Gallery • 2 Photos

Regionals Cross Country team by Katie Rainsberger

This year, the Kadets have made state finals, witnessed state championships, overcame crushing losses, but more importantly, we’ve supported our athletes through and through. The support that the student body provides to the athletes on the field, court, or starting line definitely aided these athletes in accomplishing the best performances of the 2013-2014 school year.

Justin Petrash had a season of epic proportions which led to a state title. His preseason ranking held to be true; he was number one from start to finish. Petrash defeated Broomfield’s Austyn Harris in the state final in the heavyweight division. He took inspiration from Rip Price who won a state championship in 2012 and now wrestles at the academy. Congrats to Justin for this remarkable accomplishment; being a state champion requires hard work and hours of dedication.

The Pikes Peak League champions had a spectacular season with head coach Espen Hosoien. The boys’ soccer team finished with an 18-2 record and made it all the way to the state finals. However, the state finals didn’t go as planned; Air Academy fell to Cheyenne Mountain 2-1, but it’s unrealistic to say this team didn’t have successful season. Austin Dewing had a standout season with sixty points and twenty-three goals; he will be returning next year in hopes of aiding his team to yet another super season. One loss doesn’t define a season and this team has every reason to keep their heads held high.

Naish Gaubatz has spent the past few years perfecting his doubles style and it’s this unique style of play and hard work that led him to the state finals. Throughout his fall season, Gaubatz had a record of 11-2 but was defeated by Kent Denver’s, Casey Ross in the state finals. Gaubatz mentioned in an interview with the Gazette, “My goal was to reach the semifinals, and anything else was icing on the cake;” his incredibly successful senior season surpassed even his own expectations.

This past October, both the girls and boys cross country team claimed the regional title; the first time in over thirty years. The boys’ team wrapped up their title claiming third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and thirteenth to finish with thirty-one total points. Seniors Andy Boyle, Danyon Anderson and Matt Najarian highlighted the end of their high school season with a bang; Luc Hagen, a sophomore, who placed third, looks to return next year. On the girls’ side, however, the race was much closer and only won by a margin of one point over rivals, TCA. The team of five consisted of Katie Rainsberger, Olivia Evans, Kayla Wiitala, Kat Pennington and Chloe Reindl. What a feat; well-done cross country kids.

Girls’ volleyball had the Cinderella story of the year coming in as the underdogs and making it all the way to the state finals. This team wasn’t supposed to beat Cheyenne or Ponderosa, but they united together and pulled through to the finals versus Lewis Palmer. Senior captain Gabby Jones and junior captain Jordan Pingel could not have been any happier with the outcome of their fall season. Way to go Kadets!

This year was full of remarkable performances put up by our very own and next year we can work to build the legacy we created. Congrats to the athletes mentioned above but remember that those were just a few of the memorable moments created here at Air Academy.