While narrowing down the season’s top stories to five was not easy, below are five narratives that will always stand out.
Oliver wins state wrestling title
While the 2013-14 prep sports season saw its share of individual achievements, none were as impressive as Montezuma-Cortez High School junior Seager Oliver winning the Class 4A state wrestling championship.
Entering the state tournament as the No. 1 overall seed in the 170-pound division, Oliver won four consecutive matches.
As impressive as Oliver was on the mat however, the junior’s character and humility stood out. Reflecting on Oliver’s season in years to come, I will never forget Oliver’s will to win, as well as his dedication to achieving his goals.
Oliver’s success story was, in many respects, unique for the Four Corners area and thus, will not soon be forgotten.
Dove Creek seniors leave legacy
Among the many groups of athletes who accomplished great things during the 2013-14 season, six seniors at Dove Creek High School stood out.
Shelbie Knuckles, Kristin Knuckles, Jessica Guynes, Corissa Guynes, Madison Young and Jennifer Fury helped their volleyball team advance to the state semifinals, their basketball team finish fifth in the state and their track team finish third overall.
The group’s impact in their school and community also stood out. The group also earned impressive grades while acting as impressive role models.
With the 2013-14 school year now over, each of Dove Creek’s six super seniors go separate ways.
Dolores wrestlers shine at state
Serving notice that the Dolores wrestling team is on the rise, four Bears wrestlers turned in memorable performances at the state tournament.
Leading the way for the Bears, senior Ethen Upton placed finished third in the Class 2A 182-pound division, and senior Deano Valdez placed fourth at 145-pounds. Freshmen Richard Martinez and Tristan Medina also performed well.
With several underclassmen returning next season and a few incoming freshmen looking to make an impact, the once-powerful Dolores High School wrestling program appears to have a bright future.
Local golfers place well at state
Highlighting just how far the area’s prep golf teams have progressed in recent years, local golfers Jakob Rudosky and Kiselya Plewe turned in memorable performances at their respective state tournaments.
A senior on the M-CHS boys team, Rudosky finished tied for fifth in the Class 4A Tournament. Plewe, a sophomore playing for the Dolores High School girls team, finished tied for sixth.
In addition to their strong individual play, both golfers provided leadership to their team while setting strong examples in their school and community. Based on their impressive performances, prep golf’s future in the area appears bright.
Mancos basketball makes regionals
Kicking off a new era under first-year head coach Rodney Cox, the Mancos High School boys basketball team’s run to regionals provided lasting memories.
Entering their District Tournament with a 13-7 overall record, the Bluejays opened with a win over Dolores and a loss to Ignacio before upsetting Ridgway to advance to regionals.
With a strong group of players returning next season, led by Ro Paschal and Nigel Henry, the Bluejays appear poised to contend for a state tournament appearance next season.