photo recap a look at new facilities across the region top football & volleyball games upcoming of kit carson vs la veta volleyball MAGAZINE FREE COPY

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1 PROMOTING HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ON THE EASTERN PLAINS FREE COPY SEPTEMBER 2018 MAGAZINE photo recap of kit carson vs la veta volleyball top football & volleyball games upcoming a look at new facilities across the region

2 2 3 table of contents Rocky Ford Softball Southeast Power Player of the Month 3 Rocky Ford Softball Southeast Power Player of the Month 4 TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES FROM THE PAST MONTH 6 new facilities across the region 8 kit carson vs la veta volleyball classic 10 TOP FOOTBALL GAMES ACROSS THE REGION 12 THE TRADITION OF SMALL TOWN FOOTBALL: HUGO CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY OF FOUR-IN-A-ROW 16 VOLLEYBALL HEATS UP OVER THE NEXT MONTH 18 Spousal support can be the heart of high school athletics 20 Granada faces changes for 2018 football season 22 CALHAN BACK ON THE FOOTBALL MAP 24 back page heroes By KEVIN SHAFFER With an overall record 7-5, the Rocky Ford softball team may be a surprise choice for our first Southeast Power Player of the Month. But we ve selected the Meloneers for the award due to their ability of raise their play against some of the top programs in Class 3A softball. The Meloneers opened the season with a narrow 7-6 victory over defending state champion Strasburg who begin this year ranked #1 in the division. Less than a week later, the Meloneers also outscored Eaton ROCKY FORD MELONEERS 2018 SCHEDULE Strasburg Won 7-6 8/18 Golden Lost /24 Meeker Lost 9-6 Eaton Won Northridge Lost 4-1 8/25 Delta Lost /4 Limon Won 9-4 9/7 Florence Won 15-2 Brush Won /8 Limon Lost 9-2 9/8 Wray Won /11 Lamar Won 5-1 La Junta 9/22 St Mary s 9/25 Alamosa St Mary s 9/29 La Junta James Irwin 10/3 Pueblo Centennial (12-11) when the Reds were ranked second in the state. Since that high-level win, Coach JC Carrica s team won just four of their next seven but then scored a huge 5-1 win over Lamar last week. The Savages were ranked fourth in the state going into the contest. I asked the girls why they play so well against top competition and they said they liked the big stage, said coach Carrica. This group of seniors has always embraced the role of underdog he added. They actually prefer it and seem to play a lot looser in that role. Several players have played a role in pushing Rocky Ford to the victories. Against Strasburg, both Ciara Huckaby and Kelly Long provided two hits and three runs batted in. Sadie Brewer and Chantae Rodriguez added two hits and two runs apiece. Brewer worked all seven innings on the mound and allowed 12 hits but only six runs. In the win over Eaton, the Meloneers trailed 8-7 after five innings but rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh to win it. Long knocked in three runs and also scored four times. Brewer drove in two runs while Baylee Kruger and Alyson Bartholomew each scored twice. Freshman Abby McElroy earned the win in relief of Lexi Fernandez. Rocky Ford used four runs in the top of the sixth to upset Lamar 5-1. McElroy went the distance to claim the pitching victory. She had eight strikeouts and allowed just three hits. Fernandez drove in two runs and Kruger collected two hits. NOTE: Each month, Colorado Preps Magazine will name a Power Player or Team of the Month from Southeast Colorado. It s presented by Southeast Power Association and SECOM. The Rocky Ford Meloneers softball team has picked up wins over Strasburg, Eaton and Lamar this season with those teams ranked #1, #2 and #4 at the time. Photo credit: Van Hollis.

3 4 5 TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES FROM THE PAST MONTH By KEVIN SHAFFER Some of the best individual performances are listed on the back page of every issue (Back Page Heroes), Colorado Preps also wants to mention several other efforts over the past month. The numbers listed below are taken from MaxPreps so we encourage coaches to update their statistics in a timely manner. We would also like fans and parents to send us notice of top efforts each week. That information can be ed to kevin@coloradopreps. com. FOOTBALL HOLLY: Jarrett Rushton had 3.5 sacks and Erick Chaparro two interceptions as the Wildcats moved past Dayspring Christian. PEETZ: Bryson Long ran for 270 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Fleming. HOEHNE: Trystan Moltrer and Weston Hill each ran for 210 yards and combined for four touchdowns and Dalton Hudson collected 12 tackles in the Farmers win over Dayspring Christian. LA JUNTA: Jon Nuschy ran for 234 yards, threw for 93 and was involved in four of the five touchdowns in a win over Alamosa. n a win over Alamosa. BRIGGSDALE: Tyler Blickem threw for 408 yards and six touchdowns in a loss to Prairie. Kaleb Brown (10) and Vincent Bauer (9) combined for 19 receptions for 231 yards. Bauer also picked off two passes. WRAY: Cade Hillman and Javier Arambula each recorded four sacks in the Eagles shutout of Sheridan. HAXTUN: Braden Anderson had two interceptions in the Bulldogs win over Wiley. SIMLA: Darias Harms collected 232 yards rushing and four touchdowns as the Cubs blanked Dolores Huerta. CHEYENNE WELLS: Jade Cozart finished with 229 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Genoa Hugo. ELBERT: Bryar Morgan caught five passes for 212 yards and two scores in a win over Miami-Yoder. MANZANOLA: Blake Williams totaled 12 tackles as the Bobcats edged Eads STRATTON/LIBERTY: Trevor Frank had three sacks in a win over Prairie. AKRON: Derrick Poss recorded 13 tackles in an opening win over Springfield. VOLLEYBALL BRIGGSDALE: Kimberlyn Krise had 25 kills and 30 diggs in a thrilling five set road win at Fleming. Shelby Hoffman added 38 diggs and was the team leader in that category through September 10th. WIGGINS: Tanna Hansen nailed down 23 kills in a five-set win over local rival Weldon Valley. Chloe Baker added a season best 49 assists; marking the fourth time through seven games the senior had reached at least 40. LAJUNTA: Bianca Good totaled 25 kills and eight blocks as the Tigers rallied from down two sets to stun Salida 3-2. HOEHNE: Abbigayle Dorenkamp had 32 diggs in a season opening loss to Swink and led Class 2A in the category (163) through September 10th. HOLYOKE: Taeryn Trumper opened the season with 32 diggs apiece in back-to-back matches with Prairie and Weldon Valley. Rylyn Nelson had a pair of two home run games against Longmont and Skyview and homered in five of Sterling s first eight games. She added six RBI s in a recent win over Platte Valley. Photo credit: Sterling Athletics. Eli Romero registered a state best six sacks in the Wildcats road shutout of Balko, OK. Photo credit: Holly Athletics. LAMAR: Taylor Chavira picked up 38 diggs and matched a season high with four aces as the Savages fell to St Mary s in five sets. BENNETT: Faythe McKellip totaled 85 diggs during three matches at the Bennett Tournament. SOFTBALL STERLING: Kiersten Bohler struck out 10 and gave up just one hit in leading the Tigers past Platte Valley BRUSH: Kendall Elliott homered twice and knocked in six runs while leading the Diggers to a 15-5 win over Sterling. HOLYOKE: Seven was the magic number for Correy Koellner in the Dragons doubleheader sweep of Chase County NE. She drove in seven runs on seven hits and also scored seven times. LIMON: Jenna Jaklich plated five runs on three hits as the Badgers rolled past La Junta STRASBURG: Ashlyn Richardson had four hits including two doubles, and knocked in six runs in the Tigers 17-2 win over Montrose. Alexis Rayburn struck out 15 batters and allowed just one hit in a 7-0 win over Limon. SOCCER LAMAR: Juan Canales was second in Class 3A through September in saves with 67 including 22 in an opening loss to Liberal KS. FORT MORGAN: Chris Sibrian scored two goals and Alexis Ricalday one as the Mustangs beat local rival Sterling in overtime 3-2. GOLF FOWLER: Andrew Egan captured top medalist honors at the Rocky Ford tournament with an 18-hole score of 83. FORT MORGAN: Alec Oberg won the Mustang Invitational with an 18- hole total of 85 leading the team to three of the top five finishes on their home course. LAMAR: Jimmy Clark ended up second at the La Junta Tournament REGIONALS: All area teams were involved in regional tournament play this week but results were not available before the magazine print deadline. Eads, Fowler, Rocky Ford, BreeAnn Shaffer picked up 32 diggs, 11 kills, and two aces as Idalia outlasted Caliche in five sets. Photo credit: Idalia Athletics. Swink, Lamar, Trinidad and La Junta all competed at the 3A tournament in Rye. Holyoke, Yuma, Brush, Sterling, Strasburg, Burlington and Cheyenne Wells were at the 3A bracket in Greeley and Fort Morgan took part in the 4A regional at the Air Force Academy. State tournaments are set for October 1st and 2nd.

4 6 7 new facilities across the region By KEVIN SHAFFER There was a time not too long ago when Rocky Ford High School football players would have to pluck puncturevine stickers (the kids call them goatheads) out of their arms at practice. There was a time not too long ago that the Meloneer track and cross country teams would have to clear hurdles on their own track that weren t made for competition hurdles like rocks, puddles, holes, and yes, goatheads. Those times came to an end this fall with the completion of the new Melon Field a shining, all-weather-turf-and-track-coated gem in the heart of the Arkansas Valley. Located just north of the old football field (west of the school/gym), the new facility takes the place of the old, barren practice field and clunky track that stood for decades. The new Melon Field is now a point of pride for many in the community most especially among those who got to ring in a new era by playing the first game on the new grounds on Aug. 24. Though the Meloneers fell to Florence on opening night, it was still a special moment for those involved. No, the first game did not go as planned, Rocky Ford football coach Sean McNames said. That being said, yes it was pretty sweet to get to play on it. I know the kids were excited to open the season and the field... [and] it also creates excitement for the younger players coming up, knowing that in a few years they get to play on a new field under new lights. The $1.4-million passion project was years in the making, according Rocky Ford unveiled a new football stadium this Fall with a new turf, bleachers and press box. Photo credit: Van Hollis. to Rocky Ford Junior/Senior High School assistant principal/athletic director Tammy Ridennoure and at times it was, like a goathead, a thorn in the side of those trying to accomplish their goal. The very first project started about 17 years ago when (community members) Daleen Munoz and Brian Burney created a parent group that wanted to build bathrooms out on the old football field, Ridennoure said. They started fundraising, did some tailgates here and there. But then along came [school] consolidation. People lost interest. They closed Liberty [Elementary School]. Funding just got pretty slim. In 2012, an ever-growing group of parents, faculty, administrators, community members, and supporters revitalized the project which had accumulated about $12,000 from those early days with a new plan: to build something completely new. After starting a grassroots fundraising campaign and learning how to write grants on the fly, the Melon Field Project spearheaded by Ridennoure, Munoz, Burney, Kermit Snyder, Jim and Cindy Von Feldt, and Debbie and Kim Caldwell received a generous boost from the Rocky Ford School Board that helped that initial $12,000 grow to $250,000. The group then turned that $250,000 into $700,000 after applying for and receiving a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant. They leveraged that $700,000 to apply for The new floor at Sterling High School was finished last November/December and now features a gray volleyball court which was used for the first time this season. The surface was also changed from the old tartan floor to a wood court which the basketball teams used last season. Photo credit: Sterling Athletics. Over the past two years, the Limon Badgers have updated all locker rooms and the wrestling room and this past summer re-did almost the entire gym with a new floor, new side padding, new baskets and backboards. Photo credit: Sean Mersman. (and receive) additional grants from organizations like the Daniel s Fund ($50,000), El Pomar ($50,000), and the Gates Foundation ($55,000). And of course, there were the hundreds of donations from the community which will now be engraved with the donors names on six-foot granite pillars that greet fans, parents, and players on the way to the field. And thus, what started as a simple dream to have bathrooms built near the existing football field eventually evolved into a state-of-the-art facility that features a six-lane track, new seating, lights, and the whole 100 yards (made of artificial turf). It s just nice to have something new, Ridennoure said. I think it just makes people feel a little bit more pride in the community... And the kids in the community deserve it. They really do. A Big Screen For Big Games Further east along Highway 50, La Junta High School s football field saw some upgrades of its own. The Tigers, who won a Class 2A state title in 2016 and finished as runners-up in 2017, now have two new ScoreVision scoreboards adorning their facility. The high-tech boards, one of which measures 14-feet by 10-feet, were also paid for largely by donations school funds. According to La Junta assistant principal/athletic director Scott Goheen, community businesses like Lewis Bolt and Nut, First National Bank, The State Bank, and Colorado Bank and trust helped pay for more than 80 percent of the project. Across Eastern Colorado Several other schools have spent the past summer or year resurfacing basketball and volleyball courts and repurposing gyms as a whole. Over the past two years, the Limon Badgers have updated all locker rooms and the wrestling room. The past summer, school officials redid almost the entire gym with a new floor, new side padding, new baskets and new backboards. Lone Star repainted their gym over the summer and added Longhorns to the baseline. They played their first volleyball match on the new floor against Wray in August. Photo credit: Lone Star Athletics. At Lone Star, they repainted their gym floor over the summer and added the mascot Longhorns to the baseline. The Longhorns played their first volleyball match on the new floor against Wray in August. Up in Sterling, the new surface was finished last November/December as the Tigers ripped up the old tartan surface and replaced with a wood floor. The gym now features a gray volleyball court which was used for the first time this season. Basketball teams experienced their first game activity on the floor last winter. In Byers, improvements were made to both the football field and gym. Lights were added to the football and the Bulldogs can now play on Friday nights while the gym floor was sanded down to the wood and a new paint job was completed. La Junta s football field now features one of the best scoreboards in Colorado. Photo credit: La Junta Athletics.

5 8 9 kit carson vs la veta volleyball classic #1 Kit Carson and #2 La Veta battled through five sets before the defending state champion Wildcats survived for a 3-2 victory. They rallied from down two sets to one to win in five and remain unbeaten on the season. Bob Schechter provides a photo recap of the great match. La Veta s Emalee Ortibez (10) hits at the net against Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Mercede Smith (10). Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Tess Hornung (15) hits at the net against La Veta s Desirae Ortivez (11). Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Josie Hornung (14) sets the ball as Olivia Isenbart (23) moves in for a hit in this action against La Veta in the Friday, Sept. 31st, match-up of the 1A Volleyball #1 ranked Wildcats against the #2 ranked Redskins. As teammates Desirae Ortivez (11) and Aryanna Flores (13) look on, Kaylee Corsentino (7) digs a serve from Kit Carson. As teammate Olivia Isenbart (23) looks on, Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Hayley Johnson (11) receives a serve from La Veta. La Veta s Nya Sciacca (6) hits at the net against Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Hayley Johnson (11). Others are Josie Hornung (14) and Olivia Isenbart (23). Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Tess Hornung (15) receives a serve as teammate Tieler Randel (28) looks on in this action against La Veta. Kit Carson Lady Wildcat McKenzie Smith (6) goes to block a hit at net by La Veta s Kaylee Corsentino (7). Kit Carson Lady Wildcat McKenzie Smith (6) ) receives a serve from La Veta. Kit Carson Lady Wildcat Olivia Isenbart (23) hits at the net against La Veta s Desirae Ortivez (11). Kit Carson Lady Wildcat s react to their match point over La Veta in last Friday s match-up of the 1A Volleyball #1 ranked Wildcats against the #2 ranked Redskins.

6 10 11 TOP FOOTBALL GAMES ACROSS THE REGION By KERRY SHERMAN Depending on the classification, the regular season has either hit or is nearing its mid-point. That means the schedule is packed with key conference match-ups. This is our look at some of the top match-ups coming up across the region. 6-MAN September 21: Stratton/Liberty at Otis Stratton/Liberty entered the season as the favorite in the East Central, with Otis close on their heels. The winner of this contest likely claims that crown. The Knighted Eagles have won the last four meetings, including two last year. The regular season game was a blow-out, 63-6, but Otis made adjustments the second time around and nearly upended the eventual runners-up. Stratton/Liberty came from behind to win by a count. September 28: Cheyenne Wells at Kit Carson Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson have been the class of the Southeast Division recently and they ve played some white knucklers lately. Kit Carson won the 2016 regular season clash 22-14, but the Tigers got revenge in the postseason, on their way to a second place finish in the state. Last year, it was a 14-8 Cheyenne Wells victory. Both teams reached the semifinals last season. October 12: Peetz at Prairie Last season, the North Division title was decided in the closing seconds of the Peetz game at Prairie. The home team scored with just a few ticks left on the clock to secure a victory. That would be the only loss of the season for the Bulldogs, who would go on to win the state title. The 44 points were the fewest scored by the winner of the matchup in the last 12 meetings. October 19: Flagler/Hi Plains at Stratton/Liberty Flagler/Hi-Plains nearly upset Otis earlier in the season, falling in the final seconds The Thunder can make things interesting in the East Central if they can knock off their rivals from Stratton/Liberty. The Knighted Eagles rolled up 433 yards on the ground in last season s victory. October 26: Stratton/Liberty at Kit Carson In what could be a playoff preview, Kit Carson will be looking for its first win over Stratton/Liberty in three tries. The Knighted Eagles won the previous two meetings by scores of and Those games were in 2012 and Otis will also play host to Cheyenne Wells on the same night. It will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers on the gridiron. Both are likely to make the postseason, so this will go a long way in the playoff seeding. 8-MAN September 21: Holly at Fowler The Ark Valley Division is loaded and every weekend down the stretch will have top contenders squaring off. Holly visits Fowler, with the winner staying at or near the top of the league standings. The two have met three previous times, with Fowler winning the last two by a total of 105 points. The most recent contest was in Both teams were in the postseason last year. September 28: Hoehne at Fowler As members of the Southern Division, Hoehne and Fowler are very familiar with each other. Hoehne beat the Grizzlies in overtime last year to win the title in that league last season. The Farmers are also part of the new Ark Valley and they will be in the mix for the crown. October 5: Holly at Hoehne / Merino at Caliche The third leg of the round robin between the top challengers in the Ark Valley has Holly visiting Hoehne. Last year, the Wildcats snapped a six-game losing streak against the Farmers, earning a victory. It was the first time they scored more than 20 points against Hoehne in a decade. The Plains Division is home to some great rivalries and one of the best is Merino and Caliche. Both teams are chasing the three time defending state champions, Sedgwick County, in the conference. The division regularly puts four or more teams into the playoff field, so this game is largely about bragging rights. Merino has won 12 of the last 16 meetings, including the last three. October 26: Sedgwick County at Merino Merino has won 11 of the last 16 contests with Sedgwick County, but the Cougars have handed them losses in each of the last four years. The Rams gave up close to 500 yards of offense last season, falling at home. CLASS 1A September 21: Limon at Strasburg Limon solidified its status as a threat in Class 1A with a win over the always tough Meeker Cowboys. The Badgers turn their attention to the two-time defending state champions, Strasburg. The Indians have won the last two meetings with Limon, including a thrilling decision last season. The teams are likely to be ranked #1 and #2 when they play. October 12: Limon at Burlington The North Central title could be up for grabs when Limon visits Burlington. Holyoke and Wray also look to be in the mix, but this game is big even without a league championship not on the line. The Cougars have won the last two games by a total of two points. Last season, Burlington scored 15 fourth quarter points to claim a victory. The year before, a missed PAT was the difference in a 7-6 Cougar victory. October 20: Crowley County at Peyton Crowley County and Peyton both have a history of earning league championship honors. Between them, they ve combined for six consecutive league titles. Crowley County has claimed four straight Santa Fe crowns and has not lost a league game since Peyton went undefeated the last two seasons in the Tri-Peaks, winning the league title both seasons. The winner likely claims the Santa Fe this time. They have not played since CLASS 2A October 12: Platte Valley at Sterling The last two Patriot League titles have been decided when Sterling and Platte Valley met. Two years ago, Sterling claimed a victory over the Broncos, but Platte Valley returned the favor last year with a decision. The Broncos led that contest heading into the fourth. Platte Valley s Trevan Wehrman recorded a combined 558 yards of offense in those two games. October 19: La Junta at Classical Academy Two-time player of the year, Jon Nuschy, has had big games the last two years when La Junta beat Classical Academy to earn Tri-Peaks championships. He threw for 159 yards and rushed for 121 in a victory in 2016, and last year he tallied 111 passing and 112 rushing as the Tigers won The senior standout was involved in five of the six touchdowns scored in those two games. CLASS 3A November 2: Erie at Fort Morgan Erie travels to Fort Morgan for the regular season finale and the North Valley championship could be on the line. The most recent meeting between the two programs was a 13-6 Fort Morgan victory in Erie made it to the 3A championship game last season as the #5 seed, eventually falling to #2 Palmer Ridge,

7 12 13 THE TRADITION OF SMALL TOWN FOOTBALL: HUGO CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY OF FOUR-IN-A-ROW By BETSY BARNETT Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s there became a social unrest in this country unlike no other as a generation of Americans began to question authority by protesting the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, Desegregation in our schools, and the role of women in our society. It was a time when brutality was at its worst. It was a time where great men like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were gunned down in their prime and students became so angry at Kent State that on a spring day in May 1970 it exploded into death and violence. It was a time when Americans watched our black and white television sets in fascination as Neil Armstrong took that giant leap for mankind upon the face of the moon. And, ultimately, it was a time of great social unrest among the youth of the nation. But, in a small town on the plains of Colorado, the 1960s and early 1970s also represented a pivotal time for the youth and the community as a whole. These were the years that helped to define the town of Hugo and create memories that will not be forgotten. It s now been 50 years since the youth of Hugo, specifically the football team, started a march into the annuls of Colorado football history. In 1968 Hugo won their first of four-in-a-row state 8-man football championships; and, in so doing, became one of two towns Stratton being the other who have won that many championships in a row in the 8-man division. These farm boys did not worry themselves about issues of the day such as social injustice or equal rights or segregation. Their social responsibility was understood on the football field and their social order was measured on how fast you could run, how hard you could hit, or how skilled you could be. These boys would never consider defying the authority of their legendary coach, Harry Kravig, and never doubted Kravig s ability as a coach. Rob Pearson, who was a sophomore in 1968 and the team s starting running-back when Hugo won their first of four championships, described Coach Kravig as tough 1968 Hugo Pirates 8-Man State Champions. BACK ROW: LEFT TO RIGHT: D. Kravig, Ass t Coach; J. Noah, C. Webb, K. Forristall, S. Ravenkamp, B. Bowhan, D. Noah, M. Boetger, Mr. Hardwick, Ass t Coach; THIRD ROW: Mr. Falls, Ass t Coach; R. Lane, J. Schoenfeld, T. Timmons, K. Webb, M. Carr, Mr. Kravig, Coach; Mr. Nash, Supt; SECOND ROW: D. Riordan, J. Vassios, J. Belveal, J. Compton, E. Bennett, L. Kelly, R. Pearson, S. Nash, K. Rose; FRONT ROW: D. Hendricks, Mgr., D. Riley, G. Nestor, J. Ball, K. Webb, F. Stang, R. Lane, D. Gossett, S. Noah, G. Lowe, Mgr., not pictured. Photo credit: Fred Stang. but fair. Harry was never demeaning toward a player. I don t remember him yelling at anyone. But he did demand that we executed correctly and aggressively. Pearson, described as extremely fast in his day, is ranked 7th in alltime yards per carry at 11.52, remembers Kravig on many occasions getting in on the blocking drills himself and being very aggressive with his players over-emphasizing the level of effort it takes to be a good blocker. Pearson laughs, He was a great football player in his day. He was a big ole farm boy himself and ended up playing full back for the Colorado State University Rams. We always tried to do our best at those blocking drills because we didn t want to go up against Harry. He was tough! Pearson goes on to describe a particularly memorable halftime speech that Coach Kravig was giving. When he was finished giving us a pep talk, he spit in his hand and took the cigar he was smoking out 1969 Hugo Pirates 8-Man State Champions. BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Mr. Shaw, Ass t Coach, R. Lane, M. Boetger, M. Carr, C. Welsh, J. Noah, B. Bowhan, D. Noah, Mr. Kravig, Head Coach; THIRD ROW: Mr. Falls, Ass t Coach, L. Kelly, R. Pearson, N. Sutherland, C. Dutro, K. Rose, J. Vassios, J. Compton, S. Nash, Mr. Nash, Ass t Coach; SECOND ROW: D. Riordan, R. Lane, K. Webb, E. Bennett, S. Noah, F. Stang, D. Gossett, A. Beitscher, T. Rose, FRONT ROW: R. LaFever, Mgr., M. Falls, B. Nash, J. Ball, D. Riley, C. Riley, M. Jensen, G. Poss, G. Cooper, E. VonSeggern, Mgr. Photo credit: Fred Stang. of his mouth and smashed the lit end into his hand to put it out. Then says, Now, let s go boys! You can bet we got going and had a great second half! Fred Stang, who is a four-time state football champion being a freshman on the 1968 team, remembers Coach Kravig as all-business. Coach was someone we all had confidence in. We knew he would dial up the right play and put the right people where they were needed. I just don t ever remember there being a time where there was controversy. Coach just led, and we followed. In 2003, the student council at Hugo High School proposed to the community their idea to name the football field after Coach Harry Kravig. The community, many who remembered those glorious 1960 s seasons, were enthusiastically on board with such a proposal. The students proposal was printed in the Eastern Colorado Plainsmen on January 9, The article described Harry Kravig s amazing accomplishments. Kravig had played high school football in Karval and then went on to play college football at Pueblo Junior College (now CSU-Pueblo), Colorado A & M (now Colorado State University in Fort Collins), and Navy. He was offered a professional contract but turned it down. Kravig taught and coached at Hugo from During the 11 years coaching football, the Pirates completely dominated the 8-man ranks winning six state championships (1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971), and one state runner-up (1966). Kravig and his Pirates had three undefeated seasons in 1964, 1965 and In 1966 and 1970 they only lost one game, and between 1964 and 1966 they enjoyed a 34-game winning streak. Kravig was named the Colorado 8-Man Football Coach of the Year many times and was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame in Evidently, a truly dominating football program requires a coach equal to the legendary Coach Harry Kravig. But a coach can only do so much if he doesn t have the support of his players, parents, and the community, as well. There must be a tradition of excellence. The recipe for success, for becoming the best of the best, requires a number of specific ingredients that when mixed together becomes something unusual and special. The Hugo recipe began with the Pirate team of That team included many of the fathers and uncles of the players from the 1960s teams. The 1930 team also included, as a player, the legendary Limon Coach Lloyd Gaskill who led the Badgers to six straight 11-man football championships in the 1960s, as well. That 1930 s team set the tradition and the mindset of how football should be played in Lincoln County. They must have been something to fear as they still hold many CHSAA football records to this day. The 1930 s team is 2nd all time in most touchdowns with 105; first all time in scoring with most points in ENGLEWOOD, CO - JULY 28: Denver Broncos head athletic trainer Steve Antonopoulos looks on during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Facility July 28, 2016 at Dove Valley. Photo credit: John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images. a season at 748; and most points in a game vs Vona when the score was Hugo 176 and Vona 6. According to Pearson, The Bearded Beauties, that was the nickname they gave the 1930 s team, dominated the entire state of Col-

8 Hugo Pirates 8-Man State Champions. BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: A. Beitscher, S. Noah, M.Pharr, R. Lane, J. Wilkins 3RD ROW: F. Stang, J. Ball, D. Riley, D. Gossett, L. Kelly, J. Vassios, K. Webb, K. Rose, R. Pearson, S. Noah, T. Rose, M. Falls, N. Sutherland, D. Riordan 2ND ROW: T. Davis, J. Wilkins, S. McGee, C Riley, B. Nash, G. Cooper, M. Jensen, G. Poss, Mr. H. Kravig, Head Coach; 1ST ROW: Mr. B. Shaw, Ass t Coach, Mr. J. Hardwick, Ass t Coach, B. Boetger, R. Freeman, P. Forrestall, G. Ensigh, E. Von Seggern, M. Falls, Mr. Nash, Supt., Managers: R. Webb, R. McGee Photo credit: Fred Stang. orado as there was only one classification at the time. In the Vona game, I m told, Vona scored on the first play when they used a trick play. They stepped an eligible player into the field but he was hidden on the sideline where the Hugo defenders didn t see him. That trick made the Pirate coach Otto Staub so mad that he then put it to Vona without ever letting up. In those days, an eye for an eye was the norm. That tough grit and will to win transferred into the next generation even as young boys. According to Stang, I don t remember a time when I didn t play football. That s just what we did. By the time we were in junior high we already knew what our role was, we were in our positions that we ended up playing in high school, and we knew all the plays. The junior high coaches were the high school assistant coaches 1971 Hugo Pirates 8-Man State Champions. BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: F. Stang, G. Nestor, J. Bassett, A Beitscher, M. Falls, K. Webb, R. Lane, D. Riley, J. Ball, 3RD ROW: Mr. Shaw, Mr. Oliver, G. Poss, C Riley, M. Jensen, J. Wilkins, T. Davis, B Nash, 2ND ROW: D. Bassett, S. McGee, J. Wilkins, M. Falls, P Forristall, G. Ensign, E. Von Seggren, 1ST ROW: N. Lofdah, D. Bennett, D. Palmer, F. Siebert, G. Lowe, K. Nash, K. Boetger, Coach Kravig Photo credit: Fred Stang. and they brought Kravig s system down to us. It s just all we knew. Pearson remembered, All we did was play football. When I was really little I remember tagging along with my older brother Phil and Steve Antonopoulos who lived a couple doors down from us. We d all don our helmets and shoulder pads from JC Penney and find a vacant lot to play in. It didn t matter what the weather was like we were playing. I remember one time I got hit hard by Steve when we were playing in a snow storm. But, even though I was a little guy, I didn t want to be seen as a baby, so I kept playing. One of the best places to play was on the courthouse grass, but we weren t supposed to be on it and got chased off of it all the time by Gene Sprolh who was the maintenance man. We d be playing happily on the grass and then pretty soon someone would yell, Sprolh!, and we would all scatter. He d chase us down cussing away, Pearson adds with a laugh. The other thing that happens when a tradition for success is present in the community is that everyone played football. On the championship teams there was always just around 30 boys on each team. Antonopoulos verified, We had 30 of the 33 boys that was in the school on our team. That is what it takes to be champions. Everyone has to contribute. When eligible players make excuses and don t play it hurts the entire team in these small towns. The final ingredient for a tradition of such amazing success comes from the community. These were people who were tough, who came from farms, and who were used to hard work and perseverance. And they certainly recognized and celebrated those attributes in their football players. Stang remembers, It was a wonderful experience growing up in Hugo. The town really got behind our teams and it was thrilling for all of us. Antonopoulos concurs, When we made some of our long trips to places like Merino, the entire town shut down and came too. Although there were probably 700 or 800 people in Hugo there sometimes were as many as 1,500 at the games. It was quite a time. Tradition is also maintained when there exist great memories that are passed down to the next generation. The players from the Pirates reign throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s all expressed their fond mem- ories of teammates and the fun they had while playing the game of football. Antonopoulos remembers the 1965 state championship game against Monument (now Lewis Palmer), In the 1965 championship we were behind late in the game when coach (Kravig) called a center-eligible pass play. We d practiced it, but we d never ran it in a game. I was on the line with Dick (Reines), our center, and blocked for him as he broke free. Our quarterback, John Emmerling, one of my best friends, laid the ball perfectly into Dick s hands for the go-ahead touchdown! I ll never forget that. Stang remembers many big plays, as well. In the 68 championship game we were down to Merino, 34-33, after they had scored. The time was running out. On the kick off, Rob (Pearson) received the ball at the 15-yard line and ran it back 85 yards for a touchdown and the lead. I just remember everyone setting massive blocks like their life depended on it. Pearson also remembered a lot of the best plays Hugo had, but his favorite was probably in the 1969 championship game when they easily defeated Merino again. Merino had scored and were thinking they were going to come back on us. Coach had probably sent out a play, but Steve Nash, our quarterback, decided to show Merino a little razzle-dazzle. We called it 31 Reverse. I recall Nash passed to Mike Boetger who lateraled to me and I had clear sailing to the end zone. Now in their late 60s or early 70s the Pirates of 50 years ago still look upon those glory days with thankfulness in their hearts. They all wholeheartedly agree that growing up in a small, close knit town on the plains of Colorado shaped their successful adult lives. Steve Antonopoulos, who has been the Denver Broncos trainer for more than 30 years and is the standard bearer of the Broncos organization said, The values I learned as a kid growing up in Hugo are utilized today with the Broncos. You learn to care for others and you learn that everyone matters. Through football we learned discipline, honesty, integrity, and to honor our country. We learned what a quality life looks like. Today, just as it was in the turbulence of the 1960s in the era when these boys became young men, our country finds itself losing its way once again. In these times, all one needs to do is look at the strong traditions of small-town football and there you will find the answers to all the country s problems Championship Hugo 40 Merino Championship Hugo 49 Merino Championship Hugo 20 Iliff Championship Hugo 8 Merino 6 Hugo fans may be interested to know that Steve Nash and Ron Pearson have begun collecting old film from the championship seasons. You can see a preview and get more information at this website: com/ Jubilant Pirates hoist Coach Harold Kravig on shoulders. Photo credit: Eastern Colorado Plainsman.

9 16 17 VOLLEYBALL HEATS UP OVER THE NEXT MONTH By KERRY SHERMAN The first month of the volleyball season has given us a number of quality match-ups, but things are just starting to heat up. As teams turn the corner and head down the backstretch, several huge contests jump off the page. September 21st Two big clashes highlight the 1A schedule, with Stratton/Liberty visiting Otis and Weldon Valley traveling to Briggsdale. The first match-up has the teams potentially entering with a combined record of 15-0 and the winner becomes the favorite in District 5. Weldon Valley and Briggsdale meet twice in the span of three weeks, and those contests Top-ranked Yuma has an upcoming match with fellow #1 Kit Carson (1A) and also battles #3 Wiggins (2A) in a match that could determine the Lower Platte league championship. will go a long way toward deciding the champion of the North Central League. Stratton/Liberty is just two seasons removed from a 5-15 finish. Last year, in their first under Tom Milligan, the Knighted Eagles went They can nearly surpass that win total by the end of September. Otis is no stranger to lofty expectations under Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz, as the Bulldogs won 22 or more matches last season for the tenth time in the last 11 years. The one time they didn t was in 2016, and the Bulldogs still went September 29th The defending 1A state champs from Kit Carson will visit the A runner-up, Yuma, with both likely being ranked #1 in its respectively class. Kit Carson had its streak of 82 consecutive sets won snapped in its second match of the season, as La Veta won the second and third sets in their match, going up 2-1. The Wildcats rallied back to win the match in 5. Kit Carson is led by a solid senior group that includes big hitters Tess Hornung, Olivia Isenbart, and McKenzie Smith. In their first six matches of the season, the Yuma Indians only lost one set. That was the opening set of an outing with Chase County, NE. Jenny Noble also has a good bunch of seniors who are looking to bring the program its second state title in four seasons. The Indians have won at least 23 matches and reached the championship game in each of their four previous seasons under Noble. October 4th With at least four teams slugging it out for command of the 2A Santa Fe, Fowler s trip to Rye should help shake things out. Hoehne and Swink are also very much in the mix, and Swink will have a huge match outside of the league later in the month. Rye took the first meeting between the two earlier in the season, sweeping the Grizzlies in Fowler. The Thunderbolts raced to an easy win in the first set, and then took the next two by identical scores. October 12th The LPAA regular season title will likely be decided when Yuma hosts Wiggins. Both teams made the state field last year, a first for Wiggins in quite some time. It was a breakout season for the Tigers, who posted 20 wins in Michelle Baker s fourth year running the program. Wiggins has a brutal schedule leading into the match, which could help prepare them as they try to snap a 16-match losing skid against the Indians. October 20th As mentioned earlier, Swink steps out of league play for a match with postseason seeding implications. The Lions will host Del Norte, and both should still be in the top-10 in the 2A polls, so major RPI points will be at stake. Swink beat the Tigers twice last year, once during the regular season in four sets and the second at regionals in five. The Lions would go 0-2 in pool play at the state tournament, and the senior laden squad is trying to improve upon that finish. Del Norte has become a fixture in the regional round, but is also looking to take things to a new level. Class 3A Sterling has a tough trip through the Patriot League, with five teams either currently or previously ranked in the top-10. The Tigers will have to compete with Eaton, University, Platte Valley, Valley, and Resurrection Christian. Those five, as well as Sterling, all made the state tournament last season, comprising half of the field. La Junta and Lamar also have difficult paths through the Tri-Peaks. Colorado Springs Christian School, Manitou Springs, St. Mary s, and Buena Vista have all been in or near the top-10 during the early portion of the season. Lamar and Buena Vista were the only teams to represent the league in the state field last year.

10 18 19 Spousal support can be the heart of high school athletics By DAN MOHRMANN Hollywood does an admirable job when it comes to portraying the role of a coach s spouse. Particularly in any movie or television show that deals with high school sports. The spouse often acts as the steady hand. A stable presence in a chaotic event that plays out over the course of an athletic season. The inspiration had to come from somewhere. And when observing high school sports in person and Shawn Randel has served in several capacities including a current head, former assistant coach and sometimes coach s spouse. Photo credit: Shantil Basler. understanding the dedication of a coach and their players, it s not hard to determine that the inspiration comes from reality. I grew up in a sports family, Kilee Randel says. My dad coached when I was younger and my mom was always very supportive, so I grew up very sports-minded. I think that plays a role in how good of a sports spouse you are. If you understand that your spouse is going to be gone a lot and they re going to have successful teams and they re putting in a lot of time then Hollywood nails it right on the head. Kilee is the former girls basketball coach at Akron School as she stepped down before the season. Her husband Shawn coaches the boys team. Both Shawn and Kilee have acted as a head coach and the spouse of a head coach. At times, the challenges that high school athletes can present proved to be nothing compared to the challenge of watching each other go through a season that will always provide an emotional roller coaster ride. The hard part there is trying to give advice and yet trying to allow them to define who they are and keeping your mouth shut, Shawn said. In sports, there s always controversy and issues that come up. Letting her navigate that herself is way better. The other part is just me coming home and complaining. It s more of a release factor as far as the head coach coming home and trying to get all that off. That can be the hard part of a marriage when coaching is involved. Sports personalities, by nature, are competitive people and often unable to just flip a switch and turn off the mental rigors that come with their teams. Kilee Randel is the former girls basketball coach at Akron High School but now supports husband Shawn with his various coaching responsibilities. Photo credit: Shantil Basler. The Randels are fortunate in that they ve both walked in each other s shoes. It s a unique situation to say the least and not one that is seen at every school. For years Luann Tecklenburg watched her husband Dave man the bench for the Lamar volleyball team. As they started their marriage 28 years ago, neither one quite knew what was in store for them when it came to Dave getting into education and taking on additional responsibilities as a coach. But the result was predictable. Dave became competitive and his team dominated the majority of his thoughts. He started years ago when our kids were young and that s all he talked about, Luann said. He would pretend when he first got home that he was interested in what was going on around here, but he has a onetrack mind. He s very driven, very focused and his mind was there all the time. He s better about that now, he s matured to where he s given himself some slack there and some time away from the stresses of it. She doesn t speak ill of that behavior. It helped shape the man that she loves and stands by to this day. He wasn t always home as much as either of them might have liked, but perhaps the biggest key in their relationship surviving (and for any Hollywood portrayal of a coach s spouse to be intriguing) there has to be that element of support and, more importantly, understanding. I raised three daughters and I spent a lot of time away from them, Dave said. But if you re going to have a good program, you have to do it. It s just a sacrifice you make as a family. Eventually Dave made another sacrifice in moving into administration and becoming Lamar s superintendent. It took him away from coaching. And while the benefits of a more secure paycheck and the ability to plan for his kids to go to college were welcome for him and his family, it started the process of pulling him away from the kids. Even Luann, who wasn t watching her husband embark on road trips to Buena Vista or Manitou Springs anymore, noticed that in terms of direct contact with kids, he had taken a step backwards. It got to the point where he s been in the superintendent position long enough that he wasn t even recognizing kids names anymore, Luann said. Or if he was, it s because he s been in the education game in Lamar long enough that the names are kids of kids that he had as a student. The supportive spouse, she understood when he caved into his desire to return to coaching. A day like that may even come for someone like Kilee Randel, but for now she s content to being the mom of two future Akron Rams and the wife of Coach Randel. There wasn t a transition period for them when they got married and both got into coaching. But there was a big transition period when she stepped down to focus on the kids. That was hard for us because we ve always ridden the bus together, Kilee said. Our kids have always been managers for our programs, so it was harder because I wasn t on the bus with them anymore. Last year it was an adjustment because there was less family time. They certainly haven t it out altogether. The benefit of small school coaching and small school living is that they work in the same building. There s no leaving at 6 a.m. and not seeing each other again until 7 p.m. I see her all the time, Shawn says. As far as a marriage, I see her probably more than 90 percent of marriages out there. I see her during the school day since we both work in the school system. The consistent theme whether it s the Randels, the Tecklenburgs, or any other family that where coaching plays a significant role is that behind every coach there is a significant other in wings providing support and, when needed, comfort. They re the heart of every sports story worthy of a Hollywood script.

11 20 21 Granada faces changes for 2018 football season By JOHN CONTRERAS Heading into the 2018 season, the storied Granada High School football program underwent some major changes. One change saw Granada dropped from 8-man football to the 6-man ranks this year. Another big change saw longtime head coach Manuel Gonzales Sr. turn the coaching reins over to his son Manuel Jr. However, the Hall of Fame coach will still be visible on the sideline and serve as an assistant coach. No question, Manuel Sr. has enjoyed an illustrious coaching career for Granada. In addition to his 44 years as a football coach, he s also coached baseball for 43 years and boys basketball for 32 years. GRANADA BOBCATS 2018 SCHEDULE 8/31 Idalia Lost Eads Won 45-0 Arickaree/ 9/14 Woodlin Cheyenne 9/21 Wells Stratton/ 10/5 Liberty Kit Carson 10/19 Walsh His teams won state football titles in 1979, 1988 and 2006, basketball crowns in 1989 and 1991 and baseball championships in 1991, 1995 and His teams have earned numerous state runner-up finishes as well. As for Manuel Jr., he is no stranger to 6-man football. He started his coaching career as the head coach at Plainview from His team made the state playoffs during the team s third season. The following year he was hired as the 8-man head coach at Holly where he served in that capacity for seven years. One of the highlights came in 2003 when Manuel Jr. and his team beat Granada in a regular-season game to end a long string of losses to the Bobcats. Manuel Jr. was honored as coach of the week by The Denver Post and the Denver Broncos. He received a plaque at halftime of a Broncos game. In 2004, Manuel Jr. returned to Granada schools where he served as the assistant high school football coach under his dad. Being on the sidelines with my dad has been a blessing and I ve learned a lot from him, Manuel Jr. said. Who wouldn t want a coach by your side with over 40 years of experience. To have that much experience on the sideline, you couldn t ask for anything better. Manuel Jr. said he grew up learning the ropes at a young age. I remember being on the sideline Senior full back, Devon Jara battles to score in the fourth quarter while Idalia Wolves Sam Mcginnis and Jace Juhnke defend. Photo credit: Valeria Aguirre. as a manager when Granada won its first state football championship, he said. I grew up being around him, playing for him, and just being around the game. My dad loves football and he loves to watch his kids compete and play hard. Football is in his blood. John Hopper is the other assistant coach and he s been around for a number of years as well. John has played a big part in our sports programs, lauded Manuel Jr. He s great with the kids and they respect him. Manuel Jr. said he s looking forward to the challenge of taking over the program. It s been a change and our kids are still learning to adapt, he said. I told them it s going to take few games to get some experience and find out what the game is really like. So as coaches we ve been pretty patient. Granada kicked off the 2018 campaign with a tough loss to Idalia, In that game, the Bobcats held the lead with minutes left before Idalia scored a late touchdown to win it. The Bobcats rebounded the following week to pitch a 45-0 shutout against the Eads Eagles to start Caleb Dorenkamp recovers a fumble against Idalia Wolves Erik Estrada. Photo credit: Valeria Aguirre. league play. From our first game to our second game, we made some big strides especially on defense, said Manuel Jr. Granada joins a pretty tough Southeast League with the likes of Kit Carson and Cheyenne Wells. The league also includes Eads, Walsh, and Cheraw. Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells, and Eads were all state playoff teams a year ago. Cheyenne Wells reached the state semifinals before they were eliminated by Stratton/Liberty, Kit Carson lost to Cheyenne Wells, 14-6, for the league championship. The Wildcats bounced back to win their next six games including a upset win over previously unbeaten Prairie in the state quarterfinals. The run for Kit Carson ended with a state semifinal loss to Peetz, who eventually went on to capture the state championship with a win over Stratton/Liberty. Eads is coming off a 58-8 loss to Peetz in the first round of the state playoffs. Looking at this year s team, Manuel Jr. will be counting on the leadership of a handful of seniors to lead the way for the Bobcats. On offense, the backfield features senior running backs Josh Baca (5-8, 145) and Devon Jara (5-9, 200). Baca gives the Bobcats some speed while Jara is a power runner. Granada is young at quarterback with athletic freshman Dominic Coleman (6-0, 145) barking out signals. Dre Aguilar (5-9, 225 senior) anchors the front line and will be flanked by ends Stefan McGee (5-8, 125 senior), Damien Cebulski (5-7, 155 senior), and Caleb Dorenkamp (6-1, 200 junior). On the defensive side of the ball, Jara and Dorenkamp line up as defensive ends and Jett Harmon (5-8, 155 junior) at nose guard. The linebackers include Cebulski, Baca, and Trevor Cramblett (6-0, 145 sophomore) who also plays free safety. A tough schedule lies ahead for Granada. League play begins on September 21st with a home game against #7 Cheyenne Wells but three road games follow. The Bobcats will play No. 10 ranked Arickaree/Woodlin on Sept. 14 before they start league play with a home game with No. 7 Cheyenne Granada Head Coach Manuel Gonzales Jr. confers with freshman quarterback Dominic Coleman during the fourth quarter. Photo credit: Valeria Aguirre. Wells on the 21st. Granada then plays three straight away games including trips to #3 Kit Carson and #1 Stratton/Liberty in back-to-back weeks.

12 22 23 CALHAN BACK ON THE FOOTBALL MAP By KERRY SHERMAN After a two-year absence, varsity football made its return in Calhan earlier this season. The return has already been met with success on the field, as the Bulldogs claimed their first victory since week three of the 2015 season. Calhan was not alone in facing a crossroad regarding their football team. Football in some parts of rural Colorado is struggling, Calhan athletic director Donovan Mitchell stated. It has become increasingly common for smaller schools to struggle with putting a football team on the field. The decision to not field a program in 2016 was not an easy one for the administration to make. In the summer of 2016, the previous administration was forced to make one of the most difficult decisions in the history of our athletic programs, Mitchell said. While preparing for the football season, it was apparent that roughly 12 students planned on playing football, many of which were freshmen. Out of respect for the teams on our schedule, giving them time to find a replacement opponent, admin decided to put the football program on a temporary hiatus. After playing a junior varsity schedule for the past two years, Calhan has re-established a varsity football program and recorded their first win of 2018 in beating Dolores Huerta Photo credit: Calhan Athletics. That involved playing a JV schedule last year. Luke Billington was brought on during the summer of 2017 and he faced some long odds. He was given the tall task of breathing life back into a program that historically was not successful. It was mid-cycle in terms of CH- SAA and schedules, so our best option was to schedule JV opponents who were available and who best matched up to our ability level while rebuilding the program. Coach Billington and his staff did a great job recruiting enough players to make it through the season and The Bulldogs went 5-2 during that season, winning their first five games, including two by shutout. The losses were closely contested, with a 13-point defeat by Chatfield and a five-point setback to close out the season against Classical Academy. All of that was done with a roster of 18 players. Even with the success, that participation number was low for the classification. That prompted Calhan to look for other options for this season. They found the best one had them playing down, in 8-man. We did not want to simply fall back into the same cycle as the previous decade of barely getting by with low numbers, and out of necessity playing freshman on the varsity football field that were not athletically ready to play the physical game of football against the varsity athletes of the other schools on our schedule. We chose to play down 8-man football in efforts to break the cycle of non-competitive Calhan football teams. We felt this gave us the best chance to create a sustainable and healthy football program at Calhan, Mitchell noted. Calhan opened this season by being shutout 43-0 by the defending runners-up, West Grand. That was CALHAN BULLDOGS 2018 SCHEDULE West Grand Lost /31 Byers Lost Dolores Huerta Prep Won /14 Pikes Peak Christian Simla 10/6 Swink Elbert 10/19 Miami Yoder 10/26 Custer County followed up by a nail-biting loss against Byers, in which Mikey Mikita rushed for 225 yards and three scores. Gage Alexander added 182 yards and three scores on the ground. The Bulldogs finally broke into the win column in their third game, with Mikita and Alexander combining for 341 yards and three rushing touchdowns. That victory over Dolores Huerta Prep brought the story full circle, as the program s last win had also come against the Scorpions. Mikey Mikita rushed for 1982 yards and two touchdowns while Gage Alexander added 159 yards and a score. Brayden Dillingham and Brandon Eglinton each added two touchdowns. The decision to play down also allows the Bulldogs and their fans to see some familiar names and faces on the schedule. This also allowed us to play the same local/rival Black Forest League schools in football that we play in every other sport which would help in terms of game attendance and community excitement, said Mitchell. The Bulldogs will face those schools as members of the 8-man Southern Division. They opened league play on September 14th against Pikes Peak Christian, but the meat of their division schedule includes the likes of Simla, Elbert, and Miami-Yoder, all schools well known to Calhan. What the future holds for the Bulldogs on the gridiron is an uncertainty. But Mitchell and the coaches will move forward with a clear vision. With all decisions pertaining to Calhan Athletics my coaches and I look to do our best to align with our vision for the organization,...to create a cohesive, selfless, and supportive community that relentlessly puts Calhan First in the pursuit of excellence for our student-athletes. Many aspects of our future are out of our hands, but on a daily basis we are working toward our vision and our mission to make Calhan High School the best that it can be for every student and family that calls Calhan home, Mitchell proudly stated. Promoting High School Athletics On The Eastern Plains colorado preps magazine 502 Gayle Street Fort Morgan, CO Volume 1 Edition 2 SEPTEMBER 2018 Colorado Preps Magazine is published monthly and presented free to the public through distribution at schools and businesses across Eastern Colorado. Publisher Kevin Shaffer kevin@coloradopreps.com Editor Betsy Barnett barnett@kiowacountyindependent.com Layout/Design William Brandt brandt@kiowacountyindependent.com Writers Betsy Barnett John Contreras Nick Jurney Dan Mohrmann Kevin Shaffer Kerry Sherman Photography Shantil Basler Van Hollis Jesi Holmes Dustin Price Steven Vetter Bob Schecter

13 24 byron rhett davis otis bryce miracle akron mariah demers Through two games, Davis has rushed for 502 yards on just 32 attempts for an average of 15.7 yards per carry. He s also scored eight touchdowns on the ground. In addition, Davis has caught five passes for 152 yards and a ninth score. In the wild season opening win over Calhan, the Bulldogs running back amassed 415 yards of offense and also completed a pass for six yards. He was also involved in ten tackles on defense. The senior opened the 2018 season with 321 yards and six touchdowns rushing in a high scoring win over defending state champion. He followed up the game with five touchdowns and 230 yards on the ground in a win over Genoa Hugo in week three. Miracle has also completed two of four passes for 103 yards and a touchdown and has also scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception. Defensively, Miracle recorded 17 tackles with a sack in the first two games. After winning just two matches in 2017, the Akron Rams have already won six matches on the season and this sophomore setter is playing an important role in the resurgence. She picked up a career best 52 assists in a four-set win over Heritage Christian as part of the Northeastern Junior College Tournament this month. She posted 327 assists in her freshman season but is already halfway past that mark this season. Demers added seven kills and 14 diggs in the win. back page heroes PRESENTED BY QUALITY STORAGE SOLUTIONS