News

We're thrilled to share that, thanks to your vote, Denver Academy has won the Favorite Tutoring Program reader’s choice award in Colorado Parent Magazine’s 2024 Family Favorites competition. DA’s tutoring program, under the leadership of Director of Tutoring Services Tammy Curran, provides year-round tutoring and academic coaching services to both DA students and those attending other schools. DA was also a runner-up in the Family Favorites categories of private elementary school and principal, private middle school, and private high school. 

 

Your support has helped us achieve this amazing recognition, and we're deeply appreciative of your contribution to our success. Thank you!

Learn more about tutoring at DA here.

Congratulations to Director of Development Karen Lozow on her retirement after 21 years with Denver Academy. 

 

Says Karen, “As a member of the Development Team, I have witnessed the magic of a DA education through the eyes of the students, the parents, and the grandparents. It has been my honor to work with so many of you over the past 21 years. Together, we have raised annual operating funds, provided tuition assistance, grown the Endowment Fund, committed to the future of DA through the Legacy Society, and forever changed the campus and the opportunities for our students by renovating and building amazing spaces.”

 

Karen joined the DA community when her son Jake started fourth grade at DA in 2001. His educational experience was just what she and her husband Brad had hoped for. Knowing the impact DA was having on her own family, she became passionate about sharing her fundraising skills with the school. In 2003, she joined the DA Development Team as the Development Associate. In 2013, she was promoted to Director of Development.

 

In her time at DA, Karen…

…raised more than $5,647,438 as Development Associate from 2003 to 2013.

…raised more than $9 million as Director of Development from 2013 to 2024.

…raised an additional $25 million for the Building on Excellence campaign.

…raised funds to renovate five DA buildings.

…raised funds to construct three new DA buildings.

 

Karen is quick to credit all of her accomplishments to the partnership of the DA Development staff, the expertise of the DA Marketing & PR Department, and the generosity of the DA community.

 

Before working at DA, Karen ran a teacher training program for the Anti-Defamation League, was a speech pathologist in public and private schools, and helped with fundraising at the Laradon School. She is a past president of the Junior League of Denver and a current trustee of the List Family Foundation. She earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and her M.S. in Speech Pathology from Purdue University.

 

These days, 21 years is a long time to spend at one job. So, we asked Karen, why 21 years at Denver Academy?

 

“DA is a magical place that you are lucky to find if you are a parent or an employee,” she says. “The working environment is structured yet flexible; people are welcoming and become family. Those who find their home here are committed to the mission, the work, and the students. Their success is our success. After finding my son's educational home at DA, it became my home as well. I am proud to have left DA a better place as I ease into retirement.”

 

Karen is looking forward to more time with family and pursuing her many hobbies including needlework, genealogy research, and antiquing. 

 

Good luck, Karen. We are going to miss you!

In August, the DA Library was awarded the Highly Effective Schools Through Libraries (HESTL) designation from the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado State Library after two years of collecting and submitting evidence. DA Librarian Jolene Gutiérrez earned the five HESTL Teacher Librarian credentials (Planning, Instruction, Leadership, Environment and Management), which allowed our DA Library to achieve the Highly Effective School Library Program designation. For his support of the DA Library Program and for submitting evidence with each of our credentials, DA Head of School Mark Twarogowski was awarded the HESTL Principal Collaboration Credential.

DA’s 2024 high school fall play opens next week! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (90-minute version) is based on the novel by Mark Haddon of the same name, adapted by Simon Stephens. Performances will be held next Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 7-9 at 7 p.m. in DA’s Louise McCabe Performing Arts Center in the Gary Family Theater. The play is best enjoyed by those ages 13 and up.

Fun DA fact: DA Alum Gene Gillette is known for portraying Ed Boone in the Broadway First National Tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for The National Theatre. Click here to read his DA Alumni Spotlight.

THE STORY: 15-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain: He is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road; he detests being touched; and he distrusts strangers. Now it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher stands beside his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world.

Hey, DA High School parents/guardians. DA’s College & Transition Counseling Team is seeking volunteers for two fantastic events aimed at juniors and seniors. These events offer students valuable insights into potential careers and hands-on experience with job interviews. Click here to learn more and volunteer for opportunities on DA Career Days in October and November, and Senior Job Interview Day on Thursday, Nov. 21. 

We are looking for volunteers to give a 20- or 40-minute presentation about their profession on one of four Wednesdays. Please note that 20-minute presentations will involve two presenters discussing related career fields. You will be asked to share information relating to your experience, educational background, a day in the life, and anything else you'd like to share. Based on student interest, here are the upcoming dates and careers we’re focusing on:

Help our seniors by conducting mock job interviews. Volunteers are needed for at least 30-minute time slots on Thursday, Nov. 21, during the school day. Further details and sign-up options can be found in the Career Days and Senior Job Interview Volunteer form here.

Questions? Email College & Transition Counseling Assistant Monet Duhamel.

The last time the Denver Academy High School Mustangs Soccer Team won a game was September 27, 2022. After a winless streak spanning nearly two full seasons, the Denver Academy Mustangs finally broke through on Friday, September 6, winning 6-1 against Twin Peaks Classical Academy. It was one of those games where one team was just better throughout, and it was one of the most complete games Denver Academy has played in a long time. 

The match started neck and neck, but it didn’t take long for senior Josh P. to get the Mustangs on the board, beating the Twin Peaks goalkeeper underneath in the tenth minute. From there, it was all Denver Academy for the next 70 minutes, except for a lone own-goal. Seth B. started in net for the Mustangs and nearly kept a clean sheet for the first half while watching the action for most of the evening. At the halfway mark, two more goals had been scored, one from the dynamic sophomore Harrison D., and another from senior Thomas A. Even then, the Mustangs had created so many chances that it felt like there should have been three MORE goals. There was a near goal off a corner kick for Josh P. and a painful misread that ended up with the Twin Peaks goalie outside the box, followed by an unfortunate pass that allowed a defender to clear the shot.

With freshman goalie Beckett G. in net, the second half was nearly identical for the Mustangs, save for the own goal. Josh P. picked up right where the Mustangs left off with a goal in the 44th minute (for those confused soccer fans, CHSAA plays two 40-minute halves with no added time), and Thomas A. scored in the 58th. Riley A. would take the last goal at the 62nd-minute mark to wrap up the scoring for the Mustangs.

At the other end of the pitch, it was a stellar game on defense for the Mustangs. Twin Peaks was never able to get anything past either Seth B. or Beckett G., partially because the defense didn’t give them many chances to put one through. 

To play a complete game, a lot of things have to go right. Most of the time in the past for this team, there has been one piece that doesn’t go quite right. Sometimes the keeper lags behind, sometimes, it’s the defense allowing too many shots on goal, and sometimes, the offense can’t get anything started on the attack. On September 6th, none of that happened. Everything went according to plan, and it showed with the eye-popping final score.

The next chance to catch the Mustangs in action at home is this Saturday, September 21 at noon against the 0-5 Estes Park Bobcats, so come out and support the Mustangs!

By Jack Wood, DA Class of 2025

To put it simply, the new DA High School Mustangs Golf Team just, “Takes it more seriously,” according to Head Golf Coach Jack Mestas. It comes in response to the carefree ways of the 2023 team. With almost total turnover this year, the Mustangs look to build a more mature, serious, and, most of all, competitive team focused on contending at regionals at CommonGround Golf Course in October.

At the cornerstone of the rebuild for the golf team is the surging Luc S. Now a year older, his coaches say he is almost unrecognizable in terms of his growth and maturity on the golf course. The change in mindset has been reflected in his scores too, shooting an 80 and 88 in the first two tournaments, respectively, earning the Mustangs their first top-10 individual finish in two seasons. Although Luc’s scores ARE objectively good, the sophomore isn’t pleased with them and knows he can do better.

The other major piece of the new core is another sophomore, Teddy P. After a strong performance in the season opener at Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood, finishing with a 91, he continued the run of form with a 99 at Flatirons. (It’s worth mentioning that while Flatirons Golf Course is a championship par-70 course, Homestead Golf Course is a shorter course with a par of 65). 

Both golfers talked about the changes this year, both to their maturity, with Luc saying, “I’m more locked in at practice and not goofing off as much.” They also spoke about their new role on the team with Teddy saying, “With a lot of people leaving last year, I’ve definitely moved into a new spot and am feeling more confident in my role.” 

Both Luc and Teddy have most likely locked up their spots on the team for regionals next month but there is still room for two more players, although it seems that it is less of a question of who will get those spots and more of which spots will they occupy. Junior Roe N. is currently the third-seeded golfer but is the biggest wild card. On any given day, he could shoot from the low 90s to the mid-110s, the latter of which was on display at Flatirons, where he finished with a 109. 

Finally, freshman Cooper E. is the last piece of the puzzle. Even though he primarily fills the back end of the team, the experience of playing postseason golf can be valuable, boosting confidence and an understanding of the pressure that comes with the tournament. The coaching staff sees a lot of potential in Cooper and feels the future is bright for him.

It is night and day the difference between these two teams, and it will be fun to watch them grow as the season progresses. There is a lot of hope for this team, but at the end of the day, golf’s a fickle game, and there is no way to know for sure whether it is going to be a good day or bad until they get on the course.

Blair moved to Denver from Santa Barbara, Calif., where she taught elementary school for six years. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of San Diego and an M.Ed. and teaching credential from the University of California Santa Barbara. She is excited to be a part of the DA team! When she's not teaching, Blair loves to read, bake, and travel.

Sophia is a licensed school counselor, a yoga teacher, and an artist. Sophia's passions for education, wellness, and creativity led her to pursue school counseling. She studied psychology, business, and studio art at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Penn., and then taught elementary school in New York City. While teaching, she earned her master's in school counseling from NYU. Sophia has worked in a variety of settings including a residential therapeutic program, public schools, and charter schools in both NYC and Denver.

 

Sophia is thrilled to be a part of the DA community and support students' social-emotional well-being. In her free time, she enjoys painting, knitting, skiing, and learning new skills like wheel throwing and guitar.

Art is a history and English teacher with more than 10 years of experience teaching, including teaching AP curriculum, at high schools around Denver. He’s committed to designing classes with diversity and equity in mind, and building classes that ensure all students have access to rigorous and challenging content, regardless of their background. Art has spent his career creating strong community spaces by sponsoring and coaching extracurricular programs including student council, Anime club, baseball, and even cheerleading. 

 

Art earned his bachelor's degree in history from the University of Northern Colorado and his teacher's license through the Metropolitan State University of Denver's Urban Education Program. When he’s not teaching, he loves camping, taking out his antique canoe, and going to the movies.

Tennyson Flint is a language arts, English, and grammar teacher, originally from Indianapolis, Ind., and Pomfret, Conn., where she began her teaching career. During her time teaching in Connecticut, she helped develop the new grammar curriculum for the English department while spearheading the implementation of the language arts curriculum. She is excited to hone her focus on English literature and writing at Denver Academy. 

 

Tennyson earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts in English and Comparative Literature and her Master of Letters (MLitt) in Early Modern and Shakespearean Literary Culture from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, UK. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing novels and short stories.

Dana Green brings more than a decade of expertise in the field of speech, language, and literacy, specializing in working with neurodiverse children. For eight years, she conducted in-depth speech-language and literacy evaluations as part of a multidisciplinary team for comprehensive psychoeducational assessments. Dana earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Wyoming. Outside of her professional life, Dana enjoys exploring the great outdoors through hiking, immersing herself in captivating books, and quality time with her husband and son.

In this newly created faculty position, Ms. Newman teaches vocal music to all grades at DA and strives to create a fun, safe, and welcoming environment for all students. She has always been passionate about music and has loved singing in choirs, writing songs, performing in musicals, directing an a cappella group, and teaching music. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, shopping at a local farmer's market, and exploring Colorado. 

 

Ms. Newman graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.M.E in Vocal Music Education. 

 

Prior to joining the DA team in 2024, Natalie spent five years teaching writing and composition courses at the University at Buffalo in upstate New York while working toward a doctoral degree in English. She also holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she worked as a writing center consultant. Natalie has taught a variety of classes, including Introduction to Writing & Rhetoric, Writing About the Environment, Writing About Science, and The Novel. She is excited to bring her experience and passion for teaching to Denver Academy! 

 

In her free time, she enjoys cooking Italian and vegetarian cuisine, baking, and spending time outdoors. 

Christopher relocated to Denver from Columbus, Ohio. He has a bachelor’s in Middle Childhood Education with a concentration in Math and Science from The Ohio State University and has been teaching in and outside of the classroom for the past 10 years. He aims to create a fun and safe learning environment in his classroom. In his free time, Christopher enjoys exploring nature and trying new things with others as well as relaxing at home.

Ms. Robinson’s experience as an educator spans 32 years as a classroom teacher and a literacy specialist in grades kindergarten through five. She is grateful for a purposeful career that fulfills her passion for lifelong learning. 

 

She believes every child wants to learn and that it is her duty to help each student reach their goals. Ms. Robinson’s greatest desire is to build relationships with each of her students so they feel safe, confident, and loved. She has a deep understanding of literacy, language, and mathematical development. Her students develop a love for learning and a mindset that they can accomplish anything. She is committed to providing students with the best opportunities for learning, growth, and community.

As a part of the team at Denver Academy, Max is excited and grateful to be working alongside and learning from the best, kindest, and caring educators in the country. Prior to working at DA, he was a kindergarten and third-grade teaching assistant at Graland Country Day School in Denver. Max is passionate about filming videos and capturing photos with his cameras and loves being around his family.

By Jack Wood, DA Class of 2025

The Denver Academy High School Soccer Team, coming off of a winless season, feels more optimism about this year than any other year in recent memory. In the past three seasons, the Mustangs soccer team has felt a steep decline going from a mid-tier program in the 2A Mile High League, finishing in third place in 2021, to what is undoubtedly rock bottom, going winless last season. So why does this team, which hasn’t made the playoffs in three seasons, let alone won a league match in the post-Coach Williams era, have so much optimism?

Well, it begins with the shiny new feature of this team: real depth at the goalkeeper position. Senior Seth B. has been a bright spot in the net for the Mustangs, saving 97 goals last season and placing third in the Mile High League in that category. Behind him in goal is freshman Becket G., who is a serviceable backup option to Seth B., and will likely see limited but noticeable playing time as Coach Zimmermann begins to look for a replacement for Bartley. Additionally, the team’s experience is undeniable with eight seniors, including star attacker Josh P., who bagged a hat trick in the pre-season scrimmage versus Beth Eden Baptist School (a game in which the Mustangs won 4-0), and returning captain Nate S., who has been a fixture of consistent leadership in a team going through a lot of turmoil. 

Several games have already been played against Bennett High School on the 22 (the Mustangs lost 7-2), and STEM Highlands Ranch on Thursday at Marcy Park in Highlands Ranch (which the Mustangs lost by a score of 11-4). This week, the boys head on the road to Denver Jewish Day School on Wednesday, September 4, and then Friday afternoon, September 6 right here against Twin Peaks Classical Academy. The league matches on display this season include road games at familiar foes Front Range Christian, Heritage Christian, and Dawson, as well as home clashes against Bishop Machbeuf and Rocky Mountain Lutheran. 

As with most seasons at Denver Academy, the Mustang soccer team will have five of its most important league matchups back-to-back with Heritage Christian, Front Range Christian, Skyview, Machbeuf, and Dawson in a three-week span from September 26 to October 14.

Postseason sports is a department-wide goal for DA Athletics, and the first team to get a crack at that is the soccer team. Led by an experienced core, as well as young players looking to make a name for themselves, this is a team that absolutely could make a run, but some very large, very clear question marks need to be answered before that can happen.

We are very pleased to announce that Denver Academy has fulfilled the requirements set forth by the ADL Mountain States Region and is now officially designated as a No Place for Hate® School! No Place for Hate (NPFH) is a student-led school climate initiative for K-12 schools committed to creating sustainable change that leads to improved school culture. 

 

The entire DA community is extremely proud of achieving this designation for the FIRST YEAR in 2023-24! An especially loud shoutout to those Mustangs on the No Place for Hate Coalition — students and staff — who put their hearts, minds, and actions into earning this designation. 

Congrats to former DA Board Member John Farnam who won the 2024 9News Leader of Year Award, sponsored in part by the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. Farnam is the managing director of the Morgridge Family Foundation. He is the second DA Board Member to have won this award; current DA Board Member Vanecia Kerr was last year's winner!

 

In late April, DA held its seventh annual DA Juried Art Show for parents, students, and faculty. Featuring artwork by our middle and high school students, the show attendees could listen to an artist talkback and get a caricature drawn by a student artist. Congrats to Emma W. for winning Best in Show and Zoie B. for winning Viewer's Choice. Also, congrats to students who won additional Best of Awards: Amelia T., Willow E., Zoie B., Lilia T., Emma W., Ben S., Hayden H., Gia G.P., Ben H., Charlie H., and Elliot O.

DA's arts program supports a strength that many of our students possess: the ability to express and communicate through artistic creativity. Within our Arts & Media Program, students are encouraged in an area that complements their own unique abilities and are asked to explore and discover.

Sometimes it happens, a game where one team has a game full of hard contact that finds gaps, and there isn’t anything the opposing team can do. That was the case on Saturday, April 6, when the Mustangs hosted the Front Range Christian Falcons and fell 0-12. 

Just before DA’s Spring Break in March, students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of Experiential Education Immersives (EEI). Elementary students visited with and read to neighborhood preschoolers; built aluminum foil boats and tested their sea-worthiness on our campus pond; and played creative on-campus games like Minute to Win It. Our middle and high school students were able to choose their own adventure from local options such as birding, mountain biking, visiting sports venues, trying new foods, to regional trips for cross-country skiing and volunteering at the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation in South Dakota, and even national and international trips including visits to Chicago, Hawaii, Key Largo in the Florida Keys, Cuba, and Panama.

EEI is an integral part of the DA curriculum, designed to provide students with a wide range of academic, personal, physical, community, and social challenges outside of the regular classroom. They give students the unique opportunity to “learn by doing and reflecting” while mingling with students from other grades/divisions, working with teachers from other grades/divisions, and fully immersing themselves in transformative experiences.

DA’s recent performance of Anastasia: The Musical performed for a sold-out crowd in its final of three shows last month. The show featured DA students in grades nine through 12 acting, singing, dancing, and managing tech. Congrats to the entire cast and crew! 

If this is timed right, Happy Opening Day!

That’s right, the Denver Academy Mustangs High School Baseball Team opens their season AT HOME against Lyons this afternoon (March 11) at the Mike Hampton Baseball Field. Last season was a harrowing experience for the team, as they played all their games on the road due to the construction of the new DA theater. The result of the road warriors last year was a middling 6-10 record, which was just not good enough for a trip to the dance, as they would have to be content with being left on the bubble for the second year in a row. 

Something about this team seems different this time around. The venerated Brady Jenkins and Will Plank both graduated after two seasons on the team, sure, but that’s not it. Much like the basketball team, this is a team with real depth for the first time since before the pandemic, and a team that’s looking to shock the league. Senior shortstop Nolan M. looks to go out on a high this year, and his replacement may already be a team member in Spencer G. or Chris J.. Another freshman, Josh O., gives the Mustangs a catcher and another bat in a lineup full of offense. Teddy P. gives the Mustangs a likely second baseman and one of many options out of the bullpen for manager Joe Senne. At the same time, Jack Wood (yes, I am playing as well as covering the squad, but just know I will be as objective as possible) returns to first base and is another arm from the pen. The depth isn’t just limited to the infield, though. Seniors Jonathon H. and Parker L. lead the outfield this season, as well as sophomore Mason N., bringing with them the biggest on-field improvement from last season.

This year's schedule features 14 games at home, something all returning players and coaches appreciate, and a minuscule two road games. Highlights include a doubleheader this Friday, March 15 against Skyview (2 p.m. first pitch) and home games versus Denver Christian and Front Range Christian. Familiar foes Gilpin County and Longmont Christian are absent from the slate as neither currently has a team. The Mustangs will miss both teams, as they beat them in the last two seasons. The schedule currently sits at 16 games, one short of the 17 required to be eligible for the CHSAA playoffs. 

The story of last season was all seniors, with Brady Jenkins leading most of the stat categories, both offensively and on the mound. This season, the story IS the team. One of the most significant and visible developments from last year to this season is that this team has chemistry, which hasn’t been the case in recent seasons.

The key to this team’s success this year is how they work together. Nolan M. can only hit once every time through the lineup, so how the bottom of the order and bench produce is crucial to the team this year. Defensively, making the routine plays is huge, and if they can do that, they put less stress on the offense to pick up the slack. The biggest thing for the pitchers will be to keep it on the ground and in the infield, limiting big hits.

Once again, the Mustangs have expectations to meet, and the ultimate test of a good team is how they cope with those expectations. Nothing has changed in the way the DA Varsity Basketball Team has, but there is still a sense that this team genuinely believes they have the tools to succeed on the diamond.

Once again, the Mustangs open their campaign tonight against Lyons at 4 p.m. and play again this Friday versus Skyview, so come out and support them!

The Mustangs gave everyone who made the trek to Black Hawk something to cheer about on Thursday night, Jan. 18, as they made the 0-8 Gilpin County Eagles 0-9, thrashing them by an astounding 43-point margin. It was the first league win of an already successful campaign for the Mustangs, which tied them for fifth in the Mile High League at 1-1, with an additional loss to Clear Creek.

A shortened week for the Mustangs meant that they had ample time to recover from their 65-50 win over rivals Cripple Creek and prepare for the long and arduous stretch ahead. Thus well-rested, the Mustangs loaded up the bus for the trip up I-70, eventually leading them to victory. Much like the drive to Gilpin, the whole game kept going up and up for the Mustangs. They immediately jumped out to a 9-0 lead, which they would not relinquish for the rest of the night. Even as the Eagles tried to claw back into the game, coming to within three points early, the Mustangs kept the pressure on and finished the first quarter by 10.

The rest of the night would prove to be one of the more uneventful ones for the Mustangs, as they kept attacking the basket and scoring a lot of layups and short jump shots. The Mustang's onslaught of two-pointers showed how the Mustangs can deviate from their typical reliance on long-three-point baskets, especially at the capable hands of Nolan M. and Riley A. The Mustangs had a miniscule amount of three-point baskets go in, only netting three. One from Nolan, one from Riley and one from Luc S., all three of whom scored more than 20 points, combining for a total of 73 of 79 total points for Denver Academy.

More than anything, the game showed that the Mustangs were good at adapting to different situations throughout the game, which they will need in their upcoming games this season. They had two back-to-backs on the 22nd and 23rd and the 26th and 27th of January. The Mustangs would take only one of the games that week and take their two worst losses of the season at Denver Christian School and Bishop Machebeuf, losing by 57 and 48 points, respectively.

The Mustangs need the support of fans now more than ever. Join the stands for the High School Mustang basketball games this week at home on Tuesday, Feb. 6 and Thursday, Feb. 8. Check out the DA Athletics Calendar here for details.

The January 12 basketball tripleheader was the third time this season that the Mustangs have walked away holding multiple wins. Although they still lack the elusive clean sweep, the Junior Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls teams exemplified everything positive about the new era of Denver Academy Basketball, including the ability to play through adversity. Neither team held the lead until late in the fourth quarter (3:50 left for the boys, and inside of two minutes for the girls).

This basketball season is about the team, not the individual. Yes, the Mustangs have had their share of individual performances throughout the season to this point, namely Gianna Giordano and Henry Stettner. But the defining trait of this season is the ability to care less about the individual than the team. 

It was a frankly demoralizing first quarter for the Lady Mustangs, being shut out and down, 7-0, but they pulled within five points at the half. The third quarter was ho-hum, and the lead was more-or-less unchanging. The fourth quarter was soon upon the team, and behind a strong performance by Gracie Turner, the Mustangs went up by one with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter thanks to a free throw from Gianna Giordano.

More drama ensued late in the contest as the scoreboard operator would fail to restart the clock not once, but TWICE after free throws in the final minute of play, giving the Clear Creek Golddiggers more chances to come back and take a slim lead with almost no time left.

Fortunately, this didn’t happen, and the Mustangs would go on to get their first legitimate win (the Mustangs Varsity Girls Team is 2-3, with the other of their wins coming via forfeit from the Poudre Community Academy Warriors.) 

The amount of calmness it takes to return from an early deficit, especially when you are held scoreless in the first quarter, is huge. This win is a big morale boost for this team and shows they are on the right track after a slow start to the season. Both Denver Academy boys’ teams have set blistering paces to start the season, with the J.V. team being 4-1 and the Varsity team being 3-2. The girls’ team opened up their campaign at 1-3 but looked strong in their first game back from the break. It remains to be seen if they can carry the momentum from their first win into the rest of an unforgiving January, with seven more games for the Mustangs before the end of the month.

The next battle for the Mustangs is a second bout against the Cripple Creek-Victor Pioneers on January 13 at home. The girls' team leads off the doubleheader at 2:00 p.m., and the boys' varsity squad plays at 3:30 p.m.

The annual varsity boys basketball matchup against the Cripple Creek-Victor High School Pioneers is one of the favorite matchups for the players. It’s one that the Mustangs have taken in the last four matchups, and it’s a budding rivalry for the two schools. It was evident to everyone in attendance that the Mustangs came in expecting to win against the 2-1 Pioneers. The Mustangs didn’t just win, though. On the back of a 37-point triple-double for Nolan M., the Mustangs put together a spectacular team display to win their second straight game by 30 points, walking away with a 77-47 win.

The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, scoring a quick 20 points and leading by ten against the Pioneers. The defense for the Mustangs was the story in the first quarter as they stood their ground, and most of the points for Cripple Creek came via free throws. The Pioneers were strong in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs by one. However, they were still down by nine, making their efforts somewhat meaningless.

The Mustang's offense exploded in the second half, especially during a 28-point fourth quarter that led to the game's dominance. Nolan M. played well on both sides of the ball with 11 rebounds and 10 steals, in addition to the 37 points. Freshman Riley A. also had a solid night with 13 points, four steals, and three assists, as well as showing grit after getting shoved and flying a long way through the air before coming to a hard landing and going back into the game after a short, 30-second stint on the bench.

The Mustangs followed up their 77-47 win at Cripple Creek with another win in Longmont against Twin Peaks in dramatic fashion, winning on two clutch free throws from Riley A. and Henry S. Going into final exams and winter break, the Mustangs sit atop the Mile High League standings, tied with Bishop Machbeuf High School. They are ranked 10th in the Colorado 2A Division, according to MaxPreps. Nolan M. has had a phenomenal start to the season, and he ranks a whopping SIXTH among all players, regardless of division in Colorado, and first in Division 2A.

The Mustangs begin the next part of the so-called “revenge tour” with a triple-header featuring the girls and boys JV teams at home against Clear Creek on Jan. 11. The Mustangs also square off against Cripple Creek again on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at home in the James E. Loan Athletic Center, following the 2 p.m. girls game.

Learn more about DA Athletics here or check out the DA Athletics Calendar here.