Star Struck: Top 10 Moments-of the 2008-09 sports year
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5/24/2009 - 5/24/09
10. WIN DENIALNOV. 15, 2008
Those runner-up volleyball trophies are piling up at Las Vegas Robertson High School.
Not a good thing for the Lady Cardinals.
A 25-10, 25-16, 25-23 Ruidoso victory in the title match of the Class AAA State Volleyball Tournament left Robertson wanting more after losing in the finals for the second straight season.
"This hurts a lot more," said Julie Franken, a Robertson senior. "Last year, I didn't cry as much because I knew we would be back. We played a little timid and they found our weakness, but I was glad to see us fight back in that third game."
While Franken is out of opportunities, Robertson is determined to get back and beyond.
"We'll be back," junior setter Daniella Montoya said.
9. IN THE LONG RUN
MAY 14-15, 2009
Gareth Gilna didn't run forever, it just seemed like it.
The Los Alamos senior became only the second athlete in Class AAAA to win all three distance events. Gilna won the 1,600 meters in a state-meet record time of 4 minutes, 12.60 seconds on the first day at the State Track and Field Championships at Great Friends of UNM Track.
Gilna followed that with wins in the 800 (1:56.13) and 3,200 (9:27.35) a day later.
8. A TIP OFF THE CAP
NOV. 29, 2008
Had that moment in time been stopped and twisted a bit, the pain of that play and the result of it might have never been.
But the hurt may still linger following a 31-24 victory by Lovington over St. Michael's in a Class AAA State Football semifinal.
A potential game-ending interception by Horsemen defender Andre Salazar, instead was a overtime-forcing, 26-yard touchdown pass for the Wildcats.
The controversial play, the result of a tipped pass that was caught for the TD, denied the Horsemen (8-5) a chance to claim their second straight state title.
"I just didn't squeeze it, and it bounced off my helmet," Salazar said.
The game was one for the ages. The result, for the Horsemen, wasn't.
7. WRESTLERS UNITE
FEB. 22, 2009
Las Vegas Robertson didn't have the most participants in the Class A-AAA State Wrestling Tournament finals, but the Cardinals had the best.
Robertson went 4-1 in championship matches, and captured the state crown for the fourth straight season, edging out St. Michaael's 193.5-176.5 in the Santa Ana Star Center.
Daniel Martinez added to his family lore with his third individual championship, this one in the 152-pound weight division. His brothers, Jake and Adam, each won four titles.
6. AS MEMORY SERVES
MAY 15, 2009
Mark the date. When someone asks when the last time the Demonettes of Santa Fe High took their softball team to state, that is when.
Before that, who knows.
So whether history was made, or history repeated itself, is irrelevant to the fact that the Demonettes actually got to state.
With the help of first-year head coach Sig Rivera and the will of a whole team, Santa Fe finished 18-12, ousted in the third round in a 12-2 loss to Carlsbad in the Class AAAAA State Softball Tournament.
"We played four extra games this year, which was good to see," Rivera said. "They played damn good. They should be proud of themselves."
If that same desire and talent returns, the Demonettes will be back.
Soon.
5. STEADY CHAMPION
MAY 12, 2009
Jamie Palermo wasn't looking for anything amazing, until she collected her prize.
The St. Michael's junior golfer won individual honors in the Class A-AAA State Golf Tournament, shooting identical rounds of 83 to win by two shots at The University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque.
"Nothing really stands out for me," Palermo said. "I didn't do anything exceptional. I just wanted to play my game and not make mistakes."
It was that kind of strategy that allowed Palermo to bring home her school's fourth individual girls title.
4. ONE FOR THE THUMB?
NOV. 8, 2008
St. Michael's will have to answer that question next season, but last season, the Lady Horsemen captured their fourth straight girls Class AAA State Cross Country title.
St. Michael's was led by sophomore Kate Norskog, who just missed her goal of breaking 18 minutes, finishing in 18 minutes by 8.65 seconds.
Regardless, it earned her individual honors for the second time in three years and helped solidify the dynasty that is within striking distance of legendary cross country programs Albuquerque Academy and Los Alamos.
Norskog contributed to the team score of 67, which was six points better than Zuni.
"You got kids who work hard together and are always there," said St. Michael's boys and girls head cross country coach Lenny Gurule, whose boys team also won the state title.
"For both of the teams to do what they did today was awesome."
3. NINE IS ENOUGH
MAY 16, 2009
What the Elkettes of Pojoaque didn't have in numbers, they had in points.
Seventy-five to be exact.
It was 20 more than District 2AAA rival Las Vegas Robertson and just enough for Pojoaque to win the girls title of the Class AAA State Track and Field Championships at Great Friends of UNM Track.
So 75 divided by nine equals: First state track and field team championship.
Pojoaque won two of the four relays to go with firsts from Kimberly Babicke in the 200 and Dionna Montoya in the 800. Babicke and Montoya also had seconds in the 100 and 400, respectively, and both came within a whisker of winning each.
"I just think that those points were going to help us and that's what we needed," Montoya said.
2. PAR FOR THE COURSE
MAY 12, 2009
St. Michael's needed every shot from top to bottom to claim its first boys Class A-AAA State Golf Tournament title.
"It was truly a true team win," said Horsemen head coach Lee Sanchez. "This is something these guys will remember the rest of their lives."
Stung by two shots last season, St. Michael's carded a 625, and edged two-time defending champ Lovington by five shots to claim the title.
No. 1 golfer Parker Ashton and No. 5 Zach Berhost each shot 78 on the final day of the two-day tourney at The University of New Mexico Championship Course. In between, the Horsemen made sure they would not again be denied.
"I'm extremely excited to be a part of history," said No. 2 golfer Miguel Macias, who carded a second-day 79. "The first-ever in anything is pretty awesome. I'm psyched."
1. TWICE AS NICE
MARCH 13, 2009
The Elkettes of Pojoaque are perfect.
In every way.
Not only did Pojoaque capture its second consecutive girls Class AAA State Basketball title, but the Elkettes went 31-0 on the season, capping it with a 44-38 win over Portales in the championship.
Jackie Bartleson, who finally found a high school home as a senior, scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds with four blocks in the victory.
"I love the school, and the girls, and the coaches, and everything," Bartleson said following the win.
That feeling was mutual, two straight times, and 31 straight games.
