Student Standouts: Coleman ’26, Faust ’26, Petersen ’26, Weaver ’26, Fouke ’30, and Gardner ’31
Congratulations to this week’s standouts below. Way to go #RamNation! And as always, if you have a story to share, please email weeklynews@micds.org.
More Football Accolades for Four Rams
The MICDS fantastic four have even more postseason accolades! Congratulations to the following four football players on their All-District selections and to Gabe for being Academic All-State!
- Miles Coleman ’26 – All-District, Offensive Line
- Graham Faust ’26 – All-District, Defensive Back
- Ben Petersen ’26 – All-District, Defensive Line
- Gabe Weaver ’26 – Academic All-State, All-District Tight End
Go Rams!
Eighth Grader Medals at Winter Junior Nationals Swim Meet
Emma Fouke ’30 recently competed at the Winter Junior Nationals Swim Meet, December 10-13, in Austin, Texas, where she swam in four individual events: 200 IM, 200 breast, 100 breast, 400 IM, and five team relays. Winter Junior Nationals, officially Speedo Winter Junior Championships, is a major annual USA Swimming event in December for top U.S. swimmers age 18 and under, featuring intense competition with national-level times and potential Olympic Trials qualifiers. The time standards to qualify for Winter Junior Nationals are extremely competitive and attract only the very best in the sport—an incredible achievement to even qualify for Fouke, who is only 14 years old.
Not only did Fouke qualify; she also medaled, taking 5th place in the 200 breast, setting both Ozark and Clayton Shaw Park (CSP) team records, achieving a time that places her second in the nation for 13/14-year-old girls. She also placed 20th in the 200 IM, re-setting her own team record. Fouke additionally competed on the Girls 800 Free Relay that placed 7th and the Girls 400 Medley Relay that took 14th—both relays set Ozark and team records.
Fouke swims for the CSP Tideriders, where she trains over 15 hours per week, before and after school. “As I’m reflecting on Juniors, I am realizing what an amazing opportunity it was to swim against such talented individuals,” she said. “Not only was I proud of myself, but seeing all of the people around me also achieve such amazing accomplishments reinforced the reason behind all of the hard work I had put into getting there. While the early mornings and long sets are grueling during the process, it’s a meet like this that shows me why I love that process.” Keep on swimming, Emma!
Seventh Grader to Appear as Snow Maiden in The Nutcracker
In September 2025, Ainsley Gardner ’31 auditioned for and landed a role in the Magical Christmas Ballet’s NUTCRACKER! The ballet is performing this month at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. This marks Gardner’s fifth year performing with the company. This year, she will appear as a Snow Maiden, adding to her past roles, which include Mouse, Lead Mouse, and Small Variation (Slavic).
Gardner shared, “There is nothing quite like being on The Fabulous Fox stage with the Magical Christmas Ballet for NUTCRACKER! It’s a truly wonderful experience, and I cherish the opportunity to dance with such talented professionals. This experience truly fuels my passion to become a performer!”
If you go to watch NUTCRACKER! at the Fox this season, be sure to cheer on Ainsley!
