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Times honors the best in winter sports

Times honors the best in winter sports

WINDOW ROCK

The 2014-15 winter sports season began in mid-November and after five grueling months the Madness ended with a handful of basketball teams reaching the finals in their respective brackets.

And although the wrestling season finished a month earlier there were some bittersweet endings. And no one had a year quite like the Piedra Vista Panthers as they claimed its fifth consecutive state title.

As we get ready to turn the page into April, the Navajo Times would like to honor these athletes at an awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, March 30 at the Phil Thomas Arts Center in Shiprock. Doors will open at 9:00 a.m.

All listed athletes are encouraged to bring their school uniform tops for a photo session, which will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. The awards presentation will begin at 11:00 a.m.

This event is free and open to the public. Photos and an article of the winners will be published in the April 2 edition of the Times.

Information: 928-871-1130.

Girls

The decision for our player of the year candidates amounted to a crisis in girls basketball.

With Division I prospects, the Navajo Times had to seriously consider the numbers turned in by Winslow standout Shandiin Armao and Tuba City’s Tate Tsingine.

Armao averaged 18.8 points per game while hauling in 13.9 rebounds a contest. She was named to the all-tournament team in both the Gallup Invitational and the Winslow Winter Classic.

Tsingine, meanwhile, finished her prep career by scoring 421 points this season, which amounted to 19.9 points per game. The Tuba City senior also recorded 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists a game.

Those lofty statistics earned both players recognition from the Arizona Interscholastic Association with Tsingine earning the section player of year while Armao was tabbed the division player of the year.

Recently, both players made the Arizona Republic’s First-Team, All-State team with Armao earning the Small Schools Player of the Year award.

Jasmine Sappington, Bloomfield
Tia Charley, Crownpoint
Meeya Yazzie, Farmington
Kira Butler, Flagstaff
Shayleen Toehe, Flagstaff
Nizhoni Thomas, Flagstaff
Monique Ware, Flagstaff
Ni’Asia McIntosh, Gallup
Tilea Ryan, Gallup
Kristen Quigley, Gallup
Cheyenne Livingston, Gallup
Jaylynn Curley, Ganado
Asdzaan Huenemann, Ganado
Faith Curley, Greyhills
Teyah Goldtooth, Holbrook
Summer Olney, Holbrook
Cheyenne Lester, Holbrook
Taminny Laragutierrez, Hopi
Talia Paytiamo, Laguna-Acoma
Krystal Sheeka, Kirtland Central
Deondra Smith, Kirtland Central
Ramona Tsosie, Many Farms
Shaniya Cly, Monument Valley
Naomi Whitehorse, Monument Valley
Rain Louis, Navajo Pine
Jasmine Coleman, Navajo Prep
Michelle Lee, Navajo Prep
Ember Sloan, Page
Ashley Dempsey, Page
Ariel Austin, Page
Natasha Henry, Page
Nikki Benally, Piedra Vista
Meona Feather, Rabun Gap-Nacooche School (Georgia)
Jordan Lewis, Ramah
Charlie Daniels, Ramah
Jaylynn Stillman, Red Mesa
Ashleigh Benally, Red Mesa
Miranda Watchman, Red Valley-Cove
Amanda Begay, Rehoboth
Leahrae Francisco, Rehoboth
Amberlene Begaye, Rock Point
Pashen Johnson, Rock Point
Shantel Grey, Shiprock
Tia Woods, Shiprock
Tanisha Begay, Shiprock
Paige Dale, Shiprock
LaKeisha Kee, St. Michael
Chael Moore, St. Michael
Jalyn Smith, St. Michael
Tiara Whitman, Thoreau
Kalian Mitchell, Tohatchi
Kywha Johns, Tohatchi
Crystal Haley, Tohatchi
Alexander Toledo, Tsé Yi’ Gai
Tate Tsingine, Tuba City
Samytha Parrish, Tuba City
Cherelle Speen, Valley
Latisha Nastacio, Valley
Tamara Nez, Valley
Terri Mitchell, Valley
Bryanna Gorman, Valley Christian
Brittany Bruce, Wingate
Shandiin Armao, Winslow
Jaycey Sangster, Winslow
Kaelyn Bitsoi, Winslow
Rani Yamutewa, Zuni

It was not easy to relegate one player over the other so the obvious choice was to recognize both as our players of the year.

They share that honor with Gallup junior post Ni’Asia McIntosh as she lead the Bengals to a second place finish in the New Mexico Class 5A state tournament.

McIntosh finished the year by averaging a double-double with 23 points per game while collecting 16 boards per outing.

And like our player of the year award, there were many qualified candidates for our coach of the year award.

Of course, it was an easy decision to peg Page head coach Justin Smith as one our recipients after he mentored the Lady Sand Devils to a first place finish in the Arizona Division III state tournament.

And with a 35-1 record, the 2014-2015 team set a new school record in terms of wins.

And while Smith did a marvelous job with his girls it would do no justice to leave out Valley head coach Julia Six as she led the Lady Pirates to the Division IV title game.

In New Mexico, Tohatchi head coach Tanisha Bitsoi revived a program that was almost nonexistent when it came to be a state playoff team.

It took her four years to mold her players and the most frightening thing is she has a young group players so expect more things to come out of her program in the years to come.

Wrestling

Piedra Vista qualified 14 wrestlers for the New Mexico Class 5A state wrestling meet and they left the tournament with five state champions headed by senior Anthony Juckes, who made history by winning his fifth straight individual state crown in the 145-pound weight class.

The Panthers finished the two-day state meet with 294.5 points and had 11 wrestlers that made the podium under the direction of first-year coach Michael Bejar.

With that the Panthers head our list of all-stars with Juckes earning our middle weight wrestler of the year award while Bejar was named coach of the year.

Austin Littlefield, Aztec
Dominic Dufur, Aztec
Avery Scott, Bloomfield
JD Robinson, Bloomfield
Zachery Ute, Chinle
Isaiah Towne, Chinle
Isaac Cabrera, Coconino
Collin Anderson, Coconino
Cobey Hamilton, Farmington
Wyatt Nez, Flagstaff
Cody Castro, Flagstaff
Trent Peterson, Ganado
Ramon Curley, Ganado
Theron Johns, Holbrook
Robert Romo, Holbrook
Adam Laban, Hopi
Grant Pashona, Hopi
Aiden Crockwell, Kirtland Central
Tom Berry, Kirtland Central
Alias Starkovich, Miyamura
Jasper Denetclaw, Miyamura
Toshio Herrera, Miyamura
Jeremiah Salaz, Miyamura
Max Aguayo, Miyamura
Lamar Begay, Many Farms
Bryan Moreno, Monument Valley
Clayton Bryant, Monument Valley
Xavier Hunt, Monument Valley
Alex Allen, Newcomb
Wynston Moses, Newcomb
Kristen Yazzie, Newcomb
Coniah Bilagody, Page
Dante Gracia, Page
Kamron Whitewater, Page
Anthony Juckes, Piedra Vista
Sam Sandoval, Piedra Vista
Wes Rayburn, Piedra Vista
Nick Rino, Piedra Vista
Philip Archuleta, Piedra Vista
Wyatt Weaver, Piedra Vista
Joehansin Nutlouis, Pinon
Brandon Ani, Pinon
Tyrone Chilly, Red Mesa
Colin Friday, Red Mesa
Alden Begay, Red Mesa
Logan Charley, Shiprock
Cauy Ute, Shiprock
Autumn Sky-Jim, Shiprock
Shayne Yazzie, Tuba City
Adrian Sixkiller, Tuba City
Darnell Eskeets, Valley
Salis Yazzie, Valley
Alex Hathale, Whitehorse
Ike Owens, Window Rock
Kevin Barney, Window Rock
Monreau Singer, Window Rock
Donovan Clyde, Wingate
Quenton James, Wingate
Jarrett Davis, Wingate
Quentin Begody, Winslow
Blane Foster, Winslow

The other top wrestlers who earned our wrestler of the year award include Holbrook’s Theron Johns (lower weight), Kirtland Central’s Aiden Crockwell (lower weight,), Flagstaff’s Wyatt Nez (middle weight), Tuba City’s Adrian Sixkiller (upper weight) and Miyamura’s Jasper Denetclaw (upper weight).

Tuba City coach Brandon Williams was also named our coach of the year.



Boys

After noteworthy finishes in their respective divisions the Gallup Bengals and Laguna-Acoma Hawks lead our all-stars for boys basketball.

The Bengals finished second to Las Cruces Centennial in Class 5A while Laguna-Acoma earned the runner-up trophy in 3A, losing to Mesilla Valley Christian School.

Because of their accomplishments the Navajo Times felt that Gallup head coach Domonic Romero and Hawk head coach Ryan Peil deserved to be recognized as our coach of the year.

They share that honor with Chinle head coach Brandon Tso, who guided the Wildcats to the quarterfinals of the Arizona Division III state playoffs in a rebuilding year.

Gallup senior Colton Lowley and Red Valley-Cove senior Mitchell Howe topped our player of the year awards in pool of talent playmakers.

Rashaan Stover, Alchesay
Marcus Pino Jr., Alamo Navajo
Nick Weaver, Aztec
Malachi Pablo, Bloomfield
Christian Chavez, Bloomfield
AJ Singer, Coconino
Matt Begay, Coconino
Sooner Brady, Chinle
Christian Blacksheep, Chinle
Jamician Ranger, Chinle
Avery Jodie, Crownpoint
Louis Salazar, Dulce
Colten Lowley, Gallup
Matthew Begay, Gallup
Cody Tabaha, Gallup
Sean Eskeets, Gallup
Richard Rangel, Gallup
Lane Salabiye, Ganado
Alex Whitley, Farmington
Clayton Corley, Farmington
Kaleb Sandoval, Flagstaff
Chance Begay, Flagstaff
Marcel Young, Holbrook
Marlin Martin, Holbrook
Sylas Chevarillo, Holbrook
Seldon Watson, Kirtland Central
Ryan Arkie, Laguna-Acoma
David McGee, Laguna-Acoma
Austyn Salvador, Laguna-Acoma
Jalen Smith, Laguna-Acoma
Dominick Wilson, Many Farms
Brandal Padilla, Magdalena
Nashat Khalaf, Miyamura
Cauy Nelson, Monument Valley
Ty Phillips, Monument Valley
Kane Parrish, Monument Valley
Keelin Bedonie, Monument Valley Utah
Sergio Morales, Monument Valley Utah
Alvin Curley, Navajo Pine
Isaiah Chavez, Navajo Prep
Nicholas Thomas, Newcomb
Ryan Yazzie, Newcomb
Sheldon Tsipai, Newcomb
Dillon Mason, Piedra Vista
Wayden Edison, Pine Hill
Edgar Alonzo, Pine Hill
Toddrick Nez, Pinon
Tevin Bowekaty, Ramah
Dillon Pipkin, Red Mesa
Taylor Begay, Red Mesa
Mitchell Howe, Red Valley-Cove
Devin Howe, Red Valley-Cove
Leo Peacock, Red Valley-Cove
Isaiah Paytiamo, Red Valley-Cove
Tristan Gibson, Rehoboth
Sheldon Shepard, St. Michael
Tyree Dalgai, St. Michael
Andre Joe, Shiprock
Rookie Hoskie, Shiprock
Deron Johnson, Shiprock
Colby Lapahie, Shiprock Northwest
Demar Whitehorse, Tsé Yi’ Gai
Karlex Capitan, Tohatchi
Lucas Bowman, Tohatchi
Montana Miller, Thoreau
Christian Begody, Tuba City
Tristen Begay, Tuba City
Davean Yazzie, Tuba City
Apollo Smith, Valley
Jowasen Yazzie, Valley
Casey James, Valley
Isaiah Martin, Whitehorse
Robert Grant, Whitehorse
Myron Wauneka, Window Rock
Jacob Emerson, Window Rock
Trent Long, Window Rock
Kennell Jones, Wingate
Logan Shaulis, Wingate
Akkeem Foster, Winslow
Trelonnie Sanders, Winslow
Matthew Tsabetsaye, Zuni

 To read the full article, pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand Thursday mornings!

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About The Author

Quentin Jodie

Quentin Jodie is the Sports Editor for the Navajo Times. He started working for the Navajo Times in February 2010 and was promoted to the Sports Editor position at the end of summer in 2012. Previously, he wrote for the Gallup Independent. Reach him at qjodie@navajotimes.com

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