By Jim Thomas

Being named Coach of the Year for Class 4A by both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, Colorado’s two leading papers, is certainly one of the top post-season honors ever by a Montezuma-Cortez High School coach.

Lindy Mortensen, head varsity volleyball coach who just completed her fourth season, accomplished a major goal of the team by guiding the Panthers to a tie for third place at the Class 4A State Volleyball Championships this past November. She mentored the team to the Southwest League title which finished with a sparkling 25-4 record, best in the school’s history. Mortensen was recently named Coach of the Year by the two Denver papers.

But for Mortensen, the season really gets started not long after the previous season has ended.

"We started a winter open gym. We did that just because a couple kids who weren’t playing basketball or doing something else, wanted to come in hit one night. We did that up until spring," she noted.

She said five or six girls would come in on any given night the gym was open. And for those girls who play basketball, that is "great, because it keeps them active and competing in an organized sport."

"We start heavy on the season toward the end of spring and into early summer. After Spring Break, we started with two nights a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). We started a spring league in the area with us, Durango, Montrose, Bayfield, and Mancos. We did this because volleyball clubs are in the larger cities but not around here. We played five or six Saturdays (round-robin with each school hosting). It was good to give the kids a little more play time," Mortensen reported.

The summer got under way with the annual Brigham Young University clinic. Assistants from National Champ Cougars’ men’s program came to Cortez.

"We run the BYU system which features quicks through the middle and a high left-side game. And when we can bring in assistants to conduct a clinic, that really helps the girls. We do their practice system. The coaches look at our players and bring in a different perspective. BYU head coach Carl McGown is a world-reknown blocking coach. We all learned from them, especially some of the mechanics," she remarked.

As the summer progresses it gets even busier for the Panther volleyball players.

"Last summer was our third year hosting a tournament (Farmington (two teams); Montrose; Durango; Bayfield; Mancos; Monument Valley, Ariz. (two teams)) We would like to see that grow. The Panthers traveled to Air Force Academy Jamboree, and Fort Morgan Tournament," Mortensen recalled.

The Panthers beat Ignacio and then lost to a good Pagosa Springs team. It took them a little while to get used to each other under competitive situations. But then the team started to jell after moving a couple players around. They started playing very well. By the time Southwest League play came around, Cortez dominated its opponents. Beating Durango twice was certainly a highlight.

"To summarize this past season when I look back, what a great group of kids. They got along all season. They worked hard but had a lot of fun. It was just a fun season. We all had that same dream of winning league, playing well at Regionals, and going to State. They believed they could get there," she added.

Not only was coach Mortensen honored but so were several of her players. Senior middle blocker Lindsay Mortensen was chosen First Team by the Denver Post while senior setter Annie Mortensen and sophomore outside hitter Casey Bauer were named honorable mention. The Rocky Mountain News picked Waggoner Second Team and Mortensen and Bauer honorable mention.