Four Corners Sports May 2014

2 Four Corners SportS MAY 2014

3Four Corners SPORTSMay 2014

content| 4 | National School ProgramThe First Tee of San Juan County, N.M., is

making a big impact throughout the

community with their life skills and character

values educational programs through the

game of golf.

| 20 | Play ball!In the fall of 2000 Piedra Vista moved into

District 1AAAA and was given the daunting task

of having to compete with Class AAAA

powerhouse Farmington.

| 8 | Where are they now?When Bryant Funston left New Mexico State

university in 2005 little did he know that he

would be the last Division I basketball player

from the San Juan County. But Bryant’s sports

career had always been a bizarre journey.

| 33 | Fishing Report

| 10 | The Senior GamesThe 31st annual San Juan County Senior

Olympics kicked off April 15 with a Basket-

ball Free Throw. Activities for participants

50 years of age and older continue through

May16 throughout the region.

| 16 | On the GreenWhen the city of Farmington made the phone

call to hire Joel Atson for the vacant Head

Golf Professional position at Piñon Hills Golf

Course, the 28-year-old was surprised.

| 18 | Best of the bestEach spring the best track athletes in the

state meet at uNM for the Marilyn Sepulveda

Track Meet.

| 14 | Paralympian visitsFresh off a silver medal win in Sochi, Russia,

paralympian Alana Nichols made a stop in

her hometown of Farmington in late April to

visit with family and friends.

| 30 | The First TeeSports and youth development are becom-

ing hot topics these days due to overbear-

ing parents, injuries/concussions and the

“one-sport” mentality that so many teams

have adopted.

| 23 | Torch RunThe Four Corners law Enforcement Torch Run

raised $22,600 for Special Olympics during the

April 4-5 Chili’s Tip A Cop event in Farmington.

| 26 | Tennis anyone?Future tennis champions will have an

opportunity to hone their skills this summer

for less than $3 a lesson.

| 32 | Online Processing

| 24 | Editorial Column

Don Vaughan

PuBlISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele

EDITOR

Debra Mayeux

Rick Hoerner

Tom Yost

CONTRIBuTING WRITERS

Josh Bishop

CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Suzanne Thurman

DESIGNER

Shelly Acosta

DeYan Valdez

Aimee Velasquez

SAlES STAFF

For advertising information

Call 505.516.1230

www.fourcornerssports.com

Four Corners Sports magazine is published once amonth by Majestic Media. Material herein may not bereprinted without expressed written consent of the pub-lisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writersare not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FourCorners Sports magazine. Every effort has been madeto ensure the accuracy of this publication. However thepublisher cannot assume responsibility for errors orommissions. © 2014 Four Corners Sports magazine.

Majestic Media

100 W. Apache Street

Farmington, NM 87401

505.516.1230

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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS

covercredit

Please send to

[email protected]

We’ve got more photos

than we can use.

Check out the photo gallery

for each issue at

www.fourcornerssports.com

Josh Bishop

Fishing season began April 2 in New Mexico, and

anglers had to get used to a new system for

accessing fishing licenses.

with Rick Hoerner

| 34 | 10 Questionswith Jacob McCasland

| 31 | Letter of intentOn April 16 Piedra Vista Panther All-State post

player Kaleigh Graham committed to Metro

State College in Denver.

4 Four Corners SportS May 2014

5Four Corners SPOrTSMay 2014

The First Tee of San Juan County,

N.M., is making a big impact

throughout the community with

their life skills and character values

educational programs through the

game of golf. Perhaps the biggest

impact that is being made is

through the National School Pro-

gram, which is being taught by phys-

ical education teachers at nine local

elementary schools throughout San

Juan County.

Through sponsorships from Mer-

rion Oil and Gas Foundation, the

Stockham Family Foundation and

the Cy Cooper Company, elementary

schools throughout the region are

given the opportunity to acquire

age-appropriate golf equipment, les-

son plans and training for the physi-

cal education teacher at that

particular school. Throughout the

year, The First Tee Nine Core Values

and Nine Healthy Habits are taught

through a golf unit which teaches

youth the basics of putting, chip-

ping, pitching and full swing.

“The National School Program al-

lows students at Bluffview Elemen-

tary School to have exposure to a

Golf in schools keeps

growing strongerStory by Tom Yost | Photos by Josh Bishop

6 Four Corners SPorTS May 2014

“The program is set up to introduce the

skills of golf to all grade levels here

at the school.”

— Charles ThompsonPE TEachEr aT Mccoy ElEMEnTary in azTEc


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505-325-9600313 N. Locke Ave. • Farmingtonwww.partnersassistedliving.com

lifetime physical activity,” explained Kathy Lund, Physical Educator at

Bluffview Elementary in Farmington. “Some students at Bluffview may

not have this opportunity without the National School Program. Having

the equipment available at school allows the entire school population to

play the game of golf. The National School Program not only teaches stu-

dents the game of golf and the skills involved, but it also teaches them

skills to help them in the game of life. The Nine Core Values give them

lifetime skills they will need to become successful and productive citi-

zens later in life.”

The Nine Core Values encompass the foundation for The First Tee Life

Skills Program and include: honesty, integrity, respect, confidence, per-

severance, judgment, sportsmanship, responsibility and courtesy. The

Nine Healthy Habits teach participants the importance of making healthy

choices for themselves and others within their community. The Nine

Healthy Habits are: energy, play, safety, vision, mind, family, friends,

school and community.

“In my classroom, we are always talking about the Nine Core Values,”

stated Animas Physical Education Teacher, Shelby Edmiston. “These val-

ues help create a positive environment in the classroom and make stu-

dents want to be their best. For example, I just finished a yoga unit and

we focused on the two core values of having confidence and persever-

ance. Holding the poses in yoga can be very difficult, but my students be-

lieved in themselves and did not give up. I was amazed at the impact

these two words had on my students. These values help make learning

fun for everyone!”

The National Schools Program has now grown to nine elementary

schools within San Juan County, including Animas, McKinley, Bluffview,

Central Primary, Blanco, Ruth N. Bond – with the recent addition of

McCoy and Lydia Rippey in Aztec, and Atsa Biyaazh in Shiprock.

The three schools recently added have allowed the program to be

taught in every major city and town in San Juan County. The Physical Ed-

ucators at those schools are extremely excited to be bringing the pro-

gram to their students.

“I am excited about being able to teach The First Tee program for

McCoy Elementary School students,” said Charles Thompson, PE Teacher

at McCoy Elementary in Aztec. “The program is set up to introduce the

skills of golf to all grade levels here at the school. Over the past few

years we have had the program for one day and the students really liked

* Golf 13

8 Four Corners SporTS May 2014

Story by Rick Hoerner

When Bryant Funston left New Mexico State

University in 2005 little did he know that he

would be the last Division I basketball player

from the San Juan County. But Bryant’s sports

career had always been a bizarre journey.

When Funston arrived at Heights Junior High

for his eighth grade season after living in In-

donesia for the bulk of his childhood, he barely

knew the game of basketball. Table tennis was

more his expertise. It was apparent that Fun-

ston had a knack for the game, with solid size

and physical play. Upon arriving at Farmington

High, Funston played a year of Junior Varsity

before playing varsity for legendary coach

Marv Sanders in 1999 and 2000. As far as

Farmington High’s Class of 2000 – Bryant Funston

9Four Corners SPorTSMay 2014

learning the game of basketball, Funston considers himself quite lucky, “I’ve

been very fortunate in my sporting career to play for some legendary

coaches. Marv Sanders was the second winningest coach in New Mexico

history and Lou Henson was No. 6 all time in college wins when I played for

him.”

After enrolling at New Mexico State Funston tried out as a walk-on for the

basketball team. Through injuries and ineligible players, Funston eventually

saw the court, a perk few walk-ons – especially those with high GPAs – ever

get. Funston remembers his first year with Final Four coach Lou Henson as

a time where discipline mattered and the small details were emphasized.

“A couple months into my first season we were scrimmaging against the

first team and I was having a great practice. I had gotten a couple steals,

had held our team’s best scorer to one basket, and had just chased down

my 3rd or 4th rebound. I looked up, saw my teammate flying toward our

basket, and let loose with a one-handed pass that was right on the mark for

an easy dunk. Coach Henson stopped the scrimmage and I thought I was

about to get some praise. Instead he waved off the basket. Why? Because

one-handed passes were not allowed. Same with jumping to pass. Not al-

lowed. It’s about doing all those small things right and learning from mis-

takes in the past to make sure they don’t repeat in the future. I never threw

another one-handed pass, and still pay great attention to doing the little

things right.”

* Funston 25

You can look at Bryant’s

business and website at

www.buildpeakcompete.com

10 Four Corners SportS May 2014

The Senior Games


The 31st annual San Juan County Senior

Olympics kicked off April 15 with a Basket-

ball Free Throw. Activities for participants 50

years of age and older continue through

May16 throughout the region. The Senior

Olympics are sponsored by the Bonnie Dallas

Senior Center in Farmington, which not only

organizes the multiple events, but also han-

dles registration and the awards picnic at

the end of the festivities.

The activities are tailored for mature

adults and include both active and passive

participation in competitive sporting events.

The focus is to encourage exercise, while

providing an enjoyable experience. There are

a variety of events for all athletic abilities,

including shooting, miniature golf, dance,

bowling, cycling, tennis, table tennis,

archery, golf and running.There also are

other types of competitive events including

pool, dance, cribbage, pinochle, dominoes,

croquet, shuffleboard, duplicate bridge and

horseshoes.

Seniors paid a $7 registration fee and

were able to participate in any and all

events thanks to the BP America Production

Company, which sponsored the annual event.

All participants received a T-shirt and an in-

vitation to participate in the annual dance

contest and the awards picnic.

The series of activities culminate with the

May 16 picnic at Bonnie Dallas Senior Center

to celebrate everyone’s accomplishments.

Awards are presented for first, second, and

third place in all events. “We hope the Sen-

ior Olympics will encourage participants to

meet new people and promote fitness at the

same time,” Bonnie Dallas Senior Center Ad-

ministrator Larry Bomberger said.

“Some of our seniors even go all the way

to the Nationals.”

For more information about the Senior

Olympics, call the senior center at

505.599.1380.

Annual senior Olympicspromotes fitness

Story by Debra Mayeux | Photos by Josh Bishop

12 Four Corners SPORTS May 2014

On Monday, June 16, Nike and Ultimate

Team Sales will host a golf tournament for

the late San Juan County basketball coach

Kevin Holman. The proceeds of the tourna-

ment will benefit the education fund for

Kevin’s children Quinn and Griffin. The tour-

nament is looking for 136 golfers to compete

in the tournament. Cost to play is $100, which

includes 18 holes, range balls, a new Nike

polo shirt, and dinner for a whole team for

$400

During the dinner there will be an auction

of sports memorabilia including an auto-

graphed Chicago Bears helmet from Brian

Urlacher as well as items from the Seattle

Seahawks and Nebraska Cornhuskers and

other donated items.

If you are interested in participating in the

tournament or would like to sponsor a hole

to help with the education fund, please con-

tact Rick Hoerner at 505.215.2533. Come out

for a good time and a good cause.

Coach Holman

Memorial Tournament

Proceeds benefit education fund for his children


what they were being taught. Now we will be

able to make it into a regular unit for all stu-

dents in grades 1 through 3. The nice thing

about the program is that they supply all of the

equipment and information that needs to be

taught and how to teach it to the students. The

equipment is grade appropriate and can be

used inside or outside.”

Leticia Crisp, Physical Educator at Atsa

Biyaazh Community School in Shiprock, is look-

ing forward to implementing the Nine Core Val-

ues across her entire school.

“I am hoping the Nine Core Values will have

a big impact on the students in my school,”

stated Crisp. “I have many ideas as to how to

incorporate the Nine Core Values into all parts

of my school. I believe my students will really

embrace the Nine Core Values and apply them

to all parts of their lives. My job is to show

them how they fit and how to apply them to

their lives. I am very excited to take on this

task. With this first step, I am hoping the num-

ber of bullying incidents will decrease in our

school. My plan is to have the students make

posters of the Nine Core Values and place

them in different areas of the school. I also

plan on introducing the Nine Core Values at the

beginning of the year and reinforcing them in

ALL of my lessons, not just golf.”

Thanks to the Merrion Oil and Gas Founda-

tion, six more elementary schools will be par-

ticipating by the fall of 2016. That will bring the

total to 15 elementary schools – which will af-

fect over 7,000 young people per year.

Golf continued from 7

14 Four Corners SPoRTS May 2013

Fresh off a silver medal win in

Sochi, Russia, paralympian Alana

Nichols made a stop in her home-

town of Farmington in late April to

visit with family and friends.

Nichols, 31, lives in Wheat Ridge,

Colo., and is a dual sport athlete for

Team U.S.A. in the Paralympics. She

competes in both wheelchair basket-

ball and alpine skiing. She competed

in the Sochi Winter Games and

brought home a silver medal in

downhill skiing. It was her sixth

medal in the Paralympics Games.

Her first medal was a gold in the

2008 Paralympics in Beijing as a

member of the Women’s Basketball

Team.

Nichols grew up playing sports in

high school. “I was a three-sport

athlete,” she said. She participated

in basketball, volleyball and softball.

“I had an incredible childhood,”

she said during a fundraising event

on April 26 for Peach’s Neet Feet at

the San Juan Country Club. Nichols is

the daughter of David and Susan

Nichols, and she was raised by her

grandparents, Dave and Joan Vilven.

The event was organized by Matt

Camacho, who complimented Nichols

and Madison Steiner, founder of

Peach’s Neet Feet, on their accom-

plishments. “There are two women

who are out there globally repre-

senting the Four Corners area. What

they are doing is amazing,” he said.

Nichols, while in Sochi, crashed

into Stephani Victor during the

super-G, but she was not seriously

injured. She talked with friends at

the event about the scar she would

have on her chin. Despite the crash,

she was able to go on to win the sil-

ver in the downhill race. She said

Paralympian home for a visitAlana Nichols raises funds

for Peach’s Neet FeetStory by Debra Mayeux | Photos by Josh Bishop


she was happy to come home

with a medal.

Also during the event, Nichols

shared a little bit about her

childhood and then explained

how she ended up in a wheel-

chair.

“I was able to start snow-

boarding at a young age,” she

said. Nichols began hitting the

slopes in the eighth grade, but

when she turned 17, she kicked

it up a notch and attempted

backcountry skiing. She called

herself a “daredevil,” saying she

attempted a back flip, over-ro-

tated and hit a rock. She was

paralyzed from the waist down.

Two years later, Nichols was

introduced to wheelchair sports

and athletics. “I began in wheel-

chair basketball and was able to

go forward and win a gold in

Beijing,” she said. After that win, Nichols de-

cided to try her hand at downhill skiing.

“I got back on the horse that knocked me

off,” she said. Nichols went to the Vancouver

Paralympics in 2010 and came back with a

gold in downhill and giant slalom, a silver in

super-G, and a bronze in super combined.

“We have an incredible amount

of potential, regardless of abili-

ties.”

Getting her to Sochi, Russia,

was a “process,” according to

Nichols, who said that even with

a corporate sponsor she has

needed assistance from family

and friends. She credited every-

one in Farmington for her suc-

cess.

“There is power in commu-

nity, when people come together

because they really believe in

something,” Nichols said. She

promoted Peach’s Neet Feet,

comparing the non-profit orga-

nization’s work with the support

she needed from friends and

family to succeed in her Olympic

dreams.

“When I first broke my back, I

felt incredibly lost, without sup-

port,” Nichols said. “I needed a little push –

someone who believed in me, and I’m here to

tell you even a pair of shoes can make a dif-

ference.”

“There are two women who are out there

globally representing the Four Corners area.

What they are doing is amazing.”

— Matt Camacho

16 Four Corners SPortS May 2014

“I would like to help grow the tournament

program and the junior golf program at Piñon.”

— Joel AtsonHead Golf Professional

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When the city of Farmington made the phone call to hire

Joel Atson for the vacant Head Golf Professional position at

Piñon Hills Golf Course, the 28-year-old was surprised.

“I was extremely surprised that I got the job,” said Atson,

“but I was also very excited.”

Atson was born in Shiprock, and grew up in Kirtland,

where he played golf for Kirtland Central High School on one

of the better boys’ golf teams that Kirtland has fielded. After

high school, Atson moved to Albuquerque and worked at

Tanoan Country Club for PGA Member, Dal Daily.

“Tanoan is where I found out about the business side of

the golf industry,” explained Atson. “The love for the game is

why I continued the path into golf, but professionals like Dal

and Jeff Roth were the ones who pushed me further into the

business side.”

After working a stint at Tanoan, Atson moved back to

Farmington and worked at Riverview Golf Course in Kirtland,

as well as San Juan Country Club in Farmington, before

taking a position at Piñon Hills Golf Course in January. The

timing proved to be perfect for Atson, as long-time Head Golf

Professional, Ty Hamer, accepted a job in Fort Morgan, Colo.,

opening up the position for Atson.

Chris Jones, the General Manager at Piñon Hills Golf

Course liked Atson’s work ethic and mix of background

experience from the various courses where he previously

had worked.

“Joel has a great personality and is good with people,”

explained Jones. “He is a good player, which people like, and

is a very good merchandiser as well as a strong teacher. It

helped that he had the two-month interview starting in

January. He worked a couple of months and the timing was

just right – he was a good fit.”

Atson loves the golf business because of the various –

and vast – number of people he gets to meet and with which

he can interact on a daily basis. And while he will be

learning a lot from this new challenge, Atson wants to

make a positive impact as the new Head Golf Professional.

“I would like to help grow the tournament program and

the junior golf program at Piñon,” stated Atson.

Joel Atson is new

golf pro at Piñon

Hills Golf CourseStory by Tom Yost | Photos by Josh Bishop

18 Four Corners SPortS May 2014

Best of the Best

SarahROOTaztec high School

BeauCLAFTONPiedra Vista high School

KaleighGRAHAMaztec high School


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Each spring the best track athletes in the

state meet at UNM for the Marilyn Sepulveda

International Track Meet. The Sepulveda meet

brings the best times in the state together

without consideration for class. With just

enough entries to fill the eight lanes, every

race is a final and every attempt in the field

must be at its best.

San Juan County was well represented at

the Sepulveda Meet with a total of 31 individ-

uals competing in 26 different events. Four

athletes – PV’s Beau Clafton, Farmington’s

Devin Hull and Bailey Carter and Aztec’s

Sarah Root – qualified in three separate

events to lead the field.

On the track Clafton and Hull finished 2nd

and 3rd in both the 100 and 200 meters, fin-

ishing just behind Valencia’s Joshua Bur-

bank. Aztec’s Nate Ruteledge finished 4th in

the 400 meters while Piedra Vista distance

runners Harrison Fleming and Timberlin Hen-

derson finished 6th in the 1600 and 3200 re-

spectively. In the hurdles, Aztec’s Josh Harris

placed 4th in the 300 meters and 7th in the

110 meters.

The county athletes showed strong in the

field events as well with Beau Clafton win-

ning the javelin at 181 feet 10 inches. Farm-

ington’s Avery Rasher won the high jump

with a leap of 6 feet 6 inches. Rasher also

competed in the long jump where he finished

5th, two spots behind Aztec’s Ryneal Lewis-

Adams. Greg Passerelli of Aztec finished 6th

in the pole vault. Defending state champions

Christian Mackey of Kirtland Central finished

2nd in both the shot put and discus behind

Volcano Vista’s Mike Budick, still making

Mackey the favorite in Class 4A. Bloomfield’s

Gabriel Aguirre also placed in discus, coming

in 6th.

The ladies of San Juan County were not to

be outdone and were especially impressive

in the field events. In pole vault, San Juan

Area track athletes compete

at Marilyn Sepulveda Invitational MeetStory by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop

* Track 22

21Four Corners SPORTSdate

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CCUUTT CCOOSSTT.. NNOOTT CCOOVVEERRAAGGEE

In the fall of 2000 Piedra Vista moved into

District 1AAAA and was given the daunting task

of having to compete with Class AAAA power-

house Farmington. The Farmington tradition of

Knothole Day now became a battle between

crosstown rivals and more than likely a

matchup for the district championship and a

top seed at the state tournament. On Knothole

Day every ballplayer that suits up for the sum-

mer gets a chance to have their team intro-

duced and to high-five all of the Scorpions on

one baseline and the Panthers on the other.

The players are then welcomed to an after-

noon of lunch and a usually beautiful day at

the ballpark watching our local pastime. For

the high schools, they get a chance to play in

front of a full house before August.

The origin of Knothole Day comes from a

man known for a far more socially significant

innovation of the game. While Dodger executive

Branch Rickey is known as the man that

brought Jackie Robinson to the Majors to inte-

grate professional baseball, he was also the

man who popularized the concept of Knothole

Day. Knothole Games or Knothole Gangs were

part of baseball lore with ballparks being sur-

rounded by wooden fences, much like Ricketts

Park today. As the inevitable knotholes would

fall out of the fences, kids would gather at the

fence to get a glimpse of their diamond he-

roes.

Knothole Day marks the start of youth baseballStory by Rick Hoerner | Photo by Josh Bishop


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County schools placed four athletes in the top nine. Aztec’s Morgan

Smith finished 2nd with an 11-foot vault. Sierra Lanier came in 5th

while PV’s Cassie Crowell placed 7th followed by Bloomfield’s Louisa

Maestas in 9th. In the long jump, Aztec’s Sarah Root finished 3rd with

Farmington’s River Hess coming in 8th. Root also finished 3rd in the

triple jump with Farmington’s Bailey Carter placing 8th. At the high

jump pit, Kayli Farmer of Aztec placed 2nd with a jump of 5 feet 4

inches.

Just like with the boys, the girls were extremely competitive in

throwing events. Piedra Vista’s Kaleigh Graham won the shot put with

a toss of 39 feet 9 inches. Kayli Farmer won the javelin with a throw

of 141 feet 7 inches with teammate Rikki Newland placing 6th. New-

land came in 5th in the discus followed by PV’s Taylor Christensen in

6th.

On the track, a banged up Zhianna Flores finished 8th in the 200

meters, but did manage to finish 2nd in the 30-meter hurdles fol-

lowed by Farmington’s Bailey Carter in 5th. Sarah Root won the 100-

meter hurdles with a time of 15.38 seconds, while Carter came in 5th.

Aztec’s Jessica Kresl placed 6th in the 800 meters.

Over the years the Sepulveda Classic has been the measuring stick

for track athletes on how they fare against the best the state has to

offer. San Juan County’s best athletes look to be up the challenge as

they prepare for district and state.

Track continued from 19

As early as the 1880s, baseball teams such

as the New Orleans Pelicans were offering

Knothole days to “youths of sound behavior.”

The St. Louis Cardinals, under the direction of

Rickey, began their first Knothole Gang in 1938,

a tradition he continued with the Brooklyn

Dodgers in the 1940s and ’50s.

In Farmington, Knothole Day is the official

beginning of youth baseball, a tradition that

goes back to the days of Lefty Fox as head

coach at Farmington High, and continuing

today. Initially, Knothole Day included the open-

ing ceremonies for the Farmington Amateur

Baseball Congress with the Scorpions welcom-

ing the new baseball year.

As it has been since 2001, Knothole Day was

a battle for the district championship between

the crosstown rivals. Piedra Vista (17-9, 6-0)

captured their 5th consecutive district champi-

onship and was awarded with a No. 1 seed by

the NMAA for the state tournament with a 10-2

win over the Scorpions. Wyatt Weaver, a rare

knuckleballer at the high school level, pitched

a complete game for the win. Kody Russell had

two RBIs to lead a balanced Panther offensive

attack.

The No. 1 seeded Panthers look to advance

to their fifth consecutive state championship

game hosting Moriarty in the first round. With

the tough schedule Farmington continues to

play, the Scorpions were seeded No. 6, putting

them on the same side of the bracket as the

defending state champion St. Pius Sartans and

No. 2 seeded Goddard. The Scorpions also start

at home with a series against soon-to-be dis-

trict rival Miyamura.

The best of three first round series begins on

May 9 with the remaining eight playing a single

elimination tournament beginning on May 15.


The Four Corners Law Enforcement Torch

Run raised $22,600 for Special Olympics during

the April 4-5 Chili’s Tip A Cop event in Farming-

ton.

Several local police officers volunteered to

work as celebrity servers that weekend at

Chili’s, where they performed several tasks in-

cluding greeting and seating guests, waiting on

and bussing tables and serving beverages and

meals. They also sold T-shirts and other mer-

chandise with the Law Enforcement Torch Run

logo. This allowed the officers to raise the

funds to support state and local Special

Olympics athletes and events.

“I would like to give a special thank you to

the citizens of Farmington for coming in and

donating to this event,” Farmington Police Chief

Mike Hebbe said. “At the end of the day, it was

the community of Farmington that really rallied

together and raised more than $22,000 over a

two-day event, and that is really something.”

The money was given to Special Olympics of-

ficials and athletes during an April 23 event at

the Farmington Police Department.

Torch runLaw enforcement raises more than $22,000 for Special Olympics


As we move into May, proms are in the

books and graduations are just around the

corner. For the seniors – and apparently a lot

of teachers as well – everything is “the last.”

The last Homecoming, last spring break, last

prom, last sporting event are all fading to

the past.

“The Last” has been a big theme lately as

my youngest gets ready to join hundreds of

other students walking across the gradua-

tion stage to young adulthood. This concept

has been a mixed blessing around the house,

especially for my wife who watched her

daughter dress for her last prom, play her

last game, perform her last concert and run

her last race. However, it also means the last

sports fundraiser, the last team package to

purchase and the last “When is this going to

end?” banquet.

Just last week i wrote that the “just glad

to make the team athlete” is all but gone.

While there are a few three-sport athletes

left, there are more who are looking to

athletics as a way to help pay for college or

more. if you have read this column over the

last three years or so you should know that

my belief is that participation in athletics is

more essential than success. Of course it is

always good to win, and if you aren’t

interested in winning why bother? But the

intangibles that athletics provided my chil-

dren are really where the value of sport is in

a public school setting.

That being said, academics of the high

school are skewed as well. in the new era of

common core, inflated 5.0 Advanced Place-

ment grades and a college readiness attitude

that everything else is of little to no worth,

we have all but discounted the value of work

ethic, community service and the arts. That is

why i am so incredibly proud of my daughter

who chose to experience as much as possi-

ble in her limited high school life and work

toward what i believe is the real value of a

public education – the ability to learn how to

learn and serve above her own needs.

My daughter kira is, first of all, a great kid.

i know every parent says that – and probably

should – but she really is. She has taken

advantage of nearly every opportunity the

public school system offers. in high school

alone she participated in four sports, choir,

student senate, New Mexico Girls State and

honor society. All in all, a great high school

experience

She will finish up her athletic career in

track this month and complete a career of 13

varsity letters. Now my kid is not the one you

are going to read about in The Daily Times or

Max Preps, nor are colleges calling her for

an athletic scholarship, but in all honesty she

got out of athletics exactly what i hoped for –

a boost in self-confidence and a chance to be

part of something bigger than herself. She

learned how to work through injury, much

more than i would wish on anyone, and she

learned that success early doesn’t always

mean it comes later as well.

choir and Student Senate continued to

give her those attributes as well. Just as it

does for many others, choir gave her the

opportunity to experience success that

sports didn’t. in choir she was part of three

state championship squads and an All-State

choir participant three more times.

She learned commitment and leadership

in the Student Senate where she was the

Student Body President with an increased

sense of self worth and sense of responsibil-

ity to get things done for the betterment of

her classmates.

That is all a father can hope for from

sports and activities, that your child learns a

sense of togetherness, pride, empathy and

work ethic. My daughter was a terrific team-

mate and considerate of her opponents. She

embodied all that sports are supposed to

provide for our youth. championships are

great, but do they complete your high school

experience ? is the career of a PV wrestler or

softball player more valuable than those who

never hoisted the blue trophy, but gave all

they had every sports season every year?

For my daughter, the overall high school

experience meant everything, and i’m sure

there was more she still would have loved

to try.

in the ever-changing school dynamic, a

politician’s claim of what they are doing for

education takes priority over those that actu-

ally work in the field. Remember that high

school isn’t just about academics or learning

how to get a job. it is about experiences –

both good and bad – that build character

and natural intellectual curiosity. i thank

those that have given my daughter just that,

from all her teachers and coaches to activity

sponsors and friends. i truly thank all of you.

So here’s to one last “last,” just days be-

fore graduation from high school, and here’s

to all the graduates who lived their high

school experiences out to the fullest,

whether in the spotlight or the shadows. May

what you learned on the fields and courts of

high school carry you throughout life.

RickHOERNEREditorial columnistThe Last …


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With his college career over, Funston did

what most athletes do to stay involved – they

coach, first looking in Farmington and then

returning to Las Cruces where he began a

short teaching career, but never got the

chance to coach. After reaching the conclu-

sion that teaching was not really for him,

Bryant moved with his new wife, Kristin to

Memphis. Here, Bryant “ditched the mountain

bike I’d been using for summer basketball

cross-training, bought a road bike, and gave

the Ironhorse a go.”

Although Funston was always fascinated

from a young age, the move to Memphis gave

him a chance to reinvent himself as an ath-

lete. “Growing up, we had good family friends

who were talking about completing the Iron-

horse Bicycle Classic,” Funston recalled. “The

goal was always to beat the train to Silverton,

which takes about four hours. I couldn’t be-

lieve that people were actually capable of rid-

ing a bike that far over those mountains, so

naturally I wanted to give it a try.”

The transition to biking was not particu-

larly easy for an athlete who had trained to

increase strength in his upper body, but now

had to lose that mass to become a competi-

tive cyclist. After finishing well into the 80s in

his first Ironhorse race, Funston began to

look at training differently, so he began using

his time to train and do research on training

techniques.

Today, Bryant Funston trains athletes as

part of a company he co-owns called BPC Per-

formance Coaching. BPC does customized

workouts for close to 60 athletes, manages

two different cycling teams that have grown

to 50+ members, and travels around the

United States training and racing. “It’s always

great to wake up knowing that you are help-

ing people reach their goals,” Funston says

“For some, that’s dropping 50 pounds. For

others, it’s qualifying for the Ironman World

Championships.” That, balanced with the re-

sponsibilities of fatherhood and spouse,

makes Funston a very busy man.

Funston realizes the importance of sports

in his life, both as a developing young man

and now as his adult career. “My adult life is

consumed with sports. The company I have

co-built with my business partner in Memphis

is all about improving sport performance. If

not for sports, I would not have the job and

business that I love. I get paid to work with

athletes, ride my bike, and help people meet

their sporting and fitness goals.” Funston

said. It doesn’t get much better than that as

an athlete looking to make sports a career.

“In college, I knew I wanted to be a coach. If

you had told me that it was going to be a cy-

cling, running, and triathlon coach, I would

have called you a liar. Although I would not

have guessed this path, I am very fortunate

that sports continue to give me so much,” Fun-

ston added. In the future, Funston hopes to re-

turn to the Southwest, perhaps Durango, and

continue his coaching business. “We are also

getting started on developing endurance spe-

cific products to help athletes further improve

within their given sports,” he added.

Funston continued from 9


Future tennis champions will have an oppor-

tunity to hone their skills this summer for less

than $3 a lesson.

Farmington High School Tennis Coach Pat

McGrath will offer his annual tennis camp for

youth ages 6 through 16, and the cost is $40

for 12 hours of training.

The camp will run June 2 through 5 at the

Farmington Tennis Complex on 30th Street.

McGrath began coaching the girl’s high

school tennis team nearly 21 years ago. He

began offering the summer tennis camp his

second year of coaching. “We started with 25

kids at Lions Court and it’s gotten bigger and

bigger each year,” he said.

There were 90 children who participated in

the camp last year, and McGrath expects up-

wards of 100 this year. The students will learn

all of the strokes and how to score a tennis

match.

“It is open to all skill levels. Most of my ten-

nis team started at these camps,” he said,

Story Debra Mayeux | Photos by Josh Bishop

McGrath hosts annual youth camp June 2 to 5

28 Four Corners SpoRTS May 2014

wheadding that upper-level students we be drilled at their skill level.

The camp is open to both boys and girls, and some of the high

school-level tennis players will help out on each court. “They know

how to teach,” McGrath said.

The camp has been wildly popular, and McGrath believes that is

because of when it is offered. It is the week after school lets out for

summer, and it is two weeks before the annual Citizens’ Tournament.

“The camp gets the kids excited about tennis,” he said, adding the

game is a lifelong sport that can be enjoyed.

“It’s a cheap sport,” McGrath said. “All you need is a can of tennis

balls and a racket for $30.”

Most people need someone to play against, but the tennis complex

has walls which a player can bounce a ball off for simulated play.

Camp participants need to wear tennis shoes and bring a tennis

racket, sunscreen and water. There is no shade at the tennis com-

plex, so students need to be prepared for lessons, which run from 9

a.m. to noon.

Registration begins June 2, the first day of camp.

For more information email McGrath at [email protected]

29Four Corners SportSMay 2014

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Sports and youth development are becoming

hot topics these days due to overbearing

parents, injuries/concussions and the “one-

sport” mentality that so many teams have

adopted. the true tragedy is that the combi-

nation of these topics plus the elimination of

physical education in our classrooms is re-

sulting in the next generation being under-

developed in various ways.

the one-sport mentality and the decreased

physical education time at school are the two

that raise the most serious concerns with

me as a golf instructor. Besides, there have

always been overbearing parents who think

that their child is going to develop into the

next greatest athlete and while injuries/con-

cussions seem to be increasing, I believe that

society has finally caught up to the inherent

risks that have been there all along.

So let me raise the discussion on why letting

your child play only one sport is actually hin-

dering the development of your child and

how physical education needs to increase in

our schools instead of being taken away.

tHE NEED For morE pHYSICAL EDUCAtIoN

physical education and the arts (music and

art) are being slowly weaned out of our chil-

dren’s education curriculum. With an in-

creased focus on test scores, math and

reading have now consumed our educational

system. Unfortunately, the decision makers

are forcing policies on our children that are

actually detrimental to those said test scores

and – more concerning – their overall devel-

opment.

research is finding that a lack of physical ac-

tivity causes a decrease in blood flow to our

brains which inhibits our ability to focus and

learn. In addition, playing aids in the creative

and imaginative aspect of childhood develop-

ment which is critical for the development of

the “whole” child.

our children need the consistent and con-

stant motor skill development that they re-

ceive by licensed physical educators in our

schools. this, coupled with the pandemic of

childhood obesity rising daily, should be an

alarm in our schools that is reaching Defcon

1. With a decrease in physical education, our

students are underperforming both physi-

cally and academically.

tHE oNE-Sport mENtALItY

repeat after me, “Insert name of your child

here, is Not going to make it to the profes-

sional level at the current sport he/she is

playing in right now.”

Now, I realize there are anomalies and local

products that have proven this statement

wrong, but they are so few and far between

that it isn’t worth ruining your child’s devel-

opment on the .00000000000000001 percent

chance that they will make it to the profes-

sional ranks.

the beautiful thing that many leaders in

youth development are finding through re-

search is that each different athletic en-

deavor builds different coordination levels

that can build upon one another to actually

enhance the sport they choose to play when

they get older and can make their own deci-

sion.

take for example the game of golf – the best

of all the sports in my non-biased opinion –

is a combination of coordination, strength,

balance, rotation and mental fortitude. Hav-

ing your child play baseball, basketball, ten-

nis, soccer, dance, softball and/or volleyball

– or any other sport here – will help your

child develop the brain connectivity in all of

those areas in different ways. Just playing

golf would only develop those certain areas

in one concentrated way. Never mind the de-

velopment of learning how to play a team

sport versus an individual sport and the

brain development that goes along with

learning each skill.

Baseball scouts and managers are starting

to look at the history of sports played by a

youth for each potential baseball draft pick

they make. A red flag is immediately raised if

that player only played baseball growing up

and nothing else. “Why?” you may ask?

It all comes back to learning skills that build

upon one another to form a complete individ-

ual. It is important for them to learn new

skills, learn to adapt, and learn to

succeed/fail with something more than just

one game or sport. Unfortunately, parents

are choosing the select, travel team route for

their kids in many sports, which doesn’t

allow for participation in other activities.

But probably the most important reason for

having your child become active in a myriad

of different skills is that it gets them out of

their comfort zone. they will meet new peo-

ple who may become friends for life, they

may fall in love with the new sport or activity

– which wouldn’t have otherwise happened

in the one-sport model – and they won’t burn

out of the one sport that they are playing ALL

tHE tImE!

If you are over the age of 40 and played youth

sports, I can promise you two things that led to

your overall development – physical education

in school more than once a week and playing

multiple sports growing up during your child-

hood. Yet, this is what is happening to our kids

today – and it is unacceptable. 30

tomYOSTthe First tee

Variety if the spice of lifeTHE FIRST TEE

Four Corners SportS May 2014

31Four Corners SPoRTSMay 2014

Piedra Vista Panther All-State post player Kaleigh

Graham on April 16 committed to Metro State Col-

lege in Denver. Graham, who is a rare five-time let-

terman in basketball, completed a stellar career at

Piedra Vista where she led the Panthers in scoring

and rebounding her senior year.

She was the 2014 District 1AAAA player of the

year and was selected to the North All-Star team as

well as representing New Mexico in the Arizona-

New Mexico All-Star series.

This spring Graham won the Marilyn Sepulveda

Classic shot put competition featuring the best of

the best without regard for class.

Kaleigh Graham, center, signs with the Metro

State Roadrunners alongside her parents Kristy &

Jeff Graham, Head Girls Basketball Coach Joe Reed

and Athletic Director Kelly Thur.

Letter of intentKaleigh Graham signs with Metro State College

32 Four Corners SpORTS May 2014

Fishing season began April 2 in New Mexico,

and anglers had to get used to a new system for

accessing fishing licenses.

New Mexico Game and Fish con-

verted the licensing system to an

online process that requires pay-

ment by credit card and a pur-

chase by computer, tablet or

smart phone.

The licenses may be purchased by

logging onto wildlife.state.nm.us or by call-

ing 1.888.248.6866. The setup has streamlined

the licensing process for both fishing and hunt-

ing within the state, but some have said there is

a problem accessing the site from remote lo-

cations, such as Navajo Reservoir,

where cell phone service is limited.

While the licenses might not

be available at the lake site,

there are off-site properties,

such as Abe’s Fly Shop, that sell

the licenses on a computer set

up in the shop. An employee at

Abe’s said nine out of 10 of the li-

censes go through without a problem.

Some of the licenses have incorrect information

on them, and then the applicant has to call the

toll-free number for a correction.

Most of applications, however, are going

through processing just fine, the employee said.

T.J. Massey, of San Juan River Outfitters, said

while there are no problems when the comput-

ers are working, there are reliability concerns at

the dam. Navajo Dam historically has had Web

server problems, and if someone drives out to

the lake only to find the server down, they will

not be able to get a fishing license.

Story by Debra Mayeux | Photo by Josh Bishop

New system handy as long as you have Internet service

Online processing

* License 35

33Four Corners SpORTSMay 2014

Summer is almost here so it's time to get the fishing gear out andhead to the San Juan River.

Current flows on the San Juan River below Navajo Lake are 250cfs.Water clarity has improved greatly over the past few weeks makingdry fly fishing a possibility in the afternoons. Look for midge clustersto form in the afternoon hours.

With the hatches being best from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. don't be in a rushto get to the water.

Some of the best nymph rigs to try are:Size 22 red larvae followed by size 24 black zebra midge.Size 22 root beer midge larvae followed by size 22 olive midge.

The best dry flies have been:Size 22 single black CDC midge.Size 18 griffith’s gnat.

Fishing in the Catch and Keep area has been fair using worms andsalmon eggs!

FishingFishingREPORTREPORT

FishingREPORT

T.J. Massey

San Juan River Outfitters

www.sanjuanriveroutfitters.com

505.486.5347

34 Four Corners SPorTS May 2014

JACoBMCCASLAND

My goal for the entire season is to stay healthy first and

keep myself in a good shape, so that the only thing left to

worry about is getting better as a pitcher. When it comes to

pitching, my goal is to attack the strike zone more consis-

tently with at least two of my pitches – and I hope three by

the end of the year – and staying healthy so I can stay on the

mound more to work on what I need to be successful.

I look at it as a good experience and a major gain of knowl-

edge in the entire system of advancing in baseball. At UNM,

baseball did not go as smoothly as I would have liked, but

getting to experience school was much more enjoyable than

I thought it would be. As far as baseball, it may have bene-

fited me a little more to go pro right out of high school, but

who knows what could have happened. All that matters now

is that I’m in the same position I would have been. Just

maybe not as far up in the system as I might have been sign-

ing out of high school.

I would have to say going to show case tournaments more

than anything, and getting to play against the best players

around the country. Playing in Farmington is great and

some of the best baseball memories I have are there, but

the jump from there to pro ball is a really big one.

Not at all. I loved every bit of high school and summer base-

ball in Farmington. Getting to play with my brother and best

friends all the time is definitely the highlight of my baseball

memories. I wouldn’t change any of them.

Huge. It’s always nice, when you’re at a tough point in your

career, to know that you have parents like them in your cor-

ner. They always support my brother and me, which is really

nice.

Well there are many things, but the most important is

learning that you don’t have to blow fastballs by everyone,

because you can’t. Professional hitters can hit 100-mph

fastballs. The main thing I’ve learned is that it’s better to

throw to location with movement than just to be wild and

throw hard. It’s also important to keep them off balance by

throwing off speed pitches for strikes at the right times.

Absolutely. Being a pitcher can be pretty boring at times

when you’re not playing. I miss hitting a lot. I try to hit bat-

ting practice when I can, but many of the hitting skills have,

sadly, been lost after four years of not hitting.

I’m not really sure if I did give him any. I know he can take

care of himself and he’s doing really well. Hopefully he can

be playing professionally along with me soon.

I think it has a little bit for both of us in some way or an-

other. I know that after three years of college I was ready to

get out and get to playing professional baseball. It has defi-

nitely been easier, so far, with him being here. Almost every

time I pitch he’s in the outfield playing defense behind me,

which is pretty cool.

In your second year in the Giants organization, what is yourgoal for this season?

1

After your senior year of high school the Giants drafted you,but you decided to go to UNM. How do you look at that decision now?

2

Looking back on your high school career, what best prepared you for the professional baseball life?

3

Was there anything you would have done differently in yourhigh school career?

4

Your parents attended every game you played, it seemed.How important was their support?

5

Your brother Morgan also went on to play atthe collegiate level. What advice did you givehim when he headed to college?

8

Currently, you are in the Giants organizationwith former PV teammate Shilo McCall. Hasthat made the transition to the pros easier ?

9

You were quite a hitter in your youth. Do yousometimes wish you were an everyday playerand getting a few at bats?

7

How have you grown as a pitcher since turning pro?

6

Born: Sept. 13, 1999, Farmington, N.M.High School: Piedra Vista High SchoolCollege: University of New Mexico Drafted in the 38th round (1158th overall) by the San Francisco

Giants in 2010 (did not sign)

Drafted in the 26th round (792nd overall) by the San FranciscoGiants in 2013

35Four Corners SPORtSMay 2014

not too much, I mean you have to look at is

as you’re as good as anyone here. We’re all

professionals. I have met several of the guys

on the big league club, such as Ryan voggel-

song and angel Pagan. they are both great

guys, but if you didn’t know it they would

seem like any other guy walking down the

street. I would say it’s more exciting person-

ally to know that you’re so close to that level

on which those guys play every day, it gives

you something to be excited about. I wouldn’t

say I’m dying to meet anyone, because we

see most of those guys around the complex

quite often.

Were you starstruck at all at

spring training this year? If

so, who were you dying to

meet?

10

“I’ve talked to the shop owners, and not

one of them has had a problem yet,” Massey

said. He still has advised people to get their

license on their home computer before head-

ing out to the lake. “You can print your li-

cense in our office or at home.”

new Mexico Game and fish has not re-

ported any problems on its website, and, ac-

cording to Department fisheries Chief Mike

Sloane the season ahead looks to be a good

one.

“Spring has sprung, and warmer tempera-

tures mean thawing ice, emerging insects,

hungry fish and great fishing,” Sloane said.

new Mexico waters offer all types of fish,

including bass, tiger muskie and walleye in

local reserviors and Rio Grande Cuttthroat,

Gila and Rainbow trout in high mountain

streams, according to the Game and fish.

anglers who live in the state should plan

to purchase their licenses prior to heading

to the lake proper. the licenses are $25 for

the year with a $4 Habitat Management ac-

cess validation and a $5 Habitat Improvement

Stamp, which is mandatory on all uSDa for-

est Service and BLM properties.

non-residents pay $56 for an annual li-

cense or $24 for a five-day license and $12

for a one-day license. Children under 11 and

seniors over the age of 70 can fish free. a

junior license is $5, and a senior license for

ages 65 to 69 is $8. non-resident children can

purchase annual licenses for $15.

Game and fish also provides a game-hunt-

ing and fishing combination license for $30.

Licensing information, as well as the abil-

ity to purchase licenses, can be found on the

Internet at wildlife.state.nm.us.

License continued from 32

“I’ve talked to the shop owners,

and not one of them has had a

problem yet. You can print your

license in our office or at

home.”

— T.J. MasseySan Juan RIveR OutfItteRS

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