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A list of the area’s award nominees

Jon Mitchell
jmitchell@postindependent.com
Roaring Fork High School senior point guard Ben Carpenter drives to the basket during the Class 3A Western Slope League District Tournament title game against Moffat County this past February in Grand Junction. Carpenter was one of many student athletes who received nominations for The Citizen Telegram's Garfield County Student Athlete of the Year Award for 2015.
Jon Mitchell / Post Independent |

The criteria to be nominated for The Citizen Telegram’s Student Athlete of the Year award was stringent, but it wasn’t substantial.

First, students must have been at least a two-year letter winner, which technically meant that freshmen wouldn’t be eligible. After speaking with people about potential nominees, however, we decided to make an exception.

Secondly, the nominees had to be nominated by either a coach, athletic director or school administrator. That makes the process much more selective and also ensures that the more deserving students are recognized.



Finally, the student must also show good citizenship and prove that they’re a good person. This is also why we decided to change it to the “Garfield County Student Athlete of the Year.” Had we stuck with the “Athlete of the Year” label, it would leave the opportunity open for superior athletes with character issues to win the award.

Nominations were accepted from May 4-15.



The following are student athletes who were nominated to win either the male or female Garfield County Student Athlete of the Year award for the 2014-15 school year:

Rifle High School

Elly Walters, Fr., basketball, golf: Honor-roll student. … Starting point guard for Bears and was only freshman to earn first-team all-WSL honors. … Took home medalist honors in four golf tournaments this season and earned a berth in Class 4A State Championships at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale.

Coal Ridge High School

Mariela Martinez, Sr., cross country, basketball, soccer, track and field: Lettered in all four sports and carried overall GPA of 4.2. … State qualifier in cross country. … first-team all-WSL award winner in basketball and soccer. … State placer in four events at Class 3A State Championships. … Finished high school with record 16 varsity letters.

Enrique Bucio, Sr., soccer, track and field: Was one of Colorado’s leaders in assists in soccer in helping Titans reach 3A quarterfinals for the third consecutive season … first-team all-state selection in soccer by CHSAA. … Was part of Coal Ridge’s 4×800 relay team that finished third in Class 3A State Championships.

Melissa Steinbach, Sr., softball, golf: Honor-roll student. … Earned all-league recognition while playing softball for Rifle. … Qualified for Class 4A State Championships in golf for fourth time.

Kaitlyn Detlefsen, Jr., volleyball, basketball, track and field: Second-team all-state award winner in volleyball. … First-team all-3A WSL award winner in volleyball and basketball. … Qualified for multiple events in track and field, posting the second-best jump of the year in Class 3A in the long jump.

Grand Valley High School

Ben Coleman, Sr., football, track and field: Class valedictorian. … Lettered in football, but also played golf and boys soccer during high school. … Was a state placer in the 110-meter hurdles and the triple jump during the Class 3A State Championships.

Sam Parker, Sr., football, basketball: Finished basketball season as one of Class 3A’s top scorers in leading Grand Valley into the Class 3A Sweet 16. … Earned first-team all-state recognition and the 3A WSL’s Player of the Year award. … Lettered in football this season. … Will attend Western State Colorado University to play basketball in the fall.

Jordan Scott, Sr., volleyball, basketball, soccer: First-team all-WSL award inner in both volleyball and basketball. … Finished senior season averaging 10.6 rebounds per game, which ranked seventh in Class 3A. … Honor-roll student.

Glenwood Springs High School

Cameron Horning, Jr., soccer, basketball: Was Class 4A Western Slope League’s leading scorer and an honorable mention all-league award inner in soccer. … Carries a 3.895 grade point average and participated in state DECA this year. … Was the WSL’s leading scorer in basketball and earned Player of the Year honors in helping lead Demons to league championship. … Received third-team all-state recognition in basketball.

Jordan DeCrow, Sr., softball, basketball, golf: Earned all-state honors playing for Basalt’s co-op softball team in helping Longhorns reach the Class 3A postseason. … Second-year starter for Glenwood girls basketball team and first-team all-Class 4A Western Slope League player.

Madi Spence, Sr., cross country, basketball, track and field: lettered in cross country and, as a distance runner, also in track and field. … Finished second in Class 4A in rebounding and finished second in WSL’s Player of the Year voting in basketball while also earning third-team all-state recognition. … Won the Sportsmanship Award from the Glenwood Springs Basketball Official Association.

Christian Gonzalez, Sr., football, wrestling: Was one of state’s leading tacklers as a linebacker on the football team, winning first-team all-WSL accolades in helping Demons reach 3A state playoffs. … Finished third in Class 4A State Championships in wrestling at 195 pounds, with season’s only loss coming in the state semifinals. Also won Class 4A regional title. … Played on Aspen Junior Gents prep rugby team that reached the state semifinals.

Myles Wilson, Soph., football, wrestling: Honor-roll student. … Won Class 4A wrestling regional and finished second in Class 4A State Championships at 157 pounds, falling 3-2 in state championship match. … Lettered in football for first time this season.

Roaring Fork High School

Ben Carpenter, Sr., soccer, basketball: One of Rams’ leading scorers on soccer team during team’s run to the second round of the 3A state playoffs. … Second-team all-state selection by CHSAA. … RFHS valedictorian. … Won the Sportsmanship Award from the Glenwood Springs Basketball Officials Association. … Three-year team captain in basketball, winning first-team all-conference honors. … Member of the National Honor Society, RFHS student council and LINKS. … Will attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs in the fall.

Emily Fisher, Sr., volleyball, basketball, soccer: Was all-3A WSL award winner in each sport, winning first-team honors in basketball and soccer. … Scored school-record six goals in a game during soccer season finale vs. Grand Valley. … Was RFHS’s student-body president and carried a 3.87 GPA.


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