Commentary by George Morse
SUN Staff Writer
Now that practice has begun for the upcoming high school fall sports season, it’s time to reflect on last year and some of the changes for the upcoming season.
After seven years, there will be a new face on the sidelines for the Española Valley volleyball team. Sam Estrada has resigned as coach after turning the Sundevils’ program into one of the most respected in Class AAAA. New head coach Gary Maskally has some big shoes to fill, but Estrada did a good job of raising the expectations of the players at Española.
There will be a lot of new faces on the floor for Española this season. The key position of setter will need to be filled and returning outside hitter Renee Roybal and middle hitter Veronica Quintana will have to step up.
Estrada is the new volleyball coach at Santa Fe High School and could face Española at the Tournament of Champions Sept. 19 to 20 hosted by Santa Fe.
Pojoaque volleyball coach Brian Ainsworth’s record speaks for itself. Pojoaque has won a Class AAA state championship, lost in the state championship game and lost to the eventual state champion in the semifinals over the past three seasons.
The Elkettes will have to replace setter Jaymie Roybal, who graduated in May after serving as a three-year starter. With outside hitters Dionna Montoya and Janelle Roybal returning, as well as middle hitters Kira Trujillo and Leandra Martinez, when the Elkettes find someone to get them the ball they should once again be state title contenders.
Steve Long turned McCurdy School around in his first season as coach, lifting the Lady Bobcats to a 17-6 season and the District 3AA championship last season after the Bobcats went 4-16 the previous year. Look for McCurdy to be strong again with tall Brenda Avila returning, along with setter/hitter Kaitlin Vigil. If McCurdy improves its defense and passing, it could make it to state.
Coronado will have a new opponent in District 2AA. Navajo Prep has been added to the district, replacing Jemez Valley, which moved to District 8AA. The Lady Leopards stormed through District 2AA last season, compiling a 7-0 record on their way to the district championship. Navajo Prep made it to the Class AA state championship last season and traditionally fields a strong team. They will be a tough opponent for the Leopards.
Having Navajo Prep in its district could be a blessing in disguise for Coronado. An increase in the level of competition during district play could benefit the Leopards if they make it to state. Last year, the lack of competition during the regular season hurt Coronado. When the Leopards got to state, they made an early exit because they weren’t used to the higher level of competition.
In 2003, Navajo Prep was a member of District 2AA and when the leopards met the Eagles in the Class AA girls basketball state championship game, Coronado was able to win its first and only state championship in a team sport because they were familiar with Navajo Prep’s the level of play.
Dulce, Mesa Vista and Escalante will need to improve if they hope to make it to the postseason. Escalante has had some success in the past, including district championships in 2006 and 2004, Like many small schools, their success seems to run in cycles.
Cross Country
The female runners are the ones to keep an eye on during the upcoming cross country season.
Sophia Torres, the defending Class AAA state champion, returns for Pojoaque. It will be interesting to see if St. Michaels High School’s Kate Norskog returns to top form for this year’s state cross country meet. She battled injuries during last year’s cross country season, but appeared to be in top form during the 2008 track season,
Torres and Norskog should have some stirring battles during the season and could be neck-and-neck racing toward the finish line at this year’s Class AAA state championship.
Pojoaque’s chances at a team trophy at this year’s state cross-country meet were hurt when Camille Martinez opted for an early entrance to college. If Jesenia Najera can return to her 2006 form, when she was third at state, and young Ariel Castañeda continues to improve, the Elkettes could have a shot at the third-place trophy.
Española Valley senior Naomi Maestas has returned to varsity competition this year after running strictly junior varsity races last season after transferring from Pojoaque. She will likely be the Lady Sundevils’ top runner and has a chance of earning a medal at state. Dulce Avitia could also be a surprise for Española’s team.
Mesa Vista’s Hailey Lucero burst on to the scene last year as an eighth-grader and became the first girl in Mesa Vista history to earn all-state honors in cross country. If she keeps improving, she will be among the Class A-AA top runners again.