The Battle Mountain huskies are known to be rivals of the Summit tigers. Where does this rivalry come from? What do the students think?
The Summit tigers and the Battle Mountain huskies are known to compete fiercely in soccer games. Photo by Frank Lopez Moreno
By Emma Deal
Oct. 29, 2024
The highly anticipated soccer match between Summit High School and Battle Mountain was set to take place on Apr. 1, 2024. The atmosphere crackled with tension and anticipation as the two rival teams stepped onto the field. The game was a fierce battle from start to finish, with both teams demonstrating their skill and determination. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the players gave it their all leaving everything on the field.
The final moments of the match were filled with heart-stopping action, and when the whistle blew, the cheers and celebrations echoed throughout the bleachers. It was a match that will be remembered for their hard work, a testament to the intense rivalry and sportsmanship between Summit High School and Battle Mountain. “We were tied and played amazing until their team got lucky with a shot that shouldn't have gone in,” said girls varsity soccer captain Ella Kirschner.
The Battle Mountain huskies have been rivals of the SHS tigers for as long as some coaches can remember. The proximity of the school (a mere 45 minutes away) compared to other schools (some as far as four hours) makes them optimal competitors.
“I think because we are both small mountain schools and we are so close to each other we just found the rivalry to come naturally,” said varsity assistant coach and ex SHS soccer player Haleigh Lecklitner.
“From what I can tell, SHS just considers BM their main rival because of the proximity of the school to SHS and because so many players also play with those BM players in the club season,” added ex junior varsity coach Molly Guevara.
Many SHS soccer players turn into Battle Moutain’s teammates come the fall club season. Since the Summit Strikers soccer club in Summit County doesn’t accommodate high school participation, many athletes opt for the Vail Valley Soccer Club, which is what Battle Mountain students also play for.
“I know many of the players on the other team,” said senior Olivia Lyman of the Battle Mountain soccer team, intensifying the preexisting competitiveness between the two teams.
Many senior players agree that the rivalry stems from the closeness of the schools, but they also believe that the competition is student-made.
“The highly competitive nature of our two teams and the fact that we go back and forth on winning [is what makes the tension so strong],” said senior Delilah Staberg. “This makes it so that when we win it is seen as even more of a victory and when we lose it is more of an annoyance, motivating us for the next game.”
Guevara agreed with Staberg saying, “The rivalry (from our perspective) is mainly built from SHS students.” She also admitted that, during her time as a coach, she believed the Steamboat soccer team to be more of a rival to SHS.
The rivalry has pushed the tigers to reach their potentials and become better soccer players overall. In her time on the team, Kirschner has noticed the benefits of striving to compete with players as good as Battle Mountain’s.
“I think that having a rivalry is a positive thing in many ways,” she said. “Having a rivalry pushes everyone to play better and work harder which is healthy.” Kirschner has noticed that the competition has encouraged hard work and sportsmanship across the two programs.
While the soccer team acknowledges the perks of being able to play a competitive team, they’ve also noticed the external pressures that have weighed on the team.
“There is a lot of pressure surrounding the Battle Mountain games because they are so important and we hate to lose them,” said Lyman of the stress.
As the boys' soccer season ends and the girls' season begins second semester, it's important to support the two teams in their efforts to defeat Battle Mountain on the pitch!
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