Trojan Shield Weekly Update: January 28, 2019
Greetings from Trojan Country!
It was a slightly strange week in the TSJC Athletic Department. We only had two games all week, and no contests over the weekend what-so-ever. It is odd to have some downtime this time of year, but it was a good chance to catch our breath before the spring seasons start play this coming weekend. The next month will be very busy with Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Track & Field all in action. Just because there were no games didn’t mean the Trojan athletes were taking it easy. The Baseball and Softball teams were practicing when they could, and shoveling snow with the rest of their free time. Even the Volleyball and Soccer athletes have been busy, as I saw many of them working hard in the weight room and on the treadmills getting in shape to be ready for their team off-season workouts to get going soon.
This coming weekend will be a busy one, as all five active sports will be in action. The Track teams head to Boulder, Baseball is in a major tournament in Phoenix to start their season, the Basketball teams each have three important Region IX road games, and Softball will start their season off at home against Frank Phillips on Saturday (note - the softball games have been cancelled).
Finally, I wanted to give a shout-out to our Men’s Basketball assistant coach Chauncey Russell. Coach Russell not only does a great job helping with this year’s Trojan squad, but he also keeps track of all of the former Trojans cagers competing at the next level. He recently posted videos of a pair of former Trojans competing at the NCAA Division I level, Job Alexander and Brandon Newman. Both had excellent weekends and are doing a great job. I am thankful that Coach Russell works so hard to keep up with them, allowing all of us to keep up with them as well.
Last Week's Results
Women’s Basketball –
- Defeated Otero 81-66
Men’s Basketball –
- Lost to Otero 89-70
This Week
Monday -
- Women’s Basketball travels to Lamar, Colorado to face Lamar Community College at 5pm
- Men’s Basketball travels to Lamar, Colorado to face Lamar Community College at 7pm
Friday -
- Track and Field travels to Boulder, Colorado for the CU Invitational
- Baseball travels to Phoenix, Arizona to face Gateway Community College
Saturday -
- Softball hosts Frank Phillips at Southside Park for a doubleheader starting at noon Games changed to February 17
- Baseball travels to Phoenix, Arizona to face South Mountain CC and Central Arizona
- Track and Field travels to Boulder, Colorado for the CU Invitational
- Women’s Basketball travels to Sterling, Colorado to face Northeastern Junior College at 2pm
- Men’s Basketball travels to Sterling, Colorado to face Northeastern Junior College at 4pm
Sunday -
- Women’s Basketball travels to Scottsbluff, Nebraska to face Western Nebraska CC at 12pm
- Men’s Basketball travels to Scottsbluff, Nebraska to face Western Nebraska CC at 2pm
- Baseball travels to Phoenix, Arizona to face TBA
Softball set for home opener on Saturday
Coach Steve Swazo enters his 13th season as Head Softball Coach of the Lady Trojan softball team. The last four seasons his teams have averaged more than 30 wins each season and he now has 337 wins while coaching at Trinidad State.
The 2017-18 team won its second consecutive Region IX Championship and placed its second athlete to move on to a NCAA D1 school in Katie Glaze, who will play at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. The 2017-18 class had nine of its 11 sophomores move on to a 4-year Universities to continue their softball careers with either an academic or athletic scholarship. Also, most importantly, this class had an overall GPA of 3.55 as a team as ten student athletes made NJCAA All-American Academic Honors and 14 made Region IX All-Academic Honors. The students excelled not only on the softball field but also in the classroom.
The 2019 team will bring back 11 sophomores including last year’s All-Region IX pitcher Teddi Garcia who had 22 wins last year. Also back in the circle for the Lady Trojans will be Avery Bohn, Megan Nunez and Avellaka Arviso. New to the pitching staff is Gabby Williams, a freshman from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Other returning sophomores include Sheyanne Sandoval, who had the game winning 2-RBI hit in the Region IX Championship game last year and will see action at shortstop and behind the plate. Jelaeni Kapanui returns at second base and Jordan Sanchez in the outfield and Gabby Gonzalez as the DP. Rounding out the sophomores are Brittney Krey, Jamie Leon who will see action in the outfield and Abby Garcia in the infield.
Along with the sophomores, Coach Swazo has 11 freshmen that are vying for playing time this spring. Harleigh Scott and Megan Reidhead from Arizona, Jessica Arellano, Meghan Gonzales, Miranda Medrano, Aspen Dufour, Melanie Lopez, and Tori Litwin from Colorado and Rachel McKinley from New Mexico.
The team has worked hard all fall and are anxious to defend their Region IX title. The Lady Trojans open their season at home February 2 against Frank Phillips College of Texas. Game times are 12 and 2pm at Southside Park. (note - the softball games have been cancelled).
The Trojans will play 26 of their 60 games at home this year. Coach Swazo has three assistant coaches that will be helping. They are Courtney Vigil, Vikki Gonzales and Chase Machain.
Trojans split conference games
The Trojan basketball teams were in La Junta on Thursday night to face Region IX foes Otero. The games couldn’t have been much different for the TSJC teams as the women had one of their best shooting performances of the season, hitting over 56% of their shots and 15 3-pointers, while the men struggled to score hitting less than 40% from the field. The women went on to a 81-66 win while the men fell 89-70.
In the women’s game the Trojans trailed early, but rallied to take a 39-38 lead into the locker room at halftime. The third quarter was all TSJC as they outscored Otero 25-12 and then cruised to the finish line and the 81-66 win. Destinee Vigil had a huge night, hitting six 3-pointers on route to a game high 29 points. Linsi Calvo had another great shooting game with five 3-pointers and 17 points, and Cassia McCaskill came off the bench to add 18.
The men’s game saw the Rattlers jump out to a large halftime lead and, despite a much better Trojan second half, hold on for the region win. TSJC freshmen Keontae White and David Muenkat led the way for TSJC with 20 and 17 points respectively. Nieyeme Smyer-Williams also had a good night off the bench with 14 points.
The Trojan teams will have a busy week in front of them, as they face region opponents Lamar, Northeastern and Western Nebraska, all on the road this week. They will return home on Wednesday, February 6 for games with Lamar CC at 5pm and 7pm.
Three Trojans commit to 4-year universities
Three Trojan athletes signed their NCAA National Letters of Intent this week to continue their education next year at 4-year universities. Baseball players Reid Baty and Anthony Durbano, as well as Track and Field’s Godfrey Chama all committed to compete in their sports at the next level.
Baty is an outfielder/pitcher from Laramie, Wyoming. Last season he played in 20 games for the Trojans, scoring four times including the walk-off winner against Northeastern Junior College. He had an excellent fall and is set to have a great season for the Trojans. Reid signed with the NCAA Division II Javelinas of Texas A&M University in Kingsville.
Durbano is a right-handed pitcher from Riverdale, Utah. He pitched in 15 games last season for the Trojans finishing with a 4-2 record and 35 strikeouts. He had a 4.24 ERA on the season. Anthony signed with the NCAA Division II Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.
Chama is a Cross Country/Track and Field athlete from Chingola, Zambia. He is a two-time NJCAA All-American and is the school record holder in the indoor distances of 400m, 600m, 4x400m relay, distance medley relay, and the outdoor distances of 200m & 400m. He is currently one of the top indoor athletes in the nation and should have a great showing at the national indoor meet in early March. Godfrey signed with the NCAA Division II Adams State University in Alamosa.
Some photos from the week
Quote of the Week -
"What you're thinking is what you're becoming." - Muhammad Ali
GO TROJANS!
#DMGB - Doesn’t Matter Get Better
Mike Salbato
Athletic Director
Trinidad State Junior College