Overland Goes Pro Former Students Made It All the Way to the National Football League
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S+S S+S BROTHERHOOD THROUGH TOUGH TIMES Football is more than a sport. It is a camaraderie that extends beyond wins and losses OVERLAND GOES PRO FORMER STUDENTS MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Havilland Wilson Reporter yards. After college, he was drafted in the NFL in 1996 during the sixth T.J. CUNNINGHAM (1986-1990) CSU football legend, Sean Moran, was born on June 5, 1973 in Aurora, champs, but we failed you guys,” senior Wendell Cole said. Colorado. He attended Overland from 1987-1991. After graduation, Moran Sam Sanchez This team is still our Overland team and they go through rigorous Sports Editor went on to play college football at Colorado State University. Afterward The defense lines up, trying for a goal line stance. The quarter- out. During the homecoming game, the stands were absolutely packed. he continued his football career by playing as a defensive lineman in the back snaps the ball and hands the ball to the running back. He runs it It was a record high crowd. The cheers were loud yet we lost. But that is straight into the end zone. Touchdown. The defense fails again. what the Overland team needs. They need the support of their school He played for the Bills from 1996-1999 before being traded to the then St. to pack the stands at Stutler and have their backs. player, incomplete. Turnover on downs. The team has had it struggles these past few years, but the broth- It is without a doubt that the varsity football team has gone erhood is still very strong within the team. This Overland team has the through their struggles the past few years with this year ending 1-9. right coaches and great players within the organization. The 2017-2018 season ended with a record of 5-5. The 2016-2017 season “We just gotta work harder and get stronger,” said junior Tulga ended in 2-8. The 2015-2016 ended in a 3-7 record. Baasanjav. “Honestly I’m disappointed because the players and coaches have SEAN MORAN game day,” said junior Stephone Smiley. (1986-1990) players. But even through everything, their brotherhood stands strong. This team puts in work everyday during the summer, working out together and running plays that they will use in the season. Their work ethics are team won the 1993 6A State Championship. He then went on to attend the unmatched because they want to be good so bad, but it just won’t click University of Southern California in 1997. After graduating from college, for them. “That brotherhood stands out because everyone on the team Kelly was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second round wants to play and win football games, but it doesn’t happen without everyone being together,” said Smiley. was number one in the league tied with Rod Woodson on interceptions. He each other’s hopes up, even if some plays didn’t go their way. None of the players wanted to hear any of the negativity on the sidelines. If a also succeeded at being the only Blazer to ever win a Super Bowl, helping After the Overland vs. Arapahoe game, a couple of seniors stepped in front of their teammates and took responsibility for not having a winning season. SUPER BOWL CHAMPION BRIAN KELLY “We weren’t the leaders we should have been. Juniors and sophomores, be better leaders than us. We were supposed to be state (1989-1993) Page design by Sam Sanchez. Photos from Overland Yearbook. Page design by Sam Sanchez. Photos from Overland Page design by Sam Sanchez. Photos by Ayatt Drera. Ayatt Page design by Sam Sanchez. Photos 50 - OVERLAND SCOUT - DECEMBER 2018 DECEMBER 2018 - OVERLAND SCOUT - 51 S+S S+S Whether you’re a coach, a player, a fan, a cheerleader, or a band member, you all have something in common: the game. Find out what it’s like for each of ALL IN ONE GAME these participants during the homecoming game. VANESSA BALLINES (11, AMBER LYLE (10, CHEER- MARCHING BAND FLUTIST): LEADER): “ The games at SOPHIA GUAGLIAR- AMBER LYLE (10, CHEERLEADER): “I was very excited it was Stutler are pretty full and ANDREW DO (10, NUTS): “I don’t “I’m cold as the night goes on, but the homecoming game there’s lots of energy here. SHAVER (Ofensive understand why the it’s just a nice experience to be and ready to perform.” It just makes me feel ex- Coordinator): “What crowd is never into it, there at the game.” cited.” has worked so far? just show some school What hasn’t worked? spirit. Enjoy the game, How do we adjust?” have some fun, mingle with NUTS kids, and VANESSA BALLINES (11, have a good time.” MARCHING BAND FLUTIST): “If the crowd doesn’t hype themselves up, then it’s our SAMMIE SHELLMAN (12, TULGA BAASANJAV job to keep it going and Poms): “Homecoming is (11, Kicker): “The only bring them back up no one of our most important thing that matters matter the score.” performances. I always right now is beating gets super nervous in front the other team, play- of a large crowd.” ing hard, and hav- ing fun. Let’s get the bread boys.” PREGAME 1ST QUARTER 2ND QUARTER HALFTIME 3RD QUARTER 4TH QUARTER END OF GAME SAMMIE SHELLMAN (12, Poms): “The performance ISABELLA LIVITS (11, BLAZER was a lot of fun because FANATIC): “I’m really into it of our collaboration with ANDREW SHAVER (Ofen- cheer. Afterwards, I always because you just want them feel good because of the sive Coordinator): “Let’s keep to win, so you feel the adren- adrenaline.” these guys together and ANDREW SHAVER aline and you don’t even fighting to the end. As long (Ofensive Coordina- notice the time fly by.” VANESSA BALLINES as there’s time on the clock tor): “Are we forget- (11, MARCHING BAND we fight. Play the next play” ting anything at FLUTIST): “We’ve never school?” done anything like we TULGA BAASANJAV (11, did before, so I was Kicker): “Since I don’t play nervous and knew I every snap, I’m just always had to perform well in thinking, ‘You’re gonna get front of students, par- it. Let’s get this bread.’” ents, and teachers all Page design by Sam Sanchez. Photos by Sam Sanchez and Ayatt Drera. Interviews by Lindsey Johnson, Ana Escobar, and Sam Sanchez. Championship Timeline by Dena Vu. Timeline and Sam Sanchez. Championship Ana Escobar, Drera. Interviews by Lindsey Johnson, Ayatt Page design by Sam Sanchez. Photos Sanchez and in the bleachers.” 40 YEARS OF OVERLAND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: check out all the sports that made it to league and state championships FOOTBALL LACROSSE TENNIS GYMNASTICS WRESTLING CHEERLEADING BOYS BASKETBALL VOLLEYBALL SOCCER 1997-98 State Champs 1990 Girls State Runner-Up 1990 Boys State Champs 2001, ‘02 League Champs, 4th In State 1994 3rd in State 1990 Girls State Spirit Champs 1990 League Champs, 2nd 1999 Regional Champs, State 1989 Boys/Girls Regionals, State Final 4 1990 Girl League and State Champs 2003 5A State Finalist 1991, ‘92, ‘96, ‘97 Girls State Champs 1996 Boys Third in State 2008-9 League Champs, 2nd In State 1996 Regionals, 4th In State 2001-2002 State Finalists Place in State Semi-Finalists 1990-91 State Quarter Finals 1990 Boys State Quarter Finalist 1997 Boys Second in State 2009-10 League Champs, State Champs 1992 League Champs, 3rd In State 1991 District Champs, Regional POMS TRACK & FIELD 1991-92 League Champs, State 1991,’92 Girls State Champs 2011-2012 League Champs, State Champs 1995 Regionals, 5th In State Champs, State Final Four BASEBALL 2010 State Champs 1991 Regional Champs, 3rd In State Quarter Finals 1995 Boys Leagues, State Champs 1990 State Champs 2014, 2015 State Champs 1991 Regionals, 3rd In State 1989 Sub-District Champs, 2011 State Champs, National Finalists 1994, ‘97 State Champs 2015, 2016 State Champs, 1998 Girls Regionals, State Semi-Finals 2017, 2018 2nd in State 2014, 2016 State Runner Up League Champs State Runner-Up 2001 Girls District & Regionals 52 - OVERLAND SCOUT - DECEMBER 2018 DECEMBER 2018 - OVERLAND SCOUT - 53 S+S THERE’S MORE TO OVERLAND FOOTBALL THAN VARSITY Andrea Diaz with the junior class having the most on their plate because of trying to Reporter juggle school, a sport, and their future all at once. The team knows what they have to improve upon because they The crowd erupts, the band starts to play, we see and hear the have already proved they have what it takes to win with their scores. It’s cheerleaders and poms begin to cheer, the football team has scored a all just a matter of taking the steps to get there. touchdown. Next season when our JV team becomes our new varsity team, they Then there’s another game, another team. It’s a typical Saturday morning, the stands are an outstanding varsity team. somewhat full, there’s no music, not even a The freshman team tied their wins scoreboard, we see proud parents in the crowd watching their sons play outside the Overland campus. COMPARED Whenever they got a win, they seemed One game is varsity and the other a regular TO THE VARSITY to be big wins for the most part. For ex- JV or freshman game. Which team is which? ample, their game against Eaglecrest had a Compared to the varsity games, the school GAMES, THE score of 36-14. The losses were plenty sub- spirit for JV and freshman teams is just not as stantial too.