Star Struck: Top 10 moments of the 2007-08 sports year

| The New Mexican

1/26/2008 - 5/30/08

Agree or disagree? Our staff offers its picks for the top moments in sports during the past year.  Look them over and cast your vote for the top moment or offer your own suggestion.


 NOV. 10, 2007

10. Strength of the whole

It took more than one runner for Los Alamos to knock off No. 1 and unseat a champion.

With finishes of fourth, fifth and sixth by Allen Pittman, Kyle Pittman and Gareth Gilna, respectively, it took Tom Witherell and Tom Bowidowicz to finish off Albuquerque Academy. Those runners placed 10th and 11th to give the Hilltoppers their first state championship in cross country since 2003 and first victory over the legacy that is Academy since 2004.

Los Alamos not only ended Academy's three-year state championship run, but also recorded the first defeat over the nationally-top ranked Chargers this season.

"No one could have predicted that if Academy got the top two places that we'd be able to beat them," Los Alamos co-head coach Rob Hipwood said. "We won it today based on our three, four and five runners."



MAY 13, 2008

9. Drain the putt

Desert Academy's Collin Pratt posted an early second-round score of 70, then waited to see if anyone else could catch him in the Class A-AAA State Golf Tournament at New Mexico State University Golf Course. And while Mark Woods did, he still couldn't surpass Pratt as the sophomore won a three-hole playoff to win the individual title.

Pratt's 70 was the lone sub-par round posted by anyone in the tournament to go with his first-day 78.

Pratt gained the advantage in the playoff by sinking an 18-foot downhill putt that put him one up on Woods, who settled for a bogey.

"It helped a ton," Pratt said of his putt. "He missed his putt and I knew his confidence was down."



NOV. 10, 2007

8. Two by two

While Mario Armijo pushed the pace, Sophia Torres finished her kick. And both Northern New Mexico athletes brought home a state cross country title.

Armijo moved quickly, finishing his first mile in 5 minutes, 28 seconds, and pulled away from his nearest competitor in the final 600 meters to win by 3.35.

Armijo was Pecos' first boy to win a state title in cross country.

"To represent Pecos, and to be the first state champion, makes me really proud," Armijo said. "I made a decision that I was going to go for it and I did."

So did Pojoaque's Torres.

She tracked down the leader and ran solo the final 50 yards to bring home Pojoaque's first individual title since 2001.

"I'm dead, but it feels great," Torres said.



NOV. 3, 2007

7. Snowed in

For the first time since 1994, the end of a season actually meant something for the Jaguars of Capital High School. A 42-7 win over Española Valley gave the Jaguars a District 2AAAA title, which also catapulted Capital to the Class AAAA state playoffs.

There, the No. 6-seeded Jaguars beat Santa Teresa 24-21 before losing to Roswell Goddard 21-6 in a state quarterfinal.

That snowy loss may have come as a disappointment then, but Capital can reflect fondly on a highly-successful 8-4 record that also included an undefeated run through 2AAAA (4-0).

"I couldn't be prouder of you guys," Capital head coach Stephen Castille told his team after the Roswell Goddard game. "This is something you will remember the rest of your lives."



MARCH 13, 2008

6. Peak in the Valley

While all good things eventually come to an end, the boys basketball program that is Española Valley can take pride in victory.

Or at least 28 straight.

That's how many wins the Sundevils had compiled through the regular season, District 2AAAA Tournament and early rounds of the Class AAAA State Tournament before Albuquerque Academy ended the run in a state semifinal.

Instead of advancing, the Sundevils departed thanks to the Chargers' 55-54 overtime victory.

"I thought my team showed a lot of character," Española head coach Richard Martinez said. "We came out and played hard."

While Española would've been ecstatic to capture 30 straight, which would've meant its first AAAA title, the Sundevils can take pride in an amazing season where they lost just two games and finished at 28-2.



MAY 17, 2008

5. A touching victory

Albuquerque Academy took its swings at Los Alamos, then shared its hugs.

"We gave Los Alamos everything we had," said Chargers head coach Adam Kedge. "We'd knock them in the chops and they'd punch us in the gut."

And when the competitive dust settled, it was the Hilltoppers, who ended Academy's six-year streak of state championships in the Class AAAA Boys State Track and Field Championships.

Los Alamos won it 92-81, the first state title for the Hilltoppers since 1995 and the second in school history.

"I get emotional," was what Los Alamos head coach Larry Baca managed as he fought back tears. Baca also was the head coach in 1995 and had watched his team finish second to Academy in two previous seasons.



NOV. 9, 2007

4. Third and goal

Through 104 minutes that included three overtimes, Jamie Palermo ended the drama when she netted the final goal in St. Michael's 2-1 win over Albuquerque Sandia Preparatory in the Class A-AAA Girls State Soccer Championship.

The Lady Horsemen entered the match with just one win in five title matches since 2000. But this season was different. It was a season that saw just one loss against 23 wins.

The 23rd victory, obviously was the biggest, as the sophomore Palermo took a cross from Bridgette Butler and scored the match-winner.

The team's other goal came from the state's most prolific scorer. Senior Jordan Miller capped her career with her 173rd goal, the one that tied the match at 1.

"There are no words to describe it," Miller said of the state title. "The only word is 'finally.' "



DEC. 8, 2007

3. The chain gang

They carry a chain on their sideline to remind them of their bond.

"We were all out to do what it takes," said St. Michael's senior linebacker Josh Gallegos. "We had confidence that we could get to the gaps. Eleven links in the chain."

That defensive mindset and execution helped lead the Horsemen to the Class AAA state football title with a 27-6 victory over District 2AAA rival Las Vegas Robertson.

The Cardinals had found a home for the state championship in both of two previous years, but fumbled away any shot of another as they turned the ball over six times, which led to 21 St. Michael's points.

The Horsemen, who finished 12-2 with seven straight wins, won their first state title since 2003.



MAY 21, 2008

2. A home run

The Demons of Santa Fe High hadn't been to the postseason since 1977 and had gone without a winning season for 12 straight years.

Until this season.

But despite an eliminating 11-0 loss to Albuquerque La Cueva in a Class AAAAA quarterfinal, the Demons finished 20-9 after a 31-year absence from the postseason. That record included a pair of wins over Albuquerque Rio Grande in a best-of-three, first-round series at Santa Fe High.



MARCH 14-15, 2008

1. Two for two

Those who thought Pojoaque Valley had no chance of coming home with a state basketball title were right.

Instead, Pojoaque came home with two.

The Elks defeated District 2AAA rival West Las Vegas 50-46 in the championship to capture their first boys state basketball title.

And a day earlier, the Elkettes beat District 2AAA rival St. Michael's 46-39 for their first girls state basketball title since 1998.