7 local athletes play in Native all-star game

It's always nice to go out with a bang.

That's why four Monument Valley High and three Shiprock High football players traveled to Muskogee, Okla., to play in the 8th Annual Native American All-Star Game last week.

The seven were selected and invited to play in the annual football game that includes a week of practice at Bacone College and finished with the all-star game.

Monument Valley head football coach Bryan Begay said it was the opportunity of a lifetime for the players.

"I think that the first was to try something new, to go across country, see Texas and Oklahoma, basically get out of the Four Corners," Begay said.

"Second was to play football again one last time," he said. "For some of them, kids that recently graduated, they were highly competitive and love the game of football."

The Monument Valley players were Jonathan Delmar, Shayn Begay, Kendrick Kescoli and Michael Williams.

Bryan Begay said he notified them of their selection and it was up to them if they wanted to go. They were quick to say yes and registered online. Lodging and food was provided and all they had to worry about was getting themselves to Oklahoma and back.

Monument Valley has had seven previous players participate in the all-star game in the last three years.

This year was special for Monument Valley as Delmar was named the all-star game MVP with three touchdown passes.

The 18-year-old, bound for Haskell Indian Nations University, said the award surprised him.

"I was surprised throwing three touchdowns and I just owe it to my receivers," he said. "I thought it was going to be my last time playing football. I just wanted to see how the other Natives were. It was fun."

Bryan Begay said the players met other players, were exposed to other cultures and saw what Native competition was like somewhere else.

The three players from Shiprock were Wesley Ben, Warren Reuben and Steven Bekis.

For Ben, also a Haskell-bound, it was a personal test.

"It was a good experience to see what's out there, to see the competition out there," he said, "see if I'm up there with other guys around the country. I just wanted to show my skills."

The players arrived on Sunday, June 18, and stayed until the 25th. They spent the week practicing and tried out for positions on either the red or white team.

Ben, Reuben, Kescoli and Delmar were placed on the red team while Williams, Bekis and Begay were on the white team.

With his three touchdown passes Delmar helped the red team to a 26-0 victory over the white team.

Bryan Begay drove to Oklahoma to watch his players.

"The big thing was that I was really honored that they got to play," he said. "These kids were awesome. They go to play one more time now they're going to go on to college and hopefully they get their four-year degrees."

Back to top ^