The Senior Edition: 2025

MSHS stadium named for beloved coach George Rykovich

By: MaKenzi VerVaecke

The Manitou Springs School District renamed their stadium after former high school football coach and P.E. teacher, George Rykovich on Oct. 11. Rykovich was the head football coach at MSHS for 36 years with 222 wins and two state championships in 1987 and 1990.

The process of getting the field renamed after Rykovich has been a long term project according to Athletic and Activities Director, Cameron Jones. “The conversation over the years about the stadium was that it should be his stadium,” Jones said. “I mean, he put so much time in here and years and years of impacting

named after you,” Jones said. “So we had to get past that policy. Every superintendent that we had wanted to do it; but they didn’t want to put the effort into it, or really make it a proposal to the board.”

Progress was finally made to rename the field after Rykovich because of journalist Dan Mohrmann’s articles over the years. “He’s kept that bug going with the district,” Jones said.

However, current MSSD Superintendent Sean Dorsey was the first person to take the issue to the board. “Sean Dorsey he really took the bull

To commemorate the field being renamed after Rykovich he was awarded a plaque and there is a new sign underneath the scoreboard.

and be able to talk with coach Rykovich. There was also a ceremony held during halftime. “We were just looking forward to a good night, and we had a good turnout,” Jones said.  “I think it’s long overdue.”

said. “It just shows he’s a guy that did it the right way.”

kids in a positive way. He’s well known as being a really good person, not just a good coach.”

The decision was a long process due to a Manitou Springs School District school board policy that had to be petitioned against in order to dedicate a part of the school after someone. “Board policy said you had to be dead before something could be

by the horns and created a survey that went out to the community and had overwhelming support for naming it. He presented it to the board and they were totally in favor of this one time exception to override the policy.”

To commemorate the field being renamed there was a tailgate held before the game on Oct. 11 for members of the community to come to

Current assistant football coach and MSHS P.E. teacher Brandon DeMatto has known Rykovich since 2012 and is grateful that he is being recognized for his commitment. “I think he’s a man that has given so much to this community and had so much success here and just in helping build the culture around here and the success that we’ve had, he’s a wonderful man,” DeMatto said. “It’s the right thing to do for a man that’s pretty much given his life to this district.”

Renaming the field after Rykovich has brought perspective to the impact that many people have in the district according to DeMatto. “From a personal perspective, it just gives more meaning to every time that you step on that field, because he’s just an unbelievable person, and he’s done so much for so many different people.” DeMatto

The Manitou Springs football team has continued to try and uphold Rykovich’s legacy both on and off the field. “This week that we’re honoring him, is a week that we’re actually looking to install the single wing offense that he brought to Manitou and had a ton of success with,” DeMatto said. “So it’s kind of interesting and pretty cool that we are in need of making some adjustments and what he brought to Manitou over 40 years ago still is applicable and is going to be what we run a little bit this week and moving forward.”

Rykovich is not only well known for his football career in Manitou, but all over the state of Colorado. “The one thing that I’ve always clung on to is anytime a coach asks about Manitou football when we’re talking on the sidelines before games, coaches are always like, ‘How’s coach Ryko doing?’ So he’s a member that extends well beyond just Manitou,” DeMatto said. “It’s in the state of Colorado, he’s well known and well regarded by a lot of people

MaKenzi VerVaecke

MaKenzi VerVaecke

During halftime on Oct. 11 there were speeches about Rykovich and his time at MSHS.

that have had a lot of success, and it’s just pretty cool to hear his name keep continuing to come up even years after he’s been done coaching.”

DeMatto is excited for the field to finally be named after Rykovich. “I’m just thankful to the district for getting this right and honoring him. He’s getting older and I think it’s

really important for him to be able to be there when we name the field,” DeMatto said. “He loves this place and lov es Manitou in particular so it means a great deal.”

Former NFL and MSHS football player Justin Armour played for Rykovich in his time at MSHS and learned valuable lessons that have

stayed with him. “I think I can speak for the whole community when I say how thrilled I am to see George honored in front of so many people that he impacted.  Ryko made you believe in something bigger than yourself, the team, and he had a special way of inspiring us before games,” Armour said. “He shared so many person-

Logan Moore committed to Dordt University

By: MaKenzi VerVaecke and Jarrin Hall

Senior Logan Moore has officially announced his commitment to play NAIA Division 2 football at Dordt University.

Moore has been able to achieve this through his commitment to practice, school and nutrition. “There’s gonna be road bumps, but you just keep pushing every single day and do what’s best, and know that things might not always be perfect,” Moore said. “You’re always still doing what you know is right and doing what you know you should be doing to stay committed.”

Moore has been playing football since the sixth grade and always had the dream to play

at the next level. “To get to play at the next level, and get help to pay for it just means so much for me,” Moore said. “So it’s always been a dream for me.”

Moore chose to commit to Dordt University because of the football environment, but also because of their Christian representation at the school. “They’re a Christian college, so I’ll be able to practice my faith,” Moore said. “When you walk into that campus, you can just tell they’re different because they’re buying into what the program is about and the amount of attention and care they show you, you can tell where you’re going.”

Head football coach

Stuart Jeck has seen the hard work and commitment that Moore has put into achieving this goal. “His commitment to excellence, both in the weight room and on the field and the academic world has got him to where he is,” Jeck said. “He commits himself fully to every single aspect it takes to be a well-rounded human being.”

al stories with us about his family members, and when it came to pre game speeches, nobody did it better.  He would muster up this intensity and passion to play for each other, in this moment, together, and to leave it all on the field.”

Assistant football coach, Brandon DeMatto, has watched the commitment and development that Moore has put in to be able to play at the next level. “I’m ecstatic for him. He’s a kid that has just invested so much time on his own into his own personal development, but he’s also invested a ton into the development of all the other kids around him,” DeMatto said. “I’m excited for him, because he absolutely deserves an opportunity to play at the next level, given as much as he’s committed to this school and to his teammates and to himself.”

Moore plans to go into a pre-med program while at Dordt with plans to become

a doctor. “They have very good teachers and it’s kind of cool because their classes are small, just like Manitou, so I know I’m gonna get that support that I need for these hard classes that I’ll be taking,” Moore said. “And it’s a private university so you know you’re gonna get a good education.”

Quarterback Ben Perkins (12) has seen the work that Moore has put in to achieve this goal and wishes him luck.

“I’m tremendously proud of him. I mean, he’s worked ever since I’ve known him; and I’ve known him since we were little,” Perkins said. “I mean he’s worked every single day, as hard as he can, to get to this point.”

MaKenzi VerVaecke

Logan Moore has committed to Dordt University to play football.

TJay Davis

Logan Moore runs the football.

Bunker makes sparks fly

By: Krissy Stout

While most seniors are sitting at desks from 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., you can find Kyan Bunker, sending sparks flying while welding. Bunker, a senior at Manitou Springs High School, takes part in the new Blended Learning Program at MSHS to give him the time he needs to begin his future career in welding.

Bunker likes that there are many jobs available for his career, and he can really go almost anywhere and have a job. “There’s a lot of opportunities. It’s not just focused in one area,” Bunker said.

Bunker grew up around people who went to trade schools or straight into the workforce. “I feel like, as long as you have motivation, you could really do anything,” Bunker said.

Although Bunker never planned to weld, he found his passion for welding through his job at Royal Welding. He knew he was going to go into trade school. “My boss really helped me get into welding,” Bunker said.

He has been around welding his entire life. “My cousins weld too. They’re on the pipeline out in Oregon,” Bunker said.

To help with his adjustment to working everyday at his job, Bunker is a part of the Blended Learning Program, a new program where stu-

dents come to school for half the week until lunch and then go to do their jobs. “I go to work until 5:00, and on Thursday and Friday, I work from 7:30 to 5:00,” Bunker said.

Bunker primarily wants to stay in Colorado but has had other opportunities arise for when he graduates. “My boss talked about moving me out to Alaska after I graduate to a pipeline out there,” Bunker said.

Bunker has also learned about certain personal protection that is used, and why it’s important. “If you’re welding on galvanized, and you breathe that in, it’ll trick your brain into thinking it’s a flu, and it will kill you,” Bunker said. “That’s why you have to wear respirators.”

Many people have been thinking about how AI could potentially have an effect on their livelihood in the future. Fortunately for Bunker, he doesn’t find that AI could have a potential threat to his job, instead he actually believes it can help him. “AI can help with designing projects, but it can’t put it all together like a person could,” Bunker said.

Bunker not only wants to become a successful welder but

also wants to someday start a family. His plan is to get out there and live. “Just go with the flow,” Bunker said.

Ben  Gilliam, the Blended Learning Program advisor, thinks Bunker will continue to improve and work hard. “I’ve seen how motivated he is to finish high school, so that he can pursue his career as a welder,” Gilliam said.

While still being as supportive as possible, Gillam believes he is already so motivated to pursue welding that he doesn’t need a whole lot of help. “I see that my role is to help him make sure that he graduates from high school,”  he said.

Gilliam likes the idea that the Blended Learning Program is independent, seeing as they are only on campus three mornings a week. “The rest of the time they’re out in the community, ideally working,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam has been seeing him mature and focus on graduat-

ing. “It’s been really cool just to see him grow up in that capacity,” Gilliam said. “I know he’s going to do great things.”

Kaden Bunker, Kyan Bunker’s little brother, believes that he is working hard for his future. “He has become mature and is working hard on his school work to become a good adult,” he said.

Kaden Bunker feels that one way he can support his brother right now is through encouragement. “He has a good work ethic, and he loves being a welder,” he said.

Kyan Bunker has also found creativity through welding, by making gifts for people in his life, such as his mom. “He made a flower out of flat washers and he is good at it,” Kaden Bunker said.

Kaden Bunker thinks that this is the right path for his brother and he’s going to make a career out of it. “I think it is great for him and I think he has a great future with it,” he said.

Krissy Stout

On Nov.15 Kyan Bunker welds a hitch together at his job Royal Welding.

Always been a Mustang

By: Halli Leonhardt

Students that have been a part of the District 14 schools since pre-K/Kindergarten now stand as the class of 2025 seniors. Over their years spent at Manitou, the class of 2025 has built strong engagement with the activities and sports at Manitou, each student finding their own way to be involved. Together, they have faced the challenges of each level of education, as well as shared important moments that will stay with them throughout their journey as they move on to the next chapter of their lives. The Mustangs who started in pre-K are Chloe Cuddihy, Devon Harris, AJ Jackson, Coy Prince, Madi Sharon, Nici Sharon, Will Wickes, Spike Wright, Kolten Wupper and Linnea Zak-Moore. The Mustangs who started in Kindergarten are Spencer Aldridge, Brenna Cote, Brenner Gauvin, Maddox Gonzalez, Ava Huffman, Avery Jacobsen, Adam Krych, Annika Kuzbek, Heather Larsen, Hunter Larsen, Ashur Lavigne, Braden Legarski, Liam Linster, Patrick Mead-Clark, Logan Moore, Julian Nanfito, Ashlynn Oriet, Ben Perkins and Preston Rhodes.

Manitou students win the Coffin Races through Key Club

By: Marisa Fonkert

On Oct. 26, four MSHS students participated in and won the Manitou Springs annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races. The four students, Fenn Loftin (12), Logan Moore (12), Preston Rhodes (12), and Ethan Traenkle (12), participated through the school’s Key Club. Kiwanis, which is a part of a global network of clubs and members who partner with each other and with organizations, is what made it possible for the students to participate through the MSHS Key Club.

Last year, Kiwanis built a coffin for the Manitou Coffin Races and asked the MSHS Key Club for volunteers. There were only three volunteers last year because students had to be 18 to participate, but they were able to place 9th in the race. Kiwanis wanted to participate again this year with the coffin they had already, and they were able to find the total four students to volunteer around mid September. Fenn Loftin, one of the volunteers had previously already been planning on participating with family, but ultimately participated through the school.

“I wanted to do it already with my family,” Loftin said. “We were planning on trying to make a coffin this year and doing it, but never got around to it. So I was like, sure, that would be fun.”

After the participants had been found, there was very little preparation needed for the races. All that was needed was for the costumes to be picked and for the coffin to be checked. Mary Stapleton, a

member of Kiwanis and the participant in the coffin, found the costumes and made sure they fit the students. Their costumes were the guards from “Alice in Wonderland”.

“People would filter by, and they would talk about it. They all recognized our team based off their costumes, and they thought the costumes were some of the best costumes,” Mike Talbott, MSHS teacher and Key Club adviser, said. “They weren’t real Halloweenish, or scary, like some people are dressed as zombies and mummies and stuff like that.”

Ethan Traenkle (12), Fennegan Loftin (12), Preston Rhodes (12), Logan Moore (12). Pose with the Kiwanis Club coffin at the Coffin races.

er the winner of the Coffin Races is determined by the measured amount of time it takes to finish the race. The student’s time with costumes on was 27.7 seconds, which was about 14 miles per hour.

the winners by default. The students then went on to race the winners of the Frozen Dead Guy Races from Estes Park. The students won this race as well with a time of 26.9 seconds.

On the day of the Coffin Races, the students met up in Manitou at around nine thirty. They got their coffin safety checked, received their numbers, attended safety meetings, and headed down to their spot with the other contestants while they waited for the parade to begin.

“We got free Celsius, snacks and stuff from the people at the festival. And just waited there for a while,” Loftin said. “And then there was a safety meeting where one person from each team had to go over all the rules, which we already knew. You had to have three people touching the cart at all times, and then you couldn’t pass over the middle line.”

The length of the race was 195 yards, and the students’ team raced 33rd. Two teams would race at a time, howev-

“We were just all a bit nervous because we hadn’t even run the coffin before or tested it. We just kind of all went into four spots on the coffin and were ready to go,” Loftin said. “We just started pushing pretty much full force as hard as we could, because we decided before that it wasn’t that long and we wouldn’t have to pace ourselves. So we just decided to go full force the whole time.”

The students were in first place after their race, until the “Troublemakers” tied with them at 27.7 seconds. In order to break the tie, the two teams would have to race against each other.

“I didn’t want to race,” Lofitn said. “We thought that was it. We were all dead.”

When the two teams were supposed to race to find a winner, the “Troublemakers” never showed up. This meant that the MSHS students were

“It was just awesome,” said Loftin. “We didn’t expect to get first.”

Talbott says that participating in and winning the Coffin Races is a great thing for MSHS students to say they have done.

“If you’re from Manitou, and you think, what are the things you would want to win that are Manitou things? This would be one of them,” Talbott said. “The marathon and the fruit cake throwing contest might be other ones, but those are things that are unique to Manitou. These four young men have won, and they can always say that no matter if they stay here for the rest of their life, or they move away. They still can come back and go, I was a champion.”

Rhodes, one of the participants, says that this was a great way for students to get involved in the community.

Kaleb Cervantes

Students gain life experience with part-time jobs

By: Kaleb Cervantes and Elliot Mettler

High school presents a lot of opportunities for students. One opportunity that is available is the chance to work while being able to go to school.

The ability to earn money helps give students a sense of freedom and responsibility which helps them prepare for adulthood. “I don’t have to rely on my parents for food and gas all the time now. If I want to go out and do something I can just go out and do it,” Landon Foster (12) said. “I’m more self-reliant now that I have my own stream of income.”

The jobs that high schoolers can get help open up the opportunity to gain valuable skills that can be used outside of their jobs. “I learned how to work under pressure, especially on tests. I’ve become a better test taker, working through rushes at work, when things get really, really stressful,” Shaena Vigil (12) said. “I’ve learned to calm down during rushes, and they are less panicky for me. I can apply that to the test because now I can just calm down before a test, and I tend to do better.”

In addition to practical skills, students also gain social skills that help them in many as-

pects of life. Learning how to interact with others professionally early on can help students prepare for their future careers. “I think of time management and communication, being able to talk to adults, and that kind of stuff has really helped,” Foster said.

While there are many advantages to having a part-time job while in school, there are also many disadvantages students might face. “It can be stressful, as sometimes there are moments where I’m kind of like, ‘oh, geez, man. That is harsh or even hard to do, because I work at the pool, and that can be a really stressful job on some occasions, ” Jameson Cunningham (12) said. “Even if it wasn’t a super busy day, if it was a stressful one, when I get home, I feel too tired to do any homework or anything like that. So it can impact school work.”

One important skill that having a job while in high school can teach you is how to balance both your work and social life. “On the nights that I have off, I try to focus on school work before I focus on my friends,” Vigil said. “Sometimes it doesn’t always happen, but for the most part, I can keep my grades good while still working, because

I prioritize my schoolwork when I’m not working.”

Students with jobs also learn the importance of planning ahead.“I just try to do the work before it’s due, you know, not procrastinating and doing it the night before. Instead, I do it before I have to work so that way I’m getting stuff in on time,” Foster said.

Despite the challenges that come with having a job, many students find it to be rewarding. “Find one that’s decent— whether it’s minimum wage or higher—just find a job that you’re comfortable with,” Cunningham said. “If you don’t like it after a few weeks, don’t be afraid to move on.”

In addition, students should take into account finding

a job with flexibility. “Find a job in which your boss is going to be flexible with your schedule, so that way, you are still able to have a social life and be a teenager and do that kind of stuff but also have a job and your own stream of income,” Foster said.

Working in high school can provide students with independence, life skills and an introduction to money management. While working in school does come with its own challenges, like responsibilities and time management struggles, students often find it as a beneficial learning experience. By learning how to balance their personal lives and work lives, students gain important experiences that will help prepare them for life.

Elliot Mettler

Student Landon Foster (12) makes a pizza for his job at Savelli’s. Savelli’s hires many Manitou Springs High School students.

Mike Talbott makes an impact on MSHS

By: Marisa Fonkert

Mike Talbott, a math teacher at MSHS, is retiring after the 2024/2025 school year following his 11 years of teaching at the school.

Before starting his teaching career at MSHS, Talbott took online education courses in order to obtain his teaching certificate. After completing those courses, Talbott student taught at MSHS in 2014 for a math class. “I sat in all those classes every day,” Talbott said. “I was only required to come five hours a week, but I came in every day, all day long.”

After his role of student teaching, a position opened up for a math teacher at MSHS, marking the start of Talbott’s teaching career at the school. “The teacher at the time said that she was going to quit and she was going to teach International Baccalaureate in Japan to Japanese students,” Talbott said. “So that opened a position, and I said I was interested and got the job.”

Since then and throughout his 11 years at MSHS, Talbott has taught many classes which include, Pre-algebra, Trigonometry, Algebra I, calculus, Algebra II, Algebra II Honors, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, and a Success Skills class.

He says that his Calculus AB class has been one of his favorites to teach. “I always enjoyed my Calculus AB course the most, partially because I felt most comfortable teaching that, because I taught that in college for a few years. But it’s also the students,” Talbott

said. “The students that come in there are very good mathematically, even the weakest students in that class are still above average, and they’re motivated. They generally are good students, not all, but most generally.”

Talbott’s other favorite classes to teach were AP Physics and Trigonometry. He enjoyed physics because of how students get to apply mathematics. “Seeing kids actually apply mathematics to physics problems is the closest thing we have had to engineering here at the school,” Talbott said. “I’ve got my undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, so I’ve always enjoyed that one too.”

And while Talbott specifically liked physics due to the application seen in math, he enjoyed Pre-algebra specifically because of the students. “They are the salt of the earth kind of kids,” Talbott said. “Many of them have a lot of challenges in their life. It’s not just mathematics. They were always interesting because of their backgrounds and the struggles they have outside of the classroom, and it’s always enjoyable to see them learn something against all the hardships they’re dealing with. For the most part, not all of them are experiencing hardships, but the majority do, and so that was always interesting.”

Previous to becoming a teacher at MSHS, Talbott attended the United States Military Academy West Point and taught there for three years. Following that, he moved on to work in the military for

thirty years, which he says he enjoyed. “At West Point, there’s a commitment of five years. You have to stay in the military for five years,” Talbott said, “I thought that was going to feel like each hour was five years, but I enjoyed the military so much.”

After leaving the military, Talbott wanted to start teaching. “My duty to honor the country that was instilled in me a long time ago was to come in and teach young people and hopefully prepare them better to be adults and be successful in life. So that was why I started to teach,” Talbott said. “I knew that I could have something to offer, but I also knew that teaching was going to keep me abreast of what life was still about from a young person’s perspective.”

Talbott says that he was specifically drawn to MSHS because of the students and the small town atmosphere. “The kids are just so good, even the kids that aren’t good students,” Talbott said. “It’s still in their heart. I think they’re still good kids and that’s what drew me here.”

Some things from Talbott’s previous careers that he has implemented into his teaching here at MSHS are his fast grading style and boards, an activity in his class that gives students the opportunity to solve problems and present their thinking, which is something Talbott acquired from West Point. “Boards help you speak in public and verbalize what you’re thinking about, and it helps everybody understand,” Talbott said.

Some advice that Talbott says he would leave for students and teachers is to establish standards, make them very clear, and hold to them. He also highlights the importance of being very organized and grading papers faster. “Grading work is a vehicle for communication back to the student,” Talbott said. “It’s not just to check the block or get a good grade. It’s that vehicle for feedback. And I don’t think most of the teachers understand that. They just see it as a requirement.”

Talbott’s post retirement plans include doing lots of volunteer work including one at the Rocky Mountain Youth

Marisa Fonkert

Mike Talbott is retiring after being part of the MSHS community since 2014.

Leadership Program and coming back to the school to do scoreboards for various sports and to see students. “I think once this year’s freshmen graduate, I probably won’t be as interested in doing that kind of thing,” Talbott said. “I just want to see the kids I’ve seen in the classroom and watch them as they mature through high school.”

His plans also include a lot of traveling to places like Moab, Hawaii, a golfing trip, a cruise, and then Disney World. “I gotta manage that with the time that I give for volunteering, which I don’t have any problems with,” Talbott said. “I volunteer all the time, but I don’t want to overload my plate, so I can’t fade into the sunset gracefully.”

Ace Fridman (11) has had Talbott as her teacher for

the past two years and has taken his Calculus AB and BC classes as well as being a teacher’s assistant for his current Calculus AB class. She says she feels disappointed that Talbott is leaving because of his teaching abilities and how that affects other students. “I’m kind of disappointed also for everyone else in the school,” Fridman said.

“Mr. Talbott just knows how to teach and he understands the intricacies. I just feel like he’s the teacher whose lectures have always made the most sense, and I’m a little disappointed that my sister and other future students won’t get that.”

Fridman also says that she not only thinks the math department will be greatly affected, but also sports and activities throughout the school. “I think unfortunately, we’ll lose one of our great-

est supporters in sports and activities, and I think Key Club, which also organizes a good portion of our school activities, will also take a big hit,” Fridman said. “I also feel like the math department as a whole will take a hit, because this is the third year in a row we’ve lost one of our longer time teachers.”

Anna Conrad, MSHS’s principal of three years, believes that Talbott has had a great impact on students at the school. “I think that Talbott has had a monumental impact on students, families as well as staff members, and I think that that is encapsulated in his leadership within the math department,” Conrad said. “He’s also one of the most accessible teachers in terms of providing time for kids to come in before or after school, during lunch, during his planning period and following

Conrad also says that he has done a great job working with the math department and building leadership. “He is really diligent around creating alignment across classes and really being thoughtful that we are growing as educators as well,” Conrad said.

After 11 years at MSHS, Talbott says one of the things that make this school unique is the students, and he says that through his teaching he has learned many things from them. “One of the biggest things I learned here was not so much about teaching, but what is healthy and beneficial to young people,” Talbott said. “People care about each other, and they’re there to help each other and support each other.”

Brian Brown leaves a 22 year legacy at MSHS

By: Kaleb Cervantes

After 38 years of teaching, history teacher and social studies department head, William Brown, announced he will be retiring at the end of the school year.

Brown has been a teacher for over 3 decades, and 22 of those years have been at MSHS. “I’ve been contemplating retirement for probably three years, been looking at it,” Brown said. “Each year it was one of those. I don’t want to end on that note. You know, coming out of COVID, I didn’t want to end coming out of COVID. I wanted to end on a good year, more than anything else.”

Brown originally started to teach as a way to stay involved with coaching which he started to do while in school. “It really wasn’t about the classroom, it was more about being on the field, being on the court, that type of thing and that’s what got me into education at first,” Brown said.

Being the current head of the social studies department, and a history teacher for over two decades, Brown has not only helped educate both current and former students, but he has helped prepare them for their future after high school. “When you give 40 years of your life in the service of other people’s children and helping them achieve their dreams, that selflessness is something to be celebrated,” Executive Director of Secondary Schools, Kolleen Johnson said.

For Brown, teaching is not just about teaching students

the curriculum, but helping them prepare for life. “I would hope that the students know my first obligation was to educate them, to impart knowledge, and to try and have fun in the classroom as much as possible,” he said.

Brown’s teaching style has changed throughout the years. “When I first started teaching, I was 22 years old, and I was teaching mostly seniors who were 18. I was like a brother to them,” Brown said. “Eventually, you become kind of like the uncle, and then you get to the age where those are your kids. Now I’m at the stage where I’m the grandfather age for these kids.”

Brown hasn’t only taught at Manitou in his 22 years of working here, he has also coached multiple sports. PE and health teacher, Gabby Santos, is a former student of Brown’s and goes to him for advice for coaching. “He is somebody who I’ve turned to for volleyball and basketball and all of the things in the last four years I’ve been here and really heavily in the last two since I’ve been a head coach,” Santos said. “He’s got 40 years of experience with all of these things and being new everything feels big and overwhelming. And with the perspective that he carries, it helps me come back to what’s most important now. And how do you take on those things one at a time instead of trying to take on the world all at once.”

Brown has had a great impact on both students past and present. Sam Duff,

Amanda Kerrigan

Brian Brown questions his class about the geographical commonalities of America’s major cities. This is Brown’s last year at MSHS after 22 years.

a social studies teacher and mentee of Brown, remembers a time where a former student of Brown walked up to both him and Brown while watching the baseball team’s spring break tournament in Arizona. “A student from 10 years ago walked up to Brown and said, ‘You were the only teacher that gave me an F,’” Duff said, “but the fact that the student would still want to go up to Brown and say hello and catch up with him and hang out despite Brown giving him an F shows how much Brown cared about that kid, and how he won’t give you a free pass because he holds you accountable.”

Though Brown is retiring from teaching at the end of the year, he is not going to stop working entirely. “To me, the biggest advantage of retirement is I can do what I want when I want to do it,” he said. “I know I’m going to work part-time, but it will be where I want to work, when I want to work, and on my terms. I want to travel as much as I possibly can and spend as much time with my grandkids as I possibly can.”

While Brown’s retirement marks the end of an era for

MSHS, the legacy that he has left on the school will influence people for years to come. “When you embrace life as being a quest for knowledge and you’re curious about what goes on in your world, that’s what makes your life fun. It makes your life enjoyable,” he said.

The impact that Brown has had on the students and staff here at MSHS is massive, and he will be greatly missed. The staff and students will forever be grateful for all that he has done for the school in his 22 years of teaching.

Everyone who knows Brown knows that he will always have a word of advice. “Embrace the day as a joyous event. If you wake up in the morning and you dread going to school, you dread going to your job, that’s not going to be a good life,” Brown said. “You have gotta simply say it’s a new start. It’s a new beginning. Yesterday’s done. Can’t do anything about it. Let’s go see what today is going to give me.”

Advice from Class of 2025 Advisors

Stop worrying about what people think of you. Most people don’t think about you as much as you think they do.

-Mr. Williams

n the busyness of life, don’t forget to lean into joy. Life is short, so find your people and what brings you happiness, and live there.

-Mrs. Kerrigan

You don’t need to be the smartest in the room. You need to be the one who keeps asking why when it matters most.

-Mr. Partridge

My advice to seniors is to set a 5 to 10 year plan for yourself. Things like any additional education, possible jobs or profession, possibility of family, where you want to live and/or work, travel aspirations, bucket list goals, ect. You need to set goals in order to set yourself a trajectory for your life. It’s not supposed to be written in stone. In fact, you should update every New Year vice setting resolution that dies by February 1st. Balance work, time with friends and family, and fun activities, so you can remain productive, have fun, and maintain a support network for the good and bad times. Save for a rainy day and retirement. I know retirement is a long way off. But retirement will even further you in your future if you don’t start a savings plan as soon as you can. Finally, maintain a good sense of humor. That sense of humor will help you deal with life’s challenges.

-Mr. Talbott

You will always have the support of those who have accompanied you throughout your educational journey, so live fearlessly in a world full of unknown. We profoundly believe in you and know you will do great things!

-Mr. Duff

As you step into this next chapter, remember that your journey is uniquely yours — don’t measure your progress against anyone else’s path. Prioritize your dreams, take care of your well-being, and create a plan that honors your goals and the life you want to build. Stay focused, stay true to yourself, and success will follow.

-Dr. Valladares

Nici Sharon leaves her mark of determination on the girls

soccer

team

By: Cordelia Portman

The 2024-2025 girls soccer season will be the final high school season for some players, one being Nici Sharon, who has played for the varsity team at MSHS since her freshman year. Around the end of July of 2024, Nici Sharon committed to CSU Pueblo after receiving a minor athletic scholarship, and she is ready to play for four more years in her college career.

Nici Sharon and her sister Madison Sharon both played soccer as kids, and Madison Sharon believes that her sister has always loved soccer. “She’s definitely had her fair share of trying out a bunch of different sports when we were younger,” Madison Sharon said. “We were in a little league with a bunch of other kids and she loved it, and she definitely played hard.”

Krissy Stout

Nici Sharon has had multiple leg injuries in the past during her soccer career, and believes that she will make a full recovery for the girls soccer

Nici Sharon’s parents have supported her in numerous ways throughout her soccer career, including building a practice space for her in their backyard, driving her to soccer camps and buying her goalie gloves. “My dad said, ‘We’re gonna build a minia-

ture soccer field in the backyard, so then you guys can practice this and improve,’ and so it kind of started off there,” Madison Sharon said.

Benjamin Mack, who has coached Nici Sharon since her freshman year, identified her competitive nature even before her freshman year, because she had attended a few practices at the end of her eighth grade year. “She played forward striker a few years ago, and she was really good. She was goal hungry,” Mack said, “but early on in the process we realized we really needed a goalkeeper. After she graduates, we hope to develop the right kind of player who’s going to be able to really take advantage of that role and play well for us and overall she worked really hard with it.”

Mack believes that she has always had a competitive spirit, but because of her deeper understanding of soccer that she has developed from years of experience, she can better direct that competitiveness into different parts of the game. “She really, really wants to win,” Mack said, “which is great, you know, you need all kinds of players to help balance your team, but you certainly need that killer instinct, that killer drive, and Nici definitely has that. She’s willing to sacrifice her body in big moments where she needs to come out and just slide at somebody’s feet and not be afraid ever. She’ll really put herself on the line to help her team in that way.”

Nici Sharon did not always have a passion for being goal-

Nici Sharon(12) kicks a soccer ball during the girls soccer season of her junior year during a game. Nici Sharon has found that being goalie has grown on her over the years.

ie, but rather, it developed over time. “He pushed me pretty hard and he’s the whole reason I’m a goalkeeper, because he told me as a freshman that he needed one,” Nici Sharon said, “I told Mack every day that I didn’t want to do it, and that he needed to find someone else, but at the end of my sophomore year, after we went to state I decided that I actually liked it. He kind of pushed me to do that, and I wouldn’t have been a goalkeeper if he hadn’t.”

Nici Sharon recently tore her MCL, which is a common knee injury that is often treated without surgery and typically can be recovered in between 3-4 weeks in somewhat mild cases. Because of this injury, she did have to quit club soccer recently, with hopes to give her knee a rest. “I’ve been lucky enough to not have to miss a high school season,” Nici Sharon said, “but I have missed three of my four club seasons, unfortunately, because I’m on my third knee surgery.”

Although she is injured, Nici Sharon is certain that she will recover fully in time for the girls season. “I’m supposed

to be out in probably three weeks or so, but I’m not too worried about it because I’ve come back from injuries before, and it’s just mentality,” Nici Sharon said.

Nici Sharon hopes to get playing time as a goalkeeper. Playing time is different for a goalkeeper because they don’t sub out frequently like field players.

Nici Sharon is excited to become close with her new teammates at CSU Pueblo. “I’m really excited to meet people and actually have an exact group to spend time with,” Nici Sharon said, “I won’t have to try and go make friends because I’ll have this one group of teammates with similar goals in life and stuff.”

Mack believes that this is a good opportunity for Nici Sharon. “We’re gonna miss her and I wish her the best,” Mack said, “I played at CSU Pueblo, way back in the day, and that’s where my oldest daughter played as well. It’s a really good program, and it’s high level so I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for her.”

Angela French

The role of art in our community: It tells a story

By: Halli Leonhardt and Madison Sharon

Independent study students at Manitou Springs High School create lasting memories with their creative artistic endeavors. The program for independent study is an opportunity for students who are passionate about a specific medium of artistic expression to pursue it in a guided approach.  Students must be in 11th grade or above to apply, with high school credits that set the student on track for graduation. The process of selection is geared towards students who display discipline and enthusiasm for their art at a postsecondary level.

One of the two independent study advisors is Paul Bonner. In Bonner’s independent study class, he strives to create an environment for his students to push their artistic boundaries. “I try to challenge them to explore new mediums, new styles, to not be afraid to make mistakes and not get so caught up in the finished product,” Bonner said.

Advisors work together with their students to create a curriculum that meets the focus of medium while expanding the students’ skillset. “We look for someone who’s self-motivated and wants to explore a particular art medium further than what they got in the regular classroom,” Bonner said.

Bonner’s independent study student, Tori Greene(12) is focused on photography and videography as her medium of expression. “My focus is to explore that hobby more, and my goal this year is to capture the human emotion aspect of

things, especially within the senior class in our last year,” Greene said.

Greene is working on capturing candid and raw photos that convey a story through the display of emotion. “I want to do either a video or a portfolio of photos from this year,” Greene said. “Something that seniors can look back on by the end of the year and remember at that moment how happy, excited, or sad they were.”

Tori Greene (12) poses for a photo with one of her photos that she took of people from the street.

Greene has been interested in photography for a long time. “When I was really young my grandparents’ neighbor introduced me to a camera, and I never went back.”

Art students who are not taking the independent study avenue also share in an unfleeting passion for the art of photography. “I just think that what makes a good photograph is trying to convey meaning with what you’re taking a picture of, and not just taking a random snapshot of something,” photography student, Kyle Blasi(11), said.

Blasi has had an interest in photography and filmmaking for a long time and wants to pursue it as a career. “I’ve been making YouTube videos since I was a little kid, and I work at GreenBox Arts up in Green Mountain Falls. I just like being part of a team and getting to produce things and be creative with other people. I think that’s really special,” Blasi said.

Blasi takes advantage of the time in his photography class to practice and expand his skills, trying to convey the natural feelings of moments.

“I’m looking forward to taking candids in class because I think that candid photography is a cool way to capture genuine moments without things being staged, I think it kind of represents a scene and authenticity without people posing,” he said.

The second independent study advisor at MSHS is Erin Gocinski. Gocinski has a total of three independent studies this year. She tries to have a space for exploration with her students, allowing them to take control of their curriculum and build upon themselves. “I also emphasize   the need for practice in order to improve,” Gocinski said. “I encourage them to be patient and kind to themselves as they continue on their path and grow to become a better artist.”

One of Gocinski’s students, Quinn Pickett (12),  is using

his independent study class to grow his art portfolio as well as expand on the style of his paintings. “I’m trying to round out a style for myself right now with my portraiture and developing of pieces, while trying to develop settings specifically for illustrated story pieces,” Pickett said.

He has recently been taking inspiration from different sources to give a different feel to his paintings. “I’ve been trying to take inspiration from my own photography. Right now I’m doing a series of portraits based on photos I’ve taken of people,” Pickett said. “I’m also taking a lot of medieval Romanticism elements and trying to put them into my art.”

As students grow in their artwork, advisors hope that they are finding satisfaction in their creativity. “There is a sense of freedom when I am being creative,” Gocinski said. “I love the experience of becoming absorbed in my art, and forgetting about the world for a few hours.”

Madison Sharon

Manitou Mountain Monsters kick off their season

By: Naomi Porter

The Manitou Mountain Monsters began the 20242025 season strong at their first race on Saturday, Aug 24. The team raced in the Cloud City Challenge in Leadville, Colorado.

The team is run by volunteer coaches who dedicate their own time to helping the athletes succeed. They are head coached by Kervin Quinones, who has been coaching the team for seven years. “I just feel like mountain biking is such a good sport,” Quinones said.

Along with being a volunteer coached team, the team also collaborates together as one team with the Palmer High School and the Coronado High School mountain bike teams. “Our community is good,” Spencer Aldridge, a senior on the team, said. “It’s a lot of fun to meet new people from different places.”

season so that they are better prepared to start practicing in July.

Pre-season practices start around mid June where the team rides Tuesday and Thursday and then, once mid July hits, the team starts to have longer Saturday rides.

“With that we get around eight hours of practice each week,” Quinones said. “And then hopefully they continue to ride a little bit after that.”

The team has struggled with not being able to go to scheduled practices due to the weather. “We’ve canceled a lot of practices,” Aldridge said. “But we still try to ride as much as we can.”

At their first race, the team collectively got third place for division three of the Colorado Cycling League, and some riders placed higher than they were expecting. “I feel like the

Senior Devon Harris crosses the finish line at the Cloud City Challenge. On Saturday, Aug. 24, the Manitou Mountain Monsters had their first race in Leadville, Colorado. “Bikes are cool,” Harris said.

The team starts out the year with a five hundred mile challenge that runs from Jan. 1 to June 30. This challenge is in place to encourage the athletes to practice in the off

Behind any sort of stress there are always challenges that come from riding. Some of the challenges that come from riding are things that riders cannot entirely control, like the layout of a course or mechanical problems and injuries, and others are self-inflicted. “There’s a lot of internal dialog,” Quinones said. “If you feel like you’re not riding well, or you didn’t race well, or your bike is not working well, it can completely ruin your ride, or your race.”

have fun and get along with each other because it makes rides and race weekends more enjoyable.

The team has a cookout the first night before every race where everyone brings something to contribute to dinner. “It gives us a chance to just rest and relax before racing the next day,” Ebler said.

success of this past weekend and the first race was better than I was already expecting for the whole season,” Quinones said.

Since people on the team know what it feels like to have things go wrong and to have off days, they try to be uplifting and positive. The positivity of the team helps to bring them together and makes the harder rides a bit more bearable. “The team really supports everyone of all ages and skill levels,” senior Cedric Ebler said. “The coaches we have are very skilled and helpful.”

Connectivity is something that the coaches on the team really push. They feel it is important that the athletes

Quinones said, the relationships that develop from the team start from just being friends at rides and can turn into something that lasts even after high school racing ends. The athletes go on rides together, go to bike parks, and team bonding activities outside of practice. Athletes that ride with the team, even if it’s for a season or so, develop lasting friendships.

Quinones believes that biking is a sport that you can enjoy for even longer than just highschool. “I want to push onto these athletes that it is a lifelong sport,” Quinones said. “Hopefully they continue to do it after they leave high school.”

Naomi Porter

Cedric Ebler (12) and Devon Harris (12) smile together after awards are announced. On Saturday, Aug. 23, the mountain bike team had their first race, the Cloud City Challenge, in Leadville.

Naomi Porter

Halli Leonhardt starts her career as a volunteer firefighter

By: Naomi Porter

Halli Leonhardt, a senior at MSHS, is a volunteer firefighter in Green Mountain Falls, and hopes to continue her career as one.

Ever since she was a kid, Leonhardt has wanted to be a firefighter. “I would run around with my little firefighter helmet,” Leonhardt said. “I always really liked fire trucks, I had the little toy figures, and I really liked to play and pretend to be a firefighter.”

Leonhardt was also inspired to go into firefighting by her dad, Shaun Leonhardt.

“My dad’s a firefighter, which I also thought was cool,” Leonhardt said. “I got to go and see a lot of things for his work. We went on rides and just hung out at the station even before I was old enough to do anything.”

Leonhardt believes that her dad’s passion for firefighting influenced her interest in it. “The light in his eyes, like the sparkle as he’s explaining all of the tools and everything to me, and just watching him keep his crew safe, I saw the passion that he had for it, and it made me want that,” Leonhardt said.

The chief of the Cascade Fire Department, Steve Murphy, was introduced to Leonhardt

around a year ago by her dad, with hopes of getting Leonhardt a volunteering opportunity at the station.

Murphy’s first impression of Leonhardt was that she was shy and quiet, but as he got to know her, he got more familiar with her.

“She’s funny, she’s got a great sense of humor, she’s got a quick wit, and she is a hard worker,” Murphy said.

Leonhardt’s training officer, Lauren Bishop, agrees that her first impression of Leonhardt convinced Bishop that she was quiet and shy.

Halli Leonhardt (12) stands by a fire rescue truck before training. Leonhardt started her journey as a firefighter in June of last year. “I always just kind of wanted to help,” Leonhardt said.

Although Leonhardt seemed to be quiet and sweet, Bishop was still worried about the level of responsibility that Leonhardt’s position required. “I was concerned that she was not only in school, but she had a job; and I didn’t think she would have enough time to fulfill her duties with the fire department,” Bishop said.

After some time at the station, Bishop discovered that Leonhardt had no problem upholding her duties. “She is incredibly determined. She makes time for not only her work and school responsibilities, but also for the fire department,” Bishop said.

Before joining the company on probation, Leonhardt was required to form bonds with other members, and then get voted on. “It was like a two week period in the beginning where you come to training,” Leonhardt said. “I came to two trainings before I got voted on; and at the trainings, I would volunteer and talk to people, get to know them, so that hopefully they would like me and want me to join.”

After Leonhardt was voted on, she was assigned a training officer and a probationary member booklet. She was required to complete either Firefighter I Interior, Wildland, or EMT. “I did Wildland because I was most interested in that,” Leonhardt said.

After high school, Leonhardt

wants to go to college for Biomedical Engineering and then the Fire Academy after.

“My plan after that is to go and work at either Colorado Springs Fire Department or Monument Fire because my grandpa works there and my dad works there, and it would be cool to have three Leonardts in one department. I think that would be a nice little family tree,” Leonhardt said.

Her training officer is confident in her, especially if she’s able to get more years of experience. “I can easily see her continuing through and being a leader,” Bishop said, “I am extremely proud to see her grow.”

Naomi Porter

Seniors saddened at missing the voting deadline for the Presidential Election

By: Naomi Porter

While some high school seniors are excitedly preparing to vote in their first election this November, other seniors are feeling left out and frustrated about just barely missing the cut off.

“There is no universal day for the cut off day for age restriction on voting,” Brian Brown, the AP Government teacher said. “Each state gets to establish its own laws, governing when an individual is eligible to vote in primaries, caucuses, local elections or a general election like we have coming up.”

For a general election of the President of the United States and the US Senate and House of Representatives, you must be 18 years old by Election Day, but some states, such as Delaware and Maine, will allow you to vote in the primaries or the caucuses at 17, as long as you’ll be 18 by General Election Day. In Colorado you have to be eighteen on or before election day, which is on Nov. 5 this year.

“I’m particularly upset about not being able to vote,” Landon Foster, a senior born on Nov. 6, 2006, said. “By the time I turn eighteen, not all the votes will have been counted, so why does it matter if there’s one more vote?”

Trafford Havens, another senior born on Nov. 6, 2006, thinks that a slightly later date for cut off would make more sense. “I think you should be able to vote if you’re 18 before the time that they take office in January,” Havens said. The 26th Amendment is the

framework for this law, saying that the “right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” The date of the cut off for voting follows Election Day, which falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Brown believes that in the future there could be a chance that the law might change, but it would be difficult because it is an amendment. “If this was just a voting law that had somehow become a national law without it being an amendment, that would be pretty easy,” Brown said. “But adding or detracting an amendment to the Constitution is a pretty cumbersome and difficult process.”

Along with it being an amendment, it would be a difficult law to change because 18 to 29-year-olds are least likely to vote. “I think if the younger adults actually participated at a higher level, there would be a lot of energy to the movement,” Brown said, “but considering that they don’t, there’s no immediate push to get it lower.”

Even though they are not able to vote in this election, Havens and Foster still want to be able to have their voices heard.

Havens knows that he still has ways to make a difference, even though it may not be as

big. “I can still talk to people,” Havens said. “I can discuss topics about the election and get my opinion out there.”

Foster thinks that being able to vote would be the only way to have his voice be heard. “I feel like the presidential election is the number one way to say ‘this is how I feel about our national government, and this is how I want it to be,’” Foster said.

While he still has other opportunities to voice his opinions, Foster feels like nothing else is as efficient. “I could sign a petition, but what are the chances that they’re actually going to listen to me?” he said.

Brown wants students to understand that there are other ways that they can get their voices heard, and there are ways that they are getting their opinions out there even if they don’t realize it. “Becoming more determined to get involved and say, “I do want to make that change” is where it really starts,” Brown said.

He encourages students to engage in conversations with their peers and in class, to engage with the student council to gain an understanding of how elections work, and see how that understanding changes how you see the general elections. “That builds practice for people saying ‘I got to participate’ and that’s where it really starts,” Brown said.

As disappointing as it may be for seniors who have barely missed this year’s cut off for the presidential election, it is important to remember that state and local elections are ways to exercise your right to vote. These midterm elections and referendums on local laws can be great ways to be involved and for you to see the immediate effects of voting.

“I’m pleased with the seniors and how receptive they’ve been to not only learning about government but the idea of actually participating in it,” Brown said.

Naomi Porter

Azalia Quinn fills out a mock ballot. On Thursday, Oct. 24 AP Government students did a pretend election to experience what it’s like.

Seniors choose to express themselves with tattoos

By: Jarrin Hall

Tattoos have been getting more popular and acceptable as time has gone on and now MSHS seniors have bought into the trend.

Tattoos have not always been accepted in our culture, but in recent times more people have begun to get them and at younger ages. Senior Ben Perkins has seen tattoos become increasingly popular. “I think tattoos are becoming more and more accessible to people, and a lot of people want them because more people are getting them,” Perkins said.

Perkins himself has a tattoo in memory of his sister. “I got a bouquet of orchids, they were the flowers at my sister’s funeral,” Perkins said.

Another senior at MSHS, Landon Foster, has deep meanings behind his tattoo. “I got it because I’m Native American,” Foster said. “It’s a buffalo skull and it has bear paw on its forehead, my native name is ‘Bear Paw’, and then on the nose, it says bear in Cherokee.”

MSHS teacher Brian Brown reflected on what tattoos he saw when he was a kid.

“People who had tattoos were military individuals, and you would see a group that would almost be the opposite, very anti-establishment, protesters, biker gang guys. It really wasn’t mainstream Americana at that time,” Brown said.

Brown mentioned how this senior class has more tattoos then he has ever seen. “I have never seen this many in any of my classes before and especially visible and the willingness to make them visible. Other classes had them. It just wasn’t as prevalent. Maybe it was under the sleeve, maybe it was hidden by pants, whatever it might be,” Brown said. “But I noticed in this class, a lot of people seem to have them, and they’re very visible for those who do have them.”

Not only are younger generations getting tattoos, but in a professional sense it has become more acceptable, especially for teachers. “I think it’s more acceptable, and

if you’re just talking about educators having tattoos, I do see having tattoos to be more accepted by administration, by society,” Brown said. “Education was one of those last careers where society held us to some pretty high standards in terms of how we looked, how we behaved, including outside the classroom and in the community. So I think as society has changed, teachers feel a little bit more liberal in what they can do.”

Tattoos now are a way to express yourself, while in the past they were not as accepted. “Where tattoos might have had taboo associated with them, now they’re art. They’re personalized. There’s special meaning with the individuals who get the tattoos. So I think that helps us, in general, accept the people and accept the whole world of tattooing,” Brown said.

While tattoos are a way of representing something you stand for, they are permanent and must be given serious consideration before getting them. “There are a lot of peo-

Jarrin Hall

Kyan Bunker (12) got his grandmothers last name and his football number on his right arm. On his left arm is the date of his liver transplant and a family bible verse. He go the bull on his hand for fun.

ple that shouldn’t get tattoos because they would get stupid tattoos,” Foster said. “I can see the point in getting a silly stupid tattoo. But then I also remember, in a couple years down the road, I’m gonna have to explain that to somebody.”

Perkins agrees that tattoos should be thought out before getting them. “Of course if you’re getting a full sleeve not everything’s gonna have meaning. But you should always, at least really put thought towards your tattoo. It should never be a walk in, and see something on the wall and get that,” Perkins said.

Tattoos are a symbol of what people stand for and who they are. “I like the idea of how it is becoming more personal with the young students,” Brown said. “I think that’s really good for students to say this is who I am, and it sends a message. People can look at it and go, ‘Oh, that’s a belief that you have,’ and that’s just another way of communicating.”

got a wolf to represent courage, strength, intelligence, and leadership. The mountains and trees are meant to represent Colorado.

Jarrin Hall

Kloe Roth (12) got this infinity symbol that matches with her mom. The blue butterflies represent her late grandpa.

Jarrin Hall Hayden Martinez (12)

Jarrin Hall

First cousins Trafford Havens (12) and Hayden Martinez (12) got the word “brother” in Japanese. They got it over their hearts as a reminder they will always be there for each other.

Jarrin Hall

Landon Foster (12) got a buffalo skull with feathers hanging off of the horns to represent his Native American roots. The bear paw represents his Native American name.

Jarrin Hall

Chloe Cuddihy (12) got these song lyrics from “Still” by Niall Horan as a reminder to herself.

Jarrin Hall

Coy Prince (12) got this eye just for fun.

Jarrin Hall

Ben Perkins (12) got orchids on his arm in memory of his sister.

Jarrin Hall

Coy Prince (12) got this on his arm to represent his family name.

Jarrin Hall

Ashur Lavigne (12) got birds for his 18th birthday, the birds migrating represents change in his life.

Jarrin Hall

Kolten Wupper (12) got this to represent his moral compass.

Jarrin Hall

Kolten Wupper (12) got this birth flower for his aunt with the same birthday.

Griffin Saulsbury looks to lead robotics team to success

By: Marisa Fonkert

Griffin Saulsbury (12) is the captain of MSHS’s robotics team for the 2024-2025 school year, and has demonstrated excellence in his role helping students succeed and learn in the club.

He has grown his skills since joining the club his sophomore year after looking for a club to join.

“I’ve always loved engineering and math, so I thought robotics should be a cool club to join,” Saulsbury said. “I kind of just thought I’d test it out and then immediately fell in love, so that’s kind of my whole life now.”

Saulsbury is both the team captain and the mechanical lead. His responsibilities as team captain consist of making sure everyone’s on the same page, having a little bit of knowledge about everything, and making sure that he is teaching people. As mechanical lead he is in charge of the mechanical aspects of building a robot and maintaining it.

“My job is making sure everybody knows how to do mechanical work and making sure that things run smoothly during meetings and competitions,” Saulsbury said.

Saulsbury says that he thinks a good team captain should be a good public speaker, be charismatic, have good communication skills, and have a willingness to teach. He tries to incorporate these traits into his role.

“One of the biggest things is trying to make sure everyone

learns, so that after I graduate, the knowledge is passed on,” Saulsbury said. “That’s a big part of what I try to do. I try to make sure everyone knows what’s happening so we are as efficient as we can be during the meetings.”

James Devoy (11), a member of the robotics team, says that Saulsbury is a great leader who makes an effort to make students feel welcome in the group.

“Griffin is a great captain. He’s very charismatic,” Devoy said. “He checks in on everyone and really makes the group welcoming to the people in it.”

Many of Saulsbury’s hobbies and interests relate to his interest in robotics. He mainly enjoys working on cars and photography when he is outside of school.

“I’m trying to go into engineering, so I love math and science. A lot of my hobbies revolve around that, coincidentally,” Saulsbury said.

Following his graduation, Saulsbury hopes to attend CU Boulder as a third generation student. He plans to study mechanical engineering and aerospace as a secondary major.

“There are a lot of different fields I could go into. Automotive and aerospace would be cool, but there’s a lot of different things I could do with it,” Saulsbury said.

Saulsbury says that being in robotics throughout most of high school has influenced

his interest in engineering and his experience with college applications.

“I wrote my college essay about robotics, and I’ve already been accepted to a few. So I think it’s definitely influenced my interest in engineering and my college applications,” Saulsbury said. “It’s a really strong point for college applications in general, because It’s real life engineering experience.”

Saulsbury feels that his classes, like coding and mathematics, have been beneficial to his role in robotics. He however wished that there could be more related classes.

“I wish we had an engineering class where they taught CAD, because I’m pretty much self taught with that,” Saulsbury said. “But generally there’s math classes, science classes, and all sorts of work with robotics that makes sense.”

The robotics team has a lot of seniors currently. Saulsbury is hoping that he will be able to teach the team as much as possible before graduation so that there is a smoother transition into next season.

“I’m hoping to have them taught with everything they need to know so that they can do well next year,” Saulsbury said. “That’s my biggest hope right now.”

Eddie Buckley (12), the coding lead within the club, also says that he hopes to see students staying motivated with the seniors leaving.

“I just hope people stay motivated this year,” Buckley said. “It’s a really senior heavy team, so once we leave I hope the team can stay functional without our skill set.”

One piece of advice Saulsbury would like to leave for students at MSHS would be to give robotics a try, even if you aren’t good at it. Many students view the club to be a big time commitment, but there is flexibility to manage your schedule.

“There’s a lot of people who think it’s too big of a time commitment, which is understandable,” Saulsbury said. “It’s really not as big of a time commitment as you really think it is. Just try it, and if you don’t like it you don’t have to show up.”

Marisa Fonkert

Griffin Saulsbury (12) is the captain of the Manitou Springs High School robotics team.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Spencer Aldridge . . . Train Conductor

Sydnee Babcock . . . Model

Wesley Balderrama . . . Artist

Edward Buckley . . . Naval Engineer

Kyan Bunker . . . Ninja

Gabriel Cisneros . . . Zookeeper

Ari Clark . . . Veteranarian

Kyle Clark . . . Race Car Driver

Brenna Cote . . . Veteranarian

Tanner Crossen . . . Never knew

Chloe Cuddihy . . . Egyptologist

Jameson Cunningham . . . Astronaut

Kara Donegan . . . Ninja

Cedric Ebler . . . Race Car Driver

Cheyenne Espinoza . . . Veteranarian

Landon Foster . . . President

Evan Fugate . . . Chef

Brenner Gauvin . . . Inventor

Maddox Gonzalez . . . Cyborg

Tori Greene . . . Scuba Diver

Jarrin Hall . . . NHL Player

Devon Harris . . . Police Officer

Trafford Havens . . . NHL Player

Griffin Hoaglund . . . Astronaut

Ava Huffman . . . Veteranarian

Hannah Jackson . . . Baker

AJ Jackson . . . Dancer

Avery Jacobsen . . . Teacher

Jacob Jacobsen . . . Animator

Lana Kahtava . . . Teacher

Lily Kocks . . . Veteranarian

Gavin Kopp . . . Architect

Adam Krych . . . Pilot

Annika Kuzbek . . . Professional Soccer Player

Heather Larson . . . Veteranarian

Hunter Larson . . . Superhero

Ashur Lavigne . . . Professional Football Player

Olivia Lefforge-Vidal . . . Veteranarian

Halli Leonhardt . . . Nascar Driver

Liam Linster . . . Astronaut

Fennegan Loftin . . . Raptor Tamer

Hayden Martinez . . . Professional Baseball

Player

Lily Mascarenas . . . Veteranarian

Dominic McCollough . . . Knight

Patrick Mead-Clark . . . Police Officer

Cheyenne Meendering . . . Baker

Aussie Meyer . . . Race Car Driver

Ethan Mojica . . . Marine

Logan Moore . . . Veteranarian

Julian Nanfito . . . Pilot

Basil O’Hara . . . Veteranarian

Ashlynn Oriet . . . Paramedic

Benjamin Perkins . . . Firefighter

Breanna Perry . . . Doctor

Quinn Pickett . . . Magician

Jonathan Polizzi . . . Firefighter

Coy Prince . . . YouTuber

Noah Rasmusen . . . Doctor

Abbigail Reeves . . . Rockstar

Preston Rhodes . . . NFL Player

Nathan Rice . . . Coast Guard

Kaya Robbins . . . Veteranarian

Kloe Roth . . . Dolphin Trainer

Diego Sanchez . . . Millionaire

Griffin Saulsbury . . . Architect

Morrigan Schulz . . . Singer

Avery Scott . . . Zookeeper

Madison Sharon . . . Veteranarian

Nicole Sharon . . . Photographer

Thomas Spraggins . . . NFL Player

Alexander Steger . . . Professional Soccer Player

Ethan Traenkle . . . Construction Worker

Eve Trahey . . . Dancer

Kylie Valade . . . Marine Biologist

MaKenzi VerVaecke . . . Teacher

Shaena Vigil . . . Marine Biologist

Lilliana Walz . . . Famous SInger

William Wickes . . . Marine

Spike Wright . . . Astronaut

Kolten Wupper . . . Firefighter

Linnea Zak-Moore . . . Lawyer

Landon Foster commits to Fort Lewis college to become a veterinarian

By: Jon Polizzi

Landon Foster, a senior at MSHS, has committed to his college plans of being a veterinarian. Foster has been a member of multiple clubs and organizations at MSHS for the last four years, and now he is taking his leadership skills and outgoing personality into the world.

Growing up around cattle sparked Foster’s interest from an early age. “A lot of my family is in the agriculture business, and I kind of grew up around horses and cattle,” Foster said. Foster usually gets to visit his grandparents in Michigan during the summer months, where his passion for animals was born.

When deciding on where Foster wanted to attend college, he was dead set on one. “I was really only thinking about going to Oklahoma State University,” Foster said.

Having most of his closest family members attend Oklahoma State University it was

a no brainer to Foster. In addition to the family tradition, the school also offered what he wanted to study. “They have a pretty good vet school there too,” Foster said.

It wasn’t until later that he decided on Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. “So two years ago, there was a gal that came down from Fort Lewis, and she was talking about this Native American scholarship,” Foster said.

When Foster found out about the scholarship, he didn’t think twice about attending Fort Lewis College. Being part Cherokee, Foster got his entire tuition paid for. “I’m not thinking about any other school anymore,” Foster said.

Although his tuition is being covered, there are still out of pocket expenses that he has to take care of. “I still have to cover room and board, so it’s still a decent chunk of money,” Foster said.

Landon Foster (12) shows his college commitment posted on the senior map in the hallway at MSHS on March 12.

Brian Brown, a teacher at MSHS and a family member to Foster, has witnessed first hand how much Foster has grown.

Brown believes that Foster should experience two things after high School. “One is going to college and the second is to travel,” Brown said.

Going to college isn’t just about getting an education, rather the responsibility of being on your own and caring for yourself.

Learning about Foster’s college acceptance, Brown

is very excited for him. “I’m thrilled to death that Landon not only has been accepted,” Brown said, “but he’s looking to get out of the Colorado Springs area.”

With plans set and everything slowly rolling in motion, Foster is ready to begin the next chapter of his story. “He’s like all students, he wants to get out of here,” Brown said.”And he has a clear focus on what he wants to accomplish, which has brought a maturity beyond his years.”

Kara Donegan first MSHS wrestler to win 30 matches in a season

By: Krissy Stout

Kara Donegan, a senior at MSHS, won over 30 matches this year. As a freshman, Donegan only won about one match during the wrestling season.

This season, Donegan has competed in 51 matches and has won 36 of them. Head coach Paul Bonner has seen immense improvement compared to her freshman year, “ she has grown both in con-

fidence and ability,” Bonner said.

Bonner, Donegan’s coach and Ceramics teacher, says that in class, Kara is calm and loves to laugh. But when it comes to competing, she flips a switch. “She becomes focused and competitive,” he said.

Bonner is constantly encouraging Donegan. “I am always in Kara’s corner,” he said. “I

Abbie reeves, Hannah Rickert, Alex Traenkle, and Kara Donagen pose for a photo at a wrestling competition.

Jon Polizzi

Paul Bonner

am constantly reminding her of her strengths and how good she is.”

Although wrestling is physically and mentally demanding, Donegan persists with a positive attitude. “I love competing, tournaments, and winning, ” she said. “I also love the sport itself and how hard and rewarding it is.”

Donegan says one of her biggest supporters is Bonner. “He pushed me, mentored me and overall helped me become the wrestler and person I am today,” she said.

Abby Reeves, Donegan’s

friend and a wrestler herself, believes that Donegan is strong-willed and will do anything she puts her mind to. “I am so proud of her and grateful that she was my buddy through this entire journey,” she said.

Reeves remembers a time where Donegan had an amazing match. “At the Tri-peaks tournament, she faced opponents she’s previously lost to, and she won,” she said.

Donegan originally gained interest in wrestling from her siblings. “I joined in middle school and I just fell in love with it and continued it,” she said.

According to Reeves, Donegan has grown immensely throughout the years of MSHS wrestling. “She’s gone from someone hesitant and a little unsure of herself in wrestling,” Reeves said, “to someone who lets nothing stop her, never gives up, and still has a smile on her face.”

Donegan loves wrestling, along with every aspect in wrestling. “I absolutely adore all of my coaches, teammates, the family aspect and environment that comes with the sport,” she said.

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According to Bonner, she is always there with a positive attitude and a lot of great ideas. “Kara is a natural leader and is not afraid to step up when something needs to get done,” he said.

Bonner can’t wait to see what she does in the future and is confident that Donegan will continue to learn and grow with whatever she does. “I know that she is going to go on to do great things,” he said. “I am really proud of her and it has been an honor to have been her coach and teacher.”

Reeves reminds Donegan that she is strong, and believes

Graduation Congrats Speech Student Diploma Cap Gown Word Bank

Letter from the Senior Class President

To the class of 2025,

Wow. We made it. Four years of academic rigor, hallway traffic jams, group projects where two people do all the work (you know who you are), and last-minute motivation. Truly, we are the picture of perseverance.

I mean, look at us. The most compassionate, focused, and definitely-always-on-time group of students to walk these halls. Our ability to thrive while running on caffeine, chaos, and pure sarcasm is nothing short of legendary. We’ve redefined “doing the bare minimum but with style.”

But in all seriousness, underneath the jokes and shared senioritis, we’ve built something special. This class— our class—is a community. Whether it was cheering each other on at games, panicking together before finals, or pulling off spirit week like absolute champions, we did it together.

Through it all, we stuck together and helped each other out when we needed each other. When we needed it, we gave our friends a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. When we needed it, we picked each other up when we couldn’t do it ourselves.

When we needed it, we slipped over our homework to prevent a late grade. When we needed it, we looked out for each other.

The Manitou community brought this group of people together, but we made it a family. Without the work put in by each individual, we wouldn’t be here at the end of this year graduating. We wouldn’t be walking down that field, dawning our caps and gowns to grab that ever sacred diploma.

Though there were times that we may have been angry at one another, or that we didn’t see eye to eye with one another, in the end we always came back together and reconnected. At the end of the day we were all still a little family in this big world. We still stood next to one another and picked each other up when we needed a friend.

That is the beauty of the community that we get to be a part of. It has brought us together and because of it we will always be connected. 5 years from now, 10 years, 40 years, we will be connected through the community that made us the young adults that we are today.

If we have nothing else, we still have our graduating class of ‘25 and the community

and family that we have made over the past years. So stay together, don’t be afraid to reach out to an old friend, and keep loving one another. It may seem dumb, but this is our family and these are the people that we should be able to lean on and to rely on when times get hard

So, here’s to us: the class that laughed hard, worked kind

of hard, and loved each other harder. We may be going separate ways, but the memories, friendships, and screenshots of truly unhinged group chats will stay with us forever. Keep being awesome. Or at least convincingly mediocre—that’s worked pretty well so far.

Good Luck Class of 2025!