Trojan Shield Weekly Update: December 10, 2018
Greetings from Trojan Country!
Finals Week is here for the students and faculty at Trinidad State. It is amazing how fast the semester has flown by, and soon campus will be quiet again, as all of the student-athletes head home for the winter break. I know they are all excited to get home to see family and to relax for a few weeks!
This seems like a good time to reflect on the semester that has quickly passed us by. We have played/competed in 93 contests since August. The Cross Country/Track and Field team has performed in six events, with a pair of region titles, national placings and a great showing this past weekend at the first indoor meet of the year (more on that later). The other sports have a combined 41-46 record so far. Men’s Basketball got off to a red hot first semester with a 12-2 record at the break, and the Lady Trojans are not far behind with an 8-6 first semester. All three of the fall sports finished below .500, but the improvement in both the Women’s Soccer team and the Volleyball team over last year was extreme. We are heading in a great direction.
The athletes were busy in other places as well, as you can see from the photos a large group of them went caroling this past week. It is a great bunch of young people that our coaches have brought in this year.
We will not know for a few weeks how we are sitting academically for the semester, but our fingers are crossed that the athletes did as well, if not better, then they did on the field.
Finally, I have been writing this update every week for a year and a half. It is time for a break for me as well. The Trojan Shield will be taking a few weeks off, but it will return in early January with more TSJC Trojan News!
Last Week's Results
Women’s Basketball –
- Fell to Garden City 73-68
- Game with Clarendon was postponed until January 13
Men’s Basketball –
- Defeated Frank Phillips 94-93 in overtime
- Defeated Air Force Prep 89-80
Track and Field –
TSJC competed at the ASU Early Grizzly Open in Alamosa
TSJC’s results:
Women’s Mile –
Benadine Chelimo – 3rd – 5:29.74
Toni Moore – 7th – 5:41.58
Vanessa Davis – 11th – 6:46.72
Women’s 3K –
Benadine Chelimo – 5th – 11:13.66
Camille Ruggles – 8th – 12:42.88
Vanessa Davis – 9th – 13:52.13
Women’s 5K –
Mary Baldwin – 5th – 20:41.25
Toni Moore – 6th – 20:46.85
Men’s 200m –
Dontavis Moore-Ford – 14th – 24.22
Men’s 600m –
Godfrey Chama – 1st – 1:20.14
Alejandro Salazar – 4th – 1:25.97
Men’s Mile –
Joseph Enright – 9th – 4:44.17
Bailey Smith – 10th – 4:44.49
Richard Sais – 14th – 5:07.85
Brandon Cardenas – 15th – 5:15.22
Men’s 3K –
Joseph Enright – 6th – 10:18.58
Men’s 5K –
Bailey Smith – 12th – 16:40.61
Men’s 4x400 Relay –
Godfrey Chama, Derek Holdsworth, Alejandro Salazar and Dontavis Moore-Ford – 1st – 3:26.8
Men’s Distance Medley Relay –
Godfrey Chama, Derek Holdsworth, Alejandro Salazar and Cody Danley – 2nd – 11:13.5
Men’s Triple Jump –
Alejandro Salazar – 3rd – 12.20m
This Week
No Events
Volleyball hosts end-of-the-year awards
Coach Melissa Hardman, assistant coach Bryanna Cool and a group of area families hosted the annual end-of-the-year awards dinner for the volleyball team this past weekend. Coach Hardman named Paola Maradei Mejia as the Trojan MVP, Trinity Good as the most Inspirational Player, and Brianna Warren as Most Improved. Jocelyn Charlesworth and Heloisa Niespodzinski each received Hustle awards.
Track season off to fast start
From Kyle Masterson - The Trojan track and field teams got their seasons started this weekend in Alamosa at the ASU Early Grizzly Open. Between both teams the Trojans posted four national qualifying marks. The men’s and women’s 5k’s started off day one of the two-day track meet with Mary Baldwin running 20:41.25 to finish fifth in a strong field. Bailey Smith finished 12th in 16:40.61. Alejandro Salazar competed in the triple jump finishing in third with a jump of 12.20 meters (40 feet).
Godfrey Chama started off day two with a bang by kicking to a win in the 600 meters with a time of 1:20.14. Once converted for the track being a non-banked surface, this time is currently number one in the NJCAA. Alejandro Salazar was not far behind in 1:24.70. Benadine Chelimo and Toni Moore posted national qualifying times in the women’s mile finishing third and seventh respectively in 5:29.74 and 5:41.58. Joseph Enright ran a massive lifetime personal best time in the men’s mile while battling teammate Bailey Smith. Enright won heat two of the event in 4:44.17 with Smith right behind in 4:44.49. Benadine Chelimo came back in the 3000 meters to post another national qualifier, running 11:13.66. The meet closed out with an exciting men’s 4x400 meter relay in which the TSJC men’s team of Alejandro Salazar, Richard Sais, Godfrey Chama, and Derek Holdsworth were victorious over strong teams from Western Colorado and Adams State.
Both Trojan teams will be back in action January 18th at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Collegiate Invite in Albuquerque.
Lady Trojans 8-6 at break
TSJC’s Women’s Basketball team will head into the break over .500 despite a rough stretch of games in late November. TSJC dropped their final test of 2018 on the road to Garden City on Wednesday evening by a score of 73-68.
It was a difficult loss as the Trojans led most of the contest thanks to a 26-point second quarter. TSJC was up 56-51 heading into the final stanza, but Garden City would make great use of the charity stripe to take the lead late and hold on for the win.
Shaylynn Choate led TSJC with 14 points and six rebounds. Destiny Vigil had 13 points and seven assists and Julia Trujillo added ten points. The Trojans outshot the Broncbusters from the floor, but were outscored at the free throw line 20-5. On the plus side TSJC didn’t miss from the line going 5-5, but Garden was 20-29.
TSJC will start 2019 with four straight games at home, beginning with a Sunday afternoon contest with Clarendon College on January 13. They will tip off region play the following weekend when they host McCook CC.
Trojans wrap up semester red hot
The Trojan men finished off a great first half of their season with a pair of impressive wins this past week. The Trojans defeated Frank Phillips on the road and then Air Force Prep at home to head into 2019 with a 12-2 record.
On Wednesday evening TSJC was in Borger, Texas to take on the Plainsmen from Frank Phillips. The first half was neck-and-neck all the way with the Trojans having the largest lead at 16-12 midway through. TSJC held a slight 39-38 lead at the break. The second half was more of the same as neither team would lead by more than four points. At the end of regulation, it was tied at 81-81. In overtime the Trojans grabbed the lead early and would never trail again. They opened it up to 90-83 before holding on down the stretch for the 94-93 win. Keontae White had the hot hand with 23 points and six assists. Bilal Shabazz added 18 points and 13 rebounds.
On Saturday afternoon the Trojans battled a tough Huskie team from Air Force Prep. The Trojans led most of the contest, even pulling out to a 23-point lead in the second half following a great shooting display from White, who hit three 3-pointers in a row. TSJC held off a late charge to win by a final score of 89-80. All five TSJC starters ended up in double figures in the game. White led the way with 20, followed by 15 from Ian Kelly. David Muenkat had a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds.
Following the break, the Trojans will head out on the road to face Air Force Prep on January 9. They will then return home on January 11 to host Northwest Kansas Tech at 4pm at Scott Gym.
Some photos from the week
Quote of the Week -
"Successful programs consist of people working hard, working together, while never worrying about who gets the credit." - Don Meyer
GO TROJANS!
#DMGB - Doesn’t Matter Get Better
Mike Salbato
Athletic Director
Trinidad State Junior College