AURORA, Colo. — Dolores County High School, coming on the heels of it winning the Class 2A Sportsmanship title, won the San Juan Basin League title of the Wells Fargo Cup (formerly Norwest Cup) for having outstanding all-around success in Colorado High School Activities Association-sponsored activities.

DCHS edged Dolores by .5 of a point to win the league title. DCHS scored 76 points while DHS had 75.5. Mancos finished a distant third with 63.5, followed by Nucla 59, Norwood 56, and Telluride 51.

Central won with a total of 202 in the Southwest League. Grand Junction High School came in second with 190, Fruita-Monument third 179, Montrose 161.5, Palisade 155, Durango 149, and Montezuma-Cortez 137.5.

Wells Fargo Banks and the CHSAA made the announcement. CHSAA commissioner Bob Ottewill and Tom Honig, president and chief operating officer for Wells Fargo Banks Colorado, said Merino (Class A), Limon (2A), Kent Denver (3A), Central of Grand Junction (4A), and Smoky Hill (5A) are the 1999-2000 school year repients of The Wells Fargo Cup at the state level after having received the highest level in their respective classifications in the activities arena.

The Wells Fargo Cup recognizes the schools for their outstanding all-around success in athletics, music, speech, and student leadership (student council). In all, nearly 50 different high schools have received the cup at one time or another since its inception in 1993-94 for providing the top all-around activities and athletic programs in their leagues.

"The Wells Fargo Cup winners represent schools throughout the state that place a premium on conducting first-rate programs in a variety of activities so they can provide all the benefits of participation to the students they serve," Ottewill remarked. "These schools are the best of many schools in Colorado which offer their students a wide range of activities in which they can experience success."

Honig said that sponsoring the cup, "gives us an opportunity to recognize schools that are doing an outstanding job of helping prepare tomorrow’s business and community leaders. The characteristics of teamwork, perserverance, fair play, and commitment that are developed through participation in CHSAA-sanctioned activities will benefit these individuals throughout their lives."

The Wells Fargo Cup is a program that recognizes the high schools in Colorado with outstanding activities programs. The state classification winners will receive a crystal cup trophy and $1,200 for their activity programs while DCHS and other league winners will receive a brass cup trophy.