Six area athletes have been named to Colorado High School all-state teams for spring sports, with two more receiving honorable mentions.
Adrian Hernandez, Simon Kearns, Jake McKie and Ro Paschal of Mancos were named to the Class 2A track and field all-state first team, Dolores golfer Kiselya Plewe was named to the Class 4A all-state first team and Jordan Ernst of Dove Creek was named to the Class 1A baseball all-state first team.
Case Baughman and Derek Kibel, also from Dove Creek, received honorable mentions for the Class 1A baseball all-state team.
All-state teams in track and field and golf are based upon state championship results, while baseball teams are judged by leagues and coaches.
All teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps unless otherwise noted.
The Mancos Blue Jays’ 4x800 meter relay team was named to the Class 2A all-state first team after seniors Hernandez and Paschal and sophomores Kearns and McKie won the state championship in a new school-record time of 8:19.01.
In individual events at the state meet, Paschal finished third in the 800-meter dash (1:58.96) and fourth in the mile (4:33.15), Hernandez was 14th in both the 800 (2:04.97) and mile (4:49.31) and Kearns placed 18th in the mile (5:01.95) and 12th in the 3,200 (10:26.19).
Hernandez and Paschal also ran on the 4x4 team that finished 16th (3:43.40).
Paschal was also named to the Colorado Track XC 2016 boys all-state team, with the selections voted upon by coaches.
After tying for fourth place in the girls golf state championship, Plewe, a 2016 Montezuma-Cortez High School graduate, was named to the Class 4A all-state first team.
As a member of the Dolores golf team, Plewe placed at the state tournament in each year of high school.
She finished in 11th place as a freshman, tied for sixth as a sophomore, took fourth her junior year and capped off her illustrious high-school career shooting +13 to tie for fourth.
After another postseason run, the Dove Creek Bulldogs were finally eliminated by Fleming High School in the Class 1A state semifinals.
However, the Bulldogs’ success was recognized as Ernst was named to the Class 1A all-state first team and Baughman and Kibel were honorable mentions.
Ernst, a 2016 graduate, started nine games on the mound for Dove Creek, finishing with a 4-3 record with a 4.13 ERA and 74 strikeouts.
He also had success at the plate, hitting .410 on the year with two home runs and a team-leading 33 RBIs.
Baughman, also a 2016 grad, hit .392 with 15 RBIs and two home runs, and Kibel, a sophomore, led the Bulldogs in batting average (.463) and doubles (12) and finished with 12 RBIs on the season.