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Mustangs plan to turn around their season in the next few weeks
February 10, 2022
The Manitou Springs Mustangs boys varsity basketball team coached by Brian Vecchio is 9-7. They are disappointed in some of the losses they have, but they are willing to do anything to make up for that.
The Mustangs have historically been known for their skillful boys basketball team. Last year the boys team had a record of 15-2, only losing to St. Mary’s twice. But with the loss of Joah Armour, Isaiah Thomas, Thor Flett, Jesse Jorstad, Nathan Hass and Lars Marquardt last season, the Mustangs started the season off 2-3.
It is now left up to juniors and seniors to step up to the challenge to make it to the playoffs.
Lairden Rogge (11) has stepped up to the challenge; he has 148 points this season. Rogge, Anthony Snow (12) and Tyler Maloney (11) have a combined total of 252 points.
“We’ve kind of got off to a rough start, but I think we’re starting to get back,” Snow said. They clearly came back from that, but their record still shows the roughness at the start of the season.
Boys varsity has key wins against Ellicott, La Junta, Rye, Lamar, James Irwin, Banning Lewis, Alamosa, Frontier Academy and Vanguard, but they suffered losses against Kent Denver, Salida, Peyton, Colorado Springs Christian, St. Mary’s, Buena Vista and Denver School of Science and Technology: Montview.
In the Tri-Peaks League they are 6-4. Manitou has already played most of their tough opponents. “I see more wins in our future,” Maloney said.
Snow, Maloney and Rogge all think they have an amazing chance to make the playoffs this year. After the 3 game loss streak for varsity, Coach Brian Vecchio made practice a lot more serious. They started to run more and practice harder.
“He’s always been serious about [practice]. But we’re still able to have fun, you know, because nobody wants to play a sport when It’s not fun,” Maloney said.
Rogge agreed. “After dropping a couple easy games that we should have won, Vec definitely comes in more serious,” he said.
The hard work has paid off, and the boys varsity team has turned things around.
“Honestly, I have a feeling that we have a very good chance of winning the next six games,” Snow said. “I think that in all honesty, we can be in a really good spot after these next few weeks.”
The boys see the light at the end of the tunnel as the season comes close to an end.
“I know we’re only gonna get better from here,” Maloney said.
