Rocky Mountain Highlighter: 2014 December by Rocky Mountain Highlighter

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ADOPT-A-FAMILY

Photo Essay • Lobo community comes together in annual display of generosity - page 16

Your World • Avery Martin is back, this time reviewing burgers - page 4 Q&A • Interview with Adopt-A-Family founder Jessica Waters - page 5 News • Legendary Rocky coach passes away - page 6 Center • Sexual assault - page 8-9 Staff-Ed •Grades not representative of true learning - page 10 Features • Senior Brannan Fix pedals way to success - page 12 Sports • Senior wrestler Danny Murphy to wrestle at Iowa - page 14

RMHighlighter.org Rocky Mountain High School

1300 W. Swallow Rd.

Fort Collins, Colo.

Vol. 42, No. 4

Dec. 18, 2014

2 page letters

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dec. 18, 2014 Salary caps in sports?

Athletics bring out best

Dear Editor, The idea of a salary cap in sports does not help any sport become a more even league besides in the NFL. The NBA has a salary cap but there is a giant difference in talent level between the top 5 teams in the NBA such as the Cleveland Cavilers, San Antonio, Miami, Oklahoma city and Chicago Bulls. Then you have the cellar of the league Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Orlando, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Then you have the MLB which does not have a salary cap but if someone follows the MLB you would know that the teams that spend the most don’t always play the best like the New York Yankees were one of the worst teams in baseball this year and have one of the highest salary caps. Then you have teams like the Oakland Athletics who had one of the better records in baseball and are considered a major title contender when October and November roll around. My personal opinion is that a salary cap is not needed in pro sports but having one doesn’t affect the game a ton. Henry Powell, senior

Dear Editor, High School is a time of learning morals and values within life and how those actions effect the rest of your life. High School athletics is an important teacher of values within society, and how a coach chooses to teach a kid reflects on that student. Drugs within sports have negative consequences for the rest of the student athlete’s life, and therefore schools should drug test their student athletes to ensure that there is a safe, level playing field to teach morals and values within the sport. Coaches are important mentors in life, and students should be taught good values and not taking drugs to play sports should be at the top of that list. Drug testing student athletes should be required to compete in high school athletics to ensure a safe environment. Brannan Fix, senior

Letters to the editor

WE KNOW YOU WANT MORE OF US.

The RM Highlighter is more than just your favorite news magazine. rmhighlighter.org Twitter: @RMHSHighlighter #HELLOHIGHLIGHTER

Rocky Mountain Highlighter Staff RM Highlighter editorial policy The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is a student news publication which strives to report school and community events with truth, accuracy, objectivity, and clarity. The RM Highlighter will also comment on issues of interest to its readers. The purposes of this publication are to report the news to the Rocky Mountain High School community, to provide the school community with a public forum for thoughtful discussion and debate, and to provide students on the newspaper staff with practical journalism experience. In order to make the RM Highlighter as professional a publication as possible, important legal and ethical guidelines will be followed. Senate Bill 90-99, enacted by the Colorado General Assembly during the 1990 legislative session, declares that “students of the public schools shall have the right to exercise freedom of speech and the press.” (Colo. Rev. Stat. Sec. 22-1-120) We, the staff of the RM Highlighter, are prohibited by law from publishing certain materials. We will respect these laws. No material which is libelous, encourages illegal acts, or causes material and substantial disruption to school activities will be published. Expressions which are obscene will not be printed. Profanity will not be printed unless it is considered absolutely necessary by the RM Highlighter editorial board to express the views of the writer or quoted person. Expression which is false “as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern” will not be printed. “Expressions which are in violation of lawful school regulations designed to control gangs” will not be printed. In the event of a potential controversial item, the editorial board —consisting of all the editors, the advertising manager, and the adviser —will meet to discuss the merits of the item and then decide whether or not to print the item. Coverage of deaths which occur within the Rocky community will be carefully considered by the editorial board. Natural or accidental deaths will be reported for clarifications of death and will contain a memorial. Except in extreme circumstances, suicides will not be

covered to reduce glorification of such acts. In general, the RM Highlighter observes the guidelines presented in the “Code of Ethics” of the Society of Professional Journalists. The RM Highlighter will not allow source review prior to publication, unless there is a clarification issue. Source anonymity will be granted only after careful consideration by the editor, with the editor reserving the right to make the final decision. Staff editorials shall be presented logically and will represent the views of the majority of the staff. Editorial criticism, of either individuals or groups, will be based on fact and will be constructive. Guest editorial space, the “Open Forum,” is available to anyone in the Rocky community, including students, parents, faculty, and administrators. Anyone interested in writing in the “Open Forum” should contact the editor-in-chief or the adviser, Stephen Wahlfeldt. Letters to the editor are welcome. They should be signed, and a home phone number should be included. The writer’s name may be withheld upon request, provided the editor agrees that the reasons for withholding a name are valid and compelling. Try to limit letters to 300 words and place them in one of the “Letters to the Editor” boxes, located in the Media Center and the Main Office, or give them to a RM Highlighter staff member, RM Highlighter adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt, or drop them by the RM Highlighter room, Room 528, during 4th period. Letters may also be mailed to the Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526. To talk with anyone on the RM Highlighter staff, phone (970) 488-7090. Columnists express their own views and not necessarily those of the RM Highlighter staff. No expression made by students of the Rocky Mountain Highlighter shall be considered an expression of school board or Rocky Mountain High School policy. Furthermore, Poudre School District and its employees are immune from any civil or criminal action based on any expression made or published by the students. All advertisement is welcome. To place an ad, contact RM Highlighter advertising managers at (970) 488-7091. The RM Highlighter, however, reserves the right to refuse advertising which the staff considers inappropriate for our audience. The RM Highlighter is a member of the ASNE/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service, and some material is courtesy of that service. The Rocky Mountain Highlighter reserves the right to edit anything it publishes.

Editor-in-Chief

News Editor

Web Editor

Center Editor

Opinion Editor

Reporters

Features Editor

Sports Editor

Noah Fogelberg

Avery Martin

Michael Roley

Noah Fogelberg

Reyna Thompson

Evan Malone

Samantha Baran Daniel Dideriksen Matt Wood

Contributors Rebecca Knaff

Adviser

Stephen Wahlfeldt

Jacob Nemitz

Web Editor Evan Malone Pacemaker Finalist-2014; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2014; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2013; Pacemaker Finalist-2012; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2012; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2011; Pacemaker Winner-2010; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2010; Pacemaker Finalist-2009; All-American, 4 Mark of Distinction-2009; All-American Hall of Fame Induction-2008; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2008; Pacemaker Finalist-2007; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2007; Pacemaker Winner-2006; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2006; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2005; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2004; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2003; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2002; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2001; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2000; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-1999.

All-Colorado-2014; All-Colorado-2013; All-Colorado-2012; All-Colorado-2011; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2010; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2009; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2008; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2007; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-2006; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2005; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-2004; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-2003; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2002; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2001; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-1996; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-1992; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-1991; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-1990; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-1987.

Gold Medalist-2014; Gold Medalist-2013; Gold Medalist-2012; Gold Medalist-2011; Gold Medalist-2010; Silver Crown-2009; Gold Medalist-2009; Silver Medalist-2008; Gold Medalist2007; Gold Medalist-2006; Gold Medalist-2005; Silver Crown-2005; Gold Medalist-2004; Silver Crown-2004; Gold Medalist-2003; Silver Crown-2003; Gold Medalist-2002; Gold Medalist-2001; Gold Medalist-2000; Gold Medalist-1999.

table of contents page 3

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dec. 18, 2014

Legendary coach Pat O'Donnell passes Sexual away 6 Assault

Page 4 • Your World

■Burger Bonanza ■Top Ten white elephant gifts for your grandmother

Page 5 • Q&A

■Jessica Waters - Adopt-a-family founder talks about experiences

Page 6 •News ■Legendary Rocky coach Pat O'Donnell passes

Page 7 • News

■2nd Shift gives students opportunities ■Reigning Wisdom with Reyna Thompson

Page 8-9 • Center

8-9

■Peers work with SAVA to combat sexual assault ■Sexual assault being brought to national attention

Page 10 • Opinion

■Staff-ed - Grades losing meaning ■Noah's Bark with Noah Fogelberg

Page 11 • Opinion

■Pros and Cons of making cuts in sports ■Carving it Up with Matt Wood

Page 12 • Features

■Senior Brannan Fix pedals into CycloCross glory ■Senior Ortolano excels at non-traditional sports

Adopt A Family

Page 13 • Features

■Mike's Hard Facts with Michael Roley ■AP Art students show off skills.

Page 14 • Sports

■Senior wrestler Danny Murphy taking his talents to Iowa.

Page 15 • Sports

■Fall Sports awards ■The Admiral with Jacob Nemitz

Page 16 • Photo Essay

■Rocky community shows heart in annual Adopt-A-Family.

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dec. 18, 2014 What’s happening in your world? Dec. 19: MovieThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Dec. 19: MovieAnnie Dec. 25: HolidayCHRISTMAS Dec. 26: MovieUnbroken Dec. 26: MovieThe Interview Dec. 26: MovieThe Gambler Jan. 2: MovieLeviathan Jan. 6: EventGirls Basketball Game, 6:30 p.m. at home Jan. 9: MovieTaken 3 Jan. 10: ConcertMac Miller, Aggie Theatre Jan. 20: EventBoys Basketball Game, 6:30 p.m. at home

rocky mountain

Burger review by Avery Martin

BURGERS & FRIES: the criteria The criteria of all of these burgers is based on quality and whether or not they are made to order, which isn’t based on opinion. It’s pretty clear what a high quality burger is. Call me picky, but I like a good burger. We all know McDonald’s, Wendy’s and BK aren’t quality. Lark Burger Order: The *LarkBurger Lark Burger’s food tastes very healthy, which is no problem. Everything in the place is eco-friendly, which is awesome, but the burger… The burger tastes healthy. The bun was also very dry and crunchy. That’s not what’s up. Now, if you’re looking for your healthy alternative and an escape from fat and grease, then Larkburger is a 5/5; however, if you’re like me and live by “laugh now, cry later,” in regards to eating unhealthily and working it off, Larkburger and its healthy fries get 2.9/5. SMASHBURGER Order: *Classic Smash The thing with Smashburger is that they only seem to cook about ¾ of the burger, so it’s not completely smashed, which upsets me. I’m the type that isn’t into a red or pink burger, it shouldn’t taste raw. Smashburger unfortunately tastes pretty raw. 3/5

TOP Ten

1. Nick Fitzgerald in a cake. 2. Steroids. White Elephant 3. Laxatives. presents for your 4. A chippendale. grandmother

Red Robin Order: Red Robin OG Gourmet Burger Red Robin was good. It wasn’t undercooked, fresh tomatoes and lettuce, My only issue, was the unnecessary amount of mayonnaise that saturated the bun. Unless you’re a fan of mayo, you probably won’t enjoy this burger a whole lot. The fries however are always on point, usually steak fries aren’t my thing unless it’s Red Robin. This visit the said steak fries were indeed on point. They weren’t too salty, nor were they soggy. In totality, the meal gets a 4/5. FIVE GUYS (build your own burger style) Order: Double Cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayonnaise, pickle, grilled onion. “The grease stain is on the ghetto grocery bag, you know this is gonna be good,” said YouTuber Dayum Drops, who is known for his overreaction to the burger of Five Guys and its deliciousness. In a way I agree with him, the burger from Five Guys is indeed bomb. There’s little else I have to say. The fries were too salty though. 4.7/5 for complete meal.

5. A thong with Nicolas Cage’s face on it. 6. R. Kelly’s sheets. 7. Adult diapers. 8. A coffin. Always

prepare for the future. 9. A gift card to the Adult Book Ranch. 10. Tickets to Fifty Shades of Gray.

High School Hi-Jinks A Sarasota High School student in Florida was arrested in late November for running a prostitution ring consisting of underclassmen ranging from 14-16 years of age. The ringleader was Alexa Nicole De Armas, 17, according to police. De Armas and at least one other student concocted the business plan over the summer to prostitute other teenagers for payments of money and alcohol, according to police documents.

rmhighlighter.org

essica Waters Founder of Adopt-A-Family

In 1996, student Jessica Waters saw a need to help underprivileged children in the community. Her project, Adopt-A-Family, would later grow into the successful tradition that it is now.

q&a page 5 dec. 18, 2014 Q: Back when you started it in 1996, did you envision it taking off like it has? A: I don’t think I could have anticipated it going on for so long or for it to have gotten so big. But I sure had hoped so. I felt so strongly and still do that high school age kids can make the biggest difference in the world. Corny I know- but it is true. As a teenager you feel indestructible, no one can tell you that you can’t do it. That stage in life is where if someone tells you you can’t you’re more inclined to say “Really? Watch me!” So the drive, the determination and the ability is there. I just hope more will do good with that. I will say that after that first Adopt-A-Family, I knew something pretty amazing had just been accomplished by all the students of Rocky Mountain High. I thought for sure my friends that were underclassmen would keep it going at least until they all graduated. But never did I think all my younger siblings would participate in it or that it would really be going strong 18 years later. Q: How does it feel to have started such an amazing event that is centered towards helping others? A: I just had the idea and didn’t want anyone to tell me I couldn’t do it. That’s all- the students and staff are the ones who did it. They’re the ones that keep doing it. It’s pretty amazing, I’m incredibly grateful to have played a part in starting something that has become a deep tradition at Rocky. Adopt-A-Family has been one of the best experiences of my life, I learned so much from the experience. It has set the precedent for the kind of life I want to live and the kind of life I want my children to live.

To view full Q&A, visit our website RMHighlighter.org Adopt-A-Family: A doll sits in the San Juan open space, waiting for a homeroom to pick it up. This doll, along with the other gifts, were distributed Dec. 13. Noah Fogeleberg

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dec. 18, 2014

On Pat O’Donnell’s legacy... “You can motivate kids if they trust you. He was straight, true, fair and genuinely cared about them. That’s what connects with kids.” -Former Lobo football coach and history teacher Tom Michoski “He was a pioneer of Rocky Mountain football.” -Assistant football coach and math teacher Derek Widmier

RM Highlighter archives

Leaving a Lobo legacy

“I think he helped set the groundwork for what Rocky is, a very relationship-based school, caring about others, and being selfless.” -Football coach and math teacher Mark Brook

Noah Fogelberg

Legendary coach, teacher O’Donnell passes away at 76 by Michael RoleyFeatures Editor Pat O’Donnell did so much for Rocky, and he did it all well. He taught, coached, mentored and inspired students at school from the time it opened in 1973 until he officially retired in 1995. He made such an impact that the school’s new fitness center was named after him in 1995. O’Donnell, who passed away on Nov. 22 at the age of 76 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, had a passion for helping kids in all facets of life, whether it be in the classroom, the football field, or in everyday life. By building relationships and connecting with students, O’Donnell touched the lives of countless individuals during his career. Few people knew O’Donnell better than longtime Rocky history teacher and football coach Tom Michoski. They taught at together for 22 years, beginning with the school’s opening in 1973. Michoski served as an assistant under O’Donnell, Rocky’s first head football coach, for 17 years before O’Donnell stepped down to help tend to his wife Flo, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Michoski took over as head coach and not long after O’Donnell became an assistant under him. They remained great friends after their time at Rocky. O’Donnell worked in real estate and helped Michoski find the house he currently

lives in. Michoski delivered the eulogy at O’Donnell’s funeral on Dec.1. “He was one of the rare, endearing personalities that the kids liked to be around,” Michoski said. O’Donnell was an incredible motivator during his time at Rocky. He did this through simply building relationships based on trust with his students and players. “You can motivate kids if they trust you,” Michoski said. “He was straight, true, fair and genuinely cared about them. That’s what connects with kids.” O’Donnell was a fun-loving man who enjoyed a good laugh. Students loved doing the “O’Donnell stretch,” which consisted of laying back, relaxing and maybe even taking a nap. His enthralling personality combined with the uncanny ability to motivate, encourage and support students is what made O’Donnell great. “He liked to have a good laugh, that was his charm,” Michoski recalled. “He just enjoyed being around young people.” The list of people O’Donnell influenced is practically endless. Among them is Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison, who graduated from Rocky in 1976 and went on to play and coach for the Denver Broncos after a stellar collegiate career as a linebacker at Colorado State University. O’Donnell instilled a passion in Dennison for the game, a passion that Dennison would use to launch his

own successful coaching career that includes two Super Bowl titles as special teams coach of the Broncos. “He was obviously my first coach in high school,” Dennison recalled. “And I just remember going in, I wasn’t a very confident kid. Just being around him and the way he taught and the way he encouraged everybody, it really helped spark us. Sports, but football in particular, really helped me grow, and he was a great motivator. “We had fun at practice,” Dennison continued. “We competed hard in games. Just some really great memories. The whole staff was really, really good. They made it fun and made you have a passion for the game. And, obviously, that passion continued for me, and I got a career out of it somehow, someway.” O’Donnell’s influences stretch far beyond the football players he coached, as well. Following O’Donnell’s passing, a posting on Facebook from a former student of said, “I was a skinny, scrawny kid, and a terrible athlete, but coach O’Donnell made me feel like the star quarterback of the football team.” O’Donnell spent 34 years in total coaching football, including 17 years as head coach of Rocky. According to statistics compiled by Michoski, O’Donnell recorded 122 career wins, with 105 of those coming at Rocky in 17 years as the head coach. He won Colorado Coach of the Year in 1979 and 23 of his players achieved All-

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State honors. Math teacher and assistant football coach Derek Widmier was a senior during the 1988 season, which was also O’Donnell’s last year as head coach. He remembers the night that O’Donnell won his 100th career game at Rocky. “We wanted to go win it for him, and we went out and demolished that team,” Widmier said. “He was a pioneer of Rocky Mountain football.” Furthermore, O’Donnell instilled values in Widmier that he carries today. “He mentored me and had a hand in shaping the person that I am,” Widmier said. “There are a lot of other people out there he had a hand in shaping, (too).” The list of things that O’Donnell did for Rocky is virtually endless. He was a huge advocate for physical education. O’Donnell led the charge in building a first-class fitness center at the school in the mid-1990s. O’Donnell had a major part in establishing many of the values that migrate throughout the halls of the school today. He is largely responsible for building the unique and others-centered culture within Rocky. “Pat O’Donnell was very passionate about kids and Rocky Mountain High School,” said current head

Legend: Rocky’s first head football coach Pat O’Donnell (upper left and lower left with fellow coach Tom Michoski) passed away Nov. 22 at the age of 76. The school’s fitness center is named after him.

football coach Mark Brook, who played at Rocky under Michoski while O’Donnell was as assistant. “I think he helped set the groundwork for what Rocky is, a very relationship-based school, caring about others, and being selfless; that’s what Pat O’Donnell was all about.” Tony Phifer has a unique perspective on O’Donnell. Phifer graduated from Poudre High School in 1975 and actually played football while O’Donnell was an assistant at Poudre prior to Rocky’s opening. Phifer then went on to become a well-respected sports writer for the Fort Collins Coloradoan, covering high schools sports for several years. “Pat was always really gracious to work with. He was a terrific coach,” Phifer remembers. “He was very accommodating. His players really liked and respected him and his kids always played really hard.” After officially retiring from Rocky in 1995, O’Donnell pursued a career in real estate. O’Donnell was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This took a toll on O’Donnell’s health, but the support he had given to so many people throughout his life was reciprocated during this trying time. “I’m glad that when it was his turn, people helped him,” Michoski said as he fought back tears.

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dec. 18, 2014

2nd Shift program teaches students practical skills by Reyna ThompsonOpinion Editor

$15,000 can make a lot of things happen. For the Alternative Cooperative Education department (ACE), it created a program called 2nd Shift. The $15,000 grant allows students to go in after school to get help on job readiness on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program, called 2nd Shift, which is similar to PACE, teaches students valuable skills like building a resume and cover letter, and career exploration after high school. “We teach real world, industry related skills,” said Patti Haugen, ACE coordinator and program co-director. Students are currently making painted wooden signs for the boys basketball team, and are learning how to use tools that will be important in the trade industry. “The students who have been in the program for a long period of time take on a leadership role and teach the new students,” Haugen said. There are currently 10 to 15 students that come regularly, although attendance for three scheduled days of the week is not mandatory. Students don’t see it as another required class, but more of an opportunity to learn real world skills. “We have several students in our classes that were able to take the information that they learn in class

and take their portfolio, resume, cover letter and interviewing skills directly into the community to obtain entry level employment,” Kim Nigro said. Nigro is an ACE coordinator and program co-director. 2nd Shift aims to prepare students for work in the trades, like construction, manufacturing and transportation. “Last summer I had a junior who has been in the ACE Program for several years and participates in 2nd Shift, complete a community internship at CSU in the Skilled Trades, and then was hired that summer full time. The student hopes to continue his career path in the Skilled Trades and is currently completing another internship,” Nigro said. This kind of success story is what 2nd shift strives to achieve. But for a student to achieve this kind of success, a certain amount of time and dedication needs to be put in. 2nd Shift is an extension of the ACE economics class, which puts together the Rock Stop and Rocky Wraps, as well as Rocky Designs. The grant has also allowed for the expansion of Rocky Designs. “We have been able to put more work out there because we have time to work on this business after school, this allows us to pay students for their work,” Nigro said. “This allows the student to put paid employment on their resume, and then talk about this job experience later in the interview.”

Reyna Thompson

Painted sign: The finished product on display. Students in the 2nd Shift program are assigned to create various items such as the sign on the left. Power to the painters: Students (right) paint signs for the basketball team. The activity was part of the 2nd Shift program, which helps teach students life skills.

Reyna Thompson

Basic kindness goes a long way in ridding violence O

reynathompson Reigning Wisdom

n Dec. 13, 2013, Karl Pierson killed a classmate at Arapahoe High School before taking his own life, because, “he wanted revenge for teasing.” Throughout his whole life in school, Pierson was made fun of. In his diary, he said that “Words hurt, can mold a sociopath, and will lead someone a decade later to kill,” Pierson wrote. Even though this is in no way an excuse to kill, Pierson saw it as the only way to let out his anger and frustration. Claire Davis’s life ended

because everyone involved in Pierson’s life didn’t see what he was building up to do. After a meeting with school officials, Pierson told his mother that he was going to kill Tracy Murphy, the debate coach. After hearing the threat, the school dismissed it as a “low level of concern.” This is where the mistake was made. A death threat is a death threat, and needs to be taken seriously. If school officials had taken more drastic measures, Pierson would have gotten the physiological help that he desperately needed.

It seems like this should go without saying, but just be nice to people. So many shootings are a result of bullying early on

in life. Reyna Thompson is a junior and Opinion Editor for the RM Highlighter.

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license testing Private lessons Required 6 hours of training

www.choicedriverseducation.com

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1232-C6 W. Elizabeth ● Ft. Collins, CO 80521

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dec. 18, 2014

FACT 1 in 4 women have been victims of sexual assult 1 in 6 men have been victims

44%

Sexual Assault

of sexual assuaults and harrassments occur before highschool graduation

center page 9

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Local Efforts Against Sexual Assault by Noah Fogelburgeditor-in-chief Sexual assault is a horrifying reality that far too many people face. Fortunately, Rocky’s Peer Counselors are teaming up with the local Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA) to combat the problem. SAVA helped to create presentations which Peers give to freshmen, teachers, middle schoolers and parents. The presentations given to students aim to provide them with a realistic scenario, and grants the opportunity to look for potential red flags that could signal sexual violence.These information enriched presentations are intended to be very impactful for students, and teaches them how to remain safe. The goal of these presentations is to help diminish the startlingly high rates of sexual assaults and teen dating violence. “It is important to help make Rocky a safe place for every student, and to create advocates for positive change in the

Nationwide War on Sexual Assault by Evan MaloneWeb Editor It’s something hard to talk about, something that isn’t wanted to be remembered, and something that happens every two minutes in America. Sexual assault is a topic that is sensitive to talk about and many fail to speak out. Thirty-eight percent of all rapists are a friend, relative, or close acquaintance. A recent allegation and lawsuit from Judy Huth claims that beloved comedian Bill Cosby is responsible for molesting her at the playboy mansion when she was only 15, and a playboy bunny has also come forward claiming that he forcibly tried to make her kiss Cosby. It’s brings the question to the table, who is one to trust? Before someone graduates high school, there is a 44 percent chance of being sexually assaulted. With social media, and a more accepting society, it’s becoming more frequent to hear about sexual assault survivors telling their stories and becoming advocates. A local company helps advocate for survivors. SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim Advocates) is open 24/7 and can help at anytime. If you need help our guidance for an abusive relationship or have

been sexually assaulted, please call (970) 472-4204 or visit savacenter. org. Peers are also in the college and career center in the western hallway. There is always a peer ready to talk if one isn’t comfortable with talking to anyone else. “We are adding on more presentations,” Kate Ufer said. Senior Kate Ufer is a Peer and leads helpful conversations with survivors. Social media allows people to spread their ideas, experiences and builds awareness. This comes with its advantages and disadvantages. “The media is a crazy tool. It can be so helpful and it can be terrible. It brings things to light that people don’t realize,” Ufer said. “It’s being talked about, it’s everywhere and it’s on people’s mind.” To be sexually assaulted, one is to receive any unwanted sexual activity, without the consent or against the will of another person. This includes unwanted observation, unwanted sexual contact or unwanted penetration or intercourse. These events can go completely without being talked about and someone you know could have been involved in an assault. The more society talks about their experiences, the more it becomes known and less of an issue. As society moves forward and advances, we are able to tackle more issues and find solutions to prevent them from reoccurring.

dec. 18, 2014

community,” senior Peer Lauren Buchanan said. By working with SAVA, Peers is able to provide a safe setting in which survivors of sexual assault can talk and find the resources that they need. Although trending news items, such as allegations against Bill Cosby, have brought sexual assault into the spotlight, the horrors of sexual assault have always existed. According to Kate Ufer, a senior and Peer Counselor, the time has come to rid the world of the misconceptions of yesteryear that surround sexual assault. “There are a lot of myths and there are a lot of excuses for the actions of people,” Ufer said. Ufer explained that Peers is helping to educate students by making sure students know that no matter what a person is wearing or if they’re sober, sexual advances without consent are always unacceptable. With the partnership between SAVA and the Peer counselors, the goal of setting the truth of sexual assault free seems within grasp.

83%

of high school women have experienced sexual harassment

79%

of high school men have experienced sexual harassment

Visit us Online at RMHighlighter.org • dec. 18, 2014

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dec. 18, 2014

FACT 1 in 4 women have been victims of sexual assult 1 in 6 men have been victims

44%

Sexual Assault

of sexual assuaults and harrassments occur before highschool graduation

center page 9

rocky mountain

dec. 18, 2014

83%

of high school women have experienced sexual harassment

79%

of high school men have experienced sexual harassment

Visit us Online at RMHighlighter.org • dec. 18, 2014

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dec. 18, 2014

Things we could live without

Sam Baran

Grade inflation a serious issue W

staff editorial Grades are no longer an accurate representation of what students are actually learning

e need to take learning back to the understanding of content, and less about the memorization of facts. Grades have become more important than learning. Grades have taken over so much of our thought; if you get into a good school, how you do there; and what job you get after you graduate. Grades are what matter now. Not that you learn, how well you understand, or even if you learned it at all, it is about if you got a good grade. In today’s society students are no longer learning-oriented. Rather, you are concerned with whether you pass or fail, not if you will ever remember or use what you were taught, you have been forced and molded into nothing more than grade-obsessed drones. It has become about how well you can work a system. Grades no longer reflect the knowledge of students it reflects your ability to memorize facts and how well you know what the teacher wants to hear. You play into their emotions, into their personal beliefs, what they believe to be true. The only way to truly learn is to attempt a deeper understanding. To talk about how things affected the world, and why things are true. Now students can get A’s doing average work, but making it seem as if they put the time and effort desired by the

teacher into the assignment. We have become a society that cares about grades, not about learning. We need to change how we test. Taking a test that is 80 percent multiple choice gives students the idea that every answer will be handed to them. Once we leave high school, our teachers and professors won’t be able to give us the answers. High school is supposed to be preparing us for the real world, once we leave we will be expected to be able to solve the problems that we face, the reality is high school is no longer preparing us. We are not graded on our ability to understand and have an opinion about the content that we are learning we are graded on our ability to memorize facts and dates. We have to take school back to learning; have testing revolve around understanding. Have a debate, a speech about not only the facts of the event but the ethical and cultural implications of each side. We need to be able to hold an intelligent conversation about what we learn and why it was important. This can be a nerve-racking idea for students who are not comfortable speaking to large groups, but this is now one of the only ways to ensure that all students are exposed to some sort of public speaking, with basic public speaking no longer being a graduation requirement.

ou know what really grinds my gears? The useless garbage that serves absolutely no purpose for humanity. Certain things use up precious matter without serving any practical purpose for humanity. If these things disappeared off the face of the earth, there would be absolutely zero negative consequences. Take mini-cupcakes for example. They’re a miniature version of something that’s already a mini version of something else. What purpose does this serve the world? We have major issues like ISIS threatening our national security, but how can we maintain any level of integrity as a people if we are concocting things like mini-cupcakes? Let’s talk about Internet Explorer. With so many reasonable options for internet browsing pleasure, the fact that anyone still uses Internet Explorer makes me question the future of humanity. Whenever I see a teacher voluntarily click on the Internet Explorer, any credibility that teacher ever had goes completely out the window. How am I supposed to trust a teacher that holds some sort of notion that Internet Explorer is a legitimate internet browsing option. It’s slow, unpredictable, closes randomly, and hasn’t been used by anyone rational since at least 1874. The world could go without teachers leaving the mouse on the pause button. Nothing enrages me more than a teacher completely oblivious to the fact that the bottom bar of the video player would completely disappear if they simply moved the mouse off to the side. Speaking of which, there is no place in this world

noahfogelberg Noah’s Bark

for otherwise respectable teachers that leave the mouse in the middle of the screen. There is a simple mouse courtesy to use when showing students videos, and it seems not enough teachers understand this. That’s not to stay students are completely innocent. Many students fail to understand simple hall courtesy. Walk on the right so as to not run into people, and don’t stand in the middle of the hall. Seriously. There is nothing worse than trying to maneuver the halls, only to be held up by a group of people (typically freshmen) that find it necessary to take up the entire hall when there is clearly an open stretch of lockers. I personally find it outrageous that hall courtesy is not one of the most highly prioritized topics in Lobo 101. Personally, I think that if we, as a society, were to band together to solve these aforementioned issues, the world would be a much better place to live. By no means is this an exhaustive list, however. Hummers, wasps, Ed Hardy t-shirts, Fox News, leashes on children, people with dry elbows and Pitbull the rapper are all great examples of things we would be better without. I just think that if we were able to get rid of certain problems with this world, like Chloe Kardashian, every human on earth would feel the benefits. Noah Fogelberg is a senior and Editor-in-Chief of the RM Highlighter.

op-ed page 11

rmhighlighter.org

dec. 18, 2014

Cuts in sports: A necessary evil? Cuts in sports can be positive

 pro

here’s no better way to phrase it--getting cut from a sports team sucks. When someone gets cut, their mind goes straight to thinking about things in the short term, like wondering who else got cut, and who made it. Even though it might be hard, that person needs to think about it in the long term, and try to see their situation might actually turn into a positive. The coach says, “Well, you’re on the bubble, but if you make it, there’s no guarantee you’ll get that much playing time.” Translation: Your butt will be glued to the bench for the entirety of the season. Is that the way a sport should be played? This is why cuts exist. They prevent players from watching their favorite sport from the sidelines. Cuts in sports make you ask yourself that question. Getting cut is always seen as a negative. It’s a rejection of everything you’ve worked for in the sport. Which is why it’s hard to see getting cut as a positive. But the time you were sitting on the bench could be spent doing other things, like getting a job. While it is possible to have a job while playing a sport, it consumes all of your time. Homework becomes something that is done in the morning, and eating and sleeping becomes second priority. Cuts in sports may seem like a bad thing, but in reality, playing a sport that isn’t the right fit for you is worse.

Sam Baran

Cutting players from a team causes low self esteem

con

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Reyna Thompson

ou spend hours practicing worrying, it is all for that moment. The one that decides your future. The moment that decides if you get a second family or if you will spend your afternoons at home doing your homework. It is tryouts. The truth is that no matter how hard you practice, how well you prepare in that one moment the pressure is on, and you have to prove yourself. For some that pressure is what makes them thrive, for others that moment ruins them. Cutting kids from sports teams can be detrimental not only to the student themselves, but, in a few cases, can hurt the team. With all of that pressure on, it isn’t hard to see how students can choke under pressure causing them to play below their true ability.

In many cases these students will be cut from the team unable to further prove themselves. Not only does cutting students from sports teams affect the team itself, but it can also create doubt within the student. Being cut from a sports team simply for a bad tryout can cause students’ self esteem to drop. Cuts in sports can also cause students’ grades to fall slightly, if they are cut from a sports team they no longer have the immediate motivation to maintain a higher GPA. That is not to say that all students who get cut from a team will have lower GPAs or that it will severely dent their ego, but it is important to understand the implications that cuts in sports have.

Sam Baran

Waking up from the American Dream

T mattwood Carving It Up

he New York Times recently did a poll asking Americans if it is still possible today to achieve the “American Dream.”The results were more or less surprising, finding that 64 percent believe that “It is possible to start out poor in this country, work hard and become rich.” Now, I’m all for optimism, but the “American Dream” and the “Land of Opportunity” are becoming depressingly ironic phrases that show how outdated this kind of ethos is. The belief in the American Dream isn’t a bad thing, but this idealism is pretty unrealistic. Is the American Dream really alive

and well when the top 1% has accumulated almost as much wealth as the entire bottom 99 percent when income inequality hasn’t been this bad since the year of the Great Depression? There’s no doubt that you can still start with nothing and work to get rich, but as long as a very small group of greedy individuals holds a huge amount of our country’s wealth, capitalism doesn’t have much to promise. People that really try for the top always end up being turned into another cog in the machine. It seems like the playing field is not

really a flat plane, but a mountain, and only a few get to be at the top. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be optimistic or that people shouldn’t strive for success. Success is the American way. It’s a good thing. I just think it’s strange that a majority of Americans have this confidence despite the fact that America is starting to look less like a fair capitalist society driven by the free market, and more like an oligarchy controlled by big business. Matt Wood is a senior and a reporter for the RM Highlighter.

12 page features

rocky mountain

high ighter

dec. 18, 2014

Fixed on CycloCross Senior travels to Belgium for World Championships by Evan MaloneWeb Editor

It tends to be the ones you never see who have the best stories to tell. When senior Brannan Fix received his first BMX bike at the young age of 7, he had no idea it would lead down a path of success. Slowly finding his passion for biking, 12-year-old Fix found himself in a new sport called Cyclo Cross. The sport entails bike racing on various terrains such as pavement, dirt, grass, wooded paths, steep hills and obstacles that require the participant to dismount, carry the bike and mount after the obstacle is cleared. Fix is currently sponsored by multiple local companies including Boo Bicycles, Braaap Nutrition and Training Peaks. “It’s a great thing that the community can self-sustain itself, and opportunities can be given to younger riders like me by the local companies in our community,” Fix said. Fix attended his first National Championship in 2012, which was hosted in

Madison, Wisc. “It was a big step into the unknown,” Fix said. Fix has already flown out of Colorado for races four times this year. He travels with his team of eight other boys from across the nation on the U.S. National team of 17 and 18 year olds. With growing popularity in Cyclo Cross, Fix finds himself in third place in the country for his age group. Being able to participate in these competitions requires a lot of time and dedication in addition to countless sacrifices, including missing school events, being away from home and friends. Grades are not one of these sacrifices, as Fix holds a 3.2 GPA even with frequent absences. “I get (my schoolwork) done when I’m gone,” Fix said, describing his travel study habits. Even though Fix races at a high level of competition, it’s hard to do it alone. Fix’s parents are very supportive of his sport and help in anyway possible. His father, Matthew Fix, participates in Cyclo Cross as well and shares the

same passion as Brannan. “We’ve been chasing the dream for a long time,” Matthew said. Fix is the CEO of Flow Fire Protection founded in 1999; being in this position allows him to take time off from work. Brannan’s fellow cyclists on the national team are still dependent on parents for support with travel and other expenses, creating a large community of parents and teammates. “I wouldn’t be doing it without them,” Fix said. “It’s hard to be involved without being involved in the community.” Fix doesn’t do much sight seeing when he travels; but does the same routine he may do at home such as doing laundry and or getting ready for the race. Fix claims it’s “all business” when he travels. Fix left for Belgium on Dec. 16 for the World Championships on the United States National Team. When Fix finishes his last race in Belgium on new year’s day, he has to hustle back to America and will participate in the national championships on Jan. 11.

Courtesy of Brannan Fix

Riding Through: Brannan Fix competes in a CycloCross race. Fix left on Dec. 16 for Belgium to compete in the World Championships as part of the United States National Team.

Senior Ortolano excels at non-traditional sports by Daniel Dideriksenreporter

Rock climbing, unicycling, ping pong, frisbee golf, tennis, bike polo, archery, slacklines, scootering, scuba, backpacking. Although an extensive list, these still aren’t even all the activities senior Eric Ortolano participates in. “Name it, he can do it,” senior Jacob Hintzman said. Ortolano has an extensive list of hobbies, something he feels is just as important as traditional sports. “I think too often people tend to revolve their athletics around mainstream sports rather than other hobbies,” Ortolano said. This is shown through Ortolano’s involvement in these, as some might say, unusual hobbies. Even with his participation in these alternative activities, Ortolano manages to play both tennis at lacrosse at a high level. He was a 4-year varsity tennis player for Rocky and plays on the Fort Collins Unified lacrosse team. “I can do real sports,”Ortolano said. “I just don’t like them as much.” Ortolano’s means of participating in these sports comes in different ways. He recently placed third at a local ping pong tournament

and plays pickleball at the Country Club. For the abundance of outdoor activities, Colorado encompasses the perfect setting for him. Even with his involvement in all these activities, Ortolano has been quite successful in school and is currently an aide to art teacher Jay Dukart and has created a friendship with him. “He’s one of the most unique, rather strange, and when I say strange I mean strange looking, smelling, and vulgar. Yet, he’s one of the most lonely people I’ve ever met. To summarize, he’s quite a monster,” Dukart said (This was said in good fun, Ortolano was standing right next to Dukart when this was said) Ortolano doesn’t quite know where his interest of these activities come from but he’ll likely continue participating in all these activities. Ortolano summarized it best. “I like random stuff,” he said.

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I think too often people tend to revolve their athletics around mainstream sports rather than other hobbies. Hobby Man: Senior Eric Ortolano has a knack for non-traditional sports and hobbies. He recently placed third at a ping pong tournament here and plays pickleball at the Country Club.

Daniel Dideriksen

features page 13

rmhighlighter.org

dec.18, 2014

Unbroken: A must see this break michaelroley Mike’s Hard Facts

y Christmas itinerary will be slightly different this

Avery Martin

Showing off: Senior Eric Ortolano shows off his masterpieces at the AP Art Show on Dec. 8.

APart from others by Daniel Dideriksenreporter

There is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to the AP Art Show. Yes, there are close to 100 unique pieces made by students, but it is also the culmination of a semester, sometimes even years, of hard work. “It takes a lot more time than it seems but in the end it’s all worth it,” senior Kodi Davis said. Some students have spent most of their high school careers preparing for the show, which was held on Dec. 8 in the Commons. It’s something they had been anticipating for a long time. “It’s really cool. I’ve been working all high school to get here,” senior Collin Orr said. “Most people have been working since freshman year to get here and it’s crazy to see it all come together. It’s just really awesome.” The amount of work to not only produce every piece of art but also set up the art show can produce a copious amount of stress. However, this stress quickly dissolves as soon as the end product comes to fruition.

“The AP Art class put a lot of effort into this,” senior Lilith Gamer said. “I’m very glad with the way it turned out.” Gamer’s view was conservative, as the end product was, in fact, quite remarkable. Every single piece at the show was creative and unique and the turnout was substantial. Jay Dukart, the AP Art teacher, was appreciative of the support the students received. “It’s a great night for the art students because it culminates their entire semester of hard work,” Dukart said. “It’s wonderful to see all the Rocky community, students and staff, come together and support them and all their hard work.” The art show itself consisted of photography, painting, drawing, digital design, pottery and sculpting. The skill level of artists in the school was high. It could be argued that some of the pieces looked like professional-quality art. The hard work truly paid off. “It’s been an experience,” senior Dylan Price said as he reflected on the night. “Being here with my friends and everything has been an unforgettable experience.”

year. Of course, there will be the usual routine of going to church, opening presents, watching NBA games and eating a bit too much. However, at some point during the day, I’ll leave the nest and venture over to the movie theater to see the premiere of Unbroken. The film, directed by Angelina Jolie is the story of the life of Louie Zamperini. I just finished reading the book by Laura Hillenbrand, which is easily the best book I’ve ever read. Without spoiling too much, here is a very general overview of the novel. Zamperini grew up a rebel in Torrance, Calif., right outside of

Los Angeles. He pilfers everything in sight and develops a bad reputation as a misbehaving juvenile delinquent. Eventually, Louie finds comfort and enjoyment in running. With the coaching of his brother Pete, Louie develops into an elite runner, smashing records and then becoming a successful runner at USC. Louie qualifies for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Although he doesn’t win a medal, Louie finished the last lap of the 5000 meter race in incredible time, even drawing the interest of Adolf Hitler, who called Louie over to his booth after the race to acknowledge his superb effort. The lives of Americans were then turned upside down on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese depleted the American Naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. As World War II was on the horizon, Louie joined the Army Air Corps and became a bombardier. Eventually, while on a routine rescue mission over the Pacific, the B-24 Louie was

flying in crashed over the ocean. He miraculously escaped the crash. Louie and two others, climb aboard a life raft. For the next 47 days, they battle thirst, heat, starvation and numerous shark attacks before being taken prisoner by the Japanese. Louie is transferred between several POW camps for several years. One of the guards at the camp, nicknamed “The Bird,” is absolutely brutal toward Louie. He degrades, dehumanizes and helplessly abuses Louie. However, Louie remained Unbroken. This book is one of the most incredible life stories ever told. How one man survives all that he did is practically unfathomable. And that’s why I recommend you pick up a copy and give it a read during break. Or at least meander over to the movie theater to see the film. It will change your life. Michael Roley is a senior and the Feature Editor of the RM Highlighter.

rmhighlighter.org

sports page 14 dec. 18, 2014

Wrestling his way out, Murphy to take talents to Iowa Senior makes decision to continue at school with long wrestling tradition by Michael RoleyFeatures Editor

When people think of Duke basketball or Alabama football, they automatically think of an elite, successful and tradition-rich program. Include the University of Iowa wrestling program to a short list of collegiate athletic programs that have undeniable pageantry and boast numerous national championships. The Hawkeyes have claimed 23 of the last 37 national championships in wrestling. Senior 145-pound wrestler Danny Murphy gave a verbal commitment to the nation’s most storied wrestling school in October. Murphy placed second at state as a sophomore and third a year ago. He is excited for the opportunity to compete one more time at state this February at the Pepsi Center. However, Murphy maintains a similar approach to every match, regardless of the stage. “Every time I step on the mat, whether its practice, dual or the state finals, it doesn’t matter to me,” Murphy said. “You just have to go out there and compete, I like to treat every time I’m on the mat the same.” Murphy actually began wrestling in the 7th grade, a rarity for a sport in which kids sometimes begin wrestling as early as 5 years old. His growth as a wrestler since then has been nothing short of outstanding. “The fact that he’s improved so quickly is amazing and another attribute to his hard work and dedication,” assistant coach Brad Hargreaves said. Murphy has had a perfect start to his senior season, going undefeated in all five of his matches at the Windsor Duals and pinning his opponent from Lakewood High School on Dec. 4. Murphy is currently battling a knee injury, but it’s not expected to keep him off the mat for an extended period of time.

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One of of the attributes that makes Murphy so tough to beat on the mat is his mental toughness and ability to outlast his opponents. “A lot of guys don’t want to wrestle Danny Murphy in the third period because that’s when he’s going to pound them,” Hargreaves said. The process of being recruited was a positive one for Murphy. It began early on as he attended several camps where Iowa coach Terry Brands was present. He was able to build a relationship with Brands, which eventually led to Murphy being brought out for an unofficial visit in the summer before his junior year. Eventually, Murphy went on an official visit to Iowa City in the first week of October where he gave his verbal commitment the next day. “They have a big name and they always got a bunch of studs. Going there to wrestle is a big honor,” Murphy said. Murphy has been a mainstay of the Rocky team since the day he arrived as a freshman. However, he really started to develop into a leadership role as a sophomore, even receiving votes to be a team captain. Murphy has been a captain the past two years and, not surprisingly, he has excelled tremendously in that position. “Danny’s not a really vocal guy but just by his actions and how hard he works, other guys see that and they see the results of his hard work,” Hargreaves said. “It makes them want to work harder.” The success and experience Murphy has achieved is something that benefits the Brad Hargreaves whole team. In assistant wrestling coach fact, many of the other wrestlers often look to Murphy for advice. At the Windsor Duals held on Dec. 6, junior Manny Lopez was preparing

He’s the type of young man that represents our school, our wrestling program with the utmost respect.

Michael Roley

Grappling effect: Senior Danny Murphy wrestles in the Windsor meet on Dec. 6. Murphy placed third last year in the state for his weight class. This year he is primed and ready to take first place. Murphy also committed to the University of Iowa in early October.

Michael Roley

Rough and tough: Senior Danny Murphy wrestles at the Windsor Duals on Dec. 6. Murphy is team captain and the team leader.

for a match against Windsor’s Josh Villa, a defending 4A state champion. Before the match, there was Murphy, right by his teammate, talking to and encouraging Lopez. “It’s great to have Danny as a teammate. He’s the guy that if you’re unsure of what you’re going to do, he’ll tell you what you need to know,” Lopez said. “When you’re on the team with him for so many years, he’s family. I love the guy.” Iowa boasts one of the most impressive collegiate athletic programs in the country. In addition to 23 team titles, the Hawkeyes hold an NCAA record of nine consecutive national championships, won under legendary coach Dan Gable from 1978 to 1986. They have also had two seasons in program history in which five wrestlers have won individual national titles. Cracking the starting lineup at such

a prominent school is no easy task. But Murphy no doubt has the work ethic to make it happen. “The type of young man that he is, there is nothing that I would ever put out of his reach,” Hargreaves said. “A lot of people have said ‘Is he good enough to wrestle there?’ Well, maybe not right now, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll go there and be an All-American.” Off the wrestling mat, Murphy is a high character young man, who embodies everything Rocky is about. Hargreaves has to fight back tears when talking about the incredible impact Murphy has had. “He’s the type of young man that represents our school, our wrestling program with the utmost respect,” Hargreaves said. “I’m a single dad to a 12-year old, and Danny Murphy is probably my son’s biggest idol.”

rmhighlighter.org 5A state football playoffs need work

’m not trying to jump to any conclusions, but the 5A football state football jacobnemitz playoffs are far The Admiral too big. If you do not know, the 5A football state playoffs allow 32 different schools to participate in the playoffs. This means that the first round of playoff games feature teams which are 8-1 and 9-0 playing 3-6 and 4-5 teams. This means that the first round of the playoffs mean little to nothing. There were no upsets in the 2014 football playoffs this year. Odds are there won’t be any next year, either. There is a very simple solution to this. Just cut the playoffs to 16 teams and never look back. With 16 teams, you must have a winning record to get in, you must show at least some sort of football competence to get a spot and the first round actually means something. Now, don’t get me wrong, our first round game was a thrilling win at home against ThunderRidge High School, 7-3, but in a 16-team playoff, we wouldn’t have drawn a team that had lost five games, two to one seeds, a two seed , a three seed, and a slip up against a six seed. Every other two seed in the 2014 playoffs played a seven seed that had lost at least six games, in a significantly worse conference than ThunderRidge’s. My point is, the first round of the playoffs is useless and is a waste of our time. With a 16-team playoff bracket, teams must be at least .500 or better to get in and will save everybody the time of going to a cold, windy night game that puts the powerhouses of Colorado 5A football against a team that scratched their way into the playoffs at 3-6. Allowing 32 teams into the playoffs is essentially giving someone an award for being sub-par. A team that fought its way to a 7-2, 8-1 record does not deserve to be considered at the same level as a lowly 3-6, 4-5 team. With 16 teams, CHSAA will have similar brackets to 4A and everyone below. There was three thrilling upsets in the first round of the 4A playoffs. Why? Because they have a 16 team bracket. Get it together CHSAA–32 teams is not an adequate way to determine the best team in Colorado. Jacob Nemitz is a junior and the Sports Editor of the RM Highlighter.

sports page 15 dec. 18, 2014

Fall sports honors & awards Robbins swipes the FRL Player of the Year by Michael RoleyFeatures Editor

Courtney Robbins is a nightmare for other teams when she gets on base. The senior centerfielder used her speed to swipe a 5A-leading 36 stolen bases this season. This mark, combined with a .449 batting average, helped earn her the Front Range League Player of the Year award. “You never really think about things like that,” Robbins said on receiving the award. “It was nice to know I was being recognized.” Robbins helped lead the softball team to a 14-9 record this season and a berth in the state tournament. Her speed added incredible value to the team. “Whenever she’s on first base, it’s really like a double,” head softball coach Matt Nigro said. “You can’t coach speed.” With her speed and stellar average, Robbins was the undeniable leader of the team this season. She led through her actions and steadfast work ethic, setting a prime example for the younger players. “She’s not a real vocal leader but when you get a player that brings the level of everyone around her up; that’s a special player,” Nigro said. Her exceptional character has garnered Robbins a few additional awards as well. She has been an academic-all state athlete the last two years and was also nominated for the 2014 Heart of a Champion Scholarship–a nomina-

•Hugo Galvan:

Senior striker Hugo Galvan was named to the first team all conference soccer team in November. Hugo was the leading scorer for the team scoring 10 goals and led the team to the playoffs. Junior John Brown also made the sec-

Michael Roley

Hit and run: Senior Courtney Robbins hits during the vs. Horizon High School on Sept. 20 . Robbins recently committed to Colorado Mesa to play softball.

tion that, according to Nigro, has nothing to do with her softball talent. Robbins cites the cohesion and bonds she had with her teammates as a reason for her success this season. “I was able to really be comfortable with the team which allowed me to not hold anything back,” she said. Robbins has already signed to play softball at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. The Mavericks compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. She is excited to continue her career at the next level. “I’ve met some of the girls there and I’m really excited,” Robbins said. “I think it’s going to be a really good team dynamic.” Blood, sweat and tears: Senior Hugo Galvan sets up during a free kick against Arvada West High School. Galvan lead the team in goals this year with 10.

ond all conference team. Junior Alex Terjak-Wall and Junior Mason Campbell were also honorable mentions. The boys team made the playoffs but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Grandview High School, 5-0.

Natalie Pounds

Icing on the cake: Senior Max McDonald won the defensive MVP for the FRL just after leading the conference in tackles with 138.

•Max McDonald: Senior linebacker Max McDonald was named the Front Range League’s defensive MVP on Dec. 1. McDonald had an astounding 138 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception to top it all off. Adding on to that, McDonald had a rushing TD and returned his 1 interception for a touchdown. Jacob Nemitz

•Football team:The Rocky Mountain football team also had many all conference players. Seniors Alex Kinney, Salofi Gaoa, Max McDonald, Riley Neal, Jacoby Benger and Junior Otis

Johnson all received first team honors. Seniors Chandler Grote, Josh Rhead, Tausolia Liufau and Juniors Logan Richards and Cade Hairgrove all received second team honors. Jacob Nemitz

Busting through, the football team led by senior Max McDonald, (44) runs onto French Field for its home opener against Legend H.S.

16 page photo essay

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dec. 18, 2014

Shopping for a good cause: Finnegan White and Cassandra Ungerman look for clothing to give to their Adopt-A-Family. This program was made to help out struggling community members around Christmas time.

Adopt-AFamily carries on School comes together, helps out community for 18th year

rocky mountain

Noah Fogelberg

Throughout December, students join together to collect food, clothing, and other household items for the Adopt-A-Family program. Adopt-A-Family was started in 1996 by former student Jessica Waters. It has become a huge part of Rocky’s culture every holiday season. It was once again a huge success as mountains of boxes filled the commons. This year, items were distributed to families on Dec. 13. Many students showed up to help load cars, greet families, and make deliveries to other families’ homes. It was once again a school-wide effort that brought Rocky and the community together.

Stuffing the freezer: Cameron Fitch helps load food into the cafeteria freezer. The food was given to families.

Noah Fogelberg

Helping out Teacher Chris O’Grady helps prepare gifts for Adopt-A-Family distribution.

Evan Malone

Gettin’ festive: The sculpture of a Lobo located near the front office is decorated for the holiday season.

Noah Fogelberg

Evan Malone

Beary Christmas: A bear rests patiently for its new owner the night before the Adopt-A-Family pick-up day.

Checking it twice: Teacher Tom List checks over his clipboard of rooms the night before families arrive.

Stocking stuffers: Simchah Baker stuffs a stocking for her family on the rocks, the night before Adopt-A-Family.

Evan Malone

Elf training: Student council gets the rundown on how to show the families around the building.

Evan Malone

Not even a mouse: All the presents sit ready for the next day to come.

Evan Malone