It’s always great to see the beginning of the school year and Colorado Academy’s fall sports season unfold. Success, hopes, and dreams are usually consistent with and contingent upon the amount of hard work and preparation Mustang teams have put in over the past few weeks and months. Maturity becomes evident as seniors rise to being team leaders, and underclassmen become comfortable with the rhythms of a season and the guidance of their coaches. The following are three examples of CA athletes and their experiences, and their positive impact on our community.

 

This past August, on an afternoon before classes started, a CA Upper School science teacher met me with a bright-eyed, new CA freshman in tow. The student was in search of her new team and teammates. She didn’t know where her Cross Country group was practicing and was anxious about making practice on time. I sensed her nervousness and introduced myself to the freshman runner. I reassured her that head coach of CA Cross Country, Tracy Peterson, would make sure everything went smoothly. As we walked to the practice space, we talked about her old middle school, her transition into ninth grade, and CA. I was confident all would go well with this newcomer, but couldn’t have imagined the overwhelming welcoming this student got after we walked up to the team as it was just finishing up stretching.

 

After meeting Tracy and assistant coaches Steve Fossel and Annie Bennett, and before I could even make an introduction, the rest of the team extended themselves in a very positive way to this new girl and immediately broke any tenseness or anxiety she may have had. Upperclassmen and fellow freshmen put themselves out there to make their new teammate feel comfortable and immediately part of the group. I was proud of the attitude of the Cross Country runners and their actions reminded me of what a welcoming tradition our community continually exhibits.

 

Senior Dean and CA Head Coach of Boys Soccer, Gabe Bernstein, always stresses to his players that their behavior is a representation of who they are. After a recent Saturday morning practice, his team went as a group out to breakfast at a local pancake house. Upon completion of the meal, the boys were about to leave when their waitress approached senior soccer captain, Matt MacPhail, and asked him where their coach was. Matt, somewhat hesitantly, replied that Coach Bernstein did not eat with them this morning and then inquired, “Why?” The waitress then let the captain know that the manager was looking to talk to the coach. Matt was not excited to hear this news, and he reluctantly asked why. At that same time, the manager approached the server and Matt, introduced himself and proceeded to inform Matt that the group of 10 or so CA Boys Soccer players was the most well-behaved, polite, and respectful group of teenagers that he has ever had in his restaurant! The manager was so impressed by the genuinely positive and responsible nature of the CA guys that he paid for the entire group’s bill! When I heard this story, I was reminded of the words of one of my own high school coaches who said to me, “Wherever you go, there you are.” In other words, you are always representing yourself, your family, your team, and your community, wherever you are.

 

When faced with a rematch of the state championship game against the Cherry Creek Bruins a few weeks back, the Colorado Academy Field Hockey team was diligent in its preparation.

 

The girls knew the Bruins would be athletic, physical, fast, and looking to top the Mustangs after being beaten by them in last year’s final. With Labor Day weekend falling prior to the Wednesday matchup, the CA girls last practiced on the Friday before the Tuesday game after Labor Day. Not much time to prep for the vanquished Bruins. On Tuesday, to make matters more anxious, it was reported to the group that CA head of field hockey, Veronica Scott had fallen ill with a mysterious virus that would knock her out for the next week. Coach Scott couldn’t get out of bed!

 

Luckily for the program, new Middle School Athletic Director Xan Funk grabbed the reins of the team with an unflappable attitude, and the girls responded. The group knew what to do, how to prepare, and to focus on the things they could control. Creek entered the game ranked #3 in the state, and when the game was over, the CA Mustangs had defeated Creek 3-0 behind goals by Senior Tate Woolley, Sophomore Bloem van den Berg, and Junior co-captain, Jill Murphy. Senior co-captains Nellie Turnage and Isabelle Chandler were undaunted and resolute in their approach. All of these stories make me proud of our CA Mustangs.

 

Check the CA website for more details on specific games and programs.