FRIDAY FEB. 9
Wish Week is a monumental time for Mountain Vista High School. Friday Feb. 9 was out of the ordinary in plenty of ways. The community came together to support eachother and to support Vista’s 2018 Wish Kid, Gabby.
RIVALARY READY T ensions were high the night of the 9. ThunderRidge High School has always been the duanting competitor for Mountain Vista High School. The varsity team battled hard against the Grizzlies. ThunderRidge was ranked first in the state at the time, while Vista was 20th. “It was thrilling to be able to compete at such a high level,” Rhys Pulling, 10, said. “Especially since no one really believed in our ability to do it.” Vista put up a good fight, leading by seven points at the end of the first half. The student section was awaiting Gabby, the Wish Kid’s arrival. Unfortunately, due to a high fever and an exuberant day, Gabby couldn’t make it to the game. Cody King, 11, took Gabby’s place in the
annual Wish Week halftime dance. The crowd cheered him on as he busted a move in front of the massive rival student sections. Unfortunately, Vista slowly let up, allowing the highly ranked Grizzlies to score more points. The devoting Golden Eagles fans, cheered the team on until the very last second. “It affects the team by giving us confidence. We had a chance to beat them and we just didn’t fully take it,” Simon May, 11, said. The Golden Eagles fell to ThunderRidge, 54-67. The Vista basketball season continued with playoffs the weekend of Feb. 23.
FRIDAY SNAPSHOTS
NO ORDINARY DAY D
uring the Wish Week opening assembly, student leadership adviser, Lindsey Jaffe, informed the students that they “Won’t want to miss [the closing assembly].” Come Friday, the school experienced something that no one could have expected. Gabby Kovach, Vista’s Wish Kid, was welcomed into the school with open arms and excited cheers. Students gathered on the gym floor to watch as Gabby waved and greeted everyone. The gym became unrecognizable once lights started flashing. Paws The Music appeared, blaring music from the speakers. The Wish Week assembly transformed into a rave. Smoke and confetti cannons transformed the gym into a concert venue, all to celebrate Wish Week. “It was so crazy that we were jumping and dancing in our gym,” Zach Lang, 12, said. “It was unforgettable.” Thanks to the work from sponsors and student leadership, Friday Feb. 9 was truly memorable.
Photos above are from Vista’s final Wish Week assembly. Mountain Vista’s local sponsor, Be A Good Person brand teamed up with Crowd Surf and Paws the Music to throw Vista students an “epic bash” in Gabby’s honor.
BE A GOOD PERSON
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ibby Frey, Ainsleigh Hillm, and Macy Godfrey, 10, gathered before school, dressed in their blue Be A Good Person shirts. “The shirts represent not only Gabby’s wish but how Vista can come together for a cause,” Frey said. A majority of students wore the shirts to honor Gabby, the Wish Kid.
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riana Scherrer and Emma Campbell, 12, attended Mod Pizza in support of the Wish Week fundraiser. “My favorite part of Wish Wish is Gabby and pizza,” Scherrer said. The seniors were excited for the last rivalry basketball game against ThunderRidge High School.
spread by: lauren irwin by: MV media staff
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reasurer, Grace Matsey, 12, and Carter Cingrani, 10, counted buckets of money after the Miracle Minute after the closing assembly. “I counted coins for about six hours and didn’t go to a single class,” Matsey said. Vista annually raises hundreds of dollars in their Miracle Minute for
PICTURED: JULIAN DONALDSON
he brand Be A Good Person (BAGP) has partnered with Mountain Vista for the past three years. They donate custom shirts for Vista and the feeder schools to wear during Wish Week. “BAGP has been an integral part of Vista’s Wish Week sucess,” Maya Winslow, 11, said. “The shirts they creat are our biggest fundraising piece.” At the closing assembly, Be A Good Person founders, Julian Donaldson and Darian Simon spoke at Vista. They thanked the school for the success students have given their brand.
VISTA LIVE
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abby Kovach, Vista’s Wish Kid, was welcomed to the assembly with paparazzi admiring her every move. Fans followed her as she signed autographs and posed on the red carpet. She then headed over to the stage, where Val Urquhart and Alex Leavy, 12, were awaiting her arrival. The student body then got to know her better as Urquhart and Leavy interviewed her during a unique talk show, Vista Live. Gabby had the whole gym’s attention.
on spread: Friday Feb. 9
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