A PREVIEW OF COMMONWHEEL FESTIVAL

Sheryl Wasinger will show her fine art at the festival.

Festival attendees can see Steve Hunsicker’s paintings. Jeffrey Spahr turned this bowl from mahogany.

Commonwheel festival always a feast for art lovers

The annual celebration of original fine art and contemporary crafts will take place in Manitou Springs Memorial Park for its 48th year. This family-friendly juried art festival features something for everyone: great art shopping, tasty food, original music, art-related activities for kids and more.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 3, 4 and 5; Memorial Park is in the 500 block of Manitou Avenue. Admission is always free.

Many favorite artists from past years are returning, as well as some exciting new artists. Sculptors, jewelers, potters, photographers, glass artists, painters and more are coming from all over Colorado and neighboring states to share their creations with art-appreciating visitors.

Art lovers can meet the artists and talk to them about their work before taking home something unique — or find the perfect holiday gift.

Kids can watch balloon creatures appear with a few twists or create giant bubbles at the Millibo Art Theatre booth. People of all ages (grownups too) can have their faces painted to wear a bit of art.

Free parking will be available at Fields Park, at the corner of Beckers Lane and El Paso Boulevard. Free shuttles will make stops at all the Metro Bus stops along Manitou Avenue and El Paso Boulevard.

More parking suggestions can be found at www.commonwheel.com/ map-parking--manitou-shuttle1.html.

LINEUPMusical

Talented local musicians will perform all three days, starting at noon. The schedule:

SATURDAY

Interrobang — Alt-rock/grunge/ funk band from Colorado Springs.

A Carpenter’s Daughter

— Dabble in different genres with a style straight from the mountains.

SUNDAY

High Mountain Duet — A heartfelt acoustic band from Manitou Springs. Joe Johnson —The singer/ songwriter will perform from his vast catalog of diverse material.

MONDAY

Look’ee Here — Hollerin’, stompin’, just foolin’ around — a different kind of the blues. Roma Ransom — This duo performs their own style of world folk music

AND LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUTFood

These vendors are scheduled to participate: Big Squeeze Lemonade Lucy’s Armenian Mediterranean Grill Thai Pepper Goldminer’s Candy Happy Hour Donuts

Megan DeSmidt creates unique functional fiber pieces.

Courtesy images Peter Emerson created this sterling silver-bromeliad cup.

Call for entries: coffin race T-shirt design

The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce invites all community members, artists and graphic designers to submit their best T-shirt design for a chance to be the featured artist on the official 28th anniversary Emma Crawford T-shirt. The community will vote on entries.

The winner will receive $50 in Manitou Money for participating local businesses and a 2022 coffin race T-shirt with your design.

Email digital files to coffinraces@manitouchamber.com or drop off original art at 354 Manitou Ave. The deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Voting begins Monday, Sept. 12, and ends Friday, Sept. 23.

The coffin races will take place Saturday, Oct. 29. Information: 685-5089.

Each team should have four pushers and one “Emma.” Only 70 racing teams are accepted, so don’t delay. Deadline for application is Friday, Oct. 21, and teams are confirmed once the entry fee ($100) is paid in full.

Fill out this form to race: manitousprings.org/enter-the-coffin-races. To march in the parade, fill out this form: manitousprings.org/coffin-race-parade-application

2022-2023 MSHS FALL SPORTS PREVIEW Challenges ahead for young Manitou boys soccer team

Story and photo by Daniel Mohrmann

Manitou Springs boys soccer coach Ben Mack loves a good challenge. And when he looks at this year’s team, he sees a challenge ahead of him — but that’s what will make the upcoming season so exciting.

The Mustangs are a junior-heavy team coming into the 2022 fall season, but Mack and the players still have high expectations for what they can accomplish.

“The goal is always the playoffs,” Mack said. “If we can make the playoffs, that would be great. That’s the goal every year.

“I know we have some tough teams. Atlas is tough, James Irwin is tough. We’d love to win a conference championship, that’s a goal as well. We’re still trying to figure out how realistic some of those goals are.”

What helps in figuring that out is that Evan Yount is a year older and will embrace more of a leadership role this season. He was second on the team last year, with seven goals scored, and led the Mustangs with eight assists.

Mack will certainly lean on him when games begin this week, but Yount also knows that he will play an important role in the Mustangs success this season. And he knows that his teammates will have to take on bigger roles than they were used to a year ago. “We have guys that need to step into key roles,” Yount said. “I think they’re fully capable of it and we’re looking at playing at a high level this year.” The Mustangs missed out on the postseason last year, a year after winning their first Tri-Peaks championship. Luke Donegan will take on the role of a senior leader this season and

We’d love to win a Deric French will provide a new face at goalie for the season. This team has a mix of conference experience from a large junior class and youth, considering the roster has championship. just one senior. Reaching the postseason is the ultimate goal and, — Ben Mack with the group Mack has in front of him, it will be fun to coach them up and push them to reach that goal. “I like challenges, period,” Mack said. “Some years are more challenging than others, but I love having a young team. You get the chance to work with them. You have players coming in knowing that they’re going to make up the core for two or three years, which is nice.” The Mustangs start the season hosting Dolores Huerta in a non-league game on Thursday, Aug. 25, and then head to Gunnison on Saturday.

Manitou Springs junior Nick Schneider handles the ball during practice on Aug. 22.

MANITOU SPRINGS BOYS SOCCER

Head coach: Ben Mack 2021-22 Record: 4-11 (0-6 Tri-Peaks) Key Returners: Austin Courson (junior), Luke Donegan (senior), Evan Yount (junior) First contest: Aug. 25 vs. Dolores Huerta

Manitou football players are preparing for crucial season

Tyler Maloney gets wrapped up during Manitou football’s scrimmage against Buena Vista on Aug. 12.

MANITOU SPRINGS FOOTBALL

Head coach: Stu Jeck 2021 results: 2-7 (1-3 Tri-Peaks) Key returners: Bradyn Dowling (junior), Sam Fournier (junior), Nate Gentzel (junior), Tyler Maloney (senior) First contest: Sept. 2 vs. Rye (at Manitou)

Story and photo by Daniel Mohrmann

Long-term vision and short-term goals are both at play for the Manitou Springs football team this fall. In their second year under head coach Stu Jeck, the Mustangs are balancing the task of winning football games while understanding the importance of building a program that can achieve sustained success year in and year out.

Perhaps one of the biggest signs that the team is heading in the right direction is the number of participants the team has this year — specifically, the number of underclassmen coming out to play.

“I’m very pleased with our underclassmen numbers,” Jeck said. ‘Our two biggest classes are our sophomores and freshmen.

“That says a couple things. It says that football is growing in Manitou and the kids want to be a part of something that is great and also it’s there to build your future.”

The prospect of development is nice to see, but there is certainly work to be done this season. The Mustangs have a lot of skilled players coming back, especially on the offensive side.

Senior running back Tyler Maloney and junior quarterback Nate Gentzel should give their teammates a feeling of familiarity and comfort. They also give the team an elevated sense of expectations after going 2-7 last year.

“They’re a lot higher this year with more people having experience on varsity,” Gentzel said. “We’re expecting a lot more mature and stronger players that want to get better.” As a sophomore, Gentzel threw for 1,187 yards and 12 touchdowns and Maloney rushed for 504 yards and three scores. Those are numbers, for both players, that should improve this season. A non-league slate of games that includes Rye, Valley, Rocky Ford and Prospect Ridge Academy gives Manitou a good chance Football is of heading into league play with a winning record. growing in What has really helped the team is understanding how Jeck operates as a Manitou. coach, which has helped the players feel like they have progressed much further in — Stu Jeck the early practices of the season than they had at the same point a year ago. “With last season being his first as head coach, I just feel like we weren’t as organized as we are now,” Maloney said. “We’re more organized as a team, during practice and everything. We know where everyone is and what everyone is doing.” The Mustangs bring a lot of positive attributes into the season, including experience, organization and motivation. If they can put it all together, Jeck and the players hope this season can serve as a launching point for a resurgence of Manitou Springs football.