vail daily seniors scrapbook

The Vail Daily | Thursday, May 23, 2013 | C1

If you want informa-tion, ask for it, like Alex Girten.

Girten did and now he’s headed to University of Rochester as one of 12 medical scholars accepted to the program from a pool of 800 applicants. He’s guaranteed a spot in the University of Roch-ester medical school if he maintains a B+ average.

Girten, a Vail Moun-tain School graduate, was working a booth with his mother at the Vail Farmers Market when he spotted Dr. Eric Dorf, orthopedic surgeon with Vail Summit Orthopedics.

Dorf noticed Girten’s mother was wearing a knee brace, and struck up a conversation about her injury. Girten is interested in sports medicine, so he started peppering Dorf with questions. The lively conversation ended with Dorf inviting Girten into the operating room to observe an operation later that week.

“I’m interested in sports medicine because it is a combination of two of my passions: helping people and outdoor sports,” Alec said.

Girten just finished a long-term research project with Dorf and Dr. Rick Cunningham, of Vail Sum-mit Orthopedics, and with Dr. Richard Steadman. They’re all pioneering new

surgical techniques.With Ross Sappen-

field, chair of the upper school science program at VMS, Girten finished an independent study as a part of his science classes to look at a new surgical technique to reconstruct injured AC joints, the joint at the top of the shoulder, that is less invasive than current procedures.

Girten now knows more about the AC joint than anyone thought possible.

“This type of injury af-fects people of all ages, from all walks of life. It’s a common injury among football players, cyclists and skiers. Among my peers, this type of injury occurs frequently when someone falls off of a rail in the terrain park, or off a bike,” Girten said.

Once in a while, surgeons change their techniques, looking for better patient outcomes, Girten said.

If they like it, they stay with it. If they don’t they can go back.

“Many of the changes in orthopedics are small. It’s not a lot different from last year, but much dif-ferent from 10 years ago,” Girten said.

There was the doc-tor who grew up during World War II. He saw femur fractures were a problem and came up with the big nails that go

through femurs.“At first his colleagues

called him crazy. Then they discovered the pa-tients were doing well,” Girten said.

Sir John Charnley de-veloped hip replacements, amid great skepticism from his colleagues. Now it’s one of the most com-mon major surgeries.

“There are lots of ex-amples like that.”

Vail Mountain School student collaborating with local doctor on new shoulder surgeryOn Call Alec Girten

C2 | Thursday, May 23, 2013 | The Vail Daily

Camila Soffia Ramirez school Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year Going out to eat with my friends during lunchgive a shout out Follow your dreamssummer plans Just have fun with friendsif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. The mountainsif you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. Everything I like is in here so it would make me happy.in 10 years you’ll be Doing whatever I always wanted to dofavorite class you took Foods classclass you wish had been offered International foods class

Sandra Gonzalezschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfav school moment: My Senior year!!!give a shout out: To my mom who never give up on me and always believe in me T.K.M Mama!!!summer plans: Have fun, work, and decide what I want to do. where are you headed this fall: Probably starting at CMC for now.if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: Im happy that im still going to be close to my family n friends.in 10 years you’ll be: In 10 years I will be in Miamifavorite class you took: My favorite class was Digital Design.

Austin Tafoyaschool Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (VSSA)favorite school moment from any year Finding and destroying all of Lord Voldemort’s horcruxesgive a shout out Hermione Granger, Jack the Cat, Dirty Mike and the boyssummer plans Train for college football and trackwhere are you headed this fall University of British Columbiaif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. Skiing in Vailin 10 years you’ll be Captain of the Enterprise Starshipfavorite class you took Defense against the dark arts with Professor Severus Snapeclass you wish had been offered History of the Lightsaber

Marco Beltran New America’s High School

Lena Joy BajzaRed Canyon High School


Maddy McGinty school Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment Working with Abel and Melissa in cog needs! <3give a shout out I’d like to give a shout out to YA MUTHAsummer plans Travel and work baby!where are you headed this fall University of Northern Coloradowhat will you miss most. The close community full of smiles!if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping I’m outa here baby!in 10 years, you’ll be the princess of Genovia class you wish had been offered Big Gurls 101

Mindy Arlette Aldereteschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Meeting people during Cross country Season and they helped me find out what my favorite sport is.shout out: to all my friends and family. Thank you for helping me succeedsummer plans is to volunteer at a dentals office.this fall I will either go to UNC or CSU in pueblo (still deciding)what i will miss the most about eagle county is that i will not be able to help my siblings with there homework.In 10 years I will be a Physicians Assistant and heading back to college for Audio productionfavorite class I took was digital designclass i wish had been offered is music production

Stephanie Keysschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Zoo field trip, 2nd gradegive a shout out: To Bobby Gates, for all your supportsummer plans: Internship with the Walking Mountains Science Centerwhere are you headed this fall: Pacific University, Forest Grove, Ore.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: Mountains, elevation, dry air and sunshinein 10 years you’ll be: Happyfavorite class you took: Psychologyclass you wish had been offered: Jedi training

Cody Brown school Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year We beat the seniors in macho man volleyball my junior year that was pretty awesome.give a shout out Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, other family and friends, my grandpa and grandma! Love you all. summer plans Doing a summer experience program at my college for a month. Also going on a trip to California. where are you headed this fall High Point University in North Carolina if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. The Mountains, snow, and the people. in 10 years you’ll be Journalist or sports Broadcasterfavorite class you took Video Production with Mr. Jonesclass you wish had been offered Sports Management


Jack Kambyschool: Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year Golf Regionals with Collin and Chuckshout out to the Choom gang- Jim, Lucas, Deb, Collin, Shmeebs. Oh, and Mom and Dad.summer plans Caddying, gotta get that paper. where are you headed this fall Attending University of Colorado Boulder on a full tuition and housing scholarship, will be living in Evans Scholarship House. if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. Camping if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. Not staying.in 10 years you’ll be Hopefully retired.favorite class you took Psych with Phelan.class you wish had been offered Bowling

Molly McGrewschool: Vail Ski & Snowboard Academygive a shout out: The McPettergrews and Caldo Kruegersummer plans: Move to Colorado Springs and hang out with familywhere are you headed this fall: Colorado State Universityif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: I will miss being close to a ski mountainin 10 years you’ll be: Working as a PA in Park Cityfavorite class you took: AP composition and creative and expository writing class you wish had been offered

Rick Ramunnoschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Senior year’s playoff football game against Frederickgive a shout out to: My family!summer plans: Workwhere are you headed this fall: Metropolitan State University, Denver, to study Aviation Technologywhat will you miss most? The mountainsclass you wish had been offered: Beardo’s Freshmen Seminar

Jimmy O’Rourke school: Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year : homeroom basketball give a shout out : All my homies and of course my momsummer plans : Caddie at CCRwhere are you headed this fall: University of Wisconsin- Madison Go Badgers!if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. The mountainsin 10 years you’ll be: snappin’ necks and cashin’ checks

Best friends forever Megan Osteen and Annika Stough


Red Canyon High School’s Class of 2013

Kelly Guarascio school- Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year- watching Heivan score the winning goal in the PK shoot out at the boys’ state championship soccer gamesummer plans- A fun week in Lake Powell, multiple visits to Red Rocks, and a trip to Lake Julia in Wisconsin.where are you headed this fall- Northeastern University in Boston.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most.- Probably the skiing. I don’t think the east coast ice can live up to the glorious Rocky Mountain powder.in 10 years you’ll be- traveling EVERYWHERE!favorite class you took- Spanish. I love languages, and Senor Velasquez is the funniest man aliveclass you wish had been offered- Anthropology


By Derek Franz

Goodwin aiming

to do goodNatalie Goodwin is an only-child with a

passion for people.The Eagle Valley High School graduate

has an all-merit scholarship to Baylor University in Texas, where she plans to pursue a career in medicine.

“I want to be an emergency-room physician or a trauma surgeon,” she said. “I like the emergen-cy aspect.”

It’s a very different career path from what her parents do.

“My dad is an insurance salesman and my mom is a fourth-generation interior designer, so I’m breaking a big tradition there,” she joked.

“Thank goodness!” said her mom, Suzanne Fetzer Goodwin. “I don’t think I’d want her to go into this business with the way things are now.”

Goodwin also comes from a background of traveling and athletics. She played on the varsity soccer team since her freshman year as a left wing.

“She skis and snowboards, and has been a pret-ty good piano player since she started in second grade,” said her dad, Randy Goodwin. “She bakes good desserts, too.”

Natalie Goodwin said her interest in medicine started in eighth grade.

“My friend had cancer and I went to Denver to visit him in the hospital a lot,” she said. “I became fascinated with everything there.”

(Her friend ended up making a “phenomenal” recovery and Goodwin is still in touch with him.)

Randy Goodwin said his daughter has always been interested in medicine.

“Ever since she was 6 years old,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what it was that drew her in-terest there, but she was always into it.”

She’s also interested in language and plans to major in Spanish or linguistics for her pre-med undergraduate degree.

“I’m drawn to cultures,” she said. “I don’t think language should be a barrier.”

Her mom said they started traveling over-seas with Natalie when she was 6 years old, to Portugal.

More recently, Goodwin spent two weeks in Spain as part of a student group from EVHS in 2011.

“Spanish will always be a part of my life,” she said. “I’ve been to so many places, though, it’s hard to pick a favorite.”

Fetzer Goodwin said her daughter is very good at adapting to situations, which helps with traveling.

“She’s always been an easy-going kid with a phenomenal work ethic,” she said. “I think she’ll take that go-with-the-flow attitude to college. She fits right into wherever she is.”

Natalie Goodwin finished her senior year as president of the EVHS National Honor Society, which is dedicated to scholarship, leadership and service.

“We had 33 members this year,” she said. “We are very involved at this school. That’s one reason I chose Baylor – it has a really good leadership and service outreach program. I also wanted to go to school in the South and I wanted a Chris-tian university, so Baylor’s a good fit.”

She said her family is from the South but she was born in San Francisco and grew up in Eagle County.

“I’m just ready for a change,” she said.Her parents hope she keeps traveling.“Travel is so important

– it broadens your hori-zons,” Fetzer-Goodwin said. “We’re so proud of her. She’s a person who does it all.”


Battle Mountain seniors Kendall VanHee and Haley Wallace.

This group is Battle Mountain’s Allie O’Brien, Charlie Grant, Sydney Edmonson and Amy Sherman.

Battle Mountain graduates Lindsey Halverson and

Collin Idzikowski in their younger days.


VAIL CHRISTIAN BASKETBALL

I really relate to the Saints. Their bas-ketball program started when I moved here from San Francisco. And, as would be expected from any new varsity pro-gram, boy, did Vail Christian take some beatings.

Then-girls coach Patrick Beaudine once left me a message reporting re-sults, saying, “Against Plateau Valley, we lead 4-2 early, and that’s all I’ll say about that.”

Final score: Plateau Valley 96, Vail Christian 14. Ouch.

The Vail Christian boys basketball team started playing in the now-de-funct 1A Mountain League and always got pasted by DeBeque, which was the king of the hill in those days. One year, the aforementioned Dragons hosted the Saints for Senior Night, and did a number on Vail Christian. DeBeque won and ran it up, bringing in their seniors again when the game was more than over.

Final score? DeBeque 107, Vail Chris-tian 39.

Saints boys coach Sheldon Kuhns, who has coached the program since its start, still remembers that score to this day.

THERE ARE TWO ENDS TO A COURT

The reason your friendly neigh-borhood sports editor wasn’t exactly bubbling with optimism is that Vail Christian boys basketball has always been one or the other. To clarify, in the Saints’ early days, they had big men like Caleb Pearson, Jaryd Francis and Josh Sibley, but no point guard.

Once they got a point guard (Will Parker or Fernando Hernandez), there were no big men left in the program. And so, the Saints could score and score and score, but couldn’t play

defense.Of course, every year

for the past five or so, the Saints had pledged that this would, indeed, be the year they would bear down, play defense and actually rebound once in a while. And then Hayden would come to town and put up 88 points, showing that there was no there there, to para-phrase Gertrude Stein, when it came to Vail Christian defense.

And there was no reason to believe that this year would be different.

OK, the Saints got off to a good start. After losing to 4A Battle Mountain in the season opener — no shame there — the Saints won four straight and were 4-1 before the holiday break. But Vail Christian had a habit of looking promising in December, only to shrivel in January and February. (Again, very Giants-like. My baseball team has had a nasty habit of looking unstoppable early and then splatting.)

Vail Christian opened 2013 with a 57-45 loss at Shining Mountain, which was No. 1-ranked at the state in 1A. Nice to know the Saints could play with a good team, but there was still no reason to believe that Vail Christian would be sharing the same court with the Lions any time soon.

Turning point No. 1 came Jan. 25, ironically in a 51-45 win over Soroco. Though the Saints had toppled the Cardinals, Vail Christian wasn’t as fo-cused as Kuhns and assistant coaches Doug Bruce, Todd Ellsworth and Sibley would have liked. (Yes, Sibley was now coaching and that made the reporter feel old.) This would be a nice way of saying the Saints needed to shut their yaps.

I like chatty players. I’m a reporter. I need quotes, and guys like Gunnar Wil-son, Zach Linder and Nigel Johnsen, and, let’s face it, the whole team, all are

a reporter’s dream. However, it is not a coaching staff ’s dream to have your team opining to the refs, the opponent and the crowd during a game.

The game was on Saturday and, two days later, during Monday’s practice, everybody ran. This was the “33 prac-tice,” as it became known. No more talking. You’re just running.

And, thus, the chit-chat stopped.A week after the Soroco game, the

Saints went to Paonia and lost, 70-66. That led to big moment No. 2. Vail Christian was playing a full-court press on defense against the Eagles. It made sense at the time because the Saints were a quick, smaller team. If you’re not particularly big, you play up-tempo, wear down the opponent and then produce offense off the transition, something for which the Saints had a particular talent.

But Kuhns and the Bruce/Ellsworth/Sibleu braintrust realized that they had lost that game because of that style of play. And the answer was right in front of their eyes. The Saints could play a straight-up half-court defense because they had the tools in seniors Kevin Boselli and Linder. These two had played only one game together in 2011-12 because Boselli had knee prob-lems and Linder had a concussion. And together, they could guard the paint and rebound, the Achilles heel of Saints hoops.

Vail Christian went to Meeker and won ugly, 46-42, and it was a thing of beauty. First of all, the Saints never win at Meeker, and second, they had solved the puzzle of winning out those grind-ing games, which they inevitably had lost in past years.

Team actually plays defense; reporter amazed

By Chris [email protected]

Saints hoops goes to ‘The Big Show’


FRIDAYThe Saints wrapped the regular sea-

son with a 75-38 win over Plateau Val-ley. The way the winter season worked, I had not seen Vail Christian in a while, so I went in with my healthy Giants skepticism. (When the Giants were up three games to none, and trailing the Tigers by one run in Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, I thought we were going to lose the Series. OK, maybe, it’s not healthy skepticism.)

This was a different team. It was also “Beat the Stuffing out

of Gunnar Wilson Night.” The senior took a physical beating, but did not yap and get into it with the Cowboys. This is important. Such composure would serve the Saints well.

That’s because Friday was coming. (Yes, I know it comes once every seven days.) But say Friday to Vail Christian boys basketball and its players and coaches know. Friday is semifinals at districts, the game a team needs to win to advance to the finals, and, more importantly, the regional tournament.

The Saints were 0-for-Friday. Even when the Saints were terrible in the early days, they’d play beyond their ability, only to lose in heart-breaking fashion. When they had better teams, which might have been better-posi-tioned to advance, something went wrong.

Vail Christian washed all those bitter memories away by thumping Plateau Valley, again, 60-29. For bonus points, er, seeding, the Saints won their first district title, grinding by Norwood, 42-32. Kuhns had emphasized all season the importance of having a good regular season record to get good seeding in order to advance past this mother of all obstacles — Friday.

By all means, he was correct. But, regardless of seed and record, this was finally a different Saints team, and the rest of Colorado was going to discover that fact.

‘ON TO STATE’Vail Christian travelled to Glen-

wood Springs High School on March 9. Yes, the basketball team was going, but so too was everyone else involved with the school. Deer Trail, the Saints’ opponent in a one-game playoff for a state berth, thought it was going to play at a neutral

site.Nope.With all Saints fans clad in white

district-championship shirts, Glen-wood was Edwards East. And the boys did not disappoint. Not only did the Saints play defense, but they were showing the flourishes. It had gone beyond Linder and Boselli being des-ignated defensive guys. Defense had finally become a team concept. Wilson and Johnsen teamed up on Deer Trail’s leading scorer. Linder and Boselli were not only rebounding, but starting the transition the other way. (By the way, Linder thinks he’s a point guard. Sorry, kid.) Robby Bowles, who’s a brilliant shooting guard was in on the rebound-ing, as was Wilson. Austin Ellsworth was taking charges.

The Saints won, 44-33, and it wasn’t that close. Deer Trail hit three 3-point-ers on bank shots.

Vail Christian fans serenaded the team with their “on to state” chant.

Three things happened in that locker room. First, Brady Ellsworth, 5, the youngest of that clan, played his video game, completely oblivious to the celebration all around him. (Funny as heck. Sort of puts things into per-spective.) Second, Kuhns nearly broke down while addressing his team. (This had been a long time in coming for him.)

And coach Bruce wanted to talk to Boselli about being more aggressive offensively.

THE BIG SHOWVail Christian drew No. 3 Fleming at

the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, and pretty much everyone on colorado preps.com had the Wildcats advanc-ing. A state-newcomer, Vail Christian was meant to lose two games and go home.

The Saints overcame a shaky start, and another element began to emerge. They got contributions from all over. Sophomore Luke Berger had three big buckets in the second quarter. Austin Ellsworth had some big moments.

And Boselli had a huge game of-fensively with 13 points, most of those coming in the second half. The Saints kept surging, and a 14-for-20 per-formance from the free-throw line in the final 2:48 iced a 67-58 upset of

Fleming.Next up was No. 2

McClave and man-child Cody Canfield. After beating Fleming, the Saints stuck around and scouted McClave and wisely determined that everything McClave did went through the 6-foot-5 Canfield.

Canfield proved too much the next day. The Saints threw the kitchen sink at him defensively during

the first half, but there’s a reason Can-field went on to become The Denver Post’s Player of the Year in Class 1A and his team ended up winning state.

Not discouraged, the Saints came back on the final day of the tourna-ment to beat Caliche, the four-time state champion, 87-76, in one of the more wild games I’ve ever seen. Rarely do I go to a game where I don’t hear a parent tell me to write a story about how bad the officiating is. This, how-ever, was truly atrocious.

The refs called 59 fouls in a 32-min-ute game. Vail Christian and Caliche combined for 80 free throws. Caliche was 20-for-28 from the line in the first half alone.

I was going over to the scorer’s table to check out the foul situation, while Kuhns was walking toward the locker room. We caught a glance of each other. Nothing was said, but Kuhns had a look on his face that said, “Well, you can’t print that in a newspaper.”

Remember the “33 practice?” The Saints kept their cool during a crazy situation and took it to Caliche, scor-ing 51 points in the second half. Wilson went off for 32 points. He just missed the school record by two free throws. (For the record, that’s Wilson’s dad’s fault. As the Saints were winding down the game, the Rev. Rob Wilson came up to me and said, “Chris, they’re making their free throws,” referring to one of my common causes for scolding basketball teams. Gunnar promptly clanked two shots. That’s on you, Rob.)

Bowles put up 22 points. Oh, heck, everyone played beautifully, as the Saints finished in third place in the state with a 20-5 record, both easily school bests.

“I’m just proud of them. See, now you’re going to get me emotional,” Kuhns said. “For four years, they showed up to practice everyday. They showed up and played hard everyday. They showed up in the summer time. They gave everything for four years. They showed the younger guys how to play. I am proud to have coached them.”

AND IN OTHER NEWS …Vail Mountain School volleyball

coach Mike Garvey set a record for the most matter-of-fact reporting of a district title win. In almost a drone, Garvey leaves a message, “Hi, Chris, just calling to let you know we’re dis-trict champions. Please call me back.” VMS volleyball almost made state but fell short against Paonia in districts, which were held in East Vail. … VMS Nordic, for some reason, did not sweep the state meet again. (The Gore Rang-ers had won four years running.) The earth continued to spin on its axis. … Saints eight-man football went 5-4, including beating Soroco for the first time on the gridiron. … And, Vail Christian was pretty much amazing in the state track meet.


Holly Williams school: Battle Mountain High Schoolsummer plans: Summer plans include working and Lake Powell.favorite school moment in high school: probably meeting Ms. Jennifer Ortiz, but the most fun school trip we did was 8th grade in New York and Washington DC. We were touring the Empire State Building and I swear I heard my name, I turned to look at who called me and my class was gone. Mr. Mills had to come find me to reunite me with the class. Was quite funny.where are you headed this fall: I am headed to UNLV in the fallthings i will miss about eagle county: I will miss the snow, but hear there is a ski area within 45 min. of Las Vegas. and I can wear shorts and flip flops year round!in 10 years you’ll be: In 10 yrs I am sure I will be working somewherefavorite class you took: Favorite Class I took was both Biology and AP Biology thanks to Mr. Caudill, he’s the greatest science teacher out there!.

Daniela Gonzalezschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolgive a shout out: to my dad Ricardo that was always there for me, my sister, all my friends and teachers!summer plans: Go visit my family in Mexico. Come back and start working.where are you headed this fall: I’m attending CMC and starting my criminal justice career :)if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: I don’t plan on leaving Eagle County any time soon. I love it here!!(:if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: being close to my dad and all my friends that will still be in town.in 10 years you’ll be: 27 years old, with a good job and starting a family.favorite class you took: they were all great but favorite it would be math class with Mr.Gabriel class you wish had been offered: psychology would have been fun!

Carmen Marrufoschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolschool: Choir trip to Elitch’s!give a shout out: To my family for encouraging me.summer plans: Read, spend time with my friends and family, and read some more.where are you headed this fall: Western State College Universityif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: Everything!in 10 years you’ll be: A hyperactive molecular biologist.favorite class you took: All of my art classes, of course.class you wish had been offered: Video Gaming 101

Eagle Valley High School’s

Jake and Will Dutmer, and Megan Osteen


Katie Stephensschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: When Bill Gates came to our class.summer plans: Working at Stephens Nursery and raising 4-H livestock animals.where are you headed this fall: Colorado State Universityif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. Beig in the mountains, but at least I can still see them.in 10 years you’ll be: Practicing veterinary mediinefavorite class you took: Airbrushclass you wish had been offered: FFA

Alex Leeverschool: Vail Mountain Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Being unexpectedly recognized for Student-Athlete of the year.give a shout out: To my teachers for providing the flexibility and support to be a scholar and a ski racer!summer plans: Training in Zermatt, Switzerland and New Zealand!where are you headed this fall? University of Denverwhat will you miss most about eagle county? Vail Mountainin 10 years you hope to be: A ski racer on the world cupfavorite class you took: Creative Writingclass you most look forward to in college: Intro to Business

Congratulations and Best Wishes.

We celebrate the achievements of

Anneliese Niederhauser & Rebecca Cotton

Years30 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

970.926.0400 Open M-F 10 -7, Sat 10 - 6 , Sun 12-5The Cr ysta l Bui lding at R iver walk, Edwards, CO

www.kitchencollage.com

Find a Gift for Everyone on your List!

Gifts

Galore!

GIFTS FOR

GRADS…

GIFTS FOR BRIDES…GIFTS FOR HOSTESS…

GIFTS FOR DADS…

GIFTS FOR TEACHERS…

PH. 970.328.1182

FESTIVALS • PARTY PLANNING • & MORE!

BEST WISHES31$6 Entrée

For a limited time, come in for an entrée of your choice for

ONLY $6

Offer valid thru 5/31/13 (Just mention this ad)

CONGRATULATIONS

GRADS!

does not include steak and the offer is 1 per person per visit

J. COTTER GALLERY

jcottergallery.com

CustomGraduation

Gifts

Vail 234 Wall St

970.476.3131

Beaver Creek 5 Market Square

970.949.8111


Cindy Reyesschool: Vail Christian High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: The retreat at Frontier Ranch every year. It was great to spend time getting to know everyone and give nuggets of wisdom to the underclassmen. give a shout out: Thanks to my parents for giving me all I need and to all the teachers throughout my entire educational career that truly loved teaching and inspiring their students. summer plans: I’m staying in the valley to enjoy the beautiful Colorado weather and work. where are you headed this fall: University of Colorado Denver! I will pursue my studies to become a PA.if you’re leaving eagle county what will you miss the most: My family and friends. I’ll still be close enough to come visit often though, which is wonderful. in 10 years you’ll be: I will be working in a dermatology clinic as a PA and traveling to the places I have always wanted to see. favorite class you took: It’s hard to pick a favorite but Ms. Cooper’s English classes was always the best! I loved the books we read and her sense of humor. I will miss her and her class. class you wish had been offered: Probably one that had to do with ethics.

Mimi Naryschool: Vail Christian High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year all school retreatssummer plans: Counselor at a summer campwhere are you headed this fall: Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame, Ind.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. Friends and the mountainsin 10 years you’ll be: Ill be a nurse or Physical therapist with a familyfavorite class you took: Ms. Cooper’s English classes

Rising starVail Christian’s

Angela Downsready to storm the Great White Way

Downs is a Vail Chris-tian High School senior headed to American Musi-cal Dramatics Academy in New York City, where she’ll study musical theater.

She got to show off a little before she leaves, staging Vail Christian’s first Senior Showcase, a one-woman show. She sings, she danc-es, she tells jokes and does a monologue.

“It’s a good opportunity for my family and friends to see how far I’ve come,” Downs said.

It’s been a great ride so far, mostly.

Downs grew up riding and showing horses. She bought her first one when she was 8 years old. As sometimes happens with young women, her inter-ests shifted away from the equine and toward entertainment.

On a whim, she audi-tioned for the school play her freshman year, “The Music Man.” She decided the stage was for her.

Director Rayla Kundolf spotted her right away.

“Rayla Kundolf put the idea in my head that I could do this,” Downs said.

It turns out that Kundolf was right.

Downs’ voice is strong in an Old School kind of way, like her ability to get paid for a gig rests with her abil-ity to dazzle people in the back of the room – which it often does.

She looks the audience in the eye and has that per-former’s knack for convinc-ing everyone in the place that she’s singing straight to you.

“Every week, she would come in for her les-son accompanied by her mother whose devotion to An-gela is exemplary and so support-ive,” said Max-ine Graboyes, Downs’ vocal coach for the last four years. “Her mom would ask me, ‘Do you think she can really sing?’ and I would say to her that

it takes time to develop a good singing technique, but if she contin-ues to put in the time and effort, and let nature as well as ma-turity take it’s course, then I believe she can develop into a fine singer.”

Angela loves a challenge, Graboyes said.

“Angela became a very determined and committed young lady,” Graboyes said.

But it’s not all happily-ever-after. Downs was devastated when the family lost her oldest brother Nate in an accident. She stopped performing, and almost everything else.

Fast forward a year or so, when the actress play-ing the Wicked Witch of the West in the “Wizard of Oz” decided she was go-ing to look at colleges and would miss the last few performances. So, Kundolf turned to Downs.

The Wicked Witch was never so wonderful.

Downs had seven days to learn everything. She hit it out of the park.

That summer, Downs landed a gig as a singing waitress at The Marketplace in Vail, a great restau-

rant with a singing wait staff. That’s where she learned to perform for her audience, no matter how small.

The singing was great, the job was fun and her colleagues were delightful. But some of the customers could be a little cranky, she said. Still, you play to your audience and if you can get a middle-aged man to sing that he wants his steak me-dium rare, you’ve got what it takes.

At the intersection of preparation and opportunity, where greatness lives, you’ll find Angela Downs.

C2 | Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | The Vail Daily

Chase LopezRed Canyon High School

Charles GarrisonRed Canyon High School

Josue cornejoRed Canyon High School

VAIL’S PREMIERE LIVE MUSIC

JOINT

304 BRIDGE STREET VAIL, CO 86157

FACEBOOK.COM/SHAKEDOWNBARVAIL @SHAKEDOWNVAIL

SHAKEDOWNBARVAIL.COM

VAIL’S PREMIERE LIVE MUSIC

JOINT

304 BRIDGE STREET VAIL, CO 86157

FACEBOOK.COM/SHAKEDOWNBARVAIL @SHAKEDOWNVAIL

SHAKEDOWNBARVAIL.COM

MAY 24

10PMSCOTT REDNOR BAND

9PMJADEN CARLSON

MAY 25MY BROTHER’S KEEPER featuring

JONO MANSON & JASON CROSBY

MAY 26MY BROTHER’S KEEPER

Vail Performing Arts Academy presents

VILAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

For more info visit vpaa.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 at 6:30PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 at 2PM & 6:30PM

Congrats Seniors!

SA

V E T H E DAT E!

The Vail Daily | Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | C3

Jameson Davisschool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Being told I was going to graduate!! give a shout out: whats gudsummer plans: Get out of town find a good job and take care of my baby.where are you headed this fall: philly.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. My fiends in 10 years you’ll be: 28 yrs. Oldfavorite class you took: Know your Rights and Boy’s club.class you wish had been offered: sign language

Willy Blommerschool: Vail Ski and Snowboard Academyfavorite school moment from any year: The big dirtygive a shout out: Ricky, Julien, Philadelphia (RIP)summer plans: Skiingwhere are you headed this fall: Ski Club Vaiif you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: Mountainsin 10 years you’ll be: In the Olympicsfavorite class you took: BC calculusclass you wish had been offered: Advanced bird calling

Jammie Dumoltschool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Our senior raft trip give a shout out: To Red Canyon, I wouldn’t be the person I am without you.summer plans: Continue to work at both my jobs till I leave for school. where are you headed this fall: They University of Denverif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: Hw small it is, its going to be re-ally strange to live in a city.in 10 years you’ll be: Working at a law firm favorite class you took: I took so many but, Vietnam class

Jose Enrique Perez Orona school Red Canyon favorite school moment from any year: When I came to red canyonSummer plans to work and then go to college the fallwhere are you headed this fall: To college if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: I well miss all the friends I made favorite class you took: Math class you wish had been offered: Art


Stephanie Martinezschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year:My favorite school moment was high school lunch I have so many great memories that were spent with great friends.give a shout out: I would like to give a shout out to my friends and family. My friends for being their throughout the tough times in high school. And my family for helping me get through school and all the challenges.summer plans: I plan to work thought out summer and save money so I can put my daughter in pre-school and myself through beauty school.where are you headed this fall: I’m not sure what I will be doing when fall comes, maybe ill be Texas or at home Gypsumif you’re staying,what are you happiest about keeping: I am great full for all my friends and even though they may be leaving I hope we keep in touch.in 10 years you’ll be: I ten I hope to be happily married with a beautiful family and a career that I’m happy with. I want to be happy with my surroundings.favorite class you took: Ceramics.class you wish had been offered: French 3

Emily Massieschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite moment: The 2013 EV2DC Trip or Kindergarten Day in Ms.Thomas’s class!shout out: To my AMAZING mom, family, and friends!summer plans: Work at Stephens Nursery and have a blast in 4-H!where to this fall: CMC in Edwardsstaying in the valley: I am happy to stay home so my mom can keep cooking for me and I can still participate in 4-H!10 years from now: I hope to be a Flight Nurse and be living my life to the fullest!favorite class: Ag. Science or Anatomy!class you wished was offered: How to Train Your Dragon 101!

Ella Guzikschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Having the whole school sing happy birthday to me at a pep fest last year. give a shout out: Thank you to all the football coaches for giving me a life-changing opportu-nity that has helped me decide what I want to do with my future! Also I love you so much Dad, Bethany, Claire, and Mom, thank you for getting me to this point!summer plans: Working 2 jobs and packing up for collegewhere are you headed this fall: University of Wyoming, GO POKES!if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: Ski Racingin ten years you’ll be: Managing a Pro sports team (football hopefully) or a large businessfavorite class you took: Economics or Digital Designclass you wish had been offered: Trap Shooting classThanks again! -Ella Guzik

Collin Idzikowskischool: Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment: conducting original full concert band piece on the U.S.S. Missouri during the Hawaii trip sophomore year.shout out to my bands album just released on iTunes! “Awaken Annie - Roads” check it out!summer plans: work, gig, frisbee, outside!Headed to Berklee College of Music in Boston this fall.The one thing I will miss the most in eagle county is looking up on the mountain in the fall to see every color while the leafs change.in ten years I hope to be writing and performing my songs; changing the world with my music.my favorite class I took was AP Environmental Science. VONAROO!i wish AP music Theroy was offered.


DakotaSchool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite School moment from any year: Meeting my best friends.give a Shout out: Shout out to Lynnae, Sam, Dan and Phil. Summer planS: Getting a job!where are you headed thiS fall: Some awesome place in Denver.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miSS moSt? All of my friends and family.in 10 yearS you’ll be: Singing on stage with Danny, Ben, Cam, James and Sam.favorite claSS you took: Religions with Ms. NewmanclaSS you wiSh had been offered: Choir!

ERICK MEDINASchool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite School moment from any year : Gallery Nightgive a Shout out: All the Red Canyon teachersSummer planS: Work and keep progressing where are you headed thiS fall: Collegeif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miSS moSt: The weather and familyif you’re Staying, what are you happieSt about keeping: My family in 10 yearS you’ll be: Happy with my life hopefully favorite claSS you took: Mr. Gladitch and Gov. claSS you wiSh had been offered: Skate Class

Ezequiel cortezSchool: Red Canyon High Schoolgive a Shout out: I want to give a shout out to Mr.Hill he’s the best.Summer planS: I want to get two jobs and get a lot of moneywhere are you headed thiS fall: I’m staying in Colorado and making my own life with my girlif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miSS moSt. I’m notif you’re Staying, what are you happieSt about keeping.I love it here and I’m gonna miss my teachersin 10 yearS you’ll be: Ill be the manager at Costco.favorite claSS you took: Ms. WoodsclaSS you wiSh had been offered: mechanics

Lyndsey RobinsonSchool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite School moment from any year: Being told I was going to graduate!! give a Shout out: Hi: 5Summer planS: get a job, raise my daughter and save money for collegewhere are you headed thiS fall: CMC.if you’re leaving eagle county what will you miSS the moSt? The mountains.if you’re Staying? The mountains and my family.in 10 yearS you’ll be: 29 yrs. Oldfavorite claSS you took: Mathematics with Ms. Chartier


Thomas Anthony Reyes school: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: When I was told that if I passed all my classes I would graduate.give a shout out: I would like to give a shout out to everyone that started on bottom and are now here!!!summer plans: Have Fun and party with my fellow classmates. where are you headed this fall: Colorado Community College if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. My friends and loved ones.in 10 years you’ll be: 29 yrs. Oldfavorite class you took: Men’s club

Camila Soffia Ramirez school Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year Going out to eat with my friends during lunchgive a shout out Follow your dreamssummer plans Just have fun with friendsif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. The mountainsif you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. Everything I like is in here so it would make me happy.in 10 years you’ll be: Doing whatever I always wanted to dofavorite class you took Foods classclass you wish had been offered International foods class

Allison CampbellRed Canyon High School

Jose MartinezRed Canyon High School

Raechel Herridgeschool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Finishing school! give a shout out: I couldn’t have done it without my mom, Karla. I love you mom.summer plans: Continue to work two jobs in Grand Junction where are you headed this fall: Not sure yet.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. I already moved away when I finished school in December. I mostly miss my friends.in 10 years you’ll be: Working and happy with the life I have.favorite class you took: Mr. Dudley’s class.


Taey Marieschool: Red Canyon High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Last year’s lunch breaks. give a shout out: My parents and my brother. summer plans: Work and save money (: where are you headed this fall: Wherever my heart leads me.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: The beautiful weather and my friends. Mostly seeing all the starts at night.if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: My family. in 10 years you’ll be: Living a peaceful life and surrounding my self by people that I love. favorite class you took: Towards No Drugs (TND) BEST class EVER!class you wish had been offered: I was offered everything at my school so I couldn’t pick one.

Alejandra TorresRed Canyon High School

Travis Tafoyaschool: Vail Ski and Snowboard Academyfavorite moment: Going to Ski Academyshout out: Mom, Dad, and the Eagle Valley Seniors!summer plans: working in the valleyheaded in fall: University of Colorado at Colorado Springswhat will you miss: Snowboarding at Vail every day.in 10 yrs: 27 years of age?favorite class: AP Compositionclass you wish was offered: AP Psychology

Gunnar Wilsonschool: Vail Christianfavorite school moment from any year : State Championshipsgive a shout out: Copester summer plans : Workwhere are you headed this fall: Baylor University if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: The correct answer is Familyin 10 years you’ll be:...28favorite class you took: Economics with Mr. Phelan, History with Mr. Beaudine

Luis Munoz school: Red Canyon High Schoolgavorite school moment from any year’ Crew days give a shout out’ To Mr. hill for helping me graduate summer plans’ Work where are you headed this fall, College if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most. Snowboarding if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. my friends in 10 years you’ll be’ Rich and famous favorite class you took’ Boys Class class you wish had been offered’ Rec center.


Michelle Guida school: Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Our Footloose production!! give a shout out: My parents! You’re both so amazing and you’ve shaped me into the person who I am today. what i’ll be doing this summer: Hostessing at the Maya, going to Powell with the senior class, getting ready for college!!where am i going this fall: Colorado State University If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: My home and my familyin 10 years you’ll be: Hopefully, I’ll be making a difference in the world. “ (one person at a time)favorite class you took: DE World History with Mr. Niewoonderclass you wish had been offered: A yoga class!!!

Katie Hillschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Going to the state track meet last year with the 4 x 800 relay team.give a shout out: Bob and Chantal. I’m gonna miss you so much. You should move to Massachusetts, and you should definitely visit.summer plans: Move to Massachusettswhere are you headed this fall: UMass Amherstif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: All the friends I’ve made here, especially my track buddies.in 10 years you’ll be: A nursefavorite class you took: Anatomy and physiologyclass you wish had been offered: Abnormal psychology

Roberto Cortesschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Homecoming Week Senior Yeargive a shout out: Shout out to Coach John Ramunno ;)summer plans: Working, working, at the Gypsum Creek Golf Coursewhere are you headed this fall: I am headed to Western State Collegeif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: I will miss the back trails I go 4-wheeeling onin 10 years you’ll be: In 10 years I will hopefully be an Accountant or Insurance Broker in Eagle County.favorite class you took: Physical Condition because it got me STRONG. And coach Ramunno is the Bombclass you wish had been offered: Football class because you can never get enough football!

Natalie Goodwinschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: When the bell rang after my last final senior yeargive a shout out: My parents for all of their hard work and dedication to me achieving summer plans: Travel, spend time with family and then go to college!where are you headed this fall: Baylor Universityif you’re leaving eagle county what will you miss most: The closeness of everyone in townin 10 years you’ll be: a surgeonfavorite class you took: Anatomy and Physiologyclass you wish had been offered: AP Spanish


Marlene Chavarria

Nick PerryNew America High School

Nora Tellez SotoNew Amerca High School

Collin Hansonschool: Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: It was hysterical rehearsing shakesphere in front of the entire English Class. Also loved any time I was playing golf for BMHS.summer Plans: Working at Cordillera Summit Golf Coursewhere are you headed this fall: Colorado State Universityif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: I’m going to miss my friends and the wonderful mountains and hiking trails!in 10 years you’ll be: Very successful in my career and driving a sports car.favorite class you took: AP Literature with Mrs. Zilliox Junior yearclass you wish had been offered: Archaeology.


Addie Arnoldschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Homecoming Week 2012give a shout out: Yo Mom. Thanks for always making my lunch.summer plans: Working at the Gypsum Rec Center, backpacking and taking a road trip to California.where are you headed this fall: CSU!if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: The close, loving community we have. Simply amazing.in 10 years you’ll be: 28 years oldfavorite class you took: Video productionclass you wish had been offered: Scuba diving

Kristen Medinaschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: Being a boys basketball man-ager and being part of an amazing team for three years.give a shout out: I would like to thank my mom and dad. I love you.summer plans: Hopefully going to Florida or going on a cruiseWhere are you headed this fall: Colorado Mountain College in Edwards.if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: Our community.in 10 years you’ll be: I hope to be in Florida. I love it there.favorite class you took: Marketing with Mr. Triececlass you wish had been offered: I wish we had more art classes. There are some very talented students in our school.

Nicole Daigle school: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment: When Bill Gates came into my English class, and we didn’t really realize who he was until the end of class when Mrs. Stavney introduced them as Mr. Bill and Melinda Gates. We were all in shock and honored at the same time!give a shout: I’d like to thank everyone who supported me throughout my high school years and helped me grow into a unique individual. Mom, Dad, Jake, and all my buds...I love you!summer plans: hiking at least 3 Fourteeners’, camping with my family, taking a road trip to Moab, and playing my guitar on the side of the road to get some cash for college.where are you headed this fall: I will be going to Colorado Mountain College in Edwards to get my AA, then transfering to either UNC in Greely or Western State in Gunnison.if you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most?I will miss this small town, what little traffic we have, and the beautiful sunsets that you can only find in Colorado.in 10 years, you’ll be: Maybe a make-up artist in California, or a Counselor in a hospital, but definitely traveling the world, letting the wind take me wherever it may.favorite class you took: Chemistry, sophmore year with Mr. Carden. He was so sporratic and funny, that everything he taught was always a blast! (no pun intented)class you wish had been offered: Fencing

Megan Osteenschool: Eagle Valley High Schoolfavorite school moment: Four awesome years of Track!shout out: Mom and Dad!summer plans: Work, work, play, work, repeat.where you are headed: Bethel University, St. Paul, MNwhat will you miss most: The beautiful mountains, and the “mountain casual” dress attire.in 10 years: I’ll let you know in 10 yearsfavorite class: AP Lit and Compclass you wish had been offered: Real Life 101


Lynnae Friedrichschool: Red Canyon High School favorite school moment from any year: My Graduation give a shout out: shout out to Dakota, Sam and Mr hill summer plans getting a full time job

where are you headed this fall: Collegeif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: I’m going to miss my best friend if you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. I’m not stayingin 10 years you’ll be: Still in college I’m guessingfavorite class you took: films class class you wish had been offered drama

Haley Anne Wallace school: Battle Mountain High Schoolfavorite school moment from any year: When Keegan and I won Prom royalty and hosted the talent show.give a shout out: To Keegan Quagliano. Thanks for being my best friend. You’re amazing.summer plans: Lake Powell with friends, Michigan with family, WorkingCOLLEGE ORIENTATION!!! YEAH!!where are you headed this fall: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angelesif you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: My friends :( skiing, snow, and not having traffic.in 10 years you’ll be: No Idea...hopefully working and happy.favorite class you took: Show Choir....by far. Teacher was Ms. Sheresa Wilbanksclass you wish had been offered: Theatre (not just drama, but the whole running of a theatre).








Gifts

Galore!

GIFTS FOR

GRADS…


GIFTS FOR DADS…


PH. 970.328.1182


BEST WISHES31$6 Entrée

For a limited time, come in for an entrée of your choice for

ONLY $6


CONGRATULATIONS

GRADS!


Adam’s Mountain Country Club

Now Serving Lunch Wednesday through Saturday11am - 3pm 1094 Frost Creek Drive - Eagle, Colorado 81631

OPEN FOR Lunch


Charlie Grant, Jena Woods, Amy Grace Sherman, Collin Idzikowski, Joe Lyba-rger, Sydney Edmondson, Lindsey Halv-erson, Analiese Neiderhause, Judy and others. They’re graduating from Battle Mountain High School this weekend.

The Vail Daily | Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | C1

Rick Ramunnoflies his date to promBy Derek Franz

[email protected]

Eagle Valley senior Rick Ramunno is a licensed pilot and took his prom

date for a plane ride before the prom. Eagle Valley senior Rick Ramunno.

The 18-year-old earned his private pilot license in February and even took his prom date for a spin – in an airplane – around Castle Peak before attending the dance.

“I had to ask her parents if I could take her up in the plane,” Ramunno said. “I saved up my money for it and we flew for about 25 minutes in great weather.”

A plane rental at the Eagle County Regional Airport costs $150 an hour. Ramunno isn’t sure exactly how much his prom flight ran him.

“I haven’t received the bill yet, but whatever,” he said.

He started working on his pilot’s license about two years ago, which is an expensive process. More than 40 hours of flight time are needed to earn a

license and the instruction, airplane rental and fuel all cost a bit of money.

“I received a scholarship from the Leroy W. Homer Jr. Foundation a year ago and that sped up the pro-cess,” he said. “They only award one scholarship a year and basically give you whatever you need to finish your license.”

Homer was a commer-cial pilot who thwarted terrorists during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. His widow started the foundation the following year and many of its recipients have made their way into noteworthy careers in aviation.

Ramunno plans to study aviation technology at Metropolitan State Uni-versity in Denver next year. He is also applying to the U.S. Marine Corps’ officer program with a military

occupational specialty in aviation.

“This will make me a commissioned officer with the USMC upon college graduation,” he said.

An airplane ride at an Eagle Flight Days event was Ramunno’s first exposure to flying when he was 12.

“I knew then that I want-ed to be a pilot,” he said. “I’d always had an interest because my grandpa flew bombers in World War II and that got me amped up.”

Ramunno balanced the demands of pilot training with school and play-ing football and lacrosse for the Devils. His dad, John, is the head football coach there.

“Besides getting my license, another high-light this year was our great football season,” said Rick Ramunno. “Playing for my dad was a blast. It was great always having

him there to push me. I’m going to miss it.”

Rick Ramunno played fullback and linebacker for the Devil gridders and defense on lacrosse.

“One of the things I like about flying is that there is a lot of adrenaline, like football,” he said. “My mom was kind of freaked out at first, when I started my pilot training, but now she knows I’m safe.”

When it comes to his career goal, Eagle Valley High School graduate Rick Ramunno is already airborne.

C2 | Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | The Vail Daily

Andrew Romero School: Battle Mountain High School Favorite School Moment: There were too many great moments to choose one Give a shout out: Shout out to sidewalks for keeping me off the streets Summer Plans: For summer im gonna sleep like ive never slept before and hang out with my friends before we go to college. Coming Fall: University of Texas Where will you be in 10 years: In 10 years, i will be living my life to the fullest Favorite Class: Ceramics

Anneliese Niederhauser School: Battle Mountain High School Favorite school moment from any year: State championship ski race at Winter Park my Senior year. Give a shout out: To my Avengers! Summer plans: Work and spend time with my family and friends. Where are you headed this fall: Texas Christian University! Go Frogs!! If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: My parents’ cooking. In 10 years you’ll be: Working in a hospital as a nurse and starting a family. Favorite class you took: Anatomy and physiology. Class you wish had been offered: Anthropology.


Addie Arnold School: EVHS Favorite school moment from any year: Homecoming Week 2012 Give a shout out: Yo Mom. Thanks for always making my lunch. Summer plans: Working at the Gypsum Rec Center, backpacking and taking a road trip to California. Where are you headed this fall: CSU! If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: The close, loving community we have. Sim-ply amazing. In 10 years you’ll be: 28 years old Favorite class you took: Video production Class you wish had been offered: Scuba diving

Brett Murbach School: BMHS Favorite school moment from any year: Senior Ditch Day Give a shout out: Mr Caudill Summer plans: Work; 4 wheeling; and Surfing Where are you headed this fall: CSU--Go Rams! If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: Skiing Favorite class you took: Psych w Mr Phelan Class you wish had been offered: Physics

Ally Zehring School: Eagle Valley High School Favorite school moment from any year: school Harlem shake Give a shout out: thank you mom, dad, Bryce, and Cory for all your support in everything I do Summer plans: working and enjoying time with friends before leaving Where are you headed this fall: University of Nebraska-Lincoln If you’re leaving eagle county what will you miss most: friends and family In 10 years you’ll be: Athletic trainer for college or professional sports team Favorite class you took: sports med Class you wish had been offered: nap time

Cynthia Zapata School: Eagle Valley My Favorite school memory is when my soccer team named me captain and i scored my first goal at a Varsity game. SHOUT OUT: To my parents, siblings, an teachers that stood by my side when things were rough and helped me grow as an individual. This summer i want to visit my family in Mexico and spend time with friends that are leaving the state. This fall i will be getting an internship with local Interior Designers and work towards my career. I’m staying in Eagle County and i’m happiest about having my family close and helping my parents raise the little ones. In 10 years i will be an Interior Designer and a Certified Addiction Counselor My favorite class that i have taken is Weight Lifting Class you wish had been offered: Photography


Kyra Webb School VCHS Favorite school moment from any year - All school retreat at Frontier Ranch Give a shout out - To my class, I love you guys Summer plans - I plan to work and travel. Where are you headed this fall - Colby College, Waterville, ME If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most. My friends and family If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. In 10 years you’ll be I am not quite sure yet. Favorite class you took AP US History Class you wish had been offered AP Art History

Caleb Krueger Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy Favorite moment: Not taking the AP Calculus Test Shout out: To my homies Molly, Travis and Austin Summer plans: Training for activities Headed in Fall: University of New Mexico Will miss: Colorado Spring time 10 years: The same, only 10 years older Fav Class: Freshman Seminar Class you wish was offered: D.E. underwater basket weaving.

Alexandra Ramonas School: Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy Favorite school moment from any year: Our class hut trips in the mountains and whitewater rafting. Give a shout out Thank you to my loving and supportive family for giving me this fantastic opportunity to attend VSSA. Summer plans: I will be moving back to the Chicago area. My plan is to land a job, train for my upcoming ski racing season, and just enjoy everything that Chicago has to offer. Where are you headed this fall: University of Wisconsin-Madison If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: I will miss the mountains and the opportunity to ski every day! If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. In 10 years you’ll be: I will be teaching at an elementary school and enjoying my time off during the summer. Favorite class you took: Drama class – Thanks Mr. Beavers!

April AragonSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Winning state soccerGive a shout out: Seniors!Summer plans: if everything works out I’ll be joining the marinesWhere are you headed this fall: same as my summer plansIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: the teachersIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: s friendship with the people I metIn 10 years you’ll be: having my life settled Favorite class you took: healthClass you wish had been offered: cosmetology


Among his other talents, Will Dutmer was a high jumper with the Eagle Valley track team.

W ill Dutmer is graduating from Eagle Valley High School but you might recognize him from his gigs at local bars as the bassist for the band Monk Tonic.

The rest of the band members are about twice his age (he’ll be 19 in June) but the stage is a natural fit for him.

“He’s been playing bar gigs in Eagle for about a year now,” said Dutmer’s dad, Larry. “He is very comfortable on stage. Occasionally [older women] hit on him.”

Dutmer has performed in every school theater produc-tion since his freshman year. Most recently, he starred as Danny Zuko in the musical, “Grease.”

“I loved playing a cocky, full-of-himself character be-cause that’s totally not who I am,” Dutmer said. “Acting is fun because I get to be someone else.”

He said his family has a performance background.“My dad is in local theater and my brother is studying

musical theater at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley,” he said. “My brother has been in production since he was in first grade and he got me into it when I was in fifth grade, at the Vail Performing Arts Academy.”

Dutmer will be at UNC next year as well – he intends to

be a high school math teacher.“I’ve wanted to do that for the last seven years,” he said.

“I love math. I think teaching would be fun, working with the kids and having summers off. I also plan to minor in music.”

Though it might not seem like an immediate correla-tion, Dutmer’s performance background will probably help his teaching career.

“I’m definitely comfortable talking in front of people,” he said.

As for theater?“I might audition for shows at UNC but it’s really com-

petitive, so I’d be happy just to be a background guy,” he said.

Larry Dutmer said interacting with people is probably what his son likes best and enjoys most about performing arts.

“He enjoys the social aspect, especially the girls,” his dad said, laughing.

Besides theater, Dutmer was a shooting guard on the basketball team – which had a winning season this year – and ran track.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Larry Dutmer. “He’s self-mo-tivated, he sets goals. I don’t take credit for all this. It feels strange to say, but if he were anyone else’s kid, I would still be impressed by him.”

Will Dutmer rocks the stage as well as school

By Derek [email protected]


Sarah BakkenSchool: Eagle Valley High SchoolFavorite school moment: hatching chicksSummer Plans: Work at Strictly FlowersIf leaving Eagle County, What will you miss most: Mountains In 10 years you’ll be: 28 years oldFavorite class: Auto Shop and Agriculture Technology Class you wish should be offered: Underwater basket weaving

Hayley ClarkeSchool: Battle Mountain High SchoolFavorite School Moment; When boys soccer won statesWhere are you headed this fall: I am going to High Point University, majoring in Interior DesignIf you are leaving this fall what will you miss the most: I am going to miss the mountains and the climate.My favorite class I took: DE Phsycologoy with Phalen (check how to spell his name i don’t know for sure if that is right)

Matthew SteggallSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: hanging out with all thee awesome teachersGive a shout out to: my momSummer plans: fishing and workingWhere are you headed this fall: I hope to the Marine CorpsIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: I will miss the mountains and my awesome, beautiful momIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. everythingIn 10 years you’ll be over seas fighting for our countryFavorite class you took: government class and habitat with Mr. GladitschClass you wish had been offered: Anything Mr. Gladitsch taught

Kate Cooper School: Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy Favorite school moment from any year: Attending school in Russia in elementary school Summer plans: Lake Powell, France and hanging out with my friends Where are you headed this fall: University of Denver If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: Being able to ski Vail Moun-tain every morning in the winterIn 10 years you’ll be: Working in the fashion industry in New York or Paris Favorite class you took: Spanish and FrenchClass you wish had been offered: Art


Nataly MendozaSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Playing sports!Give a shout out: To my family and friends!Summer plans: To work and save up!Where are you headed this fall: Hopefully moving out to Denver and going to the Community College of Denver for school! If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most.What I will miss the most is my family and friends and this beautiful place that we live in.If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.In 10 years you’ll be: Hopefully have my own place and a stable job! Living life.Favorite class you took: Not sure the classes were all interesting.Class you wish had been offered

Molly Childers School: BMHSFavorite school moment from any yearGive a shout outSummer plans: Working at the Westin Hotel, going to the lake and spending time with family and friends.Where are you headed this fall: CU BoulderIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: My family and my dogs.

Anya KurronenSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: My freshman year, Mr. Dudley chased me down the street in his car to get me back to class.Summer plans: Hanging with friends.Where are you headed this fall: CMC Spring Valley CampusIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most. My friends especially BernieIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.In 10 years you’ll be a fire fighter Favorite class you took: Japanese Mythology with Ms. LammersClass you wish had been offeredI think the ones they chose are always good.

Tania MolinarSchool: evhsFavorite school moment from any year: performing Grease for the spring musical!Shout out: shout out to all my homies and my fam bamSummer plans: work work work so I’m not totally poor!Where are you headed this fall: the land of the potatoes (Idaho)If you’re leaving eagle county, what will you miss most: my momma’s food!In 10 years you’ll be: hopefully a happy music teacher during the day, but at night, I’ll be a ninja assassin! Taking out crime one NOTE at a time! Haha.....Favorite class: choirClass you wish had been offered: nap time 101 :)


Gunnar Hamina School: Vail Christian High SchoolFavorite Moment: Beating Soroco in Football Fall 2012Shout out Ms.LichiusSummer prepare for CollegeMiss most: Skiing10 years : On a beach, in a treeFavorite class : PE Freshman yearClass I wish they had: Badminton

Valeria MoranSchool: Eagle Valley HighFavorite moment from any year: Having lunch with Bill and Melinda Gates.Give a shout out: Thanks to all my friends and family that push me to higher achievements.Summer plans: I plan on working hard and earning money to pay college expenses next year.Where are you headed this fall: University of Colorado in DenverIf your leaving Eagle County what will you miss most: I will miss the small town with famil-iar faces and familiar places.In 10 years you’ll be: Hopefully done with school, have a nice car and awesome place to enjoy with friends and family.Favorite class you took: Honors Anatomy and Physiology.Class you wish had been offered: French III

Arely AlvaSchool New America High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: When I meet my teachers.Give a shout out: To the great staff.Summer plans: Work and be a mom.Where are you headed this fall: Colorado Mountain CollegeIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most.Not leaving.If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: The great memories I had at New America.In 10 years you’ll be: I hope to be working and accomplish my dream. Favorite class you took: I don’t have a favorite class I loved all my classes and my teachers. They’re amazing peopleClass you wish had been offered: I think its perfect.

Jack KambySchool: Battle Mountain High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Golf Regionals with Collin and ChuckGive a shout out: Shout out to the Choom gang- Jim, Lucas, Deb, Collin, Shmeebs. Oh, and Mom and Dad.Summer plans: Caddying, gotta get that paper. Where are you headed this fall: Attending University of Colorado Boulder on a full tuition and housing scholarship, will be living in Evans Scholarship House. If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: Camping If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: Not staying.In 10 years you’ll be: Hopefully retired.Favorite class you took: Psych with Phelan.Class you wish had been offered: Bowling


Alfredo MontesSchool: New American SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: don’t rememberGive a shout out: Summer plans: work a full time job\Where are you headed this fall: nowhereIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most.: nothingIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.:friendsIn 10 years you’ll be: I don’t knowFavorite class you took: well Mr. Dudley was a cool class and he always kept it interestingClass you wish had been offered: I got all the classes I wanted.

Amber CereceresSchool: New America SchoolFavorite school moment from any yearGive a shout out to all the teachers that encouraged me to keep going and help me gradu-ate. Also my family for always having faith in me and helping get through everything.Summer plans are to work to save money for college but at the same time enjoy my time with my two beautiful babies.Where are you headed this fall: This fall I am planning on getting into CMC to start and my nursing classes.If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most?If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping? I’m going to enjoy being around all the people I know.In 10 years you’ll be: I will want to be own a house and have a good nursing career.Favorite class you took: My favorite class I took was Astronomy.Class you wish had been offered: I wish I was offered cosmetology class.

Gustavo GarciaSchool RCHSFavorite school moment from any year GraduatingWhere are you headed this fall: The MarinesIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most. Snow Boarding.If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. I am not Staying in Eagle County.In 10 years you’ll be: In the USMC.Favorite class you took: HistoryClass you wish had been offered: I don’t know I think I took everything I wanted at RCHS because EVHS didn’t offer me entertaining classes.

Jazmin M. TorresSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Being told I was going to graduate!! Give a shout out: Hi:3Summer plans: Get out of town for a while, come back and find a job.Where are you headed this fall: Hope fully not Burger King.If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most.If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.In 10 years you’ll be: 28 yrs. OldFavorite class you took: Video ProductionClass you wish had been offered


Elida RosalesSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Being told I was going to graduate!! Give a shout out: yaii finally Class of 2013!!! <3Summer plans: maybe go back to Mexico for a while, then come back and go to college!!!Where are you headed this fall: With my parents in Mexico!!If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most.The people around, and all the fun stuff ii used to have!!If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.Well everything is really beautiful,, so everything!!!In 10 years you’ll be: 31Favorite class you took: Day Care ;)Class you wish had been offered: art

Eric C. GuruleSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Graduating! Give a shout out: love you Khyree Urijah Gurule, everything I do is for you baby son!!Summer plans: Get that great job I want and start to make that dough and a living for myselfWhere are you headed this fall: Everywhere and anywhere If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: I’m staying for a while If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: My life, health, fam-ily, and my homiesIn 10 years you’ll be: 30 years old Favorite class you took: lunch!Class you wish had been offered: what class I wish I wasn’t offered is the question

Abraham Martinez

, JR.THE LITTLE

SAVE THE DATE!Vail Performing Arts

Academy presents

FRIDAY AUGUST 16 at 6:30PM

SATURDAY AUGUST 17 at 2PM & 6:30PM

Vilar Performing Arts CenterFor more info visit www.vpaa.org


April Alexa Canowas raised to make the most of every opportunity

“My dad, George, has been the main person in my life who pushed me to do everything I can,” Cano said. “He came here with nothing and now he has a successful drywall business.”

In addition to her diplo-ma from Eagle Valley High School, Cano earned an Associate Arts degree from Colorado Mountain College May 3. That degree requires 60 credit hours and studies

in just

about every subject, in-cluding math, science and history.

“This will be my first summer that I haven’t been in school!” Cano said. “I’ve been taking summer classes at CMC since my sopho-more year.”

During that time, she also took dual-credit classes at EVHS, participated in stu-dent council and ran cross country track. She went to the state cross country meet this year as an alternate.

“The Associate Arts de-gree sets me up to gradu-ate from Colorado State University in three years,” she said. “I plan to double

major in hospitality management and psy-

chology. If I didn’t have the credits go-ing in, it would take me five years to graduate with those degrees.”

She hopes to return to the Vail Valley for work when she’s finished with school.

“I chose hospitality man-agement, because of the tourism industry we have here,” she said. “Psychol-ogy is something I’ve been interested in since the summer of my sophomore year. Hospitality is all about people, so I don’t think it will hurt to have a psychol-ogy degree as well.”

She said her dad taught her a work ethic and her mom taught her “how to be a good person.”

“She taught me not to be jealous of other people’s successes and to just appre-ciate who I am,” she said.

“Like every parent, we just wanted our daughters to be more than we were,” said George Cano. “We taught them to not have any slack time, and April worked and worked. We’re

very proud of her.”April Cano said her older

sister has also been a strong source of support.

“Andrea graduated early from EVHS and went to beauty school in Fort Col-lins,” she said. “She knows how hard I’ve worked and has been very encouraging, sending me text messages every day.”

Even though she’s finally taking a short break from school, Cano will keep working hard this summer. She has two jobs lined up – one as a secretary, Monday through Friday, and one at Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli, Saturday through Sunday. Then it’s off to the future.

“I really want to thank Eagle Valley High School and all the teachers,” she said. “I couldn’t have made it all this way without their love and support.”

By Derek [email protected]

As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, April Alexa Cano learned to appreciate the op-portunities she has here from her parents, who moved to Vail from Mexico in 1993.


The Best Advice

Vail Mountain School’s graduates started out just like this, as first graders with a bunch of senior class read-ing buddies.

As part of this year’s pro-gram, the first graders put together some advice for their reading buddies as the seniors graduate and head off to college.

Like great stuff every-where, this great advice is timeless.

Vail Mountain School’s 1st graders offer advice to graduating seniors

never changes


Be a Part of the Anti-Bullying Mission.

❒ Donate ❒ Volunteer ❒ Get Social

For more information please visit, theyouthfoundation.org.

The Youth Foundation@YouthFnd

Teaching Self Defense : The Anti-Bullying program operates in Eagle

County elementary, middle and high schools for both girls and boys.

The program uses world famous Gracie Combative techniques and

trainings as well as the expertise of two World Champion Martial

Artists to teach kids the ability to stand up to a bully and understand

components of bullying from the perspectives of the bully, bullied

and bystander. While the program teaches students how to physically

defend themselves from attacks, the main goal is to teach students how

to best deal with bullying situations, verbally, nonverbally, and safely.

Every day in the United States, an estimated 150,000

kids miss school due to fear or intimidation.

– National Education Association

Did You Know?

Scholarships are available, for more information,

please call 970-777-2015.


Jonna M. SpigenerSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Hosting gallery night with Amanda Hagbery Give a shout out: Shout out to Jeff Cuno! For making my first Red Canyon year an amazing one! He taught me a lot about life, and went hand in hand with my education. Hi:Dudley!!!Summer plans: Continue teaching music, and move to LA!Where are you headed this fall: No clue☺If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: The small town, family aspect.If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: My studentsIn 10 years you’ll be: 28 yrs. OldFavorite class you took: Simpsons with Mr. DudleyClass you wish had been offered: Non Smoking… I wasn’t around to get the chance to take it. I’ve heard it does wonders.

Juliet Amancio School: New American High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: When I found out I am graduatingGive a shout out: I want to give a shout out to the class of 2013, good job everyone!Summer plans: Get ready to be a momWhere are you headed this fall: Stay homeIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most.: My familyIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.: My familyIn 10 years you’ll be: Having my own business Favorite class you took: Cancer with Ms. CrevlingClass you wish had been offered: Cosmetology

Dan ReyesSchool: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: Being told I was going to graduate!! Give a shout out: Hey everybody Im DanSummer plans: find a job.Where are you headed this fall: A good placeIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most. Not leavingIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping. My friends and this beautiful townIn 10 years you’ll be: 27 yrs. OldFavorite class you took: ww1Class you wish had been offeredIdk it’s all good

JD Chambers School: Red Canyon High SchoolFavorite school moment from any year: The senior raft trip, it was a good learning experience and I enjoyed the people that went with as wellGive a shout out Id like to give a shout out to Mr. Hill for everything he has done for the stu-dents and teachers he is the man! Mrs. Cal for being the sweetest, coolest counselor I’ve ever had! I’d also like to shout out to all the teachers who have taught me and allowed me to learn things that I was interested in!Summer plans: attend collegeWhere are you headed this fall: Maybe Mesa State CollegeIf you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most. My Friends and familyIf you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping.In 10 years you’ll be: Hopefully working and making moneyFavorite class you took: I liked them all!Class you wish had been offered


HUSKIES SOCCER GRABS THE CROWN

before the 2006 Battle Mountain volleyball or 2007 Huskies cross country seasons, which just happen to be the school’s last two state titles.

The Huskies still needed to grow, as individuals and as a unit, and that may be the lasting legacy of this crew. The exceptional indi-vidual talents of this group — and there was a boatload of skill here — formed into an iron will which said col-lectively, “We’re doing this.”

The regular season• Battle Mountain beats

Montrose, 2-1, in the open-er. Huskies David Cope and I do our basic interview and then talk off the record as we normally do. I ask, “Do you think you can go 15-0?,” as the Indians looked like one of the toughest teams one the schedule. Cope re-plies, “Yes.”

You have to remember this is Cope, not say Da-vid Joyce (football, 2011) or Ken Bielski (hockey,

Dominique Taylor | [email protected]

Battle Mountain keeper Christian Espinoza dives for the ball, stopping the second penalty kick against him

by Evergreen during a game in Evergreen. Espinoza helped win the game by saving three penalty kicks to

one saved by Evergreen.

So did anything big happen this year at Battle Mountain?

There were plenty of memorable moments in Huskies sports in 2012-13, but, let’s face it, this year was all about Battle Mountain boys soccer.

This was the dream season — league title, 15-0 regular-season record, revenge over the bitterest of postseason foes in ridiculous fashion, and victory in the state champion-ship game in a whiteout in Denver.

Yeah, all that really happened.At the beginning of the season, were they going to be

good? Sure. The Huskies were coming off a 14-2-2 sea-son, only the third appearance in the program’s history in the state quarterfinals, and had lost only two seniors to graduation.

Great? I did not have the mortal-lock feeling that I had

By Chris [email protected]


2001-02), or as-sistant coach Kyle Mercer, who played the role of bad cop to Cope’s good guy. This is the beginning of the transformation of the team. Winning a league title and winning a home playoff game is just not going to do it in 2012.

Throughout the season, Cope issues challenges to the Huskies. Here’s a secret, people: It may be harder to coach a really good team than a poor one, as defender Gunnar Wilson summed up nicely at the end of the season.

“He knew that if he said we were not good, we’d know he’d be lying,” Wilson said. “He used it as a posi-tive note, that there have been other good teams at Battle Mountain. He always said, ‘We don’t want to be a good team. We want to be a great team.’ Whenever we thought we were pretty hot, Cope just kept saying that we haven’t done anything yet.”

• Sept. 25, Battle Moun-tain beats Summit County, 3-1. It’s a good win as the Tigers turn out to be the Huskies’ toughest compe-tition in the league. The important moment comes on Battle Mountain’s third goal. Senior captain Joe LyBarger gets decked and draws a foul. LyBarger puts the ball down, sends the ball down the field and the Huskies score.

The metamorphosis continues here. LyBarger is a tremendous athlete, as he proves by being named Player of the Year in the 4A Slope and scoring a ton of goals in the process. But can he stay focused? Apparently, yes. A year or two ago, LyBarger, in this same situation, would have gotten into it with the player who clocked him or with the ref, nullifying the advantage.

This is just one of many questions that the Huskies are starting to answer. Can Chris Shea, a powder keg of talent and temper, keep it together? Can Wilson, who is an aggressive player, actually play defense? Is Christian Espinoza a big-time goalie? Can Heivan Garcia, a epically-talented striker who also looks lost out on the field at times, be a factor?

• Battle Mountain thumps archrival Steam-boat Springs, 4-0, complet-ing a season sweep of the Sailors by an aggregate of 9-0. The Huskies don’t seem particularly excited, though beating Steamboat normally is the program’s raison d’etre. There are big-ger fish to fry.

• The Huskies clinch the league title Oct. 8 with a tidy 2-0 win at Summit. There really should be a celebration here. There

usually is. Where’s Tyler Cole to rip off his jersey in celebration when you need him? Maybe, it’s the fact that this is the third title in a row and seven in nine years. The Huskies are now firmly focused on 15-0 and perfection.

LyBarger goes down with a hip pointer in this one. On the record, Cope says the senior is “day-to-day.” In truth, despite rest, which costs him a shot at the Huskies’ scoring record and then playing his heart out in the postseason, No. 6 is not the same for the rest of the year.

The Huskies rise to the occasion with their depth, which becomes staggering and sorely-needed. Offen-sively, 15 different Huskies score during the season, and six have five goals or more. Defensively, Battle Mountain allows only 11 goals in 20 games.

The latter is tested when the Huskies lose their cen-ter back for the rest of the year during the final week of the regular season. This is another turning point be-cause the foundation of the program’s success has been based on a 3-5-2 formation. The Huskies can play more people forward and be dy-namic offensively because

there’s a stout anchor like Evie Gonzalez, Connor Tedstrom or Cody Hervert in that spot.

Roberto Diaz gets the call to move back and the transition is elegantly smooth.

• Battle Moun-tain beats Eagle Valley for a 15-0 regular season, the first in the boys program’s history. (The girls did it in 2008, and that, in the au-thor’s opinion, remains one of the most under-appre-ciated teams in the school’s

history.) The fellas, as Cope says, pose in front of the scoreboard, which has been changed to read, “15-0” for the occasion.

• On Seeding Sunday, the Huskies, the only undefeat-ed team in Class 4A, get the sixth seed in the state tour-nament. Politely-put, this is a hosing of epic propor-tions. Cope issues the edict and his players dutifully repeat it interviews that be-ing seeded sixth is actually a stroke of good fortune because it will allow Battle Mountain to play better teams and get more of a challenge.

This was putting lipstick on a pig, and the Huskies did it well. Oh, and another thing about being sixth? It set up a possible matchup at No. 3 Evergreen in the quarterfinals.

EVERGREEN, EVERGREEN, EVERGREEN

There were five games in the postseason, but, in ret-rospect, one rises above the rest. Battle Mountain duti-fully beat Greeley Central, 3-1, after Espinoza let in a poor goal in the first min-ute. The Huskies bounced Pueblo Centennial, 3-0, in the second round.

And, thus, on Nov. 1, Bat-tle Mountain went to Ev-ergreen to slay the dragon. Evergreen is a good Front Range 4A soccer program in the Jeffco League. The Cougars are always in the playoffs. The problem was that they had ended Battle Mountain’s season three years in a row.

In 2009, the Huskies had allowed nine goals in 15 games before losing to Evergreen, 7-2, in Edwards in the first round. (There were extenuating factors, but I blame myself. I was on my couch, recovering from the H1N1 virus that year.) In 2010, the Huskies went down to Evergreen, and lost again. What really rankled, though, was that some of Battle Mountain’s Hispanic players got a

JUSTIN MCCARTY | [email protected]

The Battle Mountain High School soccer team celebrates after winning the Class 4A state

championship game against Palmer Ridge at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City

this year. The Huskies beat the Palmer Ridge Bears, 4-2, in an overtime shoot-out.


reception that wasn’t com-mensurate with life in the 21st Century.

Round 3 was in 2011 and that was a 2-0 loss, and the Huskies were simply fed up with Evergreen.

I got down to Evergreen early for the fourth meeting in as many years just as a part of my routine. It was mainly to see what Internet connection was available to send what I hoped would be a triumphant story. What became alarming — in a good way — early was that I wasn’t the only one coming from Eagle County. The Evergreen staff was setting up roping to keep the two sets of fans apart, standard procedure for any high school game. What was funny is that they kept having to adjust the roping to accommodate more and more Battle Mountain fans.

By the time the game actually started, Huskies fans had turned Ever-green’s pitch into Edwards — it sounded like a Battle Mountain home game. And all saw one for the ages.

Evergreen scored first. Diego Rodriguez to Diaz evened it. And then the field started to slant. The Huskies dominated, but simply could not get one in the net. At one point, one of the refs, presumably from the Front Range who had not seen the Huskies play, ran by Cope during the second half and said to the coach, “Boy, you guys are good.”

Speaking of Cope, things were getting tense. He knew the only way Ever-green was going to beat the Huskies on that Wednesday night was via kicks or a free kick. The Cougars got the latter when Broby Leeds committed a bad, but seem-ingly innocuous foul.

Cope actually yelled, “Dammit, Broby,” and then muttered to Mercer, “Get him out of there.”

I have covered Cope’s Battle Mountain soc-cer teams for 27 seasons between his boys and girls teams, and for the generally-steady-as-it-goes coach, this was a volcanic eruption. This really was the equivalent of a normal coach dropping 17 F-bombs and throwing a chair onto the playing surface. For the record, no harm came from the whistle, and Cope later

apologized to Leeds.It was funny. (The last

time I’d seen Cope yell at game was 2008, and I was standing next to his wife, Kathleen, then, and she was surprised.) It was also another transforma-tional moment. Just as the players had morphed into an “all-in, we’re-winning-this-whole-thing” attitude, so had the coach publicly, albeit in a very unexpected way.

Battle Mountain did not score in either regulation or overtime, and it was off to penalty kicks to decide it. P.K.s are scary. It’s not the way to determine the better team, but there’s no alter-native. They’re particularly scary when the coach, Cope, is an English soccer fan, who has seen nothing but bad things happen to his national side in interna-tional competitions like the World Cup and the Euros.

But to answer the ques-tion, “Is Christian Espinoza a big-time goalie?” The answer was emphatic, “Yes, sir.”

In a shootout, you just hope that the other team misses or that your keeper can make one save. Espi-noza stopped 3-of-4 shots, and the Huskies finally vanquished Evergreen. (By the way, Diaz, Erick Briones and Wilson all made their kicks, but no one is going to remember that.)

When Espinoza made the final save clinching the win, absolute pandemonium broke out. The Huskies went nuts. Their fans went nuts. I have many a celebra-tion in 16 years of covering sports. This was different.

I kept trying to interview Espinoza for the story, and, every time I was about ready to ask my first ques-tion, players or fans tackled him in celebration again.

I did some other inter-views afterwards, but my iPhone recorder malfunc-tioned, but I remember Briones saying something to the effect of, “That wasn’t just Christian. It was all of us there with him.”

Ding, dong, the wicked witch was dead.

OH, YEAH, TWO MOREAn interesting ques-

tion is, “Which was bigger, beating Evergreen or win-ning the state champion-ship nine days later?” We

stipulate that the Evergreen win was a necessary part of the sequence for the Huskies to advance to the semifinals and the finals. Also, the Huskies didn’t receive a big trophy for beating Evergreen.

But … in preparation for this story, I had to look up whom Battle Mountain faced in the finals (Palmer Ridge). I also remember not being too worried about the Huskies playing Broom-field in the semifinals. (I’m usually a nervous wreck be-fore a playoff game for any school in any sport.)

I remember thinking at the semifinals, “There is no way this team can lose in the semifinals after that game against Evergreen. Just can’t happen.” And that’s pretty funny because Broomfield, in years past, had beaten the Huskies senseless in previous post-season meetings.

Happily, the question was not of the either/or variety. Battle Mountain knocked off Broomfield, 2-1, on scores by Garcia (big game, big player) and Diaz (quickly making a name for himself during the run.)

And then it snowed. That had to be a good omen for Battle Mountain soccer on championship Saturday against Palmer Ridge. Sur-real is dumb word because it’s overused. But being at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, watching Battle Mountain in the snow in the title game was surreal. You want surreal? How come there were still more Huskies fans there than Palmer Ridge faithful, even though they were driving through a blizzard over two massive mountain passes?

A dramatic goal from the run of play would have been nice, but the Bears weren’t scoring that day. Could Wilson play defense? That unit was fantastic all day and all season. I remember seeing Shea out there, play-ing his heart out, knowing that, healthwise, he was a mess. (He had back sur-gery within a week of the title game). He didn’t lose his cool. Espinoza shone again with a big save in penalty kicks. The Huskies

had the answers for all the questions.

I remember being cold and soaked, and I remem-ber that moment of silence as all assembled waited to make sure Garcia’s game-clinching penalty kick really did find the back of the net.

It was slow-motion as Garcia raced toward the Battle Mountain fans’ sec-tion with his teammates running after him. … Ly-Barger raising the trophy. … Everybody hugging every-body in the locker room. … Everyone taking a turn with the trophy.

“We beat No. 3 (Ever-green),” Cope said. “We beat No. 2 (Broomfield), and we beat No. 1 (Palmer Ridge). And we’ll came back Mon-day if they want us to play anyone else.”

(That is as close to smack talk as Cope gets.)

Yeah, that really happened.

AND IN OTHER NEWSHuskies cross country

sent two teams to state. That was notable after a one-year absence by the guys. … Volleyball snapped a seven-game losing streak to Eagle Valley. That’s key because that means the Class of 2013 had never topped the Devils until that win. … Spring was quite fun. The boys lacrosse team made the playoffs for the first time in school his-tory, and the gents may have some company soon. The biggest turnaround at Battle Mountain was girls lacrosse, which went from 4-10 to 10-4, and only grad-uate one (Hayley Clarke). And girls soccer not only took its first league title since 2008, but won its first playoff game in six years.

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

[email protected]

Battle Mountain soc-cer coach David Cope, center, celebrates Battle Mountain’s semifinal win against Broomfield this year in Parker.


Becky Cuevas’ first grade class, Gypsum Elementary, 2001, last day of school picnic.

$6 EntréeFor a limited time, come in for

an entrée of your choice for

ONLY $6


CONGRATULATIONS

GRADS!






PH. 970.328.1182


BEST WISHES31




Gifts

Galore!

GIFTS FOR

GRADS…


GIFTS FOR DADS…


Check out our fresh summer fare at vin48.com/menu and Like us on Facebook for exclusive off ers and invites.48 E Beaver Creek Blvd, Avon970 748 WINE || vin48.com

vail daily seniors scrapbook

Documents

alex girten

vail summit orthopedics

vail mountain school

ester medical school

vail farmers market

vail summit orthopedics

eric dorf

upper school science