News from the Nest: Fall Sports Eagle Awards

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.
 
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
The cross country boys team (Grades 6-8) took first place at the St. Mary’s Monster Dash and finished in third place at the Boulder Country Day Invitational where the girls team finished fifth. In particular, seventh grader Toren Knepper took first place at three races (Colorado Academy Invitational, Boulder Country Day Invitational, and the Graland Gallop).

In its fourth year of existence, the Graland Golf team had, by far, its best overall performances by our players this season! At the Colorado Academy Invitational, on the Championship Course, Bo Turnage finished in first place and Jack Pashel took second. On the Executive Course, Graland had four of the top six finishers (Luke Boris, Will Freimuth, Gus Albright and Walker Johnson).

All our field hockey teams (Grades 6-8) enjoyed winning seasons this year; sixth and eighth graders were undefeated. Our tennis team (Grades 7/8) also had a winning season as did volleyball teams in Grades 6-8.
 
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 Coaches Adams and Mayo: Sarah Caulkins
Girls Volleyball with Coaches DeBoe and Kochevar:  Maria Storch, Sophie Alijani, and Eve Weiner
Boys Soccer with Coaches Caldwell and Kinney: Phillip Gershovich
Co-ed Cross Country with Coach Brown: Andrew Morgan
 
Grade 7
Girls Field Hockey with Coach Deuble: CoCo Hunt
Girls Volleyball with Coach Kochevar: Anneliese Forschner and Cece Hecklinger
 
Grade 8
Girls Field Hockey with Coach Mayo: Julia Valentine
Girls Volleyball with Coach DeBoe:  Elle Morris
 
Grades 7/8
Boys Soccer with Coach Ramirez and Reyes: Michael Ryan
Co-ed Cross Country with Coach Howard: Toren Knepper
Co-ed Golf with Coach Nestel: Bo Turnage
Co-ed Tennis with Coaches Kinney and Naughton: Hannah Drake
 
CITATIONS

Andrew Morgan, Grade 6 Cross Country
Coach Brown: “This season’s Eagle Award recipient is Andrew Morgan. Despite racing against boys one and two years older, Andrew always rose to the top, and had an outstanding season. He finished seventh overall in the Boulder invitational, as well as an impressive performance at the Middle School State Championship. Andrew is naturally athletic,  but his successes are truly attributed to his great attitude and solid work ethic.  He was a strong leader and role model for our team, always positive, always respectful, always pushing himself and constantly supporting his teammates.  Congratulations, Andrew!”

Maria Storch, Grade 6 Volleyball (Team Green)
"This year’s Eagle Award winner for the 6th Grade Green team became a clear choice for a couple of reasons. First, she was never late to practice. Often times, she was among the first few to arrive, helping to raise the nets. She was helpful, respectful, and ready to go everyday. Her drive to make herself a better player was evident. She worked hard to improve her skills, and offered support and encouragement to members of every team. We call this commitment. This athlete never doubted herself or her teammates. If she made a mistake, she was interested in how she could fix it, and always with a smile on her face. She was not afraid to expand her skill base , and, on a daily, basis, when she thought no one was watching, she practiced the skills that will take her to the next level.  But I was watching. Beyond her natural athleticism, this player demonstrated consistency of character, dedication to her own improvement and her team’s success. Maria Storch, you are reliable in every sense of the word, and it was a pleasure to coach you this season. Congratulations!"

Sophie Alijani, Grade 6 Volleyball (Team Graland)
"This conscientious, kind and supportive young lady was always willing to help, arrived each day with a smile on her face, eagerness to help, and a “can do” demeanor.  With solid skills all around, and an especially soft touch with her forearm passing, we could count on Sophie tracking the ball, and making a good pass to her teammates.  She developed a consistent underhand serve which provided the team with confidence in games. In addition, with her daily perseverance, her overhand serve is getting pretty darn good as well.  This coachable, honest, hard-working, inclusive and respectful Eagle Award recipient from Team Graland is Sophie Alijani."
 
Eve Weiner, Grade 6 Volleyball (Team Eagle)
"This young lady was ALWAYS on the court first setting up nets (once, even on a “B” day when 6th grade has no PE), and last to leave tearing down nets and equipment.  She consistently requested more work and asked what she could do to refine each of her skills, and always an overall joyful and supportive disposition. Eve was always purposefully rotated into the back row in games where we counted on her defensive prowess as she proactively read opponents, got to the ball and passed to her team, setting up a play. this coachable, honest, hard-working, inclusive and respectful Eagle Award recipient from Team Eagle is Eve Weiner."

Phillip Gershovich, Grade 6 Soccer
Coach Caldwell: “Phillip embodies all the qualities of an Eagle Award winner.  He is a tireless worker and a fierce competitor, always dominating play and controlling the game.  Always kind and compassionate, Phillip was outstanding about pushing his teammates to play hard right up to the final whistle.  Always leading by example, Phillip showed a great deal of sportsmanship and respect towards his opponents, officials, teammates and coaches. Phillip’s leadership, talent, and maturity were greatly appreciated by all this season, and are going to serve him well in the future.  Congratulations, Phillip!”

Sarah Caulkins, Grade 6 Field Hockey
Coach Adams: “This year’s Eagle Award recipient truly understands the meaning of the word ‘commitment.’  A modest, team-oriented individual, she is admired by all for her amazing work ethic, determination to excel and her incredible athletic talents. Sarah Caulkins, you possess all the exceptional qualities coaches and teammates want in a player.  You are the positive leader who always sets the example. You have a gift for making everyone around you feel confident and inspired, and this, in turn, gets everyone involved, motivated and focused.  Always sports-minded, you show composure and respect to your opponents and handle yourself with class.  Extremely coachable, you are a coach’s dream!  You are disciplined, patient, and receptive and excited to learn.You have an extremely bright future in the game of field hockey, Sarah, and Coach Mayo and I are looking forward to watching you thrive for years to come!  Congratulations to a very deserving Sarah Caulkins!”

CoCo Hunt, Grade 7 Field Hockey
Coach Deuble: “To wrap up our season, I asked the players to write anonymous thank you notes to each of their teammates. They were encouraged to reflect on the season and about what each player brought to our team. After reading through these notes, it was evident that I am not the only one who sees this player possessing the qualities of an Eagle Award recipient. In their thank you notes to her, some of her teammates wrote
  • ‘You are such a fantastic player and you always seemed to be hustling to the ball to defend or scoring goals. You created so many opportunities for our team because of your hard work.’
  • ‘Thank you for teaching me how to drive, and helping the team by taking amazing free hits, and always being there on defense.’
  • ‘You are so fast and everyone looks up to you as an influence, if they need help with a skill they know to go to you.’
  • ‘You are so encouraging…Your positive attitude towards everything is really inspiring.’
“As you can hear, this player is a leader and always willing to help her teammates, on and off the field. If you came to one of our games, you would see this player hustling to get back on defense, and, soon after she would be at the top of the circle, feeding a ball to one of her teammates. Regardless of where she was on the field, this player was always in a position to support her teammates, which demonstrates how she values the success of the team. I am a firm believer in practicing how you play and this girl embodies that ideology. Each day she brought a positive attitude to practice and gave 110% to any drill that we did, while encouraging her teammates to do the same. This athlete understands the importance of respecting your opponent. She was always willing to help a girl on the other team get back on her feet and, after each game, congratulated each player on the field on a good game. Finally, this individual has a natural ability to lead in a way that values the successes and accomplishments of her teammates. This quality contributed to the strength of our team and helped to create such a memorable season. Congratulations, Coco Hunt, on receiving the Eagle Award this year.”
 
Anneliese Forschner, Grade 7 Volleyball (Green Team)
Coach Kochevar: “When thinking of the characteristics that exemplify an Eagle award recipient, this seventh grader showed dedication, effort, and commitment every single day. She is quiet, respectful and kind by nature, is positive regardless of the challenge ahead of her, and she is one of the most coachable athletes I’ve ever taught. She is a silent leader in her work ethic and attitude. The phrase, ‘put your head down and work’ would be perfect here, except that in truth, despite her intense focus, she still had the awareness of others and her role on the team. When faced with something difficult, this athlete didn’t back down – in fact, she gave full effort until her goal was achieved. Her persistence paid off, because her skills have improved drastically since August, and this was sometimes very tedious, and probably frustrating work. This athlete never gave less than 100% effort during practice or games. She was an inspiration to her teammates in these regards – Anneliese Forschner, congratulations on receiving the Eagle Award.”
 
Cece Hecklinger, Grade 7 Volleyball (White Team)
Coach Kochevar: “This Eagle award winner is deserving of the award for several reasons. First, she has the outstanding character and sportsmanship that would make any coach jealous, and make any teammate feel secure. She retained a positive attitude toward volleyball – in practice and in games – despite what might have occurred during the rest of the day. Secondly, I never saw anything but a smile cross her face, and to me, that personifies the joy in coming to the gym, being a teammate, and working hard every day to improve her skill. This translates into a better overall team. Last AND not least, this player consistently demonstrates a sense of self, which is sometimes rare to find. Never making a negative comment about others, herself, or the work to be done, she demonstrated strength in her character, and self-discipline. Not only is that worthy of an Eagle Award, but its impact on others is long-lasting. Cece Hecklinger, congratulations on winning this year’s Eagle Award.”
 
Bo Turnage, Grades 7/8 Golf
Coach Nestel: “I could wax on and on about how Bo was Graland’s top finisher in EVERY match this past fall. Or that just playing beside Bo has a calming effect on others. Or that he knows that no matter how well or poorly he might be playing, that golf is just a game. Or that the only practice he missed all fall was when he was out of town watching his sister play college sports.  Or that in addition to our daily practices, he played golf every single weekend this fall. Or the admiration his teammates have for his discipline and dedication to being better each day. And all of that would be 100% true.
 
“Mostly I want to recognize Bo for being the good guy that he is and acknowledge the pure joy with which he plays this game. Bo’s intentions are genuine; he is kind and thoughtful; he works hard yet is quite playful in his approach; he is the ultimate good sport; he is disciplined and focused. Quite simply, he has golf and life in perspective. During a golf match, coaches move around the course, checking in with their players. Without exception, each time I checked in with Bo to see how he was doing, the first words out of his mouth were ‘How is everyone else playing?’ It didn’t matter if he was having a good round or not, he was wondering about others.  He is quick to compliment, encourage and celebrate a good shot by his playing partner. Bo’s character is revealed each time he steps foot on the links and his reputation is, first and foremost, that of an honest, humble and respectful person.
 
“You might have heard the adage, ‘good guys finish last’. Well, don’t believe it. This good guy finishes first, in every respect. Congratulations to this year’s Eagle award winner in golf, Frederic Bo Turnage.”
 
Michael Ryan, 7/8 Soccer
Coach Reyes: “This year’s Eagle Award goes to an exceptional young man. This athlete showed tremendous growth in his soccer skills, and he was a true leader of our team. As our team’s captain, he always led by example and earned his teammate’s respect because of his tremendous work ethic. He was always prepared, always focused, and gave 100% effort at every practice and in every game. I was also impressed with his passion to learn more about the game and the pride he showed wearing the Graland uniform. These qualities make for a tremendous athlete, but, more importantly, an amazing person. I am pleased to announce that Michael Ryan is this year’s Eagle Award winner.”

Hannah Drake, 7/8 Tennis
Coach Naughton: "With a two-year commitment to tennis, her strengths on the team are numerous. Her steady willingness to practice to improve her skills have resulted in a well-rounded game. We have witnessed her ground strokes and serve support her partner’s strength at the net. Kent and C.A. provided some of the best competition we have had in years. This player frequently started out those competitive matches slowly and then rallied to win the set. Two tie breakers this season stood out as memorable, with one of them resulting in an overall win for the team. Her composure during tie breakers was an important skill, providing her audience with an “edge of the seat” experience. She is continually supportive and positive with both her classmates and her opponents. Her maturity and poise has made her a delight to coach. For these reasons, Hanna Drake is most deserving of the Eagle Award in tennis."

Toren Knepper, 7/8 Cross Country
Coach Howard: “This season, I saw an incredible amount of growth in all of our cross-country runners – from those first few, really hot, days of summer sports camp all the way to the end of the season. There was one athlete however who demonstrated every characteristic of the Eagle Award day in and day out – respect, sportsmanship, a positive attitude, dedication to the sport, effort, and commitment. This athlete could be found running with teammates after finishing his own workout, encouraging them to finish strong. He volunteered to run optional meets outside of our normal schedule. This exemplary athlete consistently cheered on, and motivated, other members of the team, inspiring us with a consistent work ethic every practice and blazing times in meet after meet – easily winning many of our meets and always a top finisher. It’s not this athlete’s raw talent that makes him deserving of this award, but truly the other qualities he showed all season – a reflection of who he really is. I continually saw him exhibit outstanding sportsmanship with the top runners from other schools; his success never betrayed his sense of humility. This athlete is a natural leader – when we stretched out each practice, many members of the team would look to this student to see what stretches he was doing, quietly following his lead. He ran extra miles on the weekends to improve his mechanics. He set aggressive goals at the start of the season and he achieved them in stride. He is incredibly coachable and seeks regular feedback – and his improvement this season was admirable. His practice runs are marked by his considerable focus and drive. On the starting line waiting for the gun at meets, he gave confidence to the rest of the team knowing that they were running with Graland’s best – inspiring us to do our best. A fearless competitor, a disciplined runner, and an athlete who defines the word teammate – Toren Knepper – you are that athlete and have earned this year’s Eagle Award. Really well done. Please come up and receive your award.”

Julia Valentine, Grade 8 Field Hockey
Coach Mayo: "Picking an Eagle out of this group was nearly impossible, because I am so proud of each of you.  However, there is one that rose to the occasion each and every day. This young lady’s dedication, passion, and genuine enthusiasm for field hockey was inspiring.  She always came to practice with a smile and was always prepared to work hard. She brought out the best in others, as well as herself.  We all benefited from her determination at going to goal and getting the job done. Julia Valentine, thank you for all you’ve given us and for being such an outstanding member of this team."

Elle Morris, Grade 8 Volleyball
Coach DeBoe: "Although many on this team are qualified to be the recipient of the Eagle award, this fine young lady stood out with her daily refinement of her skills, supportive attitude. Imagine it, your team being down 9-19, stepping up to serve, rolling up your sleeves, not even allowing time-outs called by the opposing coach with an attempt to “ice” her to get in her way, and then serving 16 consecutive serves to win the set and consequently the match…..  WOW!!!  This confidence didn’t develop overnight, but through repeated dedication and hard work not only this year, but her two previous years on the volleyball team. Elle, Thank you for always having positive things to say about everyone and for setting such a positive example on this wonderful team!"
 
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Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.