US Fall Sports Update

By Sloan Thompson ‘25

Soccer-

On Tuesday, October 22nd the Vail Mountain School Gore Rangers faced the Middle Park Panthers in one of the last games of the regular season. This game was originally scheduled to be at Vail Mountain School, but due to the recent snow, the game was moved to Battle Mountain High School. The Rangers dominated possession through the majority of the game. In the 22nd minute of the first half, senior Drew Johnson scored the first goal of the game on a breakaway assisted by Bas Uribe. The goalie came out of the box causing Johnson to poke the ball around him resulting in a VMS goal. With the energy from Johnson’s goal, senior Alan Irigoyen scored the second goal of the game assisted by Winston Pillsbury in the 30th minute, leaving the score at 2-0 at halftime. Going into the second half with momentum, the Rangers were on a roll. While the Panthers threatened to score on senior goalie Hunter Iverson, he had different plans ending the game with ten saves. During the second half, the Rangers continued to keep the ball on their side of the field. In the 75th minute of the second half, Junior Calvin Schaffler scored the final goal of the game on a penalty kick which was buried in the bottom right corner. The Gore Rangers defeated the Panthers 3-0 improving their record to 5-6-2. 

The VMS Boys Soccer finished off their season 5-7-3! They played on Thursday against Roaring Fork which they lost 1-0 in the last five minutes of the game. Last Saturday the Gore Rangers played 4A Glenwood Springs in the last match of the regular season. After a hard-fought game, the Rangers ended it with a tie. Charlie Vidal scored the first goal of the game in the first half on a breakaway and shortly after Winston Pillsbury scored the second goal of the game solidifying the lead for the Rangers. On Friday, November 1st the boys will play The Vanguard School for the first round of playoffs at Jeffco Stadium and then they will go from there. 

VMS Girls Volleyball- 

After an eventful season, the Vail Mountain School varsity girls' volleyball team finished with a record of 3-14. They unfortunately did not make it to the playoffs but fought hard all season. This season was special for the Rangers because they got a new head coach, BJ Aguilar, who was assisted by former head coach Aspen Ives. On Wednesday, October 23rd VMS played Vail Christian in the Battle Of The Blues final. This game was special for VMS because it was Dig Pink along with Senior Night. Dig Pink is a volleyball tradition that happens during the last game in October. Dig Pink is a fundraiser to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Our volleyball team decorated the gym, wore pink spandex, and hosted a potluck to help support the cause. In the end, they raised $1,600 which was the most money they have ever raised through this event, and then this total was generously matched by Bob Engelke and Cynthia Pillsbury in honor of Cynthia's mother, Louise, which made the final amount $3,200!!! We are so proud of our varsity girl's volleyball team for all the hard work they put into making this event a success. After five years of trying the JV volleyball team has still not won a game. Their record stands at 0-125 making it to where they have not won in five years. The team is so close to winning games and they have won multiple sets but are unable to finish out the game with a win. Volleyball is challenging because it demands a unique combination of physical skills, mental focus, and teamwork. Players must develop quick reflexes, explosive jumping ability, and precise timing to execute complex plays like spikes, blocks, and serves. The fast pace means players must anticipate opponents’ moves and react in split seconds, making agility and court awareness essential. Communication and coordination are also crucial, as teammates need to work seamlessly together to set up and defend plays. The mental resilience to stay focused and adapt quickly to the constantly changing game flow adds an extra layer of difficulty, making volleyball one of the most demanding team sports. Both teams have successfully mastered these skills throughout the season