![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)
![The junior class boos freshman during the opening assembly on the morning of Aug. 23. Booing has been a long-standing tradition during assemblies, but talks of shifting it to cheering have recently circulated the school. "[Freshmen are] expecting to come in with everyone supporting them and us booing them makes them upset and sad," Daksha Gopalakrishnan ‘25 said. "I think it has a negative effect on them, they won’t be able to feel welcome or anything like that."](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DSC_5940-1200x800.jpg)
This year, senior soccer player Nicki Fraser won Colorado High School Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2023, was Offensive Soccer Player of the Year for Rock Canyon in 2023 and was named 2023 CHSAA all-state first team for 5A girls soccer. Fraser also received an All-American award for club soccer and an all-conference award in U-15, U-16 and U-17.
Fraser is also known for her and her father’s relationship, Robin Fraser, head coach of the U.S. Rapids. They both have strong backgrounds in soccer and she is known for Following in His Footsteps, a YouTube video made by U.S. soccer featuring the father-daughter duo.
And yet, this year, Fraser decided to play high school soccer no more.
“I chose not to play high school soccer this year because I did not think it was the best thing for me when thinking about preparation for college,” Fraser said. “I wanted to spend this springtime being really focused on training and challenging myself in a different environment. I thought that this way I would be more equipped to adapt to the college soccer landscape.”
Fraser committed to play collegiate soccer at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). As of now, she plays for Real Colorado and has also represented the U.S. by playing for their 17-under and 19-under national teams.
“The [UCLA] coaches had reached out to me first out of any school and established an early relationship with me, which I really appreciated. They also seemed really invested in me, something that I felt like I couldn’t ignore,” Fraser said. “Then, of course, my thinking was what could be better than living in Westwood? As soon as I stepped on the campus, I just felt that it was the school for me.”
Throughout the school year, Fraser balances both teams and goes to school full-time. When she’s not playing games, winning medals or traveling, Fraser practices almost every single day for about an hour and a half on average.
“An average practice with my club team is typically right after school and lasts for 90 minutes. We start with a dynamic warmup and then a ping, which is a keep-away in a small square with our whole team with two people in the middle. Everyone only has one touch and the people in the middle are just trying to touch it and then two new people go in the middle. Sometimes our coach joins in and it becomes really fun. Then we either do some passing exercises or go into a shooting and finishing drill. We finish off playing ourselves to big goals for about the last 30 minutes of training,” Fraser said.
During her club and national soccer career, Fraser played varsity her junior year coached by retired varsity head coaches Mathew Henbest and Jeremy Newman.
“Within the first 15 minutes, you could tell she was exceptional, but I didn’t get to know her until her junior year. I got a chance to get to know her kind of seeing what she was off the field,” Henbest said. “She always struck me as being very mature, humble and kind. Then when I got the chance to coach her, she’s very competitive and holds herself to high standards.”
After 15 years of coaching the Jaguars, Henbest stepped down from coaching this year.
“The best part of coaching at RC was always the players, but I also had a great staff of coaches and a supportive administration. However, if I was going to step down at some point, I figured this was likely to be the best time since I knew I was going to leave the program in good shape for the next leader. So, I decided to cherish every moment of what I knew was going to be my final year,” Henbest said. “Incredibly, it turned out to be a phenomenal season filled with so many great memories that eventually led to a state championship game. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my coaching career.”
On Sept. 13, Fraser committed to UCLA. On Nov. 9, Fraser did a collaboration post on Instagram with @uclawsoccer for National Signing Day to publicly announce her commitment.
“I am most excited to be in a new environment. I love home and my youth soccer experience, but I feel like I am ready for a new challenge. Also, between academics and athletics, I cannot wait to meet a bunch of new people and learn more about myself,” Fraser said.
While playing college soccer, Fraser plans to continue with her U.S. team as well.
“I am looking forward to being able to see just where it takes me. I feel like my career is still just in the beginning, so I don’t have anything big ahead of me except college,” Fraser said.
