four corners sports april 2016

3Four Corners SPORTSAPRIL 2016

content| 4 | The Sky’s

the limitBelle Toney has been a member of The

First Tee of San Juan County, NM since

2006. She has advanced to the Eagle

Certified level within The First Tee life

Skill Curriculum.

| 8 | Winter SportsReview

There’s an old adage about how the more

things change the more they stay the

same.

| 18 | Small town,big sportsSports fans will tell you that the size of

your city is relative to the amount of big-

time sports in that city.

| 24 | NM SportsHall of FameThe New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame has

announced its class of eight members for

2015.

| 12 | Nordic LanglaufSeveral Durango Nordic Team skiers step

into their skis at the starting line of the

annual Durango Nordic Center langlauf

or, literally translated, the “long race.”

| 22 | Boating rule changes

| 22 | Area Fishing Report

| 26 | Catching up with the county

| 30 | 3-Gun Competition

| 30 | Compete with class

| 31 | March is Boys andGirls Club Month

| 28 | Ty Waborn Memorial Rodeo

| 27 | NMAAscholarships

| 29 | The Golden Football

| 32 | NASCAR Nellie

| 16 | Editorial Columnistby Rick Hoerner

Don Vaughan

PuBlISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele

EDITOR

Rick Hoerner

Dorothy Nobis

Tom Yost

CONTRIBuTING WRITERS

Josh Bishop

Curtis Ray Benally

CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Suzanne Thurman

DESIGNER

Clint Alexander

Tonya Daniell

SAlES STAFF

lacey Waite

ADMINISTRATION

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Call 505.516.1230

www.fourcornerssports.com

Four Corners Sports magazine is published six times ayear by Majestic Media. Material herein may not bereprinted without expressed written consent of the pub-lisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writersare not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FourCorners Sports magazine. Every effort has been madeto ensure the accuracy of this publication. However thepublisher cannot assume responsibility for errors oromissions. © 2016 Four Corners Sports magazine.

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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS

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Please send to

[email protected]

Photo by Curtis Ray Benally

4 Four Corners SPoRTS APRIL 2016

Belle Toney has been a member of The First

Tee of San Juan County, Nm since 2006. She

has advanced to the Eagle Certified Level

within The First Tee Life Skill Curriculum. Toney

has been actively involved with the Junior Re-

serve officer Training Corps (JRoTC) program

at Piedra Vista High School where she is na-

tionally ranked as a marksman. And she will

also be competing for the Class 5A team state

championship in may as a starter on the var-

sity girls golf team.

Pretty impressive feats for a young lady who

is soft-spoken, extremely polite, and is some-

times referred to as “Sweet Belle.” But behind

the respectful and courteous young lady is a

goal-driven perfectionist with a fire and work-

ethic not often seen in young people her age.

She confronts the challenge of each day, and

has for many years, with one driving goal

pushing her since early childhood – the Air

Force Academy.

THE EARLY YEARS

When you ask most children what they want

to be when they grow up, the answer usually is

in the field of police officer, fire fighter or vet-

erinarian. You might be able to count on one

hand the number of times a young child has

said that they want to become a cadet in one of

the United States military academies. But at

the ripe old age of 6, that is exactly what Toney

decided she wanted to do.

“Since I was 6 years old, I knew I wanted to

attend the Air Force Academy,” explained Belle.

“ I was playing with my dolls and needed a

drink of water and as I was walking across the

living room, my dad asked me to stay and

watch this documentary that was playing on

the television about the cadets at the Air Force

Academy.”

Toney was a bit frightened by watching the

documentary where people were getting their

hair shaved off, but as her dad Lorenzo was ex-

plaining what the Air Force Academy was

about, a transcendental moment happened in

a young girl’s life.

“my dad looked at me and said, ‘Belle, I want

you to go there.’” said Belle. “Just those few

words, made me want to do something great

and to do something that made my dad happy.”

Growing up in the Toney family as the oldest

of four children, Belle showed a penchant to-

ward responsibility.

“Belle was a very loving, respectful and re-

sponsible daughter at an early age,” said her

mother Cerelia. “She was very motivated, help-

ful and did everything to the best of her ability.

She took on the role of being the oldest sister

and taking care of her brothers without ever

being asked to.”

“She would pick up on things that needed to

be done,” continued Cerelia. “She even started

doing laundry at 6 years old, which shows just

how independent she was.”

THE FIRST TEE INFLUENCE

Sports was an area that never really piqued

Belle’s interest growing up. Her dad bought

her a set of golf clubs when she was young

and took her to Civitan occasionally, but it did-

n’t stick. She was also involved with swimming,

but even Belle said it was more of an activity

than a sport.

“I just wasn’t a sports gal,” joked Belle.

That is until her mom and dad enrolled her

in The First Tee of San Juan County, Nm as an

8-year-old. She spent summers on the golf

course learning life skills and character values

through a new program that had just been in-

troduced to the area. Toney would spend most

of the next 10 summers in Kirtland at

Riverview Golf Course, honing her skills and

progressing from the Par Level, to Birdie and

TomYOSTThe First Tee

Belle Toney has an impressive list of achievements

limitthe

the sky s’

5Four Corners SPOrTSAPRIL 2016

then Eagle – and she is an Eagle Certified Par-

ticipant today, the highest of any participant

in the program’s history.

“I have learned a lot from The First Tee,” ex-

plained Belle. “I learned how to play golf better

than I ever would have thought I could. I

learned about the Nine Core Values, including

respecting others and the people around you. I

also learned valuable organizational skills that

I use every day.”

Probably the most poignant thing that Toney

has learned about herself through The First

Tee involved patience – which golf either

teaches you or forces you to quit because a

person is lacking in the area.

“Golf taught me that things are not in our

control all of the time, so I learned not to beat

myself up for things that I had no control over,”

continued Belle. “I learned how to be more pa-

tient with myself, which is a lesson that I con-

tinue to use to this day.”

As a 13-year-old, Toney was selected as a

Top 100 Participant nationwide in The First Tee

and attended The National Life Skills and Lead-

ership Academy at Hofstra University.

Not only is Hofstra on the east coast, but it

is located in Long Island, New York – a polar

opposite of Farmington, New Mexico in almost

every way imaginable.

“I was terrified about getting on the plane by

myself as a 13-year-old,” explained Belle. “This

was the first time that I had ever been on a trip

by myself without my parents.”

Once at the academy, Belle lived in the col-

lege dorms for a week, met people from

around the country with whom she still keeps

in touch, and had the chance to experience life

away from home.

“I got to see a world outside of New Mexico

and learn things about myself that I never

knew were inside of me,” explained Belle. “The

trip taught me how to be independent by not

having to rely on others and proving to myself

that I could get on a plane without any adult

supervision – it made me feel more grown up.

It gave me so much self-confidence that I didn’t

have before the trip. It changed my perspective

of what I was able to accomplish on my own.”

As for her golf game, she consistently

shoots in the 80s and is one of the top three

players on one of the top teams in the state at

Piedra Vista High School.

THE WILL TO SUCCEED

Probably the most notable accomplishments

in Belle Toney’s brief life involve her commit-

ment to academic excellence. With the goal set

at an early age to gain acceptance into the Air

Force Academy, Toney put most of her energy

into her schooling.

“As I was growing up, there were many late

nights of homework where, in the back of my

mind, I was always thinking that I wasn’t doing

this just for myself, but for the Air Force Acad-

emy,” explained Belle. “My thought process

was that I was going to make it to the Air Force

Academy and that perfect grades were a step

in making it to my end goal.”

“I knew that school was the most important

aspect of getting accepted into the United

States Military Academies,” continue Belle. “I

was determined to give my best effort on every

assignment and study my butt off to try to get

a perfect grade on each and every test that I

took.”

And, for the most part, the strive for perfec-

tion has kept toney on the path towards great-

ness – but the road has not been without its pot

holes and road blocks.

“I think the toughest part of it all is trying to

overcome the exhaustion,” explained Belle. “As

late as I stay up to get homework and studying

done, I wake up the next morning exhausted and

not motivated to do much of anything that next

day. But to achieve what I want to achieve, I

know that I have to give it my all the next day as

well.”

And if “senior in high school Belle” could go

back in time and offer any advice to “just enter-

ing high school Belle” it would be to warn her of

how difficult it would be.

“I would tell her that high school is difficult –

you go through so many struggles – and that

nothing is going to come easy,” said Belle. “And I would add that you are

going to have to overcome so many obstacles, but even though things are

difficult and you wonder why things are happening, it is because in order

to achieve your goals you have to give your all.”

“oh, and not to stress out so much about every-

thing,” Belle joked.

tHE FUtUrE LooKS BrIGHt

to this day, toney’s resume has awarded her

two nominations from United States representa-

tives from the state of New Mexico to both the Air

Force Academy and the United States Military

Academy at West point. And while she hasn’t been

formally accepted to either as yet, it certainly

would be hard to omit her, based on her resume.

that resume includes a sparkling educational

career, a high school extracurricular list that in-

cludes golf, JrotC and orchestra (did we mention

she plays the viola too?). And if that isn’t enough,

Belle has become an expert air rifle shooter.

the icing on the proverbial cake is Belle’s na-

tional ranking as a marksman, a discipline that

she learned in JrotC, and she has worked hard to

become one of the best in the nation. this fall,

Belle finished first in the Army JrotC postal 3x10

competition in the overall individual precision cat-

egory. In that same category she finished 8th overall, which included all the

other JrotC services (Marines, Navy and Air Force).

Is there anything that this extraordinary young woman cannot accom-

plish? Her dad Lorenzo was overcome with emotion when asked that very

question.

“Every day there is something that she does, something special that she

is involved with,” explained Lorenzo. “She takes so much pride in every-

thing she does. She touches my heart with all of her accomplishments and

I look forward to coming home and hearing what her day was like because

it’s always special.”

Her mother, Cerelia, concurs.

“Her father and I are very proud of all of the accomplishments that she

has achieved. We know we have surprises with her future, but are confi-

dent that Belle will achieve her goals and dreams in the future because of

the choices she makes and how motivated she is.”

And what does the future hold for Belle after college?

“I am planning on graduating from college and going to medical school,”

explained Belle. “I see myself as a cardio-thoracic surgeon.”

the future is indeed bright for Belle toney. Whether she is studying for a

test, shooting her rifle, has a golf club in her hand, or is playing the viola,

the fire that burns inside of her is great and her ability to overcome obsta-

cles to reach her dreams is extraordinary. And through it all, she is still

“Sweet Belle” giving credit to her family for the life she has been awarded.

“I am so very grateful for my parents and the household that I grew up

in,” explained Belle. “I would not have been able to experience all of the op-

portunities in my life if it wasn’t for them. It has made me the person I am

today.”

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There’s an old adage about how the more

things change the more they stay the same.

When it comes to winter sports in San Juan

County, that adage seems to hold. Very little

changed in 5A or 4A basketball and wrestling

was once more dominated locally by the Piedra

Vista Panthers.

Wrestling

In 5A Piedra Vista fell a notch off the podium

finishing second to Belen ending the Panthers

five year winning streak. Individually the Pan-

thers won four individual state championships

led by Wes Rayburn who captured his second

straight individual title at 138 pounds. Dylan

Greenhaus captured the individual title at 120

pounds while Aaron Rino won at 145 earning

back-to-back state championships as well. Al-

berto Marquez capped off the Panthers individ-

ual titles with a win at 195 pounds. PV's Taylor

Atencio and Aztec’s Austin Littlefield finished

second at the state championships.

Like their San Juan County neighbors, Bloom-

field finished second at state in the team compe-

tition just behind Cobre. The Bobcats had two

individual champions with JD Robinson winning

at 182 and Avery Scott at 152 pounds. Levi Whit-

ley finished second at 126, as did Michael De-

herrera in the heavyweight division. Aidan

Cockrell of Kirtland Central won his second con-

secutive individual title beating Ivan Rodriguez of

Cobre at 138. Berry Tom and Cody Manuelito

added second place finishes for the Broncos.

winter sports

reviewLots of wild crowds and great finishes

Girls Basketball

Undoubtedly District 1AAAAA was the toughest division in their

class placing four of five teams in the state tournament bracket.

Gallup was the dominant team taking an undefeated record into the

state tournament. For piedra Vista, Farmington and Aztec it was a

nightly battle with Aztec coming in the second spot followed by pV

and Farmington. the Scorpions made a terrific run in the district

tournament knocking off both piedra Vista and Aztec on their way to

playing for a district title.

Apparently the state committee didn’t think much of the district.

While they gave undefeated Gallup the No. 1 seed, Aztec and pV were

given the 8th and 9th seed respectively meaning the winner would

face Gallup in the next round. Farmington was given a No. 11 seed

and traveled to Moriarty.

With three of the four teams locked together it would insure only

one of those teams moving on to the semifinals. While Farmington fell

at Moriarty, piedra Vista eliminated Aztec and moved on to play No. 1

Gallup.

the panthers gave the Bengals a scare losing only by three with a

chance to tie at the buzzer. Gallup’s coronation on a perfect season

was ended by roswell who knocked off the Bengals in the champi-

onship game.

As tough as District 1AAAAA was, 1AAAA was no slouch. While

Shiprock was once again the district champion, it was far from easy

for the Chieftains. A revitalized Kirtland Central knocked off Shiprock

tying for the district title where Shiprock took the tiebreaker champi-

onship game. Bloomfield put together another great year joining the

two perennial tournament powerhouses with all three teams receiv-

ing top eight seeds and home games. No. 8 Bloomfield knocked off

robertson before falling to No. 1 portales. No. 4 Kirtland eliminated

pojoaque before falling to No. 5 Hope Christian. Meanwhile No. 2

Shiprock breezed their way right to the state title game where heart-

break with the Chieftainsonce again losing by a single possession for

the second time in three years with a 51-48 loss to the Hope Huskies.

At Navajo prep the Eagles were a young team to begin with that got

even less experienced with the loss of senior all everything player

Jasmine Coleman. the Eagles struggled with their always difficult

pre-district schedule but rallied well to finish second in district and a

birth in the state playoffs. the Eagles lost to Cuba in the opening

round as the rams won their first state game in the school’s history.

Boys Basketball

the Farmington Scorpions were the best team in the area finishing

the year with a 22-win season, an undefeated district season and a

No. 4 seed in the state tournament. the defensive minded Scorpions

look poised to make a solid run at the state tournament, but it was

not meant to be for Farmington.

the Scorpions hosted Bernalillo in the opening round and strug-

gled with the Spartans early and then suffered a heartbreaking loss

as the Spartan’s Austin Darnell dropped in the game winner at the

buzzer.

piedra Vista and Gallup joined Farmington in receiving state tour-

nament bids. Gallup lost in the quarterfinals to No. 2 Grants while pV

had to travel to Española where they lost to the eventual state

champs 65-56. In District 1AAAA Bloomfield appeared to be coasting

along with a perfect record in district play.

then what became an unpredictably wild district tournament

began. on the night of the semifinals Wingate, who was only 4-6 in

district, upset the Bobcats.

Across the county Kirtland, whose only losses in district were to

Bloomfield, was being upset by Shiprock. this set up a showdown be-

tween the third and fourth seed in the tournament. Shiprock went on


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to win the championship in a classic three-overtime game.

Shiprock’s elijah Harry scored back-to-back 30-point games to lead the Chief-

tains. State was short for the four teams in 1AAAA. No. 15 Wingate lost at No. 2

robertson. No. 10 Kirtland Central fell at Portales and No. 12 Shiprock couldn’t con-

tinue the magic at Silver.

Only bloomfield survived the opening round with a win over Santa Fe Indian, but

the bobcats lost a back and forth game to West Las Vegas in quarterfinals.

At Navajo Prep it was a season to remember. the eagles won their first regular

season district championship in over 20 years with a 20-6 regular season, more

wins than they had in the previous three seasons combined. Led by junior Nachae

Nez and senior Isaiah Chavez the eagles qualified for the state tournament for the

first time in 15 years and won their first state tournament game in the school’s his-

tory with an overtime win over the No. 7 seed estancia. the eagles season ended

with a loss at state to the eventual state champions texico.

Winter sports are always an exciting season with wild crowds and great finishes.

Changes will be coming for the local teams as reclassification rears its head

again next year.

bloomfield, Piedra Vista and Navajo Prep will most likely pay the price moving up

in class. Prep becomes the smallest school in 4A and joins Shiprock’s district.

bloomfield replaces Farmington in District 1AAAAA and PV moves up to 6A joining

the district that already has powerhouse programs in Cibola, Cleveland, Volcano

Vista and rio rancho.

berrettBENTLEYFArMINGtON HIGH SCHOOL

12 Four Corners SporTS APRIL 2016

Ben BrashearStory and photos

Several Durango Nordic Team skiers step

into their skis at the starting line of the annual

Durango Nordic Center Langlauf or, literally

translated, the “long race.” It is well before

race start as they set out on a “test flight” of

sorts to ensure that they have made the right

choice in wax, LF-4. The wax is intended for

temperatures ranging between -25 degrees

Fahrenheit and 10 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s cold

in the shade, but with the sun out in full force

course conditions are rapidly changing.

In competitive Nordic racing at the junior

level there are standard length courses where

racers compete depending on the style of race

and the associated age category of the racers.

Shorter distances such as the 3K are usually

reserved for the under 10 age bracket, 5-10K

for under 14, 10-15K for under 18 and 15-30K

for under 20.

Today, Gary Colliander head coach of the Du-

rango Nordic Team has asked each of his team

members to face distances at which they have

not normally competed, and any advantage

that they can achieve with the right wax will

prove invaluable.

norDic langlauf: Tough course pushes participants beyond their limits

Durango annual

13Four Corners SporTSAPRIL 2016

The skiers push out hard. The classic skiers

bob up and down with the traditional kick-and-

glide technique firing like pistons and the

skate skiers propel themselves with a rapid

succession of double pole plants and churn

the snow with each skate as they utilize the

powerful V2 double pole technique. They ski

for several hundred yards down the track be-

fore they slow and make their return trip back

to one of three waxing stations set up in the

shade of the Nordic Center.

With the increase in snow temperature it is

becoming much more difficult for the racers

to find that “perfect wax.” Volunteers Miles

Venzara and Greg Lewis frantically scrape wax

from the “slow” running skis and lay down

new coats of wax just minutes before the 10

a.m. race start.

“Glide wax used on the skate skis has a

wider latitude and is easier to work with,” Col-

liander says.

He looks up from “corking-in” kick wax—

burnishing wax into the ski base by using a

square block of cork— to greet one of the jun-

ior racers who has come back to his waxing

station. The racer is critical of the kick wax

that he has chosen, “It’s too slick; there’s not

enough grip,” the racer says to Colliander.

“Kick wax has a much narrower tempera-

ture range and the real challenge today is get-

ting it exactly right,” Colliander smiles.

The Langlauf or marathon distance race

tends to expose the limits of endurance and

mental tenacity of each racer. And, Colliander

has asked just that of his racers, to intention-

ally push themselves farther and harder than

they normally would.

In doing so, Colliander hopes to allow for

each racer making an age category “jump”

next season to become more familiar with the

distance in which they will be competing. It

also serves as an opportunity for them to de-

velop a sense of just how hard they can push

their body for the entirety of the race. “Most

kids have come in at the end of these races re-

alizing that they conserved too much energy,

that they could have gone harder,” he says.

It’s 10 a.m. and the under 18, under 20 15K

racers and the adult 30K racers ready them-

selves “to really suffer,” 30K racer Venzara

says. They all auger their ski poles into the

snow at a steep angle for maximum power to

propel them to the front of the pack. Legs

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twitch beneath their racing tights as they shift

their weight back and forth from one ski to the

next in time with the announcers’ countdown

until he shouts “GO” and they are bolting

around the Lake Loop and toward the first

steep descents of Bench Loop.

“This is a unique course,” Colliander says.

“It’s a really tough course because it is hilly

and it is at altitude. At least the scenery is dis-

tracting and the crowds cheering out here

make it easier.”

The U14 racers quickly line up for the start

of the 5K and then finally the U12 racers, who

have foregone their formal skate attire in favor

of superhero costumes, are sent off on their

3K course.

Only 14:39 minutes in Logan Moore makes

his final descent of the 5K for the U14 boys win

and is followed by Georgia Mynatt for the

women’s U14 at 16:45. Katja Freeburn U18,

takes first for the women’s 10K in 26:24. Mag-

gie Wigton U18 for the 15K women’s sets a fast

time of 44:18 and Abe Ott has nearly a ten-

minute lead over men’s second place in the

15K with a 37:57 finish. For the adults and the

30K race, Greg Lewis takes the win for the men

with a time of 1:24:18 and is closely followed by

second place Miles Venzara at 1:27:03 and

Paige Elliot hot on Venzara’s heels to take the

first place women’s finish at 1:28:01.

“I really had to train for this one a lot,”

Lewis says still trying to recover his breath

after his first place finish. “It’s all strength out

there, your strength is your form and I really

hammered out there for the “W” and you only

get so many of those.” He smiles.

Colliander, after watching the awards, heads

down to pack away the waxing stations; and as

he does so he congratulates several of his kids

as they pass by.

“We only have one more “at-home” race this

season,” Colliander seems to say in disbelief.

“And then we head up to Vail and then the U14

Rocky Mountain Nordic championships in

Aspen,” he says. “From there in the first week

of March are the Junior Nordic National Cham-

pionships in Cable, Wisconsin. There will be

four races and the best of the very best junior

Nordic racers will be competing,” he says.


This month i will be giving my editorial

space away to someone who i’m incredibly

close to in order to vent. So there is witty

repertoire this week. instead i turn my column

over to Navajo Prep boys basketball coach

Rick Hoerner.

So here it is another selection Sunday with

the New Mexico Activities Association and i’m

hunkering down to be once again be com-

pletely disappointed.

Let me just go on record as saying that i

honestly believe the folks that run the NMAA

are caring people who take on a difficult task

and do the best they can. i also honestly be-

lieve that it’s the system that is flawed, not the

people within the system. That being said let’s

step back and look at the

mechanism that is the

NMAA selection process.

if you were to go online

at the NMAA website the

criteria for selection and

seeding appears quite eas-

ily.

So, here it is:

1. Finish in regular

season district play

2. Head to Head

3. Wins against district champions re-

gardless of class

4. Overall Record

5. MaxPreps Freeman Rankings

6. Member School input

The committee will consider these six items

in no particular order. This is supposed to

make the process completely objective, but

here is where the system breaks down.

How does one objectively view teams that

likely have never seen each other let alone

played each other?

Numbers 1 and 4 appear quite easy. Look at

the simple records of the team. But how does

one measure how good one team’s district is

compared to another?

Also how does 7-1, mean 7-1 or is it some-

how measured by human elements like repu-

tation of the district or the team’s history?

Head to Head competition seems easy as

well, but then you see that Dulce beat Laguna

Acoma but then lost to

Navajo Prep.

in the south, the same

thing happened among

many schools. How does

one decide head to head if

they beat each other?

So now it comes down to

the Max Prep rankings,

which are supposed to be

the high school version of

the NcAA’s RPi ratings. Just

one problem with this idea – budgets. This

isn’t the NcAA and most teams don’t have the

ability to travel all over the state in competi-

tion within their own division.

consider this: it’s closer to Denver than it is

to Texico for Navajo Prep to play and there is

little to no chance that most teams at that dis-

tance will ever see each other play.

Finally, it goes to Member Schools input.

This again is flawed. Without the ability to

see each other play, most coaches, this one in-

cluded, turn to the Max Prep Rankings. They

say a team is good so it must be true. i don’t

really have any idea. So as the head coach i

have to derive an argument for where i believe

my team should be placed.

Here is the input from my school.

in the regular season district play Prep fin-

ished 7-1, the fifth best record in class 3A.

Against other district champions, regardless

of class, Prep was undefeated at 3 - 0. The only

other team to go undefeated was No. 1 Lords-

burg…

Prep also has a win against 4A’s sixth

ranked team, Bloomfield. Actually, only three

teams in class 3A have wins against top six

teams in classes above 3A, Lordsburg, Laguna

and Navajo Prep.

There are only 29 teams in the entire state

that have attained 20 wins or more this sea-

son. That should be enough to place Prep in

the top eight seeds and give Prep its first

home state playoff game in its history.

With my input in i settled down with my

Google chrome to watch the selection show.

As it begins to go from class to class it’s ap-

parent the announcers know little to nothing

about any team outside the i-25 corridor or

without a previous reputation.

Multitudes of commentary about corridor

teams, mispronunciations and misinformation

about most others – not a good sign for those

in the northwest.

As the show progresses i begin looking at

teams with 20 plus wins. The 1A all teams with

20 wins got a home game. The 2A exactly the

same so i’m feeling pretty good about playing

at home. But it’s not to be. All the teams in 3A

with 20 wins got a home game, except Prep.

Prep shows up at No. 10 and hits the road to

Estancia. Not happy, but not really shocked ei-

ther. i continue to watch the show. The 4A all

teams with 20 wins get home games. The 5A

has eight teams with 20 wins or more, all

eight got home games and 6A holds serve too.

So 29 teams with 20 or more wins, 28 getting

home games.

RickHOERNEREditorial columnist

The NMAA: It never fails to disappointment

I’ve always been told and believed that complaining without solu-

tions is just whining.

Hence, here is my unique solution - play it out with no selection com-

mittees, no “objective” criteria.

First, each district must decide how they rate their teams, by tourna-

ment or by regular season. Second, drop three games.

third, add two regional tournaments, one in the north and one in the

south, for the top four teams from every district. Have teams bid for

the right to host the tournament. Imagine the crowds for regional tour-

naments held at a single site .

this is what it would look like in Class 3A, but it would be similar in

other classes as well.

Districts 1, 2 and 6 would play in the north regional, let’s say at

Gallup. District champions and a rotating second place team, tohatehi

from District 1 for this example, would get byes.

Everyone else gets brackets by how they finished in district, a higher

seed playing slower seed from another district. then play it out for

places first through fourth. those four teams move on to state. the

same is going on down south with Districts 3, 4 and 5 at a single sight.

When the final eight arrive in Albuquerque they cross bracket. Num-

ber 1 North would play No.4 South, No. 2 North would play No. 3 South,

No. 1 South would play No. 4 North and No. 2 South would play No. 3

North. the winners move on, the losers are done. So there it is, a state

playoff with no seeding, no selections - just playing through with a win

you move on with a loss you go home.

of course this is just a pipe dream. I understand the NMAA’s prof-

itability rests on the state tournament, but just imagine what north and

south regionals would add.

the real problem with our current system is no “eye test.” the selec-

tion committee rarely, if ever, sees teams play and if they do only within

probably a 50 -mile radius. one can’t expect the NMAA to travel the fifth

largest state to see every team.

So while I sit here disappointed, I do understand. But once again the

NMAA did not fail to disappoint me.

post Script: prep defeated No. 7 Estancia, the only lower seed to win

a road game in boy’s 3A. to pat our district on the back, tohatchi and

prep had the two closest tournament games with the eventual state

champion texico Wolverines while being seeded No. 15 and No.10.

��

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Located at 111 N. BehrendFarmington, NM 87401

505-325-9600#OneCall Connects

��

San Juan County’s Choice for Home Care!No Doctor’s Order required!

17Four Corners SportSAPRIL 2016


Steve Bortstein

Sports fans will tell you that the size of your

city is relative to the amount of big-time sports

in that city.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is a perfect example of

a small city (population-wise) that may boast

one of the most historically relevant teams in all

of sports.

The Duke Blue Devils are the most well-known

sports program in Durham, North Carolina, but

the Durham Bulls baseball team, a Triple-A minor

league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, immortal-

ized by the film “Bull Durham,” also call that city

home. The population of Durham makes up

barely 5 percent of the entire state.

Farmington, New Mexico, is a rarity.

A town without a major freeway, presenting

not one, but three, sporting facilities with nation-

ally recognized competition, puts the city in a

very envious spot for sports fans.

Ricketts Park annually hosts the Connie Mack

World Series, one of the most important and in-

fluential amateur baseball events in the country.

Aztec Speedway, with nationally sanctioned

dirt track racing, gets wide support from the

community as well as surrounding states.

But it is SunRay Park and Casino, preparing to

open its newest season of live quarter horse and

thoroughbred action next month, where history

has been made for nearly half a century.

It’s a good debate on a mid-afternoon as to

when precisely the first sanctioned racing was

held on the grounds of McGee Park, just a few

miles east of downtown Farmington.

Some go back to the days of the Mile High

small town big sports

SunRay shines bright light on racing in New Mexico


Mule Races in 1974, some recall the days of the

Four Corners Horseman’s Association meeting in

1972.

One thing is clear, however, with most horse-

men inside the Sports Arena Bar and Grill inside

the casino. Racing has seen its share of defining

moments at this small facility tucked away in

San Juan County, away from the hustle and bus-

tle of tracks in nearby Albuquerque or El Paso,

Texas.

Since 1999, when the track re-opened after a

seven-year hiatus – after racing formerly as San

Juan Downs – SunRay has been the home for

champions and nationally recognized achieve-

ments that very few tracks of its size can boast.

SunRay Park and Casino has been home for

nearly two decades to trainer Chip Woolley, who

saddled Mine That Bird to a shocking win in the

2009 Kentucky Derby.

The Mine That Bird story was later immortal-

ized in film with the movie “50 to 1,” chronicling

the tale of Woolley and the connections of the

storybook winner.

Justin Evans, the leading thoroughbred

trainer in the state of New Mexico for the past

five years, is annually recognized as one of the

winningest conditioners in the country, along-

side names like Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert and

Steve Asmussen.

Peppers Pride owns one of the most presti-

gious records in all of racing, retiring unde-

feated after winning all of her 19 career starts.

She tied the previous record of 16 wins at Sun-

Ray Park in 2008, equaling the record at that

time held by Citation, Cigar and Mister Frisky.

These monumental achievements are the

product of hard work, discipline and determina-

tion, characteristics found at all racetracks, but

also defined at SunRay by the people and their

history.

“There’s a lot of tracks on larger circuits

where people just go to compete, they don’t feel

comfortable at those tracks,” explained SunRay’s

director of racing Lonnie Barber. “(Horsemen)

come here from all different parts of the country

and do well here.”

Trainer Wes Giles, who started his racing ca-

reer in Utah and Wyoming, came to SunRay in

2005. After several years of winning stakes races

locally, his barn has now become one of the top

in the state, as well in the country, achieving its

greatest moment in 2014 when he sent Too Flash

For You out for victory in the $1.9 million All

American Derby at Ruidoso Downs.

“When we (locally based connections) win

races like that, outside of SunRay, the people

here just go nuts,” recalled SunRay general man-

ager Brad Boehm. “Even when there are mo-

ments that aren’t ours, like a Triple Crown

winner, we provide those moments for fans and

horsemen.”

Some of the sport’s most notable jockeys in

history have also appeared at SunRay Park and

Casino, including G. R. Carter, considered by

many in the sport of quarter horse racing to be

the greatest in the game.

Some of the sport’s historically leading ridersChip Woolley

have called New Mexico home, including Breed-

ers’ Cup Classic winner Mike Smith and Ken-

tucky Derby winner pat Valenzuela.

“the quality of riders who have passed

through here at some point is legendary,” Bar-

ber said. “And that speaks not only to them,

but the horses they rode.”

And it is the strength and the quality of rac-

ing that Barber is most proud of in his time as

director of racing.

“We were struggling when I first arrived

here in 2005,” Barber said. “But once we got

things going, eventually we got good horses

and good purses, and that’s what I’m most

proud of.”

Barber’s work at Sunray has been not only

as an executive, but also comes from years on

the backstretch.

“I ran my first horse here in 1978,” Barber

said. “I’d come here with a number of longtime

horsemen between meetings at other tracks just

to get a few races in. I had some great horses

where we’d earn just a couple hundred dollars a

race. Now they’re getting $6,000 a race.”

Barber, who started in horse racing as a

jockey in match races as far back as the

1950s, is an embodiment of the sport’s his-

tory as much as its future.

“(Barber) brings an immense amount of

history to the table,” Boehm said. “I know

when I go to him on racing matters, he’s

going to give me the perspective not only of a

horseman, but also a businessman.”

Sunray park and Casino’s upcoming rac-

ing season, which will open in late April,

serves not only as a chance for locals to

enjoy professional sports, but also provides

hundreds of employment opportunities dur-

ing the near two-month campaign.


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“At least 100 jobs created during the season

just inside the casino,” Boehm said. “That does-

n’t even take into account all the grooms, the

horsemen and their impact on the local econ-

omy.”

With horsemen coming in from many re-

gions around the southwestern United States,

it is common for businesses to see increases

during the racing season, which will run

through June 20.

“We have horsemen coming in from Arizona,

Colorado and not only do they eat here, but

they impact the local businesses as well,”

Boehm said. “It definitely has a ripple effect.”

Like almost any business in a smaller com-

munity, job growth and disposable income

plays a part in the success of that business.

The recent wave of uncertainty in the local

economy has played a role in recent months at

SunRay. In addition to increased competition

from other casinos, SunRay also has had to

deal with the impact of rising unemployment

over the past year.

“Farmington is an oil and gas community, so

we naturally feel the impact here,” Boehm said.

“Everyone has felt the effects in the Four Cor-

ners.”

From both a historical standpoint and eco-

nomic impact, racing at SunRay Park has long

been a staple in the community, but they are

only one of five tracks in the Land of Enchant-

ment.

Ruidoso Downs races during the summer

with their annual season concluding on Labor

Day with the All American Futurity, the richest

race in the world for 2-year-old horses of any

breed.

Sunland Park, located just outside the state

border in El Paso, Texas, runs the longest of

any track in the state, with their current sea-

son having been allotted 72 dates.

Zia Park in Hobbs – the newest of all the

racetracks in the state – races primarily dur-

ing the fall season, with The Downs at Albu-

querque hosting two separate seasons during

the summer months.

Over the years, racing in New Mexico has

also been held at Raton and Santa Fe.

And like SunRay, they’ve all shared their

place in history.

Real Quiet, winner of the Kentucky Derby

and Preakness Stakes in 1998, ran as a 2-year-

old the year prior in the Indian Nations Futurity

Cup at Santa Fe Downs.

The first known racing in the state took

place at Raton, several years before Ruidoso

opened its doors.

Through both the best and worst of eco-

nomic times, racing has played a large eco-

nomic role in New Mexico.


SANTA FE – All boats soon will be subject to inspection and possible

decontamination before launching in New Mexico waters under new

rules adopted to combat the spread of harmful aquatic invasive

species.

The new rules, approved by the State Game Commission took effect

Feb. 12.

Changes to the AIS rules include:

Mandatory watercraft inspection required any time an inspection

station is set up and in operation.

Mandatory inspection and, if necessary, decontamination of all out-

of-state registered watercraft or watercraft re-entering the state of

New Mexico.

Fourteen-day advance notification of intent to transport watercraft

26 feet long or longer into New Mexico.

All boaters are required to “pull the plug” and drain watercraft

when transporting in New Mexico.

Implementation of a voluntary watercraft seal program to expedite

boater access to a waterbody with limited need for inspection.

The amended rules were sought to help combat the spread of highly

destructive aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels, quagga

mussels and other aquatic invasive species.

New Mexico is one of only six western states that remain free of the

invasive mussels, but is surrounded by neighboring states where the

mussels are established.

Invasive mussels attach to structures and grow quickly, clogging

inlet pipes and other equipment.

The most effective deterrent to their spread is to clean, drain and

dry watercraft after each use.

For more information about the rule changes, watercraft inspection

station locations and other news about aquatic invasive species, visit

www.wildlife.state.nm.us/ais or www.facebook.com/aquaticaliens; or

contact the department’s aquatic invasive species coordina-

BOATING RULE CHANGESNew rules approved to combat aquatic invasive species

According to The Jockey Club, the official

breed registry of thoroughbred racing in the

United States, there were more 1,400 thor-

oughbred races held in New Mexico in 2015

with total purse moneys for horsemen ap-

proaching $29 million.

As lofty as those numbers are, they are ac-

tually short of the best year for the sport in the

state, in 2008, when total purse moneys in

thoroughbred racing topped $31.8 million.

How much has racing grown in the state in

recent years?

In 1995, the first year of The Jockey Club’s

study on the state of the business in New Mex-

ico, the total purse money available for thor-

oughbreds was just over $6.6 million.

A far cry still from the 1970s when racing

started in the Four Corners.

SunRay Park and Casino is a far different

racetrack today than it was during the old Mile

High Mule Races, but in many ways the sport is

exactly the same.

Wins and losses are felt by not just horse-

men, but bettors alike. The thrills of winning

and the agonies of defeat come in many differ-

ent ways.

And as one of only a handful of professional

sports in the state, racing has come a long

way.

SunRay continued from 21


Navajo Lake:

Fishing was fair using grubs

and perch and rainbow colored

soft swim baits for northern

pike. Fishing was slow to fair

using roe sacs for rainbow

trout. We had no reports on

other species.

San Juan River:

Water flow below Navajo

Lake on Monday morning was

418 cfs with a visibility of about

two feet. Trout fishing through

the Quality Waters was good

using chamois

leeches,

cream egg

patterns,

BWOs and

small

midges.

Fishing

through the bait waters was

good using worms, salmon

eggs, jerk baits, flashback

pheasant tails, egg patterns

and chamois leeches for trout.

Farmington Lake :

Fishing was good using

PowerBait, salmon eggs, home-

made dough bait and Pistol

Petes for trout. Nonmotorized

watercraft are now allowed on

Farmington Lake . Fees are $50

for the season or $5 daily.

Jackson Lake:

Fishing was slow to fair

using PowerBait for trout.

Jemez Waters:

Stream flow on the Jemez

River near Jemez Springs on

Monday morning was 114 cfs.

Fishing was slow. Fishing on the

Cebolla was good using worms

and small bead-head nymphs.

We had no reports on other

streams in the area.

Area Fishing reports

from New Mexico Fish and Game

San Juan River

Farmingto. nLake

Navajo Lake

24 Four Corners SpORTS APRIL 2016

The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame has

announced its class of eight members for

2015. One of the eight members has a special

place in the hearts of many residents of

Farmington.

On April 3, 2016, Coach Marvin Sanders will

be inducted into the hallowed Hall of Fame

based on his 44 successful years as a basket-

ball coach and as a two-time all-conference

player for Western New Mexico back in the

late 1950s.

Coach Sanders had an unbelievable career

as the head coach for the boys basketball

teams of Hatch, Silver, Lovington and Farming-

ton, as well as one season as the girls coach

at Capital. Sanders amassed the third highest

win total for any coach in the state of New

Mexico by winning 743 games, winning close

to 70 percent of his games all time.

He won his first New Mexico state champi-

onship while at Hatch in 1964 and another

with Silver in 1975. In 1980, his decision to

take the job at Farmington High School

changed the lives of many in our community.

Sanders won 427 games while the head

coach of the Scorpions. From 1980 until he re-

tired in 2004, Sanders’ boys basketball teams

won two Class AAAA State Championships

(1982 and 1986), finished second to Kirtland

Central in 2003, and won nine district champi-

onships, and Sanders was named coach of

the year in 1982 and 1986.

“Coach Sanders was everything you would

expect out of an HOF Coach,” explained former

Farmington High School Baseball Coach and

Athletic Director, Don Lorett. “Coach Sanders

was a scholar of the game strategically which

he demonstrated as a mastermind of the X’s

and O’s. He knew how to put together an out-

standing staff and utilized all of the staff’s

strengths to maximize the athletes’ abilities.

Coach Sanders brought a level of intensity to

Scorpion Basketball that fans loved, and

which they showed by packing the gym every

time they played a game.”

Ron Dalley played for Farmington High

School in the early 1990s and credits Coach

Sanders for making him a better basketball

player and a better man.

“While I was a player in high school he

(Sanders) taught me the importance of work-

ing hard as an individual, getting in shape

physically, and mental toughness,” said Dal-

ley. “He taught me that all the individual hard

work was important, but the team was the ul-

timate goal. I never felt any one person on the

team was more important than the other and

I learned that the team’s success was more

important than my own.”

More important than any wins or champi-

onships, Sanders impacted the young men on

his teams as a positive role model and

molder of wonderful citizens in our commu-

nity.

“Coach Sanders instilled a level of expecta-

tions in his players that challenged them to

become more than what you would imagine

possible,” said Lorett. “He was an outstanding

role model for young men and always

stressed to his players to be champions in

the classroom as well as on the floor.”

Dalley seemed to reiterate all that Lorett

had to say about Coach Sanders and his pas-

sion to make his players better men.

“He had principles, and that has stuck with

me my entire life,” reflected Dalley. “I always

felt like he cared about his players, was inter-

ested in them and what they were doing, and

he tried to be in tune with things in their

lives, whether it was family issues or at

school. Marv always taught us that we repre-

sented our families, our school and our-

selves, and that we better carry ourselves in

a way that would represent them well.”

NM SPORTS HALL OF FAME Marvin Sanders leads list of 2015 inductees

25Four Corners SPORtSAPRIL 2016

Also, Sanders is credited by many local

basketball coaches as a mentor and as the

source of a wealth of knowledge. His legacy

and impact at Farmington High School will

live on for a long time.

“Coach Sanders was a true professional

coach – which developed out of a great re-

spect for amateur athletics,” Lorett contin-

ued. “Coach Sanders dedicated himself to

mentoring young players and coaches in the

game of basketball and helped raise the qual-

ity of the game in New Mexico state-wide.”

Sanders calls Ruidoso home now. He has

the Marv Sanders Invitational named for him

as a winter tournament hosted every year by

Farmington High School.

CARLA GARRett

One of the most distinguished athletes hail-

ing from the state, this 1984 Santa Fe High

graduate – who was an All-American in bas-

ketball and an All-State selection in soccer —

went on to become a 10-time All-American in

track & field at the University of Arizona, and

was the 1989 NCAA national champion during

the indoor season (shot put) and outdoor

season (shot put and discus). She was a

member of the 1991 and ’93 USA team that

competed at the World track & Field champi-

onships those years, and a member of the

USA’s 1992 Olympic team in Barcelona. She

also is a two-time silver-medalist in the World

Weightlifting Championships and the USA

weightlifting champion from 1991-94, in-

ducted into the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame

in 2012 and a 1996 inductee of the University

of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. today, Garrett

is the strength coach at the University of New

Mexico.

RAy BIRMINGHAM

Head coach of the University of New Mexico

baseball team for the last seven seasons,

Coach Birmingham has, including his 18 sea-

sons as the head coach at New Mexico Junior

College in his native Hobbs, where he’d also

coached the College of the Southwest dia-

mond team in 1988-89, been a part of 20

championships; that impressive stat includes

a national title won with the NMJC thunder-

birds in 2005 in Grand Junction, Colo. Prior to

his days at NMJC, he was the head coach at

Mayfield High, where he led the trojans to the

AAAA title in 1981. this won’t be his first Hall

of Fame honor: In 2011, he was named to the

National Junior College Athletic Association

Hall of Fame. Ray has led the Lobos to four

straight NCAA regional appearances and

back-to-back Mountain West championships

(2014, 2015). More than 150 of his former

players have reached the pro ranks, including

2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels

reliever Brendan Donnelly and Seattle

Mariners first-round pick D.J. Peterson

SAM LACey

Lacey becomes the first New Mexico State

University basketball player to be inducted

into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame. A 6-

10 center, Lacey played in 1,002 NBA games —

more than any UNM or NMSU player who

played in the NBA. Drafted in the first round

(fifth overall) of the 1970 NBA Draft by the

Cincinnati Royals, he played 13 seasons

(1970–83) in the NBA for the Royals, Kansas

City Kings, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland

Cavaliers. He is one of only five NBA players

(along with Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius erving,

David Robinson and Ben Wallace) to have reg-

istered 100 blocks and 100 steals in six con-

secutive seasons. His No. 44 jersey was

retired by the Sacramento Kings. When Lacey

retired in 1983, he had accumulated 9,687 re-

bounds and 10,303 points. At NMSU, the Ag-

gies were 74–14 during his three seasons

there. In the 1969-1970 post-season, he and

star guard Jimmy Collins led the Aggies to

their first and only Final Four appearance.

Lacey died March 14, 2014.

LUC LONGLey

One of the most-popular Lobos while play-

ing from 1987-1991 for Dave Bliss, the big guy

averaged 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.6 as-

sists in his senior season, which was high-

lighted by being a first-round draft pick of the

Minnesota timberwolves in 1991. Luc also

played for the Chicago Bulls, where he was a

part of 3 straight NBA titles (1996-1998). At

the age of 19, he played for the Australian na-

tional team in the 1996 Olympics in Seoul,

South Korea, and represented Australia again

in Barcelona in 1992. IN 2006, Luc was in-

ducted into Basketball Australia’s Hall of

Fame in Melbourne. Obviously proud of his

Aussie heritage, he was the first Australian to

play in the NBA, the first to win an NBA title

and has played more NBA games than any

Australian who followed him. All told, Luc

played in 567 NBA games, scored 4,090 points,

grabbed 2,794 rebounds and blocked 549

shots.

eRIC ROANHAUS

Nobody has won more high school football

games than eric Roanhaus, who has (328

+this year) wins in his 38(1978-2015) seasons

as the Clovis Wildcats’ head coach. His teams

have won 10 state championships and been

state runners-up eight times. Coach Roan-

haus was inducted into the New Mexico High

School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996 and he

went into the National High School Coaches

Hall of Fame in 2002. Before arriving in Clovis,

eric has served as a grad assistant at West

texas A&M and an assistant coach for several

sports at Canyon High in Amarillo; he came to

Clovis as a football assistant in 1973, under

head coach Dunny Goode and became Goode’s

* Hall of Fame 34


Former PV coach David Null

dies in HoustonThe coaching fraternity lost another mem-

ber last month. David Null, who was as assis-

tant football and baseball coach at Piedra

Vista passed away suddenly in Houston.

Null left Piedra Vista for a head baseball

coaching position at Jack C Hays High School

in Buda, Texas, where he was the Central

Texas Coach of the Year in 2013. David Null

was not only a val-ued member of the coach-

ing fraternity, he was an extremely good

teacher teaching AP Chemis-try and Physics.

He had a bachelors of science degree from

Texas A&M University in petroleum engineer-

ing. He taught a variety of honors courses

across Texas; including Honors Chemistry at

Rice University.

First annual Spring Frisbee

Golf Tournament

San Juan College HHPC is hosting the 27-

hole tournament from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on

April 2 at the HHPX center 4601 College Blvd.

Come out for this 27-Hole Frisbee Golf

Tournament.

Late registration 8

a.m., tee off at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start.

Pre-registration costa $15. Late registra-

tion costs $20. For more information call 505-

566-3819.

Games to Watch …It’s all about tournaments in the early sea-

son but district is not far away. Here’s what

to look for at the beginning of the spring sea-

son.

Baseball

Traditionally only two local baseball games

matter in the county - Farmington vs Piedra

Vista

April 19 Piedra Vista at Farmington

April 30 Farmington at Piedra Vista

Softball

Every District game matters in 5A. District

play begins on April 8 but here’s two to

watch

April 8 – Aztec at Piedra Vista Double-

header

April 22 – Piedra Vista at Farmington Dou-

bleheader

Track

The best local talent compete against each

other on a weekly basis in San Juan County.

These two track meets are the best of the

best locally

April 22 & 23 – Aztec Invitational

April 30 – 58th Annual Bloomfield Invita-

tional

Tennis

The Scorpions are always the team to

beat, but PV is making strides

April 19 – Piedra Vista at Farmington

Golf

Spring season is never easy with the likeli-

hood of the gentle Four Corner spring

breezes, but for those that have already qual-

ified they can look forward to state right

here at Pinon Hills on May 9 & 10

Cheer & Dance

The second biggest spectator event in the

state takes place on April 1 and 2 as the

state cheer and dance championships take

place at The Pit

Catching Up with the County

ALBUQUErQUE – the New Mexico Activities Association is excited to an-

nounce the recipients of the 2015-2016 NMAA Foundation Scholarships.

the NMAA Foundation will recognize the 16 students receiving these

scholarships during the U.S. Bank State Basketball Championships

which were held March 8-12.

over 250 students applied for the scholarships, with eight receiving

$1,000, six receiving $1,500, and two receiving $2,500. there were seven

different scholarship categories for which students

could submit applications.

the following list details those students who

were selected:

Extraordinary participation Scholarship,

presented by the NMAA Foundation ($2,500 each)

*given to students excelling in athletics, activities, and academics

1. Leanne Calhoon, Estancia

2. Adrianna Sanders, Aztec

“Compete with Class” Scholarships,

presented by the NM National Guard ($1,500 each)

*given to students that exemplify the ideals of sportsmanship & the

Compete with Class initiative

1. Estevan Atencio, Escalante

2. Amanda Schmidt, portales

3. Andre Gomez, Hobbs

4. Kaitlyn romero, Española Valley

Mario Martinez Memorial Scholarship ($1,500 each)

*given to students excelling in athletics and academics within Class A-

3A schools

1. Kyle Idtensohn, Fort Sumner

2. Autumn McMath, Fort Sumner

Dan and Lucille Wood/Gray Gladiator Athletic Scholarship

($1,000 each)

*given to students excelling in athletics and academics

1. raimi Clark, Farmington

2. taylor Bostwick, Melrose

Activities Scholarship ($1,000 each)

*given to students excelling in activities and academics

1. Matthew Bedeaux, East Mountain

2. Morgan Weber, Silver

El richards/Francis Walsh Spirit Scholarship,

presented by Varsity Spirit ($1,000 each)

*given to students excelling in spirit (cheer/dance) and academics

1. Caitlyn McDowell, La Cueva

2. Alyssa Aragon, raton

Swimming & Diving Scholarship,

presented by Streamline Swimstore ($1,000 each)

*given to students excelling in swimming and/or diving and academ-

ics

1. Isabelle runde, Los Alamos

2. Case Schaap, Clovis

the New Mexico Activities Association Foundation was established in

2007 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that

awards scholarships to participants of 13 inter-

scholastic sports and 23 school activities. the pri-

mary mission of the organization is to raise funds

for these endeavors. the Foundation is made up of a Board of Directors

that meets annually. Since its inception, the NMAA Foundation has dis-

tributed over $225,000 in student scholarships.

For additional information pertaining to this announcement, please

contact Dusty Young, NMAA Associate Director at (505) 977-5385 or

[email protected].


NMAA foundation awards $22,000

in student scholarships


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The 10th Annual Ty Way-

born Memorial Rodeo will

be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fri-

day April 1 and Saturday

April 2 at McGee Park Me-

morial Coliseum.

Admission is $10 adult

and 6 and under free

Ty Waybourn was a high

school rodeo competitor

who loved the sport.

Ty was killed at the age

of 16 by a drunk driver on

November 6, 2003. His fa-

ther and siblings bring

this rodeo to San Juan

County each spring in his

memory and to raise awareness in the community about the dangers of

drinking and driving.

Events for the Ty Way-

bourn Rodeo are Bareback,

Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding,

Tie Down Roping, Steer

Wrestling, Ladies Break-

away, Ladies Barrel racing,

Team Roping, and Ribbon

Roping.

For local entries please

call: 505.330.2460 you must

be entered by 5 p.m. on

March 26.

If you want your points to

count towards awards you

have to enter through CES

from 6 to 9 p.m. on March. 28

Net proceeds from this non-profit rodeo go toward scholarships for

local High School rodeo athletes.

TY WAYBORN MEMORIAL RODEO10th annual event is April 1 and 2 at McGee Park

Tom Yost

In September of 2015, the NFL announced an initiative to help cele-

brate the 50th year of the Super Bowl. the Super Bowl High School

Honor Roll was created to help celebrate the high schools of past

Super Bowl players from the prior 50 years of the games.

For each player who played in a Super Bowl, a golden football was

made by Wilson Football Factory and was presented to the high

school where they played. Farmington High School received that foot-

ball and a visit from their football legend, Ralph Neely, in February.

Neely, a 1961 graduate of Farmington High School, was a two-time

all state tackle in New Mexico and earned a scholarship to play foot-

ball at the University of oklahoma. As a member of the Sooner foot-

ball team, Neely earned honors as a two-time All Big 8 Conference

and two-time All- American player.

Neely was drafted by two teams in 1964 – the Baltimore Colts of

the NFL and the Houston oilers of the AFL – but was traded to the Dal-

las Cowboys

where he started

his illustrious ca-

reer in 1965. As an

NFL offensive line-

man (right tackle),

Neely was selected

to the All Rookie

team and then

earned All-pro

honors for four

consecutive years.

Neely made the

pro Bowl twice,

and was a member of two Dallas Cowboy Super Bowl Champion

teams. He retired in 1977 after the Cowboys defeated the Broncos in

Super Bowl XII, concluding an extremely successful 13 year NFL ca-

reer.

Neely was inducted into the New Mexico Hall of Fame in 2014.

In addition to the Wilson Golden Football, Farmington High School

also received a $5,000 grant which will go to the Scorpion Football

program and for a character curriculum to be introduced into the

school.

29Four Corners SpoRtSAPRIL 2016

THE GOLDENFOOTBALL

Farmington High football legend

Ralph Neely returns for celebration


Shooting enthusiasts will have the oppor-

tunity to compete for prizes and trophies at

the Third Annual San Juan County Sheriff’s 3-

Gun Charity Challenge match, set for April 29

through May 1 at the San Juan Wildlife Feder-

ation range, 5652 U.S. Highway 64.

The schedule is:

April 29, 3 to 7:30 p.m.: Registration

April 29, 3 p.m: Course open for walk-thru

April 30, 7:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremony and

Mandatory Safety Meeting at the Range

May 1, 7:30 a.m. Team Stage Begins

Categories include law enforcement, posse

(civilians), match staff, females, juniors

(under 18 years of age), seniors (over 55 and

less than 65 years old), Super Seniors (those

over 65) and military (active duty or retired).

The other individual stages may use one or

more of the tactical firearms available to the

competitor. The final stage is a team stage

where a four-man team engages a variety of

targets ranging from 10 to 100 meters.

Teams are predetermined at or before enter-

ing the match. Businesses that are interested

may sponsor a team or a stage.

The event is

limited to 100

competitors and

is open to public

spectators. Nine

stages (8 individ-

ual stages and 1

team stage) – in-

cluding scenar-

ios, engagement

of various styles

and types of tar-

gets, nine individ-

ual stages and one team stage will be

offered.

The stages are scored using a combination

of target hit scores, penalties and time taken.

The top three teams and top five individuals

in each of the categories will receive prizes

and trophies.

The match fee is $125 if participants regis-

ter before April 15 and $150 after that date.

The U.S. Practical Shooting Asso-

ciation’s 3-gun rules will apply.

For more information contact

3-Gun Coordinator Steve White at

505.320.3048 or visit www.sjcso-

foundation.com/3GUN/Registra-

tion and a walkthrough of the

course will begin at 7 a.m. with a

mandatory safety meeting at 7:30

a.m.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s

Office Foundation is sponsoring

the event and proceeds will benefit the San

Juan County Sheriff’s Office Volunteers In

Partnership Program and the San Juan

Wildlife Federation.

The New Mexico Activities Association has announced that the Lov-

ing High School volleyball team has been recognized as the Compete

with Class award recipient for the month of January 2016.

Jal’s head coach for girls’ basketball and softball, Jimmy

Samaniego, nominated the Falcons.

“I wanted to share with the NMAA what the Loving vol-

leyball team did at our home game in late January. They

presented my wife with a check for $1,000 for breast

cancer awareness. My wife was diagnosed with Stage 3

cancer in October and has been undergoing treatment,”

Samaniego said in the nomination to the NMAA .

He continued by saying, “It was a very special act of

kindness. It was wonderful to see opposing teams come together for

a great cause. We are so thankful for their generous contribution.”

Sportsmanship is defined by the NMAA as the act of treating others

in a respectful manner, taking personal accountability for ones ac-

tions, and responding with integrity while engaged in competition.

The NMAA would like to thank and recognize the Loving High School

volleyball team for setting a great example for the state of New Mex-

ico.

Their act of sportsmanship exemplifies the true

ideals of the Compete with Class Sportsmanship Ini-

tiative - respect, integrity, and responsibility. More

information regarding the “Compete with Class”

sportsmanship initiative can be found on the NMAA

website at www.nmact.org.

Note that the NMAA will announce a monthly honoree throughout

the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year. Questions regarding this

announcement can be directed to Dusty Young, NMAA Associate Direc-

tor, at 505.977.5385.

3-GUN COMPETITIONCharity challenge will benefit San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Foundation

Compete With ClassLoving High School volleyball team is NMAA January honors


On March 1 Farmington Mayor Tommy

Roberts decreed March as Boys & Girls Club

Month. Mayor Roberts and Executive Director

Maria Rodman kicked off the festivities

What started as a boxing club for boys in the

1950s is now a multi-program, diverse organiza-

tion that serves more than 2,000 young people

in the Farmington area.

Founded in 1960, the Boys and Girls Club cele-

brated its 50th anniversary in September of

2010.

At the kickoff festivities Farmington and

Piedra Vista High School cheer teams provided

entertainment for the event.

The Club had more than 650 participants in

its basketball programs and is gearing up for

flag football and volleyball.

This spring the Club is offering flag football

for kindergartners through eighth-grade and

volleyball for fourth graders through eleventh

graders. The Club will also be offering offsea-

son tournaments in basketball and volleyball

and is looking into an indoor soccer league in

the winter and low rim leagues for six foot and

under players looking for the NBA feel of dunk-

ing in a game.

The Club will remain open to all and will con-

tinue to develop programs that will grow to fit

the needs of our community.

Registration for the Club’s Summer Program

begins on April 1st.

FARMINGTON MAYOR NAMES MARCHBoys and Girls Club Month


nn knows how tough it can be to

live paycheck to paycheck, and she un-

derstands why champagne or beer or

soda or energy drinks are tossed about

after a driver wins a race.

the driver and pit crew prob’ly have

straws and suck up whatever beverage is

laying on the ground after everyone has

sprayed everyone else and the television

cameras are gone.

nn, herownself, has been known to have

straws in her not-quite-designer-bag-from-a-

questionable “retailer,” in case someone

spills wine or she “helps” someone spill

wine, so the server person has to move them

to another table while “someone” cleans up

the wine. nn is pretty quick with her straw

and can suck up said wine in a nano-second

when needed. Just sayin. . . .

So, when nn found out on dickipedia what

some of those naSCar drivers make in a

year, she was ready to set up a gofundme ac-

count on their behalf. nn, of course, would

“manage” said account and forward all mon-

eys to the drivers after collecting her admin-

istrative fee. nn is nothing if not a shrew(d)

businesswoman, just so’s ya know.

For instance, ryan newman, one of nn’s

fav’s for years, only made $40 mil last year.

nn doesn’t know how he manages to put food

on the table and daycare for his daughter

with that kind of money. ole rocket Man

should put that “vehicle structure engi-

neering” degree to good use when he re-

tires from naSCar so’s he can make some

real money. nn is putting the newman family

on her Christmas card list and will include a

gift card to taco Bell. nn is nothing if not

considerate.

Kyle Busch, who won the naSCar champi-

onship last season, has a beautiful wife and

a sweet young son and he only brings home

$50 mil a year. no wonder Kyle has to beg for

free tickets to Denver Bronco games – he

can’t afford the hot dogs and beer, let alone

good seats.

and while he prob’ly gets all the M&Ms his

family can eat, you can’t raise a cute young

son or keep a wife beautiful on just choco-

late. and he’s lucky he has to work out, or

eating all those M&Ms could prevent him

from getting through those little windows on

the racecar.

tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick each made

DOLLARS AND SENSE!naSCar nellie isn’t sure how those naSCar drivers get by

ryanNEWMAN tonySTEWART

$70 million bucks last year. that’s not so bad

for tony on accounta he doesn’t have a fam-

ily to feed and care for, but Happy Harvick

has one ‘nother of those beautiful NASCAr

wives, who pro’bly spend as much on

makeup and hair as NN does on wine and

hooker heels. just sayin. . . .

Anyway, Kev prob’ly has a second job to

help make ends meet. NN just hopes he asks

to be paid in unmarked bills like she does, so

the Feds don’t come calling and collecting

what they deem is “theirs” and threaten to

throw your butt in jail if you don’t pay up, and

you have to change your name and move to

another street in Vegas so they can’t find

you. that helped NN once or twice, before the

Feds and the FBi, CiA and Circus Clowns

“gifted” her with an ankle bracelet that tells

them where she is all the time.

NN makes sure she has that bracelet on

when she’s trying on bikinis, on accounta

when they see that video, they don’t bother

her again for weeks at a time. NN heard

through the discount grapevine that when a

coupla of the “agents” assigned to monitor

her bracelet saw her trying on bikinis, they

ran screaming from the “office” where they

are “housed” and were never heard from

again. Whatever.

jimmie johnson made $120 mil and jeff

Gordon made $150 mil last year. that paltry

$150 mil is prob’ly why jeff decided to go into

broadcasting, where the real money is. they

provide the “guys in the booth” with snacks

and clothes and drinks and lotto tickets,

which puts them in a totally different tax

bracket than jeff was.

NN guesses jj gets Lowes gift cards for

special occasions, which is helpful, NN

thinks, when the fam needs a new toilet or

kitchen sink or a carport for his race car.

Dale earnhardt junior is listed as one of

sports richest with an annual income last

year of about $300 mil. NN believes junior is

totally deserving of that kind of money and

prob’ly a lot more than that. in addition to

being the sports most popular driver for like

a gazillion years in a row, junior has a few

‘nother hobbies – his little bar, Whisky river,

has a little spot in the Charlotte-Douglas in-

ternational Airport and was given a little tro-

phy and a plaque stating it is the Best Airport

Bar in America.

NN, herownself, thinks it is sweet of who-

ever voted for Whisky river, on accounta they

prob’ly think, like NN does, that junior should

have all the trophies and plaques and dollars

he can get. it will not surprise anyone who is

a member of junior Nation that Whisky river

won by an online vote. Lest any of you naysay-

ers think that Wr won just on accounta it is

owned by junior, NN will tell you dif’rent.

Wr’s menu includes the Carolina Q Burger,

chipotle queso and junior’s “signature bar-

becue sauce.”

that’s enough to get NN in the baggage

compartment or overhead compartment of

any airplane that’s heading to Charlotte-Dou-

glas and apply for a job at what is now the

most popular bar in the world. And NN is al-

lergic to work and even applying for a job

makes her break out in huge red spots and

sweat like a pig on a roasting thingey.

one ‘nother thing NN learned on Dicki –

junior always wanted a tree house, so he

had one built. isn’t that just the coolest

thing? ‘Cept junior’s tree house, which is on

his Dirty mo Acres, was built by an engineer-

ing company (junior shoulda thought about

hiring ryan Newman to build it and kept the

money in the family). He and his engineer

friends picked out a coupla trees and made

plans to fit the trees.

junior did his part, by cutting the “struc-

tural steel” and “tackwelded” ‘em together

for his little home-away-from-home, which

sits about 20 feet off the ground and has a

front porch.

junior’s tree house that has a staircase,

that needed “sliders” to keep it from swaying

in the wind. NN thinks junior prob’ly played

with Lincoln Logs and maybe Legos when he

was a little boy. if junior were a builder, he’d

be the builder’s most popular builder. just

sayin. . .

Kevin Harvick and his lovely wife DeLana,

bought a little management company to help

with their household finances. the company

manages miesha tate, who is an Ultimate

Fighting Championship fighter, who fought

New mexico’s Holly Holm in the women’s Ban-

tam o-weight division in Vegas a coupla

weeks ago. the Harvicks gifted junior and

his bride-to-be Amy free tickets, which gave

junior and Amy a little something to do when

NASCAr was in Vegas recently. that’s what

friends are for, donchathink?

NN thinks NASCAr needs to create a “go-

fund’em” account for drivers who make less

than $200 mil a year, so fans can donate to

them, in addition to buying tickets to NASCAr

races for hundreds of dollars.

or add a “driver fee” to ticket prices –

fans would understand and would gladly pay

it.

Well, not all fans. But junior Nation would.

junior Nation would have a bake sale, yard

sales and sell Frito pies at races if they

thought junior, the sports most popular

driver, needed the money. For reals.


jimmieJOHNSON

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successor when Goode took the head job at Eastern New Mexico Uni-

versity. In 1985, he was named the National High School Coach of the

Year by the National Sports Service in Phoenix. A member of the New

Mexico Officials Association for 17 years, Eric often wears stripes and

serves as a high school basketball official in the winter.

HENrY TAfOYA

Born and raised in Albuquerque, “Henry T” was a three-sport ath-

lete and Sandia High School, where he was a quarterback and defen-

sive back for the Matadors, as well as an All-City baseball player and

the Matadors’ point guard on the hardwood. Around the Land of En-

chantment, though, Henry T is best known as a radio and television

broadcaster and once the voice of the Lobos at KOB-TV from 1977-98.

In 1990, he co-founded Albuquerque’s first all-sports radio station

(KDEf-AM) and hosted a daily call-in show, as well as doing broad-

casting of youth and high school games on the radio for over 37

years. He is a former winner of the New Mexico “Sportscaster of the

Year” award and a two-time winner of the Play-by-Play award from

the New Mexico’s Broadcasters Association. On Saturdays from 11

a.m. to 1 p.m. he hosts “Henry T Time” on ESPN radio, continuing his

legacy and “legend” status behind the mic.

fLO VALDEz

This roswell High School graduate has led her volleyball teams to

985 match victories through 42 seasons – 367 matches won at

roswell High School and 618 matches won at El Paso franklin High

School – setting the standard for volleyball success in the Southwest.

Strangely, Valdez never actually played volleyball. But in order to

coach her favorite sport, club basketball – well before Title IX and

when teachers coached multiple sports — she had to agree to coach

volleyball in 1974. She was the first women inducted to the New Mex-

ico Coaches Hall of Honor, the founder of the North/South volleyball

all-star matches, and a three-time roswell High School championship

team coach. She was the New Mexico High School Coaches Associa-

tion Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1993. Valdez also has

coached track & field, and gymnastics, in addition to basketball and

volleyball. Valdez was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Coaches Hall

of fame in 2010.

Hall of Fame continued from 25

four corners sports april 2016

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