Student athletes recognized at banquet

More than 300 people attended the annual Tucumcari Athletic Awards Banquet put on May 20 by the Diamondback Booster Club at the Tucumcari Convention Center.

The event served as a final sendoff - especially seniors who would graduate Friday - for participants in the school's varsity cheerleading, cross country, football, volleyball, wrestling, boys and girls basketball, golf, boys and girls track, baseball and softball programs.

Rod Dunlap, a participant in track, football and wrestling during the school year, was announced as the Male Athlete of the Year near the end of the evening. Dunlap, a senior, was a runner-up in the 145-pound weight class at the Class 3A wrestling tournament.

Kalani French, a senior who participated in girls basketball, volleyball, track and softball, was named the Female Athlete of the Year. This season, French was a key part of the girls basketball team that advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals, a track team that won a district title and a softball team that earned a berth in the state tournament.

Male Academic Athlete of the Year was senior Kaleb Hayes, a participant in football and wrestling. He won the state title in the 220-pound weight class at the Class 3A wrestling tournament.

Michelle Jones, booster club president and emcee of the event, initially announced Dunlap as the winner of Hayes' award. But in a moment that recalled the Academy Awards' mistake a few years ago, Athletic Director Wayne Ferguson interrupted, saying Hayes was the proper winner because he would be named valedictorian of his class. Jones said both would get the honor instead of it being taken away from Dunlap.

Lenora Trujillo, who participated in girls basketball, golf, cross country, track and volleyball, was named the Female Academic Athlete of the Year.

The night came with a few emotional moments, including when girls basketball coach Gary Hittson said his players served as role models for many little girls in the community who eventually would become Lady Rattlers themselves. The softball team also gave CJ Oglesby, who recently finished guiding the team to its most successful season, a special Coach of the Year plaque.

Ferguson received one of the biggest ovations when Dana Benavidez recounted part of her induction speech when he was inducted into the New Mexico High School Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association's Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Almost 30 seniors who participated in extra-curricular activities during their high-school careers were individually honored.

Jones said a total of 305 tickets were sold to the banquet, compared to 289 last year. She said was pleased to see a higher parent-to-student ratio this year, indicating more support from parents for sports.

The Diamondback Booster Club raises about $25,000 each year to help pay for half the cost of meals on the road for Tucumcari's sports teams.