New Mexico’s #1 Sports Magazine January February 2016
metro volleyball
awards
new mexico sports
hall of fame 2015
Inductees
8th annual metro swimming & diving
usAtf
national awards
#abqsportsmag
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New Mexico’s #1 Sports Magazine Jan / Feb 2016
CONTENTS
Hello ABQ Sports Fan, ABQ Sports magazine P.O.Box 15981 • Rio Rancho, NM 87174 1.855.567.SPORT (7678) abqsportsmag.com
What a start to 2016! It comes with several youth athletes winning national cross country titles at the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship, including a young man who did it with a broken foot - more on the individual and team champions, plus a look at some of the athletes who earned All-American status.
Publisher
Montoya Publishing, LLC
There’s an Albuquerque teen who has already made a verbal commitment to play soccer for Notre Dame, even though she is just a sophomore. Bri Martinez has just returned from Baltimore where she has received a big national honor, read more in NM Notables.
Managing Editor
6
Sumiko Corley Sumiko@abqsportsmag.com
Boys hoops action went into overtime to determine who earned the Metro crown. Cibola boys and girls found their basketball teams in the finals, the scores and a look at the winners inside.
metro volleyball awards
They are poised, athletic and at the top of their game. Marty Saiz brings you the best of metro volleyball, as well as the top ranked boys basketball players at this point in the season.
Art Director
UNM may have lost the Gildan Bowl, but an incredible pass play from Lamar Jordan to Delane HartJohnson had fans on their feet, cheering on the play that nearly broke a school record. We have a rundown of the action on abqsportsmag.com.
David Lansa DL Graphic Design design@abqsportsmag.com
Two coaches from southern New Mexico have received a huge honor from the National Federation of State High School Associations, two of just six of our state’s coaches to ever be selected.
Director of Photography
And some big plans are in the works for the 2016 New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Banquet. It is there that eight people who have contributed significantly to sports in the Land of Enchantment will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame. Learn who they are, and how you can buy tickets to be part of the April 3rd festivities.
Anthony Griego
8
Photographers
That, and much more, in the this January issue of ABQ Sports!
Carlos Montoya view our new & improved website! abqsportsmag.com
On the Cover
Brian Carlos Montoya Boysen
New Mexico’s #1 Sports Magazine January February 2016
This months cover features the New Mexico Sports 2015 Hall of Fame inductees. Photo by Marty Saiz
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METRO VOLLEYBALL
AWARDS
NEW MEXICO SPORTS
HALL OF FAME 2015
Inductees
8TH ANNUAL METRO SWIMMING & DIVING
A NEW BEGINNING AT
CLUB RIO RANCHO
Daniel Martinez
Kayla Montoya
Sam West
Contributing Writers
USTAF
NATIONAL AWARDS
#abqsportsmag
Dave Chris Friedlander Martinez
2015 new mexico sports hall of fame inductees
Jordan Montoya
Marty Saiz
Trula Howe
Distribution
Brianna Roybal #11 Valley HS Girls Basketball was presented with this commemorative ball at half time. 1,000 high school points Congratulations Brianna!
10 usATf cross country nationals
Rico
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Writers
9
We thank you for investing your time into our magazine. Got any feedback? We appreciate any ideas, suggestions or anything we missed. Please feel to contact us anytime by phone, email, or mail. ABQ Sports is a monthly magazine dedicated to covering all aspects of the Albuquerque and surrounding communities scene. We accept stories and photos for consideration. Email: carlos@abqsportsmag.com All contents of this magazine are copyrighted by ABQ Sports Magazine, all rights reserved. Reproduction of any articles, advertisement or material from this issue is forbidden without permission of the publisher.
NM High School Basketball Rankings
12 NM Notables 14 8th Annual Metro Basketball Championships Photo credit: Brian Boysen
13
nfhs national coaches of the year
Metro Volleyball Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency
December 13, 2015 Albuquerque Convention Center
Major Award Winners player of the Year
Player of the Year Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency ABQ/NM Sports Magazine 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Coaches Association
SENIOR STUDENT ATHLETE NOMINEES
6A Player of the Year Abby Stomp
player of the Year
Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency ABQ/NM Sports Magazine 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Coaches Association
3A-2A-1A Player of the Year Chyann Leon Laguna-Acoma High School
La Cueva High School
Coach of the Year
Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency/ Dazzling Displays, Inc 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Coaches Association
5A-4A Coach of the Year Audra Gentry Sandia Prep
Coach of the Year
Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency/ Dazzling Displays, Inc 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Coaches Association
3A-2A-1A Coach of the Year Brooklyne Maes Evangel Christian Academy
Coach of the Year
Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency/ Dazzling Displays, Inc 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Coaches Association
6A Coach of the Year Steven Archibeque La Cueva High School
player of the Year
Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency ABQ/NM Sports Magazine 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Coaches Association
5A-4A Player of the Year Kelsey Bell
senior student athlete of the Year
Marty Saiz’s State Farm Agency / Moji Photography 2015 Albuquerque Metro High School Volleyball Senior Student/Athlete of the Year
Libby Fidel Albuquerque Academy
Los Lunas High School
6 January-February 2016
abqsportsmag.com • 7
NEW MEXICO SPORTS
HALL OF FAME STAFF REPORT
O
ne-time University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Fran Fraschilla liked to tell the story about the time he was driving in the Northeast Heights and saw two kids playing marbles. Henry Tafoya was there, doing play-by-play. Although that may have been an exaggeration, it’s not hard to believe.
2015 INDUCTEES
NEW MEXICO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RANKINGS
BY: MARTY SAIZ
T
he New Mexico Basketball Club has been ranking high school basketball players in New Mexico for the last 6 years. The rankings reflect their performance in 2015-2016 and 2015 AAU season, plus fall’s New Mexico Top 100 and Area Codes basketball showcases this fall. For some players who not played in one of the top AAU travel teams in the state - Danny Granger D1 Ambassadors, New Mexico Power or the New Mexico Force - it is difficult to determine how they would fare against tougher competition. They may have the stats for their high school team, but may not translate to tougher competition at a higher level. I did not include the 2019 class in the mid-season report. Here are the New Mexico Rankings:
Top 10 Players
to starting up KDEF-AM as the first all-sports radio station in Albuquerque 25 years ago.
When Tafoya learned he was among the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015, he hung his head and had nothing to say -- for one of the few times in his life. Indeed, he realized, it really was “Henry T Time.”
Tafoya – “Henry T” to most – has long been an advocate for youth sports, from his days at the Old Town Boys & Girls Club
Tafoya and seven others will be formally inducted into the NMSHOF on Sunday, April 3, at the Albuquerque Convention Center. (www.nmshof.com)
of UNM more than this guy, the head coach of the Lobos baseball team for the last seven seasons. Including 18 seasons as the head coach at New Mexico Junior College and two at the College of the Southwest diamond team, he has been a part of 20 championship teams.
coach in New Mexico, he has 335 wins in his 38 (19782015) seasons at Clovis High School. His teams have won 10 championships and been runners-up eight times. Roanhaus is in the New Mexico High School Coaches Hall of Fame and the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
1
Here is the Class of 2015 Eric Roanhaus: The winningest high school football Ray Birmingham: Nobody loves being a part
Carla Garrett: This 1984 Santa Fe High graduate
went on to become a 10-time All-American in track & field at the University of Arizona, a member of the USA’s 1992 Olympic team in Barcelona; she is in the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame and the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. Today, Garrett is the strength coach at UNM.
Sam Lacey: This 6-10 one-time New Mexico State
center played in 1,002 NBA games after being drafted in the first round of the 1970 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals and played from 1970–83 in the NBA. Lacey is one of only five NBA players with 100 blocks and 100 steals in six consecutive seasons. Lacey died March 14, 2014.
Luc Longley: One of the most popular Lobos while
playing from 1987-91 for Dave Bliss, the big guy was a firstround draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991. Luc also played for the Chicago Bulls and part of three straight NBA titles (1996-98). In 2006, Luc was inducted into Basketball Australia’s Hall of Fame in Melbourne.
3
Henry Tafoya: Born and raised in Albuquerque,
“Henry T” was a three-sport athlete at Sandia High School, where he played QB and DB, as well as an All-City baseball player and the Matadors’ point guard. Henry is best known as a radio and TV broadcaster and was the voice of the Lobos at KOB-TV from 1977-98.
5 7
MIKE WINKELJOHN AND GREG JACKSON: Jackson Wink MMA Academy’s Mike Winkeljohn is one of
the most sought-after coaches in the world of mixed martial arts. A 5th-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, and multiple time ISKA, Kickboxing, and Muai Thai world champion in various organizations, he is the coach of some of the best athletes to ever grace the sport of MMA, including UFC world champ Holly Holm, Jon Jones, Carlos Condit, Andrei Arlovski, Donald Cerrone and many other world-level professional MMA athletes. Mike Winkeljohn and Greg Jackson will be receiving the Award of Distinction.
Holly Holm: A special note about Holly Holm: This world champion has catapulted to overnight global fame after knocking out
reigning UFC queen Ronda Rousey in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. New Mexicans have avidly followed the career of this Albuquerque native as a champ in the boxing ring, kickboxing and MMA. Holm is being honored as the Professional Athlete of the Year.
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Johnny McCants (2016) 6-7, Onate High School. Lanky athletic wing player who can shoot 3s and runs the court very well. He can get a rebound and drive down court with few dribbles and dunk it. McCants has great length, which makes him tough defensively, especially blocking shots. He is getting D1 and D2 interest.
Cesar Molina (2016) 5-11, Centennial High School … Strong point guard who has great ball handling skills. He has a great feel of the game offensively and is a solid floor leader. Molina has signed a letter of intent to play at Ft. Lewis College.
4 Brendon Boatwright (2017) 6-8, Carlsbad High School …Strong big man who has nice touch around the basket. He is a solid rebounder on both ends of the court.
6 Clay Patterson (2017) 6-1, Rio Rancho High School …He is a solid point guard who quietly kills with 3s and driving to the basket. When the game is done, Clay has scorched you for 20+ points.
David Cormier (2017) 6-3, Volcano Vista High School … One of the most athletic players in the state. He can handle the ball and very good at pulling up for mid-range shots, also a very good defender.
Flo Valdez:
This Roswell native was all set to become the girls basketball coach at Roswell High School when she learned she also had to coach volleyball – a sport she’d never played. Long story short, after plenty of success at RHS she headed to El Paso Franklin High, where she will win her 1,000th career match next season.
DJ Bustos (2017) 6-3, West Las Vegas High School … Has already scored over 1,000 points in his career and has started every game since 8th grade. DJ is on time to break the state’s career scoring record. He is the best shooter in the state. He can shoot from NBA range and is also effective taking it to the basket. D1 potential.
2
Isaac Maldonado (2016) 6-5, Cibola High School…. One of the most improved players from last year. He has really improved his game offensively in his inside game.
Marv Sanders:
This 1960 graduate of Western New Mexico University trails only two coaches, Ralph Tasker and Pete Shock, in high school basketball victories in the state, but Sanders has won titles in three classifications: Hatch Valley (1964), Silver High (1975) and Farmington High (1982, ‘86). He is a WNMU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
Marcus Williams (2016) 6-4, Cleveland High School … The best overall athlete in the state. He was 1st team in both basketball and football. He is a great scorer and rebounder, athletic enough to play all positions and guard the point guard to the center position. He has D1 potential in both sports, currently has an offer to play football at UNM. He also has some D2 offers and getting D1 interest in basketball.
8 Gabe Bump (2016) 6-2, Albuquerque High School...Is a smart basketball player who can make things happen both offensively and defensively. Gabe is strong taking it to the basket and will be the floor leader for the Bulldogs.
Jordan Leake (2016) 6-2, Hope Christian School … Very athletic guard who can hit the outside shot and take it to the basket strong. He was the go-to player for the Huskies.
10 abqsportsmag.com • 9
2015 USATF
CROSS COUNTRY NATIONALS December 12, 2015 • Ballon Fiesta Park
Photos: Courtesy, Sayra Siverson , Will Sisneros , Steph Poole, Venita Ames, Julie Cleveland, Sandra Loera
Kylie Poole, 18th PLACE 15-16 Girls
Sterling Siverson-Salter Olivia Siverson-Salter 7th Individual 9th Individual /1st Team 4th Team 8 & Under BOYS 11-12 Girls
Cougar Track CLUB 2ND Place Team Boys 9-10 3000m run Cougar Track Team : Bersisa Burdick, Blayne Howell, Gordon Lee, Jack Foutz, Jude Lucero, Nicolai Morford-Oberst, Stoney Cutchen, William Klein **Bersisa Burdick National Champ 9-10 Boys
Celeste Martinez 10th PLACE 15-16 Girls
Gabriela PinedaDominguez 5th Overall 15-16 Girls
Cougar Track Club 8 & Under Girls, 3rd Place Vivian Lee, Aaliyah Padilla, Luciana Martinez-Crook Nizhoni Fleg, Skylar Maxwell, Ariana Kedge, Isabela Varela, Kyla Sarracino Nizhoni Fleg 20th Place 8 & Under Girls Cougar Track
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Savannah Ames 2nd Place, Cecilia Campos 3rd Place- 9-10 girls
BERSISA BURDICK NATIONAL CHAMP 9-10 Boys Cougar Track Club
Affordable Monthly Rates membership includes Golf, tennis, Swimming, Fine Dining and a Great Social Atmosphere.
Cougar Track 9-10 Girls, 3rd Place Tairia Wanoskia, Cecilia Campos, Savannah Ames, Erica Ortiz, Nazarae Romero, Leah Futey, Sophia Lopez and Zoe Martinez-Crook
Cougar Track CLUB, 15-16 Girls, 2nd place Celeste Martinez, Gabriela Pineda-Dominguez Marisa Sandoval, Kylie Poole, Isabel Padilla Gloria Connally, Rachel Montoya *Top 25 finishers are All-Americans
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CALL THE PRO SHOP 505.896.5017
clubriorancho.com abqsportsmag.com • 11
New Mexico
NOTABLES
bri
martinez
National All-American
Photo: Courtesy, Todd Martinez The accolades keep pouring in for this Volcano Vista athlete. Martinez was recognized January 16 at the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) luncheon in Baltimore, MD as being one of the best youth soccer players in the nation. The All-American honor reflects her achievements at the club level, where she plays for Rush 2K, coached by Pancho Macias. “Brianna is a very dynamic player,” says Macias, “who can do many things with the ball. She can take players on, make the game easier for her teammates with her passing, and is a willing defender. Bri is not just a talented soccer player but someone who has continually put in the work to become better.” Even though she is just a sophomore, Notre Dame has already offered her a position playing for the Fighting Irish, to which Martinez has given her verbal commitment.
cougar track club
15-16 boys
usatf national champions Photo: Courtesy, Julie Cleveland & Sandra Loera Led by national champ Paredes, the 15-16 boys each had strong finishes. Their combined placings vaulted them to the top spot on the podium and the claim of national team champions. Pictured left to right: Kimball Jones (Cibola), James Mazer (Albq. Academy), Miguel Coca (Las Vegas), Devin Paredes (Rio Rancho), Ivan Pineda Dominguez (Volcano Vista), Zach Trujillo (Taos), Devin Rollins (Cibola) & Harrison Smith (Cibola).
devin
paredes
usatf national champion
Photo: Courtesy, Sandra Loera
COOPER & HENDERSON
PLAY THIS COURT....
NFHS NATIONAL
COACHES OF THE YEAR
BY: SUMIKO CORLEY PHOTOS: COURTESY, DUSTY YOUNG, NMAA & kim jew
Sometimes athletes endure what seems to be the impossible. That grit, that passion, and just plain stubbornness is what catapults the great to the best. Devin Paredes proved that December 12 at the USATF (USA Track & Field) 2015 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship at Balloon Fiesta Park. Facing a field of the nations very best youth club runners, weeded out of thousands at qualifying events, Paredes ran the 5k course with a broken foot. While he didn’t run his personal beststrange how a stress fracture interferes with that - it was good enough to beat everyone in his 15-16 boys age division, giving him the title and a marvelous send off as he completes his club experience. This is the first individual national club win for Paredes, who has a long list of cross country accomplishments, including two-time individual All-American, four-time team All-American and a 2015 team win. Paredes is also a two-time state team champ with his Rio Rancho Rams. Paredes runs with the Cougar Track Club coached by Michelle Lopez and Stephanie Poole.
NOT THAT COURT.... Cibola, Sandoval, and Valencia County
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usatf national champions Photo: Courtesy, Sayra Siverson-Salter A team national win - it just doesn’t get any better than that to begin a running career. These little dynamos ran in the boys 2000m. Back Row : Lorenzo Gallegos, Yared Miller, Joseph Duran, Elias Vega-Diaz, Jonah Foutz, Kodin Hoffman, Jarom Begay Front Row : Coach Rob Adelman, Isaac Kedge, Sterling Siverson-Salter
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henderson
T
8/17/2015 5:40:01 PM
cooper
hey share a name and a career field. Now, Britt Cooper and Cooper Henderson also lay claim to a prestigious national award.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has selected these southern-area gentlemen as 2015 National Coaches of the Year. Britt Cooper has been the boys head basketball coach at Roswell High since 1994, where he served as assistant coach for four years prior to that. During his tenure he’s led his boys to three state championships (2009, 2010 & 2014) and more than 400 wins.
Marty Saiz
Cooper Henderson received his award in the football category. During the past 29 years as head coach of the Artesia Bulldogs he’s brought home 14 state trophies, including the 2015 class 5-A title, and logs nearly 300 wins. He also earned another state title while head coach at Ruidoso High School in 1985. Cooper and Henderson are two of only six New Mexicans to have ever received this honor from the NFHS, and two of 23 coaches nationwide to be selected this year. The NFSA has been recognizing the nation’s top coaches since 1982.
505.620.3969 OR 1.888.648.6687 12 January-February 2016
abqsportsmag.com • 13
2015-16 8th Annual Albuquerque Metro Championships
Boys Swimming & Diving - West Mesa Aquatic Center January 16
PHOTO: MOJI Sports Photography
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Fans witnessed some great hoop action over a five-day period in January as 16 teams played without elimination to learn who would be crowned the best in the Albuquerque metro area. Championship play took place January 9th at Atrisco Heritage Academy.
With the purchase of 16oz or more w/ toppings. One per transaction. Can not be shared Expires 03/07/16
PHOTOS: MOJI Sports Photography
Cleveland High School Boys Head Coach: Brian Smith 66-54 over Cibola in overtime 5011 Montgomery Blvd Suite B1 Albuquerque, NM 87109
Volcano Vista High School Girls Head Coach: Lisa Villareal 68-46 over Cibola 14 January-February 2016
505-884-0449
abqsportsmag.com • 15