Chowing down at MHS 'Throwdown' - My High School Journalism

Page 10 Sports
Monarch has a ski team, but where’s the love for boarders?
by Ariel Lewis
Howler Staff
Do the number of skiers outnumber
boarders at Monarch? According to a poll
conducted randomly at Monarch, the ratio
of skiers to snowboarders is even. Half of the
students ski and half of them snowboard, so
why only a ski team?
“I have no idea why there’s not a snowboarding
team,” junior Kristen Stanley said.
“CU has a snowboarding team, why can’t
we?”
The Monarch skiers train at Nederland High
School every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
and on Fridays they race. They train Alpine
and Nordic skiing. Alpine skiing is also
referred to as downhill skiing because of the
inclined slopes of the ski resorts. Nordic skiing,
on the other
hand, is a ver-
country skiing.
Cross-country
skiing races are
based on distances
normally taking place off of the downhill
slopes.
There are four events in Alpine skiing: Slalom,
Giant Slalom, Downhill and Super-G.
Slalom and Giant Slalom are the technical
events in Alpine skiing and Downhill and
Super-G are the speed events. In Slalom, a
racer skies between gates spaced close together
causing quick and short turns.
In Giant Slalom, the gates are spaced
much further apart than in Slalom. There are
about 40-70 gates depending on venue and
the gender of the racer. The point of the race
is to ski around gates quickly, and the fastest
wins. The Nederland ski team only competes
in two Alpine events, Giant Slalom and Slalom.
Freestyle skiing also takes place on Alpine
slopes but isn’t considered an Alpine event.
Freestyle skiing is separated into two events,
Moguls and Aerials. In Mogul skiing, there
are three sections of moguls and two jumps.
The event is judged on speed and quality of
turns and jumps. Aerialists ski off jumps and
propel 40 to 50 feet into the air performing
tricks. Nederland High School does not offer
sion of “
It takes a lot more talent to do the more
”
cross- extreme stuff. On the ski team we can have
beginners or less talented skiers because
it’s a safe and learnable sport.
-Senior Kylie Digman
these events.
The Nederland
ski team doesn’t
have any snowboarders
on it
because the
slalom poles are
problematic for them. Snowboarders have
difficulty because it’s too hard to ride around
poles. Snowboarders also have a higher
probability of getting hit by skiers’ poles.
Snowboarders and skiers don’t compete
in the same events. Snowboarders typically
compete in terrain-park events. Also, Alpine
Poms and Cheer provide pep for MHS
by Molly Olson
News Editor
Performing at pep assemblies, basketball
games and football games, the Cheer and
Poms teams applied for regionals and state
and are making their way towards those two
competitions.
MoHi Cheer
Coach Cathy
G r e e n e ’ s
goals were to
go to regionals,
qualifiy
for nationals
at the competition
on Nov.
5 and also
qualifiy to go
to state on
Dec. 5.
“At the
state competitions,
I hope
to get the
cheer team to
be at top six,”
Greene said.
Senior
Blakley Farrow is enjoying
her last year on the Monarch Cheer team
and has been on the Poms team for all four
years while attending high school
“I think our biggest goals as a team are to
qualify for nationals, be top six at state and
to hit our routines at competitions,” Farrow
said.
On Dec. 5, the team danced their routine
to the song “When Doves Cry” by Prince at
the 2008 state competition.
Senior Hannah Snyder, a four-year member
of the Poms team, is also striving to make
the final year of her Poms career the very best
yet.
“I’m sad to leave because Poms has been
a huge part of my life. I have loved it,” said
Snyder, who plans to join dance team in college.
Sophomore Dana Wait also aspires to per-
Photo provided by Samantha Schuller
The Monarch Poms squad performs during halftime at a Monarch varsity football game.
form to the best of her ability while also improving
the performances of her team.
“I want to have a lot of fun and do better
than last year. We are more than just a dance
team, we are also good friends,” Wait said.
The Poms and Cheer teams hope to perform
well at both the regionals and state competitions.
They will also perform their routines
at the upcoming home varsity basketball
games.
molann@msn.com
Provided by Peter Lewis
2004 Monarch graduade P.J. Lewis performs a tailgrab while skiing at Winter Park during the 2007-08 ski season.
courses are typically icy; without a proper
edge it’s too dangerous. Snowboards aren’t
designed for Slalom courses.
A snowboarding team would normally stay
more in the terrain park. Terrain-park riding
is characteristically more extreme than Alpine
and Nordic skiing.
“It takes a lot more talent to do the more
extreme stuff,” senior Kylie Digman said. “On
the ski team we can have beginners or less
talented skiers because it’s a safe and learnable
sport.”
Many students believe there is no snowboarding
team because it’s dangerous and
the school doesn’t want to deal with the li-
by Chrissy Lowe
Howler Staff
Sure, the wrestling guys are in great
shape and know how to throw it down, but
they aren’t the only aspect of the team.
Wrestling managers also contribute to the
sport.
The managers go to the practices and
games. They are like the stage crew of a
play; they do all the necessities behind
the scenes.
“We get everything set up at practice
and keep score at matches,” said manager
and MHS junior Kaylyn Ferrera. “We
also videotape all the matches so the
guys can see themselves.”
Managers are also responsable for providing
water for the wrestlers.
ability. That is not true. The reason the school
doesn’t have a team is that snowboarding
isn’t a Colorado High School Activities Association
approved sport.
“We do not approve snowboarding because
no one has proposed that it be a
sport,” CHSAA representative Paul Angelico
said. “Another reason is because we do not
sanction sports that schools do not pass.”
The Nederland Alpine and Nordic team
is a great opportunity for skiers of all abilities.
If snowboarders want a team, the first
thing students must do is propose a team to
CHSAA.
alweis4095@bvsd.org
Off the mats: A behind the scenes
look at MoHi wrestling managers
Senior Mel Pinto is a dedicated manager for the MoHi
wrestling team.
a result, there are college scholarships
available for managers.
“Managing is definitely a way for girls to
The man-
I’ve always loved the sport. You have to be rea
g e r s
ally commited. Managing is definately a way
c o m m i t
to the
for girls to get closer to the sport.
sport of
wrestling
-Senior Mel Pinto
as much as the wrestlers. They are required
to be at every practice, game and
tournament.
“I’ve always loved the sport,” senior
and manager Mel Pinto said. “You have to
be really committed.”
Managing isn’t the same as playing
the sport, but it allows girls who like wrestling
to get involved. Managers are a vital
part to the success of the team. Without
the help of the managers, it is nearly impossible
for a team to have success. As Fingle.Chrissy@gmail.com
“ ”
Photo by Chrissy Lowe
get closer to
the sport,”
Pinto said.
But the
s p o r t
d o e s n ’ t
discrimi-
nate against girls. Any girl who wants to
compete on the varsity-level wrestiling is
more than welcome to join. If interested,
contact the Monarch athletic office or
wrestling coach Ezra Paddock.
“I think girls don’t join the team because
of comfort,” said senior Grant Medina,
a Monarch wrestler of four years.
“We’re open to anyone who wants to
join.”