Last year, the high school sports season ended on one of the most uplifting notes that I can remember. At the presentation of the trophies for the state Class AAA-AAAAA track and field meet, the competitors spontaneously formed a tunnel for the winning teams to run through to receive their trophies. It was an expression of joy and happiness that even made reporters covering the event smile. It was just plain fun to be there.
It was the same celebration May 8 at the conclusion of the state track meet.
The Pojoaque girls team had placed first last year in Class AAA. This year, the Elkettes got to run the tunnel one more time, only this time it was as the third-place trophy recipients. It wasn’t a blue trophy, but the green third-place trophy matched Pojoaque’s school colors of green and white.
This is the last year of competition for two athletes it has been my pleasure to watch throughout their high school careers at Pojoaque. They have excelled at their respective sports.
One is Sophia Torres, who I became familiar with after I did a profile in 2004 on her father, Senovio (Leo) Torres. Senovio is a remarkable athlete. At one time, he held three records in the Pikes Peak Marathon. Sophia was just entering seventh grade that year but was already running with her dad in half-marathons. The expectations for Sophia were high.
She has handled the high expectations well and not let them spoil her love of running. She’s earned all-state honors in cross country every year since the eighth grade and was state champion in 2007. Torres has had a running duel with St. Michael’s Kate Norskog, who is a year behind her and has won three state cross country championships. Torres has been beaten by Norskog in every race where they have gone head-to-head except the 2007 cross country championships. Following rivalries like Torres and Norskog makes sports that much more interesting to write about.
The other athlete I’m going to miss is Pojoaque’s Dionna Montoya, who I first noticed at a basketball game when she played for Holy Cross Catholic School. She caught my eye even back then for her athletic skills and I remember thinking that she was going to be good as she grew up. Four state championships later — two in basketball, one in track and one in volleyball — it looks like my hunch was right.
Like Torres, however, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Montoya, particularly in her last season. The Elkettes did not repeat as state Class AAA basketball champions this season. Montoya was named to the Class AAA all-state team last year but wasn’t this year. After finishing second the last two years in the 400-meter run at the Class AAA state track meet, she didn’t even make the finals this year. She won the long jump at state as a sophomore but hasn’t repeated since. This year, injuries slowed her down.
Nevertheless, these athletes could never disappoint me, even if their careers don’t have storybook endings.
This story required a correction: Dionna Montoya played and attended Holy Cross Catholic School, not Española Elementary as originally stated in this story.