After a most successful track-and-field season, Ignacio High School was properly represented on the postseason All-San Juan Basin League Team, with a league-leading 12 athletes – plus one coach – honored.
Now-graduated senior Maci Barnes could do just about anything asked of her and was always entered in multiple events at just about every meet IHS attended. Her versatility paid off as she managed to qualify for three events – placing top-ten in one (long jump) – at last month’s CHSAA State Championships in Lakewood, and she was one of two (Telluride sophomore Austin Cook being the other) SJBL Female Athlete-of-the-Year selections.
Joining Barnes in earning All-SJBL distinction were fellow seniors Darlyn Mendoza-Lechuga and Lauren deKay, plus promising sophomore Samantha Riddell. From the boys’ ranks, seniors Corey Gomez and Kyle Rima were chosen from Ignacio, along with junior Kendrick Nossaman, sophomores Lincoln deKay, Zane Pontine, Trace Crane and Aven Bourriague, plus freshman Cayson Burcham.
Alfonso ‘Ponch’ Garcia was named SJBL Boys’ Coach-of-the-Year; his five State-qualified Bobcats returned from Jeffco Stadium with four top-ten results in five total events. Altogether, eight athletes represented IHS at this spring’s grand finale, and five (Nossaman, Crane, Burcham, deKay, Riddell) can return for the 2025 campaign.
Despite plenty of competition from the ’Cats, Dolores sophomore Michael Rantz and Ouray senior Roman Sackman each received SJBL Male Athlete-of-the-Year recognition. Rantz finished fourth at State in the Class 2A Boys’ 400-meter dash, and teamed with junior Tray Traweek, sophomore Aaron Nielson and sophomore Bridger Beyhan on the Bears’ State-qualified 4×400 relay which ranked 14th after the event’s preliminary round and did not advance to the nine-team final.
Sackman, meanwhile, represented OHS in three events (senior Caleb Crandall went in four) and recorded a team-best second place in the 100m dash. He also placed ninth in the long jump and ran a leg on the Trojans’ 4×100 relay.
THS’ Sara Lopez was named SJBL Girls’ Coach-of-the-Year after helping guide Cook to three events (the 3,200-meter run, plus the 4×400 and 4×800 relays) at State. Lady Miner sophomore Lana Kenworthy qualified in four (200, 400, 4×400, 4×800), senior Sage Gianola three (400, 4×400, 4×800) and freshman Ruby Cieciuch two (4×400, 4×800). Each was named All-League, as was DHS’ Beyhan.
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Telluride – Kaila Rebolledo Unda, Mateo Bubolo, Thomas Mahoney, Sean McKillop, Jaden Lopez; Dolores – Maya Lowe, Elia Lowe, Kendall Chavez, Coralea Wright, Kayla Tallmadge, Emma Kemp; Mancos – Samantha Simmons, Adaline Kearns, Akima Kane, Teagan Archer, Brooke Jabour, Spencer Eschallier, Aysia Mathews, Teya Yeomans, Jonah Ritter; Dove Creek – Ambrynn Huffaker, Grace Myers, Ralynn Hickman, Colten Fury, Josh Kibel, Sheldon Gardner, Cody Alexander; Nucla – Steele Arnold, Keiran Bray, Cadence Shaw, Kieley Shepardson; Ouray – Vinny Schierenberg.
ADDITIONALLY
Burcham also received Second Team All-2A Boys (800m) status along with Sackman (100m). Rantz received Honorable Mention All-2A Boys (400m), as did MHS soph Ritter (100m, 200m). Cook, Cieciuch, Kenworthy and Gianola were each named Second Team All-2A Girls for their 4×800 work.
Second Team All-1A Girls went to DCHS junior Hickman (long jump), while senior Alexander received Second Team All-1A Boys (110m hurdles) and senior Fury Honorable Mention All-1A Boys (long jump).