Pictured Left to Right: Top row: Stacy Davis, Emma Gacnik, Larriana Taggart, Bruley McCuiston, Ava Camacho, Emily Moreland Middle row: Madalyn Tafoya, Sol Tirado-Jensen, Claire Emick Bottom row: Sydney Davis, Lilah Emick, Ari Davis, Katie Pickering, Roman Camacho, Syler McCuiston, Rio Tirado-Jensen, Jake Gacnik

Rocky Ford Blue Marlins Summer Swim Team claimed their third straight championship!

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Rocky Ford Blue Marlins Summer Swim Team claimed their third straight championship at the 2022 Scottie Aschermann Memorial Seasonal Swim Championship.

The Rocky Ford Blue Marlins Swim Team came home with their third consecutive Seasonal State Championship win! The team has worked especially hard this season, starting without their home practice pool and practicing at the La Junta High School Pool and the Fowler Municipal Pool.

Highlights from the meet are:

-Bruley McCuistion is the 13-14 Boys state champion in the: 200 yard Individual Medley, 50 yard Butterfly, 1000 yard freestyle, 100 yard Butterfly, 50 yard Backstroke, 200 yard Backstroke, 100 yard Backstroke, 200 yard Freestyle, and the 400 yard Individual Medley.

-Jake Gacnik is the 9-10 boys state champion in the 100 yard Backstroke, and the 50 yard Backstroke.

-Rio Tirado-Jensen is the 11-12 girls state champion in the 100 yard Butterfly.

-Larriana Taggart is the 13-14 girls state champion in the 100 yard Backstroke.

-Bruley McCuistion set the seasonal state record in the 13-14 boys 50 yard Butterfly, and 50 yard Backstroke. He also broke records of the 2021 1000 yard Freestyle with a 12:03.27, the 2015 100 yard Butterfly with a 1:01.34, and the 2015 200 yard Backstroke with a 2:13.35.

-The Girls 13-14 200 yard Medley Relay Team are the state champions and broke the 2021 record with a 2:14.35. Larriana Taggart backstroke, Madalyn Tafoya breaststroke, Sydney Davis butterfly, and Emma Gacnik freestyle.

The team pulled ahead in the last event and beat the Gunnison Stingrays by 8.5 points. Congratulations to ALL the swimmers, every point counted and they swam amazing. If you would like to be on the Rocky Ford Blue Marlins swim team please follow us on our Facebook page.

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2022 3A Regional Baseball Schedule/Results

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Postseaon baseball is finally here! The La Junta Tigers got into the “win or go home” portion of the season as the #25 seed. They will travel to Alamosa and hope for two wins to get them into the State bracket. Here’s the schedule for all 8 regionals this weekend:

Region 1 (Host: Eaton)
Semifinals

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 1: #1 Eaton Reds def. #32 Englewood Pirates: 21-1

Game 2: #16 Kent Denver Sun Devils def. #17 Coal Ridge Titans: 4-3

Championship

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 3: #1 Eaton Reds def. #16 Kent Denver Sun Devils: 15-0

Region 2 (Host: Alamosa)
Semifinals

Saturday, May 21st

Game 1: #8 Alamosa Mean Moose def. #25 La Junta Tigers: 9-8

Game 2: #9 Colorado Academy Mustangs def. #24 Moffat County Bulldogs: 11-4

Championship

Saturday, May 21st

Game 3: #9 Colorado Academy Mustangs def. #8 Alamosa Mean Moose: 13-2

Region 3 (Host: Sterling)
Semifinals

Friday, May 20th

Game 1: #13 Delta Panthers def. #20 Bennett Tigers: 11-0

Game 2: #4 Sterling Tigers def. #29 Middle Park Panthers: 20-0

Championship

Friday, May 20th

Game 3: #4 Sterling Tigers def. #13 Delta Panthers: 13-3

Region 4 (Host: Brush)
Semifinals

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 1: #5 Brush Beetdiggers vs. #28 Salida Spartans: 13-0

Game 2: #12 Resurrection Christian Cougars vs. #21 Basalt Longhorns: 12-2

Championship

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 3: #12 Resurrection Christian Cougars def. #5 Brush Beetdiggers: 2-1

Region 5 (Host: Lutheran)
Semifinals

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 1: #19 Jefferson Academy Jaguars def. #14 The Classical Academy Titans: 12-10

Game 2: #3 Lutheran Lions vs. #30 Platte Valley Broncos: 11-0

Championship

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 3: #3 Lutheran Lions def. #19 Jefferson Academy Jaguars: 8-0

Region 6 (Host: North Fork)
Semifinals

Saturday, May 21st

Game 1: #6 North Fork Miners def. #27 Strasburg Indians: 8-5

Game 2: #11 Bayfield Wolverines def. #22 Peak to Peak Pumas: 9-5

Championship

Saturday, May 21st

Game 3: #11 Bayfield Wolverines def. #6 North Fork Miners: 8-3

Region 7 (Host: Lamar)
Semifinals

Saturday, May 21st

Game 1: #7 Lamar Savages def. #26 Liberty Common Eagles: 7-3

Game 2: #10 Manitou Springs Mustangs def. #23 Montezuma-Cortez Panthers: 3-0

Championship

Saturday, May 21st

Game 3: #10 Manitou Springs Mustangs def. #7 Lamar Savages: 11-9

Region 8 (Host: University)
Semifinals

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 1: #2 University Bulldogs def. #31 Prospect Ridge Academy Miners: 11-0

Game 2: #15 Faith Christian Eagles def. #18 The Academy Wildcats: 4-1

Championship

Sunday, May 22nd

Game 3: #2 University Bulldogs def. #15 Faith Christian Eagles: 12-5

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2022 Girls Basketball State Schedules

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Two words…MARCH MADNESS! The Big Dance is here. Great 8 games get underway from various locations this weekend. No teams from the coverage area are in the tournament but plenty of teams from the Lamar area are. Here is the schedule for this weekend.

1A

Quarterfinals (Thursday, March 10th) *University of Northern Colorado*

Game 1: #2 Flatirons Academy Lady Bison def. #7 Cheyenne Wells Lady Tigers: 64-24

Game 2: #1 Briggsdale Lady Falcons def. #8 Lone Star Lady Longhorns: 59-49

Game 3: #4 Fleming Lady Wildcats def. #5 Sangre de Cristo Lady Thunderbirds: 43-30

Game 4: #3 McClave Lady Cardinals def. #6 Dove Creek Lady Bulldogs: 48-42

Semifinals (Friday, March 11th) *University of Northern Colorado*

Game 5 (Consolation): #8 Lone Star Lady Longhorns def. #5 Sangre de Cristo Lady Thunderbirds: 73-49

Game 6 (Consolation): #7 Cheyenne Wells Lady Tigers def. #6 Dove Creek Lady Bulldogs: 43-31

Game 7 (Championship): #2 Flatirons Academy Lady Bison def. #3 McClave Lady Cardinals: 44-33

Game 8 (Championship): #1 Briggsdale Lady Falcons def. #4 Fleming Lady Wildcats: 57-27

5th Place/3rd Place (Saturday, March 12th) *University of Northern Colorado*

Game 9 (5th Place): #8 Lone Star Lady Longhorns def. #7 Cheyenne Wells Lady Tigers: 40-35

Game 10 (3rd Place): #4 Fleming Lady Wildcats def. #3 McClave Lady Cardinals: 46-28

Championship (Saturday March 12th) *Budweiser Event Center*

Game 11 (Championship): #2 Flatirons Academy Lady Bison def. #1 Briggsdale Lady Falcons: 52-43

3A

First Round (Friday, March 4th) *Host Sites*

Game 1: #1 Platte Valley Lady Broncos def. #32 DSST: Byers Lady Falcons: 59-20

Game 2: #17 Kent Denver Lady Sun Devils def. #16 Highland Lady Huskies: 47-44

Game 3: #8 Lamar Lady Savages def. #25 Denver West Cowgirls: 67-47

Game 4: #9 Eaton Lady Reds def. #24 North Fork Lady Miners: 44-23

Game 5: #5 Lutheran Lady Lions def. #28 Manitou Springs Lady Mustangs: 64-28

Game 6: #12 St. Mary’s Lady Pirates def. #21 SkyView Academy Lady Hawks: 77-68

Game 7: #4 Grand Valley Lady Cardinals def. #29 Buena Vista Lady Demons: 60-51

Game 8: #20 Colorado Academy Lady Mustangs def. #13 Ellicott Lady Thunderhawks: 45-43

Game 9: #2 University Lady Bulldogs def. #31 Eagle Ridge Academy Lady Warriors: 55-15

Game 10: #15 Coal Ridge Lady Titans def. #18 Resurrection Christian Lady Cougars: 45-43

Game 11: #26 Jefferson Academy Lady Jaguars def. #7 The Academy Lady Wildcats: 53-47

Game 12: #10 Delta Lady Panthers def. #23 Alamosa Mean Moose: 48-35

Game 13: #6 Pagosa Springs Lady Pirates def. #27 Valley Lady Vikings: 41-23

Game 14: #11 Colorado Springs Christian Lady Lions def. #22 Moffat County Lady Bulldogs: 61-44

Game 15: #3 Vanguard Lady Coursers def. #30 Strasburg Lady Indians: 50-44

Game 16: #14 Centauri Lady Falcons def. #19 Prospect Ridge Academy Lady Miners: 59-45

Sweet 16 (Saturday, March 5th) *Host Sites*

Game 17: #1 Platte Valley Lady Broncos def. #17 Kent Denver Lady Sun Devils: 68-43

Game 18: #8 Lamar Lady Savages def. #9 Eaton Lady Reds: 47-43

Game 19: #12 St. Mary’s Lady Pirates def. #5 Lutheran Lady Lions: 63-53

Game 20: #4 Grand Valley Lady Cardinals def. #20 Colorado Academy Lady Mustangs: 57-28

Game 21: #2 University Lady Bulldogs def. #22 Coal Ridge Lady Miners: 48-22

Game 22: #10 Delta Lady Panthers def. #26 Jefferson Academy Lady Jaguars: 58-29

Game 23: #11 Colorado Springs Christian Lady Lions def. #6 Pagosa Springs Lady Pirates: 33-22

Game 24: #3 Vanguard Lady Coursers def. #14 Centauri Lady Falcons: 59-50

Great 8 (Thursday, March 10th) *University of Denver*

Game 25: #3 Vanguard Lady Coursers def. #11 Colorado Springs Christian Lady Lions: 39-35

Game 26: #1 Platte Valley Lady Broncos def. #8 Lamar Lady Savages: 53-27

Game 27: #2 University Lady Bulldogs def. #10 Delta Lady Panthers: 44-32

Game 28: #4 Grand Valley Lady Cardinals def. #12 St. Mary’s Lady Pirates: 52-50

Final 4 (Friday, March 11th) *University of Denver*

Game 29: #2 University Lady Bulldogs def. #3 Vanguard Lady Coursers: 52-37

Game 30: #1 Platte Valley Lady Broncos def. #4 Grand Valley Lady Cardinals: 52-33

3rd Place/Championship (Saturday, March 12th) *University of Denver*

Game 31 (3rd Place): #3 Vanguard Lady Coursers def. #4 Grand Valley Lady Cardinals: 44-30

Game 32 (Championship): #1 Platte Valley Lady Broncos def. #2 University Lady Bulldogs: 70-50

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2022 Hampton Inn Baseball Tournament Schedule

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Our coverage of the La Junta Tigers gets underway this weekend as they host the Annual Hampton Inn Tournament. Teams include: Bayfield, Coronado, Dolores Huerta, Fort Morgan, La Junta, Lamar, Pueblo East and Sterling. Action gets underway Thursday from Rocky Ford and La Junta. Catch the Tigers all weekend on AM 1400.

Quarterfinals

Friday, March 25th (Babcock Park/Potter Park)

Game 1 (Babcock Park): Lamar Savages def. Pueblo East Eagles: 7-3

Game 2 (Potter Park): Fort Morgan Mustangs def. La Junta Tigers: 11-6

Game 3 (Babcock Park): Sterling Tigers def. Coronado Cougars: 21-0

Game 4 (Potter Park): Bayfield Wolverines def. Dolores Huerta Scorpions: 22-7

Semifinals

Friday, March 25th (Babcock Park/Potter Park)

Game 5 *Consolation* (Potter Park): La Junta Tigers def. Dolores Huerta Scorpions: 19-1

Game 6 *Championship* (Potter Park): Fort Morgan Mustangs def. Bayfield Wolverines: 7-3

Saturday, March 26th (Babcock Park/Potter Park)

Game 7 *Consolation* (Babcock Park): Pueblo East Eagles def. Coronado Cougars: 12-3

Game 8 *Championship* (Potter Park): Sterling Tigers def. Lamar Savages: 10-0

7th Place/5th Place/3rd Place/Championship

Saturday, March 26th (Babcock Park/Potter Park)

Game 9 *7th Place* (Babcock Park): Coronado Cougars def. Dolores Huerta Scorpions: 19-4

Game 10 *3rd Place* (Potter Park): Lamar Savages def. Bayfield Wolverines: 6-5

Game 11 *5th Place* (Babcock Park): Pueblo East Eagles def. La Junta Tigers: 15-2

Game 12 *Championship (Potter Park): Sterling Tigers def. Fort Morgan Mustangs: 7-0

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2022 Boys Basketball District Schedules

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March Madness is right around the corner. District/League tournaments get underway this week in Class 1A thru 3A. Keep up to date with all the boy’s tournaments here all week.

1A

District 2

Quarterfinals (Tuesday, February 22nd) *Lamar Community Building*

Game 1: #4 Cheyenne Wells Tigers def. #5 Cheraw Wolverines: 49-37

Game 2: #2 Wiley Panthers def. #7 Eads Eagles: 49-46

Game 3: #3 McClave Cardinals def. #6 Kit Carson Wildcats: 56-38

Semifinals (Thursday, February 24th) *Lamar Community Building*

Game 4: #1 Granada Bobcats def. #4 Cheyenne Wells Tigers: 56-48

Game 5: #3 McClave Cardinals def. #2 Wiley Panthers: 39-30

3rd Place/Championship (Saturday, February 24th) *Lamar Community Building*

Game 6 (3rd Place): #2 Wiley Panthers def. #4 Cheyenne Wells Tigers: 36-34

Game 7 (Championship): #3 McClave Cardinals def. #1 Granada Bobcats: 54-48

District 3

Quarterfinals (Monday, February 21st/Tuesday, February 22nd) *Higher Seed Hosts*

Game 1: #4 La Veta Redhawks def. #5 South Baca Patriots: 52-30

Game 2: #3 Primero Bulldogs def. #6 Manzanola Bobcats: 43-36

Game 3: #2 Springfield Longhorns def. #7 Walsh Eagles: 63-38

Semifinals (Thursday, February 24th) *Las Animas High School*

Game 4: #2 Springfield Longhorns def. #3 Primero Bulldogs: 35-33

Game 5: #1 Kim/Branson Mustangs def. #4 La Veta Redhawks: 52-43

3rd Place/Championship (Saturday, February 26th) *Las Animas High School*

Game 6 (3rd Place): #3 Primero Bulldogs def. #4 La Veta Redskins: 41-38

Game 7 (Championship): #1 Kim/Branson Mustangs def. #2 Springfield Longhorns: 47-43

2A

District 6

Play-In Game (Thursday, February 17th) *Home Sites*

Game 1: #4 Hoehne Farmers def. #4 Rocky Ford Meloneers: 50-34

Quarterfinals (Monday, February 21st) *Higher Seed Hosts*

Game 2: #1 Holly Wildcats def. #4 Hoehne Farmers: 64-44

Game 3: #2 Rye Thunderbolts def. #3 Swink Lions: 52-45

Game 4: #2 Crowley County Chargers def. #3 Swallows Charter Spartans: 70-35

Game 5: #1 Fowler Grizzlies def. #4 Las Animas Trojans: 63-49

Semifinals (Thursday, February 24th) *La Junta High School*

Game 6: #2 Rye Thunderbolts def. #1 Holly Wildcats: 60-57

Game 7: #2 Crowley County Chargers def. #1 Fowler Grizzlies: 36-34

3rd Place/Championship (Friday, February 25th) *La Junta High School*

Game 8 (3rd Place): #1 Holly Wildcats def. #1 Fowler Grizzlies: 64-55

Game 9 (Championship): #2 Crowley County Chargers def. #2 Rye Thunderbolts: 40-39

3A

Tri-Peaks League

Play-In Games (Saturday, February 19th) *Higher Seed Hosts*

Game 1: #9 La Junta Tigers def. #9 Ellicott Thunderhawks: 77-44

Game 2: #5 Woodland Park Panthers def. #12 Lamar Savages: 53-24

Game 3: #10 Buena Vista Demons def. #7 Florence Huskies: 68-47

Game 4: #6 Banning Lewis Stallions def. #11 Vanguard Coursers: 57-51

Quarterfinals (Wednesday, February 23rd) *Higher Seed Hosts*

Game 5: #1 St. Mary’s Pirates def. #9 La Junta Tigers: 75-55

Game 6: #4 Manitou Springs Mustangs def. #5 Woodland Park Panthers: 66-31

Game 7: #2 Salida Spartans def. #10 Buena Vista Demons: 59-32

Game 8: #6 Banning Lewis Stallions def. #3 Colorado Springs Christian Lions: 47-42

Semifinals (Friday, February 25th) *Florence HS*

Game 9 (Consolation): #9 La Junta Tigers def. #5 Woodland Park Panthers: 61-59

Game 10 (Consolation): #3 Colorado Springs Christian Lions def. #10 Buena Vista Demons: 55-30

Game 11 (Championship): #1 St. Mary’s Pirates def. #4 Manitou Springs Mustangs: 80-68

Game 12 (Championship): #2 Salida Spartans def. #6 Banning Lewis Stallions: 52-47

7th Place/5th Place/3rd Place/Championship (Saturday February 26th) *Florence HS*

Game 13 (7th Place): #5 Woodland Park Panthers def. #10 Buena Vista Demons: 48-31

Game 14 (5th Place): #3 Colorado Springs Christian Lions def. #9 La Junta Tigers: 56-51

Game 15 (3rd Place): #4 Manitou Springs Mustangs def. #6 Banning Lewis Stallions: 50-44

Game 16 (Championship): #1 St. Mary’s Pirates def. #2 Salida Spartans: 87-48