Following necessary business, approval of agenda and minutes, and confirmation of a quorum, Mr. Jackie Sanchez, Laguna/ Acoma Jr./Sr. High School Principal spoke in remembrance of Hawks Cross Country Coach Otero, the school’s crosscountry coach.
Coach Otero was a GCCS family member for 30 years. The principal commended Coach Otero for his sincere commitment, always being the first on campus, at 7 a.m. and ending his day with an afternoon and evening run.
The coach had retired but returned to his students two years ago because he missed the athletes and the school.
“I've always known coach Otero was well known around the state,” said Sanchez, “but until we got a cry out from the community, and I don't mean the Grants community, I mean the state community, sending their condolences was pretty incredible.”
“Everybody, cross country, track, the athletic community in the state of New Mexico reached out to us to send their condolences to the students and the staff,” continued Sanchez.
“He was such a great inspiration to so many athletes in the state of New Mexico. He came back this last two years ago and his uh presence is missed. Still uh students uh as resilient as they can be you could tell that they feel his presence missing.”
Sanchez also expressed thanks to the members of the school board for their support at this time, and also Laguna Behavioral Health for supporting the students.
The Celebration of Life for Coach Otero will be at the high school on Friday, November 22. The doors will open at 9 a.m., and the memorial will begin at 10 a.m. The funeral will be Thursday, November 21, in Los Lunas.
Vice Principal Monika Sanchez next spoke about the results of the Cross-Country State Championships.
“Four programs were represented, including boys’ and girls’ Cross Country. In the District Cross-Country competition, our boys' team was the district champion, and the girls' team was the district runner- up.
District champ was Tofoya Pedro on the boy’s side, Carter Patricio was third place, Sheldon Cheromiah was fourth place, and Xavier Lorenzo was sixth place.”
“In the girls, division Ryan Concho was the district champ. Mia Smith was in second place, Justina Brown was seventh place, and Alesia Jeremiah was in ninth place.
At State, Tafoya Pedro, junior, crossed the finish line first out of 175 2A runners. His time of 1550 is our state champion. Out of 125 runners in 2A, our state girl runner- up was Ryan Concho, she came in second out of the 125, Mia Smith, a sophomore, took third.
The athletes paid tribute to Coach Otero running across the finish line with a big O and a moment of silence.
The boys’ team placed third at State and brought home the state trophy. Our head coach of the year was Lacy Nats. Head coach of the year in volleyball was Melanie Garcia in our district.
Our football team, for the first time in eight years made the state playoffs.”
“We had our first team all-district, Derek Victoro Jr. There's an Officials Association who picks two outstanding athletes who compete with class, and they have character on and off the field. They made an impression on the officials, so Derek won a $1,000.00 scholarship and was named between 1A and 6A. One of the officials, Stellar, competes with class athletes for this year. So Derek got a nice surprise presentation at our last football game.”
“And we have Tiller who was first district Gman, Jayden Daly and Sean Dukes away so this year we had five get in compared to one last year.”
“Their volleyball team has done outstanding thus far they were 10 and 0, undefeated in the district. They finished in the final four at the state tournament losing to the state champions in the semifinal game. They finished their season 22 and four.”
“We have seven girls who went for All-State Awards because they performed very well but we had Meline Brown who was the all-district team, and she's the All-Metro senior academic team. The Metro means everybody in Albuquerque. You have to have a 3.6 or better GPA to be an outstanding volleyball player and athlete, a student-athlete, so she made the All-Metro senior academic team. We had Janna Creo make the All-Metro team, meaning they only picked 12 out of the metro in one two and 3A so she made one of those, and the All-Metro senior academic team.”
“We have we have Sophia Lozos who made the all-district 18 one 12a team the All-Metro senior academic team. Kaye Lorenzo made the all-district team the All-Metro academic CH team and she was also the senior student-athlete of the year with the Metro. So we have Kay Lorenzo doing that, we have Kayle Poncho, who was the all-district team, and then made the All-Metro team, and then Brianna Cio made the all-district team and also the All-Metro team.”
“And like I said, Metro is of the Albuquerque area and the surrounding areas within 40 miles. So those are big awards.”
“And last but not least, we have um Sophia Lozos who is representing us in the Red-Green Chili Allstar for volleyball as a center. And this past weekend we had Sheldon Jeremiah and Xavier Lorenzo and Ryan Koncho represent in the Red-Green Chili Allstar, and so they ran with the Allstar team. That was between 1 and 5.”
“So we had a very successful season, and I'm not saying successful because of a trophy, or all these medals. I (say) success because these kids learn more than just how to compete on the port where the field, they're ready for life. They are, their character shines, they are leaders in the school. Some of them are ambassadors to the state, and they represent us through the NMAA. We have three students who do that, and they're all on this list, so um they're just a great product of GCCS. But thanks to everybody who has supported us, not just at LA, but in the district and every one of you as directors, as Schoolboard members, you've been there for our kids and we could not be successful without you, so we thank you very, very much. Thank you.
November 25-29, 2024, Thanksgiving Break.
District Closed December 3, 2024.
Regular School Board Meeting D. December 19, 2024.
Regular School Board Meeting E. December 1214, 2024.
NMSBA in Albuquerque F. December 23, 2024, through January 2, 2025, Winter Break.