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Taos County All Stars

June 21, 2018

THE TAOS NEWS

NO “I” IN TEAM T

here’s a lot that goes into the creation of a success-

ful team. Besides all the physical work and strength conditioning, a team is like a living thing that must be fed, coddled, rested and given space to grow. From the start of a new sports season to the final play in the end, the formation, development and maintenance of a team requires hours and hours of supervision and preparation. Always, multiple coaches are required to facilitate this process, but often, so many other unknown variables come into play, and a whole host of other things must happen for a team to garner a sports world “thumbs-up.” Luck, chemistry, talent, momentum, drive, fan support, facilities, weather, injury, grades, money, nutrition and a whole host of unforeseen challenges sometimes test a team’s will. It’s those teams that find ways to tamp down

those patchy unknowns that seem like obstacles and instead use them to fortify their mettle. As a whole, athletic programs in Taos County had a great 2017-18 school year. All five teams that achieved state champion status in 2016-17 repeated their respective feats and defended their crowns. Taos County improved that number this year by one, adding a sixth team to the list of “team champions.” Two of those teams became five-time champs, three earned their second consecutive title and one ended a four-year absence. And while many individual state champions triumphed, we’re going to stick to the accomplishments of Taos County teams in the following recap.

BLUE, RED AND GREEN TROPHIES

Continuing a trend that began last year, each Taos County school provided a team trophy during the

Taos County All Stars

THE TAOS NEWS

June 21, 2018

Photo by David Jacobs

For the first time in four years, the Taos Lady Tigers get the chance to pose atop the podium with their championship banner and trophy at the conclusion of the 2018 State Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque May 12. The last time the Lady Tigers placed in the top three in the team standings was in 2014. That year, Taos was a Class 3A team and finished in first place with 71 points. This year, coincidentally, Taos earned 71 team points for the crown.

Arcenio J. Trujillo

In a celebratory mood and preferring a fun group photo over a stoic lineup, members of the Lady Panthers cross-country team enjoy a light moment before departing from Rio Rancho High School to travel to Tierra Amarilla for a volleyball game against the Escalante Lady Lobos Nov. 4. The Lady Panthers won their second consecutive state title in class 2A with a 1, 3, 5, 11 and 12-point cumulative team score of 32 - besting their score from last year by 17 points. Front row, leaning left to right are: Martina Tafoya, Adrianna Tafoya, Estrella Gonzales, Maricella MacAuley, Jennifer Aguilar, Bianca Contreras and Alexandria Sandoval. Back row, left to right are Carly Gonzales and Ariana MacAuley.

2017-18 season. In total, eight trophies were garnered by Questa, Taos and Peñasco high school teams, including six blue (first place), one red (second) and one green (third). Starting in the fall with cross-country, coach Bruce Gomez earned his seventh team title of all time when the Lady Tigers – led by the one-two-three finish of Ella Katz, Cora Cannedy and Alyx Mastor – earned another first place in class 4A at the state cross-country championship meet in Rio Rancho with an all-time low score of 31 points Nov. 4. In class 2A, the Peñasco Lady Panthers defended their cross-country crown in similarly commanding fashion. The win earned

coach Ben Sanchez his second blue trophy with a 32-point performance led by individual champion Carly Gonzales. Also defending its previous year’s conquest, the Questa Wildcats cheer team won it’s second state title in Class A/2A, with another wire-to-wire show at the state cheer championships in Albuquerque March 24. The Taos Tigers cheer team also triumphed at state, coming away with its fifth straight Class 4A title. The five-time winners were graced with a pair of athletes, Heaven Valdez and Alejandra Fresquez, who have been cheering for coach Lisa Abeyta-Valerio for all five of those state championships. This rare

distinction is the first for any Taos Tiger athlete in any sport. And, not to be outdone, the Taos Tigers boys track and field kept pace with cheer as they brought home their fifth consecutive class 4A championship as well. Along with the Lady Tigers, who also won a title on May 12, the two teams handed coach Benny Mitchell his seventh and eighth career blue trophies and ending a four-year drought of any colored hardware for the girls team . The lone red trophy in 2017-18 came with lots of tears as the Peñasco Lady Panthers basketball team ended an impressive post-season run as the class 2A runners-up inside

Dreamstyle Arena (The Pit) in Albuquerque March 9. In only his second year as head coach, Gilbert Mascareñas led his team to 14 straight wins to finish the season, including three state tournament victories, before falling to the Fort Sumner/ House Vixens 49-38 in the title game. Many of the same athletes were on both the Lady Panthers cross-country and basketball teams. Finding the podium for the first time in 29 years was the Taos Tigers wrestling team, who managed to grab a green trophy at the state championships in Rio Rancho Feb. 17. The thirdplace finish was a nail-biting event that saw Taos pass Robertson in the wan-

Arcenio J. Trujillo

Members of the champion Taos Tigers cheer team appropriately flash the five sign, signaling the number of consecutive titles garnered by Taos High School since 2014. Several Tiger fans were in attendance inside Dreamstyle Arena to witness the monumental achievement March 24.

Photo by David Jacobs

Not entirely coordinated about which hand sign to show, the Taos Tigers display a variety of ways to say they are the 2018 state champs. Standing in solidarity on the victors’ podium for the fifth straight year, the hometown heroes earned this year’s victory by piecing together a steady wave of wins and top six finishes.

Arcenio J. Trujillo

Emotions run high in The Pit as the realization sets in that Questa has won its second consecutive state cheer championship March 24. The Wildcats, who attained their back-to-back feat with six eighth-graders on their roster, won the Class A-2A cheer category with 147.19 points to edge the Fort Sumner Vixens by a bit under nine points.

ing moments of the final day of competition. Coach Robert Valencia, who was a student-athlete on the wrestling team the last time the Tigers earned hardware in 1989, book-ended the long wait with special distinction as one of his female wrestlers earned an individual state title.

WINNING SEASONS

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CONTINUES TO PROUDLY SUPPORT ALL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Of the 40 interscholastic sports teams in the three Taos County high schools, 18 are of the type that record wins and losses. In each case, teams earn an overall record and a league record that determines an outright district champion, district tournament seeding or whether a team receives a state tournament invitation. Of the 18 teams, 10 finished the 2017-18 school year with either an overall or league record at or above .500, and thus recorded a winning season. Starting with the fall sports season and truly standing out in this category was the Taos Tigers football team, who finished the season with a final record of 8-4 (.666 win percentage) – improving by two games from the previous year and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs. In soccer, the Taos Lady Tigers improved as well from the previous year, earning an 11-6 (.647) overall record and 6-4 in district

play and hosted a first-round state playoff at home. The boys team was in perfect balance, finishing with a 9-9-1 (.474 win percentage) overall record and 8-4 in the district. Coming in third in win percentage among Taos County teams was the Questa Lady Cats volleyball team under third-year coach Michelle Spears. The Lady Cats completed an impressive season with a 12-8 (.600) overall record and 6-2 in district play. Rounding out the fall sports winners was the Peñasco Lady Panthers volleyball team who ended the year with a lukewarm overall record of 9-15 (.375), but garnered two-thirds of their wins during league play to finish tied for first with a 6-3 district record. They earned an invite to the state championships in Rio Rancho. The same could be said for the Questa Lady Cats basketball team, who ended their winter campaign with a 13-16 (.448) overall record, but managed a 5-5 district record, cracking the top 16 in class 2A and gaining a state tournament berth. The greatest turnaround story of 2017-18 was hatched inside Otero Gymnasium, as the Taos Tigers went from worst-to-first and compiled an 18-11 (.620) overall record and earned a No. 5 seed in the class 4A state basketball tourney. Under the direction of first-year coach, Nando Chavez, the Tigers also came away with a 7-1 district

record and made it as far as the quarterfinals of state before falling to the Moriarty Pintos at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho March 7. The best team in Taos County with regards to wins and losses was the Peñasco Lady Panthers. They amassed an outstanding 26-5 (.839) overall record and an equally impressive 8-0 in league play. Under the tutelage of second-year coach, Gilbert Mascareñas, Peñasco went undefeated at home, led all class 2A teams with 1,849 total points and finished second at state. During his short tenure (two seasons), Mascareñas has a 44-15 (.746 career win percentage) overall record. Another two-year coach credited with finishing on the mark was Questa Wildcat baseball skipper, Chris Padilla who ended flush (.500) in both overall (8-8) and district (4-4) records. While improving slightly from one year ago when the Wildcats went 10-11 (.476), the team was excluded from the eight-team playoff bracket, and missed the state tournament for the first time in 11 years. Taos Tigers baseball finished the 2018 spring season with a 15-13 (.535) overall record and 7-5 in the District 2-4A. The Tigers earned a No. 10 seed in the state tournament playoff and traveled to Santa Fe to take on the St. Michael’s Horsemen in the opening round May 4-5.

clinch the top prize in volleyball in District 5-2A and qualified for the state tournament. In basketball, the Lady Panthers cruised to a league title by going 8-0 in district play and beating the Questa Lady Cats in the district title game Feb. 24. Joining the Lady Panthers in the fall were the Taos Lady Tigers who repeated as District 2-4A cross-country champions in a meet hosted by St. Michael’s High School and held at the Santa Fe Municipal Park Complex Oct. 27. Many of

the long-distance runners were also part of the track team that reclaimed the district title in the spring with a 161-138 victory over the St. Michael’s Lady Horsemen (and the rest of the field) May 5. By exerting an extraordinary team effort at home in the final meeting of 5-2A teams, the Questa Lady Cats garnered a district title in track and field April 28. The two boys teams claiming league championships in Taos County were the Taos Tigers basketball and track

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DISTRICT TITLES

Taos County rebounded a bit in 2017-18 when it came to district (team) titles. A total of eight squads who claimed league championships, an improvement of two teams from the previous year. And like last year, the women did most of the heavy lifting as six of the eight teams from Taos County were girls teams. Half of the district notoriety came from a core group of athletes from the Peñasco Lady Panthers. The cross-country team finished as district champions for the second straight year – securing top honors at the district meet in Raton with a perfect score of 15. A week later, Peñasco came out of nowhere to

team who breezed through their respective district seasons and felled rivals and foes on their way to the top. Though it took double-overtime twice to beat the St. Michael’s Horsemen during the regular season, the Tigers basketball team handily defeated St. Mike’s 73-59 in the district tournament title game Feb. 24. At the district meet in Las Vegas, the Taos track and field team held off a determined St. Michael’s team to claim yet another championship May 5.

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Taos County All Stars

June 21, 2018

Arcenio J. Trujillo

THE TAOS NEWS

Photo by David Jacobs

Arcenio J. Trujillo

CORA CANNEDY

Athlete of the last half-decade

Top left: Running with the front pack, Cora Cannedy (left) keeps pace with the eventual Class 4A winner, Ella Katz (right) and close adversary through the years, Khadija Lapahie from Shiprock during the 2017 state cross-country meet in Rio Rancho Nov. 4. Cannedy was most successful on the cross-country trail. She won an individual title in 2014, three runners-up in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and four team championships in her five years on the varsity team. Top left: With a final surge across the finish line during the 1,600- meter run, Cora Cannedy claimed her second state title at the state meet May 12, capping a stellar running career as a Taos Lady Tiger. Cannedy also won the 3,200-meter run the previous day (May 11) to add to her legacy and redeem her fifth place fincenterright: Sure-footed and quick, Cora Cannedy was front and center on the pitch as well. Cannedy was nabbed as all-district and all-state honoree for her contributions this past season.

Well, it was difficult finding a reason not to choose Cora Cannedy as Taos County’s “Female Athlete of the Year” for a second-consecutive term. The senior kept up the hard work and maintained her winning ways all the way to the very end of her illustrious athletic career at Taos High School, sprinting to the finish line to win by a full stride like a champion runner does with quality repetition. In this instance, it’s reality, hyperbole, analogy and history all wrapped up in one final step across a real and imagined threshold. A look back at Cannedy’s feats shows a consistent pattern of success that reveals her unique work ethic and quiet determination that ultimately rubs off on those around her, causing a collective rally that generates team championships. Cannedy has been a cornerstone in each of the five cross-country teams she has belonged to. Since her eighth grade year, all Cannedy has known are the top two steps on the winners’ podium. Her teams have garnered four first-place trophies and one second. In 2013 Cannedy placed sixth overall with a time of 20:09.35. A memorable kick by the prodigious freshman in the final 300-meters at the 2014 state meet helped Cannedy distance herself from the heavily favored Addison Rauch from East Mountain and win her lone individual state title with a time of 19:15.00. The Class 4A state meet in 2015 saw Taos edged by the Shiprock Lady Chieftains 58-60, making this race Taos’ lone second place finish during the Cannedy era. Rauch got her revenge by going wire-to-wire to claim the top individual title, and Cannedy placed second with a time of 19:24.20. She garnered another individual runner-up in 2016 with a time of 19:16.25 but her team prospered with a rebound victory. As a senior in 2017, Cannedy helped the Lady Tigers repeat as team champions with yet another second place finish as an individual with a time of 20:26.80. Remarkably, the endurance distance runner was simultaneously using a whole different set of muscle groups during the fall season for her other activity: varsity player for the Taos Lady Tigers soccer team. All five years. This year was no different. In soccer, Cannedy was listed as a forward and midfielder for Coach Casey Tonrey. A co-captain of the team and one of the

Taos County All Stars

THE TAOS NEWS

Photo by David Jacobs

June 21, 2018

Photo by David Jacobs

Jonah Vigil was the “High Point Male Athlete” at this year’s state track and field championship in Albuquerque May 11-12. Vigil completed the season with four individual first-place medals and was a member of the first place 4x100-meter relay team, pumping 30 points into the Taos Tiger team total.

Jonah Vigil crosses the finish line at the conclusion of the 400-meter dash at the state track and field meet May 12. His win gave him a total of five gold medals on the day and 30.5 individual points. Vigil is Taos County’s Male Athlet of the Year for 2018.

fastest players on the pitch, Cannedy was instrumental in helping the Lady Tigers finish with an 11-6 overall record and 6-4 in district play. Taos made it into the state playoffs and hosted the Robertson Lady Cardinals at Taos Eco Park Oct. 28. For her efforts, Cannedy was bestowed all-district (first team) and all-state (first team) honors. Though there are no designated captains in cross-country, Cannedy was that and more. Her nurturing spirit and self-demands seemed to be well received by the underclassmen on the team who played equally important supporting roles. She had a knack for bringing out the best in her teammates. Coupled with the gentle encouragement from Hall of Fame coach, Bruce Gomez, teams flourished and kept improving. She finished in second place behind freshman Ella Katz and right in front of Alyx Mastor, who came in third at the 2017 state meet in Rio Rancho Nov. 4. The other two scoring runners were not far behind, and Taos rolled to an easy victory – beating the second place Hope Christian by a whopping 45 points. Somehow, the busy, dual-sport athlete juggled her schedules to accommodate the needs of both coaches and each team’s members. And somehow, Cannedy found time to do her homework, as she also was the 2018 Taos High School salutatorian. And somehow, she found time to hold the duties of queen for the Taos County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo de Taos in 2016. This past spring, Cannedy cemented her legacy with a pair of wins at the 2018 New Mexico State Track and Field championships at Great Friends of UNM stadium in Albuquerque May 11-12. On day one, she peeled away from the field to win the 3,200-meter run with a time of 12:18.00, redeeming a lackluster finish from 2017 when she placed fifth. On the second day, she won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:32.39. The many points generated by her two triumphs helped push the Lady Tigers over the hump to win a team title. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s six blue and one red team trophy, four individual state titles, three second place finishes, several top six medals and one queen’s crown. Congratulations to Cora Cannedy for being named Taos County’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2018.

JONAH VIGIL Heart of a tiger, legs of a cheetah In the jittery moments before runners were instructed to take to their marks and get situated in their starting blocks, Jonah Vigil crouched above a faded, white “3” on the sun-beaten red track and bowed his head, exposing his nape to the blazing midafternoon sun. In his running lane, the junior closed his eyes and sat motionless, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands held open and loose. Soon, nothing about his body would be motionless or resting or loose, as the pop from the starter’s gun would send him and seven others on their way, racing once around the weather-beaten pad of the University of New Mexico track. To his right, and slightly ahead of him in lane “4” was his fierce opponent, Brandon Chavez from Silver City, who had won this event twice – in 2015 and 2016 – but lost to Vigil by a mere four one-hundredths of a second in 2017. Chavez was out for revenge. To Vigil’s left, and slightly ahead of him was his other nemesis: the official clock on the jumbo screen. The clock was out for revenge and had sought the help of the wind to help with its sinister plot: keep this young man from the north from breaking any records on this day. And then, with the explosion of the starter’s gun, Vigil also exploded off his blocks and planted the first step towards achieving his 2018 goals in the pivotal 400meter dash. His three-pronged quest included: defending his title, beating Chavez and breaking the record in

this event.Therein lied the conflict. Based on results from his on-track (live, outdoor competitions) performances this year, Vigil is convincingly the fastest athlete to ever run a race in the history of Taos. With his dominating sweep in the dashes at state this year, an argument could be made about his prowess in the whole of New Mexico. Specifically, though, it’s the 400-meter race that has prompted the debate as Vigil has throttled the records in this event in every class twice thus far. The first time was April 16 at the Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions in Albuquerque. Vigil went up against the top eight sprinters in the state and won the singular heat with a time of 46.99 seconds, shattering the previous record of 48.25 seconds held by Bobby Newcombe from Highland (Albuquerque) High School set in 1997. Consequently, no other runner in New Mexico had ever been recognized for breaking the 47-second barrier. Before Vigil’s feat, the record in the 400 in the state was set by Abram Schaap from Volcano Vista HIgh in Albuquerque, who recorded a time of 47.43 seconds in 2016. Unfortunately, the impressive time was not counted in the state’s record books because it did not occur during the state track and field meet. The second time Vigil broke the state record, it did count. And it will go into the record books.

During his preliminary race on May 11, the dashing young Taoseño completed his one-lap race with a time of 47.01 seconds, breaking the 4A state record held by Sean King from Oñate (Las Cruces) High School since 1991. The following day, Vigil emerged from his peaceful, prerace trance and beat Chavez with a time of 47.59 seconds (still a record) and kept his crown in this event. Mission accomplished on all fronts. Vigil also competed in the 100-meter dash where he battled head winds to win with a time of 11.05 seconds. He also claimed the top spot in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.07 seconds and first place in the long jump with a personal best distance of 23 feet, 2.75 inches. His participation in the boys 4x100 relay team helped garner a first in that event as well with a time of 43.71 seconds, a school record, and a share of the relay team’s 10 points for himself. On the weekend, Vigil accumulated a total of 30.5 points and was named the “High Point Male Athlete” for Class 4A, another title he defended after winning the distinction in 2017 with a personal haul of 26.5 points. Vigil also played soccer in the fall for Coach Michael Hensley. Listed as a forward, he performed well and was named to the all-district (second team) and allstate (honorable mention) teams for 2017. Congratulations to Jonah Vigil for being named Taos County’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2018.

Taos County All Stars

June 21, 2018

Antonio Garcia Q U E S TA H I G H S C H O O L SENIOR

Though struggles have gripped the football program in Questa the past two years, Garcia has remained a steadfast field general on the gridiron for the Wildcats. The fight inside him was exemplified in one single play during Questa’s homecoming game against the Cuba Rams last year when the Wildcat quarterback refused to go down despite taking hits from all 11 defenders. His work did not go unnoticed, and he was tapped to play in the North-South All-Star football game in Albuquerque June 8. Garcia also excelled in baseball this past spring.

Maricela MacAuley

John Esquibel

Alaska Lopez

PEÑASCO MIDDLE SCHOOL EIGHTH-GRADER

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L J U N I O R

PEÑASCO HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR

Esquibel quietly amassed an impressive sports resume putting the “extra” in extracurricular in 2017-18. The four-sport athlete split his fall season playing forward for coach Michael Hensley in soccer and running for coach Bruce Gomez in cross-country. In the winter, Esquibel was full speed on his skates as a member of the Taos Ice Tigers under coach Mark Richert. In the spring, the dark horse acquired a state title as a member of the Taos Tigers 4x400 relay team. His track accomplishments included a fifth place in the 400-meter run and fourth in the 4x200-meter relay.

Options, options, options. It was what helped Lady Panther Basketball Coach Gilbert Mascareñas draw up plays in the huddle before sending his girls back onto the court this past season. And when opposing teams keyed in on her teammates to try to break up their game plan or to rattle Peñasco, Lopez represented one of those viable options. Rarely did the junior swing guard get rattled. Her athleticism afforded her an all-district nod in both volleyball and basketball, but her classy acknowledgement of the Peñasco fans at the Pit after their title loss March 9 will be remembered forever.

Even though MacAuley is one of the youngest athletes from Peñasco to make the top-25 list, she certainly owns the most individual hardware: the result of an outstanding start in the fall and a great finish in the spring. The eighth-grader made her mark among Class 2A runners at the state cross-country meet in Rio Rancho Nov. 4, cruising to a third place overall finish to secure all-state honors with a time of 21:30.80. MacAuley also earned a third in the 1,600 and a second in the 3,200-meter runs at the small schools state meet May 11-12.

June 21, 2018

Santiago “Saint” Cortez

Tyler Valencia

Abigail “Abbey” Gunther

Jessie Ayala

Jude Suazo

Faith Powell

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L J U N I O R

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L S E N I O R

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L SENIOR

Valencia capped an outstanding wrestling season with a victory in the championship match in the 132-pound division at the New Mexico state tournament in Rio Rancho Feb. 17 to finish 45-8 on the season. The team co-captain and district champ in his respective division pinned all three of his opponents in the lead-up rounds before defeating Irven De la Torre from Cobre by major decision (11-1) in the championship match. His 27 individual points helped boost the Tigers as a team, earning a third place trophy and ending a 29-year podium drought.

Keeping up with Gunther’s exploits in the pole vault this past spring was exciting as she drastically improved her heights from the beginning of the season to the end, where she ultimately dominated the event and earned an individual title at the New Mexico state track and field championships clearing 10 feet, 6 inches May 12. Having attained the school record in 2017 with a jump of 8 feet, 6 inches, she kept breaking her own personal best heights in 2018 until finally clinching 11 feet at the Valencia Invitational in Los Lunas April 27. She also finished second at state in the 300-meter hurdles and third in the 100-meter hurdles. Gunther also earned a bronze (third place) medal at state as a level 9 gymnast.

Having been named a co-captain by his teammates late in the season, Ayala dedicated his efforts at state to proving they made the right choice. He delivered on his promise to do his best and garnered a state championship in the 220-pound division in the process, defeating Isaiah Sanchez in the title bout and catapulting his team over rival Robertson by one point for the third place spot in Rio Rancho Feb. 17.

A natural leader, Suazo has shown growth and maturity during his two-year tenure at quarterback for coach Art Abreu Jr. and the Taos Tigers football team. Along with a solid arm and steadfast legs, the cerebral warrior has also demonstrated a calmness under pressure, which he regularly utilized on the basketball court and baseball diamond as well. Suazo was named to the Class 4A all-state football team (first team defense) and was invited to play in the NorthSouth All-Star game June 8.

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L JUNIOR

In 2017-18, Cortez was everywhere. As a three-sport athlete, he made his impact known – running the tight end and linebacker positions for coach Art Abreu Jr.; in the power forward spot for coach Hernando Chavez in basketball and as starting third baseman and pitcher for coach Miguel Quintana. He was named to the 2-4A All-District team in both football and baseball and played in both sport’s NorthSouth All-Star exhibition games in June.

PEÑASCO HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE

Q U E S TA H I G H S C H O O L SENIOR

Ella Katz TA O S H I G H S C H O O L F R E S H M A N

Matthew Lopez PEÑASCO HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

Under the direction of first-year coach, Brandon Gurule, the Peñasco Panthers underwent a rebuilding year. Lopez did his part to be a leader on the court for a young squad tasked with turning a program around and squeezing out wins along the way. Named to the all-district team, he led all scorers in 2017-18. Lopez also found a calling in a specific track and field event as a javelin hurler. He won the event at the district meet in Questa April 28 and went on to place third with his personal best throw of 142 feet, 8 inches at the state meet May 5.

Katz’s crowning achievement came at the 2017 state cross-country meet where she ran away with the class 4A title with a time of 20:18.80. She led the team to victory and the seventh championship for coach Bruce Gomez in Rio Rancho Nov. 4. She also was a force on the pitch as a midfielder for the Lady Tigers soccer squad under coach Casey Tonrey and a valuable distance runner for coach Benny Mitchell on the Lady Tigers track team, placing fifth in the 1,600 and sixth in the 3,200-meter runs May 11-12.

For the second year in a row, Tafoya participated in five sports: a distinction no other Taos County athlete can lay claim to. As a scoring member of the state champion cross-country team, she improved her overall finish from 2016 by placing fifth to again earn all-state honors. Tafoya was also a member of the district champion volleyball team and garnered all-district honors in basketball. She also played baseball and ran with the track team.

Josh Fambro TA O S H I G H S C H O O L JUNIOR

Quinn Moon

Carly Gonzales

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L J U N I O R

PEÑASCO HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE

Named to the all-district basketball team for 2017-18, the speedy point guard delivered two memorable victories for the Taos Tigers during each of their double-overtime wins over the St. Michael’s Horsemen with last second three-point shots Jan. 19 and Feb. 7. The talented junior was also cornerstone in the infield for the Taos Tiger baseball team, often starting on the mound on defense and hitting in the third spot for coach Miguel Quintana. Moon was also one of three Taos players chosen to the all-district baseball team.

Having endured a bruising defeat in cross-country in 2016 – coming in second at state as an individual in Class 2A – Gonzales vowed to overcome this minor shortcoming and did everything she could to claim her rightful place atop the field in 2017. She won the individual cross-country title with a time of 20:36.55 and led her team to its second straight team championship under coach Ben Sanchez in Rio Rancho Nov. 4. Her athletic prowess lasted all school year as a four-sport athlete, earning all-district honors in volleyball, basketball and track and making it to state in each and every sport she participated in.

Powell became the fourtime champion in the high jump – clearing a height of 5 feet, 4 inches on day one of the New Mexico state track and field championship in Albuquerque May 11. Powell also earned a first-place medal in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 8 inches and the triple jump with a distance of 36 feet, 4 inches – achieving school records in both events. Her second-place finishes in the 200-meter dash and 4x200-meter relay earned her the “High Point Female Athlete” in Class 4A with 28. Powell also excelled in volleyball as an outside hitter for coach Anita Rodriguez, earning all-district

Adrianna Tafoya

AnnaMarie Sanchez Power, speed and a smile. Those three traits often resulted in something good for the Questa Lady Cats. Sanchez competed in three sports in 2017-18 and looked like she was having fun all year long. She was a fierce middle hitter for the Lady Cats volleyball squad, small forward in basketball and fast mover on the track in the spring, qualifying in 100-meter dash and javelin throw. Also,Sanchez was anchor for the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay teams, who both placed sixth at the 2018 state meet.

Taos County All Stars

THE TAOS NEWS

Fambro finished first in Class A/4A at the state golf championships by three strokes at The Canyon Club at Four Hills in Albuquerque May 8, becoming the first golfer from Taos to win a state championship. Constantly improving the various aspects of his golf game, Fambro notched multiple wins throughout the split season, qualifying for the state tournament with low scores by the beginning of October 2017.

Taos County All Stars

June 21, 2018

Abdul Khweis TA O S H I G H S C H O O L FRESHMAN

With size, speed, ball-handling skills and a prodigious vertical spring, Khweis became one of the top standouts for first-year coach Nando Chavez and the Taos Tigers basketball team. Playing all spots on the court, the freshman regularly produced double-digit scoring and rebounding for Taos, helping to turn a struggling program into a serious contender in only one season. Khweis also earned a first-place medal in track as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team, and he finished third in the highly competitive 800-meter run.

THE TAOS NEWS

Gilbert “Gilly” Valdez

Jonathan Garcia

PEÑASCO MIDDLE SCHOOL EIGHTH-GRADER

TA O S H I G H S C H O O L J U N I O R

Fearless and talented, the young harrier from Peñasco has emerged as the heir apparent to local running legend, Isaiah “Zay” Rodarte, who graduated in 2016 and holds the state records in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200meter runs. Valdez burst onto the running scene with a victory in his debut cross-country race at the Peñasco Invitational Aug. 26 and claimed the District 5-2A title in Raton Oct. 28. His eighth-place finish at state in Rio Rancho in the fall was coupled with a seventh and sixth place in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs, respectively, in the spring.

In an open field or in traffic, Garcia was a tough runner to bring down. As the starting fullback on offense for the Taos Tigers football team, he augmented the options available to Coach Art Abreu Jr. to move the football down the field and executed his assignments dutifully in 2017-18. Garcia also wrestled in the winter under the tutelage of coach Robert Valencia and earned a third place medal in the 138-pound division at state in Rio Rancho Feb. 17. The powerful stampeder picked up more state accolades as a member of the 4x100 (first), 4x200 (fourth), 4x400 (first) and 1600-meter sprint medley (second) relay teams.

June 21, 2018

TOP 25 MOMENTS

25 NMAA SHAKES THINGS UP

Larissa Passino Q U E S TA H I G H S C H O O L S E N I O R

Passino was a three-sport athlete, playing in the outside hitter position in volleyball for coach Michelle Spears, power forward in basketball for coach Steve Rael and as a multi-event track star for coaches Miguel Romero and Deluvina Sanchez. In track, she earned a thirdplace medal in the discus with a throw of 92-feet, 11 inches at the 2018 state track and field championships in Albuquerque May 4. For her contributions to the Lady Cat volleyball team, she was invited to play in the North-South All-Star game in Albuquerque June 7.

Margot Goler TA O S H I G H S C H O O L S E N I O R

oler was a three-sport athlete who made it to state in all three of her activities in 2017-18. A five-year letter-woman, she was named to both the all-district and all-state teams in soccer, playing defensive back for coach Casey Tonrey and Hank Friedman. Goler also swam in the 200-yard freestyle relay for coach Alfredo Aleman at the state meet in Albuquerque Feb. 17, and ran in the starter position in the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay teams for coach Benny Mitchell – finishing fifth and second, respectively.

Elisha Duran V I S TA G R A N D E H I G H SCHOOL SENIOR

Duran made it her No. 1 goal at the onset of the winter sports season to be the first girl in Taos to win a state title in wrestling. With the inclusion of a girls division at the 2017-18 state championship in Rio Rancho, the dedicated female grappler was granted the chance to test her mettle. Mission accomplished. Duran dominated the 131-pound division by pinning all three of her opponents despite having a significant height and weight disadvantage.

Taos County All Stars

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Bianca Contreras PEÑASCO HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR

The word that would best describe Contreras in 2017-18 is tenacity. Her defensive skills in volleyball and basketball helped propel both teams to a district championship and a state runner-up respectively. And though, these workhorse traits seem to fly under the radar screens of most fans, opposing coaches felt her on-court presence and voted her to the all-district teams in volleyball and basketball. Contreras also played baseball for Coach Dominic Garcia.

Realignment and reclassification of schools for athletic purposes occurs every two years and often changes the dynamics of the respective leagues high school teams belong to. The New Mexico Activities Association board of directors voted to approve the realignment and reclassification of athletic teams for the 2018-2020 school-year block during its regular session Nov. 30, eliminating class 6A. That means Taos will move up to play bigger schools, and Peñasco and Questa will have bigger schools drop down to play them. This effectively ends regular matchups with current rivals West Las Vegas and St. Michael’s and moves Taos into a new district with Española Valley, Pojoaque Valley, Los Alamos and Moriarty. In addition, Coronado will join District 5-2A in 2018-19.

24 LADY CATS BUMP, SET AND SKUNK DEFENDING CHAMPS

Questa answers demand of beating both Escalante and Mora to start volleyball district play It had been more than six years since a Questa Lady Cat volleyball team defeated a Mora Rangerette team. Specifically, the last time Questa beat Mora was September 16, 2011 – barely nipping at the decadelong series record against the Rangerettes, which stood at 2-16 since the 2007 season. In that forgettable stretch, Questa was

Arcenio J. Trujillo

After a long wait, pandemonium ensued when the Questa Wildcats heard their name called during the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the state spirit championships March 24. The coveted blue trophy garnered by this particular team was the capstone on a yearlong journey wrought with bumps and bruises, early mornings and long workouts, and personnel changes.

“skunked” (losing by a score of 3-0) eight times and lost 3-1 six times. Only two matches went a full five sets. This time it was the Lady Cats who would do the skunking, toppling the defending class 2A state champions 3-0 at the “MiniPit” Sept. 30.

Coach Abreu Jr. and company would go on to finish the season at 8-4 overall (.666 win percentage) and earn a No. 7 seed in the Class 4A state playoffs. it was his best season thus far in his three-year tenure.

22 EXCELLENCE 23 TIGERS START RECOGNIZED SEASON 5-0 The Taos Tigers football team easily defeated the Santa Fe Indian School Braves to pick up its fifth straight win to start the 2017 season. In the first five games of the fall campaign, Taos racked up 248 points and allowed just 56 points in games against Hatch Valley, Hope Christian, New Mexico Military Institute, Santa Fe High and Santa Fe Indian School. The total point sum and the point differential (points attained versus points allowed) of 192 was the best among Class 4A teams.

Accompanied by his family, Coach Ben Sanchez gracefully stands at mid-court of the Ben Lujan Gymnasium at Pojoaque Valley High School with the plaque ceremoniously given to him by the Northern Río Grande Conference committee, which inducted Sanchez into its Hall of Fame Jan. 6. The presentation was held during the halftime of the boys championship game and in front of hundreds of fans in attendance. Sanchez is the current coach of the Peñasco Panthers and Lady Panthers’ cross-country teams. His most recent achievement was a second-consecutive cross-country state championship garnered in November, 2017.

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ascertained to be pellets from an “air soft or pellet gun” that caused damage to each of their respective passenger windows while traveling through the Española area Oct. 3.

21 PEÑASCO LADY PANTHERS 19 REPEAT BURNING DIRT

The Peñasco Lady Panthers quietly earned their second-consecutive state cross-country title The Lady Panthers won their second consecutive state title in class 2A with a 1, 3, 5, 11 and 12-point cumulative team score of 32 – besting their score from 2016 by 17 points.

20 QUESTA AND PEÑASCO BUSES SHOT

In two separate incidences, activity school buses from both Peñasco High School and Questa High School were hit with what police

Taos Lady Tigers leave no doubt they are one of the premiere running programs in the state with a dominating performance at state. The questions on the tongues of other girls cross-country teams in class 4A before last year’s cross-country championships in Rio Rancho had to be: “Will we see a crack in the Taos Lady Tigers’ roster and have a chance at the 4A state title this year?” Another pertinent question: “Is there light at the end of this tunnel?” The short answers: No and no. No, to the idea that the Lady Tigers’ roster was

vulnerable in any way from places one to seven. Though they only had one senior running (Cora Cannedy) at the New Mexico State Cross-country Championships Nov. 4, Taos dominated the field and delivered its lowest score ever – 31 points to win by 45 points over the next place team, the Hope Christian Lady Huskies, who tallied 76. The throttling came on the heels and toes of Taos’ fielded team, which included one junior, four freshmen and one eighth-grader to accompany upperclassman Cannedy. To put the race in perspective, all of Taos’ scoring (top five) runners crossed the finish line a full 35-seconds before Hope Christian’s No. 4 and 5 runners. Also, Taos’ entire contingent of seven runners – which included the five top-scoring runners and the two nonscorers in place six and seven for Taos – were done before the Lady Huskies’ fifth and final scoring runner crossed the finish line. The win gave Taos it’s fourth state title in five years and the seventh blue trophy in either cross-country or track and field (both boys and girls) for Hall of Fame coach Bruce Gomez. Despite moving up in classification in 2018-19, Taos is poised to remain a strong contender among Class 4A teams.

18 QUESTA CONSIDERS ENDING SPRING SPORTS

The fate of spring sports at Questa High School was in question after reports that the Questa Schools District could scuttle baseball and track. Spring sports at the high school were temporarily put on hold as administrators and the school board were confronted with a cash shortfall with its budget in February. The decision would have impacted the baseball and track programs. District superintendent at the time, David Albert, refuted the claim in a phone

Score!

Taos County All Stars

June 21, 2018

THE TAOS NEWS

ANOTHER PARADE

TOP 25 MOMENTS FROM PAGE 9

Arcenio J. Trujillo

In total control, AnnaLiz Duran completely smothered her opponent for much of the consolation (third place) match in the 106-pound division of the first-ever girls wrestling tournament in Rio Rancho Feb. 16-17. Duran would eventually win by major decision to propel the Taos girls team, consisting of her and her sister Elisha, to a third-place finish at the inaugural event.

interview, but questions remained about the fate of the two sports. According to Albert, his office had no intention to cancel the spring season. However, he acknowledged a misunderstanding might have developed between school personnel and the community at large. Albert went on to reiterate his support for athletics, expressing his interest in expanding the use of the facilities to the community during the off-season for adult recreation. The two sports ultimately embarked on and completed their 2018 spring seasons.

17 YEAR OF THE BLACK PANTHER

Lady Panthers make it look easy, cruise to NRG championship glory Although the Peñasco Lady Panthers had just won the 2018 Northern Río Grande girls basketball tournament championship, the celebration inside the locker room after the game didn’t seem to match the accomplishment just attained. Instead,

passive, congratulatory high-fives and subdued whoops dominated the scene as the team gathered closely to hear their coach give his post-game evaluation – 10 sets of eyes locked in laser focus on their leader. Occasionally, a few distracted eyes darted down to admire their own hands and the perfectly fitted gold hoops now adorning their ring fingers - but only for an averted second, or two. It was as if. . . .the outcome was expected. Such is the character of this 2017-18 team that has garnered a fifth-place, third place and first place in the three tournaments attended

this season – fulfilling the personal goal coach Gilbert Mascareñas set at the start of the winter sports campaign to win two of three games in the first two tourneys and to take the NRG title outright.

16 QUESTA RECHARGES, EARNS

It’s dèjá vu at Dreamstyle Arena as theQuesta Wildcats win their second consecutive state title in class 2A by manufacturing two stellar routines to clinch the title. The Wildcats earned a final score of 147.19, outlasting runner-up Fort Sumner with 138.71. Coming in third was Lordsburg with 121.03. Rounding out the top four was Floyd with a score of 106.99. The Wildcats became twotime state title winners despite having only three returners from last year’s first championship team. Rianna Ortega, Sierra Cisneros and Marissa Romero were the backbone of a Wildcat squad, whose roster included six eighth-graders: half the team.

15 TAOS’ MEGA HOOPS TURNAROUND

Tigers defend their home court, hoist championship trophy after victory over Horsemen in district title tilt The Taos Tigers basketball team went from worst to first in 2017-18 by finishing the regular season 16-10 overall and 7-1 in district play, and earning a “bye” to the district cham-

pionship game. It was a remarkable turnaround that saw first-year coach Nando Chavez named District 2-4A “Coach of the Year” for his role in the rebuild. Chavez was tapped to take over an embattled boys basketball program that struggled against district opponents for the past two years, winning only one league game over the course of two seasons.

14 HAVE BUS, WILL TRAVEL, WILL WIN

Peñasco Lady Panthers summit the apex of the fall sports world with first place victory at cross-country state meet and first place at district volleyball championship on same day Success came in the form of two historic wins for the Peñasco Lady Panthers Nov. 4. First, in dominating fashion, the Lady Panthers reclaimed their crown as state champions in cross-country at Rio Rancho High School. Then, a mere eight hours later, Peñasco would claim the District 5-2A title in volleyball at Escalante High School in Tierra Amarilla. Ultimately, it was more than a 350-mile round trip on a bus and two very important wins. It was overcoming obstacles, such as physical, mental and spiritual fatigue to show the world Peñasco girls are truly tough athletes.

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13 PARCHED WRESTLERS MAKE IT RAIN

Tigers regain their place on the winner’s podium—after a nearly three-decade hiatus—with fantastic finish at state. The Taos Tiger wrestling team brought home hardware, ending a 29-year drought, after clinging to a one point lead over the Robertson Cardinals to place third at the New Mexico State Wrestling Tournament in Rio Rancho Feb. 16-17. The Tigers acquired that lead after Jesse Ayala won the individual title in the 220-pound division over Isaiah Sanchez from Silver City. Ayala and the Tigers needed every point he was able to muster in his finals match, including a fall (pin) on Sanchez at the 5:29 mark to catapult Taos into the third place slot with 153 total points. The Cardinals finished with 152. For coach Valencia, it was his second consecutive year that at least three of his wrestlers came out on top as Tyler Valencia, Ayala and Elisha Duran each garnered individual titles.

12 TAOS CHEER STRIVES FOR FIVE, ROLLS INSIDE DREAMSTYLE

Taos won its fourth straight class 4A state championship, and fifth overall inside Dreamstyle Arena in Albuquerque March 24. Coach Lisa Abeyta-Valerio first obtained a state title in the class A-3A category as a “co-ed” team in 2014. Since then, Taos has competed in its current division and dominated the sport, soaring to new heights with each year’s vault and leaving no doubt a dynasty has been built.

11 MOON SHOTS KINK HORSEMEN’S ARMOR – TWICE

Two double overtime games ended well for Taos as late game shots by Quinn Moon help the Tigers pick up crucial wins vs. rival St. Michael’s Horsemen. In the second game of the district season between Taos and St. Mike’s Feb. 7, a crucial situation developed and a minor miracle was needed. Down by 3 points in regulation, the Tigers came out of a timeout with a play aimed at getting off a desperation, 3-point shot. Off the inbound pass, Quinn Moon barely had enough time to receive the pass, square up and deliver his long range shot attempt from beyond the left elbow of the 3-point arc. The subsequent splash at the buzzer sent the hometown crowd into a lunatic frenzy as the game went into overtime. Ultimately, Taos would win the key district tilt in dou-

June 21, 2018

ble overtime, 60-55. It was the second double overtime game between Taos and St. Michael’s this season and the second time a 3-point shot by Moon was the deciding factor. The win clinched the District 2-4A regular-season title for coach Nando Chavez and company.

10 TIGERS BITE THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT TROPHY

In many ways, the term “broken record” could have been the theme for the way Taos finished at this year’s state track meet. The final result was a fifth straight team title and another blue trophy for coach Benny Mitchell and his boys as they once again held off the usual contenders.

9 JALEN “NO-NO” MONTAÑO

Jalen Montaño led the Taos Tigers to victory over the Raton Tigers by pitching a “no-hitter” in Taos’ 10-0 win at the 10th Annual Jim Pierce Memorial Baseball Tournament at St. Michael’s High School March 17. The rare feat— in any level of baseball— was achieved when Montaño and the Taos Tiger defense prevented Raton from getting a hit during their consolation championship matchup. It was only the second varsity start for the eighth-grader. Coach Miguel Quintana stated that this was the first no-hitter he had ever coached.

8 LADY TIGERS IN STATE

Team’s depth key in state championship victory as Taos reclaims track and field dominance in Class 4A Both the boys and girls won their respective divisions: the first time since 2014. They swept state titles and awarded coach Benny Mitchell with his eighth blue trophy overall. But it was the girls’ win that seemed a bit more satisfying to the storied coach, who missed placing in the top three by a mere point in 2017. The win ended a four-year slide in which the Lady Tigers did not earn a trophy as a team at state.

Photo by John T. Denne

In classy Lady Panther form, Alaska Lopez acknowledges the throng of supporters who gathered inside Dreamstyle Arena aka “The Pit” as the team departed the floor March 9. Hundreds of fans from Peñasco and other Northern New Mexico communities cheered on the Lady Panthers as they challenged the Fort Sumner/House Vixens in the Class 2A state championship game in the hallowed venue. Ultimately, Peñasco lost the game, 49-38, but both fans and players sensed a return to The Pit in 2019 a strong possibility.

several notable benchmarks during his short tenure, including victories over Mora and Escalante the previous year. Questa superintendent at the time, David Albert, indicated that the position was “at-will,” and no reason was necessary to remove Madrid from his post. The Wildcats never recovered from the sudden tumult and finished the season with a 2-24 overall record.

6 POWELL CONQUERS FRIENDS

Faith Powell finishes with three gold and two silver medals and was recognized as the “High Point Female Athlete” with the 28 points garnered at the 2018 state track and field championships at Friends of UNM Track Stadium May 11-12. Continually improving throughout the season, the junior saved her best for last and improved her distances in both the long jump and the triple jump at the state meet, easily winning both events. In the long jump, Powell added nearly 8 inches to her previous best distance with a leap of 18 feet, 5.5 inches – just missing the 4A state record by a mere 1.25 inches – May 11. The following day, she out jumped the field by more than a foot to earn the triple jump title by recording a distance of 37 feet, 11.5 inches. Powell alsoearned a firstplace medal in the high jump, where she cruised to victory with a height of 5 feet, 4 inches: her fourth straight state title in this event. Her two runner-up finishes occurred in the 200-meter dash and as a member of the 4x200-meter relay.

7 QUESTA COACH AXED 5 DURAN DUO MAKE HISTORY Ill-timed turnover bug hits athletic program as basketball coach given a pink slip before start of season in Wildcat nation Questa Independent Schools fired Tomas Madrid as the head boys basketball coach in a surprise move – a mere two weeks before the official start of the 2017-18 season. Hired in May 2016 to replace the late Cruz Chavez II who, at the time opted out of his contract to continue as head coach of the Wildcats, Madrid accomplished

Sisters, Elisha and AnnaLiz Duran travel to Rio Rancho to participate in the first ever girls wrestling tournament Feb. 17. Pioneers in their own right, Duran sisters link arms with other female wrestlers in New Mexico, shining a light on an emerging sport. Elisha cruised through the 131-pound class – pinning

all of her opponents – despite a noticeable weight difference between her and the other girls in the division and earned 24 points. AnnaLiz came in third in the girls 106-pound division and earned 15 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP 3 WHO NEEDS A SILLY COWBELL, 4 ANYWAY? TAOS GETS ITS FIRST GOLF

Josh Fambro wins Class A/4A state golf championship by three strokes, capping a stellar regular season that witnessed three tournament wins and nine qualifying legs. With a fabulous two-day, 36-hole performance, Josh Fambro delivers Taos High School its first-ever individual state golf title. The junior carded a 152 (8 over par) to win the Class A/4A state tournament at The Canyon Club at Four Hills in Albuquerque May 7-8.

Peñasco Lady Panthers finish stellar season with a 26-5 overall record and advance to the Class 2A state title game at “The Pit.”

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Taos County All Stars

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TOPF R O25M MOMENTS PAGE 11 Before a huge crowd of blue and gold clad fans who occupied an entire bank of seats inside Dreamstyle Arena, aka “The Pit,” the Peñasco Lady Panthers attempted to break a second-place streak and bring home the school’s fourth state title in any sport March 9. The Lady Panthers ultimately fell to the Fort Sumner/ House Vixens, 49-38 and instead had to settle for a third runner-up trophy in girls’ basketball – a notable achievement nonetheless. Gilbert Mascareñas, who completed his second year as head coach, led the squad to the Class 2A championship game by beating the Questa Lady Cats in the opening round, the Magdalena Lady Steers in the quarterfinals and the Lordsburg Lady Mavericks in the semifinals. In his two years at the helm, Mascareñas has amassed a 44-16 record (.733 win percentage). His tenure now includes a fortuitous walk down the storied ramp of “The Pit” for a chance to win a title. The runner-up trophy garnered by this particular team was yet another achievement the Lady Panthers added to their 2017-18 collection. At the conclusion of the state title game, Lady Panther, Alaska Lopez stood before the large group of Peñasco fans and flashed “I love you” in sign language before heading to the locker room.

Photo by David Jacobs

Just beyond the reach of Hope Christian free safety Ryan Cosper, the lofted football thrown from quarterback Jude Suazo lands ever so squarely into the waiting arms of Taos receiver, Anthony Maestas during the waning moments of the first round state playoff game at Anaya Stadium Nov. 10. This remarkable pass completion on fourth-down propelled the Taos Tigers to victory over Hope 30-28 in what turned out to be an epic battle of class 4A foes.

2 JONAH VIGIL DELIVERS AGAIN

Jonah Vigil sweeps sprint events and finishes with five gold medals at the 2018 state track and field championships in Albuquerque May 11-12. Vigil was recognized

as the “High Point Male Athlete” with the 30.5 points, boosting the Taos Tigers’ total as they picked up their fifth state crown.

1 MUST BE A STICK-SHIFT

Clutch play by Jude Suazo and Anthony Maestas at the end of Taos versus Hope

Christian in the first round of the state playoffs at Anaya Stadium Nov. 10 was one of the best ever Down by four points and facing fourth down and eight yards to go with under 45 seconds left in the game, Taos quarterback Jude Suazo escaped from a hard-charging Hope defensive line to deliver a high arcing pass to the end zone to a waiting Anthony Maestas. It was a do-or-die moment that had hundreds of Taos fans holding their breath until the spiraling

football was snatched out of the air by Maestas for a touchdown. Fans present in the stadium witnessed history and, arguably, one of the best games played at Anaya Stadium. The play will be talked about forever in Taos Tiger lore and will need a nickname to link it to our collective memories, It was the best ever.

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Dedication, Determination, Sacrifice Success isn’t easily achieved. Wins aren’t easily garnered. Your athletic achievements are born from the same values that have kept us in business serving Taos for over 97 years. Randall Lumber salutes not only your achievements, but the time, energy and sacrifice put into them.

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