Sports

Navajo Times All Stars

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

MESA, Ariz., May 17, 2012

T he following are the 2012 Navajo Times All-Star teams and athletes and coaches of the year for spring sports.

Track and field

Chinle's Rolonda Jumbo, Del Norte's Jackson Thomas, Cuba's Chaez Ortiz and Kirtland Central's Christian Mackey are the track and field athletes of the year.

Jumbo, a senior, earned her 10th and 11th state titles during the Arizona Division III state track and field meet held May 11 and 12.

She won the title in the 1,600-meter run and then added the 3,200-meter crown to her list of achievements as she crossed the finish line in 10:37.52, just 22 seconds off the all-time record.

Next season, Jumbo, who was also named the 2011 Navajo Times Female Runner of the Year, will run for the Northern Arizona University cross-country team on a full-ride scholarship. She signed with the school a few months back after receiving many offers, which included a handful of Division I programs.

Thomas, originally from Naschitti, N.M., won the Class 4A 3,200- and 800-meter races at the New Mexico Track and Field Championships held May 11 and 12.

In the 3,200, which required some strategy because of stormy weather and wind gusts, Thomas led the pack from beginning to end. He finished with a time of 9:46.86. Los Alamos' Sean Reardon was second with a time of 9:47.33, while Ethan Long of Albuquerque Academy came in third with a time of 9:54.47.

In the 800, Thomas beat out Morarity's Austin Anaya (1:57) and Atrisco Heritage's Gilbert Ramirez (1:59) for the state title.

Following the 800-meter race, and with less than two hours of rest, Thomas turned his attention to the 1,600. For most of this race, Thomas led the pack until the final lap where he was passed by Los Alamos' Reardon. Reardon won with a time of 4:23, while Thomas placed second with a 4:27. Albuquerque Academy's Ethan Long finished third (4:30).

In the fall, Thomas was the Class 4A state cross-country champion.

Cuba's Ortiz put her team into position to win the New Mexico Class 2A state team title by moving up two spots in the final handoff in the 4x400 relay race. The Lady Rams had to finish no worse than third entering the final event of the state meet.

The Cuba standout passed two runners in the final 200 meters as the Rams placed third in the race and edged defending state champion Sandia Prep, 47-46, in the team competition.

Individually, Ortiz placed second in three other events: the 200-, 400-meter and long jump. In the 200 meter, she ran a 26.87 and she later set a personal best in the 400 meter with a 59.73 clocking. In the long jump, she leaped 15 feet, 9 inches and finished the state meet with 25 points.

Kirtland Central's Christian Mackey placed second to Piedra Vista's Troy Young in the shot put during the New Mexico Class 4A state track and field finals. He also placed fourth in the discus event.

Mackey was one of a handful of area athletes who competed in the exclusive Marilyn Sepulveda Invitational at the University of New Mexico track field in April. The bulky sophomore competed in the shot put and launched the 12-pound ball 47 feet, 5.5 inches and took home the third-place medal. The meet invites only the eight top athletes in the state from all five classes.

Cuba's William Marino is the coach of the year for track and field.

Girls' team

Angela Evans, Aztec
Kendra Mitchell, Aztec, state champion
Sierra Mitchell, Aztec
Sarah Root, Aztec, state champion
Rolonda Jumbo, Chinle
Deriann Yazzie, Chinle
Felecia Chavez, Cuba, state champion
Kaylin Lovato, Cuba, state champion
Danielle Montoya, Cuba, state champion
Vicenti Kyetiil Dulce, state champion
Tamara Begay, Eldorado
Brandi Maestas, Gallup Catholic
Colbi Nez, Holbrook
Randi Loayestewa, Hopi
Dominic Sinquah, Hopi
Jocelyn Riley, Laguna Acoma
Melissa Saavedra, Laguna Acoma
Shantel Foutz, Kirtland Central
Hannah Washburn, Kirtland Central
Faith Cobb, Miyamura
Kaitln Wayne, Monument Valley
Shelby Lee, Navajo Pine
Hannah Antone, Navajo Prep
Nicolette Coleman, Page
Zhiana Flores, Piedra Vista, state champion
Katey Hegarty, Piedra Vista
Madison Hunt, Piedra Vista
Krysta Bond, Ramah, state champion
Chantell Coble, Ramah, state champion
Charlie Daniels, Ramah, state champion
Taea Hill, Ramah, state champion
Brooke Hamilton, Rehoboth, state champion
Shelby Peterson, Rehoboth
Shania Harry, Shiprock
Marilyn Werito, Tse Yi Gai
Brianna Loughran, Tuba City, state champion
Danielle Smiley, Window Rock
Tanya Belone, Wingate
Telaina Henry, Wingate
Kirianne Jones, Wingate

Boys' team

Seth Booker, Bloomfield, state champion
Austin Johnson, Bloomfield
Mikey Loy, Bloomfield, state champion
Charles Manymules, Chinle
Searle Tracey, Chinle
Jonathan Yazzie, Chinle
Jackson Thomas, Del Norte, state champion
Dakota Petago, Dulce, state champion
Graham Thomas, Dulce, state champion
Avery Rasher, Farmington, state champion
Daniel Lacey, Farmington, state champion
Tyler Stewart, Gallup
Brent Becenti, Ganado
Casius Corley, Grants
Glenn Hicks, Grants
Darnell Ben, Hopi
Dominic Sinquah, Hopi
CJ Salvador, Laguna-Acoma
Augusta Cuch, Laguna-Acoma
Christian Mackey, Kirtland Central
Easton Sherwood, Kirtland Central
Kishoun Woods, Miyamura
Mikaele Mauga, Navajo Prep
Landon Yazzie, Newcomb
Chavis Curley, Page
Jeffrey Miller, Page
Beau Clafton, Piedra Vista
Zach Johnson, Piedra Vista
Troy Young, Piedra Vista, state champion
Tyrell Henio, Pine Hill
Sean Jordan, Ramah
Tyrell Natewa, Rehoboth
Zach Serna, Rehoboth
Herbert Beyale III, Shiprock, state champion
Matthew Murray Tuba City, state champion
Shawn Tsinnijinnie, Tuba City
Binahnii Curley, Window Rock
Cody Sangster, Winslow
David Masangya, Zuni

Softball

Volcano Vista's Katera Eltsosie is the softball player of the year.

Eltsosie is the second leading hitter for the Volcano Vista Lady Hawks, a team that was batting a mindboggling .428 entering the second round of the Class 5A state softball tournament in early May

Eltsosie, who is headed to Lubbock Christian University next year on a softball scholarship, led the team with 11 homers and has batted in 48 runs. But her biggest contribution, according to her coach, Cheryl Johnson, is what she does on defense.

As one of the team's ace pitchers, Eltsosie (13-0) has an earned run average of 1.49. In 80 innings of work, she has struck out 120 batters and walked 25 for a 4:8 (strikeout-to-walk) ratio.

She helped La Cueva transfer and teammate Kelsey Stevens lead the team to a sensational year with a 29-1 record.

The Hawks' only blemish this year was a 4-2 loss to Carlsbad in the Class 5A semifinals as the Cavegirls snapped Volcano Vista's 52-game winning streak. The Hawks were sent into the loser's bracket before beating Carlsbad 6-1 and 5-3 to win a second straight state crown at the UNM softball field.

Winslow Lady Bulldog coach Becky Barris is the softball coach of the year.

In 2010, Winslow went 34-2 and 17-0 in conference to claim the 3A state title, defeating Estrella Foothills in the championship game. This was their first state softball title since 1988.

In 2011, the Lady Bulldogs went 31-6 and were undefeated in the 3A North conference, going 8-0. They entered the 3A state tournament as the No. 1 seed but fell to No. 2 Fountain Hills in the championship game.

This year, the Lady Bulldogs fell in the Arizona Division III state championship game to Bourgade Catholic, 7-1, taking runner-up honors.

Barris' players have gone on to the next level as several have signed with colleges including Karley Gilbert, who signed with Scottsdale Community College, Arianna Huerta, who signed to play with the College of Southern Idaho, Kelly Pugh, who signed with Mesa Community College and more.

Softball team

Ashlee Archibeque, Bloomfield Haili Bekis, Bloomfield
Mahalia Henderson, Chinle
Chelsea Chavez, Farmington
McKayla Slade, Farmington
Sydney Daw, Gallup
Crystal Pablo, Gallup
Destinee Spencer, Gallup
Kiana Spencer, Gallup
Renee Peterson, Ganado
Shiyenne Roanhorse, Ganado
Kallen Shutiva, Grants
Kellin Bakurza, Holbrook
Shayce Atene, Kirtland Central
Cheyanne Emerson, Kirtland Central
Taylor Yazzie, Kirtland Central
Raquel Aquino, Laguna-Acoma
Nicole Jolla, Laguna-Acoma
Cienna Thompson, Los Lunas
Chamique James, Many Farms
Naomi Whitehair, Monument Valley
Kelley Nez, Monument Valley
Kiera Haskin, Monument Valley
Lynnshellrae Begay, Tohatchi
Brittney Benallie, Tohatchi
Brianna Kee, Navajo Prep
Kiera Rock, Navajo Prep Erin West, Page
Briana Gauthier, Piedra Vista
Courtney Nacki, Piedra Vista
Kristen Jones, Rehoboth
Mariah Miller, Rehoboth,
Tyra West, Rehoboth
Nicole Vandever, Rehoboth
Keiona Aspaas, Shiprock
Cheyenna Dee, Shiprock
Breyena Rockwell, Shiprock
Adrianna Toledo, Shiprock
Alyssa Manuelito, Tohatchi
Candace Sam, Tohatchi,
Cheyenne Shorty, Tohatchi
Terra Tohe, Tohatchi
Raelene Charley, Thoreau
Felicia House, Thoreau
Shiniya Henry, Tuba City
Twynoya Henry, Tuba City
Juliett Yazzie, Tuba City
Katera Eltsosie, Volcano Vista
Megan Lymer, Winslow
Halle Hayes, Winslow
Jitter Hayes, Winslow
Ariana Herta, Winslow

Baseball

Winslow's Matt Smith is the baseball player of the year. Smith was recently voted the section player of the year by the Arizona Interscholastic Association for Arizona's Division III, a section that covers all of northeast Arizona.

According to Winslow head coach Art Griffiths, Smith has a good chance at being named player of the year for all of Division III as his statistics are "outstanding."

Smith batted .489, had 47 runs, is a leader in Arizona for his RBIs and is ranked 12th in the nation. The four-year letterman and starter also had 15 doubles 4 triples,7 homeruns and stole 14 of 15 bases during the season.

Smith started every game since his freshman year and has signed to play for Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, despite being offered three other full-ride scholarships to play out of state.

The student body president for the school, Griffiths said, "He is great kid, he works extremely hard and he's a coaches' dream."

Smith led the Winslow Bulldogs to a sectional crown and state tournament run in Arizona Division III baseball. The Bulldogs entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and finished the year with a 22-6 record.

Miyamura's Bryan Silva is the baseball coach of the year.

Under the guidance of Silva, the school got its first appearance in a state championship game in any sport as the upstart Miyamura Patriots defeated three teams that were seeded higher than them.

As the tournament's No. 10 seed entering the Class 4A state baseball tournament, the Patriots got past No. 7 Los Alamos by a 10-7 count before posting the tournament's biggest upset in the next round.

In the quarterfinals, Miyamura held on for a 7-6 win over Artesia, the No. 2 seed, and met up with Valencia, its district nemesis, in the semifinals.

It took two days for the Patriots to finally make history as their semifinal game was suspended on May 11 due to rain as Miyamura led 2-1 after an inning and half was played. The next morning the Patriots earned a 6-4 win to reach the championship game.

Unfortunately, Miyamura was no match for Piedra Vista as the top-seeded team rolled to a 15-1 win that took six innings.

Baseball team

Brycen Cambell, Farmington
Jordan Harvey, Ganado
Elliot Burns, Ganado
Ryan Baldonado, Holbrook
Levi Reyes, Holbrook
Javier Quintana, Holbrook
Austin Jones, Laguna-Acoma
Isaac Gallegos, Laguna-Acoma
Darrell Trujillo, Laguna-Acoma
Ben Bautista, Laguna-Acoma
Kendrick Etsitty, Many Farms
Ian Tom, Many Farms
Nick DeArmond, Miyamura
Trevor Campbell, Page
Levi Hall, Page
CJ Ripka, Page
Dustin Worker, Page
Tyler Housley, Piedra Vista
Kholeton Sanchez, Piedra Vista
Cody Scaggari, Piedra Vista
Shane Woodson, Piedra Vista
Earvin Nacki, Red Mesa
Leander Bahe, Rock Point
Garrison Begaye, Rock Point
Cody Graham, Tuba City
Wyatt Tee, Tuba City
Jared Slim, Tuba City
Taylor Davis, Window Rock
Ty Wauneka, Window Rock
Dominique Dale, Window Rock
Matt Smith, Winslow
Caleb Layden, Winslow
Victorio Sells, Winslow

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