ASPEN–Balancing school and sports is challenging for most student athletes with late night or early morning practices and far away games, but two AHS students are taking that commitment a little further. AHS junior RJ Peshek and freshman Ty Tullar both play on the Denver Elite Lacrosse Team, a club team based out of Denver. Playing for this team entails leaving school early twice a week to drive to Denver and not getting back home until 1 a.m. On top of this Peshek is the starting varsity quarterback for the AHS football team. This huge commitment also involves playing in four tournaments this fall in San Diego, Las Vegas, Indio California, and Denver.

While it is a large responsibility, it has given Tullar and Peshek the opportunity to play at a higher level of lacrosse during the offseason with a talented group of high schoolers. In order to make the team, both boys had to compete with other athletes during four tryout sessions at the Denver University fields that were an hour and a half long. While Peshek played for the Denver Elite Team this summer, this is Tullar’s first time with the team.

“The tryouts were very intense for me, but as I got into my motions I began to play at the necessary level to make the team,” Tullar said.

Most of the other athletes on the team live in Denver and play for 4A or 5A high schools and since Aspen is a 3A school, Tullar and Peshek said that it is often intimidating to play with such experienced players.

“Back on the Aspen team, I am one of the stars of the team, but on this team, all the kids have a very advanced skill set as well,” Tullar said. “It will definitely take a lot of work to maintain my respected position on the team.”

Since beginning to play with the team, they have already developed a new skill set and broadened their knowledge of the sport with help from the coaches and other players. While there are so many amazing opportunities on the team, they both agree that the community of people is what makes the experience so great.

“My favorite part of the team so far is that even though you play for different high schools, you get to know and gain chemistry with the other players,” Peshek said.

This is only the beginning for these two athletes who will play on the AHS lacrosse team this spring. Peshek aspires to get recruited by a DI lacrosse school and compete at that level, whereas Tullar is focussing on making varsity this year and is not yet sure whether he wants to play lacrosse in college. Wherever their futures lead them, be sure to look out for them on the field come spring sport season.