{"id":24264,"date":"2024-12-21T18:30:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T01:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montezuma-county-high-school-sports-feature-firsts-rare-feats-in-2024\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:51:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:51:05","slug":"montezuma-county-high-school-sports-feature-firsts-rare-feats-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montezuma-county-high-school-sports-feature-firsts-rare-feats-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Montezuma County high school sports feature firsts, rare feats in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mancos
Mancos seniors Quincy Montoya and Teya Yeomans embrace after the final horn in a regional final contest at MHS \u2013 the Bluejays won 31-27 over Sedgwick County to advance to the Great Eight in Loveland. (Ben Bradley\/Special to the Journal)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Before ringing in the New Year and looking ahead to the promise that lies ahead in 2025, it\u2019s time to reflect back on the past 12 months of high school sports.<\/p>\n

From first-time achievements and program high-water marks to lengthy streaks extended, the four area schools each had plenty to cheer.<\/p>\n

Here is The Journal<\/em>\u2019s toast to another memorable year:<\/p>\n

\"Dove
Dove Creek's Kalie Gatlin maneuvers around Flatirons Academy's Kaylie Moore during the 2024 CHSAA Class 1A Girls' Basketball State Championships quarterfinals on March 7 at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. The Bulldogs lost 49-29. (Joel Priest\/Special to the Journal)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Girls basketball reaches new heights<\/div>\n

Three area programs each soared in 2023-24. Both Mancos and Dove Creek advanced to the state tournament. The Jays claimed their highest finish in Class 2A, taking fifth place.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs also earned fifth place in the 1A field, making it four consecutive seasons in the state quarterfinals. Dove Creek and Mancos claimed the top two spots in the San Juan Basin League, with the Bulldogs storming through the regional rounds to make another trip to Greeley.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Mancos upset defending state champion Sedgwick County in the regional finals at Bluejay Fieldhouse, propelling the program to Loveland for the state tournament.<\/p>\n

Montezuma-Cortez also enjoyed an incredible year, placing third in a rigorous Intermountain League \u2013 which included victories over Centauri and Alamosa. The Panthers posted their first season above .500 in over two decades, a run which included a Sweet 16 appearance at the 3A state tournament.<\/p>\n

\"Montezuma-Cortez\u2019s
Montezuma-Cortez\u2019s Markylla Jones dribbles around Bayfield's Madison Mead in a contest at Bayfield High School. (Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Three cross-country squads qualify for state<\/div>\n

The Dolores cross-country program has never been stronger, and the Bears validated their impressive boys and girls seasons at the 2A state championships.<\/p>\n

For the Dolores boys, their visit to Colorado Springs marked the program\u2019s first-ever appearance, following up a feat that the girls team accomplished the previous year.<\/p>\n

The boys team raced to a 13th-place finish at state, while the girls claimed 14th.<\/p>\n

The Mancos girls also made a triumphant return to the Norris Penrose Events Center, earning 19th place.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph
Joseph Padilla of Dolores High School runs in the 2024 state 2A cross-country meet in Colorado Springs. (Joel Priest\/Special to the The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Football teams win league titles<\/div>\n

Two Montezuma County teams won their league championships, as Montezuma-Cortez (7-3, 4-1) picked up their first league title as members of the Intermountain League. The Panthers advanced to the 2A postseason for the second time in three years.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Mancos (11-2) picked up its second consecutive Mountain League crown, going 5-0 in league play and advancing to the eight-man state semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.<\/p>\n

\"Tay
Tay Wheat breaks through the line for a 54-yard run to set up a Panthers touchdown. (Sam Green\/Special to The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mancos
Mancos quarterback Brandon Vannest takes the ball in for a touchdown against Dove Creek. Mancos won its homecoming game 48-0. (Sam Green\/Special to The Journal)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dove
Dove Creek\u2019s Sheldon Gardner delivers a pitch in a game against Nucla at the Soper Sports Complex. (Ben Bradley\/Special to the Journal)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
State tournament runs continue for Panthers and Bulldogs<\/div>\n

The Dove Creek volleyball team earned its fourth straight appearance in the 1A state tournament, riding that momentum after winning the San Juan Basin League. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs football team qualified for the eight-man state tournament for the sixth straight year.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs baseball team saved its best for last, catching fire in the 1A postseason to win district and regional titles en route to a state semifinals appearance.<\/p>\n

For Montezuma-Cortez, the boys and girls golf programs have become regulars at the 3A championships.<\/p>\n

The girls team took eighth place at state in spring, while the boys team matched that finish in its state appearance this fall \u2013 with the boys team winning its home regional tournament along the way.<\/p>\n

After capturing the 3A Western Slope League title, the Montezuma-Cortez softball team returned to the state tournament after a two-year hiatus.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Montezuma-Cortez boys golf team won its regional competition at Conquistador GC to advance to the 3A state championships. (Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Panthers
Panthers pitcher Devyn Cornett fires an offering as part of a strong softball season for Montezuma-Cortez. (Sam Green\/Special to The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The Mancos cheer team made state this season in the coed division. The Bluejays placed fifth at state. (Photo courtesy of Anna Jane Lawrence)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Cheer programs flying high again<\/div>\n

The Mancos cheer squad has been building for the past few years, and the Bluejays\u2019 hard work paid off with regional championships in both the Game Day and coed Cheer \u2013 advancing to the state championships. Mancos posted a fifth-place effort in the 2A\/3A coed classification to cap off a strong year.<\/p>\n

Montezuma-Cortez also won its regional competition to earn a place on the Denver Coliseum floor. The Panthers took 21st in the 2A\/3A Game Day division. The Dolores cheerleaders also returned to state, placing ninth in 2A cheer.<\/p>\n

Area wrestlers grapple with state\u2019s best<\/div>\n

Fourteen area wrestlers earned the right to wrestle on the Ball Arena floor in February, with eight Bluejays leading the way.<\/p>\n

Mancos took ninth as a team at state, while a pair of Bluejays earned podium finishes. Montezuma-Cortez also sent an envoy of three wrestlers to the meet to bring the Panthers back to the state championships for the first time since 2021.<\/p>\n

\"Montezuma-Cortez's
Montezuma-Cortez's Hunter Goodall hoists Dove Creek's Myles Ives during their bout in the 190-pound weight division Dec. 7 at Montezuma-Cortez High School. The triangular-hosting Panthers lost to both the Bulldogs and the Ignacio Bobcats. However, Goodall defeated Ives and also won by forfeit against Ignacio, then won five more matches at the two-day Western Slope Showdown in Montrose. (Joel Preist\/Special to The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Mancos takes home San Juan Basin haul<\/div>\n

The Mancos girls track and field team won its third straight team title in the San Juan Basin League championships, while the Bluejays boys basketball team won a league title of their own en route to another Sweet 16 appearance in the 2A state tournament.<\/p>\n

Several Mancos track athletes advanced to the state championships, joining a bevy of Dolores runners, Montezuma-Cortez jumpers and sprinters, and a big wave of Dove Creek field event stars on the Jefferson County Stadium track this past May \u2013 resulting in several All-State performances for area athletes.<\/p>\n

\"Bluejays
Bluejays shot put thrower Akima Kane at the 2024 San Juan Basin League championships in Ignacio. (Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Welcome Montezuma-Cortez girls wrestling, welcome back Dolores baseball<\/div>\n

With rising statewide interest, few sports are growing quicker in participation than girls wrestling. Montezuma-Cortez joined the rapid rise in the sport, beginning its inaugural season this winter, with the hopes of developing a program that will battle against some of the state\u2019s most established programs.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Dolores made its first steps toward bringing back what had been a strong program, but had disappeared in recent years. After playing a full sub-varsity schedule this past spring, the Bears hope that they\u2019ll be ready for a varsity return in 2025.<\/p>\n

\"Dolores
Dolores head coach Curtis Garver meets on the mound with his infield and pitcher to discuss strategy in a game against Montezuma-Cortez at McAndrew Field in Cortez. The Bears baseball program is back after a four-year hiatus. (Ben Bradley\/Special to the Journal)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

a memorable year in Southwest Colorado<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[38,39,28,2428,1870,680,642,396,1877,37,36,346],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-24264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-dolores-high-school","tag-dove-creek-high-school","tag-headlines","tag-high-school-baseball","tag-high-school-football","tag-high-school-girls-basketball","tag-high-school-sports","tag-high-school-track-and-field","tag-high-school-volleyball","tag-mancos-high-school","tag-montezuma-cortez-high-school","tag-sports"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24264"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":78462,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24264\/revisions\/78462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24264"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=24264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}