Durango High School had a historic spring athletic season with every team advancing to the state playoffs. Now it’s time to look at some of those individuals’ best efforts of the season.
Each team will be awarded a top performance and a second-best performance based on the statistics available and the significance of the games.
Xavier Sutherlin had a lot on the line heading into the 4A state track and field championships on May 20.
He had a fantastic high school career up to that point, but he had one last chance to show he was one of the state’s best hurdlers. As a senior, Sutherlin was only days away from graduating high school and then he would be off to Western Colorado University to compete in hurdles in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Sutherlin made his mark at the state championships by finishing third in the 4A 110-meter hurdles in 14.58 seconds. It was the highest finish of any Durango track and field athlete at state this year and the highest of Sutherlin’s hurdling career.
Although Sutherlin wasn’t as focused on the 300 hurdles, the Demon star still finished ninth at state in that race in 40.71 after coming into the event seeded 13th. His 300 hurdles finish earned him his second podium at state (the top nine finishers in each event earn podium honors).
Third at the state will be tough for any Demon track and field athlete to beat next year.
Runner-up: Lacy Ruggiero’s performance at the state championships
Other than Sutherlin, sophomore Lacy Ruggiero was the only other track and field athlete to earn two podiums at state. She ran a personal best 5:01.43 in the 4A 1,600 to take seventh after entering as the 14th seed.
Ruggiero was also a part of the 4x800 relay squad that finished ninth in 4A.
Many high school track and field athletes dream of having two state podiums in their high school career and Ruggiero already accomplished that halfway through hers. She’ll be one to watch during her junior season as she’ll have her training partner, rising freshman Zia Fadil, to push her at the front.
Junior Jayden Craig didn’t have her lowest round of the season at regionals for Durango, but it may have been her most important round for the team.
Craig battled tough greens at the Olde Course at Loveland on May 2 in the Girls 4A Region 4 Regional and came away victorious with a score of 11-over par to be the tournament’s individual medalist and help lead the Demons to the regional victory. Craig ended her round with a birdie, seven pars, eight bogeys and two double bogeys.
Golf is a mental game and it was impressive for Craig to meet the moment and help deliver the program its first regional title in head coach Kirk Rawles’ tenure.
Craig will be relied upon next year as a senior with the departures of seniors Ellie White and Raimee Brant.
Runner-up: Dylan Livingston’s performance at Montrose Red Hawk Tournament – Cobble Creek
Sophomore Dylan Livingston showed her potential at the Montrose Red Hawk Tournament- Cobble Creek Tournament at the Links at Cobble Creek in Montrose on April 7.
Livingston finished third in the tournament at 5-over par or 77. She finished with two birdies, nine pars and seven bogeys.
The rising junior did go lower than what Craig did at regionals, but not all golf courses are equal. The Links at Cobble Creek was an easier course and the tournament wasn’t for a regional championship.
Regardless, Livingston’s performance on April 7 showcased her power off the tee and soft hands around the green. It could be a preview of what’s to come next season.
The Durango girls soccer team had to bounce back in the first round of the 4A state playoffs this year and sophomore Ellis Campbell was a big reason why it did.
In 2024, the No. 4-seeded Demons were upset in the first round by No. 29 Dakota Ridge. This season was a chance to bounce back after that devastating loss and the No. 5 seed Demons accomplished that with an 8-0 win over No. 28 Mountain View in the first round of the 4A state playoffs on May 7.
Campbell led the charge with three goals in the middle of the game to give the Demons an insurmountable cushion. It was an important hump for the team to get over and allowed the Demons to get one more win at home in the next round before losing to Lutheran on the road in the state quarterfinals.
Runner-up: Bella Saren’s performance against Grand Junction Central
Senior Bella Saren had a fantastic outing against Grand Junction Central on May 1 on Dirks Field at Fort Lewis College. She finished with four goals in the Demons’ 10-0 rout of the Warriors.
Grand Junction Central was awful this season, finishing 1-14 overall and 0-10 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League. However, Saren scored her four goals in only 25 minutes of action. That’s an impressive feat in a varsity game, regardless of competition.
The 2025 Durango High School baseball team was powered by its juniors and May 17’s regional final game against Lewis-Palmer was no different.
Lewis-Palmer was a big favorite as the No. 3 seed in 4A and as the host of the 4A Region 3 Regional. However, led by Romero, the No. 19 seed Demons upset Lewis-Palmer 13-8 to win the regional and advance to the state tournament.
Romero was on fire at the plate, going 4-5, including a home run, scoring three runs and finishing with two RBIs. Romero couldn’t have picked a better day to have one of his best days at the plate and the Demons needed it; they were down 7-1 after the first inning.
Runner-up: Dylan Burns’ performance against Summit
The Demons and Romero wouldn’t have had the chance to stun Lewis-Palmer if it weren’t for Durango and Burns’ performance against Summit earlier that day.
No. 14 Summit and the Demons battled back and forth all game before Durango scored three runs in the ninth inning for a 15-12 victory. Burns led the way at the plate, going 5-6 with five runs and an RBI.
A fantastic playoff run and a lot of enthusiasm for next year might not have happened if it wasn’t for Burns.
The Durango High School girls lacrosse team had many close games this spring and the Demons’ game against Telluride on March 31 may have been the Demons’ most consequential.
Durango beat Telluride 14-13 in double overtime. This win was a huge reason Durango won its first league title in program history, since the Demons and the Miners both finished league play with a 6-2 record.
Sophomore Indie Eaton was fantastic and had four goals for the Demons, including the game winner in double overtime. Her final goal of the game changed Durango’s season.
Runner-up: Silvie Bosmans’ performance against St. Mary’s Academy
The Demons dominated St. Mary’s Academy in the first round of the 4A state playoffs and Bosmans had a significant role in the victory.
The senior finished with a team-high eight points on five goals and three assists to lead Durango to a 20-4 victory. She also dominated draw control to keep the scoring and possession going.
Durango’s seniors won their last home game behind Bosmans’ strong performance.
It was a fantastic turnaround season for the Durango High School boys lacrosse team under first-year head coach Valeria Skarbek. The Demons tripled their wins from the previous year and made it to the state playoffs for the first time this decade.
The Demons’ playoff chances weren’t looking great when they were 2-7 overall heading into a league game at Montrose on April 24. But behind senior goalie Alex Gnehm, the Demons snapped a five-game losing streak and won 12-10.
Gnehm was a brick wall in goal, stopping a season-high 33 shots. Gnehm’s performance and Durango’s win got the Demons on the right track as they won their next three games (including a forfeit).
Runner-up: JT Munger’s performance against Summit
Senior JT Munger was the straw that stirred the drink for Durango’s offense and had many memorable performances. His performance against Summit might’ve been the most important of the season and his career.
The Demons were 5-7 overall and on the edge of a state playoff birth before their game at Summit on May 2. Munger then delivered one of his best performances of the season, leading the Demons to a 14-6 victory and sealing a state playoff birth.
Munger tied a season-high with 10 points. He finished with three goals and a season-high seven assists. Munger had put up a lot of points in losses in his career, but showed one last time that he could put up points in a winning effort.
The Durango High School girls tennis team didn’t bring home any hardware from the 4A individual state championships, but sophomore Natalie Christensen showed she could compete with some of the best players in 4A.
Christensen, playing in No. 2 singles, beat Anna Fedoruk from Palmer, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. Christensen then lost in the quarterfinals to eventual No. 2 singles state champion Rose Katen from Cheyenne Mountain, 6-4, 6-0. Christensen pushed Katen the hardest she’d been pushed, according to Cheyenne Mountain coaches.
Runner-up: Annabeth Hanson and Mary Jane Ramos’ performance at regionals
The doubles duo of sophomore Annabeth Hanson and senior Mary Jane Ramos impressed at regionals by winning the regional championship in No. 4 doubles.
It was even more impressive how dominant Hanson and Ramos were at the regional; they beat Montrose’s Annabelle Sanburg and Katelyn King 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals and Grand Junction’s Kendra Tooker and Eliza Bell in the finals, 6-3, 6-2.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
