The student news site of Manitou Springs High School

The Prospector
The MSHS weight room will be moved to where the World Language rooms are over the summer of 2025.
Weight room to be relocated for ADA accessibility
The large screen TV with class composites is next to the new gym door in the Commons.
Class composites uploaded to touch screens in MSHS
A picture of the new soundboard.
MSSD Auditorium receives lighting system update
All proceeds from the Snowball Dance will go to Berkley.
Snowball Dance rescheduled for Feb. 22
MSHS staff and students affected by illness this winter
MSHS staff and students affected by illness this winter
Alicia Strupp stands in front of her diploma from University of Colorado Springs on Wed. May 7. Strupp has impacted both staff and students positively during her time here at Manitou.
Alisha Strupp leaves MSHS to pursue the next step in her career
Mr. Partridge explains to his 1A class the events that happened between the 1840's and the 1860's.
Partridge leaves MSHS social studies department
Students Sierra Tanner (11) and Rylynne Murphy Skillen (11) study for their math class during Advisory.
Students and staff give advice to prepare for finals
Kloe Roth (12) made a piece called “Butterfly” for the art show. This piece is made with linoleum. Roth made this piece because she kept seeing blue butterflies all summer and it reminded her of her grandpa that passed away. “ I loved being able to display this art show because it has such a personal meaning to me,” Roth said.
A look at the MSHS art show
On Monday, April 28, Alicia Mauer helps Jacob Cayton with Biology.
Staff at MSHS share infectious generosity
Coach Stuart Jeck and the football team celebrate a homecoming win on Friday Sept. 22. The Mustangs won against Prospect Ridge 53-0.
Jeck takes the next step in his career
Mackinzy Wall(11) practices her discus throw on Wednesday, April 9 at the MSHS field to improve further, even after achieving a school record in discus. Wall threw 126.0 feet, on Mar. 8.
Mackinzy Wall earns school record for discus throw
Abbie reeves, Hannah Rickert, Alex Traenkle, and Kara Donagen pose for a photo at a wrestling competition.
Swim & Dive/Wrestling Season Recap
Girls' golf players Madi Sharon (12) and Addie Dorsey (10) stand in the doorway alongside Cameron Jones, the Athletic Director at MSHS.
Spring Sports Preview: Girls Golf
Senior leaders for the baseball team, Logan Moore, Hayden Martinez and Trafford Havens stand beside eachother.
Spring Sports Preview: Baseball
Two bull Rocky Mountain Elk spare in the winter preparing for the up and coming breeding season.
Stop the defunding of our national parks
Many locals prefer to use the Colorado Springs airport because it offers safe and convenient travel.
Repeated plane crashes impact the public
Elliot Mettler draws a woolly mouse in class due to his fascination of the project that made them.
The ethics of woolly mice
The senior class of 2024 gets to the school early during their final week to decorate the Commons.
The controversy surrounding senior pranks: a fine line between fun and frenzy
ICE isn't welcome in our schools
ICE isn’t welcome in our schools
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
"Great Big Beautiful Life" was released on April 22, 2025.
Book Review: “Great Big Beautiful Life”
Benjamin Parham (11) holds up his first place trophy from the Battle of the Bands on May 2 at the SILC amphitheater. Parham represented The Beanie Boys because his bandmate, Dante Alexander (11), had to leave early.
Breaking News: Beanie Boys win the first MSHS Battle of the Bands
RaMell Ross's Oscar nominated movie "Nickel Boys" came out on August 30, 2024.
Review: “Nickel Boys”
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is the most recent Sid Meier game to be released. The game came out Feb. 11, 2025 and it was available for early access a few days earlier
Review: Sid Meier’s “Civilization VII”
The book cover of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros in front of smoke.
Review: “Onyx Storm”
Kyle Blasi and Morrigan Schulz rehearse for their student directed play.
MSHS students undertake writing and directing plays
Beckett Wendell-Evans holds Meggan Milliron in the air during a practice dance.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Lana Kahtava (11) and Kai Jacobson(12) begin to present the awards for the night.
Theater students celebrate The Larry’s
Kai Jacobson (12) and Abby Steen leave Manitou Springs High School with cheers from the students and staff on Thursday, Feb. 8. They arrived at the Buell Theater of Downtown Denver and began rehearsing with the rest of the choir for their performance that Saturday.
Kai Jacobson performs with All-State Honor Choir
At this annual Larry's, MPAC President Kai Jacobson (11) and Vice President Meghan Taylor (11) took liberty in naming and presenting every award given.
The 2023 Larry’s: What to expect of this long standing tradition
Benjamin Parham (11) holds up his first place trophy from the Battle of the Bands on May 2 at the SILC amphitheater. Parham represented The Beanie Boys because his bandmate, Dante Alexander (11), had to leave early.
Breaking News: Beanie Boys win the first MSHS Battle of the Bands
Annie Riggin works with Manitou choir teacher Abby Steen in preparation of her All-State Honor Choir performances.
Annie Riggin selected for Colorado All-State Honor Choir
The MSHS Symphonic Band plays the Fight Song as they round the track. The band practices for the parade every year.
MSHS band brings the sound of Homecoming
Lucas Grieb (12) & Lance Warner (12) pose for a band photo, outside in Manitou Springs, CO, with their guitars.
Euphoria: Manitou Springs High School’s up and coming band
Anton Akse (12), principal chair tuba, focuses on how his instrument sounds in the concert hall as opposed to the rehearsal space.
Abeel and Aske play in top youth orchestral group
"Great Big Beautiful Life" was released on April 22, 2025.
Book Review: “Great Big Beautiful Life”
RaMell Ross's Oscar nominated movie "Nickel Boys" came out on August 30, 2024.
Review: “Nickel Boys”
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is the most recent Sid Meier game to be released. The game came out Feb. 11, 2025 and it was available for early access a few days earlier
Review: Sid Meier’s “Civilization VII”
A latte with a cat design on the top.
Review: Happy Cats Coffee
A poster for "The Order" directed by Justin Kurzel.
Review: “The Order”
The student news site of Manitou Springs High School

The Prospector
The student news site of Manitou Springs High School

The Prospector
Dalton Gates

Dalton Gates, Multi-Media Editor-in-Chief

Dalton Gates is a senior at Manitou Springs High School. He likes to write short scripts in his free time. His passions include film, writing and photography. Although, Gates hates The Breakfast Club. He is ecstatic to improve his writing and work collaboratively with others on The Prospector.

All content by Dalton Gates
Coach Stuart Jeck and the football team celebrate a homecoming win on Friday Sept. 22. The Mustangs won against Prospect Ridge 53-0.

[Photo] Jeck takes the next step in his career

Jon Polizzi, Senior Reporter
May 14, 2025
Students shuffled onto to the upper dance floor, as the music blared and students boogie.

Students come together for Prom

Dalton Gates, Katelyn Fonkert, and Morgan Flannery
May 1, 2024
Bowman Hall Now and Then

Then & Now: The Class of 2024

Dalton Gates, Multimedia Editor
April 30, 2024
Meghan Taylor (12) celebrates with the rest of the COYAC members in the Colorado House of Representatives after the hearing of HB24-1039: Non-Legal Name Changes and HB24-1040: Gender-Affirming Health-Care Provider Study. "The bills were drafted all of the legal language was put down by the Legislative Council, because our job as COYAC members, is really to create proposals of things that we see you going through our job is not to write the legal language because, unfortunately, something that the COYAC director has reminded me many times," Taylor said. "When I called her at like 9:30pm asking her for help was ‘Meghan you do not have a law degree’. Unfortunately, I do not. I'm still in high school. It's really a pain. I wish I did."

Meghan Taylor authors Colorado bill on non-legal name changes

Dalton Gates, Multimedia Editor
April 18, 2024
Ethan Anderson (12) stands beside several of his art pieces on display outside of Erin Gocinski's room in the SILC building. He made the piece on the top left, titled "Pensive", with charcoal.

Ethan Anderson to attend MCAD to pursue the Arts

Jack Boyd and Dalton Gates
April 5, 2024
Kai Jacobson (12) and Abby Steen leave Manitou Springs High School with cheers from the students and staff on Thursday, Feb. 8. They arrived at the Buell Theater of Downtown Denver and began rehearsing with the rest of the choir for their performance that Saturday.

Kai Jacobson performs with All-State Honor Choir

Dalton Gates, Multimedia Editor
February 20, 2024
Jennifer Trainor reads over her list of scholarships for the senior class.

Jennifer Trainor helps seniors finance their futures on Free-Money Fridays

Dalton Gates, Multimedia Editor
February 2, 2024
The Commons kept the same lighting and flooring after the hallway renovations.

Students and staff experience new building renovations

Dalton Gates, Morgan Flannery, Cordelia Portman, MaKenzi VerVaecke, Ari Clark, Angela Rowe, and Katelyn Fonkert
January 17, 2024
Stacy Thomson and Cory Urban pose with new pet of the front office, Clark the betta fish.

Clark joins the front office staff

Dalton Gates and Cordelia Portman
December 12, 2023
Rita

Rita

Dalton Gates
November 24, 2023
"Goosebumps" has been a staple of youth horror fiction since the books have released, and had a successful TV series in the late 1990s.

Review: Goosebumps

Dalton Gates, Multimedia Editor
October 25, 2023
Coach Stuart Jeck and the football team celebrate a homecoming win on Friday Sept. 22. The Mustangs won against Prospect Ridge 53-0.

Manitou Springs celebrates another Homecoming

Dalton Gates, Jack Boyd, and Katelyn Fonkert
September 27, 2023
Alaura Wilson (11) works on an assignment during Advisory in Gilliam's homework lab on Thursday Sept. 21.

[Photo] MSHS implements new work labs during Advisory

Jack Boyd, Senior Reporter
September 21, 2023
Alicia Mauer won the AVS Excellence in Science teaching award last year in Woodland Park.

Mauer joins science department

Dalton Gates, Multimedia Editor
September 19, 2023
Golf team leaders Jack Clifford (12) and Hayden Dorsey (9) are hopeful to make it to and win the state champion this season.

Fall Sports Preview: Boys Golf

Dalton Gates and Ari Clark
September 5, 2023
Ashur Lavigne (11) flashes a 'W' while his team celebrates after the teams first win and football game of the season on Friday Aug. 25.

MSHS celebrates the Back to School Assembly and the first home football game

Dalton Gates, Makenzi VerVaecke, Jack Boyd, Cordelia Portman, Kaleb Cervantes, and Halli Frost
August 30, 2023
The Steel Mustangs Robotics team poses in Houston at Worlds early this year.

The Steel Mustangs excel in competition this year

Dalton Gates, Senior Reporter
May 11, 2023
Spanish Club hosts regular events and projects for their members, from salsa dancing with chips and salsa to practicing their conversational Spanish at Spanish-owned restaurants.

Spanish Club teaches students language and culture

Dalton Gates, Senior Reporter
April 28, 2023
The set as it appeared at the end of "In The Heights" recreates the look of Washington Heights, New York in 2008.

[Photo] Review: In the Heights

Ari Clark, Senior Reporter
April 11, 2023
Rebecca Davis knows how to play both the Clarinet and Bass Clarinet, and is learning both Alto and Tenor Saxophone for the upcoming Spring Musical.

Rebecca Davis prepares for a life of music after high school

Dalton Gates, Senior Reporter
March 13, 2023

Letter to the Editor

Dalton Gates, Senior Reporter
February 24, 2023
The Cast and Crew of "Too Many Daughters" after arriving back at the High School with their 1st Place Trophy and Outstanding Supporting Actor Award.

MSHS wins Pikes Peak Regional One-Act Competition

Dalton Gates, Senior Reporter
February 16, 2023
Kai Jacobson (11) and Ari Clark (10) rehearse "Fly on a Tapestry," directed by Elanor Fugate (12).

[Photo] Theater Department brings their scripts to life in student directed plays

Sadie House, Senior Reporter
February 3, 2023
Students were confused with all the different policies across all of their different classes, as some could range from very relaxed to very strict. This policy seems to have solved that issue for students.

Students respond to new late work and redo policies

Dalton Gates, Reporter
January 26, 2023
Key Club members finding some ways to get into the spirit of the season with music, costumes, decorations and Hallmark movies.

Talbott’s top Hallmark movies

Dalton Gates, Reporter
December 5, 2022
Finian Dufford (12) is an aspiring filmmaker who has other interests in theatre, art and photography.

Finian Dufford’s film nominated for Best Documentary

Dalton Gates, Reporter
November 11, 2022
Dalton Gates' photo, "The Long Ride," captures the rising sun as the Newspaper and Yearbook classes drive to the Colorado State University Fort Collins campus to partake in J-Day.

The Long Ride

Dalton Gates
September 22, 2022
seniors

[Photo] Did the seniors REALLY win the spirit contest on Friday?

August 27, 2022
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