|
AHS Regatta Returns
Za Barrett '23, Animas Quill
Animas High School students and staff gathered Wednesday by the river at Santa Rita Park to revive a lost Osprey tradition. Each advisory group crafted a cardboard boat and raced across the river in the school's first post-pandemic regatta.
"The regatta has been a long tradition at Animas, but hasn't been utilized as a team-building, school spirit thing for several years," said dean of students Dave Farkas, the organizer of the event. "My desire was to bring back a tradition, and to do it every year, as this way for the whole school to show up…win, lose, or draw on boats that may or may not float…and have a really fun, school-wide activity." Students did just that- socializing, splashing in the Animas, and cheering on the racers.
"I'd like to do it every year in the fall, when the river's low but warm," added Farkas. "I'm going to solicit students and staff to see how we can make it better next year."
Junior Niko Peterson, who claimed victory for Carlin Nielsen's advisory, attributes their success to their creativity. "We took a look at the rulebook and found some loopholes…and decided that it would be better to put the boat on my back and for me to swim across than for me to try to be in a boat." Instead of sitting inside a craft, Peterson dashed across the river with a cardboard fin on his back. "Next year, I hope there are some stricter guidelines, because we definitely went around them, and found a way to not be in a boat," admitted Peterson. "Hopefully they make it more regulated, so it's more even and fair." Still, he concluded, "I'm excited to have a pizza party and enjoy the winnings."
| 
