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Weekly Newspaper and Travel Guide for Ward County Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

Sports

Nov. 25, 1998

Loboes underdogs again


As the Monahans Loboes prepare for number one ranked
Breckenridge they find themselves underdogs for the fourth
straight week.

The Loboes are coming off a hard-fought victory over
Perryton and will meet the Buckaroos at 7 p.m. Saturday on
the turf of Jones Stadium in Lubbock. Tickets are $7 at the
gate.

According to Monahans Head Football coach Larry Hanna,
Breckenridge deserves their number one ranking.

"They are good at the skilled positions," he said.

"Their quarterback can pass, run, and run the option.
Breckenridge also has three backs that can score at will."

Hanna indicated that, although Monahans respects
Breckenridge, the Loboes do not fear them and feels that
his Loboes have a very good chance to win.

The Loboes have earned their first Quarterfinal trip in nine
years, but there's no time for celebration.

The Buckaroos are number one, but not unbeatable, as the
Loboes should be able to give Breckenridge all they can
handle, and hope to come out with a berth to the State
Semifinals for the first time in 32 years.

The winner of Saturday night's contest will face either
Aledo or Texarkana Liberty Elyau.

Panthers edge Loboes at hoops


The Loboes took on 4A Fort Stockton Friday and came up
short, 45-53 in pre-district action.

Despite not making the playoffs last season, hopes are high
around MHS for this year's talented men's team.

For the first time in many seasons, the Lobo basketball team
possesses something that has been an anchilles heel in years
past-height. The Loboes have players at least six foot
tall, and have full intentions on using that height to their
advantage.

"It should definitely be an advantage," says senior forward
Jason Merrick of the team's height. "It will help with our
inside game, as well as pulling down more rebounds.

"Once the teams start focusing on that, we can put the ball
back outside to the open guards."

One possible weaknesses that could hamper the Lobo this
season is overall team experience.

However, the Loboes do have strength and experience
returning in some of the key starting positions. Merrick, a
6'5" Sr. forward. returns to the team as well as 6'1" Jr.
point guard Brian Morris. Both played on the varsity squad
last year as underclassmen, and both saw considerable
playing time.

Another returning letterman is 6'3" Sr. David Williams, who
provides another big man down in the post position, as well
as a good perimeter shooter.

The team will be relying on many newcomers to help solidify
this season's team. A key newcomers is Carlos Suton, a 6'6"
Jr. post who transferred to Monahans from Mexico.

Fabian Welch, a 6'0 Jr, started in both last week's games
against Pecos and Ft. Stockton as a guard. Sr. Josh Gaddis,
a 5'7" guard, also saw playing time against both Pecos and
Stockton. Josh Speed (Sr, 5'11), Oved Porras (Soph, 5'6),
and Ramon Porras (Soph, 5'6) round out the current squad.

Several members of the football team including Wayne
Branham, Brandon Lee, Jarod Thomas, Anthony Pepito, and Raul
Hinojos are expected to lace up the high-tops once the
gridiron season ends.

The Loboes are coached by John Curry, known statewide for
his high winning percentage and state championships at Van
Horn and Ozona. The Loboes ended an 18 year playoff drought
under Curry in 1996, and have made the playoffs twice since
his arrival.

Green Wave team floats to top


While the Lobo football team was taking care of business in
Amarillo, the Green Wave swim team kept the winning
tradition going by taking first and third place in the
girl's and boy's divisions, respectively, at the Monahans
Invitational.

En route to a 72-point victory over Carlsbad of N.M., the
Green Wave girls wowed the crowd by setting a new pool
record in the 200 free relay and a new school record in the
100 breaststroke.

Final results in the girl's division were: Monahans-392,
Carlsbad-320, Pecos-251, Big Spring-204, Ft. Stockton-114,
Pampa-84, Hobbs-81, Seminole-5.

Helping score points in the girl's division 200 free relay
were Candice Teague, Lindsay Fredericks, Marina Martin and
Karen Robertson, 2:03.17, on the "A" team. The Monahans "B"
team, made up of Rebecca Pinson, Autumn Ware, Fonda Moore,
and Alexis Lewallen, made it in 2:14.11.

Placing 1st in the 200 free was Fonda Moore, 2:18.08; Amy
Bowman scored 8th place with 2:35.59; and Beth Cox placed
12th with 2:38.09.

In the 200 I.M., 2nd place went to Marina Martin, 2:34.89;
Rebecca Pinson ranked 7th with 2:58.19, while Jenny Waggoner
got 8th with 3:01.68.

Candice Teague got 1st place in the 50 free with 26.28; 10th
went Renai Beck at 31.38; and Jenny Waggoner placed 12th at
31.85.

In the 100 fly, Marina Martin got 2nd place with 1:13.13.
Alexis Lewallen snagged 5th with 1:24.78.

Lindsay Fredericks placed 3rd in the 100 free with 1:01.87;
Karen Robertson got 4th with 1:02.82; Renai Beck ranked 12th
at 1:11.90.

Amy Bowman got 7th in the 500 free with 6:59.80, and Rebekah
Robinson placed 8th with 7:02.44.

The Monahans "A" team won 1st in the 200 free relay with
1:51.54 (a new pool record). The previous record was
1:52.09, set in 1997 by Abilene Cooper. The "B" team placed
4th with 2:01.89.

Teague placed 1st in the 100 back with 1:04.18, while 5th
place went to Pinson with 1:16.87.

A new school record for the 100 breaststroke went to 2nd
place Autumn Ware with 1:16.60. The old record was 1:16.86,
set by Sandra Meeks in 1994. Lindsay Fredericks placed 3rd
with 1:17.68, and Beth Cox got 6th with 1:28.11.

The Monahans "A" team ranked 2nd in the 400 free relay with
4.23.92, and Monahans "B" won 6th with 4.52.58.

The Green Wave boys had their best outing of the year as
they captured 3rd place, behind Pecos and Carlsbad.

Team standings in the boy's division were: Pecos-401,
Carlsbad-296, Monahans-229, Pampa-150, Big Spring-149,
Hobbs-126, Seminole-38.5, Ft. Stockton-11.5.

Scoring points for the Loboes in the 200 medley relay was
the Monahans "A" team, consisting of Clayton Cunningham,
Chris Cain, Shawn Hill, and Brandon Sutter. They placed 3rd
with 1:52.94. The Monahans "B" team, made up of Chris
Friar, Westley Everett, Joseph Naranjo, and Ryan Kasper,
placed 7th with 2:13:33.

Everett placed 7th in the 200 I.M. with 2:58.34.

In the 50 free, Cain got 1st with 24.39.

Naranjo ranked 5th in the 100 fly with 1:11:19, while Hill
got 8th with 1:16.10.

Sutter won 2nd in the 100 free with 54.27.

In the 500 free, Friar ranked 6th with 7:45.40.

The Monahans "A" team placed 3rd in the 200 free relay with
1:39.94; Monahans "B" was clocked at 1:57.05.

In the 100 back, Sutter placed 2nd with 1:00.45; Cunningham
got 5th with 1:04.40.

Cain won 1st in the 100 breaststroke with 1:07.20.

Naranjo, Hill, Everett, and Cunningham placed 3rd in the 400
free relay with 4:05.04.

The Green Wave will swim next Dec. 5, at the Odessa
Invitational.

Baseball season was a winner


Never before has there been a Major League Baseball season
like 1998. Fans in record number filled the stadiums to
watch the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs no matter who
their opponent was.
Cardinal Mark McGuire and Cub Sammy Sosa were in a history
making race to overcome a 37 year old record set by Roger
Maris. Maris hit 61 homeruns in 1961 breaking Babe Ruth's
record of 60 home runs in a single season.It's hard to
believe that baseball would have two players in the same
season challenging the record. McGuire's 70 home runs and
Sosa's 66 brought baseball back as America's pastime.
While the home run race was going on between McGuire and
Sosa, The New York Yankees were winning in a way under
manager Joe Torre that made them the best team in baseball.
The Yankees won 118 games with no "super star." Joe Torre
had his "Bronx Bombers" winning the American League Pennant
and sweeping Padres in four games in the World Series.
Winning American League Manager of the year was most
deserved by Skipper Joe Torre.
The NBA lockout continues and for the first time in 51 years
there is no basketball. As usual, the fans are the ones who
suffer.
Surely something must be done to save an already shortened
season, if there is going to be one at all.
As for the Big 12 Championship, North vs South, it looks
like Texas A. & M. will face Kansas State. The wildcats of
Kansas State should win the game played in St. Louis this
year.
Aggie head coach R. C. Slocum has never won the big game.
Here is his chance, but don't bet on it.The Aggies never
score many points against a tough opponent ranked like
Kansas State.

Lady Loboes off to rocky start


The Lady Lobo Basketball team got off to a rocky start
Friday in Seminole. Against the No. 9 Seminole women's team,
Monahans lost a hard-fought battle, 64-16.

Says Coach Mike Swigert, "You play teams like this to get
better. This shows what we need to improve on."

The women in green fared a bit better Monday against Reagan
County, notching a 56-50 win. Lori Enriquez, Amber Rogers
and Tracie Jasso all hit in double digits.

The team plays its first home game Dec. 1 in the Complex.

Coach Mike Swigert leads an experienced team into the season
this year, complete with eight seniors, one junior, and one
sophomore.

"This year's team works together better than last year's
team. I think the girls are more athletic this year. They
have also been playing together since junior high. It's up
to them what can be achieved," says Coach Swigert.

The team missed the playoffs after a tough district schedule
last year, and approach their new district rivals with an
optimistic attitude. The other teams in the district will
make the race for the playoffs a heated one.

Greenwood and Alpine are both under first year-coaches and
newly implemented systems. Kermit and Presidio will take
advantage of their underdog situations and surprise some
people.

And the Golden Cranes? "Crane? I think they'll be good,"
says Swigert, "and when a team thinks they're good, they
usually are."

Many of the girls on the team are a bit more prepared to
compete this year, the coach believes. The Monahans
athletic program held an off-season training program this
summer, which many members attended. "The Athlete's Course"
prepared its pupils by strength and conditioning training.

"I think TAC really helped prepare the girls. Now it's just
a matter of taking that ability and turning it into good
basketball," says Swigert.

The leaders of the team are also positive about this season.
Senior Team Captain Lori Enriquez says, "We've been playing
together for a while now. There is a strong bond between
us, in our team chemistry. I have a good feeling about
this." The attitude of the team as a whole is also bright.
"We're all optimistic about what we can do. We have to
abide by the four '-ates'," says senior Amber Rogers.

The four "-ates" are what Swigert refers to as a plan:
Concentrate, Intimidate, Dominate, and Dictate. The team
seems to control its own destiny, not exactly a bad postion.
"We just have to have a good attitude and play up to our
ablity. And we have to keep working together to get
better," says Swigert.

ROSTER

13 Shayla Terry 5'5 Sr.
22 Amanda Krone 5'7 Soph
25 Monica Loera 5'8 Sr.
30 Lori Enriquez 5'6 Sr.
32 Jeanette Franco 5'5 Sr.
33 Tracie Jasso 5'5 Sr.
34 Holly Blum 5'7 Sr.
42 Amber Rogers 5'6 Sr.
50 Carleigh Melius 5'8 Jr.
54 Dedra Wessels 5'9 Sr.

Grandfalls-Royalty girls district picks


This year's all-district selections from District 3A girls'
volleyball include several players from Grandfalls-Royalty.

Among those honored are Offensive Player of the Year Stacey
Miller, a senior, and Defensive Player of the Year, Dorina
Rodriguez, a junior.

Misty Stocks and Crystal Rayos, both juniors, made it onto
the First Team, while Anabell Luna and Mary Lou Ramirez,
senior and junior respectively, were placed onto the Second
Team.

Players from Wink-Loving, Balmorhea, and Buena Vista also
ranked on these teams.

Volunteers make swim meet success


The 1998 Monahans Invitational swim meet was a huge success
once again thanks to the selfless volunteerism of the people
of Monahans.

Over 30 parents, grandparents, and plain "ol' Lobo fans"
gave up their Saturday to make sure that the 186 swimmers
from eight schools got a chance to shine in what might be
the best swim facility in all of West Texas.

Once again, visitors (as far away as Pampa) commented on
what a beautiful swimming venue we had, and were amazed at
the number of workers who were there.

Space doesn't permit me to thank everyone, but a special
thanks goes to the Monahans Swim Club, the parents of the
swimmers, Ben White, Paul Ables, Shirley Estes, Mitzi
Johnson, Carlee Heuman, Serena Roark, the junior high
swimmers, and Shayla Terry, who did a beautiful job of
singing the national anthem. Thanks again,
Coach Ward



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Copyright 1998 by Ward Newspapers, Inc.
Joe Warren, Publisher
107 W. Second St., Monahans TX 79756
Phone 915-943-4313, FAX 915-943-4314
e-mail monnews@ultravision.net

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Copyright 1998 by Ward Newspapers Inc.