From an individual state wrestling championship to a stunning upset in one of the final games played at Ron Wright Memorial Gym, the winter sports season had it all. Below is a recap of teams’ results, as well as highlights from the past four months.
Panthers grapplers roll into state tournament
In terms of individual and team success, no M-CHS athletic program was better than the school’s varsity wrestling team.
Competing in four duals, three dual tournaments and six elimination tournaments over the course of the 2014-15 season, Panthers wrestlers notched numerous individual victories and qualified four wrestlers for state.
Among the season’s highlights performance of 182-pound senior Seager Oliver, who won 38 of his 41 matches and captured his second consecutive state championship. Oliver dislocated his shoulder in the state semifinals, but managed to defeat Eagle Valley’s Devin Ward 4-0 in the finals.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Oliver after his state championship victory. “I can’t even explain it. It’s so awesome. If I knew how to cry, I would.”
Other M-CHS wrestlers that qualified for state included 138-pound sophomore Josh Ramos, 152-pound senior Justice Ramos and 160-pound senior Andrew Finch.
Although M-CHS will graduate five seniors before next season, 106-pound junior Colton Reynolds (30-13) and heavyweight junior Victor Perez (18-10) will return to lead what figures to be a solid M-CHS team next season.
Lady Panthers improve on hardwood
After moving down to Class 3A and joining the Intermountain League prior to the 2014-15 season, the M-CHS girls basketball team accumulated a 9-13 record and finished fourth at their District Tournament.
Among the season’s highlights were consecutive wins over Hotchkiss, Monticello, Shiprock Northwest and Aztec, which gave the Lady Panthers a 4-2 record heading into Christmas break.
M-CHS’s 39-35 victory over Monte Vista in the second round of the District Tournament also served as one of the season’s high points because of the fact that Monte Vista had defeated the Lady Panthers twice earlier in the season.
Although M-CHS will lose six key seniors to graduation prior to next season, junior point guard Kiselya Plewe and junior forward Tayla Topaha will return to anchor next year’s team.
M-CHS boys basketball team struggles
From a win/loss perspective, the 2014-15 season was not a good one for the M-CHS boys basketball team, which finished the year with a 6-15 record under first-year head coach Michael Hall.
The Panthers did produce their fair share of highlights however, including a three-game winning streak to open the season and a 58-51 home victory over Durango in the final game between the two rivals at Ron Wright Memorial Gym.
“This was the last time we were going to play Durango in our home gym,” said senior forward Walter Parker. “We had to make a statement, and it was insane.”
Although M-CHS will graduate six seniors prior to next season, the Panthers could be competitive next year as junior point guard Aron Engel will return from an injury and promising sophomore center Seth Long will have another year under his belt.
Lady Panthers swimmers return to state
While the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls swim team did not win a meet over the course of the 2014-15 season, the team broke five school records and qualified individuals for state for the first time in 15 years.
Among the team’s qualifiers were seniors Madison VanBibber and Elana Cope, junior Kayla Hageman, sophomores Bailey Duran and Samantha Bagge and freshman Caisey Duran.
Vanbibber finished 26th in the 50-yard freestyle (26.13) at the Class 4A State Championships and Bagge finished 33rd in the 200-yard freestyle (2:08.61).
“I’m really excited for the team…because we put in so much hard work,” said Bagge after she and her teammates qualified for state.