Four Corners Sports April 2014 by Majestic Media

content Don Vaughan PUBLISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele EDITOR

Debra Mayeux Rick Hoerner Tom Yost Ben Brashear CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Josh Bishop Curtis Benally CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

|4| Fun and colorful Nicole Walters and Esther Schrefﬂer, both of Farmington, were new to 5K runs when they donned grass skirts and white T-shirts with the labels “First-Timers” on them, to participate in the March 29 Run or Dye event at McGee Park.

| 18 | Another Birdie Cup The Purgatory Alpine Ski Team just ﬁnished its season the weekend of March 8 with a big win. The team, made up of boys and girls ages 6 and up, compete in the Southern Series of the Rocky Mountain Division against teams from Taos, Flagstaff, Santa Fe and Los Alamos.

Suzanne Thurman DESIGNER

Shelly Acosta DeYan Valdez Aimee Velasquez SALES STAFF For advertising information Call 505.516.1230

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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS Please send to editor@majesticmediausa.com We’ve got more photos than we can use. Check out the photo gallery for each issue at www.fourcornerssports.com Majestic Media 100 W. Apache Street Farmington, NM 87401 505.516.1230 www.majesticmediausa.com Four Corners Sports magazine is published once a month by Majestic Media. Material herein may not be reprinted without expressed written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Four Corners Sports magazine. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or ommissions. © 2014 Four Corners Sports magazine.

|8|

| 21 | Shootin’ hoops

C.A.S.T. for Kids The program is called C.A.S.T. for Kids and it stands for Catch A Special Thrill, which is what many of the nearly 80 participants will be doing on May 10 at Navajo State Park.

| 10 | High School Basketball

The Farmington Police Department School Resource Ofﬁcers hosted the second annual 3-on3 Basketball Tournament on March 8 at Farmington High School.

| 22 | Wholistic fitness coach Steve Ilg, founder of Wholistic Fitness® and the race director of the fourth annual Winter Warrior 10k snowshoe race held at the Durango Nordic Center, kneels on one knee at the ﬁnish line.

With the biggest sporting event in New Mexico in the books, it’s time to take a look back at the 2014 state basketball championships.

| 12 | Baseball Season Baseball season is underway in Farmington with more than 1,100 children and teenagers signed up to participate in the Farmington Amateur Baseball Congress, or FABC.

| 26 | The Next Generation Traditionally new coaches in basketball come from the ranks of the assistants in the program but where do those assistants come from?

| 14 | Redistricting the county | 28 | Gymnastics meet Every two years the New Mexico Activities Association looks at the enrollment of the schools in the state and begins the process of reclassification, hoping to bring balance to state athletics by having schools of similar size compete agaisnt each other in district play.

The Farmington Gymnastics Academy had a strong showing at the March 1 state gymnastics meet at Albuquerque Gymnastics School in Albuquerque.

| 31 | Editorial Column with Rick Hoerner

| 17 | Fishing Report

| 32 | Desert Bighorn Sheep

| 20 | The First Tee The four golf seasons in the Four Corners region are winter, wind, hot and perfect. As we enter the early part of wind season, the temperatures have officially let us know that it is springtime.

It took Glen Fuller one day and four shots to accomplish something for which he has waited his entire life. On Oct. 1, 2013, Fuller brought down a world record desert bighorn sheep in Unit 26 in New Mexico.

| 35 | 10 Questions with Larry and Jeremy Dugger

covercredit

Josh Bishop

April 2014

Four Corners SPORTS

Fun &colorful Run or Dye 5K run raises $7,500 for Big Brothers, Big Sisters Story by Debra Mayeux | Photos by Josh Bishop Nicole Walters and Esther Schrefﬂer, both of Farmington, were new to 5K runs when they donned grass skirts and white T-shirts with the labels “First-Timers” on them, to participate in the March 29 Run or Dye event at McGee Park. Schrefﬂer put the team together as a way to

Four Corners SPoRTS

develop a new ﬁtness routine of running races. Her sister, Kathi Briones, of Albuquerque, also joined. “We wanted to participate in the energy, and we were especially happy it was for Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Briones said. There were 1,300 people who turned out for

April 2014

the fun run, which touts itself as being the “most colorful” 5K run in the United States. Teams and individuals come out and run while being sprayed with a powdery type dye that stains their clothing and adds rainbow colors to their hair and skin.

April 2014

Four Corners SportS

The dye was the “best part” of the race for Lauren Tomko of Bloomfield. “It was soft and cool. It felt like someone was throwing flour on you,” she said. Tomko began participating in 5K runs to get into shape. “I’m trying to improve my time,” she said, adding that this race was perfect for her, because it was not a timed run. “It was so much more relaxed.” Because of the relaxed party atmosphere, there were people of all ages and abilities participating in the Run or Dye. The event was put on much like a rock concert with speakers blasting music, and a stage, where the race coordinators hyped up the crowd and threw prizes into the audience. It even was exciting to Aaron Montoya of Bloomfield, whom Tomko forced to participate in the event.

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“I was sleeping, and when I woke up she had my credit card in her hand and said ‘You are doing this,’” Montoya said, looking at the dye covering his body. “I’m very bright. It was fun.” This was Montoya’s first run and he said “it probably won’t be my last.” Run or Dye has become somewhat of an introductory race that encourages people to come out for the experience and fun of the event. People of all abilities are encouraged to participate, and they can even finish the 5k by walking it. “It’s a non-timed event, so anybody could enjoy it,” said Danielle Todacheene, development specialist with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Juan County. After Run or Dye coordinators contacted the local Big Brothers Big Sisters office. Offering to bring the event here as a fundraising opportunity for the non-profit organization, Todacheene organized the race. “They partner with other Big Brothers Big Sisters across the country,” Todacheene said, adding she began working on pulling the race together in September 2013. In its first year out, the event raised more than $7,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Juan County. The Run or Dye event was the only one in the Four Corners region, so Todacheene was able to pull together more than 100 volunteers from San Juan County, Gallup and Southwest Colorado. “This was really exciting,” she said. “If you want to run something like this, you usually have to go to Albuquerque or Phoenix.” The racers, walkers, strollers – and even dogs – enjoyed the Run or Dye. “It was good to finish the race,” Walters said. “It was awesome,” Schreffler added.

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April 2014

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C.A.S.T. for Kids Avid fishermen introduce kids to the sport of fishing Story by Tom Yost | Courtesy photos The program is called C.A.S.T. for Kids and it stands for Catch A Special Thrill, which is what many of the nearly 80 participants will be doing on May 10 at Navajo State Park. The premise is to introduce youth to the sport of fishing. The event is sponsored by the State of New Mexico Fish and Game Department, and many avid fishermen and women will devote their boats, equipment, knowledge and time to help underprivileged and special needs kids of all ages and backgrounds catch fish. Kellie Campbell, a volunteer for C.A.S.T. for Kids and an employee at Energen, expects another great event this year.

Four Corners SPorTS

April 2014

“We are anticipating 80 participants to attend the event,” explains Campbell. “All of the participants are special needs and underprivileged. This is often either the first time they have ever been fishing or the one-day a year they get to go fishing. The estimated volunteer ratio is 3:1, which leaves us with approximately 300+ people attending the event in one form or another.” And while all who participate enjoys the event, many different things are accomplished by bringing the participants out to Navajo State Park.

“The goals of the event are to expose children, who may not otherwise get the opportunity, to the sport of fishing and the enjoyment of the outdoors,” says Campbell. “The event also encourages continued participation in fishing by developing skills in the children, along with their parents. And finally, the event provides education and understanding to children about fish as a natural resource.” In the midst of all the fun to be had by the participants, many times the volunteers learn just as much, if not more, as the participants

April 2014

during the event. “C.A.S.T. for Kids increases the awareness of all participants – parents, sportsmen, and volunteers – to the capabilities of children with disabilities, in effect strengthening our local communities,” explains Campbell. May 10 is expected to be another wonderful community event. Anyone who wants to get their child involved in C.A.S.T. for Kids is encouraged to contact Cheryl Moline at 505.632.2278. Those who would like to volunteer as a boat captain should contact Kellie Campbell at 505.793.7611.

Four Corners SPorTS

HigH scHool

basketball HigHligHts Powerhouse Lady Chieftains lose championship 62-59 in overtime Story by Rick Hoerner Photos by Curtis Benally With the biggest sporting event in New Mexico in the books, it’s time to take a look back at the 2014 state basketball championships. Disappointment may be the word for San Juan County basketball this season at the state tournament. In 4A girls’ basketball, neither Piedra Vista at No. 8 nor Kirtland Central at No. 16 could get out of the first round. Piedra Vista, hosting a state playoff game for only the second time in school history, couldn’t hold serve against Miyamura. Kirtland Central had the near impossible task of taking on Los Lunas, the defending state champion and No. 1 seed. The 4A boys were only slightly better, with Kirtland Central taking down Artesia in the opening round before falling to Centennial in the quarterfinals at The Pit putting an end to the spectacular career of Christian Mackey, perhaps the best post player in years in San Juan County. Piedra Vista and Farmington had near carbon copies of the previous year. Farmington traveled to Albuquerque Academy for the second straight year with an identical result – a close loss to the Chargers. After losing in the first round of the district tournament, the Panthers had to play the waiting game to see where they would fall in the seeding committee. Again the Panthers hit the road for a long road trip, falling to Centennial. In 2A, the Navajo Prep Lady Eagles found themselves with a solid No. 4 seed and a first round game at home. Prep handled Mesa Vista

Four Corners SPOrTS

Kirtland Central Bronco Joseph Willie drives past Centennial Hawk Omar Baez for a layup during the State Quarterﬁnal game at the UNM Pit on March 12, 2014.

April 2014

Shiprock's Ashley John devastated after the Lady Chieftains lost to Portales 62-59 during the 3A Girls Championship on March 14, 2014, at the UNM Pit. (Curtis Ray Benally)

with ease, looking toward a potential matchup with perennial 2A powerhouse and No. 1 seeded texico, but the Eagles lost a one-point heartbreaker to No. 5 Laguna-Acoma. Class 3A is where the hopes of the county were best with the Shiprock Chieftains. the Shiprock boys came out of the seeding meeting with a No. 10 seed and a road matchup with a traditionally strong Sandia Prep, who came in at No. 7. the Chieftains then pulled off what was perhaps the only true upset of the tournament, with a win over the Sundevils and a matchup with Coach Ron Geyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St. Michaels Horsemen. the Horsemen showed why they have been a long-standing Final Four caliber team, taking down the

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More than 1,100 kids sign up; FABC adds Nolan Ryan World Series Story by Debra Mayeux | File Photos Baseball season is underway in Farmington with more than 1,100 children and teenagers signed up to participate in the Farmington Amateur Baseball Congress, or FABC. The congress oversees seven separate baseball divisions for children and teenagers in the community. Those divisions are Rod Carew for children ages 5 to 6; Roberto Clemente for children ages 7 to 8; Willie Mays for children 10 and under; Pee Wee Reese for children 12 and under; Sandy Koufax for teenagers 14 and under;

Four Corners SPoRTS

Mickey Mantle for 16 and under; and Connie Mack for ages 18 and under. Different communities have different divisions and different baseball congresses, but Farmington has long been involved with the American Amateur Baseball Congress, because “… it has the ability to lead off,” said Nick Chavez, president of the FABC. “It replicates major league baseball.” The FABC is set up to offer area youth multiple baseball opportunities. There is

April 2014

recreational baseball for children who want to play and just have fun, but there also are opportunities for more competitive ball, which is made up of players that are drafted. Drafting of players begins in the Sandy Koufax division and goes up in age groups from there. “If kids are not selected, we let them register and form teams,” Chavez said. Because Farmington has hosted the Connie Mack World Series for the past 50

years, Chavez believes it is decidedly a baseball community. This year the community also will play host to the Nolan Ryan World Series, which features players ages 13 and under. “We have the facility, and Farmington is a nice community with a really good ball ﬁeld,” Chavez said. “We were fortunate to get the Nolan Ryan World Series.”

nization’s website, littleleague.org.

at these kids,” Chavez said.

Little League has more than 2 million players in 80 countries and the organization is always on the lookout for talented youth baseball players.

It will be similar to the major league ball scouts, who will arrive the week of Aug. 4 to watch the Connie Mack players. Farmington residents, however, will have a few months of locally played baseball to whet their appetite for the playoffs, because recreational baseball began April 1.

The Nolan Ryan World Series will be played July 26 to Aug. 2, the week before the Connie Mack World Series, and there will be some overlap, so the 13-year-old players will have an opportunity to meet the 18-year-old players. The United States’ Little League CEO Stephen D. Keener also will be in Farmington for the Nolan Ryan World Series. Keener joined the executive staff of Little League Baseball Incorporated in 1980 and was elected president in 1994. He was named CEO in 1996 and, under his leadership, “Little League has expanded its reach around the world, improved its service to volunteers, responded to changes in technology and society, and expanded its leadership role in youth sports safety,” according to the orga-

Opening ceremonies will begin May 3 at Ricketts Park with Knothole Day. This will be the day Farmington High School and Piedra Vista High School go head-to-head in a baseball game, and all of the little kids in the FABC divisions will be introduced on the ﬁeld during that game. “The kids run through the ﬁeld and shake hands with the high school players,” Chavez said.

Chavez said Keener will be watching the youth in the Nolan Ryan World Series, as will colleges, which begin scouting for potential ball players when they are 13, 14 and 15 years old. “Certainly colleges will be coming to look

The recreational season continues through June 1, and is followed by two weeks of the competitive baseball season, as the teams compete to see which will represent Farmington in the Connie Mack World Series. So get ready, Farmington. It’s time to play ball.

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In the new district 1AAAAA, this PV-Miyamura playoff game is now a district matchup

RedistRicting the county

Winter prep sports will see dramatic changes Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Curtis Benally Every two years the New Mexico Activities Association looks at the enrollment of the schools in the state and begins the process of reclassification, hoping to bring balance to state athletics by having schools of similar

Four Corners SPorTS

size compete agaisnt each other in district play.

yo-yoing of Bloomfield or Shiprock going up to 4A or down to 3A.

Most years this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect San Juan County, with the exception of the constant

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changes, however, will have a big impact. First of all there will be changes

April 2014

in classification by adding a 6A to what is already a crowded field. Actually, the change is predominantly in name only, with the Class B tag being eliminated in favor of Class A. Everyone else moves up a classs from where they were, except this time some teams will not be moving up and it makes for some interesting matchups and renewals of old rivals. In essence, this will make the 5A schools 6A, and so on, but this will also leave some schools behind that have had droping attendance. The new District 1AAAAA, for most sports, will consist of old District One rivals Farmington, Piedra Vista and Aztec and will add the Gallup schools Gallup High and Miyamura. District 1AAAA will have Bloomfield, Shiprock, Wingate, Zuni and Thoreau joining the lone holdout in Kirtland Central. The new district alignment will not change the overall game structure of most teams’ schedules. Most of the old district 1AAAA was already playing non-district games, with the Gallup schools and most of the new 1AAAA playing each other as well.

Actually, the change is predominantly in name only, with the Class B tag being eliminated in favor of Class A. Travel budgets may be the only real change of significance, with the addition of extra district miles being traveled for sports that play a home and home series. There will be some interesting games and matchups with the new alignment. In the new District 1AAAAA, fall sports won’t change too dramatically. With only single game matchups, football will remain about the same, competition wise, with Kirtland out and the Gallup schools in. Volleyball and soccer should be much the same as well. The real change in the fall will be in cross country. Adding Gallup and Miyamura will make a much tougher district and perhaps the most competitive in the state. While Piedra Vista has been dominant on the course, Gallup is strong as well, and has been a state powerhouse for decades.

April 2014

In the new District 1AAAA Bloomfield will finally have some competition on the football field with the addition of Kirtland Central. KC was also the dominant team in volleyball back in the ’90s when this district was in existence, and should have the dominant girls’ soccer team as well. Just like in 5A District 1, the cross country matchups should be incredibly close. Winter sports should see dramatic changes, especially when it comes to girls’ basketball. While Kirtland Central leaves the new district, 1AAAAA Gallup and Miyamura come from the toughest district in the state, making it much more difficult for the holdovers. For the boys, Gallup and Kirtland are a virtual swap, but it should make for a very tough district as well. In district 1AAAA the legendary Kirtland-Shiprock rivalry games return to meaningful district games harking back to the packed gyms in Kirtland and Shiprock for some classic games. It is doubtful wrestling will change much. Piedra Vista and Bloomfield will remain strong, with defending state champions in both classes as the teams to beat.

Four Corners SPOrTS

In the spring, softball is going to be incredibly competitive for the new class 1AAAAA. Looking back at the 2013 softball state championships, all five of the new district’s teams were in the final eight. For the male counterparts, the new districts should change little for the PV-Farmington baseball rivalry and should give Kirtland baseball a change to revive. Track should change little as these teams constantly compete against each other as it is. The new district should mean a chance for Kirtland to reestablish itself athletically, as a declining student population has made it difficult for the Broncos except on the basketball court. It should also be beneficial to Bloomfield to have some district competition in football. For the new district 1AAAAA, it should be more competitive in certain sports while a necessary change in others. If it’s true that change is inevitable and change is good, 2014-2015 should be a great one. Left, the new District 1AAAA returns Kirtland Central and Bloomﬁeld to district foes

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Fishing REPORT Current flows on the San Juan River below Navajo Lake are 250cfs(cubic feet per second). Visibility is roughly 2 feet. With the longer days and warmer temperatures the hatches continue to get stronger daily. Fishing in the Quality Waters section has been very good lately. Some of the better action is taking place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. With visibility at 2 feet, most of the fish are being caught on nymph rigs. Some of the better rigs to try: Size 18 yellow egg followed by a size 22 red larvae. Size 20 gray Big Mac Midge followed by a size 22 chocolate midge emerged. Size 22 brown Big Mac Midge followed by a size 22 Thread Body Baetis. Also consider stripping some size 12 black and brown Wooly Buggers. Dry fly fishing has been very slow lately. The off-color water limits the fish’s ability to see the surface, resulting in only a few fish rising. Things should start to clear up in the next couple of weeks. Fishing in the Catch and Keep area has been steady, using worms, salmon eggs, and small rooster tail lures.

T.J. Massey San Juan River Outﬁtters www.sanjuanriveroutﬁtters.com 505.486.5347

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Purgatory Alpine Ski Team has another winning season Story by Debra Mayeux Courtesy photos The Purgatory Alpine Ski Team just ﬁnished its season the weekend of March 8 with a big win. The team, made up of boys and girls ages 6 and up, compete in the Southern Series of the Rocky Mountain Division against teams from Taos, Flagstaff, Santa Fe and Los Alamos. After the ﬁnal competition in Taos, the team was awarded its third consecutive “Birdie Cup,” which is given to the team with the highest overall point total for the season. The Purgatory Ski Team and the Durango Nordic Ski Club operate at Durango Mountain Resort and work to foster a “lifelong passion for winter sports through programs that instill the values of goal setting, discipline,

Four Corners SPoRTS

April 2014

sportsmanship, work ethic, determination, and commitment,” according to the groups’ website, teamunify.com. “These skills support young athletes to achieve their individual athletic, academic, and personal goals.” Ivan Unkovskoy is assistant coach for the alpine team, which has 90 kids ages 7 to college-age. Programs for youth include Alpine, Nordic, Freeride, Freestyle and Snowboard programs. These programs “inspire fun, ﬁtness, sportsmanship and personal achievement,” by providing opportunities to more than 200 local athletes, including children with developing skills, to high-level athletes. The team starts "dry-land" training in October and then trains at purgatory on the weekends and at Chapman Hill during the week. “On the ski team we have coached some kids since they were 7 or 8 and now they are 13 or 14. Other kids have seen them and wanted to get involved, so the club has grown,” Unkovskoy said. Paige Thompson, 15, of Farmington, is a

team member. “She elected skiing over soccer and track,” said John Thompson, her father. The Thompson family has enjoyed skiing for many years. John was in skis as a toddler and his love of the sport carried over to his children. “We ski a bunch,” John said, adding Paige had been watching other youth on the Purgatory Alpine team before mentioning her interest to her parents. “It’s been fun for her,” John said. The team trains during the week at Chapman Hill in Durango, Colo., and Paige is there once or twice a week. “You can do as much or as little as you want.” Sometimes the Thompsons carpool with other ski families including the Ledbetters and Schwabs, also from Farmington. “The coaches do an excellent job with all of the kids and their skill levels,” John added. The Alpine head coach is Leah Lesage, a registered nurse in the cardiac unit at San Juan Regional Medical Center. She is a New Hampshire native and has coached at Purgatory for

seven years. She is a United States Ski Association Level 300 certiﬁed alpine coach, which is a national certiﬁcation. Lesage represents the Southern Series on the Rocky Mountain Division Alpine Competition Committee and co-chairs the coaches’ education committee with Olympic Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong. Through the alpine program Lesage wants to focus on “strong athletes and personal development, provide support to allow each athlete to reach his or her full potential and instill a lifelong love and stewardship of the sport,” the website stated. The club can be costly so scholarships are available through the Durango Winter Sports Association. "We never turn anybody away. If a kid is into it, we try to make it work," Unkovskoy said. Kids can raise money by selling tickets to Warren Miller movies or to the gala. Unkovskoy is the owner of the Steaming Bean in Durango

“On the ski team we have coached some kids since they were 7 or 8 and now they are 13 or 14. Other kids have seen them and wanted to get involved, so the club has grown.” — Ivan Unkovskoy Assistant Coach April 2014

Four Corners SPORTS

THE FIRST TEE

Wind and Golf: Finding a happy medium on the course this spring the four golf seasons in the Four Corners region are winter, wind, hot and perfect. As we enter the early part of wind season, the temperatures have officially let us know that it is springtime â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with it comes the challenge of watching your golf ball being blown all over the golf course by 40 mph gusts. most players have played in the vicious New mexico winds, only to walk away defeated and vowing never to go through that experience ever again. And while playing golf in the wind is challenging, learning how to do it well is not impossible. Besides, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you much rather learn to play in the wind then have to skip the next few months of golf? the most important aspect in dealing with windy conditions is your attitude. taking into any challenging situation a positive frame of mind is going to make the obstacle easier to overcome. the golfer needs to temper expectations for what they are going to shoot that day much as they would if they were playing an extremely difficult course for the very first time. No matter what your handicap is, set a realistic goal for what you would like to shoot that day that is nowhere near where you would shoot on a perfectly calm day. With tempered expectations, convince yourself that this is a challenge, and be excited for the challenge. this will put you in a mental state of acknowledging the task at hand while limiting the unrealistic expectations of shooting your personal best. once the mental state is controlled, actually controlling your golf ball is easier than you might think and can be practiced in any conditions on the driving range. Ball position is the key element to keeping the golf ball lower and less affected by a powerful wind gust. move the golf ball toward the back of your stance, between the middle and the back foot, which forces the club to strike the ball on the downward swing with less loft. In effect, you are trying to turn your 8-iron into a 6-iron to hit the ball lower. With the ball back in your stance you will attempt to hit (what professionals call) a punch shot. this occurs when you abbreviate both your backswing length and your followthrough length. Swing the club back about three-quarters of your regular backswing length, and then swing through the hitting area

and to the follow-through so your arms and hands stop when they are chest high (and parallel to the ground). om OST By abbreviating the follow through and keeping your arms and hands lower, you will the First tee keep the ball on a lower trajectory and less affected by the wind. Finally, swing easy when it is breezy. Swinging harder to make the ball go farther while in the wind only puts more backspin and sidespin on the golf ball. A golf ball that has a lot of spin will get tossed in the wind like a helium balloon. the easier your swing, the less spin you put on the golf ball and the less likely you will be to have to look for your ball out in the desert. So accept the challenge of the windy season and you will learn to hit shots that you can use anytime, anywhere. Your handicap might go up a bit, but it will readjust itself when you start shooting great scores in the hot season. With a better attitude and a few new shots in the arsenal, you will enter June a better player.

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Shootin’ hoops 3-on-3 tournament raises funds for Farmington schools Story by Debra Mayeux | Photos by Josh Bishop The Farmington Police Department School Resource Officers hosted the second annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on March 8 at Farmington High School. There were 14 teams who played games on a half-size court. The teams were made up of local residents and had to have at least one member who was a member of law enforcement, the justice system, emergency responders, a teacher or an attorney. All players were over the age of 18. It was a double-elimination tournament with each team having an opportunity to play at least two games. The all-day event was a lively one for the players, according to Farmington School Resource Officer Andreas Akele, who organized the event. “People who were there had a lot of fun and commented that they wish there were more tournaments like this one in Farmington,” Akele said, adding there are plans to host the 3-on-3 tourneys at least twice a year, if possible. The tournament was designed for fundraising, and the School Resource Officers raised $600 through the event. The money was given to the Farmington Municipal School District to purchase lockdown kits for the classrooms, Akele said.

April 2014

Four Corners SPORTS

Teaching enlightenment through athletics Story and photos by Ben Brashear Steve Ilg, founder of Wholistic Fitness® and the race director of the fourth annual Winter Warrior 10k snowshoe race held at the Durango Nordic Center, kneels on one knee at the finish line. With snowshoes strapped to his feet and a microphone in hand he commentates for each finishing racer as they sprint across the line. His red and white Clif Bar racing shirt stretched tight reveals his body builder’s physique. Ilg, at 51, is a modern day warrior. His battlefield, though, is one of his own creation. It is a place of mental and physical

competition, toeing start lines, and seeking enlightenment through what he calls, “sacred sweat.” It was on a tragic day in 1981, and the day that Ilg will later call “a day of blessing,” that his life path took a turn. He was a sponsored rock climber attempting a winter ascent of D7 (IV 5.11c), a 900-foot climb up the north face of The Diamond, on Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ilg was moving conﬁdently with over 25 feet between him and his last piece of protection. A fall from that high above his piece would equate to a skull rattling 50-foot fall. Cranking through his last move to a secure gear placement, he reached to a thin hold and pulled down hard. His handhold ripped free from the rock wall carrying with it a massive desk-sized piece of rock sent hurtling toward his belay partner. His belay partner was able to avoid the granite missile but the ensuing fall for Ilg resulted in a broken back and an emergency bivouac hundreds of feet above the trail. D7 had turned toward the discordant as night settled leaving the two climbers facing a daunting rappel and a seven-mile hike back to their car. With thoughts racing, it was an impossible night

as Ilg and his partner endured whipping winds that brought spindrift pouring down on top of them. At some point before dawn, with legs numb refusing to respond Ilg came to the conclusion that he had somehow authored the events that led to the fall and his broken back. “I just knew in the flicker of an instant that I had somehow, on some level, co-designed this situation,” Ilg recalled. The following day the two climbers managed to safely rappel the remainder of the climb and with Ilg’s belay partner supporting him, the two got back to the car safely. After several doctor’s visits and X-rays later confirming the damage to his spine, Ilg made the bold decision to forgo surgery and to attempt to heal his back on his own. “I had a distinct feeling that surgery cuts more than flesh, it cuts spiritual fortitude in some cases, and I knew that this was part of my journey this time around,” Ilg said. I keep this story in mind as I watch Ilg at the finish line. How he eagerly hopes that each racer has shared in the same self-revelation that he has experienced while testing his own physical limits.

Ilg’s arms rest on top of his thick cyclist’s thigh bearing his weight as he beams a toothy grin over one of his students, Lee Rosenthal, who has collapsed to his back at the finish line of the Winter Warrior. Snow slowly accumulates on Lee’s fluorescent green running jacket as he lay recounting his race. His chest pulsing wildly, a bellows collapsing, sinks then heaves upward as he tries to catch his breath. Rosenthal is a fitness student of Ilg’s and the Winter Warrior was his test piece, a gauge of sorts to reveal not only his fitness level but also his spiritual and mental preparedness. Rosenthal’s finishing time was a modest 1:23:54 and good for a second to last place finish but he is smiling. The 6.1 miles of winding singletrack and steep 35-degree climbs, with names like “Last Gasp Hill,” is one of the hardest snowshoe races around, according to Ilg. “It’s a hilarious sport, I don’t think that in any other sport have I seen my heart rate so high and I move so slowly,” Ilg said. It is Ilg’s belief and the main emphasis of his training program that all three elements of mind, body and soul, be treated as a whole.

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ilg explained that a training regime that encourages the reliance upon the body, mind, and spirit is not a new concept but one that has been practiced in the east for thousands of years. but in the early eighties, when ilg spent his time as a professional rock climber and fitness coach in california gyms – or, as he calls them, “iron temples” – it was a radical new concept. much of the training in the ’80s was focused solely on the physical body, promoting the ego and ignoring the spirit, mind, and nutrition, said ilg. troubled by the implicit neglect of the body as a whole, ilg developed a fivepart holistic training program in 1981 that he implements to this day. his training focuses on honing the athlete’s weaknesses right down to one’s non-dominant nostril while developing cardio fitness, an awareness of healthy nutrition, and awakening the spirit and mind through yoga and meditation. ilg’s utilization of yoga and meditation in part stems back to his time practicing the buddhist dharma under trungpa rinpoche, founder of the shambala meditation centers nationwide. 1. Know your highest podium and train your weaKnesses dare to challenge yourself beyond what you already know you are good at in order to achieve your highest goals. 2. mind first, body second train the mind first and the body will follow. understand that exercise is not a chore but something that can lead toward spiritual understanding.

much like rinpoche, ilg strives to challenge his athletes perception of what is and what is possible by creating in them an ever-vigilant awareness of their surroundings and their actions. “this mindset allows you to instinctually react to changing circumstances. it can save your life, especially in the high mountains where mindfulness can prevent a dangerous situation,” ilg said. developing mindfulness, however, is not an easy task. rinpoche introduced the concept to his students through the repeated drawing of the

3. train the core, trust the breath the foundation is prana, or breath, for any athlete. get rid of imbalances and weaknesses by training the core for success in any ﬁtness discipline.

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4. embrace the spirit of repetition whoever you are, whatever you do, or whichever sport you pursue understand that true success takes time.

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5. practice – your workout is everywhere bring daily awareness to you posture, your breath. create new neuron-pathways using your non-dominant hand, and work toward a wholistic you.

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“TRAINING AT HIGHER INTENSITIES CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SELF-KNOWLEDGE. INTERVALS ARE LIKE AN ALTAR, IT IS A CHANGE FOR SPIRTUAL REVELATION.” — STEVE IIG

Tibetan syllable “Ah,” which connotes those ﬁrst moments of perception. Drawing the syllable “Ah,” starts with a simple dot and then swoops into completion. Enlightenment for Rinpoche started when intention took material form and it is the same for Ilg, that precise moment when that ﬁrst “dot” of sweat beads up on your forehead. “Training at higher intensities creates an environment for self-knowledge. Intervals are like an altar, it is a chance for spiritual revelation,” Ilg said. Sweat is the sacred revelation of awareness and the condition of our spirit and mind, according to Ilg, and Rosenthal is soaking wet.

With the flick of his gloved hand Rosenthal wipes his forehead dry. Ilg marvels at Rosenthal’s efforts to persist through such a difficult race and presses in close to ask Rosenthal how his race went. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve done,” Rosenthal said as he slowly sits up, regaining his composure. Ilg helps him to his feet as Rosenthal’s body sways to the sudden drop in blood pressure. “It was the hills and the pace and I had no idea how hard the hills would be,” Rosenthal continued as he began to laugh as he and Ilg bumped fists. Did the Winter Warrior bring enlightenment or an awakening for Rosenthal?

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For Rinpoche his awakening came at wrecking his car into a London gift shop; for Ilg it was a back-breaking fall while climbing Long’s Peak. How much better, then, is it for the athlete to ﬁnd the smaller shards of enlightenment through spiking heart rates, miles of running along snowy single-track, and the daily sacred sweat.

Four Corners SPORTS

LukeNEIBLING

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JoshRANKIN DevonMANNING

Four Corners sports

April 2014

The nexT generaTion Former players keep county’s coaching fraternity alive Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Curtis Benally Traditionally new coaches in basketball come from the ranks of the assistants in the program but where do those assistants come from? They usually come from those that played and San Juan County has produced its share for the next generation of coaches here in San Juan County as well as nationwide. Here in the county most people are familiar with Bloomﬁeld’s Devon Manning and Piedra Vista’s Adam Huff as coaches that came up through the ranks as players at Kirtland Central under legendary coach Steve Scott and both were major performers on Kirtland Central’s three consecutive state championships. Manning went on to a stellar career at Fort Lewis College before joining his mentor in Bloomﬁeld. Huff gained his coaching chops under Roy Sanchez at Eldorado in Albuquerque where he was on staff for a state championship in 2012. Add to the mix Navajo Prep’s Dustin Moore, who was in some classic battles with Scott’s Broncos as a member of Farmington High, and half of the boy’s head coaches in the county are former players continuing their basketball careers from the bench.

Collins was a ﬁrst team All-State point guard for Farmington and the last Division I basketball player from the county. Collins went on to two All-American seasons at Cochise Community College leading the Apaches to consecutive appearances in the NJCAA National Finals. Afterwards, Collins moved on to Southern Utah where he was 14th in the nation in assists his senior year. After brief stints in the CBA, Collins gave up playing in Europe for the coaching life. Like many trying to make it at the collegiate level, Collins has jumped around looking for to move up the coaching ladder. He has taken positions back at Cochise Junior College, Upper Iowa University, University of Texas-Pan American and Northern Arizona before landing at Idaho State in 2012. The coaching fraternity in San Juan County is always welcoming new additions and these former players are keeping a tradition alive of passing on the game to the next generation.

There are also three successful coaches from Marv Sanders’ 19981999 Scorpion team, the last to compete at the highest class in New Mexico. Luke Neibling, Josh Rankin and Jay Collins were all members of that squad 15 years ago and have taken the torch from Coach Sanders to begin their own coaching careers. Luke Neibling was an All-State guard for the Scorpions and, after playing for Fort Lewis and Eastern New Mexico looked to begin work with his BA in business. Neibling never thought he would get into caoching, but soon he was back in the family business – public education. Soon the lure of the court called Neibling to the sidelines as an assistant coach at Arcadia High School in Scottsdale. Neibling was named the head coach there in 2009 and led the Titans to the Division II semiﬁnals in 2012 before moving to Sandra Day O’Connor High School in 2013. Up in the land of the frozen tundra, Farmington’s Josh Rankin just completed his ﬁrst season in the Packerland Conference in Brussels, Wisc. at Southern Door High School after serving as the team’s JV coach. Rankin is in his ninth year teaching including, a two-year stint in China, and now serves as the coordinator of Southern Door’s SOAR, Student Opportunities for an Alternative to Regular education program, helping at-risk seniors to graduate. Idaho State assistant coach and former Farmington Scorpion Jay Collins has moved up the coaching ranks since his playing days ended.

April 2014

Four Corners SPORTS

Coach Frankie Reddy; Jenevae Fiske; Svea Robinson; Joslyn Smith; Brooklyn Calder and Coach Lynda Hayes

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Jenevea Fiske

Brooklyn Calder

Svea Robinson

Joslyn Smith

Local girls medal at state competition Story by Debra Mayeux | Courtesy photos and Josh Bishop photos The Farmington Gymnastics Academy had a strong showing at the March 1 state gymnastics meet at Albuquerque Gymnastics School in Albuquerque.

Frankie Reddy, owner of the local school, has been training a group of four Level-3 gymnasts, who began competing in meets Oct. 26, 2013. The girls are Svea Robinson, 7; Joslyn Smith, 8; Brooklyn Calder, 8; and Jenevea Fiske,

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10. They qualiﬁed for state after having strong showings at all of their meets. Reddy described the team as “committed and applying themselves 100 percent.”

Four Corners SpORTS

The girls practice regularly at Farmington Gymnastics Academy, 1601 N. Dustin Ave., Suite, in Farmington, where there are programs for children and adults of all levels. “Our programs place an emphasis on developing coordination, balance, flexibility and fundamental gymnastics skills,” Reddy said. The girls competed in vault, bars, beam and floor exercises with all earning recognition for their accomplishments. “They did really well. They all took first in one or more events,” Reddy said. Jenevea Fiske, however, received the best ranking, earning a first-place in all-around, competing against 10 other 10-year-old gymnasts. Fiske earned a first-place ranking on vault, beam and floor and a third-place on bars. She also earned a New Mexico state leotard. Brooklyn Calder, 8, competed against eight other girls and earned a first-place ranking on vault and beam and a third-place on her floor exercise. Her favorite thing about gymnastics is doing “all of these flips and tumbles,” she said. Calder earned fifth-place in the all-around competition.

Four Corners SpORTS

Joslyn Smith, another 8-year-old, also competed against eight other girls and earned a sixth-place in all-around and ﬁrst-place on the vault. Svea Robinson, 7, competed against six other girls and earned a first on her floor exercise, a third on beam and a fourth-place in

April 2014

all-around. “I like getting first place,” she said of her experience in competitive gymnastics. Reddy was proud of the accomplishments made by the girls in a short period of time, and she plans to continue working with them so their skills can progress.

Prep sports coaches facing more pressure, bigger expectations The news of the month has to be the denial of contract, let’s call it what it is, firing, of 4time state wrestling champion coach Levi Stout of Piedra Vista. As a disclaimer, I have known Coach Stout since he took over at PV where I work, so this will not be the space to debate whether the contract should have been renewed or not. Just let me ask however, if the word suspension or probation ever crosses anyone’s mind especially with coaches that are not public school teachers? I do want to address, however, the pressure of being a coach in today’s prep sports world. The coaching life over the past 25 years that I’ve been in public education has changed drastically and in most realms not for the better. Much like the education field, coaching has changed from a position that was well respected to a position that is now takes the blame for every ill; every loss, every individual’s playing time and every coaching decision that influences every individual in the program. The new pressure to coach is a merging of two distinct burdens; keeping a clean moral program and winning above all else. And the burden alone is theirs. Over the past five years there have been numerous parents that in all honesty, lie about their child’s situation just to get in a winning program. From that point is the expectation on coaches to now become private investigators? This problem increases the pressure when families move just for athletics. There will be playing time expectations as well as the anticipation of success. So the boundary gets more blurred. Add in the economic pressure of high

RICkHOERNER Editorial Columnist school sports. As play becomes year round with clubs and AAU, the price of sport goes up and a majority of parents feel that they should get a return on that investment in playing time and again on field success. In other words, if I as a parent fork over a couple of hundred, or in some cases much more, for three summers and buy the team attire, there should be playing time. After all, I just paid for it. Long gone are the “I’m just glad to be on the team” days. Most likely the longtime head coach is also a thing of the past. Many who are in the profession, particularly those that also teach, are looking to get out. I may not understand why Coach Stout was not renewed and most likely none of us ever will. Personnel decisions are private and probably should be. I do however understand sitting in that chair and being told what you do is not enough, being told all be it the opposite of what Stout heard, you just didn’t win enough. Either way it’s very difficult to be told you are no longer wanted, no matter the reason, and the mind does question decisions and sacrifices made to keep a pretty low paying job and wanders between that merging burden of win at all cost or doing what you can with the hand you’ve been dealt.

Shiprock Lady Chieftain Taylor Henderson shoots a three pointer against Portales Lady Rams during the 3A Girls Championship game at the UNM Pit on March 14.

Basketball continued from 11 Chieftains on their way to a championship showdown with Hope Christian. The best option for the county was the undefeated Shiprock Lady Chieftains. The Lady Chieftains had a brilliant regular season campaign, knocking off defending state 3A champs Hope Christian, as well as 4A state titleholder Los Lunas. The drama began for Shiprock in the seeding meeting. Despite being undefeated, the Chieftains were ranked beneath Portales and Lovington all season by Max Preps, whose ratings are considered by the seeding committee. On the Sunday the seedings were released, the Chieftains received the No. 1 overall seed in 3A and a home game against an overmatched Taos. At The Pit, the Chieftains continued their run with easy wins over Las Vegas Robertson and Hope Christian, setting up a ﬁnal matchup between the committee’s No. 1 seed and Max Preps No. 1 seed. In what ended up being a classic championship game, it was not to be for the Lady Chieftains. Foul trouble and uncharacteristic misses from the free throw line pushed the game into overtime where Portales dominated the four minutes on their way to a 62-59 win. Looking ahead to 2015, the changes in district alignment will make for new rivalries and revive old ones. While the Chieftains lost all their starting ﬁve, they are young everywhere else and will again be the dominant team in San Juan County

April 2014

Four Corners SPORTS

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Glen Fuller’s ‘hunt of a lifetime’ lands him in the record books Story By Tom Yost Photos by Josh Bishop and Courtesy photos It took Glen Fuller one day and four shots to accomplish something for which he has waited his entire life. On Oct. 1, 2013, Fuller brought down a world record desert Big horn sheep in Unit 26 in New Mexico. Fuller was one of three hunters lucky enough to draw a tag out of 2,400 applicants to hunt the elusive sheep. To say that he took the hunt seriously was an understatement. For six months, Fuller learned everything there was to learn about the desert bighorn sheep, from their movement patterns to how he could tell a record ram from a non-record. “We spent 11 days scouting the area,” said Fuller. “We were down there for three days in June when the temperatures were 120 degrees and we didn’t see anything. We were down for four days over Labor Day weekend and we spotted the ram that I wanted to shoot. We then came back down four days prior to the first hunting day and were able to glass in the same ram.” With a 15-day hunt ahead of him, Fuller told his friends in camp that he wanted to shoot the ram the first day. “I told everyone that if we did our homework the three days prior to the hunt that I was going to shoot him on opening day,” explained Fuller. “Besides, I don’t think I could have climbed that mountain for 15 straight days.” On the day of the hunt, the group started up the base of the Big Hatchet Peak (9,400 feet) one hour before sunrise. Fuller stayed out of sight of the group of rams that he was targeting by staying behind a bluff the entire way up. He first spotted the rams and bluffed in at 490 yards, but decided that it was too far to get an accurate shot. “I got bluffed in again at 352 yards,” said Fuller. “The ram I wanted was lying down behind a cactus. I was planning on waiting as long as I had to for him to stand up. After only 10 minutes, he stood up and got into a rugby football huddle with the other rams and started pushing their heads together in some kind of ritual that I had never seen before.” “He broke out of the pack and I shot him dead center but a little too far back to drop him,” explained Fuller. “He started to climb the mountain as the rest of the pack ran out of sight. The next shot I double lunged him and he was probably dead at that point, but I was going to continue to shoot until I either ran out of bullets or he dropped to the ground. The third shot I heard the bullet ricochet off a rock and the fourth shot I hit bone and he fell to the ground and started rolling down the mountain.” The jubilation and excitement of seeing his dream realized turned to fear as the ram continued to roll down the hill toward the edge of a bluff. “I just kept yelling ‘Stop,’” said Fuller. “He was rolling so fast toward the

April 2014

Four Corners SPOrTS

“I WENT DOWN THERE WITH THE GOAL OF SHOOTING A RECORD RAM, BECAUSE I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PUT IN FOR THIS HUNT IN NEW MEXICO EVER AGAIN.” — GLEN FULLER mal by 12:30 and they made it back to the trucks at 6:30 p.m. With a taxidermist in camp, the ram was caped out that evening and is currently being stuffed and mounted for display in the Fuller home. edge of the bluff, and if a tree on the hill hadn’t stopped him he would have tumbled over the edge – which would have ruined his cape and busted up his horns.”

the Boone and Crockett World Book. The goal that Glen Fuller had set out to accomplish when he found out he qualiﬁed for the tag, had come to fruition.

The ram measured in with a gross measurement of 176 inches with a net of 174 and 3/8 inches, which was good enough to qualify it for

The hunt started at 5:30 a.m. the morning of Oct. 1, and Fuller shot his prized ram at 10:30 a.m., the group quartered and skinned the ani-

Four Corners SPORTS

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“I went down there with the goal of shooting a record ram,” stated Fuller, “because I will never be able to put in for this hunt in New Mexico ever again.” With a lot of hard work and perseverance, Fuller accomplished his goal with this once-in-alifetime hunt – something some hunters will never get a chance even to try.

Owners: Larry and Jeremy Dugger Age: 45 and 43 How long a resident: Lifelong residents of Bloomﬁeld

How long has Xpert Archery been in business and why did you get into this particular business? We ofﬁcially became Xpert Archery in July of 2006. Prior to that we were a part of East Main Trade owned by Glen and Becky Fuller. We were given the opportunity to buy the archery shop from them and we took it. We had both been working in this industry for many years so it was a perfect ﬁt and opportunity for us. Tell me about Xpert Archery. What kind of services do you offer? We are a full service archery / bow hunting pro shop. We stock and sell top brand names of equipment to meet any archer’s needs. We also work on and service all types of archery equipment, i.e., bows and arrows. We have a combined 45 years’ experience.

With the indoor archery range, can a person sign up for lessons, and how much do those cost per session? Our indoor range offers 10 shooting lanes offering up to 20 yards maximum distance. The range is open for use Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The fee is $5 + tax per hour. We do have some equipment that we rent for an additional $15 per hour. We offer private or group lessons ranging in price depending on the amount of time and level. Customers can call us for the different rates.

Can a person also sign up for blocks of time to practice their craft, and how does someone go about doing this? Cost for how much time? No reservations are required to use our range. It is available on the first come, first served basis. Usually, the only days that sometimes can be crowded are Saturdays – especially during winter months. Again, our fee is LOW! We do offer a monthly pass for those who shoot a lot. It costs $35 + tax. What other sporting interests do you have? The outdoors is where most of our interests are. We love hunting and fishing! When we were younger we loved playing sports, but we find that now that we are older we usually just hurt ourselves trying to do that kind of stuff. Why is Farmington such a great place for outdoor enthusiasts? This area is awesome if you like the outdoors! We are very fortunate to have all around us a lot of public land with

LArrY AND JErEMYDUGGER a lot of varying landscapes. We have many places to hunt/ﬁsh, backpack, mountain bike, hike, photograph – you name it. That’s one of the reasons we love it here so much.

Why do you prefer bow hunting to riﬂe or muzzle-loader hunting?

We actually enjoy all types of hunting, but some of the things that tend to keep us bow hunting more are: Longer seasons, nicer weather (sometimes), some of the bow hunting tags are easier to obtain and we like the increase in challenge that bow hunting offers.

Tell us about your most memorable bow hunting trip? What kind of animal? Where? What made it special?

We have both had many memorable hunting trips over our lifetimes. The best part of those trips has been spending them with family and friends. We love hunting Mule Deer. That’s our passion, and we both have taken some really nice ones. We really like hunting anywhere in the Four Corners states where we can get tags.

If you would, offer one piece of advice, tell us one thing that the average bow hunter could do to improve his/her accuracy.

There are actually several things that can be done. It all starts with making sure that your equipment is properly ﬁt to you and that it is set up correctly. The most important thing, though, is practice, practice, practice! The most accurate archers / bow hunters are the ones who shoot their bows all year long. Too many people spend only a few short weeks practicing prior to season. That is not enough! The last thing – that couldn’t hurt – are lessons.

What should avid bow hunters be doing this time of year to get ready for the upcoming hunting season?

Hunting season isn’t that far off! Pull those bows and arrows out of their cases right now! If there is any maintenance that needs to be done, start thinking about it and plan to get it done soon. Start practicing! We have two archery clubs in Farmington. Join them and take advantage of what they have to offer. Start exercising too! You have only a few months to get back in shape and shed those winter pounds. You’ll shoot and perform better when you are in better shape.

April 2014

Four Corners SPOrTS

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