Page 42 - November 2019 proof 7 Castle Pines Connection

42 CastlePinesConnection.com
Rock Canyon High School
By Amanda Brauchler, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photos
Juliett Abbott, Bailey Kracke, and So a Anderson support Bella Albers while cheering on the varsity football team in their game against Cherokee Trail August 30. Photo credit: Amanda Brauchler.
After a long season, with most teams starting practice in the summer, Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) fall sports are coming to an end.
Cheer ----------------------
Cheer spent their fall performing at football games and assemblies; they o cially started their competition season in November. Three RCHS teams attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association’s (UCA) Mile High regionals held in Denver on November 9 and 10. The junior varsity (JV) black team placed fth, the JV gold team placed second and the varsity team was named regional champions. The competition was the rst in the season for the cheer team, hoping to qualify again for UCA’s national competition.
“Everyone on the team is like my sister,” Aspen McDonnell, a JV black team cheerleader said. “I love the sport; I love everything about it.” McDonnell cheers
with her younger sister, Meredith, who is a freshman on JV black team.
Six girls from the cheer team earned the honor of being named on the Colorado
Spirit Coaches Association All-Colorado Spirit Team (CSCA). Only 22 students state-wide earned this achievement for
cheer. The achievement is determined by the cheerleader’s skill, academic excellence, and contributions to their team. Abby Fletcher, Emily Everds, Kara Lenke, Katie Hebert, Kaylee Kabza and Reilly Treadwell earned this title.
Football ------------------
The varsity football team ended their season 1-9 and were ranked 78 out of 83 in the state. The team had 16 seniors this year. “I enjoy the sport because I believe football makes me a better athlete, which is why I put time and e ort into it,” varsity defensive back Andrew Brent said.
JV nished their season 7-2. The freshman team went undefeated overall 10-0 and in their league. “What we did as a team this year is something very few high schools
will ever do, scoring an average of six touchdowns per game and only giving up eight touchdowns throughout the whole season. I’m looking forward to dominating these next four years as a football team,” said starting outside linebacker Nathan Feinsod.
Freshman starting defensive end Cooper Chase said, “How we work together so well is by trusting that our teammates have our backs. Both defense and o ense trust each other during every play. We will grow with each other through the upcoming years and just keep getting better. Our goal is to be holding the golden football when we are seniors.”
With their sites on winning the high school championship their senior year, these freshmen “have no fear, take pride in their hard work and have some heart” as starting middle linebacker Ryland Mill said.
Poms -----------------------
While poms spent this fall performing at games and assemblies with cheer, they
also had their rst competition November 10. At USA Mile High Championship Regionals, all three teams (varsity, JV, and freshman) placed rst in their individual divisions. The varsity jazz team won grand champions. The teams collectively brought home ve division titles. This year’s jazz dance was unique. Instead of hiring a professional choreographer, the team and varsity captains Mia Jackson and Madeline Ashbeck planned the entire routine.
“It can be terrifying to go out and compete, but when you have those girls around you, it’s so special,” varsity poms member Bella Wheeler said. “Poms is exactly like a family; at the end of the day, there is so much love and joy in what we do.”
Poms also had six team members named to the CSCA spirit team. Mia Jackson, Lauren Dressler, Madeline Ashbeck, Macy Fallin, Aaliyah Kikumoto and Hailey McDowell each earned one of the 27 spots on the dance spirit team.
Volleyball ----------------
Varsity volleyball’s league record is 6-4; they are ranked 43 out of 48 in the state. They narrowly missed their chance to go
to state after losing the qualifying match against Valor High School November 9. JV ended their season with a 7-3 record, going 2-1 in the league.
“My favorite part of the volleyball season is always getting to bond and combine forces to become a true team,” JV/swing varsity player Kayla Mash said. “Volleyball is like my family, not only because you spend so much time with them that they feel like sisters, but you bond and become so close it’s just natural to consider them family.”
Cross Country -----------
Cross country’s season ended after the boys team placed third the Division 5A State Championship in Colorado Springs on October 26. The boys team – comprised of Castle Pines residents Wes Beckham, Caleb Jaramillo, Derek Fearon, Bobby Scott, Carson Timmons, Carter Brand, Drew Peters and Andrew Moenster – also won their regional title, which quali ed them for state. This was the rst time the boys have ever won the regional championship. At the regional competition, the girls team placed fth.
Both Fearon and Beckham were named First Team All Continental League Honors and Hope James received an honorable mention from the league. “I chose this sport because the people that run cross country are the nicest people you’ll ever meet and I get to be a part of this amazing team each and every day,” Jaramillo said.
Varsity quarterback, Anthony Dellano prepares to pass the ball during a game against Cherokee Trail High School August 30. Photo credit: Amanda Brauchler.
Fall sports recap