Gonzales, Huffman named THS top senior athletes

Antonio Gonzales and Haisley Huffman were named the Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year during the Rattler Athletic Banquet last Monday organized by the Tucumcari Diamondback Booster Club.

About 350 people attended the annual gathering at the Tucumcari Convention Center, where Tucumcari High School athletes in cross country, football, cheer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, powerlifting, softball, baseball, golf and track are honored.

Gonzales participated in football, powerlifting and wrestling for the Rattlers, including finishing second in his weight class at the state wrestling championships.

Huffman participated basketball, softball and track, including recently capturing two championships at the state track meet and a total of five during her Lady Rattlers career.

The Academic Athletes of the Year from the senior class were Nolan Ryen and Kirksey Smith.

Ryen participated in track, football and powerlifting, where he finished fourth in his division at the state meet.

Smith played basketball, volleyball and track, including finishing fifth in the girls shot put at the state track meet.

For volleyball, coach Dana Benavidez talked about a 20-7 team that captured the program's third-ever district title and won an unprecedented two matches at the state tournament.

Benavidez said the Lady Rattlers played in five matches last season that went five sets, and her team won all five - a sign of its tenacity.

The coach gave out these awards: Blocker of the Year, July Lafferty; Server of the Year, Smith; Best Serving Percentage and Best Defensive Player, Huffman; Most Aces and Best Setter, Caylee Benavidez; Passer of the Year, Alexis Ramirez; Utility Player of the Year, Harley McKinney; Most Kills, Cambree Benavidez; and OPP of the Year, Kylie'Ann Rincones.

In girls basketball, coach Patrick Benavidez said his 23-4 team made the finals in all of its regular-season tournaments and won its third straight district title. Tucumcari advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals before losing to Santa Fe Indian.

He passed out honors to these players: Top Rebounder and Most Steals, July Lafferty; Most Assists, Most Blocks and Most Points, Caylee Benavidez; and Highest Free Throw Percentage, Kyla Lopez.

Wrestling coach Tim Clark detailed his boys team finishing second in a rugged district.

He thanked his assistant coaches for guiding the team when he was sidelined for several weeks after neck surgery. Clark especially thanked parents who came through when the school district was dealing with a shortage of bus drivers.

Clark gave "The Man in the Arena" awards - inspired by a famed speech by President Teddy Roosevelt - to Isaiah Jimenez and Gonzales. Sarah Vallejo, a standout on the girls wrestling team, received a "The Woman in the Arena" award.

Clark also coached the cross country teams.

Softball coach CJ Oglesby honored his Lady Rattlers team though it still had at least one game to play later in the week at the Class 3A tournament. Tucumcari finished 12-13 overall.

Oglesby announced that senior centerfielder Huffman and senior shortstop Harley McKinney earned all-district honors this season.

Honors given: Most Improved, Melanie Lisabelle; Co-Offensive Player of Year, Alexis Ramirez and Huffman; Defensive Player of the Year, Huffman; Leadership Award, Caylee Benavidez; Outstanding Catcher, Lafferty; Pitching Excellence, Mia Estrada; Coach's MVP, Lafferty; and Most Valuable Player, McKinney.

Cheer coach Jolene Garcia said her team would have finished third in state competition if it hadn't suffered a safety deduction during competition.

She noted the program has shown continued improvement at state, finishing 11th, then ninth, then sixth and fifth this past season. She expressed hope Tucumcari soon would win its first state title since the 1980s.

Garcia also noted junior Nevaeh Montoya made the Varsity Spirit All-American group and performed in the London New Year's Day Parade.

She also thanked senior Sariah Mardo for bringing the Rattler mascot costume out of the mothballs and becoming a fixture in it during home games.

Track coach Wayne Ferguson thanked his assistants for a successful season.

Ferguson noted Huffman's total of five state championships in the long jump or triple jump. He said Huffman repeatedly broke school records in the triple jump and will run track at West Texas A&M University.

In boys basketball, coach Gary Hittson said his 9-15 team lost a number of games it should have won. But he noted the Rattlers didn't lose any seniors, and "the future is very bright."

Awards given to the Rattlers: Most Blocks and Most Rebounds, Kamren Apodaca; Mot Points and Most Steals, Luis Archuleta; Most Assists, Daymion Urioste; and Most Offensive Charges Taken, Jordan Rincones.

In football, assistant coach Adrian Jones talked about a 3-6 Rattlers team that notched its first district win in several years.

Jones also noted the squad likely will be more competitive after it was realigned from Class 3A to 2A.

He gave a special honor for freshman player Javion Martinez, who died unexpectedly in his home in August.

Head coach Tarik Embrack won't be returning for a second season in Tucumcari after he was placed on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons in January.

Baseball coach George Montano said his 3-17 team had played will early in the season but hit a rough patch during its district schedule. He noted four district teams made it to the state tournament.

Montano announced Nick Goen and Luis Archuleta were voted to the all-district team and that Jace Aughtman, Pat Garcia and Josh Griego were honorable mentions.

Honors for Rattler baseball players: Best Offensive Player, Goen; Pitcher of the Year, Griego; and Defense Player of the Year, Archuleta.

In powerlifting, coach Matt Benavidez talked about Tucumcari's first season in the sport, including Ryen's fourth-place finish at the state tournament.

The golf program honored its lone player, Kaden Brown.