GILPIN COUNTY – Friends and family members were on hand October 29 for Gilpin Varsity Volleyball’s final home game of the season. As tradition dictates, it was Senior Night, where the seniors (Annabelle Aloel, Sammy Kapke, Maddie Lane, Mackenzie Marr, Jiselle Osteboe, Avery Ramsey, Faith Ramsey, Danni Sternlicht, Joei Sutton, and Lizzie Westbrook) were recognized for their commitment and contribution to the school.

Ten yellow roses were presented to each one of the 10 departing seniors in deep appreciation of their efforts. They had been through thick and thin together, attending 250 practices and competing in almost 100 matches over the course of four years. During that time, providing many a thrill along the way, they became a cohesive unit and had grown very close. The ceremony before their match against Clear Creek was emotional for players and parents.

The Eagles’ victory against that evening’s opponent was a fitting send-off. Gilpin won the first two sets by a score of 25-16 and 25-20 respectively. In a tribute to their manager Maddie Lane, the players voted unanimously to bring her into the game to serve in the third set. The Eagles won that set 25-17 for a 3-0 match victory.

On October 30, Gilpin registered a 3-0 victory against the Estes Park Bobcats. Following that match, the Eagles’ record stood at a respectable 12-8. A tournament in Strasburg and a possible State Regionals berth lie ahead.

Head Coach “Topher” Rouse reflected, “The season has gone by so quickly. It seems like we just finished our summer camp. This season has been bittersweet. We have 10 seniors in the program and most of them have been with the team all four years. We have a lot of experience and leadership which has been amazing. On the other hand, we will lose all of them next year and we will be in the rebuild mode having to find six new starters. These girls were sophomores when I took over the program so we’ve all had to learn from each other over the past three seasons. They are a close-knit group who encourage and support each other through rough times and are their teammates’ greatest cheerleaders both on the floor and from the bench. Losing that type of cohesiveness is tough. We do have a solid group of underclassmen who will have big shoes to fill next season. The JV and C teams had good years and we have faith that they will step up in 2025.”