Hannah Manemann Signs her Letter of Intent with the Lady Colts

Hannah Manemann signed her letter of intent to play college volleyball for the NMMI Lady Colts Wednesday morning in the Dexter High School library surrounded by family and friends.

“I think it is awesome sharing this with family and friends,” Manemann said. “Everyone who has supported me from the beginning is here, and I think that is pretty cool. It’s a moment I will never forget.”

Manemann’s former coach Andy Luikens was standing right behind her congratulating his former lead hitter for all her success and leadership she has developed for his program. Luikens said he looks forward to Manemann playing close to Dexter, so he can continue to watch her play.

Shelby Forchtner will be Manemann’s coach for the Lady Colts at NMMI. Forchtner stressed how impressed she was with Manemann being an all around great recruit for NMMI. She said she and her recruiting staff look for athletes who are leaders, smart in the classroom, and are winners. Forchtner said Manemann holds all qualities and will be an asset to the Lady Colt’s team in 2013.

“First seeing Hannah play, I sent my assistant and she gave me a lot of positive feedback,” Forchtner said. “I watched her play at state and she just stood out in the whole class of athletes competing at state.”

She said Hannah was focused on playing at a four-year school, and she and her recruiting staff had begun contacting Manemann immediately.

“She came to us after knowing we could be a good stepping stool for her,” Forchtner said. “We have been successful for the last nine years, and even though we are military based, we have started a competitive volleyball reputation.”

She said NMMI has been successful with New Mexico athletes and she wants to continue that streak and reputation with Manemann. Forchtner was part of the coaching staff that led NMMI to regional tournament four times in the programs 6-year history.

“This offer landed in my lap. I went to other schools, but when I went to NMMI it felt right,” Manemann said. “You know when you go to a school and it just feels right, that is where you belong. Military is kind of scary, but I know I can take it. I just have to believe in myself.”

Manemann said even though this is her senior year, she is staying focused on preparing for a high level of play next year. She is currently the manager for Lady Demon Softball, after knowing she did not want to go out for a spring sport and risk getting injured.

“I have to do summer workouts, and I have to get my head in the game,” Manemann said. “I have to stay focused.”

Manemann has huge expectations and goals for her contributing to NMMI’s success next year. After NMMI, she hopes to move to a four-year school and continue to play volleyball.

“After NMMI I want to play for a D-1 school. I just need that start and push to work towards moving up,” Manemann said.

Refusing to be the Victim

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." -  Harvey Fierstein 

I came across this quote the other day at the most opportune time. Before I graduated, I played the "feeling sorry for yourself" card constantly. My mother and I had not had a relationship for years, my faith in God was weak, I was unhappy at work and I was disappointed with my current physicality. Unfortunately, I was so selfish with all this self pity, I could not focus on the positives like GRADUATING early, getting the opportunity to do what I love, being surrounded by great friends and family, owning a house, and getting the chance to make a name for myself in the real world.

I played the victim over and over again, so much so at the end of the day I was not happy with myself. Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and hold yourself accountable and bring back your higher standard. So, I came home to be around my family, to watch my 13 year old little sister grow up and compete in sports. Being in college and broadcast for three years, I missed a lot of her growing up and being there for her and being there for my family.

I use to get sick of the questions people in this small town would ask, like "what are planning on doing, and what happened to your awesome job." I would explain, "I am not sure, and I just left my job and wanted to start somewhere new." I was most definitely lost. I kept explaining, and kept getting frustrated, instead of owning it and believing in God's plan. He told me to go home. He told me to revamp myself. I have done this before in my life during my parents hellacious divorce, one of the most difficult things I have ever had to go through. On top of that, I couldn't go play college volleyball, because I had pushed myself while having plantar fascittis in my right foot. Playing college sports was my lifelong plan, and without that, I was lost. God really tested my faith during the divorce and my future athletic career being shut down abruptly.

In the process of all of this, I have lost friends that I thought were friends, and probably a blooming relationship. I have made mistakes and could have handled adversity better, and am working on improving. However, it's all a part of this process. I absolutely love where I am at. I get to coach young adults and be a positive influence, especially for my younger sister who runs track. All the while, working out with them preparing for my next chapter. My mother and I have a relationship for the first time in a long time, and I am so blessed and thankful for that.

I know I will be in broadcast again. It is what I love, and I am most definitely not giving up. 300 applications is quite the process, and making it to the finals and not getting the offer is a reality check. You've got to keep trying until the place where God knows you should be lands in your hands or in your email inbox.

If you are reading this, you are probably a friend or just nosy haha either is cool. You already know I have an obsession and it's sports, and an opinion about everything related to sports - whether you think it's annoying or impressive. I hope someday I will be back on a field or court doing what I know I am meant to be doing. For now, I get to coach and be a sports writer while being a part of my family business surrounded by loved ones.

In due time, God will place me where I need to be. As for now, I am finally happy. I know it is corny, but this next chapter of my life will be handled differently with more strength, respect, confidence, and trust in God. I will not be the victim, instead I will take responsibility.

The Dexter Demons and Lady Demons make their presence known

Going up against numbers like Artesia with around 160 athletes and Berrendo with 110 athletes, the Dexter Demons and Lady Demons showed up at the Wool Bowl for the Roswell junior high track meet Tuesday night.

Artesia had the overall win for the junior high track meet; however, Dexter gave them a run for their money.

“Going up against teams that have around 160 people, it shows the desire we have with just 24 athletes,” Dexter’s junior high head coach Tyrone Woods said. “It shows what we can do by putting points on the board. It shows the heart these athletes have, and opens the eyes of many competitors.”

The Dexter Demons placed first in the triple jump and 1600 race, and placed second in the open 200-meter dash, third in the triple jump and fourth in the four by 100 meter relay, to name a few.

The Dexter Demons and Lady Demons started off shaky for their first track meet. Many young track stars did not know where to go, what steps to mark or where to check in, but when the gun was shot, they took off.

Dexter had a small, but loud team with mostly seventh graders and three eight graders.

The long jump did not start until after the 110-meter hurdles were complete, and Karen Morales, Madison Bogle and Karina Pompa all took their marks on the track. Morales placed third for the Lady Demons.

Luis Carlos placed third, and Jessie Metcalf placed fifth for Dexter Middle School in the long jump.

Gabino Rodriguez jumped a high school mark with 34’-10 1/2'’ winning the triple jump and Ossiris Rodriguez close behind placing third.

“For an eighth grader to jump that jump is high school material,” Woods said. “That is an excellent jump, and many can’t compete with that in junior high.”

Not one Lady Demon jumped in the triple jump, and Sierra Middle School’s Danielle Banda placed first with a 25’8 jump.

Luis Carlos, Gabino Rodrigez, Hernan Gonzalez, and Jessie Metcalf won the four by 100 meter relay with a time of 49.720.

The Lady Demons placed fifth in the four by 100 meter relay with a time of 58.660.

Luis Carlos and Gabino Rodriguez will be a couple of threatening names at track meets. Carlos placed fourth and Rodriguez placed sixth in the 100-meter dash.

Rodriguez got the better of Carlos in the 200-meter dash, placing second and Carlos placing fifth.

“My standouts will be the four by 100, the two mile runners I have that placed first, and the open 100 and 200 meter dash,” Woods said. “Those events will put some points on the board for us in every meet.”

Kaitlyn Holl won the 400-meter dash for Sierra Middle School with a time of 1.07.930.

Karen Morales, Karina Pompa, Marlou Blankvort, and Madison Bogle placed third in the four by 200 meter relay with a time of 2.08.160.

Morales debuted her strength in the mile run placing first with a time of 6.14.160, after trailing Berrendo’s Wiggins for the first 800 meters. The Dexter Demon boys followed suit with 7^th grader Hernan Gonzalez winning the 1600-meter run with a time of 5.31.160, not far from the state qualifying mark of 4.40.

Gonzalez continued to dominate in long distance winning the 800-meter run for Dexter Middle School with a time of 2.22.810. Noe Landerverde was not far behind placing third in the run.

To end the night, Dexter Middle School boys placed fourth in the four by 400 meter relay with a time of 4:44:430.

“This meet showed a lot of perspective of what we have and what we can work on,” Woods said. “For the first track meet, it showed me a lot on what times some of my athletes can run.”

The Dexter Demons and Lady Demons will not have another track meet until Tuesday April 2, in Eunice for the Eunice Relays. 

The Dexter Demons move on in Hopes of Winning a State Championship

Dexter continues on in the tournament after getting the 67-51 home victory against the Ramah Mustangs.

Kevin Paez dropped 24 points, David Lopez accounted for 17 points, and Kevin Bonner had 10 points to lead the Dexter Demons.

The first half was closer than expected. After the first quarter, Dexter was only ahead of Ramah 11-7. Ramah started the second quarter strong with a short jumper. However, Kevin Paez went off dropping nine points for the Dexter Demons.

The Demons started attacking the paint, and drawing fouls from the Mustangs big man – Sean Jordan. Jordan was still a factor for Ramah scoring 15 points in the second quarter.

Sean Jordan standing at at least six feet tall, he pounded the paint and followed through with and-one’s and the made free throw to follow.

“We knew that we had the height advantage on them. When we got the ball inside we were successful,” Ramah’s head coach Boyd Lewis said.

Dexter was in unfamiliar territory going into the locker room with only a two point lead.

“We were struggling in the first half when they were playing zone defense,” Dexter’s head coach James Voight said, “and for some reason they came out of that. They thought they could go man against us. We spaced them out, and we got every look and shot we wanted.”

The Demons came out of the locker room with vengeance. They incorporated a trapping press forcing the Mustangs to turn the ball over numerous times in the third quarter.

“The game just got out of reach in the second half and we didn’t go back to attacking the paint,” Lewis said.

Kevin Paez continued to be on fire banking 10 points in the third quarter to help give his team a large lead going into the final quarter.

“We felt like we let them off the hook. In the first half, we had them down 14 and then they came all the way back and cut that deficit going into the half,” Voight said. “We picked up our intensity. We were able to push the lead larger to where they couldn’t come back.”

The Demons managed to shut down Sean Jordan in paint, and by the start of the fourth quarter, Dexter was leading by 17 points.  Amaya dropped seven points in the fourth quarter to help the Demons get the victory and move on in the tourney.

There were two penalties called on Ramah in the fourth quarter, and one was on Lewis and another on their point guard.

“The technical was to light a fire under the players, and bring a spark,” Lewis said. “We tried to extend the game, get them on the free throw line and get physical, but we weren’t trying to hurt anybody.”

Lewis said the second half was solely controlled by Dexter, and his team just could not handle the intensity Dexter was bringing on the court.

“In the second half, we didn’t adjust and the officials didn’t make calls. Dexter got easy baskets from their press, and got all the momentum in their favor,” Lewis said.

Voight said his team made the right adjustments and committed to the press and being aggressive on defense, and that put the game away for Dexter.

“Our ultimate goal is to win a state championship here,” Voight said, “and we brought the intensity tonight.”

Awe Lance Armstrong

I know the Lance Armstrong subject has been beaten to death, and with the recent sightings or no sightings of Manti Teo’s girlfriend hoax has come to light, Armstrong’s confession was forgotten.

Armstrong decided to come clean, because the controversy had gotten so “out of control” it started affecting his children. So you mean to tell me this didn’t affect his family for years?

He said he continued doping through all of his seven victories in the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005; mind you he is leaving out every detail since 2005, because he could face legal consequences.

Since I was 14, my father and I cycled every morning in the summer for off-season during the Tour’s. I went and purchased a ridiculously expensive racing bike that was aluminum from Trek in Albuquerque just to keep up with my father. My father respected Mr. Armstrong, because like Armstrong, my father competed in triathlons. 

We bought the Livestrong bracelets, and hopped on the bandwagon. Don’t get me wrong; when there is that much smoke, there must be fire. However, I just thought the French were ticked off at us Americans for dominating the only athletic event they owned.

Since starting my broadcast career at Double T 104-3, I backed this guy. I thought for sure if he was doping, he would have come clean by now. Well, I was a fool. I should have known when he left his family for Sheryl Crow. I love her music, her…not so much.

There are some aspects we need to take into consideration. Even with his seven Tour de France wins, all other competitors that actually gave him a cycle for his money, were also doping. So, how can we compare who was the true winner – whoever had the best dope or athleticism at the end of the competition?

He was still stripped of all seven titles he won in the Tour de France by the USADA, and has a lifetime ban from sanctioned competition.

Even though he made bank off of the Livestrong brand, let us not forget all the efforts and dinero that has gone to cancer research no matter how much he doped.

Armstrong said the most “humbling moment” was the controversy forcing him to step down from the Livestrong foundation. I hope it was “humbling.”

He said he is “deeply sorry for what he did.” I am glad most controversies end in an apology after the fact - the millions earned and the reputation of a legend that comes with success. 

Side note, at the end of the day do any of use care what Matthew McConaughey thinks about his best friend coming clean? No, I’m glad we can all agree. 

Lady Demons Survive NMMI adding to their Winning Record at 14-6

Lauren Bogle

CCSR Sports Writer

After struggling in the first half, the Lady Demons go into the locker room at the half with a five-point lead on Monday night.

“The first half was slow and ugly,” Dexter’s head coach Kim Hamill said, “but it was a Monday game with two days off, and they fought threw it. I was proud.”

Dexter put away NMMI to finish with a 60-42 victory at home.

Celina Molina dives for the loose ball. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

The twins held their own with Tamara Salas scoring 14 points and Tabatha Salas accounting for 10 points. Adding a spark for the Lady Demons was Alex Zambrano with eight aggressive points in the paint.

Tabatha Salas downs a long jumper. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

“Tabatha knocked down some really good shots when we needed them,” Hamill said, “and everyone in the second half played better.”

After a dominant game against Hagerman, Bianca Walker was shut down in the first half, but came away with 15 points.

“Walker is going to get hers. She is tough defensively and offensively,” Hamill said. “First half we didn’t do a good job, but the book looks like we did shut her down, and a lot of that has to do with Hannah Manemann matched up with her pretty well.”

Hannah Manemann drills the short jumper against Bianca Walker. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

Zambrano said guarding Walker was extremely difficult, but she focused on consistently boxing out.

“Dexter did a great job guarding Bianca,” Lady Colt’s head coach Marisha Olesinski said.

Olesinski said Bianca Walker and Lia Herrera is the engine for their team. Olesinski said Herrera is taking the ball down the court, and doing a great job. She said it just was not enough tonight, but they did all they could and she is proud of her team.

“Whenever Alex wants to be tough, she can be,” Hamill said. “She did a really good job at the front of the press.”

Alex Zambrano guards the front of their press. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

The Lady Demons pressed NMMI all four quarters forcing pressure and turnovers against the Lady Colts.

“First half I think we played pretty good,” Olesinski said. “Dexter is a tough team, and I have to give them credit today. They pressed us the whole time.”

Hamill said defense wins championships, and her team keeps repeating that motto all season. She said when their press is executed effectively; it is easy points for their team.

The Lady Demons press the NMMI Lady Colts all four quarters. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

“Our defense is what always helps us in the game,” Tabatha Salas said, “and we forced momentum for them to turn the ball over.”

Olesinski said her team could not finish easy layups or shots in the second half. She said they fought hard and did their best. The Lady Colts are also struggling with depth on the bench.

“We are very short at the bench, and we have to try and make a few adjustments with a small team,” Olesinski said.

Even though Dexter got off to a slow start, Hamill said a win is a win. She said their record is the best it has been in quite a few years.

“What we take away from this game is we play Eunice tomorrow, and we worked through some things today to get ready for Eunice,” Hamill said. “Eunice is always a tough one.”

Tamara Salas fast breaks for an easy layup. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

Hannah Manemann with a block. CCSR Photo Lauren Bogle

NMMI Dominates Hagerman in the Paint

The NMMI Lady Colts handedly took care of the Hagerman Lady ‘Cats Thursday night, and added to their win column with a 51-34 road victory.

This one was a runaway.

Bianca Walker led her team scoring 18 points for the Lady Colts and point guard Reonnah Coates accounted for 12 points including two three-pointers to lead NMMI to another road win.

“Bianca controlled the paint. Anything within 12 feet was hers,” Lady Cat’s head coach Justin Gossett said. “She started changing our shot selection,”

After a nostalgic first quarter, the Lady ‘Cats closed the lead within reach with just four points standing in their way heading into the locker room at the half.

“I was double-teamed a lot, and that was difficult to get around,” Walker said.

Gossett said his team made a good comeback, and their press was holding up.

“After the half, we just couldn’t get our energy level back up,” Gossett said.

One of the Lady ‘Cats key players, Taylor Hamill, was uncharacteristically quiet scoring 10 points.

Without much depth, Gossett had to bring some eight graders into the mix. This included Taylor’s younger sister Hannah, who made herself known in the third quarter with a critical jumper.

The Lady Colts were opportunistic in the second half, correcting their mistakes.

“We had many turnovers in the first half. I told them in the locker room, we can not be turning over the ball that many times are else we ill loose, and my girls listened tonight,” Lady Colt’s head coach Marisha Olesinski said. 

Olesinski said she was extremely impressed with Walker’s performance, even though she missed some shots; she controlled the defense in the paint with 15 blocks.

“Our passes were good, and we were there,” Walker said. “We played good, and it was great game for us. We learn from our mistakes and work on what we did wrong.”

After a couple of losses, Olesinski said her team played all four quarters aggressively.

“It was very important for us to win tonight, and especially because we lost the last few games. We really are better than our record indicates,” Olesinski said, “and I am very proud of the girls.”

Walker said their team came together, and did the best they could in the second half.

Gossett said the loss was disappointing, and his team started shooting completely different with pressure from NMMI, and their baskets just wouldn’t drop.

Looking forward, Gossett hopes to improve on passing, and convert on turnovers instead of making mistakes and turnovers themselves.