sports

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.
BIG WIN – Ignacio High School’s Wyatt Hayes (2) passed the ball as Telluride’s Brooks Rogers (33), Sam Demus (24) and Wilder Hanley (1) went to block the pass and get ready for a rebound during Saturday’s basketball action in Telluride. The Miners won the game 60-50. (Photo by Dale Kondracki)
Telluride Boys’ basketball ranked #2 in the league, with two more games before tournament time.
NORAMS BRONZE – Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club freestyle skier Keaton McCargo, who is on the World Cup team, laid down a run on the NorAm course on Hermit Saturday. McCargo came in 16th Saturday, but roared back Sunday to a third-place finish. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
Telluride takes three of 12 podiums at home-hosted NorAm moguls events.
SKI-JORING – The annual races take place on Silverton’s Blair Street Saturday and Sunday. (Photo by David Emory)
The event delivers huge thrills for competitors and spectators alike, as skiers navigate a series of six-foot high jumps and obstacles on a straight-of-way course through the historic heart of Silv...
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SAFETY FIRST – Surrounded by students, Gov. Hickenlooper signed a bill into law at Ouray School on Thursday afternoon that seeks to enhance school safety across Colorado by providing support at the state level to hire more school resource officers. (Photo by Samantha Wright)
RATS’ NEST – A rack of demo bikes at last year’s Ridgway Area Trails (RAT) Festival in Hartwell Park. This year’s 3rd annual will again feature trail building and skills clinics, along with a new Friday beer-and-shorts film night at the Sherbino Theater. (Courtesy photo)
VOLUNTEER Linda Granzow worked twine through spent round casings at the Welcome Home Montrose Warrior Resource Center last week. (Photo by William Woody)
WARRIOR WIND CHIMES – Welcome Home Montrose staff Emily Smith painted ceramic part of wind chimes at the Welcome Home Montrose Warrior Resource Center last week. (Photo by William Woody)
BACK HOME IN TELLURIDE – members of Telluride’s Volunteer Fire Department helped move the Galloping Goose No. 4 back to its home next to the San Miguel County Courthouse on May 16. The railbus spent the last four years in Ridgway while it was refurbished. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)

ROBERT JUSTIS (Courtesy photo)
