Posts by Joel Priest

Ignacio High School’s Jonas Nanaeto leads the pack over an obstacle during steeplechase action at the 2019 Down Under Games in Queensland State, Australia. Making his first-ever attempt at running the unique distance race, Nanaeto captured first place.

Thu Aug 1st, 2019

‘AUS’-SOME: Hunter, Nanaeto excel Down Under Seniors hoop, run against international competition

Fri Jul 19th, 2019

Garcia one of USA’s best at Down Under Games

Ignacio head athletic trainer Shelby Sangster sees to an injured Bobcat at IHS Field during the 2018 football season. The 2018-19 school year was her first at Ignacio in that capacity.

Fri Jun 7th, 2019

Talking Training: Sangster on year one at IHS

Flanked by CSHSRA Rodeo Queen Ky Murphy at center and CSHSRA President Jack Beach at right, Ignacio's Dustin Sanchez stands at the Moffat County Fairgrounds in Craig, Colo. with prizes befitting Colorado's top high-school bullrider.

Fri Jun 7th, 2019

Sanchez clinches State title

Ignacio's Gabe Tucson receives further instructions from head coach Don Hayes after reaching third base during SJBL action against Dove Creek in 2019. After a strong freshman season, Tucson was recently named Second Team All-League.

Thu Jun 6th, 2019

IHS’ trying doesn’t escape SJBL’s eyeing

Thu Jun 6th, 2019

Pearson named All-League

Seen attempting to reel in a throw while preparing to tag Paonia’s Grey Neal (18) earlier this season up in Delta County, Ignacio senior third baseman Rendon Mestas ended his Bobcat days scoring one of IHS’ runs in a season-ending postseason loss to PHS.

Fri May 24th, 2019

Baseball bows out of spring with district defeat Ignacio falls 13-2 in advanced date at Paonia

Ignacio’s Elco Garcia, Jr., and Jonas Nanaeto run side-by-side the 1,600-meter run during the San Juan Relays, hosted by IHS Tuesday, April 30. The duo placed 1-2, finishing the race less than a second apart. Both maintained high levels of long-distance performance at meets before and after in, respectively, Aztec, N.M., and Bloomfield, N.M.

Thu May 9th, 2019

Garcia finding more, more speed for ’Cats Junior eclipses school’s 1983 best in the 3,200

Ignacio’s Ebonee Gomez (11) collides with Del Norte’s Brianna Gallegos (26) in a battle for possession Friday, May 3, at Alamosa High School.

Thu May 9th, 2019

Lady ’Cats drop season finale on neutral ground IHS nearly snaps Del Norte’s Senior Day shutout

Head coach Don Hayes (black jacket) and Ignacio Baseball will put the 2019 season on the line this weekend in the 2A-District 3/5 Tournament. Standing 1-13 overall, the Bobcats will have first had to survive a play-in contest Thursday afternoon, May 9, in Paonia, Colo. Results were unavailable at press time.

Thu May 9th, 2019

IT’S NOW OR NEVER

Fri Apr 26th, 2019

Bobcat boys run to tenth

BOBCATS GIRLS TRACK
Ignacio girls take tenth at the Ron Keller Invite

Sophomore Valdez involved in 18 of team’s 23 points

By Joel Priest
Special to the Drum

Recording one of the team’s finest moments yet in the 2019 Track & Field season, Ignacio’s 800-meter sprint medley relay of sophomore Vanessa Gonzales, sophomore Charlize Valdez, senior Kiana Valdez and freshman Lexy Young paced the Lady Bobcats to a tenth-place finish at 4A Durango’s Ron Keller Invitational on Saturday, April 20.
The speedy quartet’s time of 2 minutes, 4.07 seconds trailed only 3A Pagosa Springs’ 2:02.88, and earned IHS eight of its 23 team points. The hosting, personnel-blessed Lady Demons earned the meet championship with a dominating 205 points, while closest challengers 3A Montezuma-Cortez (129) and PSHS (94) were nowhere close.
Earning Ignacio five points, Young finished fourth in the 100-meter dash, with her 14.21-second time trailing the winning 12.56 posted by M-CHS’ Avery Wright. She also placed seventh in the 200 (28.86), and was just one-hundredth of a second from earning the Lady ’Cats at least one team point.
Earning ten points in the long-distance runs, Charlize Valdez took third in the 3,200 meters (13:37.01) and seventh in the 1,600 (6:02.19). Gonzales also ranked tenth in the 100 (14.61) while Kiana Valdez followed in 12th (14.83). She also finished ninth in the long jump (13’7.5”).
The Lady ’Cats will next venture to the April 26-27 Aztec, N.M., Invitational. The Friday portion of the meet is set to begin at 2 p.m., with the Saturday session starting at 9 a.m. IHS will then host the San Juan Relays on Tuesday, April 30, with action currently scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Fri Apr 26th, 2019

Ignacio girls take tenth at the Ron Keller Invite

Ignacio’s Gabe Tucson attempts to tag a Meeker runner as part of a pick-off play during neutral-site action Friday, April 19 in Montrose, Colo.

Fri Apr 26th, 2019

Meeker, Rangely show hurting ’Cats no quarter

Seen making it official Thursday, April 4, Ignacio senior Dustin Sanchez, flanked at left by father K.C. Hall and at right by mother Jessie Sanchez, will continue his student-athlete career as a Garden City Community College bull rider in Garden City, Kan.

Thu Apr 11th, 2019

Ridin’ On: Bobcat takes offer from Kansas juco Sanchez to join Garden City C.C. rodeo roster

Ignacio Track & Field boys’ head coach Alfonso ‘Ponch’ Garcia congratulates a spent Elco Garcia, Jr., after his win in the 1,600-meter run Saturday, April 6, at IHS’ Abel Velasquez Invitational.

Thu Apr 11th, 2019

Garcia pulls off distance double at the AVI Ignacio boys finish seventh at home meet