by Mark Smiley | Mar 23, 2018 | Main Articles
Police Union, Sheriffs’ Union, Latino Activists, Women’s Groups Demand Investigation And/Or Resignation Of Mayor
by Charles C. Bonniwell
Mounting Scandals: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has been met with increasing calls for his resignation over a myriad of sex scandals including the sexual harassment of Detective Branch-Wise and being a john at Denver Players/Sugar brothel.
Accuser: Denver Police Detective Leslie Branch-Wise has accused Mayor Michael Hancock of sexually harassing her while she was on his security detail in 2011-2012.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has been inundated with sex scandals over the last month. His latest troubles began on February 27, 2018, with Channel 7 News investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski’s explosive interview with Denver Police Detective Leslie Branch-Wise who had been on the Mayor’s security detail beginning after his election in 2011.
Branch-Wise accused Hancock of sexually harassing her and provided on air texts of text messages he sent to her including one which stated:
“So I just watched this story on women taking pole dancing classes. Have you ever taken one? Why do women take the course? If not have you ever considered one and why? Your thoughts?”
“Be careful, I’m curious. LOL!”
Hancock Defense
Hancock would issue a video apology to Wise-Branch stating: “During Detective Branch-Wise’s time on the security team, we became friends, but my text messages in 2012 blurred the lines between being a friend and being a boss.” While Branch-Wise accepted the apology, she declared she has many “friends” and none of them send her salacious harassing text messages.
Branch-Wise was paid $75,000 in July 2013 by the City for unclear reasons since she never filed a complaint, and some critics have claimed the payment was simply “hush money” to prevent Branch-Wise from revealing the mayor’s actions.
In the video the mayor claimed that Branch-Wise had complained to him that Wayne McDonald had sexually harassed her and that he had him fired four days later. That statement by Hancock, however, will result in a federal lawsuit being filed “soon” against the mayor by Wayne McDonald according to McDonald’s attorney William Sultan for defamation and breach of a non-disclosure agreement.
McDonald Under The Bus
McDonald had been the best friend of Hancock. They went to school together at Hastings College in Nebraska and both had worked at the Urban League in Denver. Immediately after being elected mayor, Hancock had the city hire McDonald for an $85,000 amorphous job position which critics claim was little more than keeping the mayor company during the day.
In 2012 McDonald went to lunch at Racines Restaurant with then City Attorney Doug Friednash (an attorney from the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck [the “Brownstein Law Firm”] and the Denver Manager of Safety Stephanie O’Malley (the daughter of former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb). He was told that he could quit his job or be fired for sexual harassment against Branch-Wise. McDonald protested his innocence and demanded an honest investigation and a hearing to clear his name but they refused. The Mayor’s spokeswoman Amber Miller then went public saying he was fired for serious misconduct and sexual harassment.
McDonald sued Hancock in federal court claiming that Hancock had lied simply to hide his own misconduct regarding Branch-Wise.
In 2016, on the eve of trial, the City settled, paying McDonald $200,000 and each side agreed not to disparage the other which McDonald indicates the mayor has violated as well as failing to disclose the damning text messages to Branch-Wise and McDonald.
City Council Weighs In — Kinda
District 1 City Councilman Rafael Espinoza sent a scathing letter to the mayor’s office calling for an independent investigation to “remove the cloud forming over your administration” regarding the payments to Branch-Wise and McDonald. A day later, however, the City Council went into an executive session, therefore not open to the public, which produced a statement by Hancock ally and City Council President Albus Brooks on behalf of the City Council saying they were declining to call for an investigation in order not to “re-victimize” Branch-Wise.”
The Albus Brooks gambit failed to quiet the uproar when Branch-Wise went back on the air on Channel 7 with Tony Kovaleski to declare that no one from the City had asked her whether she wanted an investigation and she did, in fact, want one. That statement forced the Council President to scramble and declare that the City Council would look into its options on the matter.
Angry Law Enforcement And Latino Rally
Resignation Demand: Lisa Calderón of the Latino Colorado Forum along with feminist groups across the city rallied on the steps of the Denver City and County Building demanding the resignation of Mayor Michael Hancock. The Mayor was conveniently not in his office at the City and County Building that day.
In the meantime on March 3, 2018, the Colorado State Lodge – Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the Denver Sheriff’s Deputies and is the largest organization representing law enforcement in Colorado, wrote a letter to Governor John Hickenlooper demanding a change in of
fice of Mayor in Denver along with the Safety Director, the Police Chief and the head of the Sheriff’s Department.
The letter outlined eight scandals in the Police Department and nine in the Denver Sheriff’s Department during Hancock’s time in office. In the meantime the Colorado’s Police Protective Association (PPA) issued its own statements supporting Branch-Wise and castigating Mayor Hancock along with Police Chief White. The PPA had previously passed a resolution of “no confidence” in Police Chief White.
On March 7, on the steps of the City and County Building, a rally headed by Lisa Calderón of the Colorado Latino Forum was held demanding the resignation of Mayor Hancock for sexual harassment which was covered all by of the major media in Denver.
The Return Of Scottie Ewing
As if Mayor Hancock did not have enough problems, an old nemesis, former brothel owner Scottie Ewing, reappeared on radio host (710 KNUS) and Chronicle columnist Peter Boyles’ top-rated morning show. Just before the June 7, 2011, mayoral runoff Ewing charged that Hancock was a patron of the
Sugar Man: Scottie Ewing has returned to prominence with audiotapes accusing Mayor Hancock of being a john at his former brothel house in Denver.
brothel he ran at 1675 Fillmore Street called Denver Players/Sugar. Two years previously, Chief Judge of the United States District Court
House Of The Rising Sun: 1675 Fillmore Street, the former site of Denver Players/Sugar, a brothel run by Scottie Ewing that Mayor Hancock has been accused of being a john in.
Edward Nottingham had to resign his judgeship after it was revealed by Debra Sherman of Channel 7 News that he had been a “john” at that brothel.
The Denver Post and Channel 9 News, at the time, had a joint working relationship. Both agreed to hold the Ewing story about Hancock being a patron of the brothel until after the election, based on Hancock’s promise to provide proof that it was a lie based on his cell phone and bank records.
However, once Hancock had won the runoff against Chris Roemer, he reneged on the promise with his co-campaign manager Evan Dreyer declaring, “A lot has changed in a week.” In a blistering Denver Post front page story on Saturday, June 11, 2011, written by lead reporter Chuck Plunkett, it showed that Hancock’s claim that he would be “open, honest and transparent” about being a john was, in fact, a lie.
The Denver Post and Channel 9 had requested under the open records act that Police Chief Gerry Whitman produce a copy of the video of Hancock’s car parked in front of the brothel and his entering the premises, which police sources had told Debra Sherman of Channel 9 News existed.
Unscrupulous Law Firm
The Brownstein Law Firm’s managing partner Bruce James, another co-chairman of the Hancock campaign, declared that Hancock had nothing to hide and joined in the request of the police chief. But Channel 7 discovered that immediately after that request, James had surreptitiously sent a second letter in which he instructed Whitman to give all such video evidence secretly to him and not tell the public of that fact.
But suddenly on June 15, 2011, The Denver Post declared it had looked at what many believe were scrubbed records at the Brownstein Law Firm and declared that there was “nothing incriminating” about Hancock in any of the records they looked at, basically absolving Hancock.
Channel 9 refused to run Debra Sherman’s story with a prostitute identifying Hancock as her john at the brothel and Channel 9 allegedly threatened her job if she persisted in trying to promote the story. Sherman was later fired by Channel 9.
The Denver Post And Plunkett Disgraced
Rumors of a coverup by The Denver Post in return for significant financial backing by the City and County of Denver have persisted for years. The city took over all of the Post’s downtown office space relieving The Post of an enormous financial burden. While approximately 90 percent of The Post’s staff have been let go since 2011, Chuck Plunkett has not and, in fact, he was made the Editorial Page Editor, a job some claim he is manifestly unqualified for. He has been referred to by some
Dirty Journalist?: Chuck Plunkett, The Denver Post’s editorial page editor, was caught on tape proving he in fact knew that Mayor Hancock was in all likelihood a john at the Denver Players/Sugar brothel. Plunkett has been accused of covering this fact up and has retained his job at The Denver Post while 90 percent of the staff has been cut.
in the media as a “dirty reporter” who sold out his journalistic scruples in order to retain his job.
When Ewing reappeared in March of this year on the Peter Boyles Show, he brought with him audiotapes of his interaction with Plunkett and Sherman, seeming to confirm that Plu
Caught On Tape: Scottie Ewing appeared on Peter Boyles Show in March and he brought with him, audiotapes of his interaction with Plunkett and Sherman seeming to confirm that Plunkett was indeed a “dirty reporter.”
nkett was indeed a “dirty reporter” who, in fact, knew that Mayor Hancock was in all likelihood a john at the Denver Players/Sugar brothel.
An embarrassed and seemingly humiliated Plunkett wrote a defense of his actions in the March 9, 2018, edition of The Denver Post titled “The so-called Denver Post ‘Handcock’ cover-up” claiming that his and The Post’s actions “were and are defensible.” Few in the media have been convinced by his column with some calling it “sad and in many ways pathetic.”
Re-elections Chances Damaged
With Peter Boyles continuing to cover the story on his radio program, the ongoing revelations in the multiple Hancock scandals along with Mike Roberts at Westword and Tony Kovaleski at Channel 7 News, many political observers believe that Hancock’s re-election chances next spring have been badly damaged. While Hancock may not be forced to resign, it is believed that the high-density developers and others that allegedly control his actions may be looking for another candidate to back. It is believed that their favored choice as a replacement would be City Council President Albus Brooks.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 23, 2018 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
The Hilltop neighborhood may be getting a new development on its busiest street, Holly Street, soon. On April 4, 2018, the Denver Planning Board (an 11-person board appointed by Mayor Hancock) will entertain the application for a three-story condominium project to be built to the immediate south of Novo Coffee, High Point Creamery, and Park Burger and north of East Alameda Avenue. The project is
Current View: A current view from Holly Street where the proposed three-story condominium project would go if approved for rezoning. Anna DeWitt and six other homeowners have submitted an application to rezone in order to accommodate a three-story condominium project that some say will stifle traffic even more and create safety issues.
temporarily called Green Flats.
The proposed project will have 27 condominium units, 40 uncovered parking spaces in back, a 20-foot setback from Holly Street, and stand 35 feet high, seven feet higher than the Park Burger business complex. Hilltop is a one square-mile neighborhood bordered by Colorado Boulevard and Holly Street, from 6th Avenue to Alameda Avenue.
Critics say this kind of project does not belong in the neighborhood, especially along Holly Street where 20,000 cars pass by each day according to a 2014 study. This study was done before the building that contains Park Burge
Proposed Development: The proposed site plan calls for three-story brick condominiums spread across .65 acres of land directly north of East Alameda Avenue and south of the building that houses Park Burger.
r was built.
“What happens at Holly and Alameda every day is complete gridlock,” said Denver realtor Denice Reich. “It’s outrageous. A three-story building proposed on a small lot with 27 units and 40 parking spaces on the alley will increase traffic and affect both Hilltop and Crestmoor neighborhoods negatively. The consolidation of seven one-story properties into a three-story high-rise of 27 units is unhealthy. It is like a person gaining 100 pounds in one day. We need another stick building with no lot line and no setbacks like we need a hole in the head.”
Anna DeWitt, a part-time French teacher at North High School, who is leading a group of seven homeowners who own land on the proposed .65-acre parcel, is claiming they are forced to make a decision because of a crack in their sewer system and the general disrepair of their current condos and homes. “We got together, and we decided the best thing we could potentially do is sell to a developer,” said DeWitt. “Because we don’t have the necessary funds to gut the entire place and start from the beginning.”
The current code allows for a two-story condominium building or three-story townhomes which would essentially mean high priced townhomes priced somewhere between $800,000 to $900,000. The applicant, Anna DeWitt, with the assistance of the developer Jason Lewiston, president of Greenius LLC, is asking the planning board to consider allowing a three-story condominium building to be built so she and her neighbors can afford to stay in the Hilltop neighborhood.
These condos would range from one to two bedrooms and one to two bathrooms with anywhere from 740 to 1,200 square feet each. Condos would be priced in the high $300,000s or low $400,000s if the three-story condominium project is completed, and they would have the option to become the first occupants with a special deal afforded to all seven homeowners.
“We as neighbors want to stay in this community and support the middle class and create an affordable home and also completely be energy efficient,” said De
Proponents: Anna DeWitt, left, leads the charge of seven homeowners to sell their properties to Jason Lewiston, right, President of Greenius LLC and rezone the .65 acres to build three-story condominiums.
Witt.
Lewiston proposed a similar project in Boulder called the Boulder Junction Row-houses which would complement Google’s new $130 million campus as residences for their employees. The proposed development sits on 1.85 acres of land at 30th Street near Valmont. It is currently held up in the permitting process with the planning and development department in the City of Boulder.
In Hilltop, there are currently five condominiums and two single family homes on .65 acres of land that would be turned into a 27-unit complex with net zero condos. As zero energy homes (run on solar panels) are becoming more popular, builders and developers are investing in zero energy developments, sometimes referred to as “communities.” And some are building zero energy multi-family apartment buildings and townhouses.
“We’re trying to encourage the neighbors who live here to still live here,” said DeWitt. “We’re hoping to help our environmental issues by creating a net zero building. We want to create something elegant looking. We do not have any desire to completely max out our properties.”
“We’re offering this as a great option,” said Lewiston from Greenius. “If you want something that is appropriate for the neighborhood that looks like gorgeous townhouses from the outside and has moderate sized units, this is the option.”
The alternative, which he gives a 50 percent chance of it being, are four-bedroom townhomes which he says will occupy renters for the most part. No matter what the project becomes, DeWitt and Lewiston know there will be opposition. They already have admitted that Jean-Philippe Failyau, owner of Park Burger, has claimed this will “cast a shadow” over his property.
“There’s an extremely tiny, extraordinarily vocal group of hysterics who say anything you do there is terrible, said Lewiston. “So, we’re going to come out and scream and tear our clothes and shriek at the moon if you want to do it.”
Some opponents came to a neighborhood meeting held on March 21, 2018, at Graland Country Day School. Tomas Hart, Board of Directors of the Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association helped start the meeting indicating they are “expanding circles and trying to get feedback.” Hart has lived near the proposed development for 17 years.
Neighbors that packed the library at Graland were concerned about traffic impact, the new building blocking the sun, increased traffic in the alley behind, and pedestrians being in danger from the increase in residents. John Pratt who lives at 2nd and Holly said, “Nice project, wrong place.”
Other homeowners offered little sympathy with the problems these homeowners face stating that they have spent thousands of dollars maintaining their properties through the years and the seven homeowners should do the same. DeWitt and her fellow applicants, who are mostly school teachers, contest that up until 12 years ago, these properties which were built as rentals between 1953 and 1957, were not maint
Community Meeting: Neighbors attended a community meeting at Graland Country Day School on March 21, 2018, to learn more about the proposed development on Holly Street. They expressed concerns about traffic, safety, and scale of the project.
ained. More importantly, they cannot afford to engage in major repairs with the salaries they make. And, their Homeowners Association does not have enough saved to do the work.
Knowing they have even more of a battle on their horizon, Lewiston is prepared to act fast if their plan is not approved. “If we get rejected on April 4th, watch what I submit on April 5th,” said Lewiston. “If you think this is bad, see what I’m allowed to do by law. You think you’re upset now? Wait until April 5th comes.” That submission would be three-story townhomes on the parcel of land that currently contains the five existing condominiums.
DeWitt does not share the same fighting spirit as Lewiston. “We want to do what’s best for the community, what’s best for Denver,” said DeWitt. “Something that Denver is suffering from is finding affordable homes for the middle class especially in this neighborhood in particular.”
“I want to be invited back, said Lewiston. “I don’t want this to be my last development here. I want people to drive down the street and say that’s gorgeous, that’s a great gateway to Hilltop. It’s a beautiful project. We’re proud to have it here.” He indicates this project will have the appearance of townhomes that are spread across three lots.
“I personally think this would fit so beautifully into our neighborhood,” said DeWitt. “This is elegant townhomes with a classic design.”
Not everyone agrees with this sentiment. “We have beautiful neighborhoods and they’re destroying them within the last two years,” said Reich.
DeWitt and her fellow neighbors have a lot to gain from selling to a developer and having the rezoning approved. They will benefit by not having to pay for major repairs to their property and the sewer line and they have an opportunity to buy brand new condominiums at a reduced price. “All at the expense of the neighborhood,” said Reich.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 23, 2018 | Feature Story Middle Left
by Anna Pergola
Tai Chi? Qigong? Is it another language? Or one of the latest trends in fitness? The practice generates many questions. In response, we’re taking a closer look and shedding light on why it’s growing in popularity. Here are five things you should know.
- It’s known by many names.
Many people are familiar with the term Tai Chi but may not fully understand what it means. Tai Chi (or Tai Chi Ch’uan or Taiji Quan) is the martial arts form of the overall practice known as Qigong. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, Qigong combines “Qi,” which is the energy force that moves through the body, and “gong,” which means work or skill. Thus, Qigong is “energy work” that incorporates gentle flowing movements, postures, and breathing to activate and harmonize our energy.
There are over 7,000 styles of Qigong or Ch’i Kung, including Tai Chi martial arts and modern applications such as Tai Chi Chih and TaijiFit. It can get confusing with so many versions and meanings, and oftentimes no two classes are alike.
Before starting, it’s helpful to talk with the instructor about the class, their training, and their approach. While all Qigong classes promise to deliver benefits, it’s important to know what you’re taking and what you can expect.
- It’s not dance.
It’s also helpful to know that Tai Chi or Qigong 
is not dancing. There are indeed coordinated movements and classes are often taught in a studio. However, dance is focused on the mechanics of the movements. Tai Chi and Qigong on the other hand are “internal arts” that focus on moving and controlling energy inside the body.
- Good things will happen.
When people first try a Qigong class, they’re often surprised because they don’t leave sweating and out of breath. With no loud music or fast movements, the class doesn’t feel like a traditional work-out, but it is still highly effective.
Qigong involves doing a series of slow, gentle movements to bring breathing, focus, and energy in line. The practice is meditative, training the body to conserve energy and build strength in how that energy is released. Doing Qigong over time is known to:
- Improve endurance
- Reduce stress
- Help manage chronic ailments
- Improve mental clarity
- Boost athletic performance
- Balance gets better.
Qigong also teaches people how to define and control their center of gravity, properly shift their weight, and recognize how it feels to be “grounded.” It’s been shown that developing strength and purpose in these areas through Qigong can improve balance. One study reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that people who participated in Tai Chi-based classes over time experienced fewer falls and fall injuries and decreased their risk of falling by 55%.
- It’s for people of all ages.
Finally, many people mistakenly believe that Tai Chi and Qigong are only meant for older adults. In reality, the practice is ideal for people at every age, even kids.
It’s something people can do for years. They can learn how to do it in one class, but it can take a lifetime to perfect and master it. Because of this, there is always something new to discover.
It’s also important to know that the need for better balance is not just for older people. Falling is actually a risk across almost all age groups. Of the 10 leading causes of nonfatal injuries reported in hospital ERs, “unintentional fall” is ranked number one for people of all ages, except people 15 to 24. It’s more common than most of us think!
Try it!
It’s easy to see why Tai Chi and Qigong are attracting more and more fans. It can be an important component of overall fitness, and because it is slow moving, it can help identify other areas to work on when it comes to cardiovascular or strength training.
The YMCA offers Tai Chi at the Schlessman Family YMCA and Qigong at the Glendale Sports Center at Infinity Park. YMCA’s “Moving for Better Balance,” which uses the principles of Tai Chi to teach people how to prevent falls, is offered at several branches. To learn more, contact us, 303-639-4711, www.SportsCenterGlendale.com.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 23, 2018 | Editorials
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them One ring to bring them all and in the daRkness bind them
Norm Brownstein
David Sirota, senior editor for the International Business Times, called the Denver based law and lobbying firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck, LLC (the “Brownstein Law Firm”) the Octopus as its corrupting tentacles stretch to every important institution in Colorado and even Washington, D.C.
Norm Brownstein, Jack Hyatt and Steve Farber formed the firm 50 years ago just out of University of Colorado Law School. Today the law firm law has over 500 attorneys in 11 offices across the country. From the start Brownstein and his fellow attorneys were never the most talented or brightest lawyers, but operated on the maxim — “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”
The firm has and does pour enormous sums of money to politicians and other movers and shakers in Colorado and Washington, D.C. In turn the Brownstein Law Firm expects, or more correctly demands, favors in return. One can go nowhere in Colorado in any hallway of power and not run into a present or former Brownstein attorney. Brownstein attorneys have been the City Attorney for Mayor Michael Hancock, the Chief of Staff for Governor John Hickenlooper etc. etc. It is not simply state and local offices as the United States Attorney for Colorado, Robert Troyer, is a former Brownstein partner who will undoubtedly return to Mordor once his term serving Donald Trump is over.
The Brownstein Law Firm is only interested in power and thus it makes no distinction between Republicans or Democrats. Troyer himself was appointed to the United States Attorney’s Office by President Obama, but the Brownstein Law Firm had enough pull in Republican circles to get Troyer appointed to a permanent U.S. Attorney for Colorado position.
If you have been wronged by the Brownstein Law Firm do not think you can successfully seek justice in state or federal court in Colorado, as many, if not most, of the judges have been appointed to their positions due to the influence of the Brownstein Law Firm.
The most recent scandals involving Denver Mayor Michael Hancock show just how far the malodorous influence of the firm extends. Back in 2011 The Denver Post and Channel 9 News discovered that Hancock had been a client of the Denver Players/Sugar brothel. Bruce James, the managing partner of the Brownstein Law Firm, who was the co-campaign manager of the Hancock for Mayor effort, convinc
Doug Friednash
ed those two news organizations not to publish anything concerning the Hancock scandal until after the election promising to provide proof that Hancock was innocent.
After Hancock won James reneged on his word. It was believed that Hancock had been filmed going into the brothel by the Denver Police. When the Post and Channel 9 News submitted a joint open records request for the video, James volunteered to sign on to show Hancock was “open and transparent,” but, in fact, he surreptitiously and separately sent a second secret letter to Police Chief Gerry Whitman on behalf of the mayor-elect. The police chief, of course, knew that in a matter of weeks Hancock would have the power to fire him without a moment’s notice. In the secret letter James instructed the police chief to send him all the evidence and then not tell the public what had been done. Unfortunately for James the second letter was discovered by Channel 7 News. Allegedly the members of the Brownstein Law Firm were unfazed at the bad publicity, allegedly laughing about how clever and utterly unscrupulous the firm’s attorneys were.
Bob Troyer
The scandal went away when The Denver Post simply declared that there was all of a sudden no proof tying Hancock to Denver Players/Sugar. Since that time The Denver Post has acted as little more than a cheerleader for Hancock.
Now when the Post identifies Norm Brownstein it often no longer calls him a lawyer or a lobbyist but rather a “philanthropist.” Cynics note that even Al Capone gave back a little bit of his ill-gotten gains to soup kitchens in Chicago, but the Chicago papers were never so debauched as to call him a “philanthropist.”
Don’t want the Winter Olympics in Colorado in 2026? Not to worry; the Brownstein Law Firm doesn’t care what you think or want and they have a partner on the Denver Olympic Exploratory Committee to help with the legal work to bring that financial and logistical nightmare here. Don’t want the massive taxpayer giveaways to b
Bruce James
ring Amazon’s second headquarters to Denver? Once again don’t worry, the Brownstein lobbying arm has a lucrative contract to try to make it happen, citizens be damned.
There is virtually nothing in Denver which citizens hate that the Brownstein Law Firm hasn’t had a hand in and made a profit from. It has gotten so bad when a member of the Denver illuminati sees horrendous traffic jams or when parks and open space are destroyed or when neighborhoods are ruined by high density apartment houses he or she simply shrugs and notes: “Well I guess we have just gotten Brownsteined again.”
Over the last 50 years since the founding of the Brownstein Law Firm, Norm Brownstein and his partners have gotten incredibly rich, but they have done so on the backs of every man, woman and child in the City and County of Denver. Happy 50th Lord of the Rings. May justice someday come to your doorstep.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 1, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth and his coaching resume is a handsome one.
Last December nearly 200 athletes, all of them High School All-Americans, traveled to Arizona for USA Rugby’s 2017 Boys High School All-Americans Camp. Joining them was Glendale’s Under-23 team head coach, and professional Glendale Raptors strength and conditioning coach Dave Synnott. Attending in an administrative and coaching capacity, Synnott spent the five-day camp at Casa Grande Sports World interacting with the next generation of rugby talent.
Head Coach Salty Thompson oversees the USA Rugby 15s and 7s High School All-Americans teams and orchestrated the December camp. Athletes invited to the camp must first be named All-Americans, meaning they were likely scouted while playing in one or more of five annual tournaments, known as Regional Cup Tournaments. The largest and most attended Regional Cup Tournament, known as the Rocky Mountain Cup Challenge, takes place in Denver each June. Selection by the All-American scouting network is not the exclusive path to an invite, however, with some participants selected through the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), and others scouted while playing in high-performance rugby events.
All-Americans teams are comprised of players from across the United States, and field both 15s and 7s squads. The December gathering of the best young rugby talent from across the country was the largest in some time, with 184 athletes in attendance alongside more than 30 coaches, trainers, and staff. Players are grouped according to their ages, with the camp fielding Junior Varsity (Under 17) and Varsity (Under 19) teams. Synnott noted that he acted largely as a coach during the camp, and that he worked primarily with the U17 and U18 players.
The focus of the five-day gathering is on individual skill development, involving not only physical training and scrimmaging, but also strength and conditioning work, classroom sessions, and cognitive training. Camp days are full: participants wake before 7 a.m., followed by stretches, breakfast, a classroom session, and then two hours on the training paddock. A coaches’ evaluation precedes lunch, then it’s back to the classrooms for another session before more training or a scrimmage. Following an evening meal, players review the day before a final coaches’ evaluation and more stretching. The lights are out at 10 p.m.
The Boys High School All-Americans sing the national anthem before one of their matches with Canada during the 2017 USA Rugby High School All-American Rugby Camp in Arizona.
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth, representing the East Midlands in Academy level competition. His coaching resume is a handsome one, having worked extensively at the high school level, and winning two U.S. national titles as an assistant coach for a women’s college team. He describes this period of extended success as the time when he fell in love with coaching. Synnott moved to Colorado in April 2017, and endeavored to join the Raptors immediately, “I reached out to Raptors coach Dave Williams and said I’d love to get involved. I started with the men’s D2 team, then Dave let me run some drills with the elite guys, and since then I’ve been doing the skills part for them. They made me head coach of the U23 team in June.” Synnott’s role in Glendale and at the All-Americans camp is significant: he is helping to shape the future of rugby talent in the United States.
Embracing the excitement of international competition, the December camp included matches against two of Canada’s Under 18 teams. Synnott describes the action: “The Canadian teams trained all week, and then we scrimmaged them on the second day and the last day. It’s a way for the boys to get an international taste of the game, and also to get the Americans and the Canadians an extra couple of games in the winter.” The presence of the Canadian competition brought an additional level of excitement for the players, as well as furthered development. Synnott noted that the level of play at the camp was exceptional, “There were definitely some future Eagles at this camp and some future MLR talent as well.” With Glendale’s U23 team poised to act as a true feeder team for the professional Raptors squad, this is high praise.
The Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy Elite Development Program offers a pathway to professional-level competition for players under 23 years of age. Synnott explains the Academy’s strategy moving forward, “We are recruiting the top talent in the country out of high school. We have a good relationship with EIRA (Eagle Impact Rugby Academy), which is run by Salty Thompson, and he will send players our way if they’re not going to college or if he thinks they’ve got a professional prospect. It’s definitely a program that’s building for the future and it could be very handy for the MLR Raptors team.” Although scouting was not permitted at the All-Americans camp, it is clear that Synnott, and Glendale, have their proverbial finger on the pulse of young rugby talent in the country. Building on a history of distinction, it’s clear Raptors programming will continue to be among the strongest in the nation.
