sports
The implosion of the Denver Nuggets organization is well underway following the firing of coach George Karl last week.
The Finals matchup between the old (Spurs) and kind of young (Heat) looks to be a gem.

HEADED TO PLAYOFFS - Montrose High Shoo0l's Jake Kastendieck fielded a ground ball last Saturday during the team’s 10-0 victory over Woodland Park. The Indians advance to the state 4A quarterfinals this Friday at Cherokee Trail High School against Valor Christian. (Photo by William Woody)
Through 14 games earlier this season, the Montrose High School varsity baseball team and its relentlessly effective offense was unbeatable. That is, until Valor Christian came to Montrose.
“The Telluride Snowboard Team did amazing at USASA Nationals, possibly our best all-time placing,” said Molly Cooney, coach at the Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club.

DEFENSE LEADER – Defensive secondary coach Chuck Alexander, far left, will replace Eric Handke, second from left, as the Indians' new defensive coordinator next season. (Photo by William Woody)
Defensive Secondary Coach Chuck Alexander will step up to Defensive Coordinator for MHS football team.
HEADED TO SALIDA – MHS defensive coordinator Eric Handke applauded his players during a game against Delta High School last year. Handke is leaving MHS to become head coach of the Salida Spartans. (Photo by William Woody)
Montrose Indians’ Defensive Coordinator Todd Handke heads to Salida, where he’ll be head coach for the 1A Salida Spartans.
SILVER MEDALISTS – Telluride’s synchronized ski team, the Telluride Ghostriders, brought home the silver medal from the world synchronized held in Aspen on April 5, (Photos courtesy of Heather Bell)
The Ghostriders’ team of eight professional ski instructors were first up, with a box routine, completing set maneuvers involving short and medium radius turns, and scoring an 81.25.
ELBOW UP - Six-year-old Micah Nichols readied his swing while attending a Montrose Youth Baseball and Softball Program hitting clinic at the Sunset Mesa Sports Complex on Saturday, April 6. The clinic was conducted under the direction of the Montrose High School baseball team. (Photo by William Woody)
Last Saturday, members of the perennial league-champ MHS baseball team, taught a group of roughly three dozen youngsters the basics of swing mechanics in preparation for their upcoming summer Littl...

STELLAR SEASON – Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club-trained skiers Thomas Rowley (right) and Keaton McCargo (left) celebrated their wins at the Junior World Mogul Championship, held in Valmalenco, Italy at the end of March. Their wins capped a stellar season for Telluride mogul skiers, including U.S. Ski Team athlete Joe Discoe. The TSSC freestyle team has enjoyed its winningest season in history, with podiums at national and international contests. (Courtesy photo)
TSSC named USSA’s Freestyle Club of the Year, thanks to local athletes 2012-13 season triumphs.
Telluride-bred freeskier Gus Kenworthy has his sights set on a trip to Sochi, Russia next year for the Olympics – and is on the right track, with a series of wins under his belt this winter.
Despite both Mavericks teams posting wins over the weekend at the ultra-competitive State Championship Tournament, the Norwood boys and girls teams fell in State quarterfinals, with the girls fight...

WINGED FEET – Ouray High School sophomore Micah Smith (orange and black, right) drove down the track in the 1600 meter run at Saturday’s Panther Invitational in Delta, the second meet of the new season. (Photo by David Emory)
Ouray’s high school track and field season is off to a fast start with meets in Montrose and Delta; next up the Bulldog Invitational in Hotchkiss, Saturday, March 23.
Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club’s Freestyle team notched solid results at Junior National championship last weekend in Park City; Junior World Championship and Nationals on the horizon.
If They Win Thursday’s Game, It’s on to State Tournament Saturday

ON THE PODIUM – Ouray’s Heidi Duce (right) celebrated with her teammates following a World Cup even in Slovenia last weekend. (Courtesy photo)
Now it’s on to nationals, and Maybe Sochi.
Telluride skiers land U.S. Ski team spots.
The Telluride High School basketball teams have overcome their first post-season hurdle, as both the girls and boys teams triumphed over adversity last weekend.
DISCOE PODIUMS – Telluride Ski and Snowboard-trained mogulist Joe Discoe, left, of Ridgway, on his first-ever World Cup podium, after taking third place in Dual Moguls last week at Inawashiro, Japan. The win marks the first time in close to a decade that a Telluride skier has earned a World Cup victory. (Courtesy photo)
Telluride Ski and Snowboard-trained mogulist Joe Discoe wins first World Cup podium of his career at event in Japan, while Keaton McCargo notches double wins at Val St. Come NorAm contest
KING AND QUEEN – Corbyn Robinson and Leah Wesseling were crowned at halftime of the Ridgway High School boys’ homecoming basketball game last Saturday. (Photo by Peter Shelton)
Homecoming basketball games went the Demons’ way last Saturday, as Ridgway hosted old rivals, Ouray.
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Law enforcement officials in San Miguel County are searching for the whereabouts of 33-year-old Matthew Busker, who was reported missing on Monday. (Courtesy photo_

ALL AMERICA CITY MANAGER – Montrose City Manager Bill Bell flourished the award Sunday evening in Denver. Montrose was awarded the title of All America City this weekend. (Photo courtesy Scott Shine)
TELLURIDE ACADEMY STAFF – Gathered for a pre-season photo just prior to the Monday, June 10, launch of its 33rd Summer Season. (Courtesy photo)
PRODIGAL DAUGHTER – Trish Greenwood, Ridgway Elementary School’s new principal (here with husband Jim Nowak), is returning to the school where she began teaching, in 1989. (Courtesy photo)
HEALTHY FAWN – Leave them alone, even if they seem to be abandoned. They more-than-likely are not. (Photo courtesy of David Hannigan, Parks and Wildlife)
HIGH TIMES – The Gold Belt Theatre was part of the “small empire” of vice developed by the brothers Vanoli in late Victorian Ouray. The Ouray County Historical Society Evenings of History presentation next Tuesday (June 18) will look at artifacts from the Vanoli Block, and what it all means. (Courtesy photo)
BEN WAYNE LILLARD, 1957 - 2013
DIXIE KEITHLY, April 3, 1931 – June 9, 2013
TROUT LAKE is currently being drained in order for Xcel Energy, which owns the recreational area, to complete work on the output of the lake’s dam. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
