2012 MENAUL PANTHER TRACK & FIELD WRAP UP

This past weekend both the boys and girls track teams participated in the New Mexico Class 1A State Track Meet.  Only a week after defending district titles both teams worked hard Friday and Saturday to earn points that would hopefully accumulate into a team trophy.  Both teams exceeded expectations throughout the weekend.

The Lady Panthers had numerous athletes compete over the two-day meet.  The following girls competed both Friday and Saturday: Holly Baca (100m, 200m, 4x100m, Long Jump & Triple Jump); Marya Mozumdar (4x200m); Liz Gomez (4x200m); Kelsie Cottrill (300m Hurdles, 4x200m); Ashdyn Monahan (100m Hurdles, 4x100m, 4x200m), and Anne Dunn (400m, 4x100m).  While all girls ran in the prelims on Friday it was Saturday that was most important.  Both the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams qualified to run in the finals. Both teams finished in 8th place.  While all of the girls ran well, Holly Baca scored the only points of the day when she took 6th in the 100 meters and 5th in the 200 meters.

Over the past 3 years there have been some consistent finishes in 1A boys’ track and field.  One of those constants is the Menaul Panthers Track team who, since 2009, has finished in the top ten.  This year the team brought home the Runner-Up trophy!  The last time a boys’ track team earned a trophy was 1991 which was also the last time the Menaul Panthers won a state track title.

At the beginning of the day the boys were in 4th place.  Once the running events started they immediately surged to 3rd and then 2nd after the shot put had completed.  With 6 events left, the boys’ team was 6 points away from the leader Ft. Sumner.  As the day went along the battle was for second place as Mountainair came within a half of a point from evening the score.  As Mountainair inched closer, the final individual runners and throwers for the Panthers stepped up and put any hope of a second place tie out of reach.

All weekend the teams battled.  It was back and forth all day long Saturday and even though the team brought home a red trophy and not a blue, the season was more than a success.  It was a picture of hard work and determination that led to this finish.  Both teams defended their district titles, both teams scored points in the state track meet, and both teams met all of their expectations while exceeding others.

Congratulations to all of the boys and girls track and field athletes that competed this season.  This season was the most successful in 20 years.  All results can be found at www.nmact.org via the State Championships hyperlink.

Final Results

HOLLY BACA- 100m (6th), 200m (5th), Long Jump (14th), Triple Jump (10th), 4X100m (8th)

LIZ GOMEZ- 4X200m (8th)

MARYA MOZUMDAR- 4X200m (8th)

ANNE DUNN- 400m (11th), 4X100m (8th)

KELSIE COTTRILL- 300m Hurdles (15th), 4X100m (8th), 4X200m (8th)

ASHDYN MONAHAN- 100m High Hurdles (13th), 4X100m (8th), 4X200m (8th)

MATT FEDDERSEN- Triple Jump (2nd), Long Jump (4th), 110m High Hurdles (3rd), 300m Hurdles (4th), 4X100m (2nd)

BRENDAN HARLAN- Triple Jump (4th), Long Jump (3rd), 200m (3rd), 4X200m (6th), 4X400m (3rd)

GEOFF HUTTON- 200m (11th), 4X100m (2nd), 4X200m (6th), 4X400m (3rd)

MARKUS HARLAN- 200m (9th), 4X200m (6th)

CASEY BAKER- 100m (2nd), 400m (5th), 4X100m (2nd), 4X400m (3rd)

MICHAEL PRETTYMAN- 400m (16th)

BRANDYN MONAHAN- SHOT PUT (4th), DISCUS (17th)

DENNIS SMATANA- JAVELIN (2nd), SHOT PUT (13th), DISCUS (13th)

JOHN HOOD- 110m High Hurdles (4th)

DAVID LEVY- 300m Hurdles (6th)

ZHENYA DIADYURA- 4X100m (2nd), 4X200m (6th), 4X400m (3rd)

Menaul Panther Football Player Signs Letter of Intent for Colorado State University - Pueblo

Monday morning, 16 April 2012, Menaul School senior, Dennis Smatana formally signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Colorado State University – Pueblo, an NCAA Division II School in Pueblo, Colorado.

Dennis has attended Menaul School since the 6th grade and has played varsity football since his freshman year.  Last fall Dennis was selected 1st Team All District, 1st Team All State and played on the North All Star Team (A – 8-Man).

A brief signing ceremony was held during Menaul School’s daily chapel which began at 9:40 a.m. in Donaldson Hall on the Menaul School campus.   Dennis’ parents, Gina and John Smatana, Menaul School Head Football Coach, Jeff Strohecker, Menaul School Athletic Director Josh Sears and President/Head of School Lindsey Gilbert joined Dennis as he signed his National Letter of Intent.

CSU-Pueblo is coming off its best season in school history, finishing the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record and the program's first outright Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship in school history.  It ended the regular season as the top-ranked team in the nation and earned the country's number-one seed in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Basketball coaching staff @ Menaul w/  Division I and Professional Basketball Experience

At Menaul School we are truly fortunate to have three coaches who have played at the Division 1 college level and to two coaches who have played professional basketball in the US and around the world.  This gives our student athletes a great opportunity to learn from truly exceptional coaches with phenomenal basketball experience.

For the last ten years Kelvin Scarborough (Coach K) has been Menaul School’s head boys’ basketball coach.  Coach K had an outstanding career at the University of New Mexico (UNM) where he was one of the top twelve scorers in UNM history.  He was UNM’s all time leader in steals and holds the school record for most assists in one game with 21 assists.  After college Coach K played professionally in Mexico, Asia, Indonesia and Australia.  This has given him and experience that he truly enjoys sharing with our students. 

Joining Coach K this season is Brandon Mason as an assistant coach for the boy’s basketball program.  Coach Mason attended the same elementary school as the Chicago Bulls Derek Rose and became one of the top basketball players in Chicago.  Coach Mason played at New Mexico State for Coach Lou Henson.  After college he played professionally in Ireland, Switzerland, Honduras, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Kuwait, Egypt and Lebanon.  Coach Mason also played on the 2005-2006 NBADL Champion Albuquerque Thunderbirds team.  Our athletes are extremely grateful for his experience as well. 

Heading the girls’ team this year as Head Coach is Cindy McCants. Cindy was a high school All-American in California and played college basketball for two years at USC under then Head Coach Cheryl Miller.  Coach McCants then transferred to New Mexico State where she finished her collegiate basketball career.  Coach McCants has done a great job with our young and inexperienced team and look forward to watching their development.

All of these coaches playing experience has helped mold our athletes and allows them to know what experiences they might be able to have at the next level.  Menaul School is grateful to have these individuals on our coaching staffs.

Varsity Boys District Basketball Game Tonight

Admission: $5/ person

Start time: 5 PM

Location: Menaul School

Note: If the Varsity Boy’s Basketball team wins tonight they will play Thursday night at 5pm here at Menaul if we win Thursday Night we will play Saturday at 5pm with the location to be determined.

Go Panthers!

2011- 2012 Basketball

The basketball season is off and running.  We look forward to another exciting year as both our boys and girls basketball teams defend their District Championships.  Be sure to look on the website for any upcoming games.  The athletic department and basketball teams appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you all at some games.  GO PANTHERS!

- Athletic Director, Josh Sears