Delta coaches Luis Meza, center, and Clayton Curtis congratulate 152-pound senior Hunter Brasfield after an upset win sent him into the 4A Region 4 semifinals.
Hotchkiss senior Joe Boyle controls Ruben Chagoya of Basalt to win a 3A Region 1 title. He is one of 7 Hotchkiss state qualifiers.
Hotchkiss and Paonia boys will square off this week on the basketball courts. Both are 6-4 in league play.
Delta senior Brooke Taylor scores two of her 12 points against Summit after grabbing an offensive rebound.
Paonia 195-pounder Tyler “TK” Kendall sets Rangely’s Drew Collins up for a pin.
Paonia freshman Bo Pipher sets TJ Richard of North Park up for a pin in Saturday’s regional semifinal round. He is one of 13 Paonia wrestlers headed to state!
Surrounded by coaches and his dad, Conner Beard signs Letter of Intent to play football for the University of Nebraska Kearney.
Hotchkiss' Jacobe Galley signed a Letter of Intent to play football and study engineering at Colorado Mesa University.
Hotchkiss senior Cody Bartlett signed his National Letter of Intent to run cross-country for Hawaii Pacific University.
Photo by Wayne Crick Delta junior Ryan Whiteside (10) enters a pass to a waiting Douglas Hawkins during last weekend’s game against Legacy. The Lightning had too much offense for Delta as they rolled to an easy win. Delta failed to win a game in three tries at the Warrior Challenge, but coach Von Mitchell was optimistic after the game. “We’re just five days old and three of those days were on the court. We’ll get better!”For Delta High School head boys' basketball coach Von Mitchell, this could be a good year for the Panthers. Delta will have height, speed and savvy.
Lacking on this year's squad is a pure perimeter shooter who can score double digits each game.
There are a few hopefuls for that designation, with senior Chris Black among those who might qualify. Black is a key component for the success of Delta's season who has the responsibility of transitioning the ball from backcourt to the frontcourt as a point guard.
Black is the only returning starter for the Panthers from a year ago when Delta went 17-6 with a league title and a run at the state title that ended in the round of 32 with a loss to Greeley Central. He is an all-conference point guard and, "is one of the best guards in the state," notes Mitchell.
Other players Mitchell will rely on heavily this season include Doug Hawkins and Mitch Whiteside, who as juniors were key players off the bench last season.
The remaining members of the varsity roster include senior letter winner Jaden Cowley, junior letter winners Keaton Reiher and Jorge Olivas, and sophomore letter winner Eian Baier.
Robin Milabo (senior), Kenny Wood (junior), Ryan Whiteside (junior) and sophomore Cade Gafford will complete the varsity roster listings.
Mitchell will have a capable staff made up of veteran coaches. Lane Varner, a Delta High School graduate and stellar athlete, will be in his second season as a JV coach and fourth overall, and Rob Ames is going for his 20th season as the Panthers' freshman coach.
For Mitchell, the 4A WSL has numerous tough teams, with all being teams to beat any given night. "League play should be tough again. I see Palisade being good for several years to come. I think Steamboat Springs will be good this year. Eagle Valley will be good again, and we're adding Summit County to our schedule."
Each team has impact players and the Panthers could have several as the season goes on. "We'll take all the impact players we can get, but Chris Black is certainly one of those for us. We're glad he's healthy and raring to go for his senior year," says Mitchell.
The outlook for the coming season is high for Mitchell and the Panthers. He never stops looking on the positive side. "Hopefully, our team will come together and work as one unit. If we do, we could have a great year. Time will tell on that one."
