Marcia_Neville's Blog

The parking lot was filled to over-flowing. The service started a half-hour late. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. That’s what happens when you fit 1,000 mourners into a small-school high school gym.

The towns of Seibert and Vona, which both send its students to Hi-Plains K-12 had never seen anything like it. And, residents wish it had never happened.

“This will be the hardest year our school has ever had”, said Athletic Director Kerry Sayles with a sad shake of her head. “Evan Bancroft was ready to lead the school as senior class president, he was full of fun ideas and enthusiasm.” Instead, the 17-year-old’s friends and neighbors gathered to eulogize him, after he was killed in a freak construction accident.

Bancroft was the Patriots starting quarterback, he helped both his basketball and track teams win state titles, he competed in the Knowledge Bowl.

His family has farmed and ranched in the areas for generations. His father graduated from Hi-Plains, his mother from nearby Burlington.

His big sister Naomi, and big brother Kyle were both state champions.

In fact, every time the Patriots have brought home a title, there’s been a Bancroft on the roster.

The gym was standing room only, with Bancroft’s letter jacket displayed front and center.

Pastor Bob Strauch lamented, “It’s just not fair. He was too young, too gifted, too talented, too tough-minded, and too tender-hearted”. Then added, “I think Evan Bancroft graduated a year early. Only I think that instead of graduating from high school, he graduated into heaven.”

The huge attendance was a tribute, not only to Evan, but to his entire family and Sayles was overwhelmed by the numbers.

“It’s just amazing what small school athletics bring out.

It’s Kit Carson County and all of Eastern Colorado. Every athletic director, every basketball coach, and all of their teams that we compete against, were here.”

The Lone Star team came in from ninety miles away.

Caliche drove two hours. “We just wanted to honor Evan”, explained Buffaloes senior, Derek Weingardt.

“Our hearts go out to everyone at Hi-Plains”. Teammate Cody Zink added, “We may be competitors, but, when something like this happens, we’ve got each others backs.”

Those comments are particularly impressive, since Caliche is the team that Evan Bancroft and his Patriots beat to win the 2008 1A state basketball title.