Times honors the best in winter sports
By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, March 28, 2013
(Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
TOP: Window Rock Scout Kyler Ashley looks for an opening through Show Low's defense on Feb. 15 at the NAU Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz.
SECOND FROM TOP: Laguna-Acoma's Anthony Carpio gets up high in the air for a lay-up during the New Mexico Class 2A boys state championship game played on March 16 at the UNM Pit in Albuquerque.
THIRD FROM TOP: Window Rock's Jeremy Jesus racked up three straight wins before falling in the finals of the 182-pound category during the Arizona Division IV state wrestling tournament early last month.
T welve days ago the curtain for the winter portion of high school sports officially came to a close when the New Mexico Activities Association concluded its final basketball game.
And if you're counting, it took five long months to finally reach this stage but for many that long procession started long before the start of the winter sports season.
In the preceding months, a lot of the basketball teams committed their time, effort and skills to off-season workouts. And on the wrestling mat some student-athletes stayed active by participating in other sports such as football and cross-country running.
To help celebrate their achievements, the Navajo Times will honor the 30 best area wrestlers and the 45 best boys and girls basketball players at an awards ceremony scheduled for April 4 at the Phil Thomas Performing Arts Center in Shiprock, N.M.
This year, the Times' sports department made several changes in the selection process by first naming the Top 12 All-Stars of each sport, followed by an honorable mention list.
The Times staff will announce the players and coaches of the year during the ceremony. Doors will be open at 10 a.m.
All listed athletes are encouraged to bring their school uniform tops for a photo session, which will begin promptly at 11 a.m. The awards presentation will begin at noon.
This event is free and open to the public. Photos and an article of the winners will be published in the April 12 edition of the Times.
Information: 928-871-1130.
Wrestling
The Piedra Vista wrestling team once again dominated the New Mexico Class 4A field and won its third straight state crown. The Panthers had 11 wrestlers that made the podium with five of them finishing in first place.
With that the Panthers lead our all-star list. The top 12 wrestlers include:
Adam Lucero, Aztec (170)
Orrin Kennedy, Bloomfield (220)
Troy Rightmire, Bloomfield (132)
Kemp Todacheene, Page (132)
Aaron Herder, Parker (113)
Ryan Shatto, Parker (138)
Jacob Palmgren, Piedra Vista (120)
Anthony Juckus, Piedra Vista (132)
Ryan Rino, Piedra Vista (152)
Wyatt Hardy, Piedra Vista (160)
Christian Acosta, Piedra Vista (220)
Jeremy Jesus, Window Rock (182)
Honorable mention
Joshua Smith, Chinle (285)
Jerome Crowther, Coconino (170)
Essiel Carrasco, Farmington (170)
Layne Curley, Ganado (145)
Shem Bowman, Holbrook (195)
Adams Laban, Hopi (113),
Sam Chee, Kirtland Central (145)
Landon Yazzie, Newcomb (220)
Lamar Begay, Many Farms (106)
Toshio Herrera, Miyamura (106)
Brandon Gray, Miyamura (220)
Lakota Laugher, Monument Valley (182)
Julius Descheenie, Page (152)
Deandrew Teller, Pinon (120)
Alex Benally, Shiprock (160)
Frankie Begaye, Tuba City (138)
Quenton James, Wingate (126)
Jace Hardy, Winslow (160)
Boys basketball
The Laguna-Acoma Hawks were the only boys team in the area to hoist a state championship title. The Navajo Times' top 12 boys basketball players are:
Searle Tracy, Chinle
Darren Spencer, Gallup
Dominic Martinez, Gallup
Anthony Carpio, Laguna-Acoma
Austin Jones, Laguna-Acoma
Tyrell Morgan, Ramah
Sean Jordan, Ramah
Patdric Toehe, Shiprock
Seth Watuema, To'hajiilee
Shawn Murphy, Tohatchi
Corey Quigley, Valley
Kyler Ashley, Window Rock
Honorable mention
Matt Crockett, Bloomfield
Wyatt Tuni, Chinle
Kevin Yazzie, Chinle
Justin Largo, Crownpoint
Quentin Benally, Crownpoint
Matt Huffhines, Farmington
Lionel Kinsel, Gallup
Jarvison Clay, Ganado
Kyle Chee, Holbrook
Rex Yellow, Hopi
Augutus Cuch, Laguna-Acoma
Clayton Yazzie, Monument Valley
Collin Tompson, Navajo Pine
Jacob Armijo, Piedra Vista
Tyrell Henio, Pine Hill
Cody Manybeads, Pinon
Mathias Milford, Rehoboth
Ernesto Gonzales, Red Mesa
Owen King, Red Mesa
Jarrett John, Rock Point
Hiram Gleason, Shiprock
Zachary Kitseally, Shiprock NW
Shanton Yazzie, Thoreau
Christian Apachito, To'hajiilee
Marcus Burbank, Tohatchi
Kevin Wylie, Tohatchi
Alonzo Thompson, Tuba City
Tristin Begay, Tuba City
Dominique Dale, Window Rock
Darren Ashley, Window Rock
Ian Bahe, Window Rock
Rashaan Beyal, Wingate
Kyle Jones, Wingate
Girls basketball
After coming up short in their state title runs last season, the Winslow Lady Bulldogs and the Navajo Pine Lady Warriors validated their season by winning their respective crowns.
The Lady Bulldogs earned the tournament's top seed in the Division III bracket in Arizona and beat Valley High in Sanders, Ariz., 45-40, late last month for the title.
Navajo Pine, meanwhile, outlasted Laguna-Acoma by a 64-57 count for the New Mexico Class 2A state crown.
The Navajo Times' top 12 girls basketball players are:
Jessica Paz, Holbrook
Raquel Aquino, Laguna-Acoma
Tinaya Murphy, Los Lunas
Heidi Nelson, Monument Valley, Utah
Demetria Clichee, Navajo Pine
Jessica Anderson, Page
Taylor Henderson, Shiprock
Ashley Lomavaya, Tuba City
Adrinna Nez, Valley
Aspen Shepherd, Window Rock
Shandiin Armao, Winslow
Mattea Begaii, Winslow
Honorable mention
Kristen Begay, Chinle
Rynelle Chavez, Crownpoint
Ni'Asia McIntosh, Gallup
Shanel Begay, Gallup
Kaynasa Curley, Holbrook
Teyah Goldtooth, Holbrook
Megan Joe, Hope Christian
Taylor Billey, Kirtland Central
Randi Romero, Laguna-Acoma
Briana Clah, Many Farms
Alecia Begay, Many Farms
Presleigh Smiley, Miyamura
Danielle Chee, Miyamura
Deezhi Thinn, Monument Valley
Kaitlyn Chee, Navajo Pine
Kaleigh Graham, Piedra Vista
Jordan Lewis, Ramah
Rosheena Curley, Rock Point
Arthene Hummingbird, Rock Point
Danielle Nelson, Santa Fe Indian
Bridget Lee, Santa Fe Indian
Ashley John, Shiprock
Brooke Overturf, St. Michaels
Cierra Moore, St. Michaels
Tristine Wilber, Thoreau
Tate Tsinigine, Tuba City
Kristan Quigley, Valley
Chelena Betoney, Valley
Arianne Sheka, Window Rock
Gervanna Begay, Wingate
Halle Hayes, Winslow
Marcella Joe, Winslow
Tamara Homer, Zuni