<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
    xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
    xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
    xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
<channel>
    <title>High School Sports</title>
    <category>High School Sports</category>
    <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/section/high-school-sports/feed/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://tj.durangoherald.com/section/high-school-sports/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description>Latest local news from The Durango Herald.</description>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:54:57 -0600</lastBuildDate>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <ttl>30</ttl>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/longtime-durango-high-school-boys-basketball-coach-retiring/</link>
        <title>Longtime Durango High School boys basketball coach retiring</title>
        <description>Alan Batiste has coached Demons since 2010</description>
        <pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1DC1FFD6-ACB0-405B-A055-1ECCEA91E3FE</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=3E38C351-FBC9-52FE-9E02-2AB1FBA4AB8A&#038;function=cropresize&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;q=75&#038;width=1200&#038;x=1.0E-5&#038;y=0.00248139&#038;crop_w=0.99999&#038;crop_h=0.49627792" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=3E38C351-FBC9-52FE-9E02-2AB1FBA4AB8A&#038;function=cropresize&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;q=75&#038;width=1200&#038;x=1.0E-5&#038;y=0.00248139&#038;crop_w=0.99999&#038;crop_h=0.49627792" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Alan Batiste has coached Demons since 2010Durango High School head boys basketball coach Alan Batiste talks with his team while playing Palisade High School on Feb. 7 at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)Jerry McBrideOne of Durango High School’s most beloved teachers and longest tenured coaches is retiring from coaching the Demons’ boys basketball team.Alan Batiste has been the head coach of Durango boys basketball since the 2010-2011 season, leading the Demons to 176 wins and to the playoffs in 12 of his 16 seasons.Batiste, a gym teacher at Durango High School, is retiring from coaching Demons boys basketball to focus on his health and his family. Batiste had unexpected complications from a surgery in the summer that has impacted his health. He feels like his body is running on 60-65%, and he wants to feel 100% physically, which would be hard to do while coaching.After juggling being a dad and a coach, Batiste wants to step away to focus on being a dad to his daughter, Tiana, and his son, Taj, who will be a junior on the high school basketball team next season.“I can’t even picture basketball season without him here,” Durango School District Athletic Director Ryan Knorr said. “He’s one of our most tenured coaches … that consistency is huge … A lot of alumni come back, and I’ll get a few questions, but one of the consistent ones, if it’s a game or something, is, ‘Where’s Mr. Batiste?’”Batiste won a state championship in 1999 as a student-athlete playing for Santa Rita High School in Tucson, Arizona. It was there, playing under head coach Jim Ferguson, that he realized he wanted to be a counselor and a coach.After transferring from Saddleback Community College to Fort Lewis College to continue his college basketball journey, Batiste’s friend’s dad was an educator, and Batiste realized he enjoyed teaching basketball at summer camps and teaching kids.“I thought I’d be good at coaching because … I would always dissect the game first,” Batiste said. “My challenge was to know whoever I was guarding, what their tendencies were in the first five minutes of the game. I got good at that, and it helped me succeed, play college basketball and have a good career in basketball.”Batiste credits former Durango athletic director Tim Fitzpatrick with hiring Batiste and Jerry Martinez for the community support in his career. Batiste started his coaching career at Durango High School with a four-win season, but quickly got the program going and established Durango as a winning program in the 2010s.From the 2011-2012 season to the 2016-2017 season, the Demons finished with 10+ wins each year with only one losing season, made the playoffs every year and had a 64% winning percentage. Highlights during that time include the 2016-2017 season, when the Demons finished 21-5 overall. They got the No. 4 seed in the 4A state playoffs, but lost 52-51 in overtime to Evergreen in the 4A Sweet 16.After the referees awarded a game-tying 3-pointer after the buzzer to Evergreen in the 2017 state playoffs, Durango High School head coach Alan Batiste and the Demons had no option to have the shot reviewed.After the 2016-2017 season, Batiste resigned to spend more time with his family, but after his assistant coach, Dalon Parker, didn’t accept the job, Batiste got the green light from his wife, Rhita, to return to the sidelines the next season, with Rhita reaffirming how much he means to the kids.Durango High School basketball head coach Alan Batiste returned for his eighth year after resigning after the 2016-2017 season, before taking the job again. (Herald file)One of the highlights of Batiste’s “second stint” as head coach was the 2024-2025 season, when the Demons made it back to the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs.Putting the wins and losses aside, what matters to Batiste is the relationships he’s made with his players. He can recall, like it was yesterday, his first squad consisting of guys like Jared Blake, Joe Keresey, Ethan Garcia and Danny Rowley.Batiste emotionally credited Willy Frownfelter, who passed away in a car crash on March 14, with challenging Batiste as a coach, but coming back to tell Batiste how much he appreciates him. Batiste also credited another former player, Isiah Mayberry, who passed away in 2025, with setting the bar for the program’s work ethic.“This year I'm going to my second wedding in June from a former player,” Batiste said. “Those are those things that resonate with me a little bit, thinking about life in general now, a lot more than I did in the past when you were on your deathbed, and you could have died.”“The appreciation that the boys show through all those hard times and through tears. These kids go through a lot in the world … they need mentors, teachers, and coaches, so that's my biggest highlight.”Despite a tough final season in the win and loss columns, at 4-17 overall, Batiste is excited to see the young squad mature and get better next season. He thought it was one of his best seasons as a coach in terms of his approach and attitude. He’ll miss the competition of coaching, but Batiste still plans on helping out with the local youth, youths basketball community.Batiste credits assistant coach Viki Thyfault with supporting him throughout his coaching journey and helping him grow as a man and a coach. He also credits assistant coach Orlando Griego with helping him through his health issues on the sideline. Batiste credits Parker with helping him become a better X’s and O’s coach.The boys basketball head coaching position is posted with an internal candidate, Griego, under consideration.bkelly@durangoherald.comHead coach of the Durango High School boys basketball team, Alan Batiste, coaches while playing Glenwood Springs High School during the first round of the 4A playoffs in 2022. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)Jerry McBride]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/durango-fends-off-late-push-from-cortez-in-baseball-duel-2/</link>
        <title>Durango fends off late push from Cortez in baseball duel</title>
        <description>Visiting Demons never trailed while snapping Panthers winning streak</description>
        <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:10:39 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">B44A8CCF-0BDC-4EA3-A8D4-B7B4E48A7A7B</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=B7B6AD83-DE22-57B7-A6A6-6BC58956E700&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=B7B6AD83-DE22-57B7-A6A6-6BC58956E700&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Montezuma-Cortez junior Michael Krupa delivers a pitch against Durango at McAndrew Field in Cortez on Tuesday. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)Visiting Demons never trailed while snapping Panthers winning streakCORTEZ – With two veteran rosters and postseason aspirations on both sides, Tuesday’s meeting between Durango and Montezuma-Cortez had the feel of a late-season test when the teams met April 7.Hot off a weekend sweep of Grand Junction, the Demons climbed back inside the top 10 of Class 4A, while Class 3A No. 7 M-CHS entered with a five-game winning streak that included victories over Southwestern League foes Montrose and GJ Central, along with defending Class 3A state champion Coal Ridge.Fittingly, the matchup featured a steady stream of high-leverage at-bats in a back-and-forth contest, with Durango holding on late for a 10-8 win.Montezuma-Cortez senior Cory Carver stops at second base against Durango at McAndrew Field in Cortez on April 7. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)After the teams exchanged runs in the first inning, the Demons (8-4, 2-0 5A/4A SWL) applied pressure again in the second. With the bases loaded, back-to-back wild pitches allowed two runs to score before M-CHS starting pitcher Kallan Wirth induced a groundout from Durango sophomore Cole Clark to limit the damage and keep the score at 3-1.Montezuma-Cortez (7-5, 0-0 3A IML) answered in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Easton Pixler led off with a single, moved to second on an error and scored when junior Michael Krupa lined an RBI single through the right side.A walk to senior Bodie Stiegelmeyer and a balk by Durango starter Jakob Maycock put two Panthers in scoring position, and Parker Conrad’s chopper glanced off Maycock’s glove, tying the game and ending his outing.Senior Austin Romero stopped the rally with a strikeout, and the Demons quickly reclaimed momentum. Consecutive walks set the stage for a four-run third inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Romero, Dylan Burns and Brady Hoerl. Krupa struck out Dawson McInnes to end the frame, but Durango carried a 7-3 lead.Montezuma-Cortez head coach Jake Huff talks with his infield and battery against Durango at McAndrew Field in Cortez on April 7. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)M-CHS senior Cory Carver opened the bottom of the third with a triple and scored on a passed ball to trim the deficit to 7-4.The Panthers’ defense settled in next, with third baseman Jaiden Istenes turning a double play for the team’s first scoreless inning. Conrad followed with an RBI double that scored Stiegelmeyer, pulling the Panthers within two runs.Durango responded in the fifth, stringing together hits to score twice. McInnes delivered the key blow with a double that rattled the corner and pushed the lead to four. Romero worked out of a jam later in the inning, and the Demons added an insurance run in the sixth.McInnes took over on the mound seeking the final six outs, but Montezuma-Cortez mounted one last push. Carver collected his third hit of the afternoon to spark a three-run rally in the sixth that cut the margin to 10-8. McInnes regrouped, extinguishing the threat and closing out the game.Romero earned the win for Durango, while McInnes recorded the save. Romero and senior Landin Padilla each finished with multiple hits, and Burns scored three runs to lead the Demons’ offense. For the Panthers, sophomore Brennen Powell joined Conrad and Stiegelmeyer in scoring two runs apiece.Durango travels to the Grand Valley on Friday and Saturday for a two-game set with GJ Central before returning home Tuesday, April 14, for a twin bill against Pagosa Springs. The Pirates are also next on the schedule for Montezuma-Cortez, which returns to action Saturday, April 18, with a trip to Archuleta County to open Intermountain League play.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/mancos-football-sets-sights-on-caliche/</link>
        <title>Mancos football sets sights on Caliche</title>
        <description>Bluejays looking to put last year’s opening round defeat behind them</description>
        <pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2019 20:04:29 -0700</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">96C7A8BA-E3F6-34AD-E053-0100007F05A2</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=AE90220C-98B9-4661-ABB4-AE067A44EE55&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=AE90220C-98B9-4661-ABB4-AE067A44EE55&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Bluejays looking to put last year’s opening round defeat behind themMancos High School running back Chase Moore is expected to make a big impact Saturday when Mancos hosts Caliche High School in the first round of the playoffs.Sam Green/For The Journal file Just over a year after it suffered a shocking loss to Merino High School in the opening round of Colorado’s 8-man playoffs, the Mancos High School football team is set to return to its home field and put its postseason bygones behind it. Standing opposite of the Bluejays for this year’s first-round playoff, which will take place in Mancos on Saturday, will a team from Caliche High School that will enter the contest with a 6-3 record overall and a 3-3 record in the A-8 Plains League. Known for a power rushing style that is typical of teams in the northeast corner of the state, the 11th-seeded Buffaloes figure to give the 6th-seeded Bluejays all they can handle throughout a contest that figures to be hard-fought and physical. While several factors figure to determine the trajectory of the contest, the game’s final result could come down to which team is able to dictate the pace of the game and get its star players loose in the open field. Below are some things for fans to watch for as this Saturday’s playoff game on the Bluejays’ newly renovated home field unfolds: Can the Bluejays shake their playoff jitters? Coming off a regular season that saw it outscore its opponents 380-131 and lose only one game, Mancos should not be lacking in confidence when it struts onto its home field for Saturday afternoon’s contest. In the back of the minds of many of the Bluejays’ players, however, figures to be last year’s 40-0 opening-round playoff loss to Merino High School in a contest that many regarded as the most surprising upset of the 8-man season. “I think (our loss to Merino) definitely made the team work harder during the offseason,” Bluejays’ quarterback Breccen Morelli said earlier this season. “We got some kids to show up to the summer stuff and we’re going to build on that as we move through the season.” Although it would not be altogether surprising to see Mancos players experience some butterflies early on against Caliche, do not be surprised if the Bluejays play with a new level of focus this Saturday as the team tries to put last season’s playoff experience in its rearview mirror. How will Caliche handle its long road trip? When Buffaloes’ players step onto Mancos’s home field on Saturday, they will do so less than 24 hours after what figures to be a nine-hour, 515-mile bus trip from their school in Iliff, which is located in the northeastern most portion of the state. While long bus rides have a tendency to adversely affect high school teams, the Caliche squad opposite Mancos may be fresher than expected thanks to a roster that is laden with seniors who have plenty of experiences traveling long miles along baron roads. Chief among the Buffaloes’ seniors who figure to have an impact is senior dual-threat quarterback Dylan Huss, who has passed for 679 yards and five touchdowns this season and run for 1,344 yards and 18 scores. Which Bluejays’ players will rise to the occasion? Featuring experience and speed at the skill positions and talent and depth on the defensive side of the ball, Mancos will have plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball when its team takes the field. Which of the players takes on the role of superstar could very well depend on Caliche’s game plan, as the Buffaloes will likely be forced to choose to focus on one or two Bluejays it hopes to contain. Among the most likely heroes for Mancos will be running back Chase Moore, who has rushed for 1,658 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. The talented sophomore has also amassed 261 receiving yards and caught a team-high four touchdowns. Other key players on the Mancos offense figure to be Morelli, who has rushed for 456 yards and eight touchdowns this season and thrown for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Anthony Medina could also play a starring role while adding to his season rushing totals of 416 yards and five touchdowns.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dove-creek-football-looks-to-score-playoff-upset/</link>
        <title>Dove Creek football looks to score playoff upset</title>
        <description>Sophomore QB Cressler hopes to lead Bulldogs to first playoff win since 2015</description>
        <pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2019 19:53:57 -0700</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">96C7A8BA-E3F5-34AD-E053-0100007F05A2</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=6EE3A0CA-E3F4-4EE6-9743-AEF647197164&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=6EE3A0CA-E3F4-4EE6-9743-AEF647197164&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Sophomore QB Cressler hopes to lead Bulldogs to first playoff win since 2015Dove Creek quarterback Chorbin Cressler will need to have a big game Saturday if Dove Creek hopes to beat Vail Christian.Sam Green/For The Journal file Once a staple of Colorado’s 8-man football playoffs, the Dove Creek High School football team has been noticeably absent from the postseason in recent seasons and has not won a playoff contest since 2015. All of that could change this weekend when the 13th-seeded Bulldogs travel to take on 4th-seeded Vail Christian High School on Saturday. Dove Creek will enter the contest with a 5-4 record overall, while Vail Christian will put its perfect 9-0 record on the line. While the teams’ drastically different records and playoff seeding presents the picture of a lopsided contest, those familiar with Dove Creek’s football program have expressed optimism that a stunning upset could be on the horizon. If such an upset is to happen, however, Bulldogs players will need to play as well as they have all season while taking advantage of the size, strength, and physicality of their offensive and defensive lines. Below are a few things that local fans can look for when their hometown boys travel to one of Colorado’s most notorious ski towns and try to score a win for small-town USA. Will Cressler shine in his playoff debut? Since taking over as Dove Creek’s starting quarterback early last season, sophomore Chorbin Cressler has established himself as one of the state’s most elusive runners, while winning over home fans with his hard-nosed style. Until the moment that he takes the field this Saturday, however, Cressler will have never had the opportunity to experience the excitement and intensity that intrinsically comes with playoff football at the 8-man level. How the Bulldogs’ dual-threat signal caller, who has thrown for 678 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 1,157 yards and 18 touchdowns, handles the pressure figures to greatly impact Dove Creek’s chances against one of the state’s top teams. If Cressler is able to utilize his legs to break into the open field and make accurate throws from outside of the pocket, Dove Creek will almost certainly have a fighting chance to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the season to date. Can Gray knock Vail Christian into submission? While the ability of Dove Creek’s offense to move the ball figures to be key, any chance of a Bulldogs’ upset will likely begin on the defensive side of the ball where junior linebacker Hayden Gray has made his mark throughout the season. Equipped with powerful legs and shoulders and known for the countless hours that he spends in the weight room, Gray had led the Bulldogs’ defense with 104 tackles this season and delivered several bone-crushing hits that have left opponents wanting no more. If Gray, and fellow defensive stalwart Austin Beanland, who has made 76 tackles and come through with eight sacks on the season, are able to dominate at the line of scrimmage, Vail Christian’s offense could be in for a long day. In the event that Gray is unable to make a major impact on the game, however, Vail Christina’s balanced offense could score a significant number of points and leave Dove Creek’s offense scrambling to catch up. Can Bailey and Thompson provide balance? Perhaps the most interesting question entering Saturday’s contest is whether Dove Creek can match Vail Christian’s balance on both sides of the ball. Unlike many 8-man teams in Colorado that rely on one or two star players, Vail Christian has made a living this season distributing the ball to multiple running backs and receivers while keeping opposing defenses off-balance. Senior quarterback Jamison Lee has led the charge with 940 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 522 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown. Senior running back Chris Cappel has rushed for 675 yards and 13 touchdowns and senior running back Simon Nowicki has rushed for 564 yards and eight touchdowns. While Dove Creek has not quite matched Vail Christian in terms of a balanced attack this season, the Bulldogs’ roster features several players that could come through huge this weekend and add multiple layers to Dove Creek’s attack. Chief among those players are junior running back Gauge Thompson, who has rushed for 679 yards and six touchdowns this season, and junior running back Gage Bailey, who has rushed for 643 yards and eight touchdowns this season. If both junior running backs are able to get rolling, Dove Creek’s deceptive option offense wrought with counter plays could enjoy a big day on a field that is surrounded by ski slopes and far from home.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dolores-dove-creek-prep-to-host-volleyball-regional/</link>
        <title>Dolores, Dove Creek prep to host volleyball regional</title>
        <description>M-CHS heads to Lamar for regional play</description>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2019 18:37:26 -0700</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">96B15F83-31AE-7522-E053-0100007FC08C</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=237B84B2-520B-4787-A62D-23B69CAB9ED7&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=237B84B2-520B-4787-A62D-23B69CAB9ED7&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[M-CHS heads to Lamar for regional play The roars inside gymnasiums across Colorado will be a little more raucous this weekend, as the state’s best volleyball teams from all five classifications convene at various sites, vying to earn a coveted place in the state tournament. Both Dolores and Dove Creek, on the strength of a dominant run through the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League, have earned rights to host a three-team regional this Saturday. Dolores primed for regionals The Bears (19-4, 12-0 SJBL), led by head coach Gina Hollen, were in a league of their own during conference play, conceding only five sets the entire regular season in the SJBL, en route to a perfect 12-0 mark. After dropping their first three matches of the campaign, Dolores overpowered opposition behind senior middle hitter Jordan Elder, who led the Bear attack with a team-best 226 kills and stunning .425 hitting percentage. Dolores went unbeaten during September and October before wrapping up their regular season with a 3-1 team record in a deep field at the season-ending Gunnison tournament. The outside hitting tandem of sophomore Erin Brown and junior Sydney Smith, who combined for over 360 kills, make the Dolores front line one of the best in the 2A classification. This year, the backline has been anchored by junior libero Akira Edwards, who leads the team in digs, while a pair of underclassmen, sophomore Kamri Willbanks and freshman Carlie McClellan, have split time as setter, dishing out over 550 assists this year. Dolores enters the postseason seeking to return to the 2A State Tournament after a one-year hiatus, having missed out in heartbreaking fashion last year. The Bears own the No. 10 seed, and will face off against No. 27 seed Soroco High School (12-8), which enters the field following a fifth-place finish in the 2A/1A Western Slope League. The round robin also includes a meeting with No. 15 seed Clear Creek (15-8), a fifth-place squad out of the 2A/1A Mile High League. The Bears will take on Soroco at 9 a.m. at Montezuma-Cortez High School, to be followed with their meeting against the Golddiggers about 1 p.m. Bulldogs aim for return to stage Few teams in the state can match the impressive resume that the Dove Creek Bulldogs have compiled this year. Aiming for their second straight trip to the 1A State Tournament, Dove Creek dominated competition across the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League, suffering its only defeat of the season to Dolores. The Bulldogs (20-1, 10-1 SJBL) have a premier outside hitter to thank for their success, as senior Cassie Gatlin has put together a campaign to remember. She leads the team in kills (217), aces (32), and digs (298). While Gatlin headlines the attack, the story of the Bulldogs’ success comes from their tremendous balance, with five players accumulating more than 60 kills and four players with at least 30 blocks. Gatlin and fellow seniors Kiara Lingenfelter and Taylor Hickman guide a tournament-experienced squad into the 1A Region E tournament, hosting La Veta (22-1) and familiar district opponent North Park (6-15). The Bulldogs first face off with a repeat meeting against the Wildcats, hoping they can duplicate a 3-0 victory from their district tournament championship run. After their 10 a.m. contest against North Park, at 2 p.m. the Bulldogs face a dangerous La Veta squad, who have only dropped five sets all season, three of which came in their lone loss of the campaign in the district championship match. Panthers hope to continue recent success M-CHS might be really finding their rhythm at the best time. Winners of seven of their final eight matches of the regular season, the Panthers (13-7, 4-6 3A IML) storm into the 3A Region 7 tournament riding momentum in hopes that they can go toe-to-toe with a pair of strong opponents. They enter the tournament as the No. 30 seed, and will meet regional host No. 7 Lamar at 4 p.m. The Savages (16-5), who finished as runner-up in the 3A Tri-Peaks League, will have to contend with the Panther hitting combo of junior Myka Glover and sophomore Avery Wright, who are ranked first and second for the Panthers in kills, hitting percentage and aces. Setter Leigha Comisky will be busy setting up the front line, as she leads a junior-heavy Panthers squad into the Lamar Community Building on Saturday evening. M-CHS will also face No. 18 seed Platte Valley (14-9), the third-place finisher in the 3A Patriot League. Matches for Dolores, Dove Creek, and Montezuma-Cortez are all slated for Saturday, Nov. 9, with state qualifiers moving on to the Denver Coliseum for the state championships the weekend of Nov. 14-16.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/durango-bayfield-and-ignacio-qualify-for-volleyball-regionals/</link>
        <title>Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio qualify for volleyball regionals</title>
        <description>Ignacio kicks off regional action on Friday</description>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2019 04:37:18 -0700</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">968AFFB1-25E7-7A58-E053-0100007FE536</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5A8BBABA-E0DD-4ABF-AB7D-D257ABE79036&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5A8BBABA-E0DD-4ABF-AB7D-D257ABE79036&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Ignacio kicks off regional action on FridayMillie O’Ketter of Durango High School has been a standout for the Demons this season. The senior will look to lead DHS to the state tournament.Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file All three area high schools qualified for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s regional volleyball tournaments when the draw was announced Monday. Bayfield, Durango and Ignacio high schools all qualified for postseason volleyball after the three schools missed out last year. Here’s a closer look at each team’s regional draw: Durango High School The Durango High School volleyball team will travel to the Front Range for the 4A Region 12 tournament held at Skyview High School on Saturday in Thornton. DHS (13-10) earned a tough draw as the No. 25 seed and will play No. 12 Skyview (22-1) in its first matchup. The Demons will follow up against a talented No. 13 Cheyenne Mountain (13-10) in their other match. Durango faced stiff competition at the Mustang Classic at Ponderosa High School last weekend, where it went 1-3. The Demons beat Niwot but lost to Pine Creek, Fruita Monument and Chatfield. Durango head coach Colleen Vogt said she believes her team will be up for the challenge this weekend. “We’ve never played Skyview and haven’t seen Cheyenne Mountain in a while, but historically, they’re both very good,” Vogt said. “We played our last five games against great competition. We were tested down the stretch, but I think it was good for us. We’re used to the travel, and the girls feel that this is a great opportunity to advance to the next round.” Vogt said the Demons will have to rely on their strong defense in order to advance to the state tournament. “I think our message all year long has been to play our game,” Vogt said. “Our game is to show up defensively every day. We want to give our best effort and let the volleyball happen on our side of the net. If we can control the controllables and eliminate our errors, we have a good chance of winning. You’ve got to beat the best to be at the state tournament, and we’re very excited for this opportunity.” The match times have yet to be determined. Bayfield High School The Bayfield High School volleyball team will hit the road for its 3A Region 11 matches, as the Wolverines will travel Saturday to Cedaredge. BHS (15-8) is coming off a tough weekend to close the regular season after it went 1-3 at the Palmer Ridge Invitational against strong Class 5A and 4A schools. BHS beat Pueblo South in straight sets but lost to Coronado, Mullen and Palmer Ridge.Lana McKee and the Bayfield High School volleyball team will look to dig out of regionals Saturday at Cedaredge to get into the state tournament.Jerry McBride/Durango Herald The Wolverines earned the No. 14 seed and will open the regional against No. 26 Buena Vista (13-9) and will end the regional against No. 11 Cedaredge (19-4). BHS head coach Terene Foutz said she feels her team is prepared after going against elite competition last weekend. “(We’re) super excited; we like our chances,” Foutz said. “We played a tough 4A loaded tournament and just missed the win versus No. 6 Coronado and No. 10 Palmer Ridge. It was great preparation for the regional, and the kids are working very hard in the gym.” The Wolverines will begin their regional following the Cedaredge-Buena Vista match, which is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Ignacio High School The Ignacio High School volleyball team will travel to the Front Range for its regional tournament, as the Bobcats earned the No. 30 seed and will travel to Kremmling to take on West Grand and Highland. After being on the wrong side of the bubble heading into the final weekend of the regular season at the No. 37 spot, IHS suffered losses at the Rye tournament to the host and Sanford but went 2-2 overall during the weekend with two wins against Trinidad. Those wins were enough to get Ignacio into the tournament.Ignacio High School’s Makayla Howell will lead the Bobcats into the Class 2A Region 7 regional tournament this weekend in Kremmling.Joel Priest/Pine River Times file IHS (13-10) will open the 2A Region 7 tournament Friday against No. 7 West Grand (19-4) before a quick turnaround to face No. 18 Highland (15-8). Ignacio head coach Thad Cano thought it was a favorable draw. “I am just delighted and think we got the best possible draw we could get,” Cano said. “We’ve played some teams that have hung with West Grand and Highland. Nothing is written in stone because my team has been either hot or cold. It’s going to be up to them what they bring on Friday.” The Bobcats will rely on their lone senior, Makayla Howell, who leads IHS in kills (214), hitting percentage (.294) and total blocks (119). “The girls are pumped for it,” Cano said. “We had a talk today in practice, and we said, ‘Makayla, you’re the senior, this is your team and you’ve got to lead them.’ The girls are stoked, and going into this, there’s no fear at all. They know that they just have to perform at their level to achieve their goal. We have a fast-paced offense, so if we can limit our hitting and serving errors, we should be right in the thick of things.” The times for Friday’s matches have yet to be determined. bploen@ durangoherald.com]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/mancos-edges-dove-creek-both-teams-headed-to-playoffs/</link>
        <title>Mancos edges Dove Creek; both teams headed to playoffs</title>
        <description>Two first-quarter scores give Bluejays a 14-6 victory; both teams qualify for playoffs</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 04 Nov 2019 20:44:23 -0700</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">968AFFB1-25C7-7A58-E053-0100007FE536</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=82E1D431-8726-4C69-BA83-3C8E7586BC6F&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=82E1D431-8726-4C69-BA83-3C8E7586BC6F&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Two first-quarter scores give Bluejays a 14-6 victory; both teams qualify for playoffs On a night in which temperatures dipped into the mid-20s and the majority of fans watched from the warm confines of their trucks, the Mancos High School and Dove Creek High School football teams staged one of the most physical contests in recent memory. With each crushing hit and each bone-rattling block, the intensity on the field increased, and when the clock finally expired on Nov. 1 with Mancos leading 14-6, players on both sides sported blood on their jerseys and bruises on their bodies. While little separated the two eight-man foes during four quarters of play, two first-quarter touchdowns by the Bluejays and three second-half turnovers by the Bulldogs proved to be the difference as Mancos improved its record to 8-1 and Dove Creek fell to 5-4 overall. “We kept with our system, and we ran power football,” Mancos quarterback Breccen Morelli said. “Even when our power game wasn’t working, we continued playing solid defense, and that was big.” Although the game’s final result was anything but certain until the final seconds of the fourth quarter, the opening quarter had the feel of a Bluejays blowout as Mancos dictated play on both sides of the ball. Mancos’ first score of the game came on its opening offensive possession when Morelli tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Chase Moore with 9:22 left in the opening quarter. The touchdown strike came on a fourth-and-three play that started with a play-action fake and ended with Morelli heaving a long strike to a wide-open Moore down the left sideline. A three-yard run by Moore on the ensuing two-point conversion put Mancos ahead 8-0. The Bluejays’ second touchdown came with 2:31 left in the first quarter. Senior running back Anthony Medina caught a 28-yard pass, and Moore later raced into the end zone from 6 yards out to put his team ahead 14-0. “We’re a power football team. I hope that’s what we’re known for, but we’re working on our passing game, and we want to be a dual-threat team,” said Morelli. “Our passing game was huge tonight.” While the Bluejays’ second touchdown of the contest seemingly set the stage for a blowout, Dove Creek players remained poised throughout the waning moments before breaking through with 6:22 in the second quarter on a 39-yard run by sophomore quarterback Chorbin Cressler. Keying Cressler’s run was a block by junior center Austin Beanland at the point of attack and a perfectly timed right-to-left cut by Dove Creek’s signal caller that allowed him to break free in the open field and narrow his team’s deficit to 14-6. “We faced a little adversity (in the first quarter) with a couple of early penalties, and we got down a couple of scores,” Dove Creek head coach Shane Baughman said. “The way that (our players) battled back showed their heart and their never-give-up attitude. I appreciate that.” With the game hanging in the balance throughout the second half, players on both sides came through with several key defensive plays, including two interceptions by Mancos junior Christian Cova and fumble recoveries by Dove Creek’s Kade Hankins and Hayden Gray. Bone-rattling hits by Gray and Mancos junior Colt Fury from their linebacker positions also limited the effectiveness of both offenses as the Mancos defense forced six turnovers and the Dove Creek defense forced four. “I think we’re the hardest-hitting football team out there, and I think we definitely showed that tonight,” Fury said. “We had a lot of players out, and we were running on our second string, but our defense kept coming up huge.” While gaining positive yardage proved to be at a premium throughout the final two quarters, Dove Creek’s offense appeared poised to strike gold midway late in the third quarter after a lengthy drive that penetrated deep into Mancos territory. A fumble by junior running back Gage Bailey at the Mancos 23-yard-line stymied the Bulldogs’ progress however, and the blue-and-gold-clad team from deep in farm country was unable to score during the game’s final 14 minutes. Statistical leaders for the Bluejays included Moore, who rushed for a game-high 148 yards and amassed 29 yards receiving. Cova and Medina each had interceptions for Mancos. Fury was credited with a game-high 21 tackles. Dove Creek was led offensively by Cressler, who rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown and threw for 56 yards. Junior Gauge Thompson rushed for 52 yards, and Bailey rushed for 49. Gray led the Bulldogs defense with 15 total tackles, and Beanland and Walker Cressler each had one sack. With its season now complete, Mancos will enter Colorado’s eight-man football playoffs as the sixth seed in a 16-team field. The Bluejays will play at home against 11th seed Caliche on Nov. 9. Dove Creek will enter Colorado’s eight-man football playoffs as the 13th-seeded team and will travel to face No. 4 seed Vail Christian High School on Nov. 9. “We have to look at every single game like it’s our last because at this point, it is,” Morelli said. “We can’t take anybody for granted, and we have to go out and do what we do and not change too much. We need to play the way that we play.” If the sheer physicality of Friday’s contest is any indication, the Bluejays and the Bulldogs will make their playoff presence felt through brute force regardless of Saturday’s playoff results.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dove-creek-and-mancos-football-teams-set-for-key-matchup/</link>
        <title>Dove Creek and Mancos football teams set for key matchup</title>
        <description>Friday night matchup will feature several local standouts and have big-time playoff implications</description>
        <pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:35:12 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">963A2AFF-311A-7D5F-E053-0100007F6241</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=2E248953-1784-4F36-8C60-7C6AA39A7095&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=2E248953-1784-4F36-8C60-7C6AA39A7095&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Friday night matchup will feature several local standouts and have big-time playoff implications After the stadium lights flip on in Dove Creek tonight, fans in attendance will be treated to the area’s biggest prep football matchup of the season to date, and players will be presented with the opportunity to live out their dreams. Local stars such as Chase Moore, Chorbin Cressler, Breccen Morelli, Gauge Thompson and Anthony Medina will put their talents on display as two talented teams from Dove Creek High School and Mancos High School battle for bragging rights and playoff positioning. While countless factors figure to determine the outcome of tonight’s contest, a handful of key matchups likely dictate the contest’s final result. Below is a preview of a few of the things fans in attendance should watch out for after the opening whistle blows: Can the Bulldogs match the Bluejays’ speed? Over the course of the eight games it has played this season, the Mancos High football team has left little doubt as to its status as one of the fastest teams in Colorado’s 8-man football classification. Senior running back/receiver Medina has had a tendency to outrun opponents nearly every time he touches the football, and senior quarterback Morelli and sophomore running back Moore are highly regarded sprinters on their track team. Moore, who has rushed for 1,510 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns this season, has had a tendency to blow open games with his long runs. Morelli and Medina have combined for 814 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. While on paper it appears that Dove Creek’s defense will have difficulty matching Mancos’ team speed, junior Thompson, senior Walker Cressler and sophomore Chorbin Cressler are all speedy runners in their own right. In the event that Dove Creek’s linebackers and defensive backs are able to contain the Bluejays’ speedy triumvirate of rushers, the Bulldogs should be able to keep the game close and may have a fighting chance as the fourth quarter winds down. Can the Bluejays block Gray and Beanland? While team speed has been the key factor in the Bluejays’ success, the Bulldogs’ success has been born in the trenches as a result of talented offensive and defensive linemen who have overpowered their opponents. Chief among those linemen has been junior Hayden Gray, whose rare combination of size and strength have allowed him to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks and open holes for his team’s running backs. Although Gray leads his team in tackles with 89, he has by no means been the only game-changer on Dove Creek’s defense, as evidenced by junior Austin Beanland’s team-best seven sacks and Thompson’s team-high five interceptions. In order for Mancos to be successful, Morelli and senior lineman Nick Dan will need to play with a level of physicality they were unable to muster during their team’s loss to Sanford earlier this season. If Mancos is able to move Dove Creek’s linemen off the ball, the Bluejays will find more than their fair share of success. If the Bulldogs are able to push Mancos around, however, it could be a long night for the state’s No. 6-ranked eight-man team. Which signal caller will have a bigger impact? Since the start of the season, Morelli and Chorbin Cressler have ranked as two of the most exciting two-dimensional quarterbacks in Colorado’s eight-man classification. Both are capable of breaking off big runs and hurling well-placed passes down the field, and the two quarterbacks have consistently presented significant problems to opposing defenses while playing a key role in each of their team’s victories. While Morelli tends to flummox opposing defenders with his long stride and uncanny poise, Cressler has had success shaking defenders with timely jukes and spins in the open field and uncanny power between the tackles. As the unquestioned leaders of their respective teams, both Morelli and Cressler will need to come through with standout performances in order for their teams to pick up a victory. Which signal caller has greater success could greatly affect the game’s final outcome. Prediction and playoff implications While predicting the outcome of eight-man football matchups is always difficult, smart money is on Mancos to defeat Dove Creek by at least three touchdowns tonight after a first half that will undoubtedly be tight. In the event that Mancos wins, the Bluejays will finish the season with a 8-1 record overall and a 5-1 record in the A-8 Mountain League and will almost certainly get the right to host an opening round playoff matchup. If Dove Creek loses, the Bulldogs’ record would fall to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the A-8 Mountain League. Currently unranked in the www.chsaanow.com poll and ranked 15th in RPI, the Bulldogs would be on the bubble as far as getting into the playoffs. Given their tough schedules and their big wins, however, both Mancos and Dove Creek should be in the 8-man playoffs, regardless of tonight’s result. The contest is scheduled to kick off in Dove Creek at 7 p.m.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/panthers-softball-falls-in-state-opener/</link>
        <title>Panthers softball falls in state opener</title>
        <description>M-CHS caps another stellar campaign</description>
        <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:28:50 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">96239525-0EE9-411F-E053-0100007F69D3</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5A79653E-A59B-4B62-A5AB-77CD95F8EBD2&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5A79653E-A59B-4B62-A5AB-77CD95F8EBD2&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[M-CHS caps another stellar campaignTaiah Wilson delivers a pitch on the way to a win for the Panthers over Aspen earlier this season. The Panthers fell in the first round at state this year.The Journal file AURORA – By virtually any metric, the 2019 Montezuma-Cortez softball team will go down as one of the best in program history – 17 wins, a second consecutive 3A State Tournament appearance, incredible offensive production. The statistics and accomplishments fuel a rising set of expectations for a program that has established itself as one of the best teams west of the Continental Divide. M-CHS opened the 3A State Tournament on Oct. 25 as the 10-seed, facing off against 7-seed Sterling, providing one of the most compelling back-and-forth contests of the tournament. The Panthers eventually succumbed to the Tigers, 10-5. The Panthers carried their regional runner-up performance into the weekend’s action at the Aurora Sports Complex, starting the game with gusto, as senior Presley Frost belted a home run to stake the Panthers to an early 2-0 lead. M-CHS carried the momentum to the defensive side of the field, limiting the Tigers to a single run in the first three innings. Frost kept the Tigers in check from the circle, and after the Panthers tacked on a run in the top of the fourth, M-CHS could begin to taste a spot in the quarterfinals, leading 3-1. Sterling showed their mettle, however, coming from the same district as eventual 3A State Champions University High School, as they began to battle back in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers tallied five runs to take the lead, 6-3. Demonstrating their own resilience, the Panthers responded with a single run in the top of the fifth to pull within two runs. That would be as close as they would get, as Sterling added three more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Allie Kibel collected one of the seven Panther hits on the day, also scoring a run, while classmate Taiah Wilson knocked in a RBI. Frost paced the way for the Panthers, adding a double to her home run, while Brianna Comisky went 1-3 with an RBI. Second-year head coach Brittney Whiteman talked about her pride in her team’s effort in an email to The Journal. “This year’s team is by far one of the best teams to play for this program.” While a couple of bounces didn’t go the Panthers’ way in the tournament opener, Whiteman applauded her team’s cohesiveness. “These girls have a very tight bond and have had each other’s back this season, which was very important to our success.” Even more important than their athletic success, Whiteman pointed out her athletes’ success on and off the field, crediting her seniors for establishing a strong work ethic. “They (the seniors) always made sure to hold everyone accountable as student athletes.” Ultimately, the Panthers continued what has become an impressive upward trend for M-CHS softball, and another year of state tournament experience bodes well for the future. “They came away knowing what it’s like to play with the best of Colorado,” Whiteman concluded, “and that they can compete at the highest level.”]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/m-chs-volleyball-team-closes-regular-season-with-impressive-wins/</link>
        <title>M-CHS volleyball team closes regular season with impressive wins</title>
        <description>Lady Panthers dominate Monte Vista and Grand Junction; Team awaits playoff seeding</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:06:30 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95FB50D1-CF62-4885-E053-0100007FFEEF</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=30B57F49-FA29-4B53-BFDB-8B7DD60B5C60&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=30B57F49-FA29-4B53-BFDB-8B7DD60B5C60&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Lady Panthers dominate Monte Vista and Grand Junction; Team awaits playoff seeding Among the hottest programs in Colorado’s 3A Classification during the past two weeks, the Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team wrapped up its regular season with victories over Monte Vista and Grand Junction. Playing at home against Monte Vista on Oct. 24, the Lady Panthers were led offensively by sophomore Avery Wright, who hammered down 13 kills and four aces in her team’s 25-9, 25-10, 25-12 victory. On defense, junior Leigha Comisky amassed a match-best 20 digs. Other key contributors were junior Myka Glover, who had 7 kills, senior Malia Begay and junior Amber Wood, who each had three aces, and junior Grace Olsen, who had a team-high three blocks. Two days after beating Monte Vista, M-CHS returned home and again won, beating Grand Junction High School, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17. Wright again was strong, delivering a team-high 15 kills. Glover, a junior, hammered down 14 kills. Comisky and Wright led the Lady Panthers at the service line as each player recorded three aces. Olsen, a junior, registered a team-best four blocked shots. The Lady Panthers were led defensively by Comisky, who had 18 digs. Wood and junior Devon McHenry also played well on the defensive side, and posted 13 digs each. After winning four consecutive matches to close its regular season, M-CHS’s overall record now stands at 10-6 overall and 4-6 in the Intermountain League. The Lady Panthers will now await their playoff seeding, which will be released this week.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/mancos-cross-country-performs-well-at-state-meet/</link>
        <title>Mancos cross-country performs well at state meet</title>
        <description>Hernandez leads boys; Manning places 22nd in talented field</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:04:41 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95FB50D1-CF61-4885-E053-0100007FFEEF</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5A0F3F4F-B641-40E2-82D1-445EABA92E3C&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5A0F3F4F-B641-40E2-82D1-445EABA92E3C&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Hernandez leads boys; Manning places 22nd in talented field Closing out their season at the Colorado State Cross-country Championships, which were held at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Oct. 26, members of the Mancos High School girls and boys teams performed well. Leading the Bluejays among the boys, as he did throughout the season, was sophomore Edgar Hernandez, whose season-best time of 17:58.40 was good enough to place him 21st in a race that featured 131 runners. Also cracking the top 100 for Mancos were sophomore Connor Sehnert, who placed 61st (19:01.30), and senior John Lund, who concluded an impressive prep career with a 79th-place finish (19:32.20). Other finishers for the Mancos boys included sophomore Vanfasai Jaijong, who placed 119th (22:12.50), freshman Zack Steele, who crossed the line in 129th (24:46.40), and junior Stephen Knezek, who crossed the line in 131st (27:26.70). Mancos finished 14th overall in the boys’ team standings as perennial powerhouse Lyons High School captured the boys team championship in Colorado’s 2A Classification. “The boys’ team did such a great job this season of being patient in their races,” Mancos coach Brady Archer wrote in an email to The Journal. “We weren’t exactly where we wanted to be at the end of the meet in terms of team standings, but sometimes races don’t work out the way we had planned. We had a number of great races today against the best in the state.” On the girls side, Mancos was represented by junior Grace Manning, who placed 22nd overall (21:59.60) in a race that included 121 runners. “Grace had a great race and ended up beating some runners who had beaten her at regionals,” Archer said. “I am proud of the grown that all of our runners made this season, and I’m looking forward to next season.”]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dove-creek-overwhelmed-by-no-3-sanford/</link>
        <title>Dove Creek overwhelmed by No. 3 Sanford</title>
        <description>Bulldogs stay competitive throughout first quarter before losing 64-12 to No. 3 Indiana</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:54:04 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95FB50D1-CF60-4885-E053-0100007FFEEF</guid>
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Bulldogs stay competitive throughout first quarter before losing 64-12 to No. 3 Indiana After traveling nearly five hours to face off against Sanford High School on Oct. 25, the Dove Creek High School football team got off to a good start and went toe-to-toe with one of Colorado’s toughest eight-man teams for one quarter. Sanford’s speed at the skill positions and size on the offensive and defensive lines proved too much for the Bulldogs to overcome, however, as the Indians scored 44 unanswered points in the second and third quarters and rolled to a 64-12 victory. Among the highlights of the contest for Dove Creek was an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by junior Gauge Thompson midway through the first quarter that came shortly after a Sanford touchdown and tied the score, 6-6. Thompson scored again in the first quarter with an 8-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Chorbin Cressler, which made the score 20-12 heading into the second quarter of play. Three Sanford touchdowns during the second quarter made the score 42-12, and three Indians touchdowns in the third quarter broke the game open and made the score 64-12. Dove Creek’s Cressler passed for 15 yards and one touchdown and ran for a team-high 8 yards on 12 carries against a stout run defense. The defense was led by junior Austin Beanland, who came through with a sack and a team-high 16 tackles. Senior Will McKellips and freshman Audric Chadd also had sacks for Dove Creek, and Thompson, Cressler and Gray all recovered one fumble. Now at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the A-8 Mountain League, Dove Creek will prepare for a home matchup against Mancos on Nov. 1. It will be the regular-season finale for both teams, and likely will have a significant impact on playoff seeding.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/panthers-drop-heartbreaker-in-salida/</link>
        <title>Panthers drop heartbreaker in Salida</title>
        <description>Furious comeback falls short on the road in Salida</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 16:16:02 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95FB50D1-CF5C-4885-E053-0100007FFEEF</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=202EC0A9-8F2B-47F0-BB91-9F204E8EC10A&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=202EC0A9-8F2B-47F0-BB91-9F204E8EC10A&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Furious comeback falls short on the road in Salida SALIDA – These are the games that kids dream about while playing backyard football with their friends. Fourth quarter, the game hanging on each snap of the football, neither team willing to give an inch. With emotion on full display from Montezuma-Cortez and Salida, both looking for their first league win, the host Spartans denied a spirited Panthers rally with a late touchdown to seal a 34-27 victory. The opening moments belied the drama that would play out later, as Salida (1-7, 1-2 2A IML) scored on their first two possessions of the contest, staking out a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Out of nowhere, the M-CHS (1-7, 0-4 2A IML) offense caught lightning in a bottle. After a penalty on their first play of the ensuing drive pushed them back to their own 12-yard line, junior quarterback Ty Blackmer connected with classmate Korie Likes on a screen play. Likes caught the ball and broke a pair of tackles before sprinting 88 yards for the score. The tenor of the contest immediately shifted. The Panthers swarmed Salida ball carriers, and junior Austin Featherman pounced on a fumble late in the first quarter. The Spartans regained their composure, stopping the Panthers on fourth down and regaining momentum with a methodical 79-yard scoring drive to go ahead 20-6. Still, the Panthers showed confidence in their offense as Blackmer found Likes and seniors Valentino Rodriguez and Caleb Gropp for big yardage through the air. The aerial attack opened up the running game, and sophomore Cade Price found the end zone to cut the deficit to 20-14. However, Salida marched down the field and scored what appeared to be a back-breaking touchdown reception on third-and-17, giving the Spartans a 26-14 lead with 20 seconds before halftime. With 60 yards in front of them and seconds left, Blackmer connected with Likes on the sideline at the Salida 33-yard line to give the Panthers one more play before half. Then, defying the odds, Blackmer’s heave lingered in the air long enough for Likes to outleap everyone in the end zone for the unlikely score. The Panthers sprinted to the locker room with the momentum, despite trailing 26-20. Out of halftime, the Panthers continued where they left off. The offensive line, led by senior Dorsey Dick and junior Devan Frost, protected Blackmer, allowing him to pick apart the Spartan secondary. Although the Spartans turned away a promising Panther drive, M-CHS returned the favor as junior defensive lineman Lathan Jones stuffed a fourth-and-1 to give the Panthers the football late in the third quarter. From there, M-CHS put together one of their best drives of the night, eating up over five minutes, before Price tallied his second touchdown of the night from 7 yards out to give the Panthers their first lead, 27-26. It was the Spartans who would have the final word on their Senior Night. Facing fourth-and-goal at the M-CHS 1-yard line, the hosts squeezed the ball across the goal line for the go-ahead score with less than two minutes to play. A last-gasp effort for the Panthers ended in a turnover, and Salida escaped with the victory. With emotions on both sidelines laid bare after the final horn, first-year M-CHS coach Jarret Watkins was proud about how his squad fought during the seesaw battle. “I couldn’t be prouder,” said Watkins. “These boys played with all their hearts tonight – and as a coach, you can’t ask for anything more.” It was one of their most comprehensive efforts of the season on both sides of the ball. “One of the things that impressed me was how well they made adjustments,” said Watkins. “They were communicating well and were able to recognize what they needed to do to deal with Salida’s pressure.” The Panthers will honor their seven seniors in their regular season finale Friday with Senior Night at home when they host Albuquerque Academy at 7 p.m. Yet, Watkins knew that his young squad’s aim for the future is bright, even if the lesson comes in a defeat. “We gained a lot of confidence tonight,” concluded the M-CHS head coach. “They learned how hard they can battle, even when they’re down.”]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/ignacio-football-has-go-for-the-gusto-at-dolores/</link>
        <title>Ignacio football has go for the gusto at Dolores</title>
        <description>IHS season hangs on road work against Bears</description>
        <pubDate>Fri, 25 Oct 2019 01:52:02 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95AC8068-9AB2-55A6-E053-0100007F26A7</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=0F35BA63-D267-4141-86BB-579B854D15BE&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=0F35BA63-D267-4141-86BB-579B854D15BE&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[IHS season hangs on road work against Bears Looking at the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 1A Football RPI numbers, Southern Peaks League rivals Ignacio and Dolores appear to be leading a race to the bottom at 38th and 39th, respectively. Not exactly, however, for one of those two crews. With a dominating, victorious head-to-head performance at 7 p.m. today in Dolores, the Bobcats (2-5, 1-1 SPL) would take the first step toward sneaking into the state playoffs. “That would be fantastic; that’s really an ultimate goal for our whole team,” sophomore Tyler Barnes said, alerted after last week’s 18-7 home loss to Monte Vista that the 2019 campaign is far from lost. But in order to travel to long-off La Jara for a Nov. 1 regular-season finale against current league leader Centauri (6-1, 3-0) with winner-take-all implications, the Bobcats know survival must start in Dolores. A Center (3-4, 0-2) win at Monte Vista (2-5, 2-1) Friday would definitely help, and Ignacio must drub DHS in order to even have hopes of stunning the Falcons, who host non-league Florence (7-0, 3-0 Tri-Peaks) on Friday in a collision of powerhouses ranked sixth and fourth, respectively. Four turnovers, numerous penalties (mostly of the false-start or encroachment varieties), missed blocking assignments – all of those mistakes committed against the Pirates last week must be eliminated against a Dolores Bears team playing a third consecutive home game but hurting at 0-7 overall (0-2 SPL) and looking to play spoiler. In a mercy-rule 43-8 shellacking suffered against Centauri this past Saturday, Falcon sophomore Mason Claunch burned the Bears for 140 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries and even took a 68-yard punt return to the house. Sophomore Zach Buhr gained 59 on only two tries and scored once, while senior Taj Cornum barely needed to suit up, gaining 27 yards on five runs.Playing right tackle on the offensive line, Ignacio’s Mekhi Miranda blocks Monte Vista’s Dusty Duran last Friday. Miranda would also make multiple stops defensively and recovered one MVHS fumble.Joel Priest/Pine River Times In Dolores’ closest contest to date – a 24-22 home loss to Monument Valley, Utah, back on Sept. 20 – Koskie, who literally stands tall in the pocket at a listed 6-foot-3, ran through the Cougars for 73 yards on six tries with one touchdown. Sophomore William Taylor racked up 124 yards on 10 carries with two TDs, while Charles gained 102 on 12 runs, as the Bears amassed 445 yards of total offense to show a potency proven difficult to replicate. And 2A Newcomb out of New Mexico brought DHS back to reality despite Koskie’s 11-116 rushing figures the next week, constructing a 38-0 halftime lead, then coasting to win by that margin and setting Dolores up for a brutal October itinerary beginning with the aforementioned trip to Monte Vista. A major priority for Ignacio this Friday and next will be to re-establish a run game stifled by Monte Vista. While sophomore Gabe Tucson was intercepted three times, he managed to throw for 117 yards and one score – a 23-yard rainbow to senior Colten Jackson – the Bobcat ground attack unofficially netted a paltry eight yards on 23 attempts. Junior Joe Garcia took an 11-yard loss on the game’s first snap, unluckily lost a fumble on its third and finished with nine yards on 12 tries. Five of those yards came on the game’s very last play. Classmate Lawrence Toledo finished with 11 yards on four runs, and fellow junior Dylan Labarthe was held to six on five. If you goWho: Ignacio (2-5) at Dolores (0-7) What: CHSAA Class 1A Southern Peaks League football When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Dolores]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dolores-sweeps-ignacio-preps-for-telluride/</link>
        <title>Dolores sweeps Ignacio, preps for Telluride</title>
        <description>No. 9 Lady Bears win 15th consecutive contest</description>
        <pubDate>Fri, 25 Oct 2019 01:44:36 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95AC8068-9AAE-55A6-E053-0100007F26A7</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=49E34EE1-6E46-4AE4-83D0-1F145588AAA6&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=49E34EE1-6E46-4AE4-83D0-1F145588AAA6&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[No. 9 Lady Bears win 15th consecutive contest IGNACIO – Though satisfied with securing another 2A/1A San Juan Basin League victory Tuesday night, Dolores head coach Gina Hollen indicated she wasn’t quite pleased with just one wire-to-wire performance in the Lady Bears’ sweep. Particularly with an expected high-pressure showdown in Telluride looming this Saturday, Oct. 26. “Our mission right now is to be undefeated league champs,” she said Wednesday afternoon. “That’s what I’ve been feeding them, and that’s our goal. The girls know, kind of, what’s on the line, but I’m not sure the intensity was quite there.” Visiting Ignacio as the Volleycats’ designated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month foe, No. 9-ranked Dolores prevailed 25-23, 25-12, 25-19 for its 15th straight win. Dolores (15-3) improved to 7-0 against the league’s 2A-level members and 11-0 against the entire loop, but that certainly took some doing before senior middle Jordan Elder tipped match point off Ignacio’s block. Showing apparent readiness to make amends for a four-set loss at Dolores earlier this season, Ignacio battled to a 10-5 lead in the opening stanza, pressing Hollen to call a timeout. Ignacio’s Lexy Young managed served an ace when play resumed, but the Lady Bears would fight back to pull even at 16-16. Another small run, keyed by a Young ace, briefly put the ’Cats up 19-16, but Dolores again gained control and reached set point at 24-21. Ignacio freshman outside hitter Grace Gonzales managed to pound a kill, and junior setter Marisa Carmenoros followed with an ace, but Gonzales then netted her next attack – giving the guests a 1-0 lead in the match. “Kind of flat,” Hollen admitted. “Our setters were off, which meant our hits weren’t quite where we needed them to be. But it got better, for sure, as the game went on.” And Lady Bear sophomore Erin Brown made Gonzales’ mistake sting, serving three consecutive gems beginning the second set. After increasing their quick lead to 5-1, the Lady Bears stepped up as Ignacio clawed back to 13-9 on a Makayla Howell tip. But a block by Elder block and a clever tip shot by Dolores junior Sydney Smith helped the Lady Bears string together seven unanswered points to go up 20-9, then 24-11. Young would down a kill, but Smith responded with a winning roll shot out of the back row. The teams traded fairly evenly early in the third set until a kill by Brown gave Dolores a 7-6 advantage which swiftly grew to 11-7 after Carmenoros netted a serve and Gonzales a spike. Still up 13-10 after Elder mashed a kill, Dolores’ advantage dwindled to zero after Volleycat sophomore Alexis Pontine downed a kill off junior libero Akira Edwards (11 digs) to tie the score at 13. Ignacio would take one last lead at 16-15, but after a Hollen timeout, the Lady Bears would forge one last deadlock at 17-17 before a clean kill by Brown (9 kills, 15 digs), a vicious Elder blast off a perfect quick-set by sophomore Kamri Willbanks, and a fortunate Brown putaway through the top of the net put Dolores on a fast track to victory. Terminating perhaps her hardest swing of the night, off another ideal Willbanks quick-set, Elder (12 kills, 5 total blocks) brought up match point at 24-18. Gonzales countered with one last kill, but the ’Cats couldn’t pull off the comeback. “We had a little downtime two weeks ago ... didn’t have a match, and so were able to kind of rest a little bit – but take advantage of that time to really practice on those skills.” said Hollen. Willbanks finished with 14 assists while sharing setting duties with freshman Carlie McClellan, who logged eight. “We really didn’t have too many serve errors or hitting errors,” said Hollen, “but we were struggling a little bit. ... With two games left in league, we ... maybe got a little ‘comfortable.’” Definitely not what the boss wanted to see before traveling north to Telluride and looking to complete a season sweep of the SJBL’s 2A talent. Having dropped only three sets to league opposition overall, Dolores beat the Lady Miners 25-13, 25-17, 18-25, 25-23 back on Sept. 12. But Telluride will step onto their MinerDome floor standing a confident 16-4 overall despite a five-set (25-20, 8-25, 26-24, 19-25, 16-18) loss at home Tuesday to Dove Creek, ranked No. 10 in Class 1A. That dropped Telluride to 8-3 in the league and 5-1 against 2A teams before visiting 1A Nucla Friday. “I think it’s awesome that we’ve got some powerhouses,” Hollen said of Dolores, Dove Creek and Telluride. “Tough serves, tough hits – we’ve just got to be on our toes; otherwise, we’re going to be taken advantage of.”]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/local-cross-country-teams-wrap-up-seasons-at-regionals/</link>
        <title>Local cross-country teams wrap up seasons at regionals</title>
        <description>Underclassmen from M-CHS and Dolores show promise</description>
        <pubDate>Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:35:54 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95AC8068-9AAA-55A6-E053-0100007F26A7</guid>
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Underclassmen from M-CHS and Dolores show promise For the Montezuma-Cortez High School and the Dolores High School cross-country teams, appearances at their regional meets failed to yield any state qualifiers. Underclassmen on both teams showed potential, however, while providing hope that the future of their respective programs would be bright. Elliott and Dennison lead M-CHS Competing at the Class 3A Region 1 championship meet at Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel, Colorado, on Oct. 18, several runners from the M-CHS girls and boys cross-country teams performed well. Among them was junior Ridley Dennison, who paced the girls team, finishing 40th overall with a time of 22:46.50. Sophomore Emalie Myers was second across the line for the M-CHS girls with a time of 23:22.40, which was good enough for 46th place. Sophomore Marina Bradley was not far behind, in 47th place with a time of 23:38.60. Rounding out the M-CHS girls teamâ€™s finishers was sophomore Kalea Hunt, who crossed the line 65th (25:50.50) in the 87-runner field. On the boys side, M-CHS was led by sophomore Jadon Elliott, who ran to an 80th-place finish with a time of 21:50.70. Sophomore Kiernan Korthank crossed the line in 83rd place (22:21.80), and senior Giovanni Carta placed 85th (22:35.00). Last across the line for the M-CHS boys team was sophomore Joshua Chen, who placed 93rd out of 96 runners with a time of 24:22.70. Gunnison High School captured the boys championship, and while Basalt High School finished first among the girls teams. Dolores team closes out season on high note After beginning the season with a roster full of inexperienced underclassmen, the Dolores High School boys cross-country team ended its year at the Class 2A Region 4 championship meet at Confluence Park in Delta, Colorado on Oct. 18 with high hopes for its future. Leading the way for the group was freshman Michael Brafford, who crossed the line in 26th place with a time of 19:44.80. Freshman Keegan Heaton finished 40th (20:43), and sophomore Daniel Vandever placed 51st (21:11.45). Freshman Triston Scott and freshman Kyler Acree placed 66th (22:20.54) and 81st (32:46.87), respectively, in a field that included 83 total runners. The Dolores boys team finished 13th in the team standings as Mancos High School won the meet. On the girls side, Dolores was represented by junior Anaya Martinez, who finished 32nd out of 70 runners with a time of 24:27.08. Seventy girls competed in the race, and Soroco High School captured the team championship.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/animas-highs-riley-amos-rides-to-mountain-bike-state-championship/</link>
        <title>Animas High’s Riley Amos rides to mountain bike state championship</title>
        <description>Durango seizes third consecutive team title</description>
        <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2019 01:11:12 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">95850440-25BC-5ABC-E053-0100007F1643</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=746728EF-831A-47D2-B9FC-73CB4F55B9C1&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=746728EF-831A-47D2-B9FC-73CB4F55B9C1&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Durango seizes third consecutive team title It was the perfect end to Riley Amos’ high school mountain bike racing career as the senior wrapped up Sunday’s Colorado High School Cycling League mountain bike state championships at Durango Mesa with his first-career state title. The Animas High School senior won the boys varsity state championship in thrilling fashion, as he edged Robbie Day of Evergreen to take home the title. Amos’ winning time of 1 hour, 39 minutes, 39.58 seconds was enough, after Day took second in 1:39:54.83. After Day took a half-second lead heading into the final lap, Amos knew he had to pick up the pace. He put everything into the final downhill turn, which gave him enough separation to hold on to the win. “Right when we came under the flyover and up that climb, he attacked pretty hard, and I did everything to try and stay on his wheel,” Amos said. “He eased up a little bit, attacked again and then right at the top into the downhill, I snuck by him and held him on the downhill. I gave everything in the last five minutes of the lap. That was the closest race I’ve had in a long time.” Amos’ win highlighted another strong day for Durango cyclists, as Durango and Animas fared well in the sophomore and varsity races. Durango won its third consecutive state championship in the Division 2 category, as it racked up 5,143 points. Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy took second with 4,184 points and Crested Butte finished in third with 3,997.Madigan Munro of Boulder High School crosses the finish line winning the Colorado Cycling League high school mountain bike state championship girls varsity race Sunday at Durango Mesa.Jerry McBride/Durango Herald Boulder’s Madigan Munro dominated the girls varsity field to take home a state title, winning by over three minutes. Munro got off to a quick lead and never looked back, as she crossed the finish line in 1:24:59, while Sofia Forney, an independent rider, was second in 1:28:05. Ada Urist of Fairview, last year’s state champion, finished in third while Durango High School junior Ruth Holcomb was fourth in 1:28:42.38. “It feels pretty exciting,” Munro said. “I was just focused on really having fun. It was my last race, and I wanted to leave it all out there, so I just right from the gun just went and just kept riding. I heard people yelling that ‘You’ve got a minute and a half,’ and I was like ‘Wow, that’s kind of surprising.’ I was just riding, wasn’t too focused on how other people were doing. It was a tough field, and I’m glad I got the win.” Munro entered the race as the favorite, after she came into the race as the points leader, and finished sixth at world championships.Ruth Holcomb of Durango High School crosses the finish during the Colorado Cycling League high school mountain bike state championship in the girls varsity race Sunday at Durango Mesa.Jerry McBride/Durango Herald Holcomb was proud of her fourth-place finish, after she battled back from the back row, and was in second heading into the final lap. “I’m actually stoked about my performance because I started in the back in my own row,” Holcomb said. “Going into the first hill, I thought ‘Wow, I’d be lucky if I even break the top 10 today.’ Everyone was going really fast. We started going downhill and started making up places, and was super excited to be up there. The Boulder girls were really talented, and I just went out there to see what I could do. That last hill, they had energy left in them that I used to catch up to them. “I was super impressed by Madigan, and going up the first hill, she already had a massive gap on everyone,” continued Holcomb. “She’s just absolutely killing it in mountain biking and cyclocross, and is a super solid rider.” Animas’ best finish in the varsity race came from Abbey Shepard, who finished in ninth in 1:34:21, while Sage Davis took 32nd in 1:43:14. In the sophomore races earlier, Boulder’s Johnny Stanzione won in 53:31.50, while Marin Ward of Summit won in 1:07:36. Durango did not have a competitor in the boys race, but Zara Rose Brown rode to a seventh-place finish in the girls race in 1:11:47. Boulder won the Division 1 title with 7,351 points, Fairview was second with 6,807 and Summit was third with 6,067. Animas finished in 13th in the division with 3,291 points. In Division 3, Aspen took home the crown with 2,113 points, Basalt was second with 1,991 and Fossil Ridge was third with 1,847. After a strong start on Saturday, Cortez-based High Desert Composite finished in eighth with 1,477 points. After an impressive weekend of racing, Durango DEVO co-founder Chad Cheeney was impressed with the outreach from the community, and was also proud of DHS winning its third title in a row. “It was an absolutely amazing weekend,” Cheeney said. “The community support was awesome, and so was seeing the kids giving it their all in all of the races. To see Durango win again was really awesome. It was really great to see the Holcomb sisters throw down great performances, and to have (Amos) win his first state championship was also really cool to see. ... It’s cool to see how big and rad it got. It has grown every year, and I can’t wait to see what this event brings in the next couple of years.” bploen@durangoherald.com]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dolores-volleyball-team-stays-hot-with-victory-over-ouray/</link>
        <title>Dolores volleyball team stays hot with victory over Ouray</title>
        <description>Sophomore Erin Brown hammers down 15 kills during Bears’ convincing three-set win</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:49:25 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">9570F7A5-7589-1EF5-E053-0100007F8730</guid>
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Sophomore Erin Brown hammers down 15 kills during Bears’ convincing three-set win With its regular season winding down, the Dolores High School volleyball team is riding a 14-match win streak. Dolores’ latest victory came against Ouray High School on Oct. 19 when the team utilized a diverse offensive attach and impressive team-defense to register a dominant 25-8, 25-12, 25-15 victory. Among the Lady Bears’ outstanding performers in the match was sophomore Erin Brown, who was nearly unstoppable from her outside-hitter position while registering a 15 kills and 10 digs. Also factoring heavily into the Dolores offense were senior Taylor Elder, who had eight kills, and junior Sydney Smith, who had six. Junior Akira Edwards led Dolores with five aces, and Smith was credited with four. Edwards was credited with 11 digs, and freshman Kristen Kemp and sophomore Carlie McClellan tied for the team lead in assists with 13. Dolores improved to 14-3 overall and 10-0 in the San Juan Basin League with the victory. Ouray dropped to 0-11 overall and 0-8 in the SJBL. The Lady Bears now go on the road, against Ignacio on Oct. 22 and against Telluride on Oct. 26.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/mancos-cross-country-team-captures-regional-title/</link>
        <title>Mancos cross-country team captures regional title</title>
        <description>Sophomore Edgar Hernandez leads Bluejays at 16-team meet in Delta</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:47:53 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">9570F7A5-7588-1EF5-E053-0100007F8730</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=BAB05188-B358-4541-AA7D-B4ECB8420352&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=BAB05188-B358-4541-AA7D-B4ECB8420352&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Sophomore Edgar Hernandez leads Bluejays at 16-team meet in DeltaThe Mancos High School boys and girls cross-country teams after their regional meet on Oct. 18.Courtesy photo Mancos High School’s cross-country program, a perennial powerhouse in Colorado’s 2A classification, on Oct. 18 traveled to Confluence Park in Delta and ran away with the team championship at the Region 4 meet. “The boys were incredible,” longtime Mancos head coach Brady Archer said. “The way that our top three runners have run together all season played out well. I think we surprised a number of teams, and we were rewarded with a regional team championship.” Among the top finishers for the Mancos boys team were sophomores Edgar Hernandez and Connor Sehnert, who crossed the line in fifth and eighth with times of 18 minutes, 2.75 seconds and 18:20.00, respectively. Close behind the two was Bluejays senior John Lund, who placed ninth (18:28.47). Sophomore Vanfasai Jaijong finished 38th (20:22.32), junior Stephen Knezek placed 47th (21:00.51), and freshman Zack Steele finished 56th (21:42.05). Senior Sean Bumgarner rounded out the Mancos boys team’s finishers in 77th place (26:19.36) in a race that featured 83 runners. Mancos finished first in the team standings with 20 points. Caprock Academy finished second with 34 points. By virtue of their top five finish in the team standings, the Bluejays automatically qualified for next week’s state meet. On the girls side, Mancos was led by junior Grace Manning, who finished fifth with a time of 20:50.19. Because Manning cracked the top 15 in the individual standings, she qualified for next week’s state meet. Other members of the girls team that competed included sophomore Amaris Webb, who placed 26th (23:35.32), junior Kaysi Thomas, who placed 33rd (24:32.32), and senior Hakayla Snow, who finished 36th (24:42.70). Mancos junior Kylie Guiles placed 48th, and sophomore Aspen Bumgarner finished 54th (25:48.23) out of 70 runners. The Mancos girls finished sixth in the team standings and missed out qualifying the entire team for state by a single point. Colorado Rocky Mountain School finished first, with 30 points. “I am so proud of the way that our girls ran at this meet,” Archer said. “We had one runner who was healthy all season, and the rest of our team dealt with all kinds of injuries. Some of the girls were limited to only one regular season meet and for the team to come together and come within one point of making it back to state says a lot about their mental toughness.” Next up for the Mancos boys team and Grace Manning will be the Class 2A state championship in Colorado Springs on Oct. 26.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/mancos-football-team-rebounds-with-big-win-over-norwood/</link>
        <title>Mancos football team rebounds with big win over Norwood</title>
        <description>Bluejays rush for 338 yards and six touchdowns during 50-8 victory</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:46:56 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">9570F7A5-7587-1EF5-E053-0100007F8730</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=E33B668D-89BB-45B6-9377-FCCED7CFA08C&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=E33B668D-89BB-45B6-9377-FCCED7CFA08C&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Bluejays rush for 338 yards and six touchdowns during 50-8 victoryChase Moore runs over a Norwood defender on Oct. 17.Ian MacLaren/For The Journal One week after losing to Sanford, the Mancos High School football team returned with a vengeance and clobbered Norwood High School, 50-8, on Oct. 17. Leading the way for the Bluejays on the team’s senior night was sophomore running back Chase Moore, who rushed for 140 yards and four touchdowns and caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Breccen Morelli. Morelli also ran for 87 yards and one score. Senior Anthony Medina once again showcased his game-breaking speed while rushing for 61 yards and a 29-yard touchdown that brought Bluejays fans to their feet. Mancos was led defensively by junior Christian Cova, who was credited with a game-high nine tackles. Medina had one interception, juniors Colt Fury and Lot Martin each had one sack, and senior Nick Dan and Moore each recovered a fumble. The Bluejays scored first three minutes into the first quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run by Moore, then struck again a few minutes later when Moore ran the ball in from 2 yards out. Morelli then completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Moore to put his team ahead 20-0, and the Bluejays offense capped the first quarter when Moore ran in from 47 yards out to put his team ahead 28-0. A 48-yard run by Morelli with nine minutes left in the second quarter put Mancos ahead 34-0, and a run by Medina put the Bluejays up 42-0 with six minutes to go in the half. With the clock running throughout the second half because of the Bluejays lead, Mancos went ahead 50-0 on a 9-yard run by Moore midway through the third quarter. The Bluejays pulled most of its starters early in the fourth quarter before yielding Norwood’s only touchdown with about five minutes to go. With the victory, Mancos improved its record to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the A-8 Mountain League. The Bluejays, who are ranked No. 5 on csaanow.com, will play their next game against Dolores Huerta Prep at Sargent High School on Oct. 26.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/tomac-finishes-second-to-new-teammate-at-monster-energy-supercross/</link>
        <title>Tomac finishes second to new teammate at Monster Energy supercross</title>
        <description>Cianciarulo, Tomac take Las Vegas by storm</description>
        <pubDate>Sun, 20 Oct 2019 04:57:41 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">954DDCC1-4031-3CF8-E053-0100007F389E</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=2224F93B-6B45-4ADB-B9FB-44DB5DEA7163&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=2224F93B-6B45-4ADB-B9FB-44DB5DEA7163&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Cianciarulo, Tomac take Las Vegas by storm Eli Tomac of Cortez entered the Monster Energy Cup Saturday in Las Vegas as the favorite to make a run for the coveted $1 million prize, but after he crashed in the second race of three races, his new teammate appeared ready to steal the show. Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo and Tomac took Sam Boyd Stadium by storm Saturday as the two 2019 AMA Motocross champions set the pace in qualifying rounds and finished one-two on the podium after a night of racing. Both Kawasaki teammates came off championship seasons in the 2019 AMA Pro Motocross series: Cianciarulo won the 250cc title by 20 points over Dylan Ferrandis, and Tomac won the 450 class by 58 points over Ken Roczen. In the first of three races, Tomac and Cianciarulo finished one and two, respectively. Tomac was fifth after the first lap as Cianciarulo raced in the lead ahead of Vince Friese, Jeremy Martin and Malcolm Stewart. In Lap 3, Tomac moved into second behind Friese, then passed him for the lead in Lap 7. He quickly stretched out a 2.4-second lead in the eighth lap and easily won. Meanwhile, Cianciarulo, who had dropped into fifth place in Lap 3, staged a comeback and raced into second in the ninth of 10 laps to seal the top two spots for Kawasaki. Stewart, Friese and Justin Barcia filled out the top five. In the second race, Tomac was fourth after one lap, and Cianciarulo was 11th. Tomac moved into second place behind Friese in Lap 2, but crashed in the third lap and fell to ninth. He steadily regained ground despite a rough ride to finish third. Cianciarulo, however, began a ferocious charge that took him from 11th place to second at the finish, after moving into ninth in Lap 2, fourth in Lap 4 and second in Lap 6. Tim Gajser and Friese rounded out the top five. In the final of three races, Tomac (1-3), Cianciarulo (2-2) and Stewart (3-1) were tied for the overall lead and racing for the victory. Cianciarulo was first to the turn, with Tomac close behind. Cianciarulo immediately went to his throttle, with Tomac in pursuit and closing as the Kawasaki racers began to distance themselves from the pack. Stewart and Gajser trailed in third and fourth. Cianciarulo held off a Tomac charge as the two raced side by side, and countered a Tomac pass with a triple jump to hold the lead. But Tomac, essentially ceded victory to Cianciarulo when, forced to take the required and slower joker lane slipped into second place, almost a second behind. Stewart finished third. Overall, Cianciarulo won the race and the purse. Tomac, Stewart, Gajser and Friese rounded out the top 5. Last year, Tomac won the $1 million prize after sweeping the three races. This year, each of the three races were different. For the second race, riders took the course in reverse, and in the third, the starting line was outside the arena. During qualifying rounds earlier Saturday, Tomac and Cianciarulo were first and second in the race that started outside. Cianciarulo posted his fastest time, 55.137 seconds, in Lap 6. Tomac was second after posting his fastest lap, 55.439 seconds, in Lap 8. In the second qualifying round, which started in the arena and took the course in reverse, Tomac set the pace with a lap of 53.877 seconds. Cianciarulo was second, at 54.477 seconds. Riders now get a break before the AMA Supercross season gets underway Jan. 5 in Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/m-chs-football-team-shows-heart-during-lopsided-loss-to-bayfield/</link>
        <title>M-CHS football team shows heart during lopsided loss to Bayfield</title>
        <description>Touchdown pass from Blackmer to Rodriguez ignites crowd, but Panthers lose 43-8</description>
        <pubDate>Sat, 19 Oct 2019 23:12:49 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">954C8384-54D7-3897-E053-0100007FFE0F</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5414FB94-9354-46A2-A58F-0DEAA4AB8833&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=5414FB94-9354-46A2-A58F-0DEAA4AB8833&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Touchdown pass from Blackmer to Rodriguez ignites crowd, but Panthers lose 43-8 One day after a lighting malfunction at Panther Stadium delayed its game against Bayfield High School by 16 hours, the Montezuma-Cortez High School football team took its home field Saturday, Oct. 19, and suffered a tough 43-8 loss. Among the contributing factors to the final score was a standout performance by Bayfield’s sophomore quarterback, Isaac Ross, who displayed poise and mobility in the pocket and tossed four touchdown passes. Of Ross’ four touchdowns, three went to senior wide receiver Crosby Edwards, who faced one-on-one coverage throughout the game after the M-CHS defense packed the box in an effort to stop the run. In spite of the lopsided final score, however, M-CHS players and coaches were pleased with aspects of their team’s performance against a Bayfield program that has ranked as one of the state’s best in recent seasons and will likely compete for an Intermountain League title this year. “The best thing about my team is that they don’t give up,” Panthers head coach Jarrett Watkins said. “We’re a young team, and to see these our kids come out and play these (Bayfield) kids tough was awesome. We showed a lot of heart, and I’m so proud of our guys.” Leading the way offensively for the Panthers throughout much of the day was sophomore quarterback Ty Blackmer, who completed a handful of passes despite pressure from Bayfield’s defensive line. Blackmer’s most impressive pass came early in the fourth quarter when he lofted a 38-yard touchdown pass to senior Vallentino Rodriguez, who had broken free of two Bayfield defenders 10 yards from the end zone. “It was a last-second check, and (Rodriguez) ran a post-go route,” Blackmer said. “I was looking in the middle of the field, and (Bayfield’s) safeties opened up, and (Rodriguez) was right there.” “I knew I was free once I came out of my first break and I saw the defender’s hips turned,” Rodriguez said. “That’s when I flashed my hands, and (Blackmer) put the ball right where it needed to be.” Although the Panthers’ scoring play provided a reason for fans to cheer and gave rise to optimism on the M-CHS sideline, the moment of brilliance did not erase a pattern of Bayfield dominance. Bayfield’s first points came with 4:58 left in the first quarter when sophomore Cael Schaefer blocked an M-CHS punt and the ball traveled through the Panthers end zone for a safety. A 2-yard touchdown run by junior Cade Carlson on Bayfield’s ensuing offensive possession put the Wolverines ahead 8-0, and touchdown receptions of 58-yards, 48-yards and 23 yards by Edwards during the second quarter put Bayfield ahead 31-0 with 7:21 second left before halftime. Ross subsequently tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Dillon Vroman just before halftime, and Vroman capped off Bayfield’s scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run that put his team ahead 43-0 with 7:19 left in the third quarter. Among the difference-makers on Bayfield’s defense was senior Ethan Morris, who overpowered M-CHS’ line throughout the game and sacked Blackmer several times. “(Bayfield’s) pressure affected our passing game a lot today,” Blackmer said. “They were mixing up blitzes, and our inability to read them and pick them up rushed me in the pocket a few times.” With its win over M-CHS, Bayfield improved its record to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in the Intermountain League. The Panthers’ record dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the Intermountain League with the loss. Next up for M-CHs will be a road matchup against Salida High School on Oct. 25.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/dolores-volleyball-team-downs-rival-mancos/</link>
        <title>Dolores volleyball team downs rival Mancos</title>
        <description>Bears overcome slow start thanks to Elder and Smith</description>
        <pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:19:09 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">952002C7-908E-2778-E053-0100007F0BC5</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=6764B89B-7E88-43AD-BE65-B3978C57237B&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=6764B89B-7E88-43AD-BE65-B3978C57237B&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Bears overcome slow start thanks to Elder and Smith When it comes to high school volleyball in the Southwest, few matches generate the intensity like those between rivals Mancos and Dolores high schools. Thus, when the Bears and the Bluejays took the court at Mancos High School’s renovated gym on Oct. 15, the energy in the building was palpable and the level of focus exhibited by players was high. Although Mancos hung tough throughout the early portions of the match and even stole the opening set thanks to several stellar defensive plays, Dolores’ overall talent proved too much for the Bluejays to overcome, and the Bears won 25-27, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17. Among the statistical leaders for Dolores were senior Jordan Elder, who had 21 kills, four aces and four blocks, and junior Sydney Smith, who had 10 kills, three aces and 14 digs. Erin Brown also enjoyed a solid match, as the sophomore produced 10 kills and a team-high 28 digs. Junior Akira Edwards had 20 digs for Dolores, and sophomore Kamri Willbanks and freshman Carlie McClellan led the team in assists with 19 and 15, respectively. Mancos was led offensively by senior Magdalena Halls, who hammered down eight kills and registered a match-best seven blocks. Senior Isis Jaime had five kills, and senior Andrea Sena had four kills for the Bluejays. Senior Emmalee Asnicar led Mancos defensively with 14 digs and was credited with a match-best 22 assists. Junior Tia Imel had 13 digs, and senior Talissa Bahr had 11 digs for the Bluejays. With its record now at 13-3 overall and 9-0 in the San Juan Basin League, Dolores will prepare for a road matchup against Ouray on Saturday, Oct. 19, followed by a road matchup against Ignacio on Tuesday. Mancos, 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the SJBL, will play its next match at home against Norwood on Friday, Oct. 18.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/panthers-volleyball-eager-to-close-out-their-iml-slate/</link>
        <title>Panthers volleyball eager to close out their IML slate</title>
        <description>Three league matches remain</description>
        <pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:15:56 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">952002C7-908D-2778-E053-0100007F0BC5</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=8C48911E-696B-426F-A92C-DC48E6C4FD78&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=8C48911E-696B-426F-A92C-DC48E6C4FD78&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Three league matches remain If one looks at the scores of last Saturday’s volleyball triangular held at Montezuma-Cortez High School – a 22-25, 23-25, 13-25 loss to Bayfield, then a 12-25, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25 loss to Centauri – one can basically see what Joye McHenry saw. And thus, what has the Panthers’ new skipper stoked entering the 2019 season’s final weeks. The only question seems to be whether she can keep her squad’s batteries fully charged. “This is one of the most intelligent volleyball-knowledge teams I’ve had. They’ve obviously had good coaches in the past,” McHenry said this week. “They have a certain amount of volleyball knowledge that is impressive, and they have extremely athletic capabilities.” Wrapping up an event that lasted nearly nine hours that included junior-varsity matches, three consecutive Avery Wright kills against Centauri from the left side and one from Myka Glover not only kept the Falcons honest late in the finale, it showed M-CHS can hang with the 3A Intermountain League’s best. “With two top-ranked teams ... I made a lot of changes in three days,” said McHenry, who debuted as head coach at the triangular, after athletic director Dave Robinson helped guide the team to three-game sweeps of 5A Grand Junction Central, Pagosa Springs and 3A Olathe in the wake of Maddie Wright’s departure. “So I was kind of curious to see the mental toughness of the girls and what they could handle with three days’ worth of changes. I feel like they rocked it!” Rock it they did, recording numbers McHenry and new assistant Caroline Glover, formerly the head coach at 2A Mancos, can’t wait to see replicated as the regular season winds down beginning with Saturday afternoon’s road match at Monte Vista. (The Panthers’ Oct. 18 clash with Grand Junction has been rescheduled for Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.) Sophomore outside/middle hitter Avery Wright finished the four-game test versus Centauri with a whopping 21-kill, 12-dig performance. Junior middle/outside Myka Glover downed 17 kills, and floor-cleaning junior libero Amber Wood came up with 11 digs despite playing with an injured finger. “Car door,” McHenry quipped. “Her finger’s ... quite the fright.” Glover and Wright led the way offensively against Bayfield with nine and eight kills, respectively, and Wood finished with 10 digs. Totaling 62 assists (41 versus Centauri), junior setter Leigha Comisky also shone despite a wrapped left hand, requiring her to both toss and hit serves with her right. She also managed to pace M-CHS in digs versus Centauri with 16, while lone senior Malia Begay rotated in off the bench to rack up a vital 13. “I think when you talk just natural athletic ability, Avery and Myka are definitely the leaders; they both are strong, skill-wise. But really, I’m more impressed with the girls who’ve had further to come,” stated McHenry, “who’ve had positions moved on them. They’re the ones impressing me and giving me the most hope.” Standing 6-6 overall, 1-6 IML, Montezuma-Cortez will face a struggling Monte Vista crew that went into Thursday’s non-league contest with Olathe (results were unavailable at press time) standing just 2-13 overall and 0-8 in league. M-CHS will then visit Pagosa Tuesday night, Oct. 22, and host Monte Vista two days later, hopefully with a healthy Devon McHenry, who sprained an ankle during the triangular, before welcoming Grand Junction. “Right now what we’re working on is some timing issues, and working the setter on some new offensive plays we’re trying to incorporate,” McHenry said. “It isn’t over,” she emphasized.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/panthers-flying-high-heading-into-regional/</link>
        <title>Panthers flying high heading into regional</title>
        <description>M-CHS softball aims for return visit to state</description>
        <pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:15:53 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">952002C7-908C-2778-E053-0100007F0BC5</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=293B2003-9A64-40E0-823B-D035760E3CA2&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=293B2003-9A64-40E0-823B-D035760E3CA2&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[M-CHS softball aims for return visit to state All the questions have been answered, and then some. A year after setting high-water marks in wins and qualifying for their first state tournament since 2010, the Panthers softball team knew they would have to figure out how to replace many of the key positions that led them to such lofty achievements. To that, the 2019 version of M-CHS softball has responded with an explosive year, clobbering opponents with a relentless offense en route to a 16-5 regular season mark. Their 9-3 mark in 3A District 5 landed them a runner-up spot to state-ranked Basalt, and entering the 3A Region 8 tournament this weekend in Limon as a squad poised to make a return visit to the 3A state tournament. The Panthers offense has drawn the headlines this year, and for good reason. M-CHS posted a team batting average of .419 in the regular season and an eye-popping .547 on-base percentage. From the top to the bottom of the order, the Panthers kept opposing pitchers on their heels, producing 14 double-digit run performances, including a pair of wins over rival Durango. “It all came together this year,” said senior standout Presley Frost. “These girls are really showing what they can do.” Leading the way offensively this season, senior Alyssa Cornett has guided the top of the order, leading the Panthers in most statistical categories, including hits (33), runs (37) and RBIs (35). Classmate Taelynn Comisky put together a similarly impressive campaign, emerging as one of the toughest outs in the Panther lineup with a .456/.575/.578 slash line. While Cornett and Comisky were regulars on the 2018 squad, new players also have flourished in their roles, including Lizzie Likes and Hailey Veach, who have combined for 56 runs and 38 RBIs. Underclassmen like Veach, along with Allie Kibel and Rylee Hickman, have become part of a positive team mentality that has the coaching staff excited for the trajectory of the program. Senior Myra Simmons, who is getting varsity playing time for the first time in her career, has also emerged as a major contributor at first base. “It’s been a lot of fun this year,” said Simmons, “especially to get to be a part of a winning team in my senior year.” As for the Panthers’ development, it’s been a wholesale adjustment from a team that loved to play small ball a year ago. “We’re more aggressive at the plate,” added Frost. “We want to go after that first good strike.” Frost was on her way to another mammoth offensive year herself before injuries have limited her role down the stretch. Among the roles vacated by Frost has been in the circle, where sophomore Taiah Wilson has taken on the role with aplomb, posting an 11-2 win-loss record this season. “It takes a tough mentality to be a great pitcher,” said Frost, “and we trust her (Wilson) out there because we know she’s going to pitch strikes.” Wilson has had a strong defense backing her up, where the Panthers have fielded at a .901 clip this year. The Panthers, under second-year head coach Brittney Whiteman, know that they will need all three facets of their game as they gear up for the championship portion of the season. They enter the regional as the ninth-ranked team in the state, and hopeful for a successful trip to the Eastern Plains this weekend. “We’re going to take it one game at time, but our goal is to make it back to state,” she said. The Panthers can do just that by picking up a win on Saturday morning over No. 24 seed St. Mary’s, which enters with a 12-11 record out of 3A District 2. The winner will move on to face No. 8 seed and regional host Limon. If the Panthers reach that game, they would have assured themselves a slot in the 16-team field in the 3A State Tournament at Aurora Sports Park on the weekend of Oct. 25-26. “The bond we have developed since February and through summer ball has been special,” said Frost, reflecting on her career and the accomplishments of her team. “We’ve really become a family.”]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/tough-sanford-football-squad-shocks-5-0-mancos/</link>
        <title>Tough Sanford football squad shocks 5-0 Mancos</title>
        <description>Injuries and turnovers haunt Bluejays during 52-24 loss on home field</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2019 18:03:16 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">94E21AA4-402B-6E26-E053-0100007F9DAE</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=D2423070-1E32-4602-9875-A083B7A320E7&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=D2423070-1E32-4602-9875-A083B7A320E7&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Injuries and turnovers haunt Bluejays during 52-24 loss on home field Heading into its home matchup against Sanford High School, the Mancos High School football team knew that it would have its work cut out for it against undefeated Sanford. Few coaches, players or fans could have anticipated just how tough the Bluejays would have it, however, during a highly physical contest that ended with a convincing 52-24 Sanford victory. Among the many compelling storylines in the contest, which pitted two of the top eight-man football teams in Colorado against each another, were key injuries to Mancos seniors Anthony Medina and Hunter Goodwin that came during the half. Left with glaring holes on their offensive and defensive lines and in their backfield, the Bluejays found it difficult to move the ball against Sanford’s physical defense, which punished Mancos ball carriers from start to finish. Also contributing to Mancos’ woes was speed and playmaking ability of Sanford sophomore Kelton Gartrell, who scored four touchdowns during a first half in which he was clearly the most talented player on the field. In spite of its difficulties however, Mancos players produced their fair share of highlights and gave their talented opponents all that they could handle throughout much of the first half and into the third quarter. On their opening drive of the contest, the Bluejays drew first blood when senior quarterback Breccen Morelli bolted around the left side and raced into the end zone from 43 yards out to give his team a 6-0 lead with 9:37 left in the first quarter. After Gartrell took a handoff and raced for a 92-yard touchdown on Sanford’s play from scrimmage, Mancos regained possession and moved the ball effectively before taking a 12-6 lead on a 5-yard scoring run by sophomore running back Chase Moore. The moments leading up to Moore’s score proved costly however, as Medina injured his ankle while drawing a pass interference penalty while trying to catch a long pass from Morelli on a key fourth-and-long play. After Sanford’s speedy Gartrell scored on a 92-yard run, a 63-yard punt return and a 65-yard run, Mancos found itself trailing 28-12 heading into the locker room at halftime. After a fiery halftime speech by associate head coach Allen Matthews, the Bluejays began the third quarter with renewed energy and cut Sanford’s lead to 28-18 after a long drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Moore. However, two touchdown runs later in the third quarter by senior Clay Canty gave Sanford a 44-18 lead, and after Moore and Canty each scored fourth-quarter touchdowns, time expired with the Bluejays trailing 52-24. Statistical leaders for Mancos included Morelli, who rushed for 103 yards, passed for 59 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. Moore led Mancos in rushing with 135 yards and three touchdowns, and the sophomore also pulled in two passes for 38 yards. Junior linebacker Colt Fury led the Bluejays in tackles with 11 and 2 sacks, and Morelli came up big from his defensive end position with 10 tackles and sacks. Moore fumbled twice, and Morelli threw one interception. Now 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the A-8 Mountain League and ranked No. 5 in the www.chsaanow.com poll, Mancos will look to return to its winning ways when it plays it final home game of the regular season against Norwood High School on Oct. 17.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/m-chs-softball-team-closes-regular-season-with-impressive-wins/</link>
        <title>M-CHS softball team closes regular season with impressive wins</title>
        <description>Lady Panthers await playoff seeding</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:46:54 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">94E21AA4-402A-6E26-E053-0100007F9DAE</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=E3DCFBB5-DAB0-421F-85E3-CB5B87259678&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=E3DCFBB5-DAB0-421F-85E3-CB5B87259678&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Lady Panthers await playoff seeding Over the course of its season, the Montezuma-Cortez High School softball team became known for its explosive offense and top-notch pitching. Therefore, it seemed only fitting that the Lady Panthers outscored their opponents by a combined score of 49-5 during the final three games of the regular season while establishing themselves as a force heading into the Class 3A playoffs. Kicking off M-CHSâ€™ impressive string of late-season victories was a 15-0 drubbing of Aspen High School in the first game of a home doubleheader on Oct. 10. The Lady Panthers followed that victory with a 19-3 victory over the Skiers later in the day. M-CHS closed out its regular season with a 15-2 win over Palisade High School in a game that was played at Colorado Mesa University on Oct. 12. Thanks in part to its string of impressive victories, M-CHS will enter the postseason with a 16-5 record overall and a 9-3 record in the Class 3A District 5 League. The Lady Panthers next action will come during a Class 3A Regional Tournament on Oct. 19 at a site yet to be determined.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/montezuma-cortez-football-team-falls-to-alamosa/</link>
        <title>Montezuma-Cortez football team falls to Alamosa</title>
        <description>Panthers outclassed on both sides of ball during 56-0 defeat on homecoming night</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:42:52 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">94E21AA4-4029-6E26-E053-0100007F9DAE</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=7FC73872-4C77-4138-BCDF-64CA5AA903BB&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=7FC73872-4C77-4138-BCDF-64CA5AA903BB&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Panthers outclassed on both sides of ball during 56-0 defeat on homecoming night Before kicking off their homecoming contest against Alamosa High School on Oct. 11, members of the Montezuma-Cortez High School football team were energized and focused on the task at hand. The team’s energy and focus were not enough to close what turned out to be a wide talent gap, however, as the Panthers struggled on both sides of the ball throughout what ended up being a lopsided 56-0 defeat. Among the few bright spots for Montezuma-Cortez in the one-sided contest, which was played in chilly fall weather, was the performance of senior receiver Kaleb Gropp, who reeled in two catches for 70 yards. Junior quarterback Ty Blackmer was on the throwing end of both Gropp receptions but struggled to limit his turnovers while passing 4-for-12 for 76 yards and throwing four interceptions. Montezuma-Cortez’s running game struggled as the Panthers lost 32 yards on 14 total rushes. Junior Cole Grobb led the Panthers in tackles with nine, and senior Logan Birch and junior Kyler Krob each had six tackles for M-CHS. Alamosa was led statistically by senior quarterback Brendon Madril, who completed 10 of 13 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Senior receiver Ian Jackson caught two of Madril’s scoring strikes while amassing 126 total receiving yards on six catches. Senior running back Luke Smith paced Alamosa’s running game with 54 yards on eight carries as Mean Moose players combined to run for 112 total yards and two rushing scores. With its record now at 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the Intermountain League, M-CHS will look to regroup in advance of its next tough matchup, which will come at home against Bayfield High School on Oct. 18.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/panthers-volleyball-loses-at-home-to-bayfield-centauri/</link>
        <title>Panthers volleyball loses at home to Bayfield, Centauri</title>
        <description>Montezuma-Cortez is 1-6 in league play</description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:24:49 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">94E21AA4-4028-6E26-E053-0100007F9DAE</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=A3F1C1E1-1281-4EED-B2AE-D18EDBEFC994&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=A3F1C1E1-1281-4EED-B2AE-D18EDBEFC994&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Montezuma-Cortez is 1-6 in league play The Bayfield High School volleyball team took both matches from Saturday’s 3A Intermountain League triangular meet at Montezuma-Cortez High School, sweeping the Panthers in three sets and beating Centauri in four. “We saw the entire team respond soundly when pushed today,” said BHS head coach Terene Foutz. “Today was the culmination of hard work this week amidst a distracting homecoming frenzy. (I’m) super proud of our team focus beating Centauri and Cortez on the road.” In the first match against Cortez, Bayfield (12-4, 7-2 3A IML) won 25-22, 25-23 and 25-13 to sweep the regular season series against the Panthers (6-5, 1-5 IML). In the second match against Centauri (8-6, 5-2, IML), BHS topped the Falcons in four sets, 25-18, 26-24, 18-25 and 25-22. The win came one week after the Falcons edged Bayfield in La Jara in another four-set match. The Panthers dropped a hard-fought 12-25, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25 result to Centauri, leaving M-CHS 6-6 overall and 1-6 in league play. The Panthers will play 5A Grand Junction in a non-league match on Oct. 18.]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
    <item>
        <link>https://tj.durangoherald.com/photos-from-the-montezuma-cortez-homecoming-show/</link>
        <title>Photos from the Montezuma-Cortez homecoming show</title>
        <description></description>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2019 01:44:38 -0600</pubDate>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">94D5B4F2-DCDB-4922-E053-0100007F8827</guid>
        <media:content url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=D17180BA-92A3-4705-BDEF-2355B2BDCDA2&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:thumbnail url="https://imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com/?uuid=D17180BA-92A3-4705-BDEF-2355B2BDCDA2&#038;function=thumbnail&#038;type=preview&#038;source=false&#038;width=600&#038;height=400" />
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
</channel>
</rss>
