Cross country trains in the waterSplashing around the pool was fun. But as 20 athletes filled the lap lane for aqua running at the Gunnison Rec Center, it was an intentional training event full of purpose as the GHS boys and girls cross country teams altered their training routine with their Class 2A regional run less than a month away. “It was a smooth, unorthodox week where we changed things up,” GHS coach Blake Davis said. “We wanted to get the athletes some rest and get them feeling good again.”It was a change that paid off as the boys finished first at the Ouray Rumble at the Reservoir at Ridgeway State Park. Ian Baker got his first win of the season with a time of 20 minutes, 3 seconds and Chuy Chona posted his first top-10 with a ninth-place finish. The boys team finished third overall. The girls team finished seventh overall, led by Jordan Callahan (7th place), Elora Jones (8th) and Brooke Terry (10th).After what Davis said was “a tough mudder” on Sep. 13, the first mile of last week’s course was straight uphill. While the intensity of their training has moderated, a tough post-season test awaits. The fourth best girls team in the region is ranked 5th in the state. The boys side also is loaded with talented runners. “It was a big thing for us this week to listen to our athletes’ bodies and what they are telling and showing us,” Davis said. “Changing it up was a good little break for the season. It sets us up for our next training block. It’s not as intense as early in the season but we are getting ready for two to three weeks of quality work and our main thing is to be healthy and mentally fresh going into that so we can get either our teams or as many people to state as possible.” Hunting elk andplaying footballDeegan Bennett spent the last two fall seasons walking in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. He’s a third generation Gunnison resident and the lure of tracking the bugle call of a bull elk is the ultimate challenge. This year, Bennett has returned to the football field for the first time since eighth grade as a safety/slot receiver. Even as he tries to scout elk and hunt around football, he’s adjusted to the speed of the game well and turned short catches over the middle into first downs by making defenders miss on 3rd and 12 and 4th and eight against Eagle Valley.He’s bagged a bull elk each of the last two years with a .270 Remmington high powered rifle and has a bow tag this fall. Bennett serves as butcher as well, turning out elk steak, tenderloin, ribs, ground elk for burger, breakfast sausage and summer sausage. As the seasons change, Bennett knows the snow will force elk to migrate below 11,000 feet. At elevation elk blend in with the aspen and dark timber, which makes his reconnaissance trips important. While he’s contributed to the Cowboys this fall, there’s nothing like being alone in nature for Bennett. Pumped up for homecoming An aggressive GHS volleyball team turned in an undefeated week with a 3-0 win against Olathe and a 3-1 win against Rye.“Against Rye we really connected,” senior outside hitter Aubrey Welfelt said. “Overall, everyone was on the same page with the same energy. Our offensive plays featured a lot more hard swinging with aggressive hits and less tips.”As the season enters its stretch run, Welfelt said the team has progressed as she thought, but there’s still room for growth. Homecoming is a week full of distractions, which Welfelt said the team can use to its advantage. “It’s such a fun week, there’s so much going on and it’s so busy we can get tired by Thursday,” she said. “But we want to have fun for our homecoming game. The whole school comes out and brings so much energy. It can be a distraction but it’s not a bad one.”Ticket punched for golf Paden Davis has secured his spot in the 2A state tournament at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo. “Elmwood is a really traditional inner-city course,” GHS coach Kevin Mickelson said. “What you see is what you get. The fairways are straight away and tree lined. It’s more of a traditional golf course without huge bunker complexes. Its defense is the greens. They won’t yield a lot of birdies. He’s got a couple of weeks to prepare for the challenge.”Kaiden Bartelli (82) and Ryder Church (89) fired off their best rounds of the year at the Bridges Golf and Country Club in Montrose last Monday.(James Nokes writes for Colorado Preps)
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