News from the Nest: Fall Athletics Assembly

11/1/2018

The fall sports season at Graland wrapped up last month and at this week’s Athletics Assembly, coaches gave team highlights and announced the winners of Eagle Awards.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Several of our teams (Grades 6-8) enjoyed winning seasons this year:

Tennis - undefeated

Field Hockey 7 - undefeated

Volleyball 8 - 8 wins, 1 loss

Field Hockey 6 - 3 wins, 1 loss

Soccer 6 - 4 wins, 2 ties

ACCOLADES

Eighth-grade cross country runner, Toren Knepper, rose to great heights this season! His mental toughness and determination were unmatched in every race this fall. Toren competed in seven races this season, and placed either first or third at each one!

Competing against more than 200 boys at the 3K Slavens Invitational, Toren finished an impressive third with a time of 10:14.
At the Graland Gallop 5K, he finished first with a time of 19.11.
Toren literally ran away with a first-place victory at the Boulder Country Day Invitational. He finished the 1.5-mile course in just 8:15, a solid 56 seconds ahead of the second-place runner.
Taking first at the Colorado Academy Invitational, Toren completed the 2.2-mile course in just 11:07.
At Runner’s Roost Invitational, with 250 middle school boys running, Toren finished the course in 14:53, earning him a third place finish.

EAGLE AWARDS

Congratulations to these students who were recognized with Eagle Awards for outstanding sportsmanship, leadership and athletic skills demonstrated during fall sports. See below for the coaches’ citations.

Grade 6

Girls Field Hockey with Coach Mayo: Addie Chandler
Girls Volleyball with Coaches Murray, DeBoe and Kochevar: Leah Maina (GREEN), Dalila Gomez (WHITE)
Boys Soccer with Coaches Kinney and Demartini: Ryan Mandes
Co-ed Cross Country with Coach Brown: Ted Alfond

Grade 7

Girls Field Hockey with Coach Perkinson: Bricin Mahoney
Girls Volleyball with Coach Kochevar: Cayla Wolf (GREEN), Remy Wolkov (WHITE)

Grade 8

Girls Field Hockey with Coach Deuble: Lela Street
Volleyball with Coach DeBoe: Cece Hecklinger (EAGLE), Asher Weisberg (GRALAND)

Grades 7/8

Boys Soccer with Coaches Reyes and Odulate: Michael Ryan
Co-ed Cross Country with Coaches Brown and Howard: Remy Guillot
Co-ed Golf with Coach Nestel: Gus Albright
Co-ed Tennis with Coaches Kinney, Naughton and Hill: Rob Jacoby

COACHES’ CITATIONS

Grade 6 Cross Country: “For this athlete, running does not come easy. The first few practices and races were a bit of a struggle for him. But this young man has grit and incredible perseverance. Through his constant determination, his endurance improved, and with that, his confidence soared. He had an outstanding performance at the Colorado Academy Invitational and then another great performance at the St. Mary's Academy Monster Dash. In both races, his finishing times showed strong improvement. I am extremely proud of this young runner and truly hope that he will continue with the sport, as he has a bright future! Congratulations to this year’s Eagle Award recipient, Ted Alfond.”

Grade 6 Soccer: “The recipient of this year’s Eagle Award in soccer does not garner the limelight. In fact, his quiet demeanor takes a back seat to his boisterous peers. He quietly and efficiently goes about the task at hand. When he does speak, others listen, but most of the time his actions on the field speak louder than his words. These actions are precise, tenacious and athletic. An astute observer would acknowledge what a huge impact he has on the game. An impenetrable wall, the Eagle Award recipient stopped attack after attack, leaving the opponents frustrated and defeated. His intellect, speed, and foot skills made him a perfect choice to champion the defense. His sportsmanship and competitive nature are exceptional. It is a great honor to present the Eagle Award in Soccer to Ryan Mandes.”

Grade 6 Field Hockey: “This year’s Eagle is truly exceptional in many ways. Not only is she an outstanding athlete, but she is also respectful, polite, thoughtful, fiercely disciplined, and inspiring to watch. Rarely have I seen such a young athlete who possesses all the skills and knowledge of a high school varsity player. She has incredible stick skills and a keen sense of positioning, which enables her to maintain control of the field. She maneuvered around all of her opponents and was always able to find our open player. More impressively, was her ability to set up all her teammates for success. She could have easily taken the ball to goal, but, instead, Addie redirected the ball in each possession and then looked for others to pass it to. She was the first to practice, and the last to leave. Every day she dedicated her time to perfecting each hit, drive, and flick. Her approach to practice was often like a pro golfer, always refining her skills in order to be her best. There wasn’t a day or a moment where she did not give 100%. Although it was often challenging for her teammates to get the ball past her, it just made them stronger and more efficient in their skills. She set the standard high and everyone worked and improved because of it. As a coach, I was often amazed by her tenacity and ever-present determination. Apparently, she does not have an off switch, and I look forward to seeing her continue to excel as one of our exceptional athletes. Addie Chandler you have a bright future ahead of you!”

Grade 7 Field Hockey: “After much consideration, it is my honor to award the Eagle Award to Bricin Mahoney. Watching Bricin play is like watching a hummingbird make its rounds through a summer garden, flitting from one place to the next powered by a limitless source of energy. When Bricin plays hockey she is always supporting others defensively, anticipating passes to intercept, redirecting the ball to open space, and setting others up for success in the goal circle. Bricin is a team player through and through. She has shown commitment to the team, endless positivity, dedication to her fitness and skills and respect for her coaches, teammates, opponents, and school. Congratulations, Bricin!”

Grades 7/8 Golf: “Gus’s improvement from last year to this year is one to be acknowledged and celebrated. Sure, physically he got stronger but more importantly, he began to understand that golf is a game of inches, specifically the 6” between one’s ears. I could start to see his wheels turning in one of our last matches. Golf coaches cannot “coach” their kids during a match. A coach can talk to an entire foursome (kids from different schools play in the same foursome), give information and then we just have to wait and see what golfers do with that information. The general tendency in golf is to pull out your driver, step up and hit your tee shot as far as you can, every time. Don’t think, just hit. At this particular hole, after explaining to the foursome on the tee box that the hole was 320 yards, that means the 150 pole that they see is 170 yards from the tee and since it was a dogleg right, you will run out of fairway at about 185 yards. I left it at that, wondering if that would make a difference with club selection. After some thought, Gus put his driver away, pulled out a shorter club instead and stripes it down the middle about 175. It wasn’t so much the result from the shot (though that was pretty amazing) but that he was starting to think his way around the course. That maturation and discipline sometimes takes years to learn. I was impressed and pleased that Gus was now approaching one of golf’s challenges (the mental side, that 6” between his ears) in a more mature way. Leadership is hard and we don’t always get it right. Sometimes we do things we wished we hadn’t. And sometimes we don’t do things we wish we had. Getting better does not mean not making mistakes. In fact, it means making lots of mistakes. Getting better means learning from those mistakes, owning them and trying to do better the next time. This young man is on the right path. Not because he is perfect (who is?) but because when he makes a mistake (and we all do), he owns it and commits to doing better the next time. Congratulations Gus Albright, this year’s Eagle Award winner in golf.”

7/8 Soccer: “This year's Eagle Award goes to an outstanding young man. His enthusiasm and respect for the game made him a role model, and we most appreciated his dedication to the game and the team. Michael was one of those players that coaches love working with, he is always someone we could count on to play hard, play fair and play for the love of the game. Throughout the season, he played every minute of every game and was a stellar defender who would do anything to help his team to a victory. There were countless moments in which he would dribble the ball and set up one of his teammates for a goal or even score a goal himself. His fearless attitude contributed to finishing the season on a high note. Michael is a tremendous athlete and we wish all the best. Congratulations, Michael Ryan!”

7/8 Tennis: “This year’s Eagle Award is given to an individual who represents the best in teamwork, leadership, and a sincere dedication to improvement. Maturation as a tennis player takes hard work and constant practice. This year’s recipient resolutely pushed himself to develop a consistent powerful serve, precise angle volleys at the net, and burning forehand and backhand shots. In a sport where the players enforce the rules, it takes a special individual to compete with integrity, honesty, and humility. When an opponent clearly made a wrong call, he continued to compete, kept his composure, stayed focused, and represented the best in sportsmanship. This year’s Eagle Award recipient was present for all of the matches, practiced diligently, was a great partner, and he helped his team achieve a 14 – 2 record these past two years. To this year’s recipient please know your efforts were noticed and greatly appreciated by your coaches. This year’s Eagle Award in Tennis goes to Rob Jacoby.”

7/8 Cross Country: “We had a number of students on our team this year who demonstrated the qualities of an Eagle Award recipient, but one student stood out in the amount of improvement that he made between this year and last. This athlete showed up to pre-season ready to compete, and he carried that passion with him throughout the regular season. His running times improved dramatically between the two seasons. Always smiling, he pushed himself at every practice and every race. He was everyone's cheerleader, often running alongside his teammates and encouraging them. He volunteered to help the team at meets and was continually selfless all season. This is an athlete that students like having around because of his contagious spirit, his sportsmanship, and his positive attitude. He is the person you want standing next to you at the starting line. Congratulations to this year’s Eagle Award recipient, Remy Guillot.”

Grade 8 Field Hockey: “This year’s recipient of the Eagle Award is someone who always sees the brighter side of things. Her positivity radiated throughout our team this season and constantly reminded us that having fun is what’s most important. I have rarely seen her without a smile on her face, even when she was tired in a game or practice. She is a joy to be around because her bubbly energy is so contagious. This player is everyone’s number one fan. Whether it’s practice or a game, she can always be heard cheering on a teammate or congratulating them on a job well done. She understands what it means to be empathetic and will always go out of her way to be there for her teammates. Throughout practice, she is constantly asking “how can I help,” demonstrating her selflessness and understanding that we have to work together as a team. Looking back to the start of her 7th grade season, this young lady has truly blossomed into an incredible field hockey player and leader on our team. She has shown her commitment to the sport and is constantly seeking new opportunities for growth, making her very coachable. She responds well to feedback and understands how to apply her field hockey skills to support her teammates so that we are successful together. Finally, this player embodies what it means to leave it all on the field. A prime example of this was in our last game against St. Mary’s Academy. She never stopped moving; if she was on offense she was determined to get the ball up the field to a teammate, and if she was on defense, she always sprinted back to support the defense. While on the sideline, she cheered on the team and celebrated our success, all with a huge smile on her face. It is clear that she has developed a strong passion for the sport and deep respect for the girls she plays it with, making Lela Street the recipient of this year’s Eagle Award.”

Grade 6 Volleyball GREEN: “Always on the floor, diving after every loose ball, finding a way to get a hand on the next hit, running out of bounds to save a ball, sliding along the floor to make an assist, or just passing a ball in a critical situation. This player is a dream to have on a team, she is selfless and puts the maximum effort into all she does. She practices like she plays, always hitting the ground and often it sounds like bone on wood but she always jumps up for the next play. She seems offended if the ball hits her side of the court without an effort. I can’t wait to see Leah grow into an even more tenacious player. Congratulations to a very deserving Leah Maina, on being this year’s Eagle Award recipient.”

Grade 6 Volleyball WHITE: “This young lady is awesome! Driven, mature, consistent, coachable, always around the ball, consistently finds ways to get critical serves in at clutch times, an incredible teammate, and a steady leader on the court. This player’s maturity and willingness to put team before herself is admirable. She has come to Graland and has taken the volleyball court by storm. Her sure passing, clutch serving and willingness to sacrifice her body for a loose ball is admirable. I, along with her teammates, appreciate her calm and steady leadership. She is always looking for ways to improve her skills and then she applies this feedback to her play. She has started to develop an overhand serve that will surprise opponents coming from such an unassuming player. I can’t wait to watch Dalila continue amazing us at Graland. Congratulations, Dalila Gomez!”

Grade 7 Volleyball GREEN: “This year’s Green Team recipient was a kind, quiet force to be reckoned with. Through extremely hard work, high coachability, and a positive attitude, she was able to push herself to excel at a variety of skills, including an overhand attack, set, serve and pass- all the essential ingredients for a successful player. She is the reliable player that you want next to you on the court! Her passion for the sport led her to seek more volleyball experience outside of Graland, and I have no doubt that her drive and work ethic will shine no matter whose court she steps on. This player stayed late to help take down nets after practice, without ever being asked to do so, worked as a leader by example during practices and games, and persevered in the face of frustration. She learned from her mistakes and held a strong sense of responsibility for her teammates and also for her own growth. This internal motivation is just a small part of what sets her apart. Thanks for an excellent season, Cayla Wolf!”

Grade 7 Volleyball WHITE: “This year’s White Team recipient truly rose to the occasion everyday! Her hard work amazed me during practice. After long days in the classroom, she was able to gather an extra ounce of energy and leave it all on the court, whether during a practice or game. She was always eager to try new things, even at the risk of not succeeding. She has the maturity to realize that growth only comes with these risks. Never without a smile and the telltale marks of exertion, this player was the definition of a leader, often encouraging others during moments of challenge and setting the bar high for herself for the benefit of others. Respectful, dedicated and disciplined, Remy Wolkov exemplifies the characteristics of the Eagle Award and is truly deserving of recognition for it. Congratulations, Remy!”

Grade 8 Volleyball EAGLE: “This young lady is not new to being on this stage, as through her tenacious, gracious, self-directed, positive, and supportive demeanor, she has been a previous Eagle Award recipient a couple of times. Yes, she has consistently improved all aspects of her game during the past 3 years. She is confident and reliable with her passing, setting, and hitting as she strategically places her offensive shots. Yes, she sets up her teammates and helps to promote their successes. Yes, she delivers overhand serves that meteor their way over the net and deep into her opponent’s court resulting in substitutions and, as they approach their team bench, one could hear them say to their coach, “Thank God you subbed me out!”. She truly wants to improve her game, always asking for tips on specific shots, and she is always wonderful about expressing her gratitude with a “Thanks Coach” at the conclusion of every practice and game. I am honored to present the Eagle Award to Cece Hecklinger.”

Grade 8 Volleyball GRALAND: “This young lady came to Graland as a timid, shy, unsure, and developing athlete. Somewhat fearful of the ball, and certainly not super willing to have someone hit it at her, and then have to put her body in front of it to hit it back… Well, to say she has come a long way would be an understatement! Over the past 3 years, she has diligently worked on perfecting her deep, powerful, low flying serve, in which opponents literally move away from, aptly earning her the nickname of “Smasher”. She not only moves to bump the ball, makes consistently accurate passes, and uses strategic sets to place the ball over the net for a point, she has also been accountable for her own growth. I often received emails requesting coaching points of specific ways that she could improve her game. From meek to mighty, I proudly award the Team Graland Eagle award to Asher Weisberg.”

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