![On Oct. 30, 24 Eco Club members took a tour of the school’s solar panels on the roof. They were guided and taught by an employee from E Light Electric, the company that maintains the school’s solar panels, and learned about how the panels are maintained and cared for. “I was definitely very excited about being on the roof in general,” Eco Club member Olivia Fang ‘26 said. “[It was exciting to] learn more about solar panels and how they work and how they supply energy to our school.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RCH_2632-1200x800.jpg)
![Math teacher Austin Bennett observes seventh period students step to the board to solve Equation of Circle problems May 2. Bennett has been teaching for a total of four years, with only two of those years spent as a Jag. He hopes after his time as a high school teacher to become a professor. "[College math] is more challenging, and it's good to challenge yourself," Bennett said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0147-1200x900.jpg)
![Varsity girls soccer midfielder Leah Sheahan ‘24 hugs a friend during the Senior Night celebrations before the home game against Mountain Vista High School (MVHS) at Echo Park Stadium April 29. During Senior Night, seniors were given flowers and the opportunity to walk out and take pictures with their family as their future plans and favorite memories were announced over the speakers. The Jags tied 0-0, losing the Continental League Championship. “We were obviously the stronger team but just couldn’t find a way to score, but otherwise our connection and our intensity was really high so I’m proud of that. We just have to find the net,” defense midfielder Clara Geuzaine ‘24 said. “[Losing League] wasn’t the best. It’s better than last year and like, I know our team and we are doing really good. I don’t want to jinx it but like hopefully [we’ll do] good [in playoffs].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Copy-of-DSC_4277-1-1200x868.jpg)
![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
Water bottles are filled. Fingers are taped. Matching black and gold away jerseys are put on by players. Following suit, hundreds of students dress in all-black outfits, including headbands, face paint and more.
It’s time for boys varsity basketball to head into enemy territory.
The Jags took on the Highlands Ranch High School (HRHS) Falcons at HRHS at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12. Despite temperatures in the low 20°s, hundreds of students were still in attendance to see the annual rivalry showdown, screaming, stomping and chanting as loud as they could in competition with the opposing student section.
The crowd noise reached as loud as 127 decibels.
“The number of tickets we get is set by the home team as each gym in our league has a different capacity,” Athletics Director Tom Brieske said. “Our Continental League Bylaws state that it should be a 60/40 split between home and away. We received 500 tickets from Highlands Ranch and I’m pretty sure we sold all of them.”
The Jags and the Falcons stayed neck-and-neck throughout the four quarters, with the Jags only narrowly maintaining their lead. The first quarter ended with a score of 18-15, then the teams headed into halftime 37-36.
“During away games, [team manager] Danielle Yoder and I get to film,” team manager Lexi Hayden ‘24 said. “I help out with drills, score and time and doing all the waters for practices and games. At home games, we get to be on the bench. We’ve also been learning to control the hype video and the music for home games.”
By the end of the third quarter, the score was 54-46. The game ended with a score of 67-64 W. This was the fifth year in a row that the team beat the Falcons in a league game.
“It was awesome! [Winning] feels great. We all did super great and everyone had their moments, good and bad, but we pulled it out,” varsity forward Trevor Olsen ‘24 said. “We celebrated in the locker room with lots of screaming and cheering and throwing water.”
But, this wasn’t the only win for the Jags. The boys JV team also won their game, and all levels of the lady Jags won against Ranch, earning themselves a full sweep against the Falcons for the second time in school history.
“I’m just glad we beat Ranch because I hate Ranch. I was expecting to win but I knew they were gonna play scrappy and that the refs were gonna be on their side. They were really scrappy,” varsity forward Reid Finch ‘24 said.
As of Jan. 17, according to MaxPreps, the varsity boys team is currently ranked eighth in Colorado and seventh in Division 6A. Their overall win/loss record is 11-3.
“If you see us in the playoffs, you might not want to, because we’re gonna be scrappy, we’re gonna play how we wanna play and we’re gonna beat you,” Coach Payton Holloway said.
The team’s next game takes place at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, against Regis Jesuit High School. See below for the full season schedule.
