The past year was one of highs and lows, depending on the perspective.
For Montezuma-Cortez wrestler Seager Oliver, the Dove Creek baseball team and the M-CHS swim team it was a season to remember.
For four Montezuma-Cortez coaches and the administration, it was a fall they would rather forget.
Oliver moves up in class, wins state title again
After winning the Class 4A wrestling state title in 2014 at the 170-pound weight class, Oliver bumped up to the 182-pound class for the 2014-2015 season.
He then proceeded to rack up a 38-3 record in his senior season, claiming his second consecutive state title, the second coming in Class 3A at 182 pounds.
He also had one of the more memorable quotes of the year, after winning the title saying, “It’s so awesome. If I knew how to cry, I would.”
Dove Creek baseball redeems 2014 loss
After falling in the state title game in 2014, the Dove Creek baseball team redeemed itself in 2015.
The Bulldogs finished the season with a 12-12 record, but they won when it counted.
The team won five of its last six games, including a 2-1 victory over Holly in the quarterfinals and an 8-5 win over Community Christian to advance to the state championship game.
There, they defeated Granada 8-5 to claim the Class 1A state title.
Another highlight of the Bulldogs’ season was Jordan Ernst’s perfect game in a 21-0 win over Primero High School in the district tournament.
Ernst stuck out all 15 batters he faced in the perfect outing, and he finished the season with a 9-1 record, 85 strikeouts and a 3.88 ERA.
Swimmers’ historic year followed by controversy
The 2014-2015 season may have been the best in history for M-CHS swimmers.
The Lady Panthers broke five school records and, for the first time in 15 years, sent swimmers to state.
Madison VanBibber broke the 50-Yard Freestyle record, Sam Bagge set the new mark for the 200-Yard Freestyle, Caisey Duran broke the 100-Yard Backstroke and the team broke two relay records.
Bailey Duran, Kayla Hageman, Bagge and VanBibber broke the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay record and Bailey Duran, Caisey Duran, Bagge and VanBibber broke the 400-Yard Freestyle Relay record.
VanBibber, Hageman, Bagge, Elana Cope, Bailey Duran and Caisey Duran also qualified for the state meet.
Vanbibber finished 26th in the 50-Yard Freestyle (26.13) at the Class 4A championships and Bagge finished 33rd in the 200-Yard Freestyle (2:08.61).
M-CHS drops four coaches in one semester
The Montezuma-Cortez school district had quite the coaching turnover in 2015.
First-year head football coach Dave Wagner was fired after just one game; head volleyball coach Andi Pickens and assistant coach Valorie Bauer were dismissed mid-season; and just one day before the season started, head swim coach Ian MacLaren was not retained.
The non-retention of MacLaren prompted the most significant response, with disgruntled parents and students voicing their opinions to school administrators and filling the room for the December board meeting.
M-CHS principal Dr. Jason Wayman announced that the school was forming a task force to help guide the school’s athletic department, and he unveiled a five-step action plan to improve feedback and evaluation of coaches.
Mancos cross-country team shines
After a repeat trip to the state meet, Mancos cross-country runners brought home multiple awards.
Ro Paschal and Simon Kearns were named to the San Juan Basin League’s all-conference team, and Nic Archuleta and Emma Most received honorable mentions.
Paschal was also named to CHSAAnow.com’s Class 2A all-state first team and ColoradoTrackXC’s 2A boys all-state first team.
Both Mancos squads received the Les Schwab Tire Centers Academic Team Championship Award.
The boys team had 3.66 cumulative GPA and the girls boasted the highest cumulative GPA in the state for Class 2A, at 3.93.
Tomac’s hits highs and lows on dirt track
Motocross rider and Cortez native Eli Tomac started the 2015 season by winning the first five 450cc class motos.
Then, on May 30, while leading in the second moto at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Englewood, Colorado, he hit a rut and went over the handlebars.
According to reports, he tore his left rotator cuff and dislocated his right shoulder, requiring surgery on both.
After rehab and recovery, Tomac is scheduled to start the 2016 season on Jan. 9 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.
However, he won’t be riding for GEICO Honda anymore.
In October, Tomac announced that he had signed with Monster Energy Kawasawki, and he will race on the new KX450F for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.