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Vanguard boys’ volleyball to battle for fourth consecutive state club title

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Vanguard boys’ volleyball to battle for fourth consecutive state club title

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Athletics / photos / School Awards / Xiao Yuan Ying Ji

Vanguard boys’ volleyball to battle for fourth consecutive state club title

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The decision to add boys’ volleyball as a Colorado high school sanctioned sport has been decades in the making. But while the debate raged on at the Colorado High School Activities Association, one school was building a boys’ volleyball dynasty in Colorado Springs. This weekend 麻豆官网 will compete for its fourth straight Colorado 3A state championship – this time with more eyes than ever on the growing sport. Just two weeks ago, CHSAA approved boys’ volleyball as a sanctioned sport starting the 2020-21 school year, making this year’s state tournament the first of its kind as a pilot program, and a glimpse into what the sport will look like under CHSAA’s umbrella in spring 2021. Vanguard, which has an enrollment of just 305 according to the latest CHSAA numbers, began a boys’ volleyball club program six years ago. The Coursers made it to the state finals in their second year and won three consecutive after that – including two undefeated seasons. “For some reason this really tiny school just got really good boys’ volleyball,â€� said senior Seth Fuqua, who was also the captain of the boys’ basketball team that took second in 3A this year. But coach Andrew Soeldner implemented a system early that could be responsible for the Coursers’ consistent success. “I’m an engineer, so I approach things in an analytical way. So I use stats heavily, and film, and every week we go over our body position and how we react to the other team,â€� Soeldner said. “That kind of analysis and breakdown has really helped. I think they have a good grasp of the game and I think that’s showing now in this crew.â€� Of the six players on Vanguard’s varsity roster, five are seniors, and three have been with the team the past four years. Senior Hayden Frear, who has signed to play Division I men’s volleyball, said he believes it’s a combination of the culture at Vanguard and the athleticism of the team, which has been together for years. “There’s a lot of support around here, and people want the sport to grow around here so that really helps,â€� Frear said. “We’re also really lucky with who we have. We have some really athletic guys. Three of us play club, so we’re definitely lucky.â€� Vanguard heads to state on Saturday at Eaglecrest undefeated, ranked No. 1 in the state and in the top 80 nationally. The top four teams in 3A are from the Colorado Springs area according to MaxPreps rankings, with James Irwin ranked second at 20-1, followed by District 20 White (22-2) and Cheyenne Mountain White (16-4). St. Mary’s is ranked eighth (15-6). The Cheyenne Mountain 5A team is ranked second in the classification with its only loss of the year coming against No. 1 Ponderosa, according to MaxPreps. District 20’s 5A team is ranked fourth in the classification.

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Poster for Two coaches with histories of winning head back to the volleyball courtAlbums
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µþ²âÌý. Click to go to the original article. The two coaches on the court at Thursday’s 3A Tri-Peaks volleyball match between Vanguard and St. Mary’s may have only recently returned to girls’ volleyball, but their resumes speak for themselves. With more than 500 combined match wins and 10 state championships, David Barkley and Andrew Soeldner returned this season after taking time off from girls’ volleyball. Barkley retired from coaching in January 2018, after 15 seasons and six state championships with Cheyenne Mountain. But after about a year away from the court, he was approached by a family friend about the opening at St. Mary’s. Barkley initially said no. “Not unless there is an opening in the English department,â€� Barkley told Nancy Kellick, the Pirates’ C-team coach and mother of junior middle Jillian Kellick. Two days later, one opened up. “It wasn’t forced, it was a real opening, so I applied,â€� Barkley said. “I coach for the same reason wherever I am. These are some great kids, they work so hard and I’m happy to be here. We’re having fun, we smile and we play the game.â€� There was an air of excitement on the team when it was announced last spring that Barkley would be joining the coaching staff. “I thought it was a blessing. I was so excited the bar was set really, really high and he has met that and even more,â€� said senior libero Sarah Connors. “He knows his stuff and really wants us to succeed. He really knows how to get us at our full potential.â€� St. Mary’s came away with a 3-0 sweep over Vanguard, defeating the Coursers 25-20, 25-17, 25-12. Seneca Hackley had seven kills for the Pirates and Jillian Kellick had five. St. Mary’s racked up 21 aces against Vanguard, led by Rachel Wilcox and Connors with seven each. Soeldner, on the other hand, was busy coaching the Vanguard boys’ team to four straight state championships and a near-perfect 92-2 record. “Several players from the varsity team from last year actively sought me out and wrote me a letter imploring me to come back to coach them,â€� Soeldner told the Gazette in Vanguard’s preseason questionnaire. “I hope to live up to their expectations.â€� Soeldner, an engineer, is already bringing a different coaching technique to the girls’ team that has proven successful on the boys’ side the past four years. “It’s a different game,â€� Soeldner said. “It’s been a little bit of an adjustment and getting back into gear for me.â€� His coaching, which relies heavily on analytical film review, angles, velocity and energy, is so in-depth that he even wears a mic on the sideline to analyze his own coaching. “At first they were kind of snickering a little bit, and telling me that nobody has ever explained it like that before, it makes a lot of sense,â€� Soeldner said. “I think they’re finding value in that, and my coaches as well.â€�

Poster for Vanguard’s Nique Clifford commits to University of Colorado basketballAlbums
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Vanguard’s Nique Clifford commits to University of Colorado basketball During the Vanguard boys basketball’s historic run to the state championship game last year, it became clear that Vanguard’s Dominique “Nique” Clifford was destined for Division I basketball. It was only a matter of where. Friday, Clifford announced his commitment to the University of Colorado through a two-part video series on Twitter. “I would like to start off by saying thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me,” Clifford said in his commitment video. “I could not have done it without the help and support from my mom, dad, grandparents, teachers, friends, coaches, teammates and trainers.” Since he was a kid Clifford had dreamed of playing basketball at UCLA, but when and offer didn’t come he chose the next best thing — to play the Bruins twice a year. “I think God has a plan for everyone so I think getting to play them is just as good — I’ll just have to show them what they missed,” Clifford said. He said he’s excited about the freedom of college life, and transitioning to a much bigger school and program than Class 3A Vanguard. “Basketball wise it’s going to be a lot different with the competition levels, but it’s been my goal all my life. I’ll be ready for it when the time comes,” Clifford said. His time might come earlier than typical recruits, as Clifford said CU coaches hopes he will have an immediate impact on the team as a freshman. “They see me playing combo guard and they honestly think I could take them to the next level as a program,” Clifford said. “Of course it all has to be earned, but it’s the big time and big goals for me so I’m on the grind to prove them right.” In three varsity seasons at Vanguard, Clifford has averaged 14.5 points per game, including a career-high double-double average of 18.9 points and 11.3 rebounds as a junior. His junior season, in which he helped the Coursers to the Class 3A state championship game, was sparked by a 5-inch growth spurt in the off season. His height, 6 feet, 5 inches, quickness and flair made him one of the most dangerous shooting guards in the state. He has received 11 Division I offers, including from Stanford, Denver, Northern Colorado, Colorado State and Wyoming. He went on official visits to CU, CSU and Wyoming in the last month. Clifford said it was a touch decision between Wyoming, CSU, Stanford and CU, but chose to go on official visits at certain schools because of the connection he felt with the coaches. “All of the places I visited were super nice, but Colorado had the best campus, and on my visit I just felt at home,” Clifford said. “It really just hit different than other schools.” “What stands out most about Dominique is his personality,” said Vanguard coach Joe Wetters in the commitment video. “He’s a fearless leader and very intelligent on the basketball court. I think what separates him most is his ability as a lead guard to put himself in position to make the team better, and that’s what he’s good at.” Clifford is listed as a four-star recruit and ranked No. 83 nationally on 247 sports among the top 2020 basketball recruits.

Poster for Clifford’s double-double lifts 麻豆官网 over Colorado Springs Christian in 69-48 victoryAlbums
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Clifford’s double-double lifts 麻豆官网 over Colorado Springs Christian in 69-48 victory µþ²âÌý | Special to The Denver Post February 19, 2020 at 4:45 p.m. Colorado Springs Christian was solid from downtown, drilling eight treys but ultimately lost 69-48 against 麻豆官网 on Thursday. 麻豆官网 was lead in scoring by Dominique Clifford who accounted for 22 points while also recording 14 rebounds and six assists. Joseph Padilla had a solid night, recording 17 points, two rebounds and two assists. Colorado Springs Christian was paced in scoring by Caleb Stockton who scored 14 points, while also recording six rebounds and six assists. Josh Erickson had a solid night, recording 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists. 麻豆官网 will stay home and play Salida, while Colorado Springs Christian will travel to play Ellicott. This story was created with technology provided by . Information accurate as of publication and will update as more data is available.

Poster for Vanguard senior Seth Fuqua ranks among state’s basketball eliteAlbums
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By Danny Summers at the Gazette Seth Fuqua’s memorable prep basketball career came to an end this month when his Vanguard team came up short against Manual in the Class 3A state championship game. But Fuqua’s athletic career at the school continues as a setter for the Coursers’ boys’ volleyball team. Boys’ volleyball is not a CHSAA sanctioned sport, though it is in its first year as a pilot sport and is expected to be a CHSAA sport by 2022. Boys’ volleyball is played at the club level. Vanguard is the three-time defending 3A state champion. The Vanguard volleyball team has not lost a game against a 3A school in three years. There are 58 3A teams this season. Fuqua’s had relatively no transition from basketball season to the volleyball court. He and his teammates played Manual for the state title on March 9. Two days later, he practiced with the Vanguard volleyball team and was starting at setter 24 hours later in its season-opening match. “It was crazy,â€� Fuqua said. “I’ve been playing volleyball for five years, so it wasn’t that difficult for me, but I would like to have had a little more of a break.â€� Brothers Carter and Decker Milroy are the other two Vanguard varsity basketball players who also play volleyball. Fuqua is hoping to play basketball in college. At last check, he was still receiving offers from several schools, mostly at the NAIA level. “It was awesome playing here,â€� Fuqua said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My teammates. My coaches. I was really in the spot I wanted to be. “We played with such heart. We came out of nowhere. My freshman year, we were awful, just above .500. And then my last three years, we just kept getting better.â€� Vanguard was 73-24 in Fuqua’s four years. His individual accomplishments are impressive by any standard. He ranks in the top 20 career in state history among all classifications in six categories: scoring (2,374 points, third), 3-pointers made (311, third), field goals made (816, sixth), scoring average (24.5, eighth), free throws made (431, 16th) and steals (219, 20th). For a season, he scored the most points as a freshman in state history with 590 (25.7 points per game) and seventh all-time in scoring as a sophomore (571, 24.8 points per game). In 97 career games, Fuqua scored double-digits points 96 times (he had one nine-point game). He scored 30-plus points 21 times, and 40-plus twice, with a career-high of 44 against Buena Vista as a sophomore. In addition, he had 14 double-doubles and two triple-doubles. He once made 10 3-pointers in a game against Evangelical Christian Academy as a freshman, and nine 3-pointers against James Irwin as a sophomore. He started at Vanguard since his freshman year and averaged more than 30 minutes per game during four seasons. “It’s one of those things that when I look back on my high school basketball career, I will remember it for the rest of my life,â€� Fuqua said. “It’s cool that I’m in the top five all-time scoring in Colorado, and when I think about it now, it blows my mind. “I give the credit to my dad and the coaches who have taught me to play. I just take what I’ve learned and practice it a million times and get good at it.â€�

Poster for Mr. Mullaney Receives Lifetime Achievement AwardAlbums
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The Colorado League of Charter Schools honored eight of the state’s most talented educators and advocates at its 2021 Annual Conference. The Colorado Charter Schools Hall of Fame winners are exceptional leaders designated across eight award categories and the winners are selected by an expert panel of League staff. These individuals were selected based on their excellence in education and advocacy within their school communities. “Public charter schools in Colorado continue to be recognized for their outstanding performance educating our state’s kids, and the Colorado Charter Schools Hall of Fame winners are a significant part of that success,â€� said Colorado League of Charter Schools Vice President of Communications Peter Mason. “We honor the impact those eight individuals have had in making charter schools both widely available and able to provide a high-quality experience to Colorado students and families. They have made a meaningful difference for students and families in our state. This year, Vanguard’s own Mr. Colin Mullaney was chosen for the League’s Lifetime Achievement Award! Colin is the executive director of 麻豆官网, and he has a distinguished 26-year career working at our charter school. He began his career in 1995 as a junior high mathematics and science teacher, was named principal of the school in 1998, and went on to be named Vanguard’s Executive Director in 2005. He now plans, directs, and supervises the overall management of our K-12 school that has grown from 250 students to over 1,550 today and leads a staff of over 210 employees for a program that continues to receive the state’s highest awards year after year, including national recognition from Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. Watch Mr. Mullaney’s acceptance speech below! About the Colorado League of Charter Schools The Colorado League of Charter Schools is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that represents the interests of the state’s 261 charter schools and the families of the 128,000 students who attend them. Our mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded choice. We want all Colorado students to have access to high-quality, publicly funded school options. More information is available at www.coloradoleague.org.

Poster for Dynasty locked: Vanguard clinches fourth straight 3A boys’ volleyball championshipAlbums
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CENTENNIAL – When 麻豆官网 coach Andrew Soeldner held the school’s first boys’ volleyball practice six years ago, he asked the team who had played organized volleyball before signing up. “No one raised their hands,â€� Soeldner said. But it took just a year for Vanguard to appear in the 3A state championship, which sparked a near-perfect run the next four years. Saturday, Vanguard defeated Faith Christian for the championship 2-0 (25-15, 25-18) for the program’s fourth consecutive title, increasing its unbelievable 3A winning streak to 90 matches. Soeldner said celebrating their fourth title felt just as good as the first, but he went through an emotional journey throughout the day. “The first time was great because it was new, we were all working together, we were figuring it out, but this time they are my family,â€� Soeldner said. “I’ve known them all for five years now and then there’s this sadness throughout the whole day, knowing and counting down – 150 points left, 100 points left, 50… 0. And I’m not going to coach these seniors ever again.â€� Soeldner has coached a large core of the seven-member senior class since they were in eighth grade – the first time Vanguard made it to the state championship. The Coursers started the day with a 2-0 win over St. Mary’s in the first round, but according to Soeldner, fell off a bit in the second set of their second-round game against D-20 White. Vanguard ultimately defeated the other Pikes Peak region team 25-23 in the second set for a 2-0 sweep, setting up their third title match against Faith Christian in four years. The Coursers set the tone early thanks in part to senior Hayden Frear smacking down four kills on the way to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Vanguard began the second set in similar fashion, earning a 5-0 lead. Faith Christian kept the set tight the whole way, tying it up early, before battling back from a four-point deficit to close within one. But behind senior Carter Milroy at the service line, Vanguard used a 6-0 run to put it on ice. Frear delivered a powerful jump serve that was too much for Faith Christian to handle, sending the ball into the stands for the win. Frear told The Gazette last week that he hoped to meet Faith Christian in the final again after developing a rivalry with the Eagles over the years. He said the Coursers’ second state title win over Faith Christian in 2016-17 sparked the idea that they could potentially sweep the championships through his high school career. “At that point we thought we could actually go for the full run. We thought no one was going to outwork us in the state,â€� Frear said last week. This is an amazing group of guys, they showed they are at the top of their game and proved it today. Frear was named first-team all-state by Colorado coaches and earned the most first-team votes in the state. He has signed to play Division I volleyball at McKendree University. “It was great to see them execute they way that I knew they could,â€� Soeldner said. “This is an amazing group of guys, they showed they are at the top of their game and proved it today.â€� Class 3A tournament D-20 White earned a first-round win in three sets over Thornton Gray 25-21, 20-25, 15-8 before running into Vanguard in the second round. James Irwin defeated Cheyenne Mountain White 25-19, 25-12 in the first round, but fell to Faith Christian in a tight three-set match in the semifinals. The Jaguars won the first set 25-17 before falling in the remaining two 25-19, 15-12. Class 5A tournament The No. 2 seed Cheyenne Mountain was upset in the first round by No. 7 Castle View Black in three sets (25-15, 27-29, 15-10). D-20 Blue also fell in a three-set first-round clash, losing to Thornton Blue 12-25, 25-19, 15-9. Jane Eckhart’s research focused on heel-strikers exclusively, since they make up most of today’s runners, and examined a cohort seldom studied, partly because they’re pretty rare: those who have never been injured. Jane and colleagues recruited 249 female recreational athletes who each ran at least 20 miles a week. They investigated the participants’ strides by having them run over a force plate that recorded the impact of each step.

Poster for Vanguard boys and girls basketball both off to fast 8-1 startAlbums
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. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Vanguard High School basketball teams have high expectations for the remainder of the 2020 season. The Coursers boys and girls basketballs squads are both 8-1 to start their season, and are ranked in the top 5 in the state in the latest CHSAA RPI rankings. The girls team continues to overachieve, winning two of their three league games despite just one senior and two juniors on the varsity roster. Despite the youth, the girls insists the team is clicking, and are hoping the momentum can lead to a deep run in February and March. “We all like playing with each other,” Coursers senior Cortney Arrasmith said Thursday at practice. “We have some talented players, we get along well. We have good coaches, we work hard, and it’s paying off.” The Coursers boys and girls teams will travel to La Junta for their next game. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, while the boys play later at 7:00 p.m.

Poster for Peak Perfomer of the Week: Aliyah Moya, 麻豆官网 girls’ soccerAlbums
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BY CHHUN SUN, The Gazette Aliyah Moya has one thing on her mind when she steps onto the field for 麻豆官网 girls’ soccer team, and that’s to score goals. “I can’t do this without my team,” she said. “My team looks and finds me, and somehow I’m always there at the right place, the right time.” But her mindset isn’t just limited to individual achievements. The junior striker also want to help her teammates make history. The Coursers have not made the state playoffs since the program’s inception in 2009. But that could change this year, especially with Moya around. In wins over Colorado Springs School, Florence and Lamar, Moya tallied six goals and one hat trick — enough to land her this week’s The Gazette Preps Peak Performer. And she’s showing no signs of slowing down, evidenced by her season-high four goals in a 5-0 win over Pueblo Central on Monday. “She always has the mindset to score,” Vanguard coach Rachel Francis said. It’s something she’s been doing a lot since her freshman season, when she exploded for 34 goals. That year, things began to shift for the Coursers. That year, they finished with seven wins for just the second time in school history. Then last year, the Coursers made history again. They finished 8-6-1, the first time Vanguard wrapped up the season with a winning record. Moya finished with only 19 goals, relatively low compared to her first season with the program. But it appears as if she’s back to scoring again at a rapid pace. Moya has 22 goals after the Coursers beat Pueblo Central on Monday to improve to 9-3 overall. Vanguard boasts a six-game winning streak with three games left. The Coursers’ RPI rating puts them 20th in the Class 3A, and 32 teams qualify for next month’s state tournament. The players and coaches seem confident that they can accomplishment what no other Vanguard team before has done. “We want to make school history,” Moya said. “We want to make it to the playoffs. And every time we step on the field, we want to make it and we put everything out there.” “If we work hard,” she added, “we can achieve anything.” Just The Facts Aliyah Moya, 麻豆官网 Sport: Girls’ soccer Year: Junior Position: Forward Highlights: The junior had six goals in three wins last week that included a hat trick performance. She leads the team with 22 goals, thanks in part to scoring a season-high four goals in a 5-0 nonconference win over Pueblo Central on Monday. Favorite athlete: Cody Bellinger Favorite pumpup song: Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” Favorite movie: “The Secret Life of Pets” Favorite school subject: English Hobbies: Photography Other Top Performers Baseball Edwin Romo, St. Mary’s The senior threw a five-inning no-hitter against Evangelical Christian Academy, finishing with six strikeouts to extend the Pirates’ winning streak to eight games. An error was committed, preventing Romo from a perfect game. He is 5-1 entering this week. At the plate, he was 2-for-3 with an RBI against ECA. GIRLS’ GOLF Charlotte Cliatt, Palmer The senior fired a 1-over-par 75 — four strokes better than her personal best — to win the individual title at the Terrors’ own invitational last week. Her performance helped Palmer secured a second-place finish behind Coronado, which won the team title by nine strokes Nicole Beaulieu, Cheyenne Mountain The senior had a standout week in wins over Rampart and Palmer, finishing with a combined 10 goals and five assists to help the Indians to a 4-1 record in league play. Beaulieu leads Cheyenne Mountain with 40 goals entering this week. GIRLS’ LACROSSE Brittney White, Pine Creek The senior came up big for the Eagles in a 13-12 rivalry win over Air Academy, finishing with five goals and four assists. In the Eagles’ two other wins last week over Liberty and Palmer, White had a combined seven goals and three assists. The Eagles finished the week with a 12-1 overall record. BOYS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING Seth Shyrock and Nathan Aumiller, Rampart The duo not only captured respective individual events but also set event records en route to the Rams’ team win at the Fountain-Fort Carson Invitational last Saturday. Shyrock, a freshman, won the 100-yard backstroke in 56.58 seconds, besting the previous mark by nearly two seconds. Meanwhile, junior Aumiller finished the 200 freestyle in 1:52.51, topping the previous mark of 1:53.16 set last year. GIRLS’ TENNIS Mariah Boudrieau, Widefield The senior beat Sierra last week to keep her No. 3 singles winning streak alive at six straight matches after she opened up the season with a loss. Her record is 6-1, and Boudrieau has helped the Gladiators to a 9-0 overall and 5-0 mark in Class 4A Region 7 action.

Poster for The Best Way to Learn SpanishAlbums
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At 麻豆官网, students learn Spanish vocabulary and grammar and develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Additionally, students explore numerous topics in the history, literature, and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. 麻豆官网 currently offers three levels of Spanish which may be taken at the high school level. Benefits of Learning a Second Language Verbal and written language is the single most effective tool for communicating the human condition. We not only use oral and written expression to accomplish tangible goals, but we also use it to delve deeply into the lessons of the past and to carry on wisdom from generation to generation. Each language is uniquely reflective of the culture it embodies. Language learning not only gives the learner a look into another culture, but it also provides a new lens with which to view the world. At 麻豆官网, we place tremendous value on our foreign language program, providing instruction in Latin, Spanish, and German. Benefits of Learning Spanish as a Second Language A student who has learned Spanish will be able to communicate with nearly 437 million Spanish speakers worldwide. A Spanish speaker can communicate around the globe more effectively. The number of Spanish speaking countries includes destinations such as Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico, Equatorial Guinea, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Spain, and more. Spanish is a Romance language. Understanding Spanish provides the opportunity to acquire other Romance languages with more ease. Fixtures of Spanish culture are deeply popular throughout the world. Learning the language allows the student to connect more deeply with Spanish culture, art, and music. Foreign Languages at 麻豆官网 At 麻豆官网, we believe foreign language acquisition is crucial to a student’s development. Spanish students will achieve mastery of the verbal, conversational, and written structures of the Spanish language, and a clear understanding of Spanish culture, history, and literature.