CRIPPLE CREEK, COLO.
Visiting teams will battle a brood of hard-hitting Cripple Creek-Victor players, not to mention high elevation (9,494 feet) and cold weather.
Photo courtesy of Mark Mahan | Pikes Peak Courier View
Lake Havasu has used its remote location and climate to its advantage. The same is true for
Cripple Creek-Victor (Cripple Creek, Colo.). The high school at one of the highest elevations in the country, Cripple Creek-Victor deals with long road trips and snowy conditions.
"There is 35 percent less oxygen at Cripple Creek-Victor than at Colorado Springs," said athletic director Jim Bertrand. "Teams are usually breathing hard by the third quarter. It also helps us a little going to the lower altitudes with more oxygen at those levels."
Bertrand notes that despite the altitude advantage, Cripple Creek-Victor has many obstacles to overcome in order to build a successful program.
"We are a tourist town so when the climate gets warmer and the tourism falls off, families move to warmer areas where they can get jobs for that part of the year," said Bertrand. "We also have some students who live 45 minutes to an hour-15 minutes away from school."
Due to the extensive travel, Cripple Creek-Victor holds a four-day school week that results in a longer school day. Teams practice on those four days from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m.
"Our league is also very spread out," said Bertrand. "Our closest opponent is two hours away. One league opponent (Burlington) is six hours one way. My transportation budget goes out the roof. We understand that we have to travel and we try to schedule (volleyball, basketball) games on Friday and Saturday to avoid missing school."
Bertrand noted that it has been difficult to keep football coaches for extended periods of time and this year's team will have a first-year coach. With the high student turnover rate (nearly 38 percent), it has also been difficult to build consistently successful teams at Cripple Creek-Victor, but Bertrand says that his players never give up in the face of adversity.
"The students we have play with a lot of heart and I've never seen our kids give up even when they know that they are outmanned," said Bertrand. "They play the game knowing that it will give them confidence in the real world to go up against unusual odds."
Cripple Creek-Victor has had several state champions in track and field with some competing at the college level this year.
They embrace the cold in Cripple Creek, Colo., including the annual Ice Festival.
Photo courtesy of Diann Pritchard
