Having officially ended the regular season with a forfeit win over the Del Norte Tigers, Ignacio football finished 2024 in third place 3-2 in South Central League play and 4-5 overall. Three of the Bobcats’ losses – at Denver Manual (5-4 overall, 2-2 League 6), versus Cedaredge (6-3, 3-2 Western Slope), and at Bayfield (4-5, 1-4 2A Intermountain) came by a combined 15 points, meaning that with just a little luck IHS could have ended up in the 1A state playoffs.
Though again left on the outside looking in, it was the sort of near-miss campaign that didn’t go unrewarded.
After the conference’s two postseason representatives met early demises in mid-November, the All-South Central League Team was released, with a total of eight Bobcat football players selected.
Juniors Lincoln deKay, Gabe Archuleta and Zane Pontine were all named First Team All-SCL, along with sophomore Cayson Burcham. Seniors Charley Pargin and Kendrick Nossaman each received second team status, as did D.J. Hendren, while freshman Miguel Red earned honorable mention all-league.
Her 1,000th prep-level assist documented and now well behind her, Kelly Sirios will begin the yet-distant 2025 volleyball season knowing she will likely be the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League’s top returning setter.
Following the conclusion of the ’24 CHSAA State Championships, the All-SJBL Team was revealed with Ignacio’s sophomore distributor one of two awarded first team all-league distinction. Even more recently – meaning Sunday just days before Thanksgiving – Sirios also received Honorable Mention All-2A for helping IHS go 7-1 in 2A SJBL play, 10-2 in all official SJBL matches, and 15-10 overall after a loss to Simla in the 2A-Region I finale.
Dove Creek senior Hannah Barry was the other setter tabbed first team all-league after the Bulldogs reached the aforementioned championships in Class 1A. But after defeating Cheraw in five sets, DCHS then fell in five to Idalia – all on Nov. 14, inside the Denver Coliseum – and was eliminated the next morning in three by Seibert-based Hi-Plains.
Sirios, meanwhile, ranked 24th in assists – three places above THS junior Lillyann Mahoney, a Second Team All-SJBL pick. Ignacio seniors Marissa Olguin and Ollyvia Howe also received second team salutes.
