photos courtesy of Union College

By Ruth Garcia and Madi Kamarad

Just this last week the Campion Cougars (men and women) traveled to the Union College basketball tournament and gave it their all. The ladies rode home as undefeated champions after a 35-30 victory over the Sunnydale Spartans. The men's team earned second place after a close game against the College View Eagles in which they lost by 8 points in overtime. 
After losing 3 games to Mile High this season, the guys were especially proud to win the semifinal (43-37) against their rival school. Both varsity teams have learned so much all throughout the season, and we're all extremely sad that it's over.

God is not only revealed among students through Campion's Christian environment, but through our sports as well. Team co-captain Chantelle Bravatti said, "It's taught me that no matter how big or small, we should always let God be in control and give Him the glory always."

God is our #1 motivator, but many athletes play for people watching from the sidelines. The men's team co-captain, Xander Assa, said, "I played for my dad; he came to watch. My dad doesn't know much about the game, but he's there for me. At tournament I had three 20-point games, in hopes to make my dad smile. When my dad smiles, I smile."

Similarly, Chantelle Bravatti played for her friend and teammate. "Rachel--she injured herself this season. She has always been there for us. It was hard for her, but I wanted to make her proud by how we played. Even though Rachel didn't get the opportunity to play this season, she made just as much of an impact on the team as she would have playing on the court."

The Campion teams are a different type of family. The womens' team chants the Spanish word, "Familia," before every game. Women's co-captain Chezney Barry said, "My teammates have helped me believe in trust again." The team believes families should trust each other, and they see their games improve when they do. Glenn O'Halloran, womens' coach, reminded his girls during the championship game of John Wooden's words, "Athletes win games. Teamwork wins championships." Teamwork led them to a 6-0 record over the tournament.

Read the report from Union College and see final scores.

The morning of December 9, I was struggling and we had barely begun working.  I work with Joe Martin as a literature evangelist, and this particular morning we were working in Loveland, Colorado.  Before Thanksgiving break, while playing in a basketball scrimmage, I completely tore my ACL and also parts of my meniscus. I will have to have surgery over Christmas break and then miss 6-8 weeks of work for recovery. Through special organized prayer offered by Principal Don Reeder, Pastor Micheal Goetz, my coach Glenn O’Halloran, and my parents, the Lord strengthened my knee enough to continue walking door-to-door sharing Jesus. However, walking was not painless, and that Wednesday morning was proving to be especially difficult.  I asked God to strengthen and bless me as I was trying to give Him my best despite my condition. 

I approached a small house with a white picket fence and rang the doorbell.  A gentleman came to the door.  I explained that I went to a Christian school and began to tell him what I was selling and about the cookbook, when he cut me short.  He asked if he could simply give me a donation. Of course I said, “Yes.” 

He reached into his wallet, and he pulled out a $100 bill.  I was shocked.  I tried to leave him all of my books, but he refused.  I said many thanks and was on my way.  I stood in his driveway filling out the receipt when he came back out of his house and asked me how much tuition was.  I gave him an approximate answer and he asked how much I needed.  I told him that he had already been more than generous, but as I did, he held out to me an additional $500.  I was at a loss for words.  I told him that I would feel awful if he did not take at least one book, so he took a Peace Above the Storm. 

Then I said, “Before I leave, I just have to ask; Why would you do something like this for me?” And after a moment he said, “Because Jesus did it for us.” That statement brought tears to my eyes as the weight of those words sank in.  I prayed with him, said as many thanks as I could, and continued on.  It wasn't until later when I was able to meet up with Pastor Joe and share the news that he pointed the most amazing part of it out to me.  He reminded me that $600 is equivalent to approximately 2 months of work, and the doctor had told me it would be 6-8 weeks (2 months) before I would be able to work following my surgery. 

This injury has been difficult for me, but now I know without a doubt that God will bring far more good from it than the pain I have felt.  I may not know what it is right now but I'm willing to trust God and see how He will continue to work through this temporary setback.  Receiving the exact amount you need in the form of hundreds of dollars does not happen by chance.  God knew I had a need, and He filled it.  As the kind man implied, Jesus paid it all for us, so what should stop us from giving what we can back to God?

Campion’s volleyball team brought home the tournament trophy for the first time this last weekend after some intense playing at the Union College Volleyball Invitational Tournament.
A phenomenal experience for players and coaches alike, the entire team reminisced about their games as they returned home from Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sunday the 18th.
Head coach Erin Hieb and assistant Kelsey Downey, both Campion alumni, have enjoyed the 2015 season with the volleyball team.  Their team theme for this season focused on playing with 100% effort in practice and through every point, set, and match.  As coaches, they did their best to encourage good sportsmanship and determination, and really focused on helping the girls have as much fun as possible.  
Coach Kelsey felt that losing Wednesday night practice time, a new challenge this year, definitely affected the overall outcome of the season and made Tuesday and Thursday games more of a challenge because of no practice on Wednesday.  However, win or lose, she argued, the girls were able to have more time to focus on the spiritual side of life, which is what Campion is all about. The attitudes and effort of these athletes revealed a commitment to the sport, but foremost to their Savior.
On Saturday night of volleyball tournament, the Lady Cougars decided to carry on the tradition of writing a Bible verse on their hands as a reminder of Whom they truly play for.  This year the text was taken from Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  The team decided this verse was an excellent choice for a night of hard work and intense play.  With God’s help and a lot of determination from every team member, the Lady Cougars fought from the heart for their first ever victory at the Union College Volleyball Tournament. [Kelsey Downey]

Read Union College's tournament report.