5 minute read
CHRISTMAS PARADE DRAWS HUNDREDS
Manitou Christmas Parade
Hundreds of people flocked downtown on Saturday, Dec. 10, to see fire trucks and floats, car clubs and Clauses. The AdAmAn Club members received the loudest cheers.
If you’d like to donate unwrapped toys, go to tinyurl.com/PikesPeakToys4Tots
for information.
Photos by Rhonda Van Pelt
Don’t forget to vote for downtown holiday windows
The Manitou Springs Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Competition is back for 2022. Businesses have decorated their storefront windows to show off the most holiday flair during the shopping season.
Judges will select winners based on creativity, most colorful, holiday theme and overall appearance. The grand prize is a $125 Ace gift card from the event sponsor, Ace Hardware Uintah Gardens. Second place will receive $75 and third place $50 in Ace gift cards.
A People’s Choice award will be given, so cast your ballot through drop boxes around downtown, or through the form here: tinyurl.com/MSholiday decorating. The contest runs through Dec. 26, with winners being announced Dec. 30.
Information: 685-5089 or jenna@manitouchamber.com.
12 Pikes Peak Bulletin Allen gets into record books at University Tournament
Story and photo by Daniel Mohrmann
The Manitou Springs girls basketball team got its first taste of victory at the University Tournament in Greeley.
The Mustangs started play with a 54-27 win over Middle Park. Perhaps the biggest difference in that game, compared to the previous two, was that the Mustangs (1-4 overall) got off to a fast start, which proved beneficial in the long run.
“We were pretty confident with the ball and we were confident shooting,” coach Juliana Argyle said. “We need to be putting up these better shots against teams with stronger defenses.”
Manitou went 1-2 at the tournament, losing to University and then losing a tight game with Alamosa. Perhaps the biggest plague in the loss to the 37-35 Mean Moose was going 16-for-32 from the free throw line.
If the Mustangs had shot just 60 percent from the charity stripe, they would’ve walked away with a win.
The good news coming out of the Alamosa loss was Grace Allen establishing herself in the record books. She recorded 15 steals in that game, breaking the Manitou single-game record of 11, which was set by Jill Keaveny (2002) and later tied by Angala Jensen (2016). Argyle and the coaching staff hope that Allen can put her name on a few more records this year — and that her performance can lead the Mustangs to more wins this season. “It’s nice to come back and We were pretty confident do something that you can be recognized for,” Allen said. “It’s a fun thing to have happen.” with the ball. But she’d trade steals for wins any day of the week; — Juliana Argyle that’s the goal for her and her teammates moving forward. Allen is averaging a team-high 16 points per game with Sami Benge-Kulzer, McKesson Rhodes and Tori Greene all hovering around five. The Dec. 13 home-opener against La Junta was postponed because of weather, so the Mustangs will play at home for the first time when they face Atlas Prep on Friday, Dec. 16.
Manitou Springs guard Grace Allen attacks the basket during the Mustangs’ loss to Peyton on Nov. 30. Allen became the Manitou single-game record holder in steals, swiping 15, in a loss to Alamosa last weekend.
Wrestlers enjoying solid start to season on the mats
By Daniel Mohrmann
The trip to Salida on Dec. 10 was well worth it for the Manitou Springs wrestling teams. The Mustangs put together solid performances on both sides, getting a total of three first-place finishes at the Rob Mickal Tournament. That led to solid team standings as the boys took sixth out of 17 teams and the girls took third out five teams.
The girls were powered by a pair of first-place finishes as Alex Traenkle claimed the 115-pound title while Abbie Reeves won at 130. Maggie Ganser took second in the 105 bracket and Kara Donegan (135) and Emily Davis (155) each finished third.
“It was a lot of fun,” Traenkle said. “It was good to start the season off strong and watching Abbie wrestle was fun. I’ve been her (practice) partner so it was good to see her succeed.”
Abbie wasn’t the only member of the Reeves family to walk away with gold — her older brother, Westley, took the 190-pound title on the boys side. He pinned each of his two opponents in less than 30 seconds to take the top podium spot with ease.
He’s trying not to get carried away with those results and insists on using each experience as part of the process to improve as the Mustangs get deeper into the season.
“I’m trying to stay humble and not get an ego about it,” Reeves said. “It’s easy to be content because everything is so easy in these matches. You can always think that you’re the best, but that’s not what my mindset is. I want to continue to get better.”
That seems to be the entire team’s mindset after two tournaments. The Mustang have seen a good amount of success already this season, but the important thing to keep improving and not settling for success now. They’d rather achieve success later. “Last weekend was a big stepping stone for us,” coach Paul Bonner said. “That was good for a lot of kids who had maybe never gotten on a podium or gotten a medal before. It was a good reward for all the hard work.”
For the boys, Connor Crossen took third at 132 and Cam Jacobson took fourth at 144. They head to the Sheridan Invite for another tournament on Saturday, Dec. 17.
It was good to start the season off strong. — Alex Traenkle Standout Mustangs
Abbie Reeves
(wrestling) Claimed first place in the 130-pound bracket at the Rob Mickal Tournament in Salida.
Roxanna Rampe
(girls swimming): Finished eighth in the 500-yard freestyle at the Berthoud Break the Ice Invite.
Evan Scherr (boys basketball): Set the tone early in Manitou’s win over Frontier Academy on Dec. 9.
Manitou sports calendar
Friday, Dec. 16
Girls swimming: At
Cheyenne Mountain
Invite, 3:30 p.m. Girls basketball:
Atlas Prep at
Manitou, 5:30 p.m. Wrestling: Salida at
Manitou (Manitou
Springs Middle
School), 6:30 p.m. Boys basketball:
Atlas Prep at
Manitou, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17
Wrestling: At Sheridan
High School (Englewood), 9 a.m. Girls swimming: At
Cheyenne Mountain
Invite, 1:15 p.m.
