Month: February 2014

Steve Ontiveros

TexosoLeave a comment

by Mike Magers

In recognition of the upcoming start of the New Mexico high school baseball season, we profile MLB pitcher Steve Ontiveros.  Steve was born and raised in Tularosa (Otero County), New Mexico.  He graduated from University of Michigan, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.  Steve was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 1982 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft.  For the next three seasons, he played for minor league teams in the Oakland organization, working his way up from A- to Oakland’s AAA affiliate in Tacoma Washington in the Pacific Coast League, notching a record of 25-12.  Along the way, he was part of a very strong A’s farm system, playing along side many players who eventually enjoyed long careers in major league baseball.

Picture

Read More »

Notah Begay III

TexosoLeave a comment

by Mike Magers

Picture

Notah Begay III grew up on the San Felipe reservation in Sandoval County, located between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and is the grandson of a Navajo Code Talker of the same name. He is descended from the Fox Clan of the Navajo Nation. He attended high school at Albuquerque Academy and college at Stanford University.

Read More »

Jim Everett

TexosoLeave a comment

by Mike Magers

Jim graduated from Albuquerque’s Eldorado High School where he played basketball, wrestling, golf and football.  Only a starter at quarterback his senior year (1980), he led the team to a 13-0 record and a New Mexico State Championship in football under Coach Jerry Hall for a 14-11 victory over Clovis (11-2).  In that game, Everett also played safety on defense.  The same two teams had met in the championship two years earlier with Clovis taking a close 7-3 victory.

 

Read More »

Betty Woolsey

TexosoLeave a comment

by Mike Magers

We normally focus on sports that are played at the high school level and above, but will depart from this from time to time.  Unless you are a ski enthusiast, you may never have heard of Betty Woolsey, but in recognition of the 2014 Winter Olympics, she is our subject.  We believe that she was the first athlete with New Mexico ties to compete in the Winter Olympics. 

Read More »

School Names: Goddard and Oñate

Texoso1 Comment

by Mike Magers

Goddard High School in Roswell (Chavez County) was named for Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945).  Dr. Goddard was a physicist who is considered to be the father of modern rocketry.  Attracted by the vast open areas and mild weather of southeastern New Mexico, he came to Roswell in the summer of 1930 after many years of research in the eastern US.  For the next 12 years, he did rocket research in the area.  Among his many achievements, he is credited for developing successful liquid fuel rockets, perfecting rocket construction and developing the use of vanes and gyroscopic controls.  Dr. Goddard is credited with 214 patents in various areas of science.  Appropriately, Goddard High School’s mascot is the Rockets.

Read More »