2001 good year for local individual stars

2001 good year for local individual stars

Jan 5, 2002

MOTORCYCLE MOTOCROSS racing at Wild Wild Rest near Mancos took a big step forward in 2001. The existing track was totally rebuilt and won many accolades from professional and amateur bike riders. Crowds were the biggest ever and more riders participated.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

2002 is here. Optimism and hope are running high for sporting individuals and teams.

But 2001 was certainly worth taking another look back. January saw many individuals and teams perform well. Several Cortez area individuals certainly had good years. Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity wrestlers place fourth at Florence Tournament. Mother Nature does not cooperate by dropping snow at local ski areas. But storms would arrive later in the month. Mancos claims first-ever San Juan Basin League Duals wrestling crown. Jennifer Romero of Cortez chosen to compete in Special Olympics World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Monica Plewe picked as MCHS girls soccer coach. Chuck Cotter chosen new MCHS head baseball coach as he tries to bring baseball back to being competitive. Durango Mountain Resort (Purgatory) opens new high-speed six-pack chairlift.

February was a good one for individuals. Lelanie Yellowhair of Cortez wins Girls 10-11 Elks District Hoop Shoot Competition and qualifies for State. No. 2 Mancos High School wrestling team was upset by Bayfield in dual. Mancos beats MCHS JV's as coach Gary Hill notches 300th career coaching victory. Ski areas report excellent surface conditions. Derek Thompson of Dolores High School wins Class 2A State Wrestling title at heavyweight. Cole Allison of MCHS wins 4A State title at 171 (won title at 160 the year before). Dolores County’s Kyle Riddell wins 2A title at 103 and Mancos’ Jeremiah Muniz wins 130 crown at State Championships in Denver. MCHS boys win District VII Boys Basketball title. Dolores girls win District III Girls Basketball crown.

March was probably the biggest and best month for area athletes. The First Four Corners Soccer Cup was held at Parque de Vida. Panther boys beat Fountain-Fort Carson and upset Valley at Regionals. Panther girls beat Summit but lose to Mullen. Mancos boys get ticket to State at Regionals with win over North Park. Dolores girls upset by West Grand but end stellar season. Snowfall, cold temperatures hamper spring sports practices. MCHS boys lose to Adams City in Quarterfinals of Class 4A State Basketball Tournament in Denver. MHS boys lose to Jefferson Academy in Quarterfinals of Class 2A State Basketball Tournament in Pueblo. Paul Pearson of Cortez takes home several trophies showing 1941 coupe. Kerri Morgan of Mancos High School competed in Colorado High School Coaches Association’s Girls All-State Game. Romero captures gold medal at Special Olympics World Games. Allison was named 4A Outstanding Wrestler, MCHS top grappler. Panther baseball team upset by Dolores County. 'Chili Peppers' snowshoe team raked in many medals. Former Mancos High standout Travis Koppenhafer earns All-American status at Nationals for Adams State College.

April was another good one for many area individuals. Motocross riders were greeted by a new track at Wild Wild Rest. Scott Koppenhafer of Mancos High School wrestled at Michigan Team Duals Tournament. Bayfield outlasted Dove Creek for Shiprock Tournament title. Eli Tomac of McElmo Canyon brought home trophies from motorcycle motocross races. Dolores Water Converancy District and area fishermen come to impasse regarding water flow from dam. DCHS baseball team loses to Grand valley in 2A divisional tourney. Allison was named All-Colorado; MHS wrestling coach Travis Bryant named 2A Coach of the Year. Dolores River Raft Days are back again for June. Nick Patterson of MCHS signed scholarship offer to play football for Fort Lewis College. Pink Panthers win another Western Slope Soccer League title.

May was good for a few local athletes. Panther boys, girls won own Panther Invitational. MCHS baseball team upsets Class 4A top-ranked Central of Grand Junction. DCHS girls, Mancos boys won San Juan League titles. MCHS Panther boys placed third place in 4A Regional Track and Field Championships and Mancos boys, girls took second in 2A meet. Cody Beaver of Dolores High School captured two state titles (110 high hurdles and 300 hurdles) at Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at Pueblo. Detroit Lions star and 2000 Pro Bowl defensive tackle Luther Elliss returns home to Mancos to conduct Sports Camp. Allison chosen Academic All-American. Japanese exchange student Ituski Hyakuno loses in first round at State 4A Tennis Championships. Bulldogs baseball team lost to Custer County in playoffs.

June saw several outstanding performanced turned in by area athletes. Daniel Puls of the MCHS boys swimming team was honored as Western Slope Swimmer of Year. Shea Sena took third place at Pat Murphy Golf Tournament in Durango. Local track driver Tony Hill won the annual Bill Simmons Memorial Shootout. A total of 84 bike riders participated in annual Pedal in the Pines. Stephanie Vogel of Cortez takes state title in girls cutting and earns trip to National High School Finals Rodeo in Springfield, Ill. Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo has successful three-day run in Cortez. First of three summer skateboard competitions were held at new Parque de Vida Skate Park. Mike Allison resigned position as head wrestling and head golf coach at MCHS.

July was a fairly quite month. Area's young athletes kept busy training in summer soccer camps. Randy "Jack" Jacobson captured CMGA Club Championship. Ethlene Burgi captured the Cortez Women’s Golf Association’s President's Cup with the help of a new putter. Pink Panthers claimed second straight WSSL crown. Ray Perales of Cortez qualified for Boston Marathon. The Cortez White Sox claimed the Clemente State Tournament title. Vogel placed 11 in girls cutting at NHS Finals Rodeo. Mancos Days offered many sporting events for young and young at heart. Jake Gordanier, Jamie Ferguson, and Sandy Tozer of Ute Mountain High School Rodeo Team competed at Silver States High School Rodeo in Fallon, Nev. Jacobson named head boys golf coach at MCHS.

August was a hot month with lots of activities going. Mancos High School won prestigious Wells Fargo Cup award. Gordon Shepherd agreed to take over MHS football program for one season after no permanent head coach could be found. Sarah (Sutter) Glover brought renewed enthusiasm to volleyball program at Dolores County High School. Wild Wild Rest Motocross racing saw big rider, attendance increase. Tozer won six buckles at Norwood rodeo. Bobby Frazier of Albuquerque won the Pinto Bean Golf Classic for fifth time. Barb Staley of Farmington took top honors at annual Mesa Verde Tee Cup. CHSAA marked 80th year of sanctioning high school sports. Jim Harkendorff took over as head boys tennis coach at MCHS.

September would end up being a month like no other. The Sept. 11 tragedy was even felt in Cortez as several high school fall sporting events were postponed. MCHS volleyball team won the big Eaglecrest Tournament. Sena competed at State 4A Golf Championships. Dolores, and Dove Creek win Homecoming games. MHS Principal Gary Hill was chosen top 10 National Football League Teacher of Year finalist. Kristin Harrison won CWGA Club Championship. Louisa Lakos, former University of Oregon soccer player, named head coach for Tri-City Soccer Association.

October was quite month until fall playoffs towards the end. Motocross racing came to successful end of season at Wild Wild Rest. MCHS Marching Band took first at Junction and later wins another Regional title at Delta. Sena placed 11th at 4A State Golf Tournament. Bears clinch football playoffs with upset victory. Panthers took SWL with perfect 10-0 loop record. Dolores captured San Juan Basin League title. MCHS hosted District VII Volleyball Tournament. MCHS football wins Homecoming game. DHS football team captures San Juan Basin League title. Panthers, Bears won district volleyball tourney titles. Warm, dry weather hurt first and second big game hunts. Construction begins on BMX Track.

November was another good month for locals. Dolores beats South Park for first home football playoff game. Dolores thrown to the Lyons and Dove Creek hosted top-ranked Akron in football playoffs second round. Bears lost at Lyons and Bulldogs lost to Akron. Panther, Bears earn trip to State Volleyball Championships. Panthers take third in 4A. Bears just miss Final Four. Pink Panthers captured third title. Warm weather made tracking elk difficult for final hunt. Ty Gray took over boys hoops program at DCHS. Jim Buffington comes out of retirement to guide DCHS girls hoopsters. Scott Story took reigns of boys basketball program at DHS. Karl McGee began first year guiding MCHS wrestling program. Local ski areas cancel traditional Thanksgiving Day opening. Snow finally falls on ski area on Thanksgiving weekend but too late for scheduled opening. Kyle Wilson inked scholarship to play hoops at Adams State College. Layne Frazier signs scholarship to play hoops for Western State College. Casey Bauer signed scholarship to play volleyball at Colorado State University. Miranda Ernst earned All-America honors in cross-country while at University of Northern Colorado. Scott Koppenhafer follows brother to wrestled at Adams State. DOW confirmed low elk harvest for fourth season. First-ever Cortez BMX race drew 46 racers. Shepherd resigned MHS coach job. Bauer and Amanda Cross of DHS helped All-State teams win. Micah Rudosky earned Colo. RGA Player of the Year honor. Pink Panthers won final fall WSSL game.

December closed good year for local sports. Mancos captured Bayfield Tournament title. Colin Berdzar of Cortez completed senior season at Wooster College. Panther boys captured Cortez Invite title. Ignacio pulled big upset on mat at MCHS.Panther boys took third place at NGS Tournament in Page, Ariz. Prospect Bowl at Telluride opened with mixed reviews. Local ski area finally open first weekend of December. Former MCHS standout Byron Tanner competes in Liberty Bowl game for BYU.