2000 was quite a year for local sports

2000 was quite a year for local sports

Dec. 30, 2000

LINDY MORTENSEN, head coach for the Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team, receives the first-place trophy after winning the Class 4A Region D Tournament in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. Mike Allison, MCHS athletic director, presented the award. MCHS, which won the Southwest League title for the second straight year, struggled at State, winning only one of three pool games.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

The dawn of the 21st Centry will be here at the stroke of midnight, Monday, Jan. 1. But the last golden days of the 20th Century certainly were interesting in the wide world of sports in Cortez and the surrounding area.

Here’s a brief look at what made some local sports headlines for 2000:

January was quiet as usual. The high school winter sports were gearing up with various league matches getting under way. Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestlers captured the Florence Tournament title and a few weeks later won the Mullen team title. MCHS head volleyball coach Lindy Mortensen was named Class 4A Coach of the Year by both The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post for guiding the Panthers to third place at the State Tournament. Dolores County High School wrapped up the San Juan League Duals team title at the end of the month. Also during the month, Aaron Spangler of Dove Creek was named Dirt Works Mountain Regional Modified Racing Champ for 1999. He was a regular driver at Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez and he also raced at tracks at Delta, Olathe, Grand Junction, and Aztec, N.M.

The month of February was certainly a good one for area prep wrestlers. One grappler, MCHS junior Cole Allison, captured first place in the 160-pound class of the Class 4A State Wrestling Championships in Denver. He ended the season with four straight wins at the tournament and ended the year with a perfect 41-0 record. But seniors Justin Peters and Stephen Snyder of Dolores, sophomore Scott Koppenhafer and soph Mike Montoya of Mancos, and freshman Kyle Riddell of Dolores County all placed second at the Class 2A State Tournament. MCHS senior Brianna McCabe qualified in two events — 50-yard freestyle and 100 free — at the State Swimming Championships in Fort Collins. She did not qualify for the finals at the meet, though. In other news, MCHS freshman Glenn Brace qualified for the Junior Olympics in air rifle and .22 caliber. Southwestern Colorado ski areas received some snow in February after a dry January. Dolores girls varsity basketball team ended the month by winning the District III title. DCHS boys and Mancos girls qualified for Regionals.

A senior-dominated Dolores girls hoopsters opened March by beating Hayden at Regionals in Grand Junction. DHS then advanced to the Class 2A version of March Madness by competing at the State Basketball Championships in Pueblo. The Bears, under the direction of coach Greg Buffington, took third place after placing fourth the year before. They finished the year with a sparkling 24-1 record. Mancos girls track team took first place at annual San Juan Relays. The Panther boys track team grabbed second and the MCHS girls third at the Cortez Relays. MCHS seniors Annie Mortensen, Holly Smith, and Eric White earned All-Southwest League honors for hoops. Late March snows helped ailing ski areas but come too late.

April was a busy month for high school sports. DCHS opened the month by winning the Shiprock (N.M.) Baseball Tournament. Allison was chosen All-Colorado by both Denver newspapers for his wrestling exploits. Dolores girls and boys track teams captured Shiprock Track Invitational. Mid-way through the month, Karl McGee was named new head football coach at MCHS. McGee, who came here from McPhearson, Kan., replaced Dick Geddes who resigned. Geddes later surfaced at Liberty High School near Colorado Springs. DCHS ended the month by cliniching the San Juan Basin League baseball title. In a surprising baseball game, MCHS crushed rival Durango 13-2 on the Demon’s home field. A dismal ski season ended as skier days were drastically down at Telluride and Purgatory Resorts. Wolf Creek had a so-so season while Hesperus never opened.

There were many headlines during the month of May. John Harris of Farmington captured the annual Pueblo to Pueblo Run. Dolores girls and Mancos boys won San Juan Basin League track crowns. Jeff Bollinger resigned as head baseball coach following a successful season. Dolores River rafting season came to an end because of a lack of run-off. Jim Buffington, longtime coach at Dolores County High School, retired from coaching. Don Story surprised everyone by taking reins of Dolores High School football program. Greg Buffington resigned as head girls basketball coach at DHS. Scott Crawford resigned as DCHS head boys basketball coach. Glen Brace qualified to shoot at the Summer Olympic Games Trials in Atlanta, Ga. Junior Daniel Puls of the MCHS boys swimming team placed 10th overall in 100 breast stroke event. Tri-City Soccer Association’s Pink Panthers won American Cup in Denver. The first Horsepower Pow Wow Car Show was held at Ute Mountain Casino. Car racing started the summer season at Fairgrounds Speedway.

Ah, the joys of summer! Cortez was once again represented at the annual BCI Basketball Tournament in Colorado Springs and the team won three games. Members of the team were James Durnin, Kyle Archibeque, Jeff Anderson, Marcus Mortensen, Devin Perkins, Kyle Chandler, Cody Dinae and coach Bob Archibeque. The Cortez Special Olympians performed well at the annual Summer Games. Bringing home medals were Kari Buchanan, Jennifer Romero, Heather Fields, Jessy Kirch, and Jacob Milligan. Purgatory Resort changed its name to Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort. The first "Pedal in the Pines" at Echo Basin drew 70 mountain bike riders. The 70th annual Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo drew many top professional cowboys and cowgirls. The British Soccer Camp instructors taught area youth the finer points of soccer. Ardy Ptolomy captures Cortez Women’s Golf Association’s Presidents Cup with low net 64.

Finally, a little breather during the month of July. Cortez Diamonds summer traveling softball team won the "Diamonds in Rockies" tournament at Gunnison. A nine-hole frisbee golf layout opens at Parque de Vida. Todd Starr was named head boys soccer coach at MCHS, succeeding Jim Schulz. Colorado Gold Soccer Camp youngsters learned soccer skills ffrom state’s best women soccer players. MCHS senior-to-be Stephanie Vogel placed 18th at National high School Finals Rodeo in Springfield, Ill. Farmington was chosen to host rodeo for 2002-03. July ended with many weekend warriors competing in several events during Mancos Days.

Golf was the king of sport in August. Jack Jacobsen started the month on a good note by winning the Cortez Men’s Golf Association title at Conquistador Golf Course. Louise McKee captured the title of the CWGA’s Club Championship. Rollerblade and sidewalk surfers got a place to ride at Parque de Vida. Japanese bike rider finished among top at Escalante Days/Dolores Mountain Bike Race. Ohio golfer Cathy Jefferson breezed to Mesa Verde Tee Cup crown. City sought input into building recreation center. Surprise! Crawford came back as head basketball coach and took over the DCHS volleyball program. Charlie Rosenbaugh took over softball program and Stan Yake was named head girls basketball coach at MCHS.

September meant high school sports were once again under way. The Colorado Leopard Sharks wrapped a long season of swimming. Many members qualified for post-season meets. Annual Shine/Show drew many car owners from throughout Four Corners. The 51st annual Junior Rodeo brought out the best of young rodeo stars at American Legion Post 75 Arena. The 13th annual Dean Hanson Memorial Golf Tournament had 34 teams competing. The money raised went into a scholarship fund. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference held its Fall Golf Championships at Conquistador Golf Course.

Just because its fall it doesn’t mean October wasn’t a busy month for sports. DCHS announced as Class 2A State title for Sportsmanship by Colorado High School Activities Association. Kari Distefano became first woman to win overall title at the annual Mesa Verde-Cortez Indian Summer Run. The first elk-only hunt was held. MCHS boys tennis team took third place at Regionals. Cortez’ Mike Carver won two top angler awards at two area bass clubs. The Panther boys soccer team lost to Berthoud in Class 4A Playoffs. MCHS volleyball team clinched another Southwest League title. The Pink Panthers captured the Western Slope Soccer League title. At the end of the month, Wolf Creek Ski Area opened with 28 inches of fresh powder.

Mancos volleyball team opened November by advancing to Regionals, but lost there. MCHS hosted Regionals and won. But it found trouble at State, winning one of three pool games. DCHS football team lost at Sargent in Class A Playoffs. Several fall sport Panthers were honored by the league coaches including Joe Siracusan for soccer; Stefanie Allison, Casey Bauer, Emilie Lanier, and Denise Newlin for volleyball; and Linda Smart for softball; and Josh Lee, Dan O’Neal, and Derique Duran for football. MHS head football coach Terry Newlin announced his resignation.

MHS opened December by taking second at Bayfield Tournament. MCHS wrestlers won the Wells Fargo Tournament at Kayenta, Ariz., for second straight year. DCHS cheerleaders capturedsecond in Class 2A State. Hesperus Ski Area opened after being closed for nearly two years. Bauer, Allison were chosen All-State for volleyball. MHS basketball boys won seventh annual Blue Jay Classic. Christmas storm brought some snow to local ski areas.

Yes, it truly was a memorable year. That was the year that was.