Lamar Winter Sports Preview 2011

1
LAMAR WINTER SPORTS 2011, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 ...

SPECIAL SECTION
WINTER
SPORTS
PREVIEW
2011
The Lamar Ledger
1
WILEY BASKETBALL
Panthers hope to turn it around
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
The Wiley Panthers have
battled through a couple of
tough years in boys basket-
ball.
If want to means anything,
the Panthers ought to be able
to improve on their 3-16 re-
cord from a year ago.
Wiley will be led by their
two leading scorers from a
year ago. Junior Kody Wall-
ace, a 6-1 gym rat according to
veteran coach Brian Dunning,
will lead the way, while fellow
junior Matt Aguilera will add
quickness and some defensive
toughness.
Those two guys will defi-
nitely be our go-to guys, said
Dunning. It will be important
for them to keep our team
going and provide the leader-
ship that we need.
Wiley will have some good
size in the paint with the likes
of Patrick Gonzales, a 5-11,
240 sophomore. Caleb Herre-
ra, a 6-3 junior, will add addi-
tional size and some shooting
touch.
The Panthers only senior,
Alex Mullins, will see time in
the starting rotation as well.
Dunning hopes that junior
Eric Marquez, sophomore
Zach Sparks, and freshman
Seaton Wollert will all contrib-
ute valuable minutes as well.
I want these guys to im-
prove every single day. That is
out number one goal, Dun-
ning said. I think that if they
continue with the work ethic
they have displayed so far,
that we can really surprise
some people. We want to be a
tough out for everyone that we
play. I think that it is very im-
portant that we continue in de-
veloping our mental approach
and great attitude.
With only 13 players out,
the boys will play one half of
JV games to give their youn-
ger players more playing time.
Robin Prosser Courtesy photo
WILEY PANTHERS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Matthew Aguilera, Tristen Travis, Alex Mullins, Omar Ayala, Joel Souders, and
Colten Fagan. Back row, l-r, Erick Marquez, Ken-neth Dellamaestra, Zachary Sparks, Seton Wollert, Kody Wallace, Zane Tempel, Patrick
Gonzales, and Dominic Tombleson.
Lady Panthers loaded for another strong run
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
Certainly one of the power-
house teams in southeastern
Colorado this year will be the
Wiley High School girls bas-
ketball team.
Coming off their second
straight appearance in the
Class 1A state tournament, the
Lady Panthers, 16-9 a year
ago, might have a chip on
their shoulder proving that
their quick exit at state a year
ago was an anomaly.
Returning three starters and
plenty of firepower off last
years bench, Wiley will cer-
tainly be one of the teams to
beat in District 3 and the area.
The Lady Panthers, the
2010 state tournament runner-
up, had many up-and-down
moments a year ago.
One of our problems a year
ago was that we were just too
balanced almost, said Wileys
Brian Dunning, the only coach
in the area doing double duty,
serving as head coach for both
the boys and girls. It turned
out to be our Achilles heel, in
that we didnt have a go-to girl
when it came down to crunch
time. And it showed in our big
games. We lost several games
last year that we shouldnt
have lost.
Their leading scorer from a
year ago, 6-0 senior Taylin
Spitzer, returns to lead the
way for the Lady Panthers. Av-
eraging just over 10 points a
game a year ago, Dunning
would like to see her improve
on that figure this year.
Teri Johnsen, a 5-10 junior,
returns as well, and she will
provide valuable scoring in-
side and out.
Diminutive point guard Kim
States will guide the Lady Pan-
thers offense and also provide
some tough defensive leader-
ship.
Senior Desiree Daniels will
be tough under the basket
along with juniors Beth
McDougal and Amber Torrez
to give Wiley a strong group in
the paint.
Senior Erika Ragland, along
with juniors Sabra Perdue and
Maggie Schneider, will give
Dunning an equally strong
core to work with outside.
I think that it is really im-
portant that this group stay fo-
cused; that means every day at
practice and every game that
we play, said Dunning. We
want to get away from that
roller coaster that we were on
last year. We have never been
district champions, and that is
certainly one of our goals.
Robin Prosser Courtesy photo
WILEY LADY PANTHERS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Bailey Dodson, Kim States, Jessica Millspaugh, and Kenya Almanza.
Middle row, l-r, Laura Brau, Amber Torrez, and Erika Ragland. Back row, l-r, Jordan Sniff, Maggie Schneider, Jayla Reed, Teri Johnsen,
Taylin Spitzer, Desiree Daniels, Beth McDougal, and Sabra Perdue.
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2
LAMAR WRESTLING
John Contreras The Lamar Ledger
LAMAR SAVAGES WRESTLING TEAM: Front row, l-r, Chris Weber Johnson, Cameron Batterton, Zach Kane, Cesar Serrano, Oscar Soto, and Jordan Jara. Middle row, l-r, Gerardo Soto, Kyle Hicks, Anthony
Galindo, Kaleb Hansen, Draven Adame, Hector Alvarado, Colin Mahanay, and Derrick Adame. Back row, l-r, Erik Nieschburg, Kenny Stoto, Tanner Crist, Cory Burton, Taylor Jara, Isaac Lyons, Santana
Salazar, Hector Morales, and Zeb Harvey. Not pictured Kaylen Montoya, Mario Morales, Skyler Collins, Jason Terrell, Nick Grasmick, and Chris Hicks.
The Lamar High School
wrestling team is set to start
their 2011-2012 season with a
dual at Rocky Ford on Thursday,
Dec. 1. Following the dual, the
Savages will back in Rocky Ford
on Saturday for the Meloneers
Dual Tournament at 9 a.m.
Lamar will have five state
qualifiers and four state placers
back on the mat this season.
The group includes, left to right,
Erik Nieschburg, Tylor Jara,
Hector Morales (back), Darrick
Adame, and Zeb Harvey. Adame
placed second at state while
Jara, Morales, and Harvey all
placed fifth in their respective
weight classes.
Lamar matmen return good nucelus
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
The Lamar High School
wrestling team has enjoyed
success the past two seasons.
The Savages are coming off
back-to-back second place fin-
ishes in the Class 3A state
tournament and Lamar coach
Greg Eddy would like nothing
more than to climb the top of
the mountain.
Last year it was Alamosa,
who dropped down from Class
4A to 3A, and went on to win
last years state team title with
178 points to secure the
schools eighth state wrestling
championship.
The race for second place
was a close one as Lamar held
on to nip Berthoud by two
points, 122
1
2 to 120
1
2 points.
Alamosa had a great team
and kind of ran away with it
last year, said Eddy. Theyll
be tough again this year along
with Olathe, Centauri, and Val-
ley.
Lamar had 10 wrestlers en-
tered in last years state tour-
nament and seven of them
placed.
The Savages graduated five
seniors including state cham-
pion Darrian Adame at 135
pounds. Other seniors placing
last year were Remington
Stocking who placed fourth at
140 and Emilio Carrillo, who
finished fifth at 189 pounds.
Bailey Spitz and Tanner Has-
ser were also two seniors that
competed at state for Lamar
but failed to place.
We had two good years in a
row and weve got a few of
those kids back from last
years team, said Coach
Eddy. Were excited to see if
we can improve on the per-
formances they had last year.
Well also need some young
kids to step up and hopefully
we can stay in the top five.
This season, Lamar will be
spearheaded by five returning
state qualifiers including four
that placed.
Darrick Adame, a senior,
will pave the way after he
placed second in the
125-pound weight class a year
ago.
Other returning state
placers will include seniors
Zeb Harvey, Tylor Jara, and
Hector Morales.
Harvey placed fifth at 145,
Jara was fifth at 215, and Mo-
rales was fifth at 285.
Also qualifying for last
years state tournament was
Erik Nieschburg, another sen-
ior on this years team. He was
one match of reaching the
medal round.
Jordan Jara also returns as a
starter for the Savages. As a
freshman, Jara wrestled at 119
pounds and is coming off a
fifth place finish in the Class
3A Region 3 Tournament.
This season, Lamar head
coach Greg Eddy has 29 pros-
pects in the wrestling room
and has a good mix of upper-
classmen and lower classmen.
Weve got seven seniors on
the team this year and a lot of
young kids in the practice
room. So its a good mix, said
Eddy.
The following wrestlers will
be vying at the following
weights:
106 Cameron Batterton,
fr.; Kalen Montoya, fr.
113 Anthony Galindo, fr.;
Chris Johnson, soph.
120 Caleb Hansen, fr.;
Skyler Collins, soph.
126 Jordan Jara, soph.
132 Draven Adame, Hec-
tor Alvardo, Zack Kane,an Os-
car Soto, all freshmen.
138 Darrick Adame, sr.
145 Cory Burton, fr.,;Ce-
sar Serrano, soph.
152 Zeb Harvey, sr.,
Casey Emick, fr.; Jason Terre-
ll, soph.
160 Collin Mahaney,
soph.; Nick Grasmick, jr.; Kyle
Hicks, fr.; Kenneth Soto, fr.
170 Isaac Lyons, sr.; Erik
Nieschburg, sr.
182 Chris Hicks, jr.
195 Tylor Jara, sr.
220 Tanner Crist, fr.; Ge-
rardo Soto, sr.; Santana Sala-
zar, fr.
Hwt. Hector Morales, sr.
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2
EADS BASKETBALL
Lady Eagles hope to return to the top
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
The Eads High School girls
basketball team will add one of
the top freshmen in the area to
four returning starters. As a
result, the Lady Eagles could
be the team to reckon with
this year in District 2.
In a district that has been
dominated by McClave the
last several years, the District
2 race will be wide open this
year as Eads, Kit Carson, or
McClave could claim the top
spot.
Eads, under second-year
head coach Trey Eder, just
might have the inside track.
The Lady Eagles were 12-8
a year ago and would like to
significantly increase that win
total and return to playoff ac-
tion. They have missed the re-
gional and state playoffs the
last two years.
Eder will return two of his
top scorers from a year ago in
senior Emily Weirich and 6-0
foot junior Marissa Dixon.
Plainview senior Natalya
Weber, starting for her second
year for Eads, will add an ath-
letic presence to the team.
Sophomore point guard Kai-
lyn Lane will return to start for
the second year as well. The
big addition is 6-1 sweet shoot-
ing freshman Tanaia Hansen.
Hansen showed a nice shoot-
ing touch in junior high and
will likely make her presence
felt immediately.
Eder will also have good
depth coming off the bench.
Seeing plenty of playing
time will be senior Bekah Hall-
man, sophomore Dorian Ray,
and freshmen Eboni Nash and
Haley Ray. The freshmen
were part of an undefeated
junior high team from a year
ago.
With 14 girls out, Eads will
play a full junior varsity sched-
ule as well.
We played about 20 games
this summer, so these girls
have already played together
some, said Eder. Its all
about our defense stepping up
and our ability to score. We
had times last year when we
had great looks and great
shots, but we just couldnt put
the ball in the basket.
Eder added, We have to
learn to be able to handle con-
tact when we are shooting; it
is just part of the game. We
have been working hard on
ball movement and our ball
handling as well. This is a fair-
ly big team, but we are pretty
mobile for the most part. It
should be a fun year.
Rhonda Uhland Courtesy photo
EADS LADY EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Chelsea Crosby, Dorian Ray, Natalya Weber, Hailey Ray, Alicia James, Kailyn Lane, and Dena Hallman. Back
row, l-r, Sheri Weber, Bekah Hallman, Eboni Nash, Tanaia Hansen, Marissa Dixon, Tori Uhland, and Emilee Weirich.
Eagles boys look to turn fortunes this season
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
Justin McLoud, in his sec-
ond year as head coach at
Eads, is looking to turn
around the fortunes of his
boys basketball team.
Coming off a 3-17 record
from a year ago, McLoud
hopes to rebuild the once
proud Eagle program through
effort and attitude.
I am really excited to have
new assistant coach Jay Wil-
son from Plainview to help us
this year, he said. Together,
we are stressing total team ef-
fort and a good attitude as a
means of turning around our
program.
With only 10 players out,
McLoud will use a strong jun-
ior class and some outstand-
ing freshmen in hopes of bet-
tering the record from a year
ago.
He returns three starters
with decent size in juniors
Logan Crawford, Kyle Crow,
and Cory Miller.
Fellow juniors Jose Ramos
and Logan Smith will be vying
for playing time this year,
along with two standout fresh-
men in Taylor Bollinger, a
Plainview student, and Tyler
Rouse. Both freshmen are cur-
rently battling foot problems
and are not at 100 percent but
improving daily.
We will play one half of
some of our JV games at home
just because we want our
freshman to get that time.
Coming off the foot problems,
they are going to need a little
extra time to get ready for the
varsity season, added
McLoud.
With no seniors or sopho-
mores on the squad, the Ea-
gles will be very young, but
McLoud likes the fit of this
years team.
We are definitely looking
better than a year ago, he
said. We have a wide open
district with no dominant
team, so that is a good thing.
We grew up a lot last year, and
I think maturity wise that will
help us. We found out how
tough it can be out there, and
we will use that in building our
team this year.
Marty Miller Courtesy photo
EADS EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Jose Ramos, Dominick Hernandez, Brison Crow, Tyler Rouse, and Gideon Hallman. Back row, l-r, Daniel Ortega, Kyle
Crow, Cory Miller, Logan Smith and Logan Crawford. Not pictured Taylor Bollinger.
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3
LAMAR GIRLS BASKETBALL
LAMAR LADY SAVAGES
BASKETBALL TEAM: Front
row, Sydney Crist and Audrey
Parker. Middle row, l-r, Mary
Tidwell, Jericka Melgoza,
Mykinthia Ebron, Abbie Reed,
Amber Comer, Taylor Wertz,
Callie Bennett, and Megan
Moore. Back row, l-r, Alex
Felan, Lauren Tinnes, Shay
Spitz, Summer Eberhardt,
Chelsea Vallejos, Katie
Tecklenburg, and Swayzee
Bellomy.
KEY PLAYERS returning for the
Lady Savages this season.
Front row, l-r, Abbie Reed,
Mykinthia Ebron, and Lauren
Tinners. Middle row, l-r, Audrey
Parker and Taylor Wertz. Back
row, l-r, Chelsea Vallejos,
Summer Eberhardt, Shay Spitz,
Sydney Crist, and Katie
Tecklenburg.
Lady Savages hope experience pays offs
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
Erik Melgoza, heads into his
third season as the head coach
of the Lamar High School
girls basketball team.
Melgoza put a relatively
young team on the court a
year ago as the team compiled
an 11-12 record.
Last year, Lamar started the
season at 1-4. The Lady Sav-
ages lost their season opener
to Burlington.
In the La Junta Holiday
Shootout, Lamar suffered
losses to Las Animas and San-
ford but defeated La Junta.
The Lady Savages then fell to
St. Marys prior to the holiday
break.
Returning from the holiday
break, Lamar won nine of 14
games to end the regular sea-
son. The five losses were to
Trinidad (twice), St. Marys,
James Irwin, and Peyton.
In the district tournament,
Lamar won over Salida but
would suffer three straight
losses to Manitou Springs,
Colorado Springs Christian,
and Buena Vista to end the
season.
Lamar graduated three sen-
iors from last years team so
Melgoza is optimistic heading
into the 2011-2012 season. He
hopes the experience his re-
turning players gained last
year will pay dividends.
However, with only 18 play-
ers on the roster including
seven freshmen, Melgoza will
lack some depth at the varsity
level.
The rest of the roster will
also include two seniors, two
juniors, and seven sopho-
mores.
The two seniors providing
the leadership this season will
be Sydney Crist, a 5-7 guard/
post and Audrey Parker, a 5-7
guard.
Carrying the load under the
basket will be Summer Eber-
hardt, a 5-7 sophomore; Shay
Spitz, a 5-9 junior; and Lauren
Tinnes, a 5-7 sophomore.
The backcourt for the Lady
Savages will feature Chelsea
Vallejos, a 5-7 sophomore
guard and Taylor Wertz, a 5-5
sophomore guard.
Things are looking posi-
tive, said the Lamar skipper.
This is going to be one of the
most unselfish teams that I
have been around in 10 years
that Ive been here. Im
pleased with the way things
are going right now.
Reflecting back on last year,
Melgoza said, We knew that
we were going to be really
young and had a good group
of freshmen coming in. Last
year, we relied on some kids
to get the job done and things
just didnt work out the way
we thought they would. Our
young girls were kind of ap-
prehensive. With just about ev-
erybody back we put in some
time during the summer and
we played about 35 games.
Theyve just gotten a lot better
and a lot more confident and
grown up.
Taking a look at this years
team, Melgoza said, We have
a really solid team coming
back. Were going to have
some good senior leadership
with Sydney and Audrey. Syd-
ney is just a fine leader and a
multiple sport athlete. Shes
successful in anything she
does. Audrey is just an out-
standing leader also and
works hard.
After those seniors, were
young, said Melgoza. We
have Shay back who got in-
jured half way through the
season. She dedicated herself
this summer and has come
back strong.
The sophomores we have
returning like Summer, Chel-
sea, Taylor, and Lauren are
working hard and done a lot of
good things, Melgoza said.
They are the future of Lady
Savage basketball. We know
were going to be young but I
think we have girls that are
ready to step it up and are
pretty confident with where
were at.
Melgoza said he will add
some new wrinkles on offense
and defense but will mainly
stick with what the coaches
have already implemented.
Were working on refining
the things that weve always
done, he said. We have a
philosophy with how the game
should be played. It takes a
year or two to start under-
standing what the coaches ex-
pect. Now, our players are
doing that and the attitude is
better than Ive ever had it.
The players are playing for
each other and our practices
have been super intense. The
kids are having fun and Im
having fun as a coach.
On a final note, Melgoza
said, Theres not any one
player on our team that is
more dominant than the oth-
ers. Any one of them is capa-
ble of scoring 20 points a night
and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Thats kind of the attitude we
want to build and play for each
other. Our theme this year is
We Is Greater Than Me.
Those are the positive things
Im seeing with these kids.
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EADS EAGLES WRESTLING
Eagles eager to get back to work
EADS EAGLES WRESTLING
TEAM: Front row, l-r, Blake
Robertson, David Kirkland, and
Lucas Meadows. Back row, l-r,
Tyron Moore, Justin Lenox, and
Blaine Winder.
Rhonda Uhland Courtesy Photo
By Nicolle Lennox
The Lamar Ledger
Eads High School will be
starting the wrestling season
with six wrestlers active and
two on the injured list until
they are cleared by their doc-
tors.
The Eagles will have a small
team but eager to work very
hard to prove themselves.
Four of the six have wres-
tled for EHS before. Justin Le-
nox is the only returning state
qualifier this year for the Ea-
gles.
Tyron Moore, Blaine Wind-
er and Blake Robertson all
wrestled last year and made
great improvements and ac-
complishments.
The Eagles will have two
new wrestlers to the team this
year. Lucas Meadows is a
freshman that shows a lot of
heart and ability and David
Kirkland who commutes from
McClave to wrestle for the
team which shows his charac-
ter.
Robert Miller and T.J.
Mitchell are also returnees
from last years team but are
out with injuries and hope to
return as soon as they are
cleared medically.
The Eagle wrestlers are
ready to go, with good atti-
tudes and positive outlook.
Coaches Dustin Uhland and
his father Doug Uhland are
preparing these young men
for a great wrestling season.
BACA COUNTY WRESTLING
Wolverines ready to strike on the mat
Ledger Staff Report
The Lamar Ledger
The Baca County Wolver-
ines wrestling team is coming
off a stellar season a year ago
and looks to have another su-
per season this year.
Baca County advanced nine
wrestlers to the Class 1A state
tournament held at the Pepsi
Center in Denver a year ago.
The Wolverines finished
third in the team race and
were edged out for second
place by one half of a point.
Burlington won the team
championship with 232 points.
Rocky Ford was second with
210
1
2 and Baca County was
third with 210 points.
The Wolverines headed to
state led by regional champi-
ons Stetson Loader, a fresh-
man at 103, Clay Seeman, a
sophomore at 119, and JJ Lof-
lin, a freshman at 189.
Loflin headed to the state
tournament ranked No. 1 and
sporting a 34-0 record but had
a tough outing and ended up
finishing in fifth place
Loader was ranked No. 3
and advanced to the state fi-
nals before losing the title to
Daniel Walsh of Burlington
who he had beaten in the re-
gional.
Seeman was ranked No. 5
and also made it to the state fi-
nals before losing a tough
match to Alex Pena of Ignacio
by a 1-0 decision.
Besides Loflin, Loader, and
Seeman, the Wolverines will
return five other state qualifi-
ers.Also back will be junior
Justin Westphal, senior Collin
Sires, junior Tyler Sharpe, jun-
ior Terrell Stafford, and senior
Frank Fehr. All five failed to
place in the state tournament
but if they return to state will
be looking for better things to
happen.
Rob Dunlap Courtesy photo
BACA COUNTY WOLVERINES WRESTLING TEAM: Front row, l-r, Austin Batterton, Johnny Loflin, Stetson Loader, Cade Alton, Dax Doyle, Luke Loflin, and J.D.
Chenoweth. Back row, l-r, Tyler Johnson, Clay Seemann, Collin Sires, Frank Fehr, Terrell Stafford, Collins Sires, Houston Gourley, Tyler Sharp, and Josh Forgey. Not
pictured Dallas Reynolds.
HAVE A GREAT
SEASON
WALSH
EAGLES!
EAGLES NEST
103 East Santa Fe
Walsh, Co.
719-324-5511
BEST OF
LUCK
WALSH
EAGLES!
AG SERVICES
269 East Santa Fe
Walsh, Co.
719-324-5737
BEST OF
LUCK
WALSH
EAGLES!
The
Lamar
Ledger
310 South 5th Lamar 3362266
What is a Newspaper?
It is the beginning. It is the end. Its a birth announcement.
Its an obituary. Its a history of politics and government.
Its everything between commencement and conclusion.
Its a record of mans strengths &weaknesses,
achievements and failures.
Its a watchdog for human rights. Its a social conscience.
Its investigative, interrogative, challenging.
Its a thought stimulant, a thought leader.
Its helpful, charitable, a community supporter.
Its informative, educational, entertaining.
It brings buyers and sellers together.
It takes the marketplace into the home. It is print. It endures. It is Life.
4
LAMAR BOYS BASKETBALL
LAMAR SAVAGES VARSITY
BASKETBALL TEAM: Front
row, l-r, Abel Salazar, DeVanta
Kemp, Talon Shipman, and
Isiah Martinez. Back row, l-r,
Chandler Hill, Branson
Jennings, Thomas Fierro, Kaden
Pierson, Dillon Slough, and
Anthony Holdren. Not pictured
Jamin Tate, Josh Aguilera.
LAMAR SAVAGES JUNIOR
VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM:
Front row, l-r, Josh Davis,
Nathan Andrade, Rey Lira,
Oswaldo Chihuahua, and Elijio
Rodriquez. Back row, l-r,
Justevin Coberly, Hunter
Fredick, Isaac Tate, Cody Truitt,
Jake Specht, Paul Dillinger,
Anthony LaTour, Kimo Murro,
and Zach Ramsey. Not pictured
Shane Gonzales, Logan Bender,
Juan Hernandez, Horacio
Maldonado, and Aaron
Rodriguez.
New coach to direct Savages
Jason Tice takes
over program
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
The Lamar High School boys
basketball program has suf-
fered through some down and
out seasons the past several
years.
Jason Tice, the new head
coach for the Savages, hopes
he can steer the program in
the right direction.
Tice, the head coach for the
football team, takes over the
program with the departure of
Scott Dorenkamp.
He is no stranger to the bas-
ketball program and has
served as the assistant varsity
coach, junior varsity coach,
and freshman coach.
Im excited and its an op-
portunity I didnt think I was
going to have, said Tice. The
opportunity presented itself
and somebody needed to step
in and I was willing to do that
and make sure the program
continued to grow. I think its
important to keep this pro-
gram moving in the right di-
rection.
Tice said he wont make
many changes.
Were going to be doing a
lot of the same things that
Scott did, he explained. But I
want to bring more of a defen-
sive emphasis to our ap-
proach. Thats not to say that
we werent defensive minded
before. Defense and rebound-
ing is really where I want to
build the program while Im
coaching.
The Savages are coming off
a 6-14 season last year and saw
the season end on a tough
note at the hands of Salida in
the first-round of the district
tournament 62-54 in overtime.
Tice welcomed some big
numbers with 42 players out
for the team including seven
seniors, 10 juniors, 12 sopho-
mores, and 13 freshman.
The varsity roster will be
comprised of five seniors, six
juniors, and two sophomores.
The seniors hoping to lead
the Savages to the promised
land will be Branson Jennings,
a 6-1 point guard; Isiah Marti-
nez, a 5-11 guard; Thomas
Fierro, a 6-3 forward; Chandler
Hill, a 6-0 forward; and Antho-
ny Holdren, a 6-1 forward.
Junior players that Tice will
lean on will be Kaden Pierson,
a 6-3 post; Dillon Slough, a 6-4
post; and guards DeVanta
Kemp, 5-4; Josh Aguilera, 6-0;
Talon Shipman, 5-5; and Jamin
Tate, 5-7.
Sophomores on the varsity
will include Josh Davis, a 5-5
point guard, and Abel Salazar,
a 5-7 guard.
I told the kids that we dont
have a player thats going to
score 40 points a game, said
Tice. But we definitely have a
group of older guys who are
ready to play. Were really ex-
pecting a lot out of some of
our seniors. It all starts with
Branson and Isiah taking care
of the basketball at the guard
positions and being produc-
tive. Branson is going to have
to play the point guard for
some of the year and Isiah is
going to have to be that threat
from the outside.
Were expecting a lot out of
guys like Thomas (Fierro)
who has grown like crazy,
continued Tice. Chandler
(Hill) has to be productive for
us as well. We expect big
things out of Kaden (Pierson)
and hes a big strong kid. Hes
going to have to clear the
glass and thats going to be his
main goal.
DeVanta Kemp is a new
transfer for the Savages who
Tice said has a lot of speed
and good ball handling skills.
Kemp wont be able to partici-
pate in games until after the
holiday break.
Were looking forward to
getting DeVanta on the floor,
said Tice. He definitely
speeds things up on the floor
for us. With him in the lineup
that will allow us to move
Branson to a three guard posi-
tion which is more suitable for
him.
Tice added, Some of our
younger kids are young and
theyll have to learn. We have
some juniors and sophomores
who will have to grow in order
to fit those backup roles off
the bench.
Our best opportunity to be
successful is to play good de-
fense and challenge every shot
and finish plays with good re-
bounding, said the new
coach. Thats what we are
going to focus on and build
from there. I think were going
to be a team that is big and
physical. Weve got some de-
cent height and have some
kids that are big and strong.
We also have some good
speed at key positions. If we
can play defense with a physi-
cal mindset, I think we can
give ourselves a chance to win
games.
We dont want to go back-
wards and continue to grow,
Tice went on to say. Our first
goal is to have a winning sea-
son. Our second goal is to win
two games in the La Junta
Shootout that is coming up.
And we want to win the Tri-
Peaks League East Division
championship. In order to do
that, youve got to win more
games than you lose.
Looking at the Tri-Peaks
League East Division, Tice
said that Trinidad, Dolores
Huerta, James Irwin, and La
Junta were the teams the Sav-
ages struggled with in the past
as well as St. Marys.
Weve got our work cut out
for us, said Tice.
BEST OF
LUCK
LAMAR
SAVAGES!
Marples
Country Market
101 North 4th
Lamar, CO.
336-4001
Ron Austin
Repair Shop
402 North Main
Lamar, CO 81052
719-336-2542
Go
Holly
Wildcats!
Go Lamar
Savages!
0
4
WALSH BASKETBALL
Lady Eagles lack numbers but not desire
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
Longtime Walsh coach
Lance Turner, in just his sec-
ond year with the girls basket-
ball team though, has only
eight girls out for this season.
There are only 14 girls in
high school at Walsh but
nonetheless, he is excited
about the girls he is working
with.
These girls have just been
working so hard. They are re-
ally working hard in practice
for me, he praised.
Cook will have to replace
senior Alexa Gerber, last
years leading scorer. Gerber
played volleyball this fall at Be-
thany College in Kansas.
Turner has a solid player re-
turning in sophomore Heidi
Cogburn, an outstanding all
sport athlete for the Lady Ea-
gles.
She is our leader and just
works so hard! Heidi is just
tougher than nails, a real lead-
er for us. With the way she
works, it just makes all the
other girls realize what it
takes, laudedTurner.
With no seniors on the ros-
ter, Turner has one junior, five
sophomores, and two fresh-
men to build his team around.
Cogburn will be the leader,
but Turner will have some size
in 5-10 Eva Fehr. Desiree Du-
bois, Andi Hetrick, Ashlyn
Smith and Andi Wray will get
plenty of playing time.
We will be very young and
inexperienced obviously. We
dont have that much speed in
our lineup but they will work
hard out there. We are really
excited about our junior high
girls out this year. We have a
good number of them out and
they are playing very well so
far, said Turner.
Turner feels that Springfield
and Wiley will be the teams to
beat in this years version of
District 3.
They both have lots of girls
and had very good volleyball
teams, he said. I am sure
that it will be the same in bas-
ketball.
Pam Cogburn Courtesy photo
WALSH LADY EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM: First row, l-r, Desirae Dubois and Andi Het-rick. Second row, l-r, Eva Fehr and Jordan Brink. Third row, l-r, Andie Wray, Kelly
McCall, and Ashlyn Smith. Fourth row, Heidi Cogburn.
Eagles boys hope for repeat success
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
Coming home with the third
place trophy from the Class 1A
state tournament a year ago,
the talented Walsh boys bas-
ketball team will be looking
for more state hardware this
year as the 2011-2012 season
opens.
The Eagles made their first
trip to state since 2001 after
being close several years be-
fore that.
Walsh gave eventual state
champion Caliche their tough-
est game of the tournament,
falling 80-70 in the semifinals.
The Eagles then beat Pawnee
61-58 for the third place trophy
to cap the season with a 20-5
record.
The Eagles graduated out-
standing point guard Laken Al-
ley and role player Chris Cook
from that team, but with a
bevy of talent returning they
could be in the running for a
return trip to state.
Veteran coach Ryan Renqu-
ist, in his fifth year at Walsh,
returns at the helm to guide
the team.
Returning starters feature
seniors Jonathan England, Jax-
on Meardon, and Weston
Meardon, a first-team all state
returnee, will provide Renquist
with plenty of talent and lead-
ership to guide the way.
Junior Jordan Jones and
sophomores Chaz Hebberd
and Chase Mundell look for
more playing time this year.
Athletic sophomore
Christain Alvarez and seniors
Cullen Hair and 6-2 Ethan
Sharpe drew mention from
Renquist as well, providing
him with tons of depth.
Senior transfer Malacki Jac-
quert, a 6-10 post player from
Swink, will give Walsh all
kinds of size once he sits out
his nine games because of the
CHSAA transfer rule.
We have been working on
full court pressure defenses a
lot early in our practices so far
this season, said Renquist.
We were only able to do that
at the end of games last year
because we just didnt have
the depth.
I think with the number of
athletes that we have, we will
be able to do that this year.
We want good defense to lead
to our offense. It will just make
us that much stronger, said
Renquist, in analyzing his
team. We really arent sure of
our starters yet; they have all
looked good so far in prac-
tice.
Pam Cogburn Courtesy photo
WALSH EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Cristian Alvarez, Austin Calzada, Darin Cook, James Wilson, and Jahsiel Calzada.
Middle row, l-r, Rene Salcido, Cullin Hair, Jonathan England, Titus Sharpe Jordan Jones, and Cody Alton. Back row, l-r, Chase Mundell,
Jaxon Mear-don, Malichi Jaquart, Ethan Sharpe, Chaz Hebberd, and Weston Meardon.
GO
EADS
EAGLES!
WALSH
GO WALSH
EAGLES !
CROP RISK ADVISORS
1211 S. Main
Lamar, CO.
(719)336-3636
The
Lamar Ledger
What is a Newspaper?
It is the beginning. It is the end. Its a birth announcement.
Its an obituary. Its a history of politics and government.
Its everything between commencement and conclusion.
Its a record of mans strengths &weaknesses, achievements and failures.
Its a watchdog for human rights. Its a social conscience.
Its investigative, interrogative, challenging. Its a thought stimulant, a thought leader.
Its helpful, charitable, a community supporter.
Its informative, educational, entertaining. It brings buyers and sellers together.
It takes the marketplace into the home. It is print. It endures. It is Life.
5
SPRINGFIELD BASKETBALL
Lady Longhorns return solid nucelus
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
They will field one of the
most athletic teams in the
area, and they are coming off
an appearance in the Class 1A
state volleyball tournament
this past season.
The Springfield High School
girls basketball team, just
10-10 a year ago, look to dras-
tically improve on that record
this season.
Coach Mark Ricker wel-
comed 21 girls out this season
when basketball began, one of
the larger squads in the area.
Rickers varsity team will be
10 deep, and he returns all five
starters.
Seniors Alyssa Dunlap, Au-
brey Konkel, Kelby Robins,
and Bailey West are all quick,
athletic outside players and
will provide necessary leader-
ship.
Ricker, back for his second
year as head coach, will have
the luxury of picking between
good inside players as well.
Juniors Adrienne Mondragon
and Kaylean Orlowski and
6-foot sophomore Taylor Kon-
kel will give the Lady Long-
horns plenty of help in the
post.
Rickers athletic daughter
Kiri, a junior, will provide solid
scoring for the Lady Long-
horns, as she can swing inside
or outside.
Sophomore Madi West and
junior Bre Stafford will round
out the rotation.
Ricker is still undecided
who his starters will be.
It is a pretty good problem
to have, he said. When we
play five on five in practice it is
very, very competitive. Each of
them has their moments out
there. I have seen a lot of fire
in their eyes when they play.
He hopes to play an up-tem-
po game with lots of defensive
pressure this season.
Springfield lost in overtime
in last years District 3 semifi-
nals to Wiley. The Lady Long-
horns actually had a chance to
win the game in regulation but
fell just short.
We really started playing
well at the end of the season,
reflected Ricker. We began
the year at 2-6 before we
turned things around. I am
hoping that the confidence lev-
el has gone up for these girls.
I want them to know that they
can play with anyone.
Ricker added, I am also
hoping that the success of the
volleyball team going to state
this year will carry over into
basketball. I really think that
we will be a force to be reck-
oned with this year.
SPRINGFIELD LADY LONGHORNS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Whittney West-phal, Madi Burdick, Koby Mondragon, Kallysa McGeary, Morgan Turpin, and
Breanna Hendricks. Middle row, l-r, Kelsey Reed, Bre Stafford, Demi Ownbey, Madi West, and Sierra Beebe. Back row, l-r, Alyssa Dunlap, Bailey West, Kiri Ricker,
Kaylean Orlowski, Taylor Konkel, Adrienne Mondragon, Aubrey Konkel, and Kelby Robins.
Longhorn boys aim at repeat trip to state
By Dick Peecher
The Lamar Ledger
After a 20 year absence
from the state basketball tour-
nament, the Springfield Long-
horns, 18-7 a year ago, more
than made up for their inexpe-
rience with a startling second
place finish at the 2011 state
tournament.
The Longhorns faced a for-
midable opponent in Caliche
in the state title game as the
Buffaloes rolled to their third
straight state championship.
Springfield head coach Bob
Schaller would like to add to
the Longhorns experience by
making a return trip. Baca
County was home to two of
the top three teams in the
state a year ago, and it may
also be the same again this
year.
Though they lost four start-
ers from a year ago, including
all-state player Matt Self, the
cupboard is hardly bare for
Schaller.
Blessed with an outstanding
senior class, the Longhorns
will field a host of seniors with
tons of playing experience.
It was a lot of fun, and it
was good for us, said an en-
thusiastic Schaller. Our sen-
iors want to do it all again.
They saw what it was like up
there and they want more of
the same. We talked about it
the first day of practice this
year. These guys are pretty
gung ho. All of us hope to
build off what happened a year
ago.
Senior Michael Crane re-
turns as the sole starter from
last years state runner-up
team.
Seniors Saul Baker, Brady
Humphrey, Todd Hutches,
Bric Koehn, and Michael San-
chez all contributed a year
ago, playing lots of minutes.
Schaller will add transfers
Colton Surber and Caleb
Yockum to his roster as well.
Surber will have to sit out via
the transfer rule but will get to
see action in the second half of
the season.
Junior Chase Kinard adds a
defensive presence that Schal-
ler is looking for. Brody Owen-
by and 6-2 junior Collin Loflin
will add valuable depth to the
Longhorns roster.
This has been such an in-
credible senior group. I literal-
ly have to kick them out of the
gym every night. Its 8:00 and
time to go home, and they still
want to be playing. They have
instilled in our younger guys
that great work ethic and love
of the game, added Schaller.
SPRINGFIELD LONGHORNS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, John McCallum, Ross Dunlap, Tayte Page, Brant Shettron, and Jordan Cash. Middle row, l-r, Garret
Casper, Justin Self, Braelen Fisher, Kyle Thompson, Dalton Westphal, and Evan Waters. Back row, l-r, Brandon Maes, Colton Surber,Levi Lease, Brady Humphrey,Todd
Hutches,Bric Koehn, Michael Sanchez, Chase Krinard, Colin Loflin, Saul Baker, Michael Crane, and Brody Ownbey.
GO
SPRINGFIELD
LONGHORNS!
GO SPRINGFIELD
LONGHORNS!
CROP RISK ADVISORS
1211 S. Main
Lamar, CO.
(719)336-3636
WISHING
YOUA
GREAT
SEASON
SPRINGFIELD
LONGHORNS!
CITY LIQUOR
708 Main Street
Springeld, Co.
719-523-6636
GO SPRINGFIELD
LONGHORNS!
EVERITT-
MOORE
LUMBER
464 Main
Springeld, CO.
719-523-6233
HAVE A GREAT
SEASON
SPRINGFIELD
LONGHORNS!
GALE DRUG,
INC.
909 Main
Springeld, Co.
719-523-6201
Ever have some important
papers you need to send to
the newspaper Right Now?
Not overnight, or later today.
Were talking NOW!
Lamar Ledger
310 South 5th Lamar, CO
Ok, theres a better,
and faster way!
E
-MAILIT!
editor@lamarledger.com
publisher@lamarledger.com
5
GRANADA BASKETBALL
Lady Bobcats hope to turn corner
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
Its been over a decade
since the glory days for the
Granada High School girls
basketball program.
In fact, Kara Dorenkamp
was a senior starter on the last
Granada girls team that com-
peted in a state basketball
tournament in 2000. The Lady
Bobcats finished as state run-
ners-up that year.
Dorenkamp is now the new
head coach for the program
and hopes to instill new life
into the program.
Im excited and the girls
have adjusted well to the
things that Ive asked them to
do, said Dorenkamp. I was
the high school assistant
coach about three years ago
and had girls that didnt know
a lot about basketball. After
asked to coach the high
school team this year, the girls
now know so much and are
more fundamentally sound. So
making the adjustment hasnt
been a difficult task. Basket-
ball is a great sport and it feels
good to be back in it at this
level.
Eighteen players are out for
this years team but with only
one senior on the roster.
Dorenkamp returns a num-
ber of players who saw consid-
erable playing time last year
and she hopes they are ready
to help turn the corner this
season.
One thing the Lady Bobcats
dont possess is height. The
tallest players are 5-8.
That hurt us, but when I
was in high school we didnt
have any big girls per se, said
Dorenkamp. Weve been
working with our post players
on foot work. Overall, were
fast and going to try to use
that to our advantage.
The team has plenty of
depth in the back court with
the likes of a number of
guards. Leading the way will
be Kyreth Tirado, a 5-4 senior;
Ariana Yanez, a 5-7 junior;
Marlena Rojas, a 5-8 junior;
Alyssa Sigala, a 5-4 junior; and
Kirby Vanderpool, a 5-6 sopho-
more. Also expected to see
playing time at the top of the
circle will be Brittany Gon-
zales, a 5-4 freshman.
Carrying the load under the
boards will Darcy Widener, a
5-8 sophomore small forward;
Tallie Harmon, a 5-8 sopho-
more small forward; and Abby
Hopper, a 5-8 junior power for-
ward.
Were young but we come
back with a little more playing
experience, Dorenkamp said.
Its going to take discipline
and a hard work ethic. We im-
proved leaps and bounds in
volleyball and that has carried
into basketball.
Tonya Kemp Courtesy
GRANADA LADY BOBCATS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Alyssa Sigala, Kyreth Ti-rado, Chanel Tirado, Brittany Gonzales, Wendy Galan, and Miriam Sanchez. Back
row, l-r, Abby Hopper, Kirby Vanderpool, Tallie Harmon, Kassandra Quintana, Elena Khabirova, Kristina Alm, Felisa Andrade, Marlena Rojas, and Laura Rodriguez. Not
pictured Darcy Widener and Ariana Yanez.
Bobcats ready to take next step
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
The Granada Bobcats are
coming off a 12-9 record last
year and will look to improve
on that mark this season.
Looking back at last year,
three of Granadas nine losses
came at the hands of District 2
foe McClave. The Cardinals
defeated Granada, 51-43, in
the district semifinals to end
the season for the Bobcats.
Granada also suffered two
losses to neighborhood rival
Holly and were also beaten by
Springfield, South Baca, Chey-
enne Wells, and Rolla, Ks.
Veteran coach Manuel Gon-
zales graduated three senior
starters from last year, so the
Bobcats will have some shoes
to fill.
Coach Gonzales has 20
prospects out for this years
team.
Were going to have a de-
cent team, but hopefully down
the road well get better, he
said. Were missing three
starters from last year, but
weve got some good kids
coming back and I like what I
see.
The two returning starters
include Bryan Gonzales, a 6-0
sophomore guard/forward,
and Kolby Palmer, a 6-0 junior
forward. Gonzales will be out
of the lineup until he gets a
medical clearance after a foot-
ball injury.
Coach Gonzales said he will
have some depth at the post
and forward positions.
Players seeing duty in the
paint will be Brady Rink, a 6-0
senior; Caleb Harris, a 6-2 jun-
ior; Antonio Huerta, a 6-0 jun-
ior; and Sam Rink, a junior.
Koy Palmer, a freshman, is
also expected to see signifi-
cant playing time for the Bob-
cats.
Tanner Grasmick, a 6-1 jun-
ior, and Cruz Vega, a 5-11 jun-
ior, will see work at the for-
ward positions.
Also directing the show in
the back court will be Brynden
Burns, a 5-8 junior guard, and
Juan Morales, a 5-8 senior
guard.
Coach Gonzales added that
Saul Perez, a junior, will give
the Bobcats more depth at the
guard position. Perez is ex-
pected to get medical clear-
ance after January.
All these guys can play,
said Gonzales. We need to
get some better with our out-
side shooting but I think were
going to be okay inside. Get-
ting our inside, outside game
going is going to be the key to
our success.
The District 2 race will be
wide open this year and up for
grabs between Granada, Kit
Carson, McClave, Eads, and
Cheyenne Wells.
I think we can challenge
any team on any given night,
said Gonzales. Will see what
we have to work on after a few
games and then we can go on
from there.
Tonya Kemp Courtesy photo
GRANADA BOBCATS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Jose Rojas, Nathaniel Esquibel, and Derek
Smith. Middle row, l-r, Juan Morales, Alex Morales, Brynden Burns, Armando Hernan-dez, Dalton
Harris, Luis Yanez, and Bryan Gonzales. Back row, l-r, Caleb Harris, Kolby Palmer, Koy Palmer,
Fabian Tovar, Cruz Vega, Antonio Huerta, Tanner Grasmick, and Brady Rink.
GO GRANADA
BOBCATS!
CROP RISK ADVISORS
1211 S. Main
Lamar, CO.
(719)336-3636
ACE TIRE SERVICE
Lamar, CO
336-0403
GO
GRANADA
BOBCATS!
GET SET FOR
A GREAT YEAR
GRANADA
BOBCATS!
Go
Bobcats!
Fast, Reliable
719-336-9066
8 Forest Street - Lamar
NTERNET
8ERVCE
We wish all our
area
teams
the best
of luck
this year.
Go Bobcats!!
Have A
Great Season!
Chris & Deb
Choat
Sylwas Liquor
Granada, CO
(719) 734-5059
Good Luck
To All
Area Teams!
AGDOCTOR
Warren Schwab
(719) 688-7656
Ag Equipment
Repair
6
WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULES
PREP BASKETBALL
SCHEDULES:
LAMAR
BOYS
Thurs., Dec. 1 at
Springfield tournament (JVG/
JVB)
Sat., Dec. 3 at Springfield
tournament (JVG/JVB).
Fri., Dec. 2
BURLINGTON (JV-HS/
VB-CB), 5:30/7:00
Dec. 8, 9, 10 at La Junta
Shootout (V), TBA
Fri., Dec. 16 ST. MARYS
(C/JV/V at HS), 4:00
Thurs., Jan. 5 at La Junta
(C/JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 7 at Ellicott (C/
JV/V), 1:00
Fri., Jan. 13 TRINIDAD
(C/JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 14 at Guymon,
Okla. (JV/V), 4:15
Fri., Jan. 20 JAMES
IRWIN (C/JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 21 at Dolores
Huerta (C/JV/V), 1:00
Fri., Jan. 27 at St. Marys
(C/JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 28 ALAMOSA
(JV-HS/V-CB), 2:00/5:00
Fri., Feb. 3 LA JUNTA
(C/JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Feb. 4 at Trinidad
(C/JV/V), 1:00
Fri., Feb. 10 ELLICOTT
(JV-HS/C-HS/V-CB), 4:00,
5:30; 7:00
Sat., Feb. 11 at James
Irwin (C/JV/V), 1:00
Tues., Feb. 14 DOLORES
HUERTA (C/JV/V), 4:00
Thurs., Feb. 16 at Peyton
(V), 6:30
Sat., Feb. 18 District first-
round (higher seed), 1:00
Wed., Feb. 22 District
second-round (higher seed),
6:00
Feb. 24-25 District
tournament, Pueblo Central
Mar. 2-3 Regional
tournament
Mar. 8-10 State
tournament
C-Team Schedule
Mon., Dec. 5 WILEY,
6:00
Mon., Dec. 9 at Holly,
6:00
Sat., Jan. 14 at Chris
Cook Tournament, TBA
Mon., Jan. 30 at Wiley,
6:00
Mon., Feb. 6 HOLLY,
6:00
LAMAR
GIRLS
Thurs., Dec. 1 at
Springfield tournament (JVG/
JVB)
Sat., Dec. 3 at Springfield
tournament (JVG/JVB)
Fri., Dec. 2
BURLINGTON (V-CB/
JV-HS), 5:30/7:00
Dec. 8, 9, 10 at La Junta
Shootout (V), TBA
Fri., Dec. 16 at St. Marys
(JV/V), 4:00
Thurs., Jan. 5 LA JUNTA
(JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 7 at Ellicott
(JV/V), 1:00
Fri., Jan. 13 at Trinidad
(JV/V), 5:30
Sat., Jan. 14 at Guymon,
Okla. (JV/V), 3:00
Fri., Jan. 20 at James
Irwin (JV/V), 5:30
Sat., Jan. 21 DOLORES
HUERTA (JV/V), 1:00
Fri., Jan. 27 ST. MARYS
(JV/V), 5:30
Sat., Jan. 28 ALAMOSA
(JV/V-CB), 2:00/3:30
Fri., Feb. 3 at La Junta
(JV/V), 5:30
Sat., Feb. 4 TRINIDAD
(JV/V), 2:30
Fri., Feb. 10 ELLICOTT
(JV/V), 4:00
Sat., Feb. 11 JAMES
IRWIN (JV/V), 1:00
Tues., Feb. 14 at Dolores
Huerta (JV/V), 4:00
Thurs., Feb. 16 at Peyton
(V), 5:00
Sat., Feb. 18 District first-
round (higher seed), 1:00
Wed., Feb. 22 District
second-round (higher seed),
6:00
Feb. 24-25 District
tournament, Pueblo Central
Mar. 2-3 Regional
tournament
Mar. 8-10 State
tournament
C-Team Schedule
Mon., Dec. 5 WILEY,
4:30
Mon., Dec. 9 at Holly,
4:30
Sat., Jan. 14 at Chris
Cook Tournament, TBA
Mon., Jan. 30 at Wiley,
4:30
Mon., Feb. 6 HOLLY,
4:30
EADS
Thurs., Dec. 1 at Fowler,
4:00
Sat., Dec. 3 CROWLEY
COUNTY, 3:00
Fri., Dec. 9
SPRINGFIELD, 4:00
Sat., Dec. 10 at Walsh,
4:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Fri., Jan. 6 at Kit Carson,
4:30
Sat., Jan. 7 at Stratton,
4:00
Fri., Jan. 13 KIM (JVB,
VG), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 14 HI-PLAINS,
1:00
Fri., Jan. 20 McCLAVE,
4:00
Sat., Jan. 21 at Granada,
3:00
Thurs., Jan. 26 at Wiley,
4:00
Fri., Feb. 3 KARVAL
(JVG, VB)
Sat., Feb. 4 at Holly, 3:00
Thurs., Feb. 9 SOUTH
BACA, 4:00
Fri., Feb. 10 CHERAW
(Boys only)
Thurs., Feb. 16 GENOA-
HUGO, 4:00
Fri., Feb. 17 CHEYENNE
WELLS, 4:00
Tues., Feb. 21 Districts,
TBA
Thurs., Feb. 23 Districts,
TBA
Sat., Feb. 25 Districts,
TBA
Sat., Mar. 3 Regionals
Mar. 8-10 State
tournament, TBA
McCLAVE
Fri., Dec. 2 LAS
ANIMAS, 4:00
Sat., Dec. 3 at
Manzanola, 4:00
Thurs., Dec. 8 WILEY,
4:00
Sat., Dec. 10 KIM, 5:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Fri., Jan. 6 at Holly, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 7 at South Baca,
3:00
Fri., Jan. 13 CHERAW
(JVG, VB), 4:00
Fri., Jan. 13 CHEYENNE
WELLS (VG), 6:30
Fri., Jan. 20 at Eads, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 21 at
Springfield, 4:00
Fri;, Jan. 27 at Karval
(JVB, VB), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 28 at Wiley JV
Tournament, TBA
Fri., Feb. 3 at Cheyenne
Wells, 4:00
Sat., Feb. 4 WALSH, 4:00
Fri., Feb. 10 GRANADA,
4:00
Sat., Feb. 11 FLAGLER,
3:00
Thurs., Feb. 16 at Wiley,
4:00
Fri., Feb. 17 KIT
CARSON, 3:00
Feb. 21, 23, 25 District
tournament, Lamar
Mar. 2-3 Regional
tournament, TBA
Mar. 8-10 State
tournament
GRANADA
Fri., Dec. 2
MANZANOLA, 4:00
Fri., Dec. 9 at Holly, 4:00
Sat., Dec. 10 at Wiley,
2:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Fri., Jan. 6
SPRINGFIELD, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 7 WILEY, 3:00
Fri., Jan. 13 KIT
CARSON, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 14 SOUTH
BACA, 3:00
Tues., Jan. 17 at Rolla,
Ks., 3:30 MST
Sat., Jan. 21 EADS, 3:00
Fri;, Jan. 27 WALSH, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 28 at Kim, 2:00
Sat., Jan. 28 at Wiley JV
tournament, TBA
Tues., Jan. 31 at Las
Animas, 4:00
Sat., Feb. 4 at Karval
(JVB, VB), 2:00
Fri., Feb. 10 at McClave,
4:00
Tues., Feb. 14 HOLLY,
4:00
Fri., Feb. 17 at Cheraw
(JVG, VB), 4:00
tournament, Lamar
Mar. 2-3 Regional
tournament, TBA
Mar. 8-10 State
tournament
HOLLY
Thurs. Dec. 1 at R.L.
Ballard Tournament,
Springfield (JVG, JVB)
Fri., Dec. 2 at R.L.
Ballard Tournament,
Springfield (VG, VB)
Sat., Dec. 3 at R.L.
Ballard Tournament,
Springfield (JVG, JV, VG, VB)
Fri., Dec. 9 GRANADA,
4:00
Sat., Dec. 10 Holly JV
Tournament, 10:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Fri., Jan. 6 McCLAVE,
4:00
Tues., Jan. 10 at
Manzanola, 5:00
Fri., Jan. 13 South Baca,
TBA
Fri., Jan. 20 WALSH, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 21 at Kit
Carson, 3:00
Thurs., Jan. 26 at
Cheyenne Wells, 4:00
Fri., Jan. 27 at
Springfield, 4:00
Fri., Feb. 3 WILEY, 3:00
Sat., Feb. 4 EADS, 3:00
Thurs., Feb. 9 at Walsh,
4:00
Fri., Feb. 10 at Kim, 3:00
Tues., Feb. 14 at
Granada, 4:00
Thurs., Feb. 16
MANZANOLA, 5:00
tournament, LCC, TBA
Mar. 3 Regional
tournament, TBA
Mar. 8-10 State
Tournament, TBA
WILEY
Thurs. Dec. 1 at
Thurs., Dec. 8 at
McClave, 4:00Sat., Dec. 10
GRANADA, 2:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Fri., Jan. 6 CHEYENNE
WELLS (JV&V Girls), 4:00
Sat., Jan. 7 at Granada,
3:00
Thurs., Jan. 12 at Walsh,
4:00
Sat., Jan. 14 at Cheraw
(JVG & VB), 3:00
Thurs., Jan. 19 at
Manzanola, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 21 KARVAL/
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN,
2:00
Thurs., Jan. 26 EADS,
4:00
Fri., Jan. 27 SOUTH
BACA, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 28 Wiley JV
Tournament, 9:00
Fri., Feb. 3 at Holly, 3:00
Sat., Feb. 4 at Kit Carson,
3:00
Fri., Feb. 10 at
Springfield, 4:00
Sat., Feb. 11 KIM, 3:00
Tues., Feb. 14 at
Granada, 4:00
Thurs., Feb. 16
McCLAVE, 4:00
Fri., Feb. 17 LAS
ANIMAS, 3:00
tournament, TBA
Mar. 3 Regional
tournament, TBA
Mar. 8-10 State
Tournament, TBA
SPRINGFIELD
Fri., Dec. 2 R.L.
BALLARD TOURNAMENT,
TBA
Sat., Dec. 3 R.L.
BALLARD TOURNAMENT,
TBA
Fri., Dec. 9 at Eads, 4:00
Sat., Dec. 10 CHERAW
(VB & JVG), 3:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Fri., Jan. 6 at Granada,
4:00
Sat., ,Jan. 7 at Cheyenne
Wells, 3:00Sat., Jan. 14 at
Manzanola, 3:00
Fri., Jan. 20 KIM, 5:00
Sat., Jan. 21 McCLAVE,
4:00
Tues., Jan. 24 at Boise
City, Okla., 3:00
Fri., Jan. 27 HOLLY, 4:00
Sat., Jan. 28 KIT
CARSON (Varsity girls only),
6:00
Tues., Jan. 31 STANTON
COUNTY, 3:00
Tues., Feb. 7 at Walsh,
4:00
Fri., Feb. 10 WILEY, 4:00
Tues., Feb. 14 at Elkhart,
Kans., 3:45
Thurs., Feb. 16
MANZANOLA, 5:00
Fri., Feb. 17 South Baca
at Vilas, 4:00
Tues., Feb. 28 Round of
24, TBA
Sat., Mar. 3 Round of 16,
TBA
Mar. 8-10 State
Tournament, Pueblo Events
Center
WALSH
Dec. 2 at Cheyenne
Wells, 4:00
Dec. 3 at Stanton County,
3:00
Dec. 11 BOISE CITY,
5:00
Dec. 10 EADS, 4:00
Dec. 15-17 at Lamar
Holiday Tournament
Jan. 3 ELKHART, 4:00
Jan. 12 WILEY, 4:00
Jan. 20 at Holly, 4:00
Jan. 21 SOUTH BACA,
3:00
Jan. 27 at Granada, 4:00
Feb. 3 at Rolla, 4:00
Feb. 4 at McClave, 4:00
Feb. 7 SPRINGFIELD,
4:00
Feb. 9 HOLLY, 4:00
Feb. 10 at Manzanola,
4:00
Feb. 17 MOSCOW, 3:30
Feb. 18 at Kim, 4:00Feb.
21, 24, 25 District
Tues., Feb. 28 Round of
24, TBA
Sat., Mar. 3 Round of 16,
TBA
Mar. 8-10 State
Tournament, Pueblo Events
Center
PREP WRESTLING
SCHEDULES:
LAMAR
Thurs., Dec. 1 at Rocky
Ford (JV, V), 6:00
Sat., Dec. 3 at Rocky Ford
tournament (V), 9:00
Sat., Dec. 3 at Goodland,
Ks. tournament (JV), 9:00
Thurs., Dec. 8 at
Trinidad (JV, V), 6:00
Sat., Dec. 10 at Pueblo
West tournament (JV), 9:00
Sat., Dec. 10 at Pueblo
East tournament (V), 9:00
Tues., Dec. 13 at Pueblo
County (JV, V), 6:00
Dec. 16-17 Cheyenne
Mtn. tournament (V) at
Pueblo West HS.
Sat., Dec. 17 at Air
Academy tournament
(9th-10th), 9:00
Sat., Jan. 7 LAMAR
INVITATIONAL (JV, V), 10:00
Thurs., Jan. 12 at
Burlington (JV/V), 6:00
Sat., Jan. 14 at Pueblo
Centennial tournament (V),
9:00
Sat., Jan. 14 at Walsh
tournament (JV), 9:00
Tues., Jan. 17
FLORENCE (JV/V), 6:00
Thurs., Jan. 19 at Las
Animas (JV), 6:00
Sat., Jan. 21 at Canon
City tournament (V), 9:00
Tues., Jan. 24 LA JUNTA
(JV/V), 6:00
Sat., Jan. 28 at Florence
tournament (JV), 9:00
Tues., Jan. 31 LIBERAL,
KS. (JV/V), 6:00
Sat., Feb. 4 Tri-Peaks
League tournament (JV/V) at
Manitou Springs, 10:00
Feb. 10-11 Regional
tournament (V), Bennett
Feb. 16-18 State
tournament, Denver
HOLLY
Sat., Dec. 3 at Cheyenne
Wells tournament, 9:00
Fri., Dec. 9 at Ulysses
tournament, 3:00 MT
Sat., Dec. 10 Ulysses
tournament, TBA
Sat., Dec. 17 HOLLY
TOURNAMENT, 9:30
Sat., Jan. 7 at Lamar
tournament, 10:00
Sat., Jan. 14 at Scott City
tournament, 9:00 MT
Sat., Jan. 14 at Walsh
tournament (Holly JV), 10:00
Thurs., Jan. 19 at Leoti,
Ks., 5:00
Fri., Jan. 27 Tri-meet at
Sat., Jan. 28 at Eads
tournament, 9:30
Fri., Feb. 3 Quad at
Swink, 5:00
Sat., Feb. 4 at Crowley
County tournament, 9:00
Feb. 10-11 Regional
tournament, TBA
Feb. 16-18 State
tournament, Pepsi Center,
Denver
WALSH
Sat., Dec. 3 at Cheyenne
Wells tournament, 9:00
Fri., Dec. 9 at Ulysses
tournament, 3:00 MT
Sat., Dec. 10 Ulysses
tournament, TBA
Fri., Dec. 16 at Goodland,
Ks. 5:30
Sat., Dec. 17 at Goodland
tournament, 9:00
Sat., Jan. 7 at Lamar
tournament, 10:00
Sat., Jan. 14 WALSH
TOURNAMENT, 9:00
Sat., Jan. 21 at Trinidad
tournament, 9:00
Thurs., Jan. 26 at Fowler,
6:00
Sat., Jan. 28 at Eads
tournament, 9:30
Thurs., Feb. 2
BURLINGTON, 6:00
Sat., Feb. 4 at Crowley
County tournament, 9:00
Feb. 10-11 Regional
tournament, TBA
Feb. 16-18 State
tournament, Pepsi Center,
Denver
Key Lady Cardinals
McClaves Melissa Navarette and Sara Turner will be two key players for the Lady Cardinals
heading into the 2011-2012 season. McClave has been one of the premier programs in
Southeastern Colorado but area Class 1A teams are starting to catch up.
6
HOLLY BASKETBALL
Lady Wildcats to be guided by new coach
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
A new but familiar face will
take over the Holly High
School girls basketball pro-
gram.
Randy Holmen returns to the
coaching ranks for the first time
in six years.
Holmens last coaching stint
was the McClave boys basket-
ball team in the 2006-2007
school year.
Its been a few years, but
you never get away from it,
Holmen said. Im looking for-
ward to this opportunity. Its fun
to be around the kids.
This will be the first time he
has coached a girls basketball
team but he said that he did
coach the high school girls vol-
leyball team at Wiley in his first
year of teaching in 1979.
Holmen did coach high
school boys basketball teams at
Wiley and Lamar as well as
McClave through his career.
He also coached Wiley to a pair
of baseball championships.
Holmen said he doesnt see
much of an adjustment from
coaching boys to coaching
girls.
Theyre athletes and they
need to be treated that way, he
said.
Holmen inherits a Holly pro-
gram that was under the guid-
ance of Bryan Weimer for the
last 10 years.
Im excited about this team,
he said. Theyre working hard
and responding to what were
trying to do.
The Lady Wildcats went 12-9
last year and saw the season
end at the hands of Kim in the
Class 1A District 3 semifinals.
Holly lost three seniors from
that team including two start-
ers.
Holmen has only 12 players
out for this years team so
depth could play a factor.
Were small in numbers
with a total of 12 girls and five
of them are freshman, ex-
plained Holmen. But the play-
ers that are returning have a lot
of experience and understand
what its all about.
Key players returning will be
Brandi Thompson, a 5-5 senior
guard/forward and Kenzi Si-
mon, a 5-11 junior post/
forward.
Also expected to contribute
heavily will be Liberty Bollig, a
5-5 senior forward; Lacy Dar-
nell, a 5-2 sophomore guard;
Ashlyn Hess, a 5-8 sophomore
guard/forward; Sheridan Rush-
ton, a 5-10 sophomore guard/
forward; Jordan Fletcher, a 5-6
junior forward.
Weve got a pretty good nu-
cleus, but it would be nice to
have two or three players to fit
in with them, Holmen said.
But well do with what weve
got.
We dont have that one big
scorer but I think we have the
players who can score, Hol-
men said. Kenzie is going to
have to be the player who gets
it done inside for us. Sheridan
is a very good shooter from all
spots on the floor and Ashlyn is
a player who can do a lot of dif-
ferent things. One player we
need to get good leadership
from is Brandi. She has a lot of
ability and a lot of talent. Her
leadership is going to be criti-
cal.
Karina and Karen Avalos and
Hannah Kalma are the fresh-
man players that will be called
upon to contribute.
Theyre going to see some
action, they have too, said Hol-
men. But again theyre fresh-
men and they have a lot to
learn. Theyre working hard
and getting better all the time.
The thing that makes us
strong is that theyre smart
players, said Holmen. They
understand what they need to
do to be successful. They need
to go in there and mix it up.
Looking at other teams in the
area and in District 3, Holmen
said, Theres some good teams
out there and some good play-
ers. Our girls can play with any-
body if they want to play. Its a
matter of believing they can get
it done.
HOLLY LADY WILDCATS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Liberty Bolling and Brandi Thompson. Middle row, l-r, Karina Avalos,
Hanah Kalma, Lacy Darnell, and Karen Avalos. Back row, l-r, Jasmine Orozco, Ashlyn Hess, Kinzie Simon, Sheridan Rushton, and
Jordan Fletcher.
Wildcat boys team faces rebuilding year
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
The Holly High School
boys basketball program will
face a rebuilding year heading
into the 2011-2012 season.
The Wildcats graduated
four senior starters from a
team that compiled a 12-9 re-
cord last year.
The Wildcats saw their sea-
son end with a loss to Walsh
in the District 3 semifinals.
Walsh went on to place third
in the Class 1A state tourna-
ment last year.
Despite the losses to gradu-
ation, Holly head coach Shan-
non Rushton said he has play-
ers who saw some quality
playing time and ready to step
in
Were going to have a rela-
tively young team this year,
he said. We have four seniors
and two juniors. But the soph-
omores and freshman that we
have are kids that we coached
in junior high that had a lot of
success.
The lone returning starter
for the Wildcats will be his son
Stetson Rushton, a 6-1 senior
guard.
Stetson is probably going
to be the guy that picks up the
double team and draws the
other teams best defender,
said the Holly coach. Thats
where I hope the younger
guys are ready to step it up
and takes us to the next level.
Joining Rushton in the back-
court at guard will be Eddie
Rodriquez, a 5-6 sophomore;
Tylor Swopes, a 5-10 senior;
Jason Barth, a 5-8 sophomore;
and Porter Salisbury, a 5-10
junior.
Were looking for Tylor to
really shoot the ball well for
us, said Rushton. Jason is a
fantastic slasher to the basket
and a great shooter from the
outside. Eddie is just a great
shutdown defender with quick
hands. He does a great job of
running the point for us and
extremely unselfish. Were
looking to Porter to also give
us some good minutes at the
guard position.
Looking to carry the load
under the boards will be post
players Jace Masser, a 6-5 sen-
ior and Jeremy Brian, a 6-2
junior. Also seeing playing
time in the paint will be Drew
Thompson, a 6-1 sophomore
Jace has really got to step
up for us as a senior, Rushton
said. Hes a big wide load in
there and has got to be the en-
forcer inside. Weve had some
big guys in the past that have
been good for us. Now, its his
turn to show the team that
hes ready to take that role on.
The same goes for Jeremy and
Drew.
The work ethic has been
outstanding, said Rushton.
So, Im looking for some
good things.
Last year, Springfield and
Walsh represented District 3
in the state tournament.
Springfield finished second
and Walsh was third. Those
teams are favored once again
in the district race.
Its a tough district and
theres some tough teams and
good players, said Rushton.
Youve got to be ready to play
every time you step on the
court.
HOLLY WILDCATS BASKETBALL TEAM: Porter Salisbury, Gerardo Tamayo, Jason Barth, Colby Salisbury, Bryan Ortiz, Eddie Rodriquez, and Mason Pierce. Back row, l-r,
Oscar Calderon, Jeremy Brian, Drew Thompson, Stetson Rushton, Bailey Kennedy, Tristan Nelson, Tylor Swopes, Freddy Neuhold, Manuel Tarango, and Fabian
Rodriguez. Not pictured Jace Massar.
Have A GREAT
Winter Season
HOLLY
WILDCATS
Lamar
Auto Parts
311 N. Main
Lamar, CO
719-336-4391
BEST OF LUCK
ALL SEASON!
HOLLY
WILDCATS
Fellowship Credit Union
111 South Main St.
Holly,CO. 81047
719-537-6528
GO HOLLY
WILDCATS!!
GET SET FOR
A GREAT YEAR
HOLLY WILDCATS!
ACE TIRE SERVICE
Lamar, CO
336-0403
GO
HOLLY
WILDCATS!
7
HOLLY WRESTLING
Darnell to lead Wildcats on the mat
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
Holly High School wrestling
coach Lyndon Wagner will put
a relatively young team on the
mat this year.
Entering his fourth year at
the helm, Wagner has 11 indi-
viduals on the roster including
two seniors, one junior, four
sophomores, and four fresh-
man.
We have four returning
state qualifiers and they look
solid, said Wagner. We lost
three quality seniors but weve
got some other kids that I
hope can fill some spots.
Seniors leading the way for
the Wildcats will be defending
state champion Robert Darnell
and state qualifier Jace Nor-
dyke.
After back-to-back second
place finishes, Darnell finally
captured an elusive state title
as he won the 130-pound state
championship. He capped his
championship season with a
glittering 31-2 record.
We have a state champion
in Robert and hes ready to
prove himself again, said
Wagner. Hes been in the
state finals for three years and
he knows what it takes. Hes a
leader and works hard and
kids look up to that.
Nordyke returns as a two-
time state qualifier but has yet
to win a state medal.
Wagner hopes this is the
year that he brings home
some state hardware.
Hes a senior and wants it
more than ever, said the Hol-
ly boss. He might surprise
some people and go from no
medal to the state finals. Hes
beaten so many quality guys
but its a matter of him putting
together a good state tourna-
ment.
Sy Donaldson is the lone
junior on the team and Wag-
ner hopes the time has arrived
for him to make it to the state
tournament.
All through his career, Sy
has been winning matches but
then ends up making one mis-
take that has cost him the
match, explained Wagner.
He had so many close match-
es that could have gone either
way. I think this year, if he
picks it up and avoids those
mistakes, hell be alright.
Sophomores on the team in-
clude Cole Burns, Zxavier
Martinez, Christian Orozco,
and Austin Palmer.
Burns and Martinez are the
other two returning state qual-
ifiers for the Wildcats.
Cole finished fifth in the re-
gional last year but the fourth
place kid ended up pulling out
of the state tournament be-
cause of an injury and Cole
was able to sneak in there,
explained Wagner.
Zxavier turned it on late in
the season and at one tourna-
ment he beat like three state-
ranked kids, Wagner said.
So, I think hell surprise some
people this year.
New faces on the team will
be freshmen Jose Rodriquez,
Ryan Nordyke, Jesus Terra-
zas, and Haydden Humberg.
Wagner said it will be a wait-
and-see situation to see how
his younger wrestlers will per-
form but feels they will be able
to contribute.
Holly competes in a tough
region with the likes of Bur-
lington and Rocky Ford, who
were once 3A schools.
They have the numbers
and its tough to compete with
the numbers, said Wagner.
But Id rather have quality
kids than the numbers. So, Im
excited about this year.
HOLLY WILDCATS WRESTLING TEAM: Front row, l-r, Jose Rodriguez, Ryan Nordyke, Robert Darnell, and Christian Orozco. Back row, l-r, Jace Nordyke, Cole Burns, Austin
Palmer, Jesus Terrazas, and Zxavier Martinez. Not pictured Haydden Humberg and Sy Donaldson.
Senior Robert
Darnell returns
to lead the
Holly Wildcats
wrestling team
this season.
Darnell will take
aim at a
second state
championship
after winning
the 130-pound
state title in
last years
Class 1A state
tournament.
John Contreras The
Lamar Ledger
Good Luck
To All
Area Teams!
AGDOCTOR
Warren Schwab
(719) 688-7656
Ag Equipment
Repair
100 S. Wassord right on the
corner of HWY 89 & HWY 50
719-537-6044
HAVE A
GREAT
SEASON
HOLLY
WILDCATS
Ron Austin
Motor Sales
(719) 336-0525
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WILDCATS!
Austin
318
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Great Season
Holly
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Open 7 Days a Week
Monday - Saturday 7:30 am2:00 pm
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Sun 10:30am-2:00pm
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Serving friends & neighbors
since 1979
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Located on East Hwy 50
Holly, 523-6023
The Tasty
House
Cafe
In
Holly
Hwy 50
537-6023
Ron Austin
Repair Shop
402 North Main
Lamar, CO 81052
719-336-2542
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Holly
Wildcats!
0
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Holly, CO 81047
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WILDCATS!
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1211 S. Main
Lamar, CO.
(719)336-3636
Ever have some important
papers you need to send to
the newspaper Right Now?
Not overnight, or later today.
Were talking NOW!
Lamar Ledger
310 South 5th Lamar, CO
Ok, theres a better,
and faster way!
E
-MAILIT!
editor@lamarledger.com
publisher@lamarledger.com
8
McCLAVE BASKETBALL
Lady Cardinals take wing under Randel
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
There will be a coaching
change for the McClave High
School girls basketball pro-
gram.
Kilee Randel takes over the
reins in her first assignment
as a high school head coach.
Her husband Shawn Randel is
the McClave boys head bas-
ketball coach.
Randel wont be new to the
program and has served as an
assistant coach. She was the
assistant last year with her fa-
ther Dave Stavely. The pair
will reverse roles this season.
Basketball runs in her veins
and Randel is ready for the
challenge that lies ahead. In
fact she was a starter on
McClaves first state champi-
onship team in 2004.
Ive been an assistant for so
long and it really doesnt feel
that much different, she said.
Its been a nice transition and
Im really excited. I played in
my first one-on-one tourna-
ment when I was in the first
grade. I love the game and be-
ing around it. I also coach the
junior high girls and with my
husband coaching too win-
ter time is basketball time.
Randel inherits a team that
suffered some heavy losses
due to graduation.
The Lady Cardinals are
coming off a 20-4 record last
year and made their fourth
straight appearance in the
Class 1A state tournament.
In the state tournament,
McClave lost a heartbreaker
in the first-round to Fleming,
43-41. The Lady Cardinals,
however, bounced back with a
40-33 victory over Belleview
Christian and then defeated
Pawnee, 40-28, for the consola-
tion championship.
Thirteen girls are out for
this years team including two
seniors, five juniors, one soph-
omore, and five freshmen.
I have a great group of girls
who have been around the
game and excited to play,
said Randel.
The lone returning starter
from last year is Melissa Na-
varrette, a 5-2 senior point
guard. Also seeing some varsi-
ty playing time was Sara Turn-
er, a 5-9 junior.
Looking to step into varsity
playing roles will be Kim Idler,
a 5-4 junior guard; Tausha
Sniff, a 5-10 junior post; and
Hillary Perales, a 5-10 junior
post.
Melissa is the only player
left that had a taste of our last
state championship, ex-
plained Randel. The rest of
our girls are hungry and want
to experience that success.
With us being so young, the
door is open for all of them to
have a part. Its a new year and
theres nothing we can do
about the seniors that we lost.
We go on and move forward.
The girls have caught on to
that and are working hard in
every practice.
McClave competes in one of
the toughest districts in the
state. Like McClave, the rest
of the teams in the district suf-
fered some key losses to grad-
uation.
The District 2 race will be
balanced this year with the
likes of Kit Carson and Eads
and much improved teams in
Granada and Cheyenne Wells.
McCLAVE LADY CARDINALS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Adilene Bencomo, Melissa Navarrette, Camie Idler, and Jordan Isom.
Back row, l-r, Jordan Nolder, Peighton Martin, Sabrina Brewer, Tausha Sniff, Hillary Perales, Sara Turner, Jessica Bencomo, Alyssah
Forgue, and Maranda Coberley.
Cardinals boys team has big shoes to fill
By John Contreras
The Lamar Ledger
The McClave High School
boys basketball team will look
to fill a big void with the grad-
uation of one of their key play-
ers in senior Gabe Benabides.
Benabides was the heart
and soul for the Cardinals for
the past several years. He defi-
nitely was the quarterback of
the team and a play maker
who averaged 30 points a
game.
The Cardinals went 17-6 last
year and saw the season end
with a 68-49 loss to Stratton in
the Eastern Regional.
McClave head coach Shawn
Randel said the big question
facing the Cardinals will be
who is going to be the player
or players ready to step up and
take leadership of the team.
Losing Gabe as well as Jim-
my (Bencomo) and Wacey
(Turner) is going to hurt us,
said Randel. They played for
me for three years and its
going to be tough to replace
that leadership.
With no seniors on the ros-
ter, the Cardinals are going to
be young.
Were going to be fairly
young this year and senior
Tate Mauser went down with
an injury in football and we
wont have him, explained
Randel. We will be mostly a
junior, sophomore, and fresh-
man dominated team.
Randel said hell have some
pretty decent players return-
ing in Cody Canfield, a 6-5 jun-
ior post player as well as Ash-
ur Weidrich, a 6-1 junior
forward; Zach Samora, a 5-10
junior forward; and Dillon Kel-
ley, a 5-10 junior guard; and
Cristian Juarez, a 6-1 sopho-
more guard..
Those four guys played
quite a bit last year and theyll
see quite a bit of time this
year, said Randel. Were ex-
pecting good things from
Cody. Hes grown a little
more, hes athletic, and he can
shoot the basketball. Hes
going to play a big part of our
success. This is his time and
we need some leadership from
somebody.
Randel added that Josh
Warn, another junior, will also
step in and fill in with some
spot time and some freshman
players will also see some
playing time.
This years team will be
more athletic than last year
but we wont have the domi-
nant scorer that they had in
Gabe, said the McClave skip-
per. Were probably going to
be more well-rounded than
weve been since Ive been
here. Weve got some size and
some kids who can shoot the
basketball. It will be interest-
ing to see how it all plays out.
McCLAVE CARDINALS BASKETBALL TEAM: Front row, l-r, Joseph Hacker, Michael Enciso, Dawson Wiedrich, Justin Ortiz, and Brian
Ceron. Middle row, l-r, Javier Chacon, TJ Trujillo, Josh Warren, Allen Stoeberl, Gabe Longworth, Brad Brewer, Taylor Geisinger, Andrew
Burket, and Tyler Forgue. Back row, l-r, Edwin Acuna, Zach Zamora, Cristian Juarez, Kolby Brubacher, Cody Canfield, Riley Thornton,
Ashur Wiedrich, and Dillan Kelley.
BEST OF LUCK
MCCLAVE
CARDINALS!
EADS CONSUMER
SUPPLY
500 E.15th
Eads, Co.
719-438-2201
GO McClave
Cardinals!
CROP RISK ADVISORS
1211 S. Main
Lamar, CO.
(719)336-3636
Ron Austin
Motor Sales
(719) 336-0525
GO MCCLAVE
CARDINALS!
Austin
8
Ron Austin
Repair Shop
402 North Main
Lamar, CO 81052
719-336-2542
Go
McClave
Cardinals!
0
ACE TIRE SERVICE
Lamar, CO
336-0403
GO
McCLAVE
CARDINALS!
Lamar
Auto Parts
311 N. Main
Lamar, CO
719-336-4391
BEST OF LUCK
ALL SEASON!
McCLAVE
CARDINALS
HAVE A GREAT
SEASON
McCLAVE
CARDINALS!
WEISBROD HOSPITAL
AND NURSING HOME
WILEY MEDICAL CLINIC
719-438-5401
GET SET FOR
A GREAT YEAR
McCLAVE
CARDINALS!
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LAMAR WINTER SPORTS 2011, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 ...

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