Rare is the opportunity when I can combine my two passions - sports and the weather - but today I will indulge myself.
The afternoon rumble of thunderstorms in Santa Fe is a welcome sight for the football teams practicing in the North today, especially since they all start strapping on the shoulder pads. For three straight days, the temperature gauge has cross into the 90-degree range early in the afternoon, which means the days are sweltering for the players.
But the thunderstorm today will ease the heat and the concerns of coaches paying attention to their players water intake.
The National Weather Service at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport read 90 at 3 p.m. today, but the coming storm no doubt dropped the reading a few degrees.
Even better is the news that thunderstorms are expected in the area for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
Aug 13, 2009
Aug 7, 2009
The past vs. the present vs. the future
Friday was one of the more difficult phone calls I've had in a while. It had been more than a year since I talked with Diana Ronquillo, the new head volleyball coach at Santa Fe Preparatory. The circumstances of that discussion were less than pleasant.
Ronquillo, then running the program at Santa Fe High, was facing drunken driving charges and I was the one to write about that incident. We fumbled through three calls that day, and the last one left her in tears as she hung up. It was a punch in the gut for me, because of the kind of person Ronquillo is.
Friday's phone call re-affirmed a lot of those qualities about her. Again, she cried when we talked about the incident off the record. We talked about how the incident impacted her and the reasons for her departure at Santa Fe High. I hold her in high regard because of the actions she took subsequent to the story that ran in late May, which led to her voluntary resignation in June.
No one demanded that action.
She took it herself.
You see so many times nowadays where coaches, players and administrators fight unseemly incidents tooth and nail, and in many cases to their successful (on their part) conclusion. Ronquillo could have held firm and done the same.
Given that the case was ultimately dismissed, she would have moved on with her life and career with the incident but a blip on her radar screen.
Instead, she took a stand for what she felt was the right thing to do, and not just for her. It was her last act of grace toward the players at Santa Fe High. It was a stance that accountability is more important than saving face.
That as a role model, we have a higher standard to live by for those who are watching us.
It's a wake-up call to me.
And maybe for the rest of us in this crazy world.
I can't count the number of times I've gone behind the wheel after a few alcoholic beverages in my lifetime as a legal consumer of alcohol. That I haven't met the same fate as Ronquillo is merely luck. All it takes is the right set of circumstances for that to happen. And I get to meet my moment of truth.
Then I get to choose which path I take. I hope I have the courage to take the highway of accountability and humility that Ronquillo paved. Sometimes, it appears to be a deserted one.
I hope Ronquillo's two children, who both go to Prep, realize what a special mother they have. Doing the right thing is never easy. Nor is it fair.
But those are the moments that reveal the true nature of our character. Never let doubt linger about the character of Diana Ronquillo.
And I have no doubt the phone calls to - and from - her will be much easier to digest after this one.
Ronquillo, then running the program at Santa Fe High, was facing drunken driving charges and I was the one to write about that incident. We fumbled through three calls that day, and the last one left her in tears as she hung up. It was a punch in the gut for me, because of the kind of person Ronquillo is.
Friday's phone call re-affirmed a lot of those qualities about her. Again, she cried when we talked about the incident off the record. We talked about how the incident impacted her and the reasons for her departure at Santa Fe High. I hold her in high regard because of the actions she took subsequent to the story that ran in late May, which led to her voluntary resignation in June.
No one demanded that action.
She took it herself.
You see so many times nowadays where coaches, players and administrators fight unseemly incidents tooth and nail, and in many cases to their successful (on their part) conclusion. Ronquillo could have held firm and done the same.
Given that the case was ultimately dismissed, she would have moved on with her life and career with the incident but a blip on her radar screen.
Instead, she took a stand for what she felt was the right thing to do, and not just for her. It was her last act of grace toward the players at Santa Fe High. It was a stance that accountability is more important than saving face.
That as a role model, we have a higher standard to live by for those who are watching us.
It's a wake-up call to me.
And maybe for the rest of us in this crazy world.
I can't count the number of times I've gone behind the wheel after a few alcoholic beverages in my lifetime as a legal consumer of alcohol. That I haven't met the same fate as Ronquillo is merely luck. All it takes is the right set of circumstances for that to happen. And I get to meet my moment of truth.
Then I get to choose which path I take. I hope I have the courage to take the highway of accountability and humility that Ronquillo paved. Sometimes, it appears to be a deserted one.
I hope Ronquillo's two children, who both go to Prep, realize what a special mother they have. Doing the right thing is never easy. Nor is it fair.
But those are the moments that reveal the true nature of our character. Never let doubt linger about the character of Diana Ronquillo.
And I have no doubt the phone calls to - and from - her will be much easier to digest after this one.
Aug 6, 2009
So much for the summer vacation ...
Greetings, Northern New Mexico!
I am sure some of you have been wondering where I've been and why I've been so quiet. Well, even the best of us need a break ... so I took one from blogging (work is another matter altogether).
But now that we find ourselves just four days away from the first day of fall practice, it's time to get things in gear.
At Capital High on Tuesday, the Jaguars put an end to their summer with their "Night of Champions" weight lifting event. About 25 players took part in the action, with a crowd of about 40 bystanders.
These events are custom-made for grunts, primal screams, extreme feats of team bonding (mostly howls of encouragement) and in the end, trophy presentations.
And without further ado, here is how the evening went:
Bench press
Under 155 pounds division - Jesse Sanders, 225 pounds
155-185 pounds - Kevin Munks - 235 pounds
185 and above division - Brendon Bentz - 225 pounds
Squat
Under 155 - Sanders, 300 pounds
155-185 - Quinton Windham - 335 pounds
185 and above - To be determined
Power clean
Under 155 - Sanders - 185
155-185 Adrian Olivas - 200
185 and above - Bentz - 205
Pound for pound award - Windham
I am sure some of you have been wondering where I've been and why I've been so quiet. Well, even the best of us need a break ... so I took one from blogging (work is another matter altogether).
But now that we find ourselves just four days away from the first day of fall practice, it's time to get things in gear.
At Capital High on Tuesday, the Jaguars put an end to their summer with their "Night of Champions" weight lifting event. About 25 players took part in the action, with a crowd of about 40 bystanders.
These events are custom-made for grunts, primal screams, extreme feats of team bonding (mostly howls of encouragement) and in the end, trophy presentations.
And without further ado, here is how the evening went:
Bench press
Under 155 pounds division - Jesse Sanders, 225 pounds
155-185 pounds - Kevin Munks - 235 pounds
185 and above division - Brendon Bentz - 225 pounds
Squat
Under 155 - Sanders, 300 pounds
155-185 - Quinton Windham - 335 pounds
185 and above - To be determined
Power clean
Under 155 - Sanders - 185
155-185 Adrian Olivas - 200
185 and above - Bentz - 205
Pound for pound award - Windham
Jun 24, 2009
Tragedy in Iowa ...
Earlier today, an Iowa head football coach, Ed Thomas, was shot and killed by a former player while he supervised a summer workout session in the weight room. Thomas had been a head football coach for 37 years, with the last 34 coming at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. The coach, who was widely revered in the state, also suffered a hardship last year when his house was destroyed by an F-5 tornado that also turned the high school into rubble.
For more information on the coach and the incident, here is the link to the Cedar Rapids Gazette
http://www.gazetteonline.com/
For more information on the coach and the incident, here is the link to the Cedar Rapids Gazette
http://www.gazetteonline.com/
Jun 10, 2009
The priorities at Santa Fe Public Schools
I had written a column a few years ago questioning whether the school district really cared about both of its high schools. I asserted that the priority list of SFPS, especially when it comes to athletics, is this:
1. Santa Fe High School
2. Santa Fe High School
3. See Nos. 1 and 2, then repeat.
4. Capital High School.
So yesterday, the district issues a release regarding the hiring of a new head girls basketball and girls soccer coach at Santa Fe High. About 10 days earlier, Capital High School hired a new head boys basketball coach. No release was issued (perhaps because the story was broken before it could be written, but that doesn't change the bottom line).
Perhaps I am being cynical here, but how does one pair of hirings get mentioned, but another not? Again, it could be because we broke the Capital High story, but if that hadn't happened, would SFPS have given it the same due consideration?
Just food for thought.
1. Santa Fe High School
2. Santa Fe High School
3. See Nos. 1 and 2, then repeat.
4. Capital High School.
So yesterday, the district issues a release regarding the hiring of a new head girls basketball and girls soccer coach at Santa Fe High. About 10 days earlier, Capital High School hired a new head boys basketball coach. No release was issued (perhaps because the story was broken before it could be written, but that doesn't change the bottom line).
Perhaps I am being cynical here, but how does one pair of hirings get mentioned, but another not? Again, it could be because we broke the Capital High story, but if that hadn't happened, would SFPS have given it the same due consideration?
Just food for thought.
Jun 4, 2009
NorthStars discussion
The end of the school year might be upon us, but it isn't quite complete - in The New Mexican's eyes – until we've unveiled our athletes of the year selections in our NorthStars section, which will be done Saturday.
It's a year-long process as well, and something we discuss as much in earnest in November as well as in April and May. Now that our end-of-year section is available for public consumption, it's time for you to send us your feedback.
Happy with our selections? Feel that we overlooked a deserving candidate? Or that we chose poorly in a sport? Whatever your feelings are about the section, we would like to know what you think. So, step right up and tell us your feelings and give us your candidates for the 2008-09 school year.
We won't scrap it and do it over again, but at least you have this forum to express yourself. And we at The New Mexican look forward to hearing from you.
It's a year-long process as well, and something we discuss as much in earnest in November as well as in April and May. Now that our end-of-year section is available for public consumption, it's time for you to send us your feedback.
Happy with our selections? Feel that we overlooked a deserving candidate? Or that we chose poorly in a sport? Whatever your feelings are about the section, we would like to know what you think. So, step right up and tell us your feelings and give us your candidates for the 2008-09 school year.
We won't scrap it and do it over again, but at least you have this forum to express yourself. And we at The New Mexican look forward to hearing from you.
Jun 3, 2009
NMAA realignment proposal meets its deadline
Earlier today, the New Mexico Activities Association approved classification and alignment proposal, which covers a four-year block start with the 2010-2011 school year. The meeting today gave schools a last-ditch effort to appeal their placements, which the entire District 2AAA
schools did as a group. It is being split up with St. Michael's, Pojoaque and Santa Fe Indian School leaving for 4AAA, which will include Albuquerque schools Hope Christian and Sandia Preparatory.
The district was represented by the athletic directors from St. Michael's (Tom Manning), Pojoaque (Matt Martinez), West Las Vegas (Jose Medina) and Las Vegas Robertson (Mike Yara), and they argued that the breakup of the district would hurt the six member schools significantly in gate receipts that help fund the schools' athletic programs. Manning said whatever transportation savings that the three schools might realize will be offset by the loss of revenue for district games.
It did not change their fate, as the board kept that portion of the proposal intact.
So, there will be quite a few changes and moves that will affect northern schools, if you haven't heard already.
Here are the highlights:
*Santa Fe High will move from Class AAAAA to AAAA and takes residence in District 2AAAA along with Los Alamos, Capital, Bernalillo and Española Valley.
*Coincidentally, Taos High will move from AAAA to AAA and into 2AAA, where it will compete with Las Vegas Robertson, West Las Vegas and Raton.
*Santa Fe Indian School is scheduled to shed its independent status in football, but there are questions about whether it will continue to play the sport. Also, Albuquerque Academy will be in 4AAA for football.
*In AA, District 3AA and 4AA essentially will be merged into one, with Questa and McCurdy School (of 3AA) dropping into Class A. Mesa Vista, which also was scheduled to move down a class before electing to play up, gets shuffled into District 7AA with Cuba, Dulce and Jemez Valley. Also moving down is Coronado
*New Mexico School for the Deaf and Santa Fe Waldorf will participate in a new class - B - in volleyball and and basketball. They will be in District 2B.
schools did as a group. It is being split up with St. Michael's, Pojoaque and Santa Fe Indian School leaving for 4AAA, which will include Albuquerque schools Hope Christian and Sandia Preparatory.
The district was represented by the athletic directors from St. Michael's (Tom Manning), Pojoaque (Matt Martinez), West Las Vegas (Jose Medina) and Las Vegas Robertson (Mike Yara), and they argued that the breakup of the district would hurt the six member schools significantly in gate receipts that help fund the schools' athletic programs. Manning said whatever transportation savings that the three schools might realize will be offset by the loss of revenue for district games.
It did not change their fate, as the board kept that portion of the proposal intact.
So, there will be quite a few changes and moves that will affect northern schools, if you haven't heard already.
Here are the highlights:
*Santa Fe High will move from Class AAAAA to AAAA and takes residence in District 2AAAA along with Los Alamos, Capital, Bernalillo and Española Valley.
*Coincidentally, Taos High will move from AAAA to AAA and into 2AAA, where it will compete with Las Vegas Robertson, West Las Vegas and Raton.
*Santa Fe Indian School is scheduled to shed its independent status in football, but there are questions about whether it will continue to play the sport. Also, Albuquerque Academy will be in 4AAA for football.
*In AA, District 3AA and 4AA essentially will be merged into one, with Questa and McCurdy School (of 3AA) dropping into Class A. Mesa Vista, which also was scheduled to move down a class before electing to play up, gets shuffled into District 7AA with Cuba, Dulce and Jemez Valley. Also moving down is Coronado
*New Mexico School for the Deaf and Santa Fe Waldorf will participate in a new class - B - in volleyball and and basketball. They will be in District 2B.
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