​One Last Hooah
By: Caylen Belden
This past Thursday, May 2, Pueblo County Highschool JROTC held its annual Awards Ceremony. This ceremony is held annually to recognize the accomplishments of the cadet corp throughout the year, many of the awards presented at this ceremony are not just school based awards, some of them are national awards presented by nationally renowned organizations such as: the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association, and the Special Forces Association. This night is a night of emotionally charged anxiety as the senior staff passed the mantel of responsibility to the incoming junior staff. Outgoing senior C/LTC Nathaniel Romero had this to say about leaving, “I’ll miss making more memories on the numerous trips with the rifle team, as well as the many friendships I’ve found in the JROTC Program.”
            Though we look forward into the future we can’t help but mourn the loss of what has become family in the hard learning and uncountable fun our four years of JROTC. At the end of ceremony C/MAJ Laura Ashlee Niichel gave a heart rending speech about the love she has for the JROTC Program and SGM/R Arnold Lewis for giving her a place to fit in, in a school where she was “too smart to be a jock and to athletic to be a nerd”. She also recalls her favorite memory in JROTC, “As I have made numerous memories from my JROTC career, the most memorable none would be JCLC when the tent Kayla and I were staying in flooded, so we had to sleep in the lodge, and also when this girl named Bamfaulk got ‘got in the neck with a pine cone’”
            This year 5 new awards were introduced, these awards are trophies to remember the legacy of the Hornet Battalion top 3, battalion commander, executive officer and command sergeant major. These legacy trophies will encourage the future leaders of the hornet battalion to look back and take caution from our failures and encouragement from our successes.
            The 14 seniors of the hornet battalion have been led by Sergeant Major for the past four years, he has helped shape us into young men and women we are today, he has lifted us up in the ad times and celebrated us in our triumphs, though we all have been yelled at by him at times, he always had our best interest in mind, he has become a father to all of us and we will all deeply miss him when we leave and though he will not show it, he will miss us just as much. C/MAJ Kayla Mihelich said this about him, “I will miss Sergeant Major the most. During the last four years Sergeant Major became my positive male role model and my hero. Major pushed me to do things I may have not wanted to do, but in the end, I never regretted anything he ever made me do. Sergeant Major gave me the structure I needed to be able to become a responsible productive American adult. There were many times he yelled at me, but he always had his heart in the right place”. Thank you SGM Arnold Lewis for all you have done for us.
            All-in-all this night that we will never forget a night of laughter tears joy and pain. Hooah Hornet Battalion good luck in the coming 2019-2020 school year may learn from your mistakes and rejoice in your success, make the best with what you have cause once it’s gone you’ll never get it back.

by Taylor Anaya and Isaiah Sanchez
On the evening of May 3rd, 2019, the Pueblo County dance classes instructed by Mrs. Aubrey Vialpando, held their 7th annual dance show case “Spring Dance!” This show was the biggest one PCHS has held. There were 37 dance numbers which is double of what they normally have had throughout the years. The show included, Vineland Middle School dance classes, 2 PE classes at County and TAA Performance Dance class. “It was very exciting seeing everyone come together and work together. All the classes were very patient with me and I couldn’t have had a great show without these kids” Aubrey Vialpando exclaimed. 
The students in Rhythms and Dance choreographed their own dances to perform on stage. Mikayla Alfonso, Taylor Anaya, Cassidy Forrest, Jordyn Good, Emiley Hayes, Cheyenne Johnson, Lucinda Lazo, Aydin Liberato, Nicolette Martinez and Regina Razo, TAA senior dancers, hit the stage for one last performance that evening. “One thing I’ll really miss about this Performance Dance Class has to be all the memories throughout the year. We never knew what was going to be thrown at us each day. One second we are working on stuff for the showcase, the next we get told we are going to be the bands Color Guard for the Blossom Festival and only have a week to learn something!” Regina Razo said. 
Another dancer, Kenzie Blasing explained, “From costume malfunctions to props going missing, it was a great first experience for me! I’m excited to be in Performance Dance next year!”  It was a great performance by everyone, and we are excited to see what the next year brings us.
 
 

​Spoiler Free “Avengers: Endgame” Review
            By: Hailey Vigil 
The “Avengers: Endgame” opening day was April 26, 2019, and is considered the biggest film of all time. This being the last to the “Avengers” series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  There were lots of people who went to opening night and the following days after. Jordan Manzanares said, “The best Marvel cinematic universe movie since ever.  It was really great though, you laugh you cry and leave the theater content with life.”  Michelle Wells also added, “Over all oh my god, is was so intense.  Literal chills doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Jacob Dorn said, “It was a really good movie.”  While some enjoyed the movie, others were unimpressed.  Genesis Ramirez said, “It was alright, it wasn’t what I expected and was overhyped.”  The movie was three hours long and had a lot of story to fit into the showtime. Carl Winkler said, “It was really good, but some of it didn’t make sense.” All the “Avengers” movies connect and to understand “Endgame,” you need some prior knowledge. 

Photos by Mikayla DeCarlo
Hornets Road to State
By Mikayla DeCarlo
The Pueblo County Hornets girl’s tennis team made its name known and a force to be reckon with here in Pueblo. After their historic victory at the City Park Regional Championship this last weekend, teams around the state will soon know who the Pueblo County Hornets are.There are seven positions on a high school varsity tennis team; one singles, two singles, three singles, one doubles, two doubles, three doubles, and four doubles. County walked into the regional competition with all seven and walked out with all seven being named regional champions and the team taking first with a record breaking score of 84 points. The Central Wildcats took the second-place spot with 48 points. 
This has never been done in the school’s history which made it a very emotional day for the whole team, especially Ken Osborne the head coach for PCHS, “Perfection is something many people strive for. No one ever can get there, but for this moment, we were perfect. And no matter what else happens, we all have that one bond where we were perfect together.” Osborne said with pure delight on his face. However, this wasn’t an easy task by any means. Seniors Lauren Oliver and Lauryn Holt, who play three doubles, battled a hard-fought two-hour final match up against South’s Bell Arriaga and McKenna Hurley. They finished the match with a victory of 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. “We always make each other laugh on the court with our inside jokes, so we never get caught up in the match,” Holt said. “It helps keep us calm and collected,” joked Oliver in addition to her partner. The rest of the team ended their regionals with a two-set sweep. Junior, Erin Mauro at one singles wrapped up the championship spot with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Pueblo Central, senior, Stephanie Manzanares at two singles won in 6-4, 6-1 against Pueblo Central, sophomore, Kinley Gomez at three singles won in 6-1, 6-1 against Pueblo Central, seniors Sophia Valentine and Emily Bell at one doubles won 6-3, 6-4 against Salida, seniors Mikayla DeCarlo and Atley Kelven at two doubles won 6-3, 6-3 against Salida, and sophomores Delany Stout and Avery Soto took home the win at four doubles with 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Salida. 
            The Hornets have high hopes on their road to state and getting ready for the fierce competition about to come. For most of the team’s seniors, this will be their last state competition, and all agree on making it be their best. “I’m excited to hang out with the team one last time and to buy a new state shirt of course,” Senior Stephanie Manzanares said after the awards. The 2019 class 3A State Competition will be held in Greeley, May 9 to May 11.

​D.A.R.E. Graduation by Camerron Martin
 
   On May 2, 2019 fifth-graders from elementary schools of all shapes and sizes came down to Pueblo County High School to celebrate their Drug Abuse Resistance Education, D.A.R.E., program graduation. Buses arrived, and kids flocked onto the football field at Hornet Stadium to participate in games and activities such as: freeze tag, tug-o-war, peddle cart racing, jump rope, football throws, and potato sack races. Smiles were on the faces of all as they went from game to game with their classmates and teachers. The event was run by a group of officers including Deputy Alfredo Gonzalez, who in fact has been working at county alongside his trusty dog. When asked about the planning and preparation involved he responded “We have been doing this for five years now. We start planning in the very beginning of the school year and seek out donations and fundraisers to fund it. The kids love it and have a great time coming out her as a reward for meeting the course curriculum and it really is a lot of fun.” 

​April 28, 2019. Brue’s Ale House. Photography by Cassadi Baker
The Pueblo County Arts Academy Rock Band, under the direction of Art Academy Instructor, Brooke Mead, participated in the first ever “Battle of the Bands,” hosted at Brue’s Ale House in collaboration with The Pueblo Arts Academy. The gig was hosted to promote local music and talent as well as a classy, high school competition. Pueblo County High School’s Band performed classic rock songs such as “Johnny B. Goode,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “ Pour Some Sugar on Me,” and a few more. Pueblo County High’s rock Band consists of: Hunter Michael, vocals, Ian Habich, guitar, Joseph Barrios, bass, Olivia Travierso, bass, Trey Border, piano, Isaiah Sanchez, synthesizer, Sam Mueller, drums, synthesizer.
Bands from the all Pueblo high school’s participated in the event. The room was full, It was standing room only as the bands displayed their talents while competing. The judges asked for, “five minutes” to make their decision. It was deemed successful by all the enthusiasm the crowd displayed. The band, Voltaic, consisting of talents from Centennial and Central High Schools, was awarded the most creative, and was named the winner of the battle. So much talent was displayed while the audience clapped and sang along with the bands. In the end, many efforts came together; instructors, band members, establishment owners, and fans.  The event was successful, and now there will be plans to get ready for next year’s, “Battle of the Bands.”

by Isaiah Sanchez

Story by: Cassadi Baker
Photography by Abigail Padilla and Kaylin Mares
​​The Spring National Letter of Intent Signing Day was April 17, 2019. Four students from Pueblo County High School signed their commitments on this day, including: Amanda Blickensderfer- Swim- Colorado School of Mines, Sarah DeCarlo- Golf- Otero Junior College, Abigail Johnston- Cross Country & Track- Wyoming, and Sarah Steele- Diving- Colorado State University- Pueblo. 

Story by: Kylee Rooks and Leticia Molina

Tailgate 2019 was a success, students had fun spending their day outside, grilling yummy food, and spending time with friends. Students of all grades came out and joined each other for tailgate. Students celebrated this day to get ready for prom. The teachers also came out and enjoyed the food students had to share. The weather was one of the key components of the day.  

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