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The stars were shining bright on Friday night as about 120 student-athletes and coaches from the region were honored before hundreds of family members and friends.
The Navajo Times hosted its 2007-08 Winter Sports All-Area All-Star awards ceremony at the Red Rock Convention Center in recognition of achievements in basketball and wrestling.
 All-Stars photos » |
Former Navajo Nation President and Navajo Tribal Chairman Peterson Zah served as the guest speaker and was joined onstage by Miss Navajo Nation 2007-08, Jonathea Tso.
Zah, a special advisor on American Indian affairs for the Arizona State University president, encouraged the student-athletes not only to be successful in athletics but also in their education and in life.
He said that just because the basketball and wrestling seasons were over, they should not stop trying to be the best that they can be and should strive to be good students and responsible citizens.
Zah also encouraged the young men and women to be respectful and to remember to thank all the people who helped them to succeed.
Tso warned the student-athletes to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to be fully aware of their surroundings. She said young people face many temptations and peer pressure and one way to help them is to let them know that they are cared for and loved.
In wrestling, three wrestlers of the year awards in three separate weight categories were named.
In the 103- to 130-pound category, sophomore Sean Garcia of Page was selected. Garcia, who wrestles at 103 pounds, was the Arizona state champion in Class 4A Division II. He finished the regular season undefeated at 16-0 and was the Grand Canyon Conference champion.
Kirtland Central senior Vince White was named outstanding wrestler in the middleweight division (135 to 160 pounds). White finished the season 40-1 and was crowned the New Mexico state champion at 135 pounds. He also placed first at the Farmington, Piedra Vista, Pagosa Springs and Kirtland Central tournaments.
Senior heavyweight Byron Becenti of Kirtland Central was voted the outstanding wrestler in the heavyweight division (171 to 275 pounds). Becenti won the New Mexico state championship and was also the champion at Farmington, Piedra Vista, Pagosa Springs and the Kirtland Central tournaments. He finished the season with a 40-1 and was named a high school All-America.
Justin Hartman of Winslow and Chris Begay of Wingate were selected as the Navajo Times wrestling coaches of the year.
This is the second year in a row that Hartman has received this honor. He led the Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive 3A North Region championship and to a third place finish at the Arizona State Wrestling Championships.
Hartman is also a candidate for the National Coaches Association's Coach of the Year honor in Section 8 that consists of Utah, Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Arizona. The winner will be announced in May.
Begay led the Bears to a fifth place finish at the New Mexico 1A/2A state championships.
In girls basketball, Dayon Hall-Jones of Kirtland Central is the Navajo Times girls basketball player of the year. Hall, a senior, led Kirtland Central, scoring 546 points during the season and averaging 17.6 points per game. She was 84.5 percent from the free-throw line. She shot 43.8 percent from the field. She sparked the Lady Broncos to a New Mexico Class 4A state runner-up finish.
Coaches Charles Kromer of Kirtland Central and Don Petranovich of Winslow were voted the Navajo Times girls coaches of the year.
Kromer led the Lady Broncos to 27-4 season record and a district record of 9-0. The Lady Broncos were district champions and lost in the state championship game to St. Pius, 57-48.
Petranovich guided the Lady Bulldogs to the Arizona Class 3A girls state championship, defeating Ganado54-50. Winslow had a season record of 26-5 and a region record of 10-2.
In boys basketball, Reggie Todachine of Monument Valley-Kayenta and Alfonso Hubbard of Gallup, were selected as the boys basketball players of the year.
Todachine, a senior, averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Mustangs and sparked his team to a first place finish in the 3A North Region regular season. He was voted the 3A North Region player of the year and was also named honorable mention by the The Arizona Republic's All-State selections.
Hubbard, a junior, averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game for the Bengals. On defense, he chalked up three blocks and three steals per outing. Hubbard was named to the All-District 1-5A team and was also selected for the New Mexico All-State team.
In his first year as the head coach of the Mustangs, Jacob Holiday guided Monument Valley to a record of 21-7 and a region record of 11-1. Monument Valley was defeated by Chinle in the second round of the Arizona Class 3A state tournament, 56-52. Holiday was chosen by his peers as the 3A North Region coach of the year.