Rochester High School grad reunited with championship ring after 11 years thanks to local man with a metal detector

Nov. 6—Rochester High School graduate Guadalupe "Lupe" Vazquez was recently reunited with her 2013 Rochester Warriors track and field championship ring.

She lost the ring in 2013 when her boyfriend — who is now her husband — lost it during track practice at the school.

The ring was discovered a couple of months ago by Rochester community member Todd Andruss. He found it while using a metal detector, according to a Rochester School District Facebook post.

"It's an incredible feeling to return something so meaningful after 11 years!" Andruss said in the post. "Congratulations, Lupe — it was my pleasure to bring it home to you."

When he found the ring, he saw Vazquez's name and the year inscribed on the inside. He set about trying to track her down with the assistance of the school district, according to Andrea Knutson, Rochester School District executive assistant to the superintendent.

"I used to work for DSHS (Washington state Department of Social and Health Services), and so did my husband, and (Andruss) also worked for DSHS," Knutson said during a phone call with The Chronicle.

Andruss knew Knuston and her husband now work for the Rochester School District, and reached out to her to help track Vazquez down.

Initially, Knutson wasn't able to find any good contact information for Vazquez until she talked to the Rochester High School track and field coach.

"The coach knew exactly who she was and they ended up meeting at the high school," Knutson added.