to rely on each other in tough situations. “One of the things we value the most as a team is safety — I would trust every single person on that team with my life in an emergency situation,” said Scherrer. “It would be pretty embarrassing to be seriously injured on a call, mostly because you are taking other forces away from helping the victim.” Being a part of a search and rescue

Approximately 2,300 Americans are reported missing every day, including both children and adults. team presents many challenges, however Scherrer follows the motto “So that others may live” that allows her to put others above herself. “You need to be willing to work hard and help others before yourself. The challenge is both mental and physical, but you really only need one to get you to your destination,” Scherrer said. “Just tell yourself that you can make it up the hill and you will, or remind yourself why you’re really there, for the victim.” Hoping to continue to be a part of the program for the rest of her high school, Scherrer she she enjoys experiencing what most can’t. “You get to do field and medical training and I have experienced more opportunities in three months than some people will experience in their whole life,” Scherrer said. With aspirations to pursue an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) career, Scherrer said she hopes the search and rescue team will help her prepare. “I’m definitely going to be an EMT in college because I’ll have EMR training which is a B-level EMT,” Scherrer said. “I love emergency situations and I’m good at thinking on my feet, so even if I don’t go in the medical field after college it’ll still be relevant to my future.”

b.i.o.n.i.c.: the courage to be kind STORY BY: LEAH DEMINSKI PHOTOS BY: LEAH DEMINSKI

cts of kindness: a concept that may seem elementary but is often lost amongst all of the rivalries, traditions and school pride that students have for their school. Students often view facing our opponents on the field or the court as an act of bravery and a reputation builder. However, they do not often stop to consider how much bravery it requires to help one another in times of need, rather than the competition. Since the debut of “Believe it or Not I Care,” a club devoted to service, at Mountain Vista last year, this mentality is slowly changing. Students are realizing the courage it takes to be kind to one another when they face tragedy. In B.I.O.N.I.C., students learn how to help other schools get through these large tragedies by creating posters that Vista students sign to offer their support as well as words of affirmation. B.I.O.N.I.C. Club had a small start, and was first introduced by Green Mountain High School in Lakewood in 2004. Since then, B.I.O.N.I.C. Club membership has exploded and has over 90,000 members worldwide. After the threats of last December, followed by the death of MVHS coach and teacher Jake Herman, Vista is no stranger to tragedy. However, it was through these unfortunate times that students and staff banded together and experienced acts of kindness from other schools, near and far. Inspired by the caring actions of MVHS’s academic counterparts, B.I.O.N.I.C. Club was born to return the favor. Senior Kenlyn Darrah, a member of B.I.O.N.I.C. Club, recalls how the events of last year affected her. “I was pretty scared,” Darrah said. “You think it’ll never happen to your school.” Despite the fear and shock that radiated through Vista in December and January, MVHS found comfort from surrounding schools through an outpouring of support on social media, as well as bounties of handmade posters. “It’s always cool when you see our rivals helping,” Darrah said. “They all came together.” As soon as B.I.O.N.I.C. launched in August, Darrah signed up,

"Getting all the support from other schools just really lets us know that other people are there for us."

B.I.O.N.I.C. Club was created in the 2004-05 school year and now has over 90,000 members worldwide.

SENIOR KAITLYN ORR, a new B.I.O.N.I.C. Club member, helps to design the poster for Legacy High School during her off period, whic later signed by hundreds of memb the student body.

along with 110 other eager students. “I wanted to join B.I.O.N.I.C. because I’ve seen all the stuff that they’ve done,” Darrah said. “I thought it was cool how we’re helping out our community.” Following the recent school bus tragedy involving Legacy High School's football team, Darrah finally got the opportunity to reach out and help make one of those posters herself. “It was pretty cool to be a part of [poster making],” Darrah said. “I’ve always seen them being made.” However, being in B.I.O.N.I.C. Club is not as simple as it seems. It takes serious courage to step up and show support so outwardly to other schools, often rivals, and help them face their challenges. “Not many people want to step up. They think it’s a cool idea but never actually take the step to be courageous and help out other people,” Darrah said. “I feel like people don’t want other people to think they’re weird.” Senior Kaitlyn Orr, another B.I.O.N.I.C. Club member, agrees with

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Darrah’s point of view. “It’s kind of nerveracking because you don’t know what people will think,” Orr said. “In the end, [B.I.O.N.I.C.] is more courageous than nerveracking.” Orr said she understands how meaningful the support from other schools can be. “Getting all the support from other schools just really lets us know that other people are there for us,” Orr said. Elena Paich, the sponsor of B.I.O.N.I.C., said she is incredibly proud of the following the club has gained. “I’m really excited about how many people have joined,” Paich said. The club ahs gained popularity, jumping from 10 members last year to 110 members this year. “I feel proud of everyone for wanting to help each

POSTERS, CARDS AND food donations are a few of the ways B.I.O.N.I.C. Club shows support to other schools. If you are interested in showing your support, visit U316 for information.

other and I feel thankful that people want to be a part of this,” Paich said. “It is something that could definitely change your life.” Following the death of a student at Castle View High School Sept. 20, B.I.O.N.I.C. Club responded by creating a poster almost immediately. “Support is needed 110 percent of the time,” Paich said. B.I.O.N.I.C is always open to new members. Students interested in joining, should visit Paich in room U316 for more information.

"It is someting that could definitely change your life."

LEAVITT AND HER horse Cruz (MoonLight Crush is his show name) compete in the jumping portion of the course in the Fédération Equestre Internationale North American Junior and Young Rider Championship that took place in Parker this past summer.

road to A the junior olympics STORY BY: CAITLIN ENGLISH PHOTOS BY: TARA LEAVITT

mongst Colorado high schools, Mountain Vista often stands out because of the uniquely talented students and athletes who fill its hallways. Among these athletes is senior Ryleigh Leavitt, who enjoys spending time competing and eventing with her trusted horse, Cruz. The two have a unique bond. “I can tell when he’s in a bad mood and he can tell when I am,” Leavitt said. Having a relationship with the horse is a key componenet to riding successfully and dictates both the performance of the rider and the horse. “He can tell what I’m thinking before I’m even thinking it,” Leavitt said. “When it comes to competitions, Cruz and I are always on the same page. [When] he gets to a show he is ready to show off.” Riding since age four, Leavitt said there is nothing more important than horse riding. “I’ve always loved horses. When I was four, I talked my parents into horseback riding lessons and the rest was history,” Leavitt said. “The more I do it, the more I

“This experience shaped my mindset to wanting to pursue eventing at the highest level that I can.”

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AS LEAVITT RIDES UP to the jump, she is fearless. “To be fearless is riding up to those huge jumps. It just has to do with the trust between the hose and you,” Leavitt said. She has been riding since age four.

“I’ve always loved horses. When I was four, I talked my parents into horseback riding lessons and the rest was history.” love it.” Her motivations for riding have always helped drive her to success. “Competing at NAJYRC (North American Junior Young Rider Championships) was my dream since I was eight,” Leavitt said. “At that point I never imagined it would actually happen.” After training for several years, Leavitt came face to face with her dream of competing in the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) NAJYRC. “The atmosphere at Young Riders was a little bit of everything,” Leavitt said. “Everyone was super competitive and professional. It was very serious because your horse had to pass through three different vet checks.” After finding out that she had ranked 14 out of 43 North American and Canadian competitors, Leavitt knew that she finally had taken the first step in achieving her dream. “It’s been one of my dreams since I was eight, and it was really cool to experience it,” Leavitt said. But this was only the first step for Leavitt in her journey because her dreams continue to change as she continues to win more competitions. “After competing at NAJYRC, my dreams have changed from competing at the junior one level, which was the lower level of the two levels offered at NAJYRC to being on the podium at the young rider two next year,” Leavitt said. “This experience shaped my mindset to wanting to pursue eventing at the highest level that I can. It gave me a taste of what the Olympics would be like, which is why I want to go as far as I can in everything, but mostly eventing.” Regardless of the intense focus of the competition, the competitors still knew how to have

fun with each other, whether it was dancing in the stables afterwards or getting to know fellow riders. “(At one event) everyone was playing music in the barns and dancing, which doesn’t happen very often. They were all cheering each other on and wishing other riders good luck before their rides,” Leavitt said. “Some people would come off the course and give the other riders tips on how things went and what they could do to improve their ride. We [also] had a huge water fight on golf carts. Everyone was super fun and supportive, too.” After getting a taste of Olympic-leve competition, the fearlessness of equestrian riding becomes apparent to Leavitt. Up until this past year, along with competing in eventing, Leavitt also played ice hockey. “[Ice hockey, school and eventing] became way too much to handle time wise, so I chose what I was more passionate about,” Leavitt said. Riding doesn’t interfere with school because normally Leavitt rides early in the morning or after school, as well as on the weekends and in her free time. But due to competive level at which Leavitt rides, she misses a few days to travel and participate in various competitions. She has traveled to compeition events in Louisiana, California, Texas and New Mexico. As Leavitt and Cruz continue to train and grow stronger together, they plan to compete at the NAJYRC level two competiton this November in Texas. Leavitt works constantly on her realtionship with Cruz knowing how important trust is in her sport. “Horses are large animals that don’t always agree with you,” she said. “To be fearless is to put your trust in something that could kill you in seconds.”

“To be fearless is to put your trust in something that could kill you in seconds.”

homecoming week freshmen experience homecoming for the first time

Andie Srdoc & Katy Harris EVERY YEAR, THE size of the freshman class increases, bringing a multitude of new students into the hallways of Vista. Along with all of the nerves and excitement that come with being a freshman, there are many first times and rights of passage experienced in the first year of high school. Homecoming is one of them. From finding a date, figuring out what to wear, deciding where to eat dinner and who to go with, freshmen are experiencing their first big high school event and have big decisions to make.

Taylor Wagner

Caiden Marquis How was your first homecoming?

“I [was] pretty excited because it’s my freshmen year and I haven’t been to a dance like this before [and] it was fun.”

“It was really good. It was great to see all of my friends.”

What did you think about the venue?

“I thought it was interesting how it wasn’t just at the school.”

“I didn’t really like it that much. It was cool to see all the cars, but other than that, it was kind of boring.”

What was the best part about homecoming?

“Getting to see everyone dressed up.”

“The dinner at Yard House was probably my favorite part. I’d definitely recommend it.”

What did you wear?

“I wore a navy blue off shoulder dress with tan high heels.”

“I was definitely more dressed up [than others].”

Did you go with a group of friends or with a date?

“I went with a group of friends.”

“I went with a group. There was, like, 25 people in our group, but it was still really fun.”

dress up days

mon day WHITE OUT Evan Place, senior

tues day TACKY TOURIST

Riley Barry, senior

wed nes day

COYBOY/GIRL

Ashlie VanCleave & Audrey Smith, freshmen

thurs day USA OUT

Anisa Avila & Ayden Miller, freshmen

fri day

BLACK OUT/SAM STRONG

homecoming proposals

Caitlin English Every year creative students form unique homecoming proposals to ask someone to the dance. Students look forward to the ritual with the hope they would be asked to the dance either by a friend or significiant other in a creative way.

JUNIOR ALLIE GRAHAM was asked to homecoming by junior Taylor Cramer. “I was suprised that he asked me, since I was at a friend’s house,” said Graham. “I was happy to go with him.” Cramer’s sign said: “I have the marshmallows, I have the Hershey’s, now all I need is the graham cracker.”

JUNIOR GRACE MATSEY presented a sweet suprise to ask her boyfriend, junior Zack McMann, to homecoming. “Our first date was going to Krispy Kreme,” Matsey said. “He loves donuts, so I thought it would be cute.” The box she used to ask him to the dance said: “I donut want to go to hoco with anyone else.”

SENIOR OLIVIA THEONNES was asked to homecoming by junior Brogan Stritchko. “It took four years for me to get asked out,” Theonnes said. Stritchko’s sign said: “Will you cheer your way to homecoming with me?” Strichko attended events as homecoming royalty with Theonnes by his side.

SOPHMORE RYAN TWAL suprised his girlfriend, sophomore Ashley Stem, with a homecoming proposal. “The day before, he had a football game, which inspired the poster,” Stem said. “He texted me to walk outside to my driveway and then he asked me.” Twal’s sign said: “I know we lost, but make me a winner by cheering me up and say yes to homecoming.”

SENIORS MADISON EASTON and Preston Weaver shared a smile after he asked her to homecoming during the the first football game of the year. “I had a feeling that he was going to ask me, but it totally caught be by suprise at the game,” Easton said. “He made it super special and I’ll never forget it.”

MVHS students

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kellen parker receives D1 offers

Savanah Howard rom the gym, to the football field, to recovery and back to the gym, senior and varsity football wide receiver Kellen Parker wastes no time when it comes to chasing his dream of playing football at the collegiate level. After finding his undeniable passion for football his freshman year, he has never looked back. From 5:30 a.m. workouts to traveling around the country with a seven-on -seven team, Parker trains non-stop to prove doubtful spectators wrong. “One of the biggest things I’ve had to overcome is flat out the nerves of playing football in front of a lot of people. I don’t think about the crowd when I’m playing, but it’s always something that’s in the back of my mind,” Parker said. “[Also] people doubting me. I can’t tell you how many people have laughed in my face when I said that I want to be a D1 receiver as a pretty, skinny, white kid.” Thanks to his drive and perseverance over the years, Parker can finally say “they were wrong.” On Aug. 18, 2016 Parker received his first Division I scholarship offer from Brown University, an Ivy League university located in Providence, R.I. “One morning I was at the gym, picked up the phone and the recruiter was like 'Hey, we were in a meeting yesterday and decided to let you know that you’re number two on our board. We want to offer (a scholarship to) you,’” Parker said. “To be honest, I started crying like a baby. It’s just something I’ve been working so hard for. I was happy that it finally paid off because it’s been a brutal road.” Setting fear aside and focusing on improvement, Parker’s positive and humble attitude radiates. “I’m far from being the best receiver even in the state of Colorado so I don’t want to ever get cocky,” Parker said. “I always want to have something in the back of my mind

Photo by Savanah Howard

that’s pushing me. That’s how you get better and stay good.” His first offer won't be his last, but it’s a relief he’s been long awaiting. “I honestly was scared to death about not making it before I got my first offer,” Parker said. “I have to stay focused, but at the same time it’s a lot of weight off my shoulders. I can play more to have fun.” This is not the end of the road for his Division I ambitions. Parker’s biggest dream is to play at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs. With aspirations to have a career as a pilot, the USAFA has all of his desires in one place. “If I could go to the Air Force Academy to play football and become a pilot after that, that’s a dream come true,” Parker said.

paige mcguire pitches a perfect game

Michael Place n Sept. 7, 2016, the varsity softball team hosted its third game of the season against the Heritage Eagles. It was a game that would go down in Golden Eagle history, and one that senior pitcher Paige McGuire will never forget. “I was pretty calm [coming into the game]," McGuire said, "and just wanted to go out there and pitch hard for my team." Through the first four innings each batter she faced either struck out or could not get a hit off. She and her team backed up the impressive outing by racking up five runs. In the fifth inning, McGuire had again put out the first three batters. The Golden Eagles continued to pile on the runs in the fifth, bringing the score to 9-0. With two outs, junior Rebecca Gonzales came up to the plate looking to send junior Savanah Howard to score from third base. Gonzales knocked a walk-off double to beat Heritage under the 10-run “mercy” rule. This rule states that once a team has scored a certain number of runs more than another team, the game is called, giving “mercy” to the losing team. Not only did The Golden Eagles beat Heritage 10-0, but McGuire had thrown a perfect game. A perfect game in a softball or

Photo by Jett Crowson

drew garrett is out with an injury early on

Jett Crowson f baseball is America’s favorite pastime, football is America’s favorite hobby. Millions of Americans enjoy or play football every week. For many individuals, they get their start in high school playing on their school team, and hope to be a part of the less than seven percent who continue their football career in college. This is the case for sophomore Drew Garrett, who decided to explore his love for football in high school. Garrett played last year on the freshman team and has since moved up to the JV team. With a higher level of competition, the game becomes a lot more physical, as Drew Garrett saw when he was injured in the pre-season. Garrett tore his labrum, a piece in his shoulder that holds it in place. “Imagine you’re golfing.

I Photo by Michael Place

baseball game is achieved when the pitcher does not allow any of the batters on the opposing team reach a base. “I didn't actually realize that I had pitched a perfect game until after the game. It came as a surprise to me,” McGuire said. “I was very proud because I know it's very rare, but I was also very thankful for my team that was backing me up the whole time. They did so well at making clean plays to make me feel confident on the mound.” McGuire threw 57 pitches, walked no one and struck out five of the 15 batters she faced. McGuire said her perfect performance would “push [her] to be the best [she] can be every game."

You place your ball on your golf tee right? And the little tiny tee helps your ball stay in place. Basically, my tee is chipped," Garrett said. "That means that whenever you place the ball on the tee, it can easily roll off. Now, I don’t play golf, but I do dabble in mini putt-putt.” This means that Garrett can no longer play for the season, although he still goes to support his team every game. He may not be able to continue to play the sport in the following years depending on the outcome of his surgery. Football is massively popular, but as Garrett learned, along with the fun and excitement comes the highest injury rate of all high school sports for male athletes. Garrett looks optimistically to his future — and his team's.

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vista xc is off and running toward state Photo by Claire VanDeStouwe

tridge rival game: never a dull moment

Claire VanDeStouwe Photo by Claire VanDeStouwe & Ian Ferguson t’s Thursday night. There’s a buzz in the air from the anticipation that builds all year. About an hour before kickoff, a faint hum becomes audible and eyes turn to the sky. The big rival game against ThunderRidge High School was here. Finally, Vista’s varsity football team would be able to prove that a summer’s worth of hard work had paid had off, proof that they were still the reigning kings of The Ranch. After the past two years’ wins, Vista fans hoped — even expected — to continue the streak this season. Seniors Marissa Browning, Kendrick Norris and Cole Blatchford had the idea to gather funds and hire a plane to fly above Shea Stadium before the game trailing a banner: “TR say hi to Harambe for us.” “Cole and I thought of it the morning before,” Norris said. “We started calling companies immediately.” Yet, more than the trash talk and high hopes, at the heart of the night was the football team — the boys wanted it more than anyone in the stands. “Our offense is solid,” head coach Ric Cash said. “Once our defense gets going, they’re really going to be great.” The winner was TR. Vista lost, 35-13, falling to a 2-1 record at that point of the season. One look at the team said it all: the loss was devastating. In the post-game huddle, Cash offered words of encouragement as well as motivation. Players encircled him, heads down, solemnly nodding understanding. “The loss really hurt,” senior John Krysa said. “But it was a nice wake up call and now, as a team, we’re more motivated than ever to run the table this season and work hard.”

Photo by Keyahn Golgoon

Keyahn Golgoon ountain Vista cross country is revered as being one of the best in the nation and this year appeards to be no different. The boys and girls teams have been preparing for this year's state meet Oct. 29 in Colorado Springs. This means going to meets every weekend and training hard all throughout the week. Both the boys and girls have had amazing showings this year. The girls have finished on top numerous times and the boys — many times without the majority of their varsity runners — have also had superior showings. The boys finished first in the Woodbridge Invitational meet in California. The girls placed fourth. For many of the girls, it was their first time racing in a national meet. “[It was] a pretty amazing showing from our girls, especially with a bunch of athletes that have never been in this kind of competition before,” said head coach

Jonathan Dalby. “Placing fourth is an outstanding showing against some of the best teams from the United States. Winning this one is fun, but it makes the target even bigger on our backs.” The runners and coaches are looking forward to upcoming races. “It’s a great feeling knowing all of our training is paying off,” senior Josh Romine said. “Although we won [the Woodbridge Invitational], we still have bigger goals ahead of us [like winning] state and [the Nike Cross Regionals] so we can head back to [Nike Cross Nationals].”

MVHS XC is the ONLY 5A CO team to win FOUR state titles IN A ROW

Q&A

EE:What would you like to improve throughout the season? EB: "As a team, we should work on defending as a unit, pushing up as a unit, playing smart balls and finishing when we have opportunities." Photo by Mikayla Olave EE:What are you looking Mikayla Olave EAGLE EYE: How do you think you play as forward to this season? EB: "Becoming a better team a team? player and just playing better EVAN BAUCH: "In some games we play balls to my teammates and really well, and then there are some points where you have to work on playing together not making silly mistakes." and not holding onto the ball too long."

jv soccer player evan bauch

JUNIOR AND SENIOR POWDERPUFF The powderpuff teams set up on the line of scrimmage. “It was great to be able to experience a tradition that I have always looked forward to,” junior Alex Dominy said. The seniors won the game, 15-12. Photo by Erica Venable

JUNIOR HANNAH TUCKER is all geared up and ready to go during a special practice for National Field Hockey Day. “I like playing because it’s fun to be part of a team,” Tucker said. She started playing because of a cousin who played all four years she was in high school. Photo by Ariana Dimercurio

SENIOR TRISTEN DEAN runs the ball through defenders for a touchdown at the MVHS vs. TRHS game. ThunderRidge defeated Vista, 35-13. Photo by Claire VanDeStouwe

football firsts and lasts Lauren Irwin & Addisyn Hartman

enior year is a monumental time for high schoolers. Seniors Judd Erickson, Zach Hammer and Kellen Parker, the set captains, plus Jack Davis and the other seniors in the Class of 2017, Sept. 8 represented the first “last” of this year. “The Senior Class has been a great class,” Principal Mike Weaver said. “It’s hard for any teenager to slow down and appreciate the moment they’re living in, and this is what we have been telling the senior class.” Erickson, the quarterback, said he thinks this team is special. “The first game was a lot of fun to play in front of the school and community,” he said. In the game against Rangeview High School, the senior captains knew time was ticking. Parker, a wide receiver, said it was scary to think that he’ll never play in another home opener. “It’s flown by. It feels like a year ago, I was on the freshman team and now I’m almost done with high school,” he said. Awaiting college, left guard Davis and safety Hammer both agreed they are both nervous to begin college. On the other hand, Erickson said he was excited for college and the new opportunities.

“Whatever plan is set aside for me will show itself and it’ll be fun,” Erickson said. Being a captain and senior are similar. Both have a leadership position where others can look for help and inspiration. “I have never been a captain before that night, but I hope to inspire the younger kids to stand up and work to get better,” Davis said. “We want to keep the Vista legacy going.” Vista students and athletes never retire from the school without leaving a legacy behind, and the Class of 2017 plans to leave its own mark on the school. “I hope to leave a legacy as a hard worker and a good teammate,” Hammer said. “I strive to be a role model so it inspires others to do the same.”

JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL wins, 26-22, at its first game against Poudre High School. “I think we played really well today and I hope we can keep playing good for the rest of the season,” sophomore Ryland O’Donnell said. The players on the team remain optimistic about the remainder of their season. Photo by Jett Crowson

freshman firsts joining clubs and sports

Staci Prevato & Mikayla Olave 'm excited for the coming years of high school. Although it may be work, I know that there will be so many more opportunities and chances to make the most out of my high school experience,” freshman Tessa Corcoran said. With over 593 new freshmen joining the Vista community this year, there are many opportunities for freshmen to get involved with new clubs and organizations. “I plan to get involved by joining several clubs, activities, sports and classes that seem interesting to me," Corcoran said. "I'm planning on going on an outof-of-the-country trip this year and doing lots of community service hours."

first time playing football

Lexi Riga reshman Arya Shinde, a new student from California, joined the freshman football team where he is playing the sport competitively for the first time in his life. Since spring, the freshman team has been preparing for the football season by getting in shape. Shinde made a point to attend all the camps and practices. “Football is really fun and I’ve always liked playing but I was never able to do it when I was younger,” Shinde said. Although he's a year younger than his teammates, Shinde doesn’t believe this hinders his ability to play. “It’s just a bit more of a challenge,” he said. As he continues to play throughout high school, he said he hopes to make varsity football and receive a college scholarship.

the beginning of deca BenYoshida n Sept. 15, Distributice Education Clubs of America [DECA] and Future Business Leaders of America [FBLA] hosted a pancake breakfast for new members. The gathering helped to make new and previous members excited for the upcoming events this year. “I really enjoy DECA because of the competitions and I get to be with [my] friends,” sophomore Andrew Barich said. “I signed up because I was excited and wanted to give it a shot.” The pancake breakfast helped to break down the nerves of new members and allowed them to feel more comfortable. The DECA community is continuously growing. This year the organization has over 120 members. DECA is important for students going to college due to the fact they learn skills about entrepreneurship, marketing, finance and more. Mountain Vista High School will be competing at "The Wolverine" Oct. 25.

O marching to the beat Morgan McLean

ven though it's dark outside, the lights shine bright on the field. Although the fans are cheering, it's silent. With all eyes on her, freshman Oaklee Peterson marches in band for the first time. “I played piano and violin before but the band teacher at my old school really wanted me to try something new,” Peterson said. On Sept. 8 the marching band made its debut during halftime in a game against Rangeview High School. “The first time on the field was nerve-racking. My heart was beating so fast,” Peterson said. “I had worked many hours and I didn't want them to go to waste.”

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THE MOUNTAIN VISTA marching band performs during the halftime show in the varsity football game against Rangeview High School.

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biscuits, a dice game

Charlie Fu im Cox and her husband Sam rolled the dice — literally — on a business and came up with the successful dice game called Biscuits. “The idea of Biscuits was inspired by a family and friend board game night where my husband grabbed multiple different dice from different games and rolled them all together," Cox said. "The game just kind of flowed from there." That night was two years ago in the spring of 2014, and the two have followed their dreams and overcome many challenges to get the game where where it is today. “To make the game a cost-effective business for us was extremely difficult," Cox said. "Because of how much dice the game required, we would need to mass purchase many of the dice up to thousands at a time.” The two set up a Kickstarter to fund this mini business with a goal of $3,000. “The Kickstarter turned out to be a complete success. Two-hundred-fifty-seven friends, family and strangers from all over the world had faith in our game, and we ended up surpassing our goal of $3,000 by more than double,” Cox said. “The support of everyone really means the world to us.” The ultimate goal for the duo is for Biscuits to become an internationally recognized dice game. “This would be a huge milestone for us," Cox said. "We just want to spread the fun of our idea everywhere." People from countries like Russia, Ethiopia and Japan have already requested shipments of the game and the news is only spreading. By the end of October or November, Cox said the game will be declared to be available for purchase worldwide on gluebunnygames.com. An adult version of Biscuits also will be available. Cox occasionally brings a set of dice to school for her students to play during lessons.

SENIORS PATRICK VEIHMAN, Emily Adrid and junior Cam Hancock play Biscuits in Kim Cox’s class. Photo courtesy of Kim Cox

THE SENIOR GIRLS ARE the first fans to show up at the game. They line up on the front railing at Shea Stadium to help get the student section pumped and ready to cheer on the players before the game begins. Photo by Addisyn Hartman

señioritas show school spirit

Mikayla Olave & Staci Prevato eñioritas are senior girls who show up to support the Vista sports teams and help lead the student section in cheering on the teams. This year is no different. At varsity football’s first home game against Rangeview High School, the stands quickly filled up with cheering students. Among them were seniors Desa Paich, Phoebe Aroesty and Abby Brouk. “I became involved with school spirit because we’ve watched senior girls lead the school for the past three years,” Aeroesty said. “I think it’s important to get everyone involved and have the most school spirit as we can.” Having the senior girls lead cheers during games is a Mountain Vista tradition upheld by generations of senior girls who want to be involved with school spirit and make one final mark before graduation. “I love being able to interact with various people throughout the school who I don’t hang out with on a regular basis and being able to support my school while doing it,” Brouk said. This year, with more spirit than ever, the senior gals are hoping their senior year will be the best. The three girls said they hope to contribute to leading everyone in the student section with pride. “I think being a senior means just being a leader and trying to get everyone to be the most spirited so we can leave as the best class,” Paich said. The Señioritas said they plan to be present at every game, whether it’s at home or away and are determined SENIORS ABBY BROUK, Desa Paich and Phoebe Aroesty pose for a photo together at the first home to show support for all the sports throughout the school year. Varsity Football game of the season. Photo by Addisyn Hartman