Teamwork touts triumphsWith every bounce of the ball, her eyes scan the entire court looking for an open teammate. Kiah Hicks could have driven the ball to the hoop but she sees Kylie Cockrum rolling open toward the basket and throws an unyielding pass that Cockrum sinks for 2 points. Hicks is a dominating player who looks at what is best for her team.The Falcon High School girls’ basketball team is making a statement; sitting at 6-2 they are ready to pave the road to the state championship. With only two seniors, the Falcons are a young team with a first-year coach. Angie Heldstab is uniting a team that knows how to have fun but stays focused on the goal.Girls’ basketball has often been accused of not being as aggressive as boys’ basketball, but the Lady Falcons are proving that theory wrong. In a win over Liberty High School, Hicks had 12 points and Cockrum had seven. Playing a full-court press on and off throughout the entire game and a strong defense, these girls get on the floor and fight for what they want. With a buzzer shot made right before halftime from the half-court line by Cockrum, the Falcons went in leading 26-19. The third quarter fizzled for the Lady Falcons, and the bad calls by the refs weren’t helping them out much. But Coach Heldstab called a timeout and put their heads back in the right place. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons scored 16 points and held Liberty to a mere 5 points, giving Falcon the 51-37 victory.Shelby Goniea adds a fast-paced skill helping the offense roll over their opponents. Gen Patton covers the entire floor in a frantic hustle helping the defense lead in steals and forcing teams to turn the ball over. Janniqua Thomas already has 43 rebounds on the season and is on a continuing path to rule the boards. Hicks is averaging 11 points and 9 rebounds a game. Cockrum leads the team with 19 assists and knows exactly who to look for when she’s dashing down the court. No matter what five girls are on the court, the Falcons form a fist and rock their opponents’ world.WrestlingIntensityImagine standing across from someone, looking him right in the eyes and waiting to hear the whistle, giving you the signal to attack. The whole crowd focuses on you as an individual, but you focus on nothing but pinning the enemy in front of you. Sound intense? It is. Wrestlers not only have to be physically in shape but also mentally in shape. They must be quick to make their move and even quicker to think of a counteract move to defend themselves against their opponent.Remembering the tedious rules and regulations while in a wrestling match takes a strong-willed person and Jose Cos is one of the best. A senior at Falcon High School, Jose is returning off a third place win in the 2008 state wrestling tournament. He is on his way to the state tournament this year as well, and he’s letting no one stand in his way. With a 13-0 record, Jose is in the 145 lb. weight class and currently sits in first place. He has also received the century award, which requires more than 100 wins. He has 106 and will soon surpass that.The entire Falcon team is not looking back; forward is the only direction they know. With three returning starters – Cos, Richie Bailey and Brandon Gallagher – they are leading the Falcons to victory. In the 140 lb. weight class division, Bailey is also in first place with a record of 12-1. Ryan Brewer is in fourth place in the 130 lb. weight division, and Payton Kennedy sits in third place in the 171 lb. weight class. In the southern Colorado invitational tournament Dec. 19, Falcon took ninth place overall out of 20 teams.”Wrestling is an intense individual sport which requires a tremendous amount of conditioning, mental toughness and a desire for physical confrontation,” said Coach Rick Martinez. “I believe wrestling has a lot to offer, both physically and mentally. I have an appreciation of the sport and the individuals who compete.”Football follow-upFalcon High’s football coach, Jason Catron, was named coach of the year for the A-3A division. Congratulations Coach! Ten Falcon football players also were named first and second team players. Joey Caron, quarterback; Paul Rotering, tight end; Brandon Albright, linebacker; Aaron Blevins, running back; and Josh Gustad, wide receiver, were all given the honor of first team. Ray Vincent, offensive linemen; Garrett Gomas, defensive linemen; Jesse Weaver, linebacker; Jade Gale, defensive back; and Isaac Schoeppey, kicker, all received places on second team.
