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Title town up north
NOV. 8, 2021 Vol. 14 Ed. 1 114 Park Ave Eaton, CO 80615
EHS student sections are back, and better than ever page 8-9
2 redreport November 8, 2021
Charity soccer game held for students Money raised to benefit two EHS brothers recovering from car accident
ashlenlivingston staffreporter
Eaton High School students Justin Elizalde(22) and Jason Elizalde (24) were involved in a life threatening accident recently. Both Justin and Jason fell off the bed of a moving truck, leaving them with severe injuries on Thursday, September 30. After being rushed to Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, doctors discovered Justin suffered from a broken skull along with brain bleed, and Jason suffered from a fractured skull with a brain bleed. After their initial consultation, the boys were air-lifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Each day, the Elizalde brothers fought for their lives, and after a few long weeks of recovery, both Justin and Jason began physical therapy. Critical accidents such as this one tend to result in high hospital bills, but with the help of staff and students at Eaton High School, two fundraisers were set up to assist the Elizalde family through this tragedy. A former teacher from EMS, Kara Englert, created a GoFundMe account, which has raised a generous amount of money. Englert, with the help of EHS social studies teacher Andrew Jorgensen, Maria Ruuemau (22), and Adilene Rivera (22) organized a charity soccer game to raise more funds
for the family. Students and community members were able to come together on Thursday, October 21 to participate in the Justin and Jason Soccer Game held at the Eaton Rec Center. With a handful of volunteer soccer players and supporters on the sidelines, the fundraiser soccer game began. Although Jorgensen was unable to stay for the entire event he said, “If somebody needs help, we like to claim that we’re a family, so if someone in your family needs help, go help them...I like that it was student-led, student-driven, it wasn’t like me forcing you guys to do this. I’ll just help facilitate it, that was all my role was.” Spanish teacher, Aleena Griffin, was also a huge supporter of the fundraiser. She said, “I love Justin and Jason both, I think they’re both awesome students, awesome boys, and awesome kids. I adore both of them, they’re super fun and sweet; I can’t wait for them to come back to school. I have a lot of students that are close with them, and I wanted to be there to support them as well.” After the soccer game, Griffin said, “I mean it was awesome, the kids had a lot of fun playing and there was music playing, and people were having fun on the sidelines. From what I heard, it sounds like they got a really good donation, I thought it was great. I wish more students would have
Emily Hogsett Adan Luna (22) signs a soccer ball
Emily Hogsett Lusero Garcia (23) prepares to kick a soccer ball during the charity soccer game
come and represented.” Scarlett Wray (22) also played a big role in the event. Wray coaches children’s soccer at the Rec Center and offered her service to help ref the game. Wray said, “There wasn’t a part when people stopped participating or stopped having fun.” Community coming together to help others in need is always an inspiring thing to see, and this charity soccer game really illustrated that. Those who participated in the game were separated into two teams, blue and yellow. The volunteers played about three games up until the end when supporters from the side lines suggested an all girls game. At this time English teacher, Texie Jonsson, decided to join in on the fun. Jonsson said, “I love to see
the kids interacting. I love to see that they were laughing and they weren’t on their phones; they were just having a good time. It was nice to see kids being kids.” Jonsson had both Justin and Jason in her class, which is what drove her to participate in the soccer game. Those who attended the soccer game were greeted with pizza, courtesy of Englert, and some cheerleading thanks to Angela Garcia, a friend who graduated last year, and Carmelita Estrada (22). As the soccer game came to an end, the fundraiser slowly fizzled out, but some volunteers and friends of the Elizalde brothers stuck around to wait for their arrival. Supporters and friends were eager to see Justin and Jason, one of which is Dominic Lopez
Emily Hogsett Juan Campos (22) posing for fun photo
Varela (23). Lopez said, “It was pretty fun for the most part, I’m glad we raised money for Justin and Jason and I’m glad they came at the end. It was so nice seeing them. And my favorite part about the event was seeing them, even though they weren’t there for a long time, it was better late than never.” The charity soccer game was an overall success. Money was raised for the Elizalde family; Justin and Jason got to see their friends after a long time of waiting; and supporters had fun at the game. As for the Elizalde brothers, both have made a speedy recovery, but both Justin and Jason are continuing physical therapy, and Justin remains in a neck brace. EHS staff and students are excited to have the Elizalde brothers back in school.
Emily Hogsett Maria Ruuemau (22) and Ashlen Livingston (22) hold support posters
November 8, 2021
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Eaton gathers for Richter Strong Kills for Cures volleyball game supports teacher in cancer battle
emilyhogsett newseditor Many of Eaton High School’s students know the familiar face of prior preschool teacher and current kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Richter. In late August, 2021, Richter was diagnosed with Stage 2, HER2 positive breast cancer. Throughout Richter’s journey, the community has supported her and her entire family. According to the Mayo Clinic, HER2 positive breast cancer is cancer that tests positive for the protein known as human epidermal growth factor receptor two. This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells in the body. Richter’s treatment has in-
volved chemotherapy once a week for 12 weeks and targeted therapy every three weeks. Her treatments are planned to last a year. Richter said, “I am participating in a clinical trial where I receive one chemotherapy drug instead of two. Due to only receiving one, the side effects are less.” Throughout Richter’s journey, the Eaton community has been there to support her. The Eaton Volleyball team hosted their Kills for Cures game on October 19. Mrs. Richter’s son, Ben Richter (22) said, “It was overwhelming - all the support we got from everyone at the game. I know my mom was overwhelmed. It was nice to see everyone with their shirts on and just all the support we got
from the whole community.” Fans were able to give a flat donation or pay per kill made by the Lady Reds. By the end of the night, 48 kills were made and around $6,000 was raised to benefit the Richter family. Junior volleyball player, Ainslie Ross (23) said, “It was a really good thing for the community to come together and help someone in our community. It is really important to see the direct effects of it supporting someone in our community. ” The community support spanned farther than the Kills for Cure volleyball game. Many people reached out to Richter through texts, cards, prayers, and even meals. Monarch Printing made volleyball shirts for the Kills for Cures
game with “Richter Strong” written on the back. The shirt sales brought in about $2,000 of donations for the Richter family. “I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful the support from the community has been. From the moment word got out about my diagnosis, the support started pouring in. Kills of a Cure night was something you can’t even put into words. Seeing everyone in their “Richter Strong” shirts was so emotional. To know you have so many people behind you, praying for you, gives you the strength you need to keep fighting.” For those going through a similar situation, Richter’s advice is, “Unfortunately, life
throws us curve balls. This definitely wasn’t something we were expecting, especially during Ben’s senior year. We have learned to take things one day at a time, and to find blessings in each day. It’s so important to stay positive so cancer knows it’s not going to win!”
Abigail Vondy The Richter family is recognized during the Kills for Cure game.
Choir ends the first quarter on a melodic note The EHS choir performs their first quarter concert
logangullett staffreporter
The start of the new fall season also marked the choir’s first concert of the school year. The night of October 28 was surely one to remember. The choir couldn’t perform at the high school, so they gathered at the Eaton Evangelical Free church to carry out their performance. The choir’s that performed included the Women’s choir, Men’s choir, Bella Voce, Troubadours, and a combined group which included all of the choirs. The church was packed to the brim with families and friends watching. Those who did not arrive by 7 o’clock had to go to the upstairs area of the church to find seating. The first performance of the
night was from the Women’s Choir, where they sang “Firefly”, “Antiphonal Sanctus”, and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”. Following a stellar outing by the girls, the Men’s Choir were up next. They sang “Obiswana”, “Men O’ The Sea”, and “Oh, Pretty Women”. James Blackman (23), had a single in Men O’ The Sea. Blackman said, “It was really extremely nerve racking, my legs were shaking so much while I was singing and afterwards.” At the end of “Oh, Pretty Women”, Men’s Choir member Michael Salazar (23) dressed up in a dress and wig and jumped on stage. The crowd burst into laughter and even some of the Men’s Choir began to laugh. Men’s Choir member,
Aaron Lampe (23) said, “I can’t believe we actually got him to do that, it was so funny.” Next to perform was Bella Voce where they sang “Give Us Hope”, “Hands Are Knockin’”, and “I’m in Love with a Monster”. Ashleigh Wiliams (23) and Lauren Caudle (23) performed solos in “Hands Are Knockin’”, while Addie Burke (22) and Reata Moore (23) had solos in “I’m in Love with a Monster”. As the Bella Voce left the stage, on came the Troubadours. The Troubadours are an elite group of singers at EHS. The members have to audition for the part, and are not guaranteed a spot. There are both boys and girls in the group. The Troubadours sang “Et In Terra Pax”, “Wit-
ness”, and “You’re the One That I Want” with solos from Charlie Fritzler (24) and Alejandra Naranjo (22). To cap off the night, all of the choirs joined together to sing “Song for the Unsung Hero”. It was a tight fit, as there were more than 100 kids on the little stage. “They had very little practice, but their performance was pretty much flawless,”
said Contreras. The night of the EHS choir concert was one filled with joy and laughter. Most of the songs had fun choreography to go along with the music, and the crowd was full of smiles. The EHS choir performs again in December, and, if construction goes to plan, they will be returning to the EHS theatre for the first time in over a year.
Emily Hogsett Mens choir dances to choreography piece “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
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Powder Puff & Powder Stuff Recap Class of 2022 boys and girls teams win the victory in the powder games
ryleemartin featureeditor After a long postponement, Powder Puff and Power Stuff was finally held and students were ecstatic. This event was scheduled to happen during Homecoming week, but was pushed back to October 22nd. Powder Puff and Stuff is always a big hit with parents, teachers, and of course the students. Getting to choose a nickname for the back of the shirts and getting to coach fellow students is something that isn’t only entertaining to watch, but it was a good way to get students involved with school activities. Charlotte Reynolds (22) said, “My favorite nicknames were Kia Soul, Tent Sally, Pretty Boy, and Go With The Flow.” The night started off with the junior and senior girls taking the field to battle in a friendly game of flag football. The ‘23 juniors started off the game strong as Madison Chavez (23) intercepted a ball and ran for a touchdown. After that the seniors took over, quarterback Zoie Floryance threw 3 touchdown passes to Ahana Leffler (22) and Scarlett Wray (22). Although tradi-
tionally the refs rig the system so that seniors win, the juniors put up a good fight. Coaches Trent Salberg (23), Austin Martinez (23), Walker Copeland (23), and Walker Martin (23) came up with several different plays for the girls to run but ultimately the senior class’s offensive line was too strong. Salberg said, “ The girls gave it a good try considering this was their first football game ever, but we have some things to work on for next year.” Of course, everyone’s competitive spirit made an appearance at the game, but that is what makes Eaton so special. Everyone has a passion for something and it shines through with whatever students do. Lexi Bruntz (22) said, “My favorite part of powder puff was absolutely destroying the juniors… but also getting to play in my first ever Powder Puff game on my senior year, it was so memorable and I am so happy we finally got to play in one since we didn’t get one last year.” With the senior refs being Jarred McCormack (22) and Bryce Smith (22) the boys had a blast getting to call dif-
ferent plays and get to use the seniority advantage to help the seniors secure the win. Jaden Stone (22) ran the chains for the football game as he was mentally preparing for the Power Stuff game. Stone said, “I wanted to carry the energy from the Powder Puff game to the Power Stuff game.” And the boys did just that. As the boys took the court and started the traditional warm-up the student section started to pack the stands to cheer on the boys. Splitting the stands from the junior to senior side student section leaders tried to come up with different chants. Leading the junior side was Will Grable (23) and leading the senior side was Dimitrius Reyes (22) and Karson Chadwick (22). Reyes “My favorite chant was when we chanted stick to baseball when Walker Martin served a ball into the net, and when we did the famous party chant where we try to out chant the juniors.” Once game time the boys showed no mercy. Coaches for the senior team were Megan St. Jean (22) and Ahana Leffler (22). Leffler said, “It was super fun to get
Emily Hogsett Junior Boys celebrate during the Powder Stuff match after their victory.
Emily Hogsett Emily Maske (23) runs the ball during the Powder Puff game.
to coach the boys because everyone was just super athletic so it was fun to watch everyone battle it out.” Coaches for the junior side were Gracie Tomlinson (23), Emily Maske (23), Rylee Martin (23), and Brooklin Frank (23). Maske said, “It was fun getting to set up our lineups, we got really creative and I thought that the boys had fun getting to dress up as well.” In the first set the junior won, the score was 25-22, in the second set the seniors came back with vengeance and took the set 25-20. To determine the match the final set was only scored to 15 points. After a nail-biter of a set, the juniors eventually came out on top with a win. The final score was 15-12.
Zac Grable (23) said, “My favorite part about getting to play in Powder Stuff was getting to dress up and play with my friends, it was all friendly competition which is a good way to get away from all of our sports.” On both sides of the court the boys painted their faces with red and black to show school spirit. The Student Council set up all of the events for Powder Puff and Stuff, despite the delay, it was great to see the inclusion of Eaton High School students which has been the goal within the student council this year. As the 2021 annual Powder Puff and Stuff has concluded many memories were made and students can’t wait for next year’s competition.
Emily Hogsett Student section cheers during the Powder Stuff matches.
November 8, 2021
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Foreign Exchange Students
Eaton High School welcomes students from all over the globe
dimitriusreyes staffreporter kasenhays staffreporter
This year, Eaton High School (EHS) has welcomed back the students along with some new faces from outside the country. These new faces are Greta Della Lotta (23), Dean Choi (23), and Nele Moehring (23) . They have come to Eaton from various places, but for the same reason - to get a new experience. Della Lotta is here from Italy; Choi came to Eaton all the way from South Korea; and Moehring is from Germany. Having these students this semester gives Eaton students the opportunity to expand their perspectives and explore other cultures. Eaton welcomes Della Lotta
from Italy and she said, “Eaton is nothing like where I am from.” Della Lotta also said, “ I prefer the school here, it is much easier, and easy to study.” Her least favorite part of America is, “The gun violence, we don’t really don’t have that sort of issue where I’m from.” The hardest thing for her to get used to in America is, “The language is the hardest part because I have always spoken Italian for my life. Which makes it hard for me.” Della Lotta continued with her thoughts of her short time in Eaton, “It is very different because of the language obviously but I like it here. It is nice.” The language barrier is prevalent but Della Lotta still likes it in Eaton. Being from South Korea, Choi shares similar interests as EHS students such as music
and singing in the Men’s Choir where he contributes his vocal skills to the bass section. Choi has enjoyed his time here so far and said, “It’s very funny. I can’t go a day without laughing.” The environment is much different from his school back in South Korea. Choi continues to say, “There are less rules than there were at my old school, which is what makes it fun.” Since Choi has come to EHS, he said “I like it here, but I have to go back at the end of the school year.” Hopefully Choi will enjoy the rest of his time at EHS before he goes back to South Korea. Although Moehring is from Germany, she said that Eaton is “pretty similar to where she is from”. She followed this up with, “I don’t like your roads, it feels very unsafe for me to
drive.” Moehring is open to new experiences and she said, “ You guys have many extracurricular activities, and it is different because your teachers teach students well. Like if you don’t get it, the teacher actually talks to you about it.” It seems like EHS is doing teaching and extracurriculars very differently and unique compared to around the world. It is an open environment for new students.
Greta Della Lotta (23)
Dean Choi (23)
Nele Moehring (23)
A very creative Halloween at EHS
Teachers and students dress up to show their 2021 Halloween costumes maddiefisher opinioneditor This year the spooky holiday of Halloween was on a Sunday, so staff and students in the building decided to dress up the Friday before. Majority of those who did dress up were staff members, but there were a couple students that did such as Will Grable (23). Grable wore a dress and had props that were suited to look like a grandma, “I thought it would
be funny and the dress I was wearing was my mom’s grandma’s dress which reminds me of her,” Will said. But the teachers dressed up as things or people that are related to what they teach. Brittany Turnbull, a social studies teacher at Eaton High School, was found wearing a wig and long coat that looked almost identical to Benjamin Franklin. Turnbull said, “I wanted to go with something historical,
To the left, Mrs. Turnbull dresses up as Benjamin Franklin for Halloween. To the right, Mrs. Griffin and Ms. Williams dress up as Miguel and Abuelita from the movie Coco for Halloween.
something everyone should have an idea about but also something completely out of the ordinary for me. I made the costume from clothes from the thrift store, a wig from Amazon, and a lot of makeup to make myself look older, I go the extra mile for sure. There was also a staff contest on who could be the best dressed staff member. Not sure if I won, but I sure did my best getting dressed up. Also, Halloween is my
favorite holiday, because getting the chance to be creative and dress up as something different than yourself is always a challenge.” Even if most of the students didn’t dress up, Mrs. Turnbull had enough Halloween spirit for the entire school. Just down the hall in the modulars, Ms. Kendall Williams and Mrs. Aleena Griffin, the Spanish teachers, dressed up with an influence from the Disney Movie, Coco. Ms. Griffin was dressed as the little boy, Miguel, and Ms. Williams was the grandma, Abuelita. Since the movie shares Spanish culture, the teachers thought it would be fun to dress as the characters from it, “We were looking through my bin of costumes for Spanish class and came across a red jacket that looks just
like one from Coco, and we had a dress that looked just like dress from Coco, so we thought that would be fun do do together. We both love the movie Coco, and liked that our costumes celebrated Dia de los Muertos and Halloween,” said Ms. Griffin. Up the stairs on the east side of the building, Mrs. Abigail Duncan was dressed as a shark. Duncan said,“I wanted a costume that I can wear year after year with only one piece involved and because sharks are neat. I bought it off of Amazon and love handing out candy to all of the trick-or-treaters at my house.” Overall, throughout the school, the Halloween spirit was very present, and surprisingly this year it didn’t snow on Halloween as it usually does.
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Two best friends commit to D1 Juniors Martin and Smith take their baseball career to the next level
jadenstone sportseditor Eaton High School has always been known for outstanding athletes, especially on the baseball field. Being crowned state champions 12 times, the Reds have always been “the team to beat.” The teams have been full of great players, but to get the opportunity to play at a Division One school is not always the top goal of many athletes at the high school level. According to ncaa.org, around 2.2% of high school athletes move on to play Division One baseball. At Eaton High School, two athletes in the class of 2023 have the chance to attend Division One universities to play baseball at the next level. Walker Martin (23) and Tate Smith (23), two best friends, have both verbally committed to Division One schools to continue their academic and baseball careers. Walker Martin made his commitment to the University of Arkansas on September 17. He said, “It is definitely one of my dream schools, but I really didn’t think I was going to go there, but once I went there it was just unbelievable so that was my overall decision.” Martin received offers from many schools to continue to play baseball at the collegiate level being known that he is ranked first in the state by PBR Colorado. Martin said he accomplished this by, “Working hard, I have put in a lot of effort in hitting with my dad in the cage at nights.” Martin has many goals and has accomplished many of them so far. He was the winner of the 2021 3A State Championship in football and baseball for the Reds, won All State in his 2021 baseball season, committed to Arkansas, and is continuing to thrive in the classroom. That is not where he looks to stop,
however, he said, “The overall goal is to get drafted and play in the MLB, but I just got to play it day by day.” Baseball has always been a part of Martin’s life. He has been on the baseball diamond since he was six years old, and he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon, he said, “I love the sport because I like the success of it, it makes me want more and once you have something great happen you just want to do it again.” Martin will enter a new chapter of his life, both academically and within his baseball career. “There is going to be a lot of failure in this game, but when you finally get that successful moment it just feels so good,” he said. Martin looks forward to this new opportunity that he will have in two years, “I’m really excited to play in the SEC and just go out and compete with the best.” Tate Smith made his commitment more recently on October 25 to Oklahoma State University. Smith said, “When I got the offer I just felt joy, I was happy, and I was with my family. I knew OSU was a place I was definitely going to consider heavily, and it was one of my dream schools. It was just happy tears because I knew all of my hard work was paying off.” A lot of factors can play into making a decision to play at the next level. Smith said, “You can tell the coaches care about their players and they have the best facilities in college baseball.” Smith is also ranked in PBR Colorado coming in at number four in the state, and similarly to Martin, also won State championships in both football and baseball in the 2021 seasons. He continues to work hard academically to look forward to the next step of being a Cowboy. Obviously Smith won’t stop there, “I want to get a degree out of the deal,
but definitely the end goal is to play in the MLB. I want to be the best pitcher of all time and that has just been my mentality anytime I lift or throw or do anything along those lines.” Beginning baseball at just four years old, Smith has always been around the game. He said, “I actually almost quit when I came to Eaton, and when I was nine I just hated it. Then, I kind of started to pitch and I just fell in love. I love competing and I love being able to dominate so I kind of just fell
in love and knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life so I put all of my efforts into it.” Smith’s family has had a big impact, and he gives a lot of credit to them saying, “My parents have always pushed me to be my best.” These two student athletes may sound like they have similar stories, and that is because they do. The two best friends, Martin and Smith have both gone down their road of recruitment together. “We have been friends forever. I have
known him since we were in diapers. We have always competed and tried to be better than each other and that is what pushed us to be successful together. We always have each other’s back no matter what.” Smith said. Martin said, “We support each other by pushing each other to be the best we can in the big moments, in the weight room, or whatever it is.” Living just one cornfield apart, the two have grown up with many similar interests with the main one being baseball.
Walker Martin (23) prepares to field a ground ball in the state title game.
Young Tate Smith (23) and Walker Martin (23) celebrate after they come into score.
Tate Smith (23) and Walker Martin (23) embrace and share a moment after winning the State Championship.
Tate Smith (23) pitches in a home regular season game.
November 8, 2021
LG BTQ + Inclusion
redview
Creating an environment where everyone is valued
charlottereynolds managingeditor “Fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness in school are crucial for putting all students on a path to success,” (GLSEN). High school is an imperative time in young teens’ lives. It is a chapter of self-discovery and growth. As young adults explore their identity, an inclusive environment is important for academic success. Creating an accepting school culture for students of every sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression ensures each student feels valued and safe. “LGBTQ+ youth experience bullying at significantly greater rates than their straight and cisgender peers,” (The Trevor Project). The Trevor Project conducted a ‘National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021’ in which they recorded the experiences of 35,000 LGBTQ youth across America. This survey found that 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth. Comparatively, transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by the people they lived with and their peers attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected. LGBTQ+ advocate, GSA advisor, and art teacher Chandler Herbst said, “As a staff member in a high school, my goal is to help all of my students succeed in whatever they set their minds to. In order to achieve that success it is important that they feel safe in their environment. Children and teens that identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community are one of the highest de-
mographics that receive hate or are bullied for being different. They feel isolation both in and out of school. As a result, they are at higher risk for developing mental health issues and in turn are at a greater risk for committing suicide.” Outspoken teachers like Herbst play a vital role in changing a school culture for the better. While LGBTQ+ issues are a controversial topic in the media currently, human rights are not political. “One of the biggest issues facing our community is micro-aggressions from both students and staff. While direct bullying does occur, members of the community are more likely to hear underhanded comments that may not be intended to harm but in fact do. Comments like “that’s so gay” insinuate that being gay is a bad thing and makes members of the community feel guilty about who they are. I think staff could benefit from unconscious bias training where they learn about microaggressions in addition to how to create a safe space in their classroom. The more that we are all aware of different lifestyles, the more normalized it becomes and the less targeted students a part of the LBGTQ+ community will feel,” said Herbst. Encouraging allyship among straight and cisgender students will translate directly to overall student success. If students feel comfortable in their school environment they can better express their diversity and identity as a young adult. A small but impactful way to support transgender and nonbinary students is using their preferred name and pronouns. Herbst said, “Respecting someone’s pronouns and change of names is no different than if a student pre-
Gabe Holguin ferred to go by a nickname as opposed to their full name. You are simply referring to someone by something that they prefer. When students state what their name is or what their pronouns are, it is in an attempt to reclaim their identity; an attempt to have their outward appearance and name represent what they feel on the inside. It is one of the first steps taken to feel like they are in control of their own identity. Calling someone by their correct pronouns or preferred name is validating their identity. While I understand it can be hard and confusing for students to suddenly go by different names or pronouns, I just urge people to recognize that that same frustration is felt by members of the community for not feeling recognized or respected.” GSA president Feliz Martinez (22) said, “Using
correct pronouns is important because it helps students feel comfortable in their own skin and identity in the real world.” The word ‘Pride’ holds a lot of value and meaning to LGBTQ+ individuals. It celebrates their freedom to embrace their individuality in a world that hasn’t always allowed them to do so. Herbst said, “To me, Pride means feeling comfortable in one’s own skin; to be confident in one’s identity so that there can be more focus put on the choices we make and how we interact with the world around us. Every student deserves to be proud of who they are without trying to force their own beliefs, identities, or lifestyles on others. In the community, pride just means being happy with who we are because we have spent much of our lives being told not to be because
it is wrong. We are not trying to force anything on anyone, we just want the same validation that each person seeks in our own lives.” Students and staff at Eaton High School can transform their school culture by setting their own biases aside to support and uplift every student. Scarlett Wray (22) said, “Allyship for LGBTQ+ students lets them know that you’re truly there for them when other people aren’t. It is heartbreaking that not everyone is an ally to these students, but I do my best to let them know even though I do not identify as an LGBTQ+ member, I am still there for them and support them.” Once every student feels a sense of belonging and safety in their environment, more attention can be paid in classes and they can ultimately focus on their own goals.
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Title Town Up North
Eaton High School student sections are back, and better than ever. The title Eaton Red comes with a consequential sense of pride and achievement. In the last few years, EHS has become “Title Town Up North,” rather than “That Town Up North.” 2020 was a big year for the Reds, with six total state championships as a school. These exceptional students came from football, softball, volleyball, track individuals, and baseball. These students were able to come up on top amongst the biggest athletic challenges they may ever face. COVID made participating in any extracurricular activity difficult and exhausting. With a new year, full of exciting opportunities and a return to normalcy, the student body is finally able to express their school spirit. The town has been known for its outstanding football team for decades. A home football game typically has the bleachers packed to the brim with adults and supporters. The cheers from the home bleachers can be heard throughout the entire field. Although the significance of the bleacher audience is immense, the end
zone holds the most excitement. For the majority of schools within Colorado, student sections are in the bleachers. Eaton, though, has a student section at the south end zone. High school students come prepared with cow bells, whistles, costumes, themes, and more, to support the football team during their season. Varsity football player Dirk Duncan (22) said, “You hear them right when you’re at the end zone. You can hear the chants and screams. You can really feel their support when they are so close to the field.” The uniqueness of the end zone student section is colossal. Especially after a year without the opportunity. The 2021 student section has more involvement and ever more support. A few new traditions have begunwith this monumental year for student sections. Players and audience now have a clear view of a red flag, flying the letter “TTUN,” standing for “Title Town Up North.” Not only that, but the senior class has taken up the responsibility of creating a barrel. The barrel was painted red, black, and white. One student wears the barrel and helps to lead the students in chants and cheers. “Our school
is the only school I know that keeps the student section at the end zone. We also have the barrel and the flag. When we were freshmen, the seniors at the time had a flag and a barrel for the games, so we decided to follow the tradition. Our student section gets the players more pumped to play in the game. More people watching means more noise. It makes the game more fun,” Dylan Laswell said. Jaden Stone (22), a senior who has taken up the role of leading the student sections, also said. “The football student section is very unique. There is lots of room and people can bring their lawn chairs and hang out for the game. Even though nobody is ever sitting. We are always standing, getting rowdy. When the players are down by our end zone, they can hear every word we say.” With a student section so involved, prideful, and excited, no home game is a bore at the south end zone. Volleyball student sections have also been a hit this year. Themes
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such as red-outs, black-outs, halloween, cowboys, Richter Strong, and USA have only resulted in more fun and involvement. Referring to the volleyball student section, vice principal Thomas Shannon said, “The student section is a reflection of the energy we have for our school and community.” Shannon has majorly contributed to the uniqueness of the volleyball student section. He is administering music into the volleyball games. Now, during timeouts, a specialized playlist is in action to get the students and players more pumped for the game. Not only that, but it also creates a more fun environment for everyone inside of the EHS gym. Grant Hernandez (23) loves going to the home volleyball games. “It’s fun to dress up and be with your friends. Especially, in an environment where you are supposed to get loud,” he said. Students come to the volleyball games ready
to support the Lady Reds. With an abundance of poster boards, props, and traditional chants, being in the gym during a game is an experience that all students should participate in. The student sections at both sporting events have been a major hit this year. In an effort to make up for last year, students view their crowd as far more than just fun. “The importance of a student section is to hype up the crowd and players. We try to motivate them to play the best they can. We also try to create a good student section because it’s plain fun, but also important. It proves that our school is united and strong,” Trent Salberg (23) said. Salberg tries to attend as many sporting events as possible to ensure the players can feel his support. Stone also agrees that a student section has more responsibility than just enjoyment. “Without a student section, it just gives the students no reason to play. When there is a student section, the players have more of a will to win. They want to win for us,” he said. In a town so dedicated to sports and extracurricular activities, winning is always a goal. Without student sections, players would not be able to feel the support for their community and such a stronger desire to win. As both volleyball and football reach an end, student sections will continue to be a prominent part of this school year. Shannon said, “It’s part of the school culture. How much fun is it? I go back to when I was in high school and that was the best part. We want to attract, not only the kids that are already coming, but how do we get more kids involved? We want to create that welcoming environment. We want to see all the students at these games.”
Page layout and story by Abigail Vondy Photos by Emily Hogsett and Charlotte Reynolds
10 redview November 8, 2021 Vondy’s View
School’s Lack Of Communication
abigailvondy editorinchief
Screen Time We have all attended the screen time and bullying awareness assembly. From what I have gathered, a lot of students disregarded it, thought it was unnecessary and a waste of time. I, on the other hand, have a different view on the situation. Personally, I would like to discuss screen time. I’ll be honest here, my weekly average screen time is usually around 6 hours a day. During the assembly, we were informed that the majority of the student body had similar, or higher daily averages. I’d say the average amount of sleep for a high school student is around five to six hours, rather than eight to ten. Meaning we have approximately 18 hours awake. At least 8 hours of that time is spent in the classroom. An unemployed student would then have around 10 hours of free time. Free time that is jammed packed with family responsibilities, homework, and a necessary social life. An employed student would have far less free time for these aspects of life. I began to consider my own screen time. My most used app is Snapchat, second is Google Chrome, third is my music app, and fourth is Tik Tok. I use Snapchat throughout the entire day. It is my form of communication with my friends and family. A lot of adults believe Snapchat is only used for capturing images and sending it back and forth. Except, I, and the majority of students, use the app to ask for homework help, to create plans, and to ask each other how their day is going. My other apps make sense as well. Google Chrome is a direct result of school and homework. I also listen to music while I
drive and during homework. Tik Tok is purely entertainment. I’m using my personal screen time statistics to prove that aspects of screen time should not technically be considered as a waste of time. Would you say I was consumed by my phone if I told you I was asking my friend to explain a math problem to me? Or if I was researching the best colleges I could get into? What about changing the song playing so I can better concentrate? In my opinion, the statistics were made out to be far too simple. With the forever advancement of technology, the world only gets more complicated. So why are teenagers told screen time is so simple, when nothing relating to the world of technology ever is? The discussion also stated that screen time proved we were on our phones more than we were aware of the world around us. Not only that, but the idea of television, computers, and other devices weren’t factored in. Basically concluding that our generation is utterly dependent on technology. Almost as if we are incapable of experiencing a world without it. But, why is that such a horrible thing? We were born into a day in age where technology is at our very fingertips. We are able to know the answer to any question with the click of a search button. We can capture an image to keep for the rest of our lives in one second. We can communicate with our friends and families in record time. Do you realize how unbelievable that is? The world of technology is truly incredible, so why are we constantly being ridiculed for taking advantage of it?
Staff Editoral Transparency throughout the community, throughout the workplace, and throughout any school is always a big necessity. If communication is lacking in a school setting, it often has negative consequences, in regards to events, time management, and other aspects of the school culture and community. From the student body perspective, from the student body perspective at Eaton High School, there has been a feeling of students not receiving important information in a timely manner. This doesn’t just mean that the teachers and staff are lacking in communicating with the students, but the students with each other as well. The lack of communication, no matter who it originates from, holds the weight of being able to make students miss important opportunities. The school had a college night that countless students didn’t know about. This was an opportunity to help the students that needed assistance getting ready for college, and looking for more opportunities for their future. The fact that some students didn’t even know that this was going on is somewhat concerning, and could have helped these students greatly. An academic awards assembly took place at the school, but the turnout of the event was rather small compared to the list of awards that was supposed to be given out to the students. Students were told on the school announcements only a few days before, and a few days is hardly enough time for the students, and the parents to cancel previous plans, or to not make them in the first place. Student Walker Copeland (23) said, “I didn’t even know we had a college night here at the
school.” This along with numerous other student accounts of being completely oblivious to certain events can put the blame less on the students maybe not listening or paying attention, and more on the information not getting sufficient spread around the school. Vice Principal Tom Shannon said, “I would love to know where kids are actually getting the information…whether it is through social media, through announcements, through posters around the building, or thro gh their advising teachers.” It is impossible to isolate the lack of communication to one person or group, because of the level of difficulty of being able to spread information to eve rybody in the school. The staff, and everybody involved is very willing to find the best way to spread that information necessary to the students, but there is no easy way to pinpoint one good way to let all the students know what things are going on. Students are also a big part of the communication piece, because when one student says something, even if it lacks validity, other students will grasp on and take it as the truth, and even spread it to others. Senior Class President Michael Howard (22) said, “The Powder Puff After Party contained a massive lack of communication. Kids were coming up to me and asking me if it was a Halloween dance, was it the color dance, was it a neon dance? Kids were coming up to me and asking me why it was cancelled, which it wasn’t ever cancelled.” Wherever these ideas came from, whether it be the students, or the staff, spread around and had people questioning what was happening around
Gabe Holguin
the school, and this happens all of the time. There are many factors that are playing into the relaying of information and the lack thereof in the High School this year. Student Council Leader and Eaton High School teacher Andrew Jorgenson said, “With a new principal, and a lot of new staff, there is a lot going on…traditionally school started in August, and with the late start, everything came up a lot faster than usual. Also, with all the changes, and the new stuff going on…especially coming off of last year, when we didn’t do anything.” There are a lot of new staff members, including the principal, and a relatively new vice principal, and many other changes within the school. This could easily be a part of the reason that communication is hard to relay to the student body and the staff as a whole. No fingers are being pointed at anybody within the school, because a true means of everybody knowing what games, assemblies, and events that are going on is quite hard, if not impossible. Although there is no concrete reason that information is not being spread around as well as it could be, the apparent lack of communication is still an issue. Students could be missing out on opportunities for their future, or just a fun high school experience. The students of the school need to make a better effort in spreading the information once they hear it, but the staff needs to also make sure that the correct information is spread to the students just as well. It is not just one person, but a dual effort that will boost the level of understanding within the school to where it needs to be.
November 8, 2021
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Marching band leaves a legacy at state Fightin’ Reds cap off season with record score logangullett staffreporter Throughout their season, the Eaton High School Fightin’ Reds marching band upheld their standard of excellence. The band placed in the top ranks in all five of their competitions. They started off the season with a win in the Friendship Cup Marching Festival. At the Legend Marching Festival, they finished 1st in the 2A class, and 4th overall. In the Big Cat Marching Festival, they finished 1st in the 2A class, in which they were one of two small school bands competing. The last competition of the regular season was regionals, and the marching band, yet again, took first place. In marching band competitions, each school has their own show concept. A show concept
is essentially the overall theme or message that a band wants to convey through their performance. This year, the EHS marching band’s theme was “Duality.” Using music, movement, and visual arts, they wanted to show off the duality of man. Marching band director Logan Doddrige said, “We wanted to show both the dark and light sides of personality, and how you have to embrace both in order to be successful.” Using elements of reflection and contraction, they incorporated mirrors and contrasting colors such as black and white. Unlike most other schools, the EHS marching band creates the show concept using original ideas from the band, as opposed to having it dictated by a person of authority. Dodridge said, “I’ve always felt
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that creating the show together creates a more organic feel.” “The show concept is usually built around our strengths, and this year it was built around our senior class,” said Dodridge. “They’re one of the greatest leadership classes I’ve ever seen. They’re not only good musicians, but they’re good human beings. There was never a moment where there was any negativity towards any one of our own or any of the other bands. That’s the legacy they will leave behind.” The class of 2022 was instrumental in the continuation of the marching band’s success. Percussionist Charlotte Reynolds (22) said, “I felt my role as a senior leader this year was to show the underclassmen what it’s like to be part of a team. Marching band has gifted me with a supportive and loving family and I’ve enjoyed sharing that with new members in the band. The new band members are so talented, brilliant, and driven, and I know I’m leaving the band in good hands.” Clayton Heid (25) appreciat-
ed the family aspect of marching band. “When you participate in this activity, you create a family with those who are part of your band . Everyone is so nice and you start to develop a family with other band members,” Heid said. “These people have taught me everything I know about the art of music. You can have a soul and build the band on it.” On the weekend of Halloween, the marching band set off for Pueblo, with intentions of winning the state marching
band championship as they previously did in 2019. After a cold, yet exciting day in Pueblo, the EHS marching band finished 2nd with a school record of 75.9 points. The Classical Academy narrowly beat them by 3 points. Dodridge said, “I don’t care about the places, I don’t care about the points, I don’t care about the score. I care about the family that we’ve created here in Eaton. I’d like to thank the community for being so supportive of our marching band family.”
Reds warm up before their prelims performance
The Red Ink is a public forum,School-sponsored and student generated, which encourages the free exchange of ideas and information. All opinions made in the exercise of freedom of speech or press are the sole opinions of the writers and are in no way to be considered the opinions of Eaton High School, administration, Board of Education, or Eaton School District. The Red Ink strictly adheres to School Board Policy JCEA and Colorado Revised Statute 12-1120. The Red Ink and eatonredink.com are members of the Colorado School Media Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill and Scroll. The Red Ink encourages reader feedback. All letters to the the editor can be submitted to eatonredink@gmail.com
Marching band on state field after recieving their awards
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November 8, 2021
Athletes from the outside
EHS student athletes play more than school recognized sports kaitlyngomez staffreporter blakehays staffreporter
Plenty of sports are offered at Eaton High School, but not all students participate in the school offered sports. For Scarlett Wray(22), Leyah Scott(23), Alex Shaw(25), and Eamon Shaw(25) their athletic ability is displayed in unique ways away from the school’s fields and gyms. Scarlett has been powerlifting for about two years now. Every day, she is in the gym doing massive lifts trying to set new personal records(PRs), and breaking state records. Unfortunately, over the summer she tore a disk in her back which affected her ability to lift for a period of time. She still lifted during her injury, but she
wasn’t able to do squats and deadlifts for four months. Currently, she is preparing for her next competition, Lord of the Lifts, on March 20. Scarlett is set to break two state records for that competition. Depending on what her coach thinks, she might be able to compete in an earlier competition. As for her favorite part of powerlifting, Scarlett said, “there’s a lot of satisfaction in setting a goal for yourself and you work towards it for months. Sometimes you fail multiple times to attempt that weight and then you finally get it and it’s like the most satisfying thing.” Leyah has been playing soccer since elementary school. Currently, she is playing soccer for Windsor high school. Leyah said, “I love all my
teammates there. It’s fun to be with people that don’t go to your school.” Leyah’s position is the goalkeeper for the girl’s varsity team. This past season she had 19 saves, which was about 1.9 saves per game. Alex also plays soccer but he plays for two teams, Northern Colorado Rush and Northridge High School. He has been playing since around the ages of four. Alex said, “just the conditioning in it, friends, the coaches, and staying fit. I just like the game.” One of Alex’s accomplishments happened when his club soccer team traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for a tournament. Every athlete has experienced hardship before, Alex was losing in a penalty shoot-out in the President’s Cup. Eamon follows closely with
his twin, Alex, playing soccer for Northridge High School as well. Eamon, with his brother Alex, began playing the sport at the age of four. Eamon said, “I like playing soccer, I think it’s fun. It’s just to get some stress off sometimes.” Eamon has won awards for soccer playing skills since he was 10. As for
hardships, Eamon said, “It’s just hard sometimes to keep up your fitness for soccer because you have to be fit. It’s also hard to balance being a student and playing soccer.” Athletics outside of Eaton High School are valuable to many students’ lives and provide unique opportunities for all students that participate.
Scarlett Wray(22) benchpresses 95 lbs as she prepares to break a state record at her next competition
Reds golf team finishes their season in top 10
Golfers had an un-fore-gettable season aubreyledall staffreporter
This season, the Reds golf team has played to win. Starting out the season in August, the Reds placed 4th in the 6th Annual RCS Boy’s Varsity Chip Challenge at the Highland Meadows Golf Course. Overall they had 235 strokes. Ending the season, on October 4, the Reds took three athletes to state. Out of 84 golfers, Peyton Walker (24) placed 17th, Cache Sanger (23) placed 35th, and Cole Lockey (23) placed 61st. The team ended the tournament with a total of 484 strokes. The Reds golf season was in full swing at the beginning of August. Golfers were out on the green putting in the work while other students at Eaton were still enjoying
their summer. As a team, they participated in a total of 10 tournaments almost a month before school had officially started. The golfers traveled all around (the state) to participate in these 10 tournaments. The Reds played on their home course at the Eaton Invitational tournament on August 19 and then visited Murphy Creek Golf course at the end of the month. On August 31, they played in the Strasburg Invitational tournament. Walker (24) commented about playing and practicing without school, he said, “it was better then in school because we could do it in the morning.” Progressing through the season, the boys played in
another 6 tournaments all over Colorado. The 3A State Golf Championship Tournament was held at Spring Valley Golf Club in Elizabeth and the Reds placed 9th. The fall sports season is always special for athletes, Sanger (23) reflected on the 2021 golf season. He said, “the best part of this season was getting to hang with my teammates and having fun with them all year.” Spending time out on the green builds the golfer's skills as well as their relationships with each other. Walker (24) also enjoyed spending the season alongside his teammates, he said, “my favorite part of the season has really just been competing in tournaments and being with friends.”
The golfers grew close as a team this season since they spent so much time together. Without school in August, athletes spent time with just one another at practices and tournaments. These experiences were the reason why the team has so many memories together from this season.
The 2022 season holds many opportunities for the Reds. The team will be filled with leaders who intend to “putt” the team in the path of success. Winning tournaments, heading to Regionals, and making it to State could be attainable for the golf team in 2022.
Eaton golfers stand together at the 2021 State Golf Tournament
November 8, 2021
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Dynamic duo take on state once again Gullett and Rasumussen dominate for the second year ryleemartin featureeditor The Eaton Reds cross country team finally had a season of regular meets and welcomed a new coach to the program. The season started off in the summer with pre-season practices in the 90 degree’s sunny weather and Coach Jaryn Guerra expecting a baby boy. The first meet of the 2021 season was hosted at Resurrection Christian School and Logan Gullett (23) along with Andie Rasmussen (24) once again crushed their competition. Logan had a time of 16:01:10 and Andie’s time was 19:28:80. Overall the first meet went extremely well. Covid-19 put the 2020 season into a shorter version so the runners of 2021 got to run more races, including courses that some athletes have not run before. The Horizontal Invitational meet in Brighton, was tremendously hot, and there wasn’t much shade on the racing path. After the first mile, runners started walking because the heat was exhausting and there were several runners falling to the ground at the finish line. With the horrid conditions, it was evident
that none of the Eaton Red’s runners got a PR. The Legacy Lightning Invitational in Broomfield was a great race for the Reds, with a course that was only one loop and not repetitive. The best part was that the course was also The conditions for this course was perfect with minimal inclines, and plenty of cloud cover to keep the runners cool throughout the course. After coach Guerra had her healthy baby boy, trying to balance coaching and being a new mom was quite the challenge. Guerra said, “The hardest thing has been switching from mom mode to coaching mode.” No challenge was ever too big for the Cross Country team as the season progressed, the runners continued to strive for stronger race times, building the team culture, and trying to push each other as athletes to be as strong as possible. Maddie Fisher (24) said, “The thing that kept us going was always getting to see each other at four to run together and then see each other PR at the meet at the end of the week.” At the beginning of the season the runners collectively came to a consensus that the quote for the year would be “We
Katie Gomez Cross country girls warmup before their regional meet
aren’t built differently, we train differently”. Having a mindset that training harder than the opponent will ultimately make the difference in races and competition- also known as mental toughness. Once regionals rolled around, all of the runners were trying to reach times that would qualify for the state meet. Regardless of the outcome, the Reds were still trying to finish the season on a high note whether that meant continuing to state or not. Michael Blakeman (25) had an amazing race, Blakeman had shaved a whole three minutes off of his previous time. Dakota Braucher (23) said, “ I led the warmup most days, and there were no seniors that were running this season so, I had to step up into a leadership role.” Leadership is a crucial piece in a sport like cross country especially since it is an individual sport and a team sport at the same time. Obviously the individual piece of running is trying to PR and the runners are working alone. But, the team aspect comes into play when the competition combines the times to place the team as a whole. Overcoming mental blocks in individual sports is very challenging so having teammates to help encourage and lead fellow runners is crucial. The only runners that qualified for state were Rassmussen and Gullett. Gullett ran a 15:35 and Rassmussen ran a 19:05. Leaving a week for the two athletes to prepare for the big stage, fellow teammates like Braucher, Patrick Preston (24), Sean Anderson (25), Aedy Barclay (24), and Hannah Miller (25) stayed and did the workouts to continue to push the two qualifying athletes. State was hosted in Colorado Springs this year
Katie Gomez Cross country boys warmup before their regional meet.
Katie Gomez Cross country girls pray before their regional meet.
and the beautiful fall colors really set the mood for a good race day. The girls ran first and Rasmussen experienced an injury during her race so she finished with a 20:55 finishing in 35th place overall. When the boys were up, Gullett said, “Before the race I was really nervous because I was undefeated and I felt a lot of pressure from my family and friends to do well.” During the race Gullett wanted to stay
with the top guys because he didn’t want to fall behind. By the middle of the race Gullett faced some fatigue as he started off pretty fast, so that put him paces behind first place. Ultimately Gullett got second place overall with a 16:18 race time. The Eaton community is so proud of the Gullet, Rasmussen and the rest of the Reds as cross country as a whole had an amazing season.
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Reds Softball take another run at state Reds take third in state ending their season 24-4
lucas stone staffreporter After an outstanding regular season going 24-4, the Reds ended their overall season at state getting third place. They lost a close game against their rivals, University, 8-7. They were defeated in the third round of the playoffs after beating Fort Lupton and Peak to Peak in the first two rounds. Although the Reds season didn’t finish like they wanted to, they still accomplished many things that they hoped for. Kiauna Smith (25) said, we were able to accomplish some big wins. We started out the season very shaky, so being able to have a 19 game winning streak “helped us grow as a team dramatically.” We also were able to figure out how to work out some of the tough plays in the infield, which will help us going into the season next year.” The Reds started out the season a little rough, going 5-3 through their first eight games. They ended up going into the playoffs with a 17 game win
streak giving them momentum to make a run. Even if they didn’t get the ending goal that they wanted, which would be winning a state title, they did have many things along the way to be proud of. Emma Pinkstaff (22) said, “Towards the beginning of the season you could tell we were a little timid and just nervous. We weren’t playing to our full potential. As the year went on we started to gain confidence and believed in not only ourselves but each other. We started to trust each other and work together as one and that is why we were able to put together a 17 game win streak going into regionals.” After some vital seniors graduated last year, this team knew that they needed to step up and fill in those shoes, and they did. The seniors this year Pinkstaff, Olivia Comer (22), and Jaelyn Montoya (22) all stepped up to help the team win this season. Pinkstaff had a huge impact on the bases leading the 3A Patriot League in stolen bases with 40 of them in just 28 games. The second
place leader in stolen bases had only 28 putting Pinkstaff 12 stolen bases ahead of the runner up. She knew that being able to steal second and third put her in a better position to score which gave the team a better chance of winning if they could bring her in. Her mindset is to win games, and if stealing bases is going to give them a better chance, she will do whatever it takes. Smith, coming in as a freshman, stepped up big in her first year on a high school softball team. She was in the top ten in the Patriot League in batting average hitting .448 on the year. She also drove in 39 runs, had 12 doubles, 4 triples, and 4 homeruns. As a freshman, she knew that she needed to play her role and step up in big situations. Smith said, “It feels quite relaxing that I got to have the season I did as a freshman because I feel like I have established my spot for my next high school seasons. It’s also nice to know that the upperclassmen respect me because of the season I had.”
Emily Hogsett Emma Pinkstaff (22) stands in the box as she prepares for the pitch.
Sadie Ross(24) pitched a great second half of the season after coming off an injury. She started off 7-0 in her first games back from injury. She had an amazing year with an ERA of 1.15 and batters against her had an average batting average of .149. She threw for 89 strikeouts with just 55 innings pitched. She faced 218 batters giving up only 30 hits and walking just 16. Overall the Reds pitchers Ross, Julia Meagher (24), Stephanie Bingley (22), and Montoya had an amazing season. They had an average ERA of 2.09 with a total of 183 strikeouts. The young Reds team will strive to get a better result next season to bring home another state title. They are losing only three seniors making this season a little different than the past. Being this young and having eight underclassmen five who are starting, shows
how dominant we will be in the next couple years. Pinkstaff said, “The team this year was very young compared to other years. We had a lot of freshman, sophomore or even juniors that never have had any experience on the varsity level but were put to high expectations and they met those.” The 24-4 Reds didn’t reach the end goal that they wanted, but accomplished many other things along the way. They are looking to come back next year, make another playoff run, and bring home a ring back to Eaton. During the season, the team was able to get closer together which made the softball field a great environment to be. Pinkstaff said, “We started off this year a little shaky. It didn’t really feel like a team nor family, but throughout the year I felt we got closer. By the end of the year I felt as if they were my sisters and my family.”
Emily Hogsett Sadie Ross (24) winds up to pitch the ball.
November 8, 2021
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Eaton Volleyball prepares for State
Lady Reds enter regionals with hopes of making a State Title run jadenstone sportseditor As the 2021 fall sports season comes to an end, the Eaton Reds Volleyball does not plan on their season ending until Saturday, November 13 when the state championship game will take place. The Reds host a Regional as their first step into state, and if they win that, it is an automatic bid to the state tournament. One of the leaders on this year’s team, Megan St. Jean (22) said, “My motivation has only grown as we approach state. We are working hard in the gym to make sure we’re ready for the last dance.” While some teams in their league may be tired and ready for the season to end, another Reds senior, Sydney Mills (22) said, “We have told ourselves to mentally prepare for every game and to always be engaged.” The Reds finished out their regular season with a record
of 13-10 and a Patriot League record of 6-4. Their record had the Reds finishing in fifth in the Patriot League and seventh in all of 3A according to CHSAAnow.com. Being ranked in the top 12, the Reds have the opportunity to host their regional tournament. Regions consist of 12 teams hosting and a three team bracket in each, meaning that there are a total of 36 teams fighting for a spot in the state tournament. The Reds regional tournament will have opponents, Montezuma-Cortez High School who are the 18 seed and Peak to Peak the 30 seed. The “Round Robin” style tournament means that everyone in each region will play each other. The Reds will have two games on Friday, November 5. They will start off the day competing against the 12-11 Peak to Peak Pumas. After that, they have a game break where the Pumas will take on the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers, then
the Reds will play the Panthers as well. Montezuma-Cortez enters regionals with a 14-6 overall record. Looking towards the final stretch of the season, there are three seniors on the team that hope to lead the team to another state title. Ahana Leffler (22) said, “My role as a senior has changed by me needing to be more vocal for my teammates and set a good example as a leader by my actions and the way I play the game.” After losing three very influential seniors last season, these new seniors have stepped up in order to lead the team to make another state championship run. “This is my senior year and my last of everything, so I want to give my teammates my best and go out and give everything I can,” Mills said. Throughout the season, the Reds had a lot of players step up and contribute to the team’s success. Emily Maske (23) led the team in kills with 243. She was followed by the team’s set-
Emily Hogsett The Reds Volleyball team huddles up to discuss what they will do next during a timeout at a home game.
Abigail Vondy Rylee Martin (23) sets the ball in the Reds Cancer awarness game.
ter who stepped into a new role with setting and hitting this season. Rylee Martin (23) had 170 kills, but she also contributed 447 assists throughout the season. “I stepped into a new role this year, and trying to overcome some struggles this year would bring was tough, but we were all up for the challenge,” Martin said. St. Jean also had 237 assists in the regular season. Defensively, Kylie Schumacher (23) led the team in digs having 293, and was followed closely by Martin who had 284. The season for the Reds has been special for the girls, St. Jean said, “Every season is completely different. There are ways for new girls and roles needed filled. This year especially I have created some of the closest relationships with
my teammates that I will remember forever.” The comradery of the team is the driving force for their wins, and will continue to be essential as the playoffs begin. Leffler said, “What has made this season different from any other is the diversity we faced throughout the season with our wins and losses. We have had to work hard together as a team to become stronger together to be more successful.” Wrapping up the season, after regionals the Lady Reds will look to repeat the same story as last season. They have the chance to make another run at the 2021 State Championship and hoist the trophy soon. Martin said, “We are planning on making a strong run at state and taking every game one step at a time.”
16 redzone November 8, 2021
Football ends season defeating Berthoud Reds head to playoffs after beating Berthoud 38-7
emilyhogsett newseditor week five. As the target on EaAs the Reds round the cor- ton’s back grew larger, they batner of week one of playoffs, tled The Academy on week six they have quite the target on winning 42-6 followed by their their back. Eaton has made it rival, Resurrection Christian, through the regular season un- for week seven. This rivalry defeated and hopes to take this game resulted in a close game record all the way to the State with an end score of 10-6. Championship game. Eaton Ryder True (23) said, “It’s battled Berthoud away on Sat- always a big rivalry between urday, Oct 30 resulting in a us and Resurrection, and it’s dominating score of 38-7. always a good game. We both According to Head Coach always have a talented team Zac Lemon, the season has which makes it a good game gone“as expected. We had every year.” high expectations coming in. Week eight brought the Reds A lot of people around the to University for another close state expected us to be number game. Eaton finished the night one and expected us to be this defeating the successful, so Bulldogs 27-20. it really doesn’t The following come as a surweek, Severance prise.” to Eaton I love playoff came Eaton startfor another ed week one p r e p a ra t i o n Reds shutout of of the regular and the play- 31-0. season with a The battle beoff attitude” bi week resulttween the Reds ing in their first and the Bergame being in thoud Spartans -Coach Lemon week two of the was no less disfootball season. appointing for Before school week ten endeven began, ing in another the Redws battled the Sterling Eaton win. Tigers. The Reds proved their 24 points were put on the dominance with a final score of scoreboard in the first half, 63-0. Week three brought the and 14 points were put up in Reds to Elizabeth resulting in the second half. Ryan Dirksen another victory of 31-7. Week (22) led the offense in all-purfour was no less disappointing with Eaton beating the Platte Valley Broncos 32-0. “I am proud of our depth. I love that we have number twos and number threes on the depth chart that can really contribute. We have depth from seniors all the way down to freshmen and guys that have stepped up in injury situations,” Coach Lemon said. The Reds celebrated their Homecoming football game with a dominating finish of Jose Lopez (22) kicks the 50-7 over Faith Christian for attempt against Berthoud
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Emily Hogsett Ryan Dirksen (22) runs the ball up the middle against the Berthoud Spartans
pose yards with 157 yards of rushing. Dirksen also led the Reds with two touchdowns followed by True, Walker Martin (23), and Carlos Munoz (25) scoring one touchdown each leading to the Red victory. After getting his first touchdown of his high school varsity career, Munoz said, “I was super happy. It was such a good thing to experience and just everyone’s support really made me happy.” Munoz plays outside line-backer and running back. In the first quarter, senior kicker, Jose Lopez (22), put an extra three points on the scoreboard with a successful field goal. Lopez also had five successful PAT attempts throughout the game.
Emily Hogsett ball for a successful PAT
Lopez’s advice for upcoming football players is, “Have a good time while playing and never say you want to be done because it will go by fast. It is a good thing to play for the four years that you have.” True led the Reds on defense with 13 tackles followed by Dirksen with 11, Morgan Tribbett (23) with six, and Cort Sanger (23) and Trent Salberg (23) with five each. Dirksen and Jacob Webster (23) each had two sacks against the Spartans. Dirk Duncan (22) turned the ball over to the Reds in the second quarter with his interception. Round one of the 2021 2A playoffs will bring Kent Denver to Eaton. Coach Lemon said, “I am really relieved going into
the playoffs and excited to have finished the regular season like we had expected to. Now it is a relief to come into the playoff atmosphere. I love playoff preparation and the playoff attitude. It is really exciting.” As the 2021 State Championships are quickly approaching, many football players are excited for their chance to get through playoffs and one step closer to another state championship. With their undefeated season record and prior State Championship, Eaton is ready to end the season on the best note possible. The Reds are hoping to be back-to-back champions, and with their record, their dreams just might come true.
Emily Hogsett Carlos Munoz (25) drives the ball down the field