All-Star players to be honored in Shiprock on April 10

Wrestling

There were six individuals that were crowned state champions headed by the Aztec Tigers and the Piedra Vista Panthers.

Both programs had two each with Aztec sophomore Cody Candelaria winning the Class 5A title at 126 while PV senior Nick Rino took home the 145 crown in 6A.

They were named the Times’ Wrestler of the Year in the lower and middle weight divisions. In the upper weight class, Shiprock senior Logan Charley earned that honor by winning the 195 division in Class 4A.

In Arizona, Page junior Kamron Whitewater (106), Monument Valley senior Bryce Gonnie (160), Winslow junior Ahli Foster (285) and Page senior Dakota Richardson (285) were also tabbed as Wrestlers of the Year.

For Page, Richardson finished second in the heavy weight division while Whitewater placed third overall in 106-pound weight class in the Division III State Wrestling meet. Foster reached the Division IV finals in the heavyweight division and Gonnie took fourth at 160.

All-stars

Cody Candelaria, Aztec Austin Littlefield, Aztec Josiah Griego, Aztec Dominic Dufur, Aztec Garrett Birzer, Aztec Levi Whitley, Bloomfield Avery Scott, Bloomfield Isiah Towne, Chinle Nathan Wagner Jr., Chinle Dante Norberto, Farmington Traedan Allison, Farmington Francisco Alvarez, Farmington Tyrel Yazzie, Flagstaff Paris Salvador, Grants Shane McGraw, Holbrook Robert Romo, Holbrook Zach McLaws, Holbrook Cody Manuelito, Kirtland Central Aaron Baldonado of Miyamura Joshua Ashley, Miyamura Joey Baca, Miyamura Drake Guerro, Miyamura Toby Ellis, Monument Valley Keola Yazzie, Monument Valley Myron Crank, Monument Valley Bryce Gonnie, Monument Valley Elisha Begay, Monument Valley Chad Valentine, Monument Valley, Utah Jawaun Charles, Newcomb Dakota Richardson, Page Cameron Whitewater, Page Dante Gracia, Page Nick Rino, Piedra Vista Wes Wayburn, Piedra Vista Diego Sanchez Morales, Piedra Vista Sergio Quintana. Piedra Vista Adrian Tarwater, Piedra Vista Ian C. Lameman, Red Mesa Kai J. Lameman, Red Mesa Wardell Joe, Red Mesa Logan Charley, Shiprock Zephaniah Hadley, Shiprock Cauy Ute, Shiprock Sapphire Williams, Shiprock Clay Nez, Tuba City Ronnie Chico, Whitehorse Carnelius Nez, Window Rock ShawnRay Livingston, Window Rock Jimmizan Redhorse, Window Rock Manny Slinkey, Window Rock Ethan Kaye, Window Rock Erin Lewis, Wingate Cody Ramone, Wingate Ahli Foster, Winslow Quincy Foster, Winslow Quentin Begody, Winslow Michael Densmore, Winslow Kendal Yabarra, Winslow

Boys basketball

Few players attracted more defensive attention than Alchesay’s Tristen Upton. The junior forward found ways to help his team, whether it was powering up inside or netting an outside shot. Upton led the state runner-up Falcons in scoring and rebounds, averaging 18.4 and 6.3, respectively.

With that, he was selected as our Player of the Year. He shares that honor with Farmington senior post David Riley. Riley was one of the driving forces behind Farmington’s Class 5A quarterfinal run. Riley averaged 12.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. He earned the MVP award at the Marv Sanders Invite and was the District 1-5A Co-Player of the Year.

With a Final Four appearance, the Ganado Hornets turned around a culture of losing into a winning team under the guidance of first-year guru Bob Wolk, who was tabbed our Coach of the Year. Wolk maximized his teams’ strength as the Hornets finished the year at 28-6, including a 9-3 mark in the 3A North Conference.

Despite a No. 9 seed in the New Mexico Class 5A state tournament, the Kirtland Central Broncos showed they were ready to play.

The Broncos journeyed 432 miles one way to Artesia and picked up a 75-72 win before they took top-seed and eventual state champs Roswell to the wire, losing 81-80 in overtime.

“I told the boys you got to look forward to this, these are the moments you got to cherish in life,” KC coach Brian Dowdy said. “I knew Roswell’s style and their reputation. I think we got in under the radar, but we got a heck of a team. So for me, it’s no surprise that we were right here toe-to-toe with them, maybe for a lot of people around the state that hadn’t got to see us would be surprised by that.”

That remarkable run earned Dowdy Coach of the Year.

All-stars

Marcus Pino Jr., Alamo Navajo Tristen Upton, Alchesay Raekwon Cosay, Alchesay Tyreck Cosay, Alchesay Adriano Stevenson, Bloomfield Nachae Nez, Chinle Darnel Cook, Crownpoint Koby Aragon, Cuba Micah Castillo, Cuba Ronson Begay, Del Norte Tyrese Morgan, Dulce Anfernee Callado, Dulce David Riley, Farmington Nicholas Granger, Farmington Sol Rascon, Farmington Nate John, Gallup Troy Etcitty, Gallup Jamaal Coleman, Ganado Michael Yellowhair, Ganado Darryl Lincoln, Ganado Matt Vail, Grants Zaden Salabye, Greyhills Hayden Kinlichee, Holbrook Kyrane Yazzie, Hopi Eric Foutz, Kirtland Central Bryson Dowdy, Kirtland Central Jariah Setzer, Kirtland Central Jorell Mirabal, Magdalena Lionel Nez, Many Farms Jason Upshaw, Miyamura Daquan Walker, Miyamura Cauy Nelson, Monument Valley Jarrett Brown, Navajo Pine Lance Morris, Navajo Prep Shannon Bitsilly, Newcomb Nizhoni Johle, Newcomb Deondre Begay, Newcomb Justin Billy, Page Jevon Yazzie, Page Byron Bert, Piñon Toby Bitsui, Piñon Sherwin Benally, Red Mesa Wilson Simpson Jr., Red Mesa Jordan Simpson, Red Mesa Lance McMullin, Rehoboth Eronimo Hummingbird, Rock Point Garrick Chee, Rough Rock Al Case, San Carlos John Cutter Jr., San Carlos Landon Henderson, Shiprock Kevin Begay, Shiprock Justin Yazzie, Shiprock Kordell Walker, Shonto Prep Tyree Dalgai, St. Michael Gerald Ben Jr., St. Michael Cordell Cook, Thoreau Jacob James, Thoreau Tyrique Winstead, To’hajiilee Jaylen Platero, To’hajiilee Brennan Chee, Tohatchi Justin Leonard, Tohatchi Tristan Yazzie, Tuba City Ronald Begay, Tuba City Johansen Yazzie, Valley Cordell Lasiloo, Valley Eric Sloan, Window Rock Brandon Belone, Wingate Manuelito Chee, Wingate Rory Billy, Winslow Ricardo Villanueva, Winslow Trishane Cly, Winslow

Girls basketball

With five state champions there was a lot of thought in summoning up our Player of the Year athletes. And with the coaches help we feel that these players deserved this recognition.

With a knack for scoring, Valley Sanders guard Valiyah Yazzie made an immediate impact for the Lady Pirates as a sophomore. Through 23 games she averaged 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.3 steals per game in leading the Lady Pirates to a Class 2A crown.

As a four-year varsity standout, JJ Nakai’s leadership was particularily evident in leading Coconino to the Final Four round in 4A. Despite facing defense designed to stop her, Nakai averaged 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game.

With good fundamentals, Valley Christian guard Anna Gorman guided the Lady Trojans to the 3A state title. The junior point guard averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 steals a game.

In New Mexico, Shiprock’s Tanisha Begay was ranked among the state’s most versatile player. Last season she played the point guard position but this year she was their post player, a move that benefited the Chieftains in their Class 4A state title run.

The Shiprock senior averaged 14.1 points per game.

Tohatchi senior Cheyenne Begay was another stalwart that led her team as the Lady Cougars claimed the 3A crown. Begay averaged 12.7 points and 3.4 rebounds a game.

With state titles under their belts, Larrenson Henderson, Tanisha Bitsoi, Dorothy Mitchell and Carl Adams were named the Coach of the Year.

Henderson guided the Shiprock Lady Chieftains to a 26-5 mark and ended a 15-year state title drought.

In her fifth season as the head coach, Bitsoi help earn Tohatchi its first-ever state title in basketball. Under her guidance, the Cougars beefed up their schedule playing the likes of Gallup, Shiprock and Bloomfield, which led them to the 3A state title.

Mitchell, meanwhile, earned her second state title as Valley Sanders claimed this year’s 2A state title. In their state tournament run, the Lady Pirates won each game by an average of 37 points.

Adams coached the St. Michael Lady Cardinals to the 1A state title by beating conference nemesis Rock Point for the first time in five tries.

“I don’t care how many times we played them, we were bound to get one win,” Adams said following their 57-35 win.

All-stars

Evette George, Alchesay Julianna Burnette, Alchesay Myra McCaskill, Aztec Kara Watchman, Bloomfield Destiny Walther Bloomfield Nahatabaa Nacona, Chinle Quannah Ryan, Chinle Stacey Begay, Chinle JJ Nakai, Coconino Kortnee Begaye, Coconino Thalia Garmendez, Crownpoint Lyla Denny, Farmington Nizhoni Thomas, Flagstaff, Monique Ware, Flagstaff Kalisha Kinsel, Gallup Sara Ann Shirley, Gallup JaeLynn Curley, Ganado Janaya McIntosh Danah Smith, Greyhills Madison Chappell, Holbrook Dishie Kinlicheenie, Holbrook Taylor Seechoma, Hopi Haile Gleason Kirtland Central Talia Ockerman, Kirtland Central Stephanie Teller, Many Farms Sara Gilmore Miyamura Tyra Johnson, Monument Valley Starr Menchego, NACA Koqua Louis, Navajo Pine Jordan Louis, Navajo Pine Martinique Larvingo, Navajo Prep Harlei Haceesa, Navajo Prep Virlonda Brown, Newcomb Marla Begay, Newcomb LeLisa Watson, Page Mikala Benally, Page Ariel Austin, Page Sky Marianito, Portales Brittany Begay, Pinon Cauy DuBoise, Ramah Kaitlyn Singer, Red Mesa MaKayla Russell, Red Valley-Cove Halle Lizer, Rehoboth Jessica Becenti, Rehoboth Crystanya Begay, Rock Point Roan Tsosie, Rock Point Christin Bahe, Rock Point Paige Yazzie, Rough Rock Tanisha Begay, Shiprock Paige Dale, Shiprock Melanie Secody, Shiprock Tiontai Woods, Shiprock Jalynn Smith, St. Michael Delila Nakaidinae, St. Michael Sydney Terry, St. Michael Ali Upshaw, St. Michael Danielle Jake, To’hajiilee Cheyenne Begay, Tohatchi Crystal Haley, Tohatchi Kalian Mitchell, Tohatchi June Winters, Tsé Yi’ Gai Amber Ashley, Thoreau Autumn Byjoe, Tuba City Kourtney Posey, Tuba City Valiyah Yazzie, Valley Cherelle Speen, Valley Samantha Quigley, Valley Codi Spencer, Valley Anna Gorman, Valley Christian D’Ovionn Wagner, Window Rock Venessa James, Window Rock Tori Tracy, Wingate Brittney Payton, Wingate Justine Butterfield, Winslow Danielle James, Winslow Lynnae Mitchell, Winslow Lexie Leekela, Zuni