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2 Four Corners SportS NOVEMBER 2014
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3Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
content| 4 |
Snaggin’ salmon
They’ll arrive with camping gear, fishing
gear, and lots of determination. They’ll
come from Texas, Oklahoma, utah, Col-
orado and Arizona. And they’ll all come
for the same reason — it’s salmon snag-
ging season.
| 8 |
Road Apple RallyWhen Patricia Cummins Siegel got on her
bike to participate in the 2014 Road Apple
Rally mountain bike race on October 4,
the event was more than just another
race.
| 12 | Taking the reinsAs the fall season begins it’s time to look
at the continuing carousel that is high
school coaching.
| 18 | On a tearRiley Rahm, a 17-year-old senior at Piedra
Vista High School, is on a tear to begin
the 2014-2015 golf season.
| 24 | Big game mapsThe Bureau of land Management has part-
nered with the New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish to offer mobile maps of New
Mexico’s big game hunting units through
the CarryMap Application.
| 22 | The Breakfast Clubin the truest form of Americana, retired
men and women sit around their local
McDonalds drinking coffee and solving
the world’s problems. This is far from the
case for Jim Bateman and Mark McFar-
land, affectionately known by the Civitan
Golf Course clubhouse golf attendants as
the Breakfast Club.| 14 | Mastering the board
At the age of 34, Daniel Diswood is living
his dream. Doing ollies and kickflips, and
occasionally suffering the consequences
of them. Diswood and his skateboard are
all but inseparable.
| 25 | Hike, bike free in 2015
| 24 | Color DashNew Beginnings at The Navajo united
Methodish Center is hosting The Color
Dash at Berg Park on Saturday, Oct. 25.
| 32 | First Tee
| 29 | Fishing report
| 30 | Nascar Nellie
| 26 | Editorial column
Don Vaughan
PuBlISHER
Cindy Cowan Thiele
EDITOR
Rick Hoerner
Tom Yost
Dorothy Nobis
CONTRIBuTING WRITERS
Curtis Benally
Josh Bishop
CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Suzanne Thurman
DESIGNER
Shelly Acosta
Clint Alexander
Aimee Velasquez
SAlES STAFF
For advertising information
Call 505.516.1230
www.fourcornerssports.com
Four Corners Sports magazine is published once amonth by Majestic Media. Material herein may not bereprinted without expressed written consent of the pub-lisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writersare not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FourCorners Sports magazine. Every effort has been madeto ensure the accuracy of this publication. However thepublisher cannot assume responsibility for errors orommissions. © 2014 Four Corners Sports magazine.
Majestic Media
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Farmington, NM 87401
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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS
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Please send to
We’ve got more photos
than we can use.
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for each issue at
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Josh Bishop
17Four Corners SpoRtSNOVEMBER 2014
PPaarrttnneerrss AAssssiisstteedd LLiivviinngg SSeerrvviicceess
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PPAALLSS
“We (the early skateboarders)
did it because it was the anti-sport.
We didn’t have a coach telling us what
to do. It’s an activity you own and
there’s no crowd cheering for you”
— Daniel Diswood
you, you know you have to do it. Most people will look at you like you’re an idiot but,
something inside tells you, you just have to do it.”
Diswood stresses the importance of safety equipment for those “have to do it” times
and for every time a skater gets on the board. “Most injuries are with the ankles and
knees,” he said. “I pad up completely – elbows and knees, gloves and a helmet. Road rash
is not fun. It burns you, tears you up and takes forever to heal.”
Kevin Werito has been skateboarding since he was 14 years old. Now 25 and with a
wife and son, Werito continues to skate, but for a slightly different reason than when he
was a teen.
* Skateboarding 34
5Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
heavy-duty fishing rod and reel and snagging
hooks. “Patience and a first aid kit are also
helpful,” Wethington added with a laugh.
Accidents can – and usually do – happen
when people gather for snagging season.
“And use common sense and restraint,”
Wethington encouraged snaggers. “Often,
when people start snagging, they get lost in
the moment and don’t think about what
they’re doing.”
It is those times, he added, when acci-
dents can occur. The snagging hooks can get
lodged in the skin and are difficult to re-
move. In addition, because much of the
shoreline where anglers snag is rugged,
Wethington said people need to be careful
when walking to and from their favorite fish-
ing spot.
The biologist recalled a couple of acci-
dents in recent years. “A guy was snagging
from the spillway and fell from 15
to18 feet into the
water. He
got up and went back up to his spot and kept
on snagging. People are pretty serious about
getting their limit. I’ve seen hooks get
snagged in people, and they’ll remove the
hooks from each other and continue snag-
ging.”
Those favorite fishing spots include the
southern corner of the docks. The area adja-
cent to the spillway and north of the boating
ramps at Navajo are “quite good” Wethington
said, adding that snagging in the Saint Fran-
cis Canyon is also a good place to snag the
salmon. Snagging is not allowed from the
boat dock or from the boat deck.
“We still have a lot of boat traffic (during
the snagging season) and there have been
minor conflicts between the boaters and the
snaggers in the past,” Wething-
ton explained.
The best time to snag is early in the morn-
ing and early evening, “From dusk to dawn is
good and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is really
good,” Wethington said. “Salmon are light
sensitive, so days that are overcast, rainy or
snowy are good days to snag.”
The season peaks from the second week
in October to the first week in November, he
said. “Heron Reservoir typically draws huge
crowds for opening day. The fish seem to
concentrate there.”
While Wethington has friends who enjoy
snagging salmon, it isn’t something he par-
ticipates in. “It’s too intense for
me,” he said with a
laugh.
6 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
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“I’ll visit with my friends when they’re snagging,
but I don’t join them.”
Wethington is a fly fisherman, he explained. “I fish
the Quality Waters and I enjoy that. I deal with fishing
every single day and I live at Navajo Dam, so usually I
choose not to think about fishing (on my day off).
The campgrounds at Navajo Lake State Park are
busy year ’round, and the salmon snagging season
brings campers to the park in droves.
“October (the beginning of the snagging season) is
extremely busy,” said Cheryl Moline, Navajo State
Park Administrator. “People come from everywhere
(to snag).”
With 78 campsites in the main campground, more
than 20 sites at the Sims Mesa campground, which is
on the opposite side of the lake, and 47 sites at the
Cottonwood site (on the San Juan River), Moline said
salmon snaggers and anglers fishing for trout keep
the park busy all through October.
“Salmon snagging usually ends by the end of Octo-
ber, when the weather is colder and the salmon die
off,” Moline said. “And October is also a great month
for trout fishing, which increases activity at the
park.”
The park staff is prepared for the influx of those
seeking salmon and trout in the fall, Moline added.
“It’s a continuation of our summer, so we’re always
ready for it.”
The Four Corners Region Geotourism web site
states that, “World class fishing is experienced all
along the San Juan River in New Mexico, but the 4.25
miles of river just below Navajo Dam, known as the
Quality Waters, holds over 80,000 trout. The Quality
Waters teem with rainbow, brown and cutthroat
trout. Fabulous year-round fishing exists in the Qual-
ity Waters as well as along the 12 additional miles of
open water along the San Juan River.”
7Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
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Marc Wethington said Navajo Lake State
Park offers great gishing and improvements
to ehnance the anglers enjoyment of the area
are always ongoing.
As the fishing biologist, Wethington said he
is involved in most of the New Mexico Game
and Fish projects in the area. “We just com-
pleted a project on the San Juan River in
June,” he said, “that increased the parking lot
and boat ramp at the Hammond Tract area.”
That project, according to the Outdoors NM
web site, included a new concrete boat take-
out ramp, an improved parking lot and a new
outhouse. “We also cleared 50 acres of land
and removed the Russian olive andsaltxedar
trees to provide more access to the river,”
Wethington said.
The estimated 4625,000 project was funded by
grants from the State Forestry and the San Juan
Soil and Water Conservation District, federal
wildlife and sport fish excise taxes on the sale of
sporting goods, New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish funds and contributions from
ConocoPhillips, WPX Energy and the New Mexico
Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, according to the
Fisheries Management of the NMDGF.
The Hammond Tract is located on an un-
marked dirt road of NM 511, near the intersec-
tion of US 64. Wethington said the project
began in 2006/2007. New projects are in dis-
cussion stages, Wethington added, between
the New Mexico Tourism and Travel Depart-
ment and the New Mexico State Parks Division.
Wethington said he enjoys the projects he’s
been able to work on during his 19 years and
two months (as of September) he’s been a
fishing biologist. “It’s been a good job and a
good career,” he said of his position.
“I’ve been allowed to be part of bigger proj-
ects that people get to see and enjoy. Getting
feedback from sportsmen and the people who
enjoy those projects is the best part of the
job.”
8 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
When Patricia Cummins Siegel got on her
bike to participate in the 2014 Road Apple
Rally mountain bike race on Oct. 4, the event
was more than just another race.
“My parents and my brother owned Pedal
Sports in Farmington years ago and they
took part in the first Road Apple Rally,” Siegel
said proudly. “I did the rally for the first time
last year and I’m here again this year.”
Siegel lives in Albuquerque and was one of
many from the Duke City who enjoyed the
race. Siegel’s friend, Deborah Kearney, also
participated in this year’s race. “It looked
like a fun race,” Kearney said. “It’s a beautiful
day and a wonderful course. I loved every bit
of it.”
Wiley Corra, 11, and Nicholas Unkovskoy,
12, are from Durango and crossed the finish
line less than a minute apart, taking first and
second in the 15-mile loop. Neither of the
boys was winded or tired, and congratulated
each other on a good race.
The boys are part of Durango DEVO, a not-
for-profit organization that encourages kids
to become life-long cyclists. The group
brought several young cyclists to the rally.
Corra and Unkovskoy said they practice two
days a week as part of DEVO.
“We got out front,” Corra said of the rally,
“and we pushed each other to the max all the
way.”
Corra finished the race in 57 minutes and
52 seconds, while Unkovskoy claimed a time
of 58 minutes, 7 seconds.
Sadie Schafer, 13, is also a member of
DEVO and was the first girl to cross the finish
line with a time of one minute, six seconds, in
spite of the fact that she was a little under
the weather.
“I think I got a little sick with a stuffy nose
More than 200 mountain bikersrace in the Road Apple
Story by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Josh Bishop
A beautiful day on a
9Four Corners SportSNOVEMBER 2014
great course
10 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
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and a cough,” Schafer said. When asked what
part of the race was the best, she did not hesi-
tate when she said, “The best part was the
start and the finish.”
One Farmington resident took part in the rally
– an event he supervised for years as the race
director. Shawn Lyle worked for the City of
Farmington’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Affairs Department and retired last year.
“I retired, but I still wanted to be part of it,”
Lyle said of the race. “It’s a fun race. The
course is in good shape and I wiped out a cou-
ple of times.”
“One little kid kicked my butt,” Lyle said with a
laugh. “I couldn’t catch him to save my life.”
Lyle was with several members of Cross-
roads Community Church, on of the sponsor
of the race. Dave West, pastor of the church,
said his congregation enjoys getting involved
in community events. “This is one of the best
activities in Farmington,” West said. “We
wanted to expose our congregation to the
event.”Racer Ryan Szabo of Albuquerque.
11Four Corners SPoRTSNOVEMBER 2014
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5 Piece Queen Sleigh Bedroom Set
Ken Weisheit is the assistant pastor at Crossroads and said just fin-
ishing the race was an accomplishment for him. “I had a great time
and it was fun seeing all the people.”
Lyle finished with a time of one hour, 19 minutes and 32 seconds;
West came in with a time of one hour, 19 minutes and 52 seconds; and
Weisheit managed a time of one hour, 17 minutes. “Shawn is never
going to let me live it down that he beat me by 30 seconds,” West said
with a laugh.
Two former law enforcement buddies also competed in the race.
Robert Grona, from Bloomfield, and Manny Gutierrez, from Allbu-
querque. The two were stationed together in the Farmington office of
the New Mexico State Police and enjoy doing the race together every
year.
“We enjoy it,” Grona said of the rally “It’s a good race with nice
trails.”
For Shana Reeves, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs super-
intendent, the race is fun, but requires alot of work from the 25 staff
members and more than 60 volunteers who help with the event.
“It’s a beautiful and fast course,” Reeves said. “It’s also unique be-
cause it’s unpaved with a lot of open areas that are dirt trails. It’s a
different kind of challenge from other mountain bike races.”
Racer Brent Winebarger of Durango* Road Apple 28
12 Four Corners SPoRTS NOVEMBER 2014
Rick Hoerner Photos Curtis Benally
As the fall season begins it’s time to look at
the continuing carousel that is high school
coaching. Miraculously, Farmington High will
begin the 2014-2015 season with the same
coaching staff with which it finished last sea-
son, while Piedra Vista welcomes some recog-
nizable faces to their coaching fraternity.
Adam Huff - Girls Soccer
Familiarity begins with the Panthers looking
internally for their new girls soccer coach,
which over the years has been quite the re-
volving door since Errol Baade. Enter Piedra
Vista boys basketball coach Adam Huff. Coach
Huff will add the responsibility of bringing
consistency to the program while juggling his
responsibilities as the head basketball coach
and assisting in the PV track program. Huff
will be assisted by former Panther boys coach
Wayne Leupold. The Panthers enter the season
behind district foes Farmington and Aztec,
who have been in the final four of the state
championships over the past couple of sea-
sons.
Piedra Vista welcomes new coaches
MICHAELBEJARWRESTLING
TAKING
13Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
Pat Denney - Boys Soccer
like his counterpart on the female side,
Denney takes over a soccer program that will
be under the leadership of their fourth coach
in four years. While this will be Denney’s first
year as a head high school coach, he does
have soccer experience. Denney has been in-
volved in youth soccer in Farmington for the
past 18 years. Denney takes over a Panther
squad that has played second fiddle to the
Farmington Scorpions in district play and will
have their hands full trying to overtake the
two-time state champions. The Piedra Vista
athletic director hopes that Denney will finally
bring some stability to the boys program and
believes Denney will “bring a lot of energy” to
the sidelines for the Panthers. in an ironic
twist, former girls head coach Shawn Taylor
will assist Denney just as the boy’s former
coach is now assisting the girls.
Michael Bejar - Wrestling
The most interesting coaching change in
the district this year may be for new Panther
wrestling coach Michael Bejar. Coach Bejar
takes over one of the most dominating pro-
grams in the state in any sport following de-
parted coach levi Stout. Bejar’s Panthers once
again will be an overwhelming favorite after
four consecutive state champions. The Pan-
thers return four-time state champion An-
thony Juckes as well as defending state
champions Zach Ahlgrim, Philip Archuleta, and
Sam Sandoval. Bejar’s toughest challenge may
be off the mats where he will have to rebuild a
squad that adamantly defended former head
coach levi Stout after his dismissal after the
2014 season for rules violations. Bejar has the
luxury of being part of the Panther program
over their championship run and will be as-
sisted by former Panther head coach Greg
Ruybalid.
THE REINSADAMHUFF
GiRlS SOCCER
PATDENNEYBOYS SOCCER
14 Four Corners SportS NOVEMBER 2014
BOARD
THE
15Four Corners SpOrTSNOVEMBER 2014
BOARD
THE
At the age of 34, Daniel Diswood is living his dream. Doing ollies
and kickflips, and occasionally suffering the consequences. Dis-
wood and his skateboard are all but inseparable.
Diswood is among an ever-increasing number of people who enjoy
skateboarding. It was a yellow plastic “banana board” that was 27
inches long and 6 inches wide that hooked Diswood into what he calls
an “activity.”
“It’s not really a sport, but it is becoming more of a sport be-
cause of its popularity and the competition,” Diswood said. “It’s an
activity that gets kids trying to be better skaters. We (the early
skateboarders) did it because it was the anti-sport. We didn’t have
a coach telling us what to do. It’s an activity you own and there’s no
crowd cheering for you.”
Organized sports offer participants the opportunity to win titles,
get trophies and enjoy the recognition. Skateboarding, Diswood
said, can be a lonely activity.
“You don’t get anything out of it but what you accomplish,” he
said. “But you do get increased self-confidence and self-esteem. A
lot of skateboarders will work on the same trick for a month. Then
you land it, but there’s no one there to cheer for you. You do it for
the reward and for the effort you put into it.”
In 1984, Diswood got that yellow banana board and learned how
to ride it. With the bumps, bruises and a scar on his nose, Diswood
perfected his boarding and, in 1994, it became his passion.
The small banana board gave way to a bigger board – one that
was 9 ½ inches wide and 33 inches long. By 1995, long boards be-
came the activity trend, when the boarders had a “need for speed.”
In addition to a longer board, the new skateboards had bigger,
softer wheels. “The bigger the wheel, the faster you go,” Diswood
said. “And the softer wheel will soften the vibration of asphalt,
which gives a smoother ride.”
For Diswood skateboarding isabout achievement not competition
Story by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Josh Bishop
16 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
Diswood’s personal best on his longboard is
59.1 miles an hour. “I did that at an undis-
closed Colorado location,” he said with a laugh.
“But I’m hoping to break that record on that
same hill in a couple of weeks.”
Diswood said he skates harder and more
often at 34 than he did when he was a teen. He
had worked for the Shredd Shed in the Animas
Valley Mall, where he had the opportunity to
visit with people about skateboarding and
share tips and tricks.
“It was a shop like we had never seen be-
fore,” Diswood said of the Shredd Shed. “If you
were passionate about skateboarding, it was
the place to be. I loved hearing about people,
how they skated, what they’ve done, if they
found a new spot and what was going on with
their lives.”
When the shop moved, then ultimately
closed, Farmington was without a skateboard-
ing shop. Four years later, Diswood decided he
needed to open his own store, and SnS Skate-
boarding opened on Butler Avenue, just across
the street from Brookside Park. “It’s a spe-
cialty shop,” Diswood said of his store. “If
you’re a skateboarder, it’s where you come,
where you fit in and where you find the stuff
you want.”
On a recent Friday afternoon, there was a
steady stream of customers coming through
the doors of his current location on Main
Street in historic downtown Farmington. Most
were there to purchase wheels, shirts, hats, or
boards, but some stopped by just to talk about
skateboarding.
“They’ll come in to buy a new skateboard or
just to look at everything,” Diswood said. “The
best thing about this – and any – skate shop is
the stickers. Stickers are the best thing skate
shops brought about. I sell a ton of them. They
put them on their skateboards or just collect
them. I love stickers. I buy them and save them.
Stickers – that’s why you own a skate shop!”
While his customers are of all ages, Diswood
is especially fond of the younger ones. For
years, skateboarders were looked upon as
troublemakers, he said. “We were looked at as
street trash and troubled youth,” he said. “But
we’ve become more mainstream and skate-
boarding has grown in popularity.”
“Kids have a one-track mind,” Diswood said
of the younger skateboarders. “They all want
to be professional skateboarders. I tell them to
stay in school and get some training. There’s
more to skateboarding than the boarding. You
can be a graphic designer and design skate-
boards, you can study business and own your
own shop. You need to stay in school and find a
job that will pay you to skate.”
Diswood doesn’t just emphasize the impor-
tance of an education to the kids who come
into his shop to look, buy and listen. He also
works hard at creating skateboarding events
for them so they can compete and have fun. He
offers competitions – one recently on Orchard
Avenue in downtown Farmington. The Red
Apple Rampage brought out skateboarders
who skated down the hill. With the help of Eliza-
beth Isenberg Phillips, the downtown coordina-
tor, the event was a great success.
“We’ll do it again next year, but probably on
Wall Street (Avenue), if we can,” Diswood said.
“And it will be an all-day event.”
“There’s a mental and physical challenge to
skateboarding,” Diswood added. “You’re ollie-
ing off something that’s 10 feet in the air. It’s
high up there and you’re afraid. But inside of
17Four Corners SpoRtSNOVEMBER 2014
PPaarrttnneerrss AAssssiisstteedd LLiivviinngg SSeerrvviicceess
505-325-9600
Providing In-Home Care Solutions Since 2002www.partnersassistedliving.com
Let Us“Tackle” YourHomeCareNeeds!
PPAALLSS
“We (the early skateboarders)
did it because it was the anti-sport.
We didn’t have a coach telling us what
to do. It’s an activity you own and
there’s no crowd cheering for you”
— Daniel Diswood
you, you know you have to do it. Most people will look at you like you’re an idiot but,
something inside tells you, you just have to do it.”
Diswood stresses the importance of safety equipment for those “have to do it” times
and for every time a skater gets on the board. “Most injuries are with the ankles and
knees,” he said. “I pad up completely – elbows and knees, gloves and a helmet. Road rash
is not fun. It burns you, tears you up and takes forever to heal.”
Kevin Werito has been skateboarding since he was 14 years old. Now 25 and with a
wife and son, Werito continues to skate, but for a slightly different reason than when he
was a teen.
* Skateboarding 34
18 Four Corners SportS NOVEMBER 2014
19Four Corners SPoRTSNOVEMBER 2014
Riley Rahm can’t wait
for golf season to begin
Riley Rahm, a 17-year-old senior at Piedra
Vista High School, is on a tear to begin the
2014-2015 golf season.
Rahm has won a tournament at Hillcrest
Golf Course in Durango with a score of 1-
under par, 70, and has also won his third
tournament of the year at Riverview Golf
Course in Kirtland with a score of 2-over par,
74. Rahm has earned two of the three legs
for state and is preparing to improve on his
prior finishes at the state golf champi-
onships.
“To be quite honest, my game isn’t where
it needs to be right now,” said Rahm. “My
short game has been saving me this fall, but
my swing hasn’t been very good. So I am
going to continue to work hard through the
winter and the spring to make my swing bet-
ter for the state tournament in May.”
A relatively late bloomer, Rahm didn’t
begin playing golf until his high school fresh-
man year. Rahm’s older brother, Nick, was at
the state golf championships when Riley was
in 8th grade.
Story by Tom Yost | Photos by Josh Bishop
ON A TEAR
20 Four Corners SPoRTS NOVEMBER 2014
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“I went to watch Nick play at the state golf
tournament, bought my first driver, started hit-
ting golf balls, and just got hooked,” explained
Rahm.
Rahm joined his Piedra Vista High School
team at state as a freshman, and by his sopho-
more year shot the lowest second round score
at state and the second lowest round for the en-
tire state tournament (a 1-under par, 71). That
round vaulted him into the top 10 individually at
the Class 4A State Championships in Las Cruces.
His junior year, Rahm finished 15th individu-
ally at UNM South in Albuquerque – playing the
second round in near freezing temperatures –
not conducive to playing great golf. Heading to
his senior year, Rahm is looking to use these ex-
periences to vault him to the top in Roswell this
year.
“I learned that the first day you can’t let the
nerves get to you,” said Rahm. “You can’t win the
tournament the first day, but you can definitely
lose it. I am a better golfer when I am aggres-
sive, so I am going to continue to stay aggres-
sive, which should allow me to reach my goals of
winning state and earning a Division 1 golf
scholarship.”
“I learned that the first day you
can’t let the nerves get to you.”
— Riley Rahm
21Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
New Beginnings at The Navajo United
Methodist Center is hosting The Color Dash at
Berg Park on Saturday, Oct. 25. The proceeds of
the run will go to support New Beginnings, a
nonprofit that provides direct services and
transitional living shelter for women and their
children who are survivors of domestic vio-
lence and/or homelessness throughout the
Four Corners area and the Navajo Nation.
Participants and those interested in getting
more information can register online at thecol-
ordash5k.com. Prices to participate are $40 for
an individual and $85 for a family. This is a run
for fun that will involve runners getting
splashed with colors dur-
ing the race.
“The event comes with
perfect timing,” said Navajo United Methodist
Center’s Elaine La Van. “October is National Do-
mestic Violence Awareness Month and this will
give New Beginnings great exposure in addition
to raising much needed funds.”
The race at Berg Park is family friendly and
will include live entertainment as well as food
booths.
Registration on Oct. 25 will be at 8:30 a.m.
and the race will begin at 10:30 a.m. Join in the
fun and help raise funds for a great cause by
participating in The Color Dash 5k.
New Beginnings hosts 5K at Berg Park
Story by Tom Yost | Courtesy photos
22 Four Corners SpORTS NOVEMBER 2014
In the truest form of Americana, retired men
and women sit around their local McDonalds
drinking coffee and solving the world’s prob-
lems. This is far from the case for Jim Bate-
man and Mark McFarland, affectionately
known by the Civitan Golf Course clubhouse
golf attendants as the Breakfast Club.
On any given morning Bateman and McFar-
land, are joined most days by a host of other
retired men like Richard Ruybalid, Bill Bush
and Bill Gilliam, are waiting at the gate for Civi-
tan to open looking to be the first golfers on
the freshly cut grass.
For most of these golfers the game is as
much obsession as sport. While The Breakfast
Club is most certainly playing a minimum of 18
holes every morning the course is open, on
certain days they will return for another round
in the afternoon. “Seniors only pay $125 for an-
nual pass, “ McFarland says, “My goal is to play
300 times a year, so it’s less than $.50 a
round.”
Jim Batemen is a retired oil field and con-
struction worker and like many blue-collar
workers, 40 years ago thought that golf was, in
his words, “stupid.” Bateman began playing 19
years ago and plays for what he calls “the
challenge of every single shot.” Bateman tries
to play at least two times a day and says his
game has gone from obsession to addiction.
Civitan a second home for Jim Bateman and Mark McFarland Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop
Jim Bateman, at left, and Mark McFarland meet for golf every morning at the Civitan Golf Course. McFarland says his goal is to play at least 300
times a year.
Mark McFarland returned to playing the
game back in 2004 after getting away from
golf for nearly 20 years. After retiring from a
career at Meridian oil he returned to what
he calls “his unending addiction.”
McFarland credits his golf addiction to his
pursuit of the hole in one, a pursuit that he is
still chasing even though he has nine over
the past 11 years in his nearly 300 rounds a
year. McFarland looks at Civitan as part of
his own belongings and is consistently seen
picking up around the course and maintain-
ing ball marks on the greens and divots.
As McFarland says, “ they should just give
me a set of keys. I’ll open up the clubhouse
and even the bathrooms. I’ll be here anyway.”
Fifteen minutes before first tee the Break-
fast Club waits with the exact clubs needed
to complete their rounds.
For Bateman, it’s a single 3-Wood that he
uses from tee box to green using the flatter
edge of the wood as a putter. McFarland car-
ries only three clubs a 9 iron along with a 3
wood for Hole No. 9, and a putter.
they never keep score and they never
warm up or practice their putting and chip-
ping before heading to the first tee box. they
only count pars and birdies and of course
they never gamble at a nickel a hole because
that would be illegal.
As the fall shortens the golf course hours
at Civitan and the lush green grass fades to
brown the Breakfast Club will continue to
wait at the gate to be the first golfers on the
course. If you want to be the first to tee off at
Civitan get there early, try to beat them to
the clubhouse, and you may want to bring
donuts to bribe the attendant.
23Four Corners SportSNOVEMBER 2014
McFarland and Bateman discuss a shot as they head to the next hole with Bill Giliam, another Civitan golfing buddy, laughs at their
conversation.
24 Four Corners SPOrTS NOVEMBER 2014
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The Bureau of Land Management has part-
nered with the New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish to offer mobile maps of New
Mexico’s big-game hunting units through the
CarryMap Application. This unique application
allows users to store hunting unit maps on
their mobile devices and access them regard-
less of cellular coverage.
The free CarryMap Application for iOS and An-
droid devices is available at the App Store and
Google Play Market. The information also is
available for download to computers. To down-
load the big-game hunting unit information,
please visit the BLM website
www.blm.gov/nm/huntingmaps and accept the
conditions.
“This application is a great example how
agency partners can use modern technology to
improve customer service,” New Mexico Gover-
nor Susana Martinez said. “I’m sure hunters
throughout the state will appreciate the hard
work that went into it.”
“The BLM is pleased to partner with the De-
partment of Game and Fish to provide this mo-
bile application to the hunters of New Mexico,”
said BLM State Director Jesse Juen. “This will
provide better access to public lands, while
also increasing hunter’s confidence that they
are in the correct locations for their hunt, re-
gardless of cell phone reception.”
“The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
believes in utilizing technology to provide our
hunters and anglers with the best information
in the field,” Department Director Alexandra
Sandoval said. “We are thankful for the effort
BLM put into development of this free mobile
application.”
For more informa-
tion, contact BLM
Geographic Infor-
mation Systems
Specialist Jeremy
Zimmerman at
575.838.1259 or
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish As-
sistant Chief of Information Lance Cherry at
505.476.8003.
Big game maps
BLM, Game and Fish partner
to provide mobile hunting maps
25Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
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The Bureau of Land Management, in conjunc-
tion with other agencies within the Depart-
ment of the Interior, will waive
recreation-related fees for visitors to the Na-
tional System of Public Lands on four occa-
sions in 2015
1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 19)
2. Presidents’ Day weekend (Feb. 14-16)
3. National Public Lands Day (Sept. 26)
4. Veterans Day (Nov. 11).
One fee-free remains for 2014: Veteran’s Day,
Nov. 11.
“We want everyone to enjoy the incredible
recreation opportunities available on BLM-
managed public lands,” said BLM Director Neil
Kornze. “Waiving fees is also a way of reaching
out to those of you who may not yet know that
we offer more recreational opportunities than
any other land management agency -- from
hunting and fishing to mountain biking and hik-
ing -- and we look forward to welcoming you!”
The BLM manages more than 245 million
acres of public lands which provide numer-
ous opportunities for a wide range of recre-
ational opportunities from hiking, fishing and
camping to riding off-highway vehicles and
rock-climbing. About 61 million visits were
made to BLM-managed lands and waters in
2013, supporting more than 42,000 jobs na-
tionwide and contributing almost $5.5 billion
to the nation’s economy.
Site-specific standard amenity and individual
day-use fees at BLM recreation sites and
areas will be waived for the specified dates.
Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin
rentals, and group day use, will remain in ef-
fect. More details about fee-free days and ac-
tivities on BLM-managed public lands are
available at:
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/
Recreation/BLM_Fee_Free_Days.html.
Hike, bike free in 2015
BLM announces fee-free days for 2015
26 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
it has not been a good summer to be an NFL
running back. First, of course, there was Ray
Rice and domestic violence being thrown to the
forefront of TV media with the National Football
League on the hot seat as though they are so-
cially responsible (which they are of course)
while the justice system has left the issue to plea
bargains and the dreaded “entering treatment.”
There were very few, outside the ridiculous ESPN commentator Stephen
A. Smith, who sided with Rice. However, then came the Adrian Peterson
child abuse allegations and what has been a continuing argument that
has been going on since i entered college to major in education; does
corporal punishment work ?
Even today this issue will split a room. There are those that would
never spank their children under any circumstance and there are those
who are of the “i got spanked and i turned out Ok” camp.
My wife teaches Early childhood and Family Development at San Juan
college and even there a class will be split on corporal punishment as a
disciplinary tool. Enter Adrian Peterson who has been charged with
child endangerment after admittedly spanking his 4-year-old child with
the time-honored tradition of picking your own switch to deliver your
own discipline.
The NFL and Peterson’s team in Minnesota did what most corpora-
tions and politicians do, they drifted in the wind of public opinion first
deactivating Peterson, then taking him back, then using the catchphrase
of the month, “we were wrong and are in the process of rectifying the
situation,” before placing Peterson on the new commissioner’s Exemp-
tion List until the case has run itself through the justice system.
immediately there were those that came out against Peterson’s sus-
pension, claiming that Peterson has the right to discipline his child as
he chooses, it is cultural for African Americans to spank their children,
and of course the ever popular “it worked for me.” Among Peterson’s
supporters was basketball Hall of Famer and TNT Analyst charles
Barkley, who in an interview on cBS’s pre game coverage stated: “Listen,
we spank kids in the South. i think the ques-
tion’s about whether Adrian Peterson
went overboard. Every black parent in my
neighborhood in the South would be in trou-
ble or in jail under those circumstances…
But i think we have to really be careful trying
to teach other parents how to discipline their
kids. That's a very fine line."
These arguments have been made before. When Michael Vick was ar-
rested and later convicted on dog fighting charges the same cultural ar-
gument was made that those removed from that specific culture simply
do not understand it. However, consider who Vick and now Peterson are
both presumably college educated men that should understand that
while culture and tradition are naturally part of the human condition, so
is social evolution.
My Father was not a religious man by any definition, but believed in
the old Biblical adage “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” My brothers
and i all felt and were forced to watch each other suffer the wrath of
what my dad called “Ol 3-fingers,” a barber strap cut in three strips and
delivered with every syllable spoken while stating the biggest parental
lie ever; this is hurting me more than it’s hurting you. Did it work? i
would argue no. My older brothers eventually just accepted the beatings
and really never changed. For me, it worked, but only through fear not
respect.This was a trait i did not want to pass on to my children.
While my oldest brother continued my father’s discipline plan, i have
not, and, was fortunate enough to be married to a woman who shares
that view. it has not been easy by any means. My natural response, espe-
cially when my children were younger, was to slap their hands when
they reached for something they shouldn’t have or a quick swat on the
butt for misbehaving. But i’ve evolved, and while i was swatted in school,
i wouldn’t do it there either, even when i may have wanted to.
The idea of corporal punishment is outdated. consider that what a
parent may choose to do in the privacy of their home would not be ac-
ceptable behavior anywhere else. Solving any issue with violence in the
public sphere would be considered inappropriate and perhaps even ille-
gal, but at home it’s considered discipline. if it works, why wouldn’t we
spank employees or hit them, for that matter, when they don’t do what
is expected?
Finally, let’s look at Peterson’s case as a perfect case of why disciplin-
ing your child through spanking is ridiculous. Peterson is a six-foot one
217 pound professional athlete matched up against a 4-year-old child.
This is David vs Goliath with David not having a rock to sling at the per-
son who is supposed to care for them the most. While the average per-
son who swats a child is most likely not of the strength of Adrian
Peterson, it is time we all evolve to a better parent-child relationship
where the idea of right and wrong is based on moral imperative, not
fear. it really comes back to what your kindergarten teacher told you on
the playground – we don’t hit. Especially when you are three times the
size and weight of your victim.
Spare the RodRickHOERNEREditorial columnist
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CHrIStopHErFARMER
requirements include attending weekly meetings on
Mondays at FHS. Also you must take a test to do any-
thing above junior high level. You must also register
through the state.
I think the toughest thing for a new official is pa-
tience. You have a lot of parents and coaches yelling
at you and for most it is very intimidating. Be confi-
dent in your whistle and just be patient.
the hardest part of reffing for me is seeing an injury
to a player. Most these kids play hard and it breaks
my heart to see one of them go down.
Best line I’ve heard has still got to be a footlocker
quote. It’s not very appropriate, but it was funny. I
will always give a smile to someone who throws a
good zinger at me. You have to have thick skin when
it comes to the crowd.
the five-second count when a player is closely
guarded, the hand check rule, which impedes a
player’s direction to the basket, are big ones. Also,
this year, you may try for a rebound on a free throw
on the shot instead of the rim.
Bock/ Charge is always the most difficult call to make.
What is misunderstood by most is that a defensive
player does not have to be standing still. once that
player has established legal guarding position, a charge
call would be made. It’s always a crowd pleaser!
I would like to see a shot clock in high school. I think it
would speed up the game and make it so you couldn’t
use the stall strategy.
If you are interested in getting started, please contact
me by email ay [email protected] or go to
NMACt.com and click on the official’s link. We are al-
ways looking for officials so if you have a passion for
the sport and would like to give back to your commu-
nity and make a few bucks along the way come join
us!
I believe the hardest part is getting the experience.
Being in such a small group sometimes really limits
potential. We will try to do a better job moving for-
ward with getting the younger officials matched
with a veteran official to help them get better.
there are 3 levels of officiating. Jr high is where
most start. C/JV games usually go to the 2nd or 3rd
year guys first and then you have the Varsity level
that is for most the veterans in the group. Some
move up faster than others.
this basketball season it's your job to recruit new
officials. What are the requirements to become a
basketball official?
1
What do you think is the toughest thing for new
officials to learn?
2
What has become the hardest part of keeping
officials year after year?
3
What are the different levels of officiating and
where do the new officials start?
4
For you, what is the hardest part of the job? 5
What is the best line you've ever heard from the
bench or the crowd?
6
As a warning to the average fan, what are some of
the points of emphasis in officiating this season?
7
What is the single most difficult call to make? 8
What would be one rule change you would like to see
high school basketball adopt
9
If anyone out there would like to become an official,
how do they go about getting started?
10
Christopher Farmer moved to Farmington in 2008 from Salem, oregon.
He has been officiating basketball for 16 years. this will be his seventh year
officiating in Farmington. He also officiated for six years in oregon and three in
pennsylvania. He married Christa Mobley in 2013 and has three kids Cole age 7,
Emery age four and Westyn five months.
27Four Corners SportSNOVEMBER 2014
28Four Corners SPoRTSNOVEMBER 2014
Road AppleBecause of the length of the race and the sometimes difficult terrain,
the safety of the more than 200 riders is a priority, Reeves said.
“The Totah Amateur Radio Club is vital to us,” Reeves said of the volun-
teers. “We put them in the most remote areas of the course with their
radios. The Farmington Police Department and Fire Department are
also here to help.”
Because riders come from all over the country, many of them have diffi-
culty adjusting to the altitude, Reeves said. “And the riders can’t have
outside help, so if they blow a tire or a chain comes off they have to be
able to fix it by themselves.”
Since the Road Apple Rally is a sanctioned event by the USA Cycling, it is
often used as a qualifying course for other races, Reeves added, and at-
tracts professional cyclists as well.
With more than 200 participates this year, many of them are returning
riders and plan to come back again and again.
For Patricia Cummins Siegel, taking part in the race is a personal com-
mitment. “I’m going to do it until I win it,” she said with a laugh. “It may
take me until I’m 80, but I’m going to win it.”
Long Course Overall Winners
Place Name City Number Age1 Todd Wells Durango CO 269 392 Travis Brown Durango CO 263 453 Ned Overend Durango CO 266 594 David Vaughn Carlsbad NM 268 315 Erich McAlister Durango CO 265 376 Randy Flores Santa Fe NM 271 437 Brent Winebarger Durango CO 293 378 Frank Mapel Durango CO 284 419 James Bodine Durango COL 277 4410 Mike Wilk Durango CO 270 3411 Ted Compton Durango CO 279 4512 Ryan Szabo Albuquerque NM 289 2413 Ricky Willis Telluride CO 292 4414 Cody Stephenson Fort Collins CO 267 2915 Jason Quenzler Durango CO 287 4316 Miles Venzara Durango CO 290 3617 Neil Merrion Farmington NM 358 5118 Jacob Gonzales Taos NM 281 4219 Quinn Simmons Durango CO 288 1320 Jerome Moreau Albuquerque NM 285 43
Short Cource Overall Winners
Place Name City Number Age1 Wiley Corra Durango CO 425 112 NICK Unkovskoy Durango CO 460 123 Garrett Farmer Farmington NM 430 164 Daniel Percell Wichita Falls TX 447 345 Shawn Peed Lewis CO 446 396 Dan Voecks Farmington NM 462 557 Sadie Schafer Hesperus CO 416 148 Christopher Cathelyn Thornton CO 423 419 Jeffrey Keller Carbondale CO 438 5310 Randy Stouder Grand Junction CO 45711 Lloyd Percell Farmington NM 448 6012 Ken Newland Farmington NM 444 4413 Cecilia Compton Durango CO 406 1314 Alma Wolf Durango CO 418 1415 Joseph Owen Farmington NM 445 4016 Sheri Peterson Farmington NM 414 5317 Patrick Parks Aztec NM 464 4018 Michael Sanders Aztec NM 454 4119 Tim Harvey Farmington NM 436 4620 Manny Gutierrez Albuquerque NM 435 51
29 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
FishingFishingREPORTREPORT
FishingREPORT
T.J. Massey
San Juan River Outfitters
www.sanjuanriveroutfitters.com
505.486.5347
Current flows on the San Juan River
below Navajo Lake are 598cfs. Fishing
remains good throughout most of the
day.
With the gin-clear water, try to pres-
ent the fly with a drag free drift.
Some of the best nymphs to try are:
Size 22 Red Larvae
Size 24 Gray Midge Pupae
Size 24 Olive Midge Pupae
Size 22 Gray Rs2
With very clear water conditions and
a cloudy day, expect to see fish rising.
Some of the best dry flies to try are.
Size 22 Griffiths Gnat
Size 24 Parachute Adams
Size 26 Brown Cdc Midge
Fishing below the Quality Waters has
been good. Worms, salmon eggs, and
orange power bait have been the bait
of choice.
30 Four Corners SPORTS NOVEMBER 2014
Nascar Nellie is a big fan of Dancing With the
Stars and was surprised when the stars were
announced for the fall season. Nascar Nellie
used to like Mikey, but one time when he
dissed Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s most
popular driver for the past 11 years, NN put
him on her NELA (Never Ever Like Again) list.
NN is nothing if not loyal to her favorite driver
and to her NDEJD (Not Dale Earnhardt Jr. Driv-
ers).
NN watched the first episode of DWTS, and
when Michael Waltrip took the floor, NN really
thought he should take that floor outside of the
dance studio. Not only was MW dancing like a
robot, he almost
wasn’t “dancing” at all. It was more like mov-
ing kinda sorta clumsy-like around the floor. If
NN liked MW better, she’da felt bad for him. But
since he dissed Junior that one time, she
raised her glass of Sweet Cherry Pie wine and
said “Adios, Bubba.”
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The
fans/judges (’K, so
mostly the fans,
whoever they
are) have kept
MW on the dance
floor even though,
bless his heart, he’s
just not very good at
dancing. In an effort
to win back the hearts and
votes of fans who didn’t ap-
preciate that one time when
he dissed Junior, MW chal-
lenged the sport’s most
popular driver for 11
years in a row to,
hisownself, join the
DWTS cast. While all of
Junior Nation would tune in and crash the
DWTS voting site with votes, our General said
he will never do DWTS. NN is pretty bummed
about that, on accounta she’d like to see Jun-
ior in some of those cute-but-not-much-of out-
fits they put the guys in on
DWTS. NN is old, but not
blind and she has been
known, on occasion, to drool
over some of the dudes on DWTS.
Just sayin. . . .
And speaking of Nations, Nascar Nellie is
just a tad upset that the NASCAR people have
given all of the 16 drivers in this new chase
race their very own nations. ’Scuse NN, but
there is only ONE Nation and that belongs to
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s most popular
driver 11 years in a row (just in case you
forgot). NN doesn’t mind those ’nother
drivers having a small country or terri-
tory, but they can’t have Nations. It is the will of
Junior Nation fans, of which there are a gazil-
lion billion. Just so’s ya know.
The 16 drivers will be whittled down to four,
who will compete for the championship trophy,
which is bigger and prob’ly worth more in dol-
lars than the mirror ball trophy Junior (but
prob’ly not MW) would win
in DWTS.
NN watches
her NASCAR races
religiously (and
heaven only knows
she prays a lot during
those darned races,
’specially when Junior or
one of her NDEJD isn’t doing
well), and while NN doesn’t
pretend to know (or care)
about the engines or the
tires or the horsepower
or the wedges (al-
though MW did say on
DWTS that he had a wedgie, but
NN is pretty sure it’s not the same thing. . . .),
she does care about the drivers, their
wives/significant others and their sponsors.
Just so’s ya know.
Nascar Nellie is NOT a fan of Brad Ke-
selowski or Joey Logano, although even NN will
admit both drivers are really, really good. NN is
also not a fan of Kyle (Boo-Hoo) Busch, al-
though Boo-Hoo doesn’t boo-hoo so much any-
more and is not quite as arrogant and
insufferable as he usetabe, so NN is consider-
ing bringing her million dollar (that would be
million dollars SPENT, not WORTH) of M&M col-
lectibles back out of the banished-from-the-ca-
sita shed, but only a few at a time, in case
Boo-h
oo says something not nice about Junior,
which is never ever good in NN’s NASCAR book.
Just sayin’. . . .), or AJ Allmendiger, who one
time took NN’s ’nother most favorite driver, her
Doing the robotMichael Waltrip should stick to his day job
race and NN can, sometimes, forgive, but she
never ever forgets when one of her drivers is
wronged.
NN also useta not like Jimmie Johnson, but
when Junior joined the Hendrick Motors
Sports team with JJ and Jeff Gordon, she was
forced to shop at Lowe’s and like JJ. It was a
difficult transition for NN on accounta she re-
ally, really didn’t like JJ, but JJ loves Junior
and that matters most in NN’s NASCAR world.
NN does believe this is Junior’s year to win
the championship, but also knows the General
might have some trouble with JJ, BK, JG and
Happy Harvick, who has the unfortunate chal-
lenge of being a teammate of BK and JL. What-
ever.
NN doesn’t watch the Nationwide Series
much, although since her Sweet Baboo got de-
moted to the minor league of NS, she does
sometimes, and when she does she roots for
her Sweet Baboo (even though he remains
happily married to that woman who stole him
from NN, even though NN promised the now-
wife her entire collection of disgraced M&M
collection if she’d back off and let NN have
him) and Chase Elliott (whose dad, Bill, was the
sport’s most popular driver until Junior came
along) and for Kyle Larson.
NN’s dirt track racin’ buddies, Bradley and
Joshua Huish, have actually raced with Kyle
Larson and they say he’s a good guy. Not that
NN always believes anything/everything
Bradley and Joshua say (they are HUGE fans of
Boo-hoo, which NN is pretty sure was caused
when they fell on their heads at some time
when they were younger. NN has offered to
knock ’em up alongside their heads again, to
bring their good judgment back, but Bradley
has gotten to be bigger than NN and Joshua
can run faster, so that hasn’t happened. What-
ever.), but NN does like Kyle Larson and does
root for him.
NN will be glued to her television set and
will have her IV of Sweet Cherry Pie wine
hooked up for all the races for the rest of the
season and for the reruns of the races Junior
won and did well (they would be almost all of
’em – just sayin’. . . .) And if you ever feel the
ground shake on race day, you can be pretty
certain it’s because Junior has either passed a
car, taken the lead or – as he has done three
times so far this year – won a race.
NN and Junior Nation are nothing if not pas-
sionate about their driver. NN even bought one
of those Fathead lifesize decals (’K, before NN
gets calls and text messages, “lifesize” for NN
is anything over three feet tall) of Junior and
has a place of honor in her NASCAR shrine
room, where everything is all about Junior.
Just so’s ya know. Go 88.
31Four Corners SPORTSNOVEMBER 2014
The New Mexico Activities Association’s
Board of Directors met in regular session on
Sept. 24 in the NMAA Hall of Pride and Honor.
Sally Marquez gave her Director’s Report
that included information on the NMAA’s
newest staff member, Sports Information Direc-
tor Tyler Dunkel, and the NFHS Section 6 Meet-
ings that were held in Oklahoma City in mid
September.
Business Manager Shari Kessler-Schwaner
presented the NMAA Financial Report that in-
cluded information on the finalized reports for
the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annual audit.
Deputy Director Dana Pappas presented the
NMAA Activities Report which included informa-
tion on the September Activities Council Meet-
ing, non-NMAA member schools participating in
sanctioned activities, the 2015 national student
council meeting which will be held in Rio Ran-
cho, N.M., and the future includes plans to im-
prove track statewide participation numbers in
all activities.
Deputy Director Dana Pappas presented the
New Mexico Officials Association report which
included information on the 2014 NASO Summit
that was held in Albuquerque, the numerous
basketball camps held across the state, the
creation of a baseball umpires educational
forum (similar to the current basketball REF),
the success of the current feedback/film train-
ing process for football officials, and the crisis
we face today regarding officials’ numbers in
all sports across the state.
Sally Marquez went over several
discussion/informational items with the Board
that included the possibility of holding the State
Spirit Championships in December, potential
legislative issues pertaining to non-member
private school student participation and char-
ter school participation, the new Compete with
Class Sportsmanship Initiative, and the upcom-
ing Commission and Board elections.
The board of Directors took action on the fol-
lowing items:
• Voted to table a proposal that would elimi-
nate non-travel assessments for various mem-
ber schools within the Albuquerque metro area
• Voted to table a proposal to increase offi-
cials’ fees
• Voted in favor of a proposal to change the
district tie-breaking procedure in the sport of
softball
• Voted in favor of a proposal to change the
Class A/4A golf districts for the 2014/2016 block
The next NMAA Board of Directors meeting is
scheduled for Dec. 4, 2014.
NMAA host annual board meeting
raymond torres had the week of his
life from Sept, 24th to Sept. 28th in Mon-
terey, Calif. the senior from Aztec was
selected as one of 81 participants from
all of the chapters of the First tee to
play in the Nature Valley First tee open.
the festivities came fast and furious
as soon as he and Hidden Valley Golf
Course Head Golf professional and the
First tee Level II Coach, tom McClurg,
arrived.
raymond played a practice round at
poppy Hills Golf Course on Wednesday
and was joined by Champions tour
player Stephen Ames. on Wednesday
night, the entire group met Colbie Cail-
lat and was entertained by a private
concert near the 18th green at pebble
Beach Golf Links. that evening torres
also found out he was playing with
32 Four Corners SportS NOVEMBER 2014
Aztec’s RaymondTorres plays in
Nature ValleyFirst Tee Open
Courtesy photos
Champions Tour Veteran, mark mcNulty in the pro-
Junior competition.
Thursday brought the opportunity to play a prac-
tice round at pebble Beach Golf Links and another
banquet that evening.
on Friday morning Torres and mcNulty teed off at
poppy Hills at 7:41 a.m. They shot a best ball score of
even par. on Saturday, the pair also shot even par
when they played pebble Beach.
Even though Torres failed to make it into the top
23 pro-Junior teams for Sunday’s final round, The
First Tee still treated them to a round at Bayonet and
Black Horse Golf Courses on Sunday.
The time was a memorable one for Torres, as he
kept a journal and will describe it to you the reader
in his own words in the next issue of Four Corners
Sports magazine.
33Four Corners SporTSNOVEMBER 2014
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“Skateboarding takes me out of real-
ity for a while and it’s so much fun,” he
said. “When I’m down at the (Brookside)
park skating, with my music on, it’s just
perfect.”
“Rolling away from a trick is a great
thing,” Werito said, adding that he usu-
ally skates four hours a week. His 5-
year-old son, Carter, is also learning to
board, but Werito is cautious about his
son’s activity. “I’ll wait for him to ma-
ture a little more before we go skate-
boarding together.”
Werito shares his love of skateboard-
ing with the younger people who skate
at Brookside Park. “The younger kids
want to talk to me about skateboarding
and ask for tips,” he said. “And these
younger kids are getting pretty good!”
Scott Hunter has been skateboarding
for half of his life. “I started when I was
12 years old and the boys across the
street were skateboarding,” Hunter
said. “I had done scootering, but it does-
n’t hold a candle to skateboarding.”
Hunter appreciates the history of
skateboarding as well. “It’s got a history
other extreme sports don’t have. And
once you step on a skateboard, you
can’t stay off one.”
A graduate of San Juan College and
Fort Lewis College in Durango, Hunter is
the shipping and receiving manager for
Maria’s Bookstore in Durango. While he
often skateboards to work and around
Durango, he misses the camaraderie of
skateboarding with his friends.
“I enjoy Brookside (Park),” Hunter
said. “It’s not the best, but that’s where
my family core group of skateboarders
is. They don’t care how much money you
make or where you live. They just think
if you’re a skateboarder, you’re a cool
dude.”
Skateboarding continued from 17
35Four Corners SporTSNOVEMBER 2014
Hunter credits Diswood and SnS Skateshop for fueling his passion
and encouraging him. “I was against (skateboarding) competition be-
cause it seemed so fake,” he said. “But Daniel is good about competi-
tion and he makes sure everyone has fun and everyone participates.”
Hunter has another take on skateboarders as a genre, and be-
lieves it to be an intellectual activity as well. “I tend to look at skate-
boarding as an intellectual exercise,” he said. “Skateboarders look at
a (skateboarding) bank and see more than just a bank. They see the
architecture of it and they see the ledges. Skateboarders have a way
of looking at things that other people don’t see.”
For Diswood, the popularity skateboarding has enjoyed brings a
cause for pause.
“I’m anti turning it into a sport,” he said. “If it’s a sport, you have
tournaments and tours of different cities and it turns into basketball
or football. Skateboarding is now marketable and it can generate
money. Turning it into a sport means corporate logos like on race
cars. But money makes the world go ‘round.”
For now, at least, Diswood and the legion of skateboarders across
the country take their boards, find a hill, learn new tricks and they
skate. There are no fans in the stands, no referees on the slope and
no money to be made.
But the thrill of mastering a new trick doesn’t need cheering fans.
It’s the satisfaction of achieving a goal and knowing you did it –
alone.
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