With over 150 athletes nominated in each sport the Navajo Times whittled down that list considerable. As with every sport, our list is compiled with the help from the area coaches and athletic directors and we feel that these were the top athletes for the 2015-16 season.
The Navajo Times awards ceremony is set for Monday, April 4 at the Wildcat Den in Chinle with Alchesay boys basketball coach Kyle Goklish delivering the keynote address. Doors will open at 9 a.m.
All listed athletes are encouraged to bring their 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 7 edition of the Times.
Information: 928-871-1130.
The area produced a plethora of state placers including 21 state finalists in both New Mexico and Arizona.
All told, there were 10 state champs so the task of naming our wrestlers of the year proved to be a chore.
The recipients for wrestlers of the year include:
Josiah Griego, Aztec
Cody Candelaria, Aztec
Austin Littlefield, Aztec
J.D. Robinson, Bloomfield
Avery Scott, Bloomfield
Levi Whitley, Bloomfield
Corbin Nelson, Bloomfield
Michael Deherrera, Bloomfield
Zackary Ute, Chinle
Isiah Towne, Chinle
Chandon Begay, Chinle
Aaron Newlon, Farmington
Kameron Schrock, Farmington
Liam King, Ganado
Ed Woodbury, Grants
Levi McClellan, Holbrook
Jedde Bowman, Holbrook
Kohl Potts, Holbrook
Jason Laban, Hopi
Dru Quochytewa, Hopi
Luke West, Kirtland Central
Berry Tom, Kirtland Central
Cody Manuelito, Kirtland Central
Aiden Cockrell, Kirtland Central
Keishaun Aspass, Kirtland Central
Rodrick Begay Jr., Many Farms
Kayla Thomas, Many Farms
AJ Starkovich, Miyamura
Bryan Moreno, Monument Valley
Xavier Hunt, Monument Valley
Toby Ellis, Monument Valley
Keola Yazzie, Monument Valley
Chad Valentine, Monument Valley Utah
Kamron Whitewater, Page
Dakota Richardson, Page
Dylan Greenhaus, Piedra Vista
Taylor Antencio, Piedra Vista
Wes Rayburn, Piedra Vista
Nick Rino, Piedra Vista
Hosman Caraveo, Piedra Vista
Alberto Marquez, Piedra Vista
Chadley Sagg, Red Mesa
Ian Laneman, Red Mesa
Keithfer Jim, Red Mesa
Logan Charley, Shiprock
Cauy Ute, Shiprock
Latrell Ben, Shiprock
Galvin Bedonie, Shonto Prep
Jevon Aguero, Shonto Prep
Renelda Wagner, Shonto Prep
Shayne Yazzie, Tuba City
Dylan Lansing, Whitehorse
Shelden Blackwater, Whitehorse
Carnelius Nez, Window Rock
Jimmizan Redhorse, Window Rock
Ethan Kaye, Window Rock
Quincy Foster, Winslow
Michael Densmore, Winslow
Darrien Brown, Winslow
Ahli Foster, Winslow
Quentin Begody, Winslow
With an appearance in the Elite Eight, Bloomfield coach Devon Manning was chosen as our coach of the year.
The Bobcats fell to the Class 4A state runner-up West Las Vegas by a 66-62 count. Despite coming up short, Manning told the Navajo Times his team played with a winning attitude.
“Two years ago these kids were nowhere near being the caliber of team that they needed to be to play this type of game,” he said. “Last year they finally learned how to win, this year they expected to win, and that’s what they played like tonight; they expected to win regardless of who they were playing.”
Manning shared that honor with San Carlos coach Terry Antonio as he mentored the Braves to a state title in the Arizona Division V bracket. San Carlos outlasted Bisbee with a thrilling 57-53 overtime slugfest.
Holbrook senior Abrian Dickson, Alchesay senior Blake Lupe, Grants senior Richie Lucero and Bloomfield senior Malachi Pablo topped our player of the year awards among a pool of talented players.
Blake Lupe, Alchesay
Raekwon Cosay, Alchesay
Marcus Pino Jr., Alamo Navajo
Malachi Pablo, Bloomfield
Christian Chavez, Bloomfield
Sheldon Tsosie, Chinle
Derrick Dixson, Crownpoint
Koby Aragon, Cuba
Jalon Sandoval, Cuba
Sean Valdez, Dulce
Kaleb Sandoval, Flagstaff
Berrett Bentley, Farmington
Diego Corley, Farmington
Colten Lowley, Gallup
Sean Eskeets, Gallup
Michael Yellowhair, Ganado
Jamaal Coleman, Ganado
Richie Lucero, Grants
Bradley Hatten, Grants
Matt Vail Jr., Grants
Abrian Dickson, Holbrook
Miireux Begaii, Holbrook
Isaah Panana, Hopi
Riley Hamblim, Kirtland Central
Ty Yellowman, Kirtland Central
Cameron Joe, Laguna-Acoma
Sean Martin, Laguna-Acoma
Carlos Begay, Many Farms
Kane Parrish, Monument Valley
Ryan Nez, Monument Valley Utah
Aaron Lee, NACA
Francis Nez, Navajo Pine
Nachae Nez, Navajo Prep
Tyler Pete, Navajo Prep
Shannon Bitsilly, Newcomb
Keegan Acosta, Piedra Vista
Milton Tso, Pinon
Byron Bert, Pinon
Dominick Laiwakete, Ramah
Sherwin Benally, Red Mesa
Dillion Pipkin, Red Mesa
Devin Howe, Red Valley Cove
Lance McMullin, Rehoboth
Devin Smith, Rough Rock
John Cutter, San Carlos
Al Case, San Carlos
Francis Calabaza, Santa Fe Indian
Job Schimmel, Santa Fe Indian
Andre Joe, Shiprock
Elijah Harry, Shiprock
Elijah Mark, Shiprock Northwest
Tyree Dalgai, St. Michael
Isaac Ignacio, To’hajiilee
Jayden Dolfin, Tohatchi
Karlex Capitan, Tohatchi
Joseph Mathias, Tuba City
Davean Yazzie, Tuba City
Ross Whitehorse, Tsé Yi’ Gai
Apollo Smith, Valley
Johansen Yazzie, Valley
Tyrese Brown, Window Rock
Shammond Goodman, Window Rock
Kyle Begay, Wingate
Dalvin Benally, Winslow
Nathan Hollins, Winslow
Elijah Garcia, Whitehorse
Matthew Tsabetsaye, Zuni
With the school’s first-ever state championship in any sports program, Valley coach Dorothy Mitchell was recognized as our coach of the year.
The Lady Pirates defeated Rock Point by a 77-40 count for the Arizona Division V title in which Mitchell felt that her entire team played up to their potential to defeat their sectional rival for the third time this season.
“The bench also came in and made some key shots and they were playing defense,” she said. “They all worked together as a team.” Mitchell shared that honor with Gallup High School coach Kamau Turner as he guided the top-seeded Lady Bengals to a second place finish in the New Mexico Class 5A bracket.
The Bengals dropped a 59-41 decision to No. 2 seed Roswell with Gallup senior Ni’Asia McIntosh finishing her prep career with 26 points.
In addition to McIntosh, Shiprock senior Shontai Grey, Chinle senior Nikesha Eagleman and Valley senior Latisha Nastacio were tabbed as our players of the year.
Darius Stover, Alchesay
Shayna Tsosie, Aztec
Lakesia Lopez, Blanding (Utah)
Destiny Walther, Bloomfield
Nahatabaa Nacona, Chinle
Nikesha Eagleman, Chinle
JJ Nakai, Coconino
Marissa Copley, Coconino
Tia Charley, Crownpoint
Mikaela Begaye, Estrella Foothills
Meeya Yazzie, Farmington
Shae Toehe, Flagstaff
Nizhoni Thomas, Flagstaff
Kiara Goseyun, Fort Thomas
Ni’Asia McIntosh, Gallup
Camille Etsitty, Gallup
JaeLynn Curley, Ganado
Amber James, Ganado
Danah Smith, Greyhills Academy
Quanyyah Lester, Holbrook
Haile’ Chase The Boy, Hope Christian
Ashley Harvey, Hopi
Desirae Gonzalez, Kingman
Deiondra Smith, Kirtland Central
Krystal Sheka, Kirtland Central
Kayeona Teller, Many Farms
Nizhoni Whitehorse, Monument Valley
Shayla Yazzie, Monument Valley
Cheynay Castillo, Navajo Pine
Harlei Haceesa, Navajo Prep
Jazmin Benally, Navajo Prep
Amber Manuelito, Newcomb
Ashley Dempsey, Page
LeLisa Watson, Page
Nikki Benally, Piedra Vista
Adrianna Francis, Pinon
Sky Mariantio, Portales
Jordyn Lewis, Ramah
Kourtney Lewis, Ramah
Kaitlyn Singer, Red Mesa
Megan Tsosie, Red Mesa
Talia Bowman, Rehoboth
Pashen Johnson, Rock Point
Christanya Begay, Rock Point
Mariah Kozie, San Carlos
Shontai Grey, Shiprock
Tanisha Begay, Shiprock
Jalynn Smith, St. Michael
Hunter Begaye, St. Michael
Cheyenne Begay, Tohatchi
Kalian Mitchell, Tohatchi
Yvonne Curley, Tsé Yi’ Gai
Autumn Byjoe, Tuba City
Keisha Classay, Tuba City
Latisha Nastacio, Valley
Cherelle Speen, Valley
Anna Gorman, Valley Christian
Jaden Chischillie, Volcano Vista
Trestin Morgan, West Las Vegas
Analyss Benally, Wichita Heights (Kansas)
Alicia Hale, Window Rock
Domonique Chee, Window Rock
Chassity Belone, Wingate
Danielle James, Winslow
Kiesha Kallestewa, Zuni
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow