One of the highest awards a high school student-athlete can get is to be named to an all-state team, and since all of Colorado’s sports are over, it’s time to see what Durango High School athletes were honored.
Overall, the Demons had a successful season, with nearly every team qualifying for the state championships. Therefore, there were plenty of Durango athletes who were either on first-team, second-team, or honorable mention all-state. Track and field’s Owen Cheatham and girls golf’s Jayden Craig and Dylan Livingston lead Durango High School by finishing first-team all-state.
Here’s are the Durango athletes who made all-state teams:
First-team all-state: Craig, Livingston
Durango High School girls golf has been producing all-state talent consistently over the last few years, and the 2026 season, which was head coach Kirk Rawles’ last, wasn’t any different.
The Demons lost two key contributors from the 2025 state team in Ellie White and Raimee Brant, but Craig and Livingston stepped up to take the top two spots on this year’s team.
Craig, a senior, was consistently at the top of the leaderboards during the regular season with her strong play, especially with her fantastic putting. Livingston, a junior, was also consistently at the top of the leaderboards, with a contrasting game to Craig. At 6-feet tall, Livingston crushed the ball off the tee and with her irons as one of the longest hitters in the state.
At the 4A state championship, Craig finished sixth and Livingston finished tied-ninth to lead the Demons to a fifth-place finish. The top-10 finishers at the state tournament made first-team all-state.
First-team all-state: Cheatham
While it wouldn’t have been a surprise at the beginning of the spring season for Craig and Livingston to be in this article, Cheatham’s inclusion is a bit of a shock.
It’s not because Cheatham isn’t a good enough athlete. He’s an elite athlete at his size at 6-foot-6-inches and 270 pounds. His athleticism is a big reason he’s playing Division I football at Florida Atlantic University in the fall.
Cheatham had shoulder surgery, which delayed the start of his senior track and field season until the middle of April. Even coming off shoulder surgery, Cheatham showed his power by finishing third in the discus at the state championships, earning his first-team all-state status.
The dual-sport athlete’s comeback from injury this spring was incredible, and it’ll be worth watching his progress at the Division I level in football.
Second-team all-state: Aileen McManus, Evie Morris
Durango’s girls track and field team had plenty of standouts, but seniors Aileen McManus and Evie Morris used their experience to not let the bright lights faze them, leading the girls with second-team all-state honors.
Morris has an argument as the best athlete on the team, qualifying for state in four different events. She finished sixth in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles for the Demons, ending her high-school career on a high note.
McManus’ expertise is in one of the most challenging events in track and field: triple jump. McManus improved her jump by two feet from her junior year to her senior year, leading to her finishing fifth at the state championships.
The Demons girls track team has plenty of rising stars, but Durango will miss the production and leadership of McManus and Morris next season.
Honorable mention all-state: Grant Gordon, Oshi Reider
Seniors Grant Gordon and Oshi Reider may not have grabbed many headlines this season, but their production was crucial for the Demons’ success at state.
Gordon improved his pole vaulting by 10 inches from his junior to senior season and finished ninth this year at the state championships. Reider has shown her power in the discus throw over the past few years, and she finished her high school career on a high note by finishing seventh.
Both athletes competed in multiple events, and their progression over their careers and versatility will need to be replaced.
Second-team all-state: Natalie Christensen, Ella Claassen
The Durango tennis team had a stellar year, with the entire team qualifying for the individual state tournament, and the Demons advanced in the team state tournament for the first time in school history. What’s even more impressive is the team did it with only one senior.
Two of the non-seniors who lead Durango were junior Natalie Christensen and sophomore Ella Claassen. Christensen was Durango’s No. 1 singles player all season, finishing second at regionals before winning a match at state.
Claassen was Durango’s No. 2 singles player all season, and could compete at the No. 1 singles level if it wasn’t for Christensen. Therefore, Claassen took advantage of her competition-level at No. 2 singles, winning regionals and finishing third at state.
Durango girls tennis is one of the teams to watch in the 2026-2027 school year with its returning talent, especially with Christensen and Claassen leading the way.
Second-team all-state: Ryne Neiman
Not many players get as many starts and minutes in their high school soccer careers as senior Ryne Neiman. Coaches definitely took notice this year as the goalkeeper earned second-team all-state honors.
The senior was the eraser the team needed, looking like a college keeper with her height, anticipation, positioning and power on her kicks and stops. She will be a college keeper this fall at FLC.
Neiman finished fifth in 4A with a 0.440 goals against average per game. Neiman had a great season, but there were a lot of games where Neiman didn’t see any challenging shots or shots at all as Durango dominated possession. The soon-to-be Skyhawk also finished 18th in 4A with 86 saves, showing she could make the stops when challenged by dangerous foes.
Although the Demons didn’t make it as far as they wanted in the playoffs, Neiman had a fantastic career, and she leaves massive shoes to fill in goal next season.
Honorable mention all-state: Lila Scherer-Sickler, Lia Schowalter
The two Demons that made the honorable mention squad were in very different positions in the preseason. Junior Lila Scherer-Sickler had been a contributor since she was a freshman and was expected to be a top creator. Sophomore Lia Schowalter burst on the scene to be one of the Demons’ top scoring options.
Schowalter led the team with 10 goals and eight assists, while Scherer-Sickler finished with seven goals and four assists. The Demons’ offense looks like it will be loaded next season with the returning talent.
Second-team all-state: Taylor Babcock
Senior Taylor Babcock’s production didn’t stand out as much as it would in other years. She was surrounded by talented scorers in juniors Indie Eaton, Teagan Frausto and freshman Janelle Dingler. However, when the Demons really needed a goal, Babcock might’ve been the best option.
Babcock was the steady-handed senior the Demons needed, showing an ability to finish from a variety of angles and in different parts of the goal. She finished as the program’s leading points scorer, so it’s no surprise she finished her senior year 12th in 4A with 53 goals and 17th in 4A with 65 points.
Honorable mention all-state: Indie Eaton, Laurel Dondlinger
Junior Indie Eaton was electricity on the field with her speed and skill. She is the fastest player on the team and one of the fastest in the state. Her prowess in transition is a big reason why she finished 14th in 4A with 21 assists. Eaton’s speed drew so many slides from the opposing defense that she had easy passes to open teammates for easy goals.
Dondlinger was a rock on defense, providing experience, technique and consistency in front of a somewhat new goaltender, Jody Holden. Without Dondlinger, it would be tough to see the Demons getting enough stops to win big games.
Honorable mention all-state: Dawson McInnes, Landin “Bubba” Padilla
Durango baseball had a massive senior class that was integral to its success this season, so it’s not a shock to see two Demon seniors make honorable mention all-state.
McInnes was one of the team’s best all-around players, leading the state with 26 bases. He led the Demons with 38 hits, finished fourth on the team with a 0.412 batting average and finished with a 3.37 ERA on the mound. McInnes’ athleticism will be missed all over the field next season.
Padilla was the team’s dependable shortstop, routinely making great throws to get opposing runners out. Padilla had the second-best batting average on the team at 0.461. Shortstop is one of the most important positions on the field, so Padilla’s absence will be felt, especially early next season.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
