With graduation nearing in less than a week, it was time to officially end the 2013-14 season.

And Ignacio did just that Monday, May 19 with its annual IHS Athletic Awards Banquet in which the Bobcat teams’ best were recognized before family and friends.

Beginning with the most recently completed spring season, the Boys’ Track-and-Field Most Valuable Player award went to sophomore Wyatt Hayes, who posted the Bobcats’ best result at the Class 2A State Championships with his eighth-place long jump. The Coaches’ Award went to senior Christian Knoll, a multi-event State qualifier.

Primarily a relay runner as well as a long-jumper, junior Amya Bison was Girls’ Track MVP, and senior/State qualifier (pole vault) Jayce Stricherz copped the Coaches’ Award.

Usually found atop Ignacio’s lineup and ready to bunt for a hit, senior Antonio Torres – mainly used as a second baseman – was declared Baseball MVP. Up-and-coming sophomore right fielder Joe Herrera received the Coaches’ Award.

Lady Bobcat Soccer bestowed its MVP upon senior midfielder Cheyenne Cook, and senior defender Shannon Mestas was selected for the Coaches’ Award.

Ignacio Boys’ Basketball, again making a run at a State Championship before settling for third place, was easily the winter season’s most captivating spectacle, and San Juan Basin League Coach-of-the-Year Chris Valdez again vocally called the shots.

Senior guard Clayton Jefferson and junior forward/center Adison Jones were revealed as Co-MVP’s – no small feat, given the abundance of talent on Valdez’s roster – with no Coaches’ Award given. The Lady ’Cats also chose to salute Co-Most Valuables, and named senior guard Cloe Seibel and senior guard/forward Gabriela Garcia.

Freshman, Stocker Robbins stormed onto the 2A wrestling scene, and thundered his way to the grand finale at 106 pounds inside Pepsi Center before finally being stopped, at least until his sophomore season commences in a matter of months. He was named the squad’s MVP, with junior 170-pounder Blaine Mickey picking up the Coaches’ Award.

Junior, Annika Zschiegner was honored with Ignacio Cheerleading’s Coaches’ Award for her contributions during the winter and preceding fall seasons, with Mestas the winter’s MVP and Cheyenne Zito the fall’s.

IHS Volleyball’s MVP went to Seibel, the team’s Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports All-State setter, and sophomore libero Chrystianne Valdez received the Coaches’ Award. And on the football field, Mickey, a two-way anchor, was selected as MVP with Knoll, every play’s initial pivot at center, chosen for the Coaches’ Award.

Senior multi-sport [football, basketball, T&F during his prep career] veteran Kelton Richmond was also recognized as the recipient of a SJBL Honors Athlete $500 scholarship.