A few more athletic standouts from the Santa Fe area
The education of Santa Fe’s greatest athletes continues for one editor. I figured that, after two months of research and input, the history lessons would not end with Sunday’s Top 10 Athletes of Santa Fe project (And it was a project. After a while, I slept thinking about names. So many names!). A few emails and an angry phone call compelled me to continue to throw names out there of Santa Fe athletes who deserve a mention. It won’t be nearly as labor intensive as Sunday’s articles, but it’s done out of love and respect for some great athletes.
Kevin Chavez, St. Michael’s, football/basketball/baseball, 2003-07. Look, a baseball player! It was noted that the list lacked a baseball player or two, so what better way than to start with one? He was a part of a Class 3A championship baseball team in 2004, led the Horsemen to the 3A championship game in 2006 and helped the football team to the 2004 championship game. He ended up with offers to play baseball and football at UNM, and was drafted in the 34th round by the Tampa Bay Rays, where he played for four years.
Steve Arias and Rodney Tafoya, St. Michael’s, baseball, 1980-84. Talk about a two-for-one. The pair were a part of some good Horsemen teams that went toe-to-toe with Pojoaque in the early 1980s, but they continued their career at the collegiate and professional level. Arias was a
first-team NAIA All-American in 1985 and all-conference member at Hardin-Simmons. He played for a few years in Mexico and got a tryout with the Expos. As for Tafoya … Well, he is “The Ageless Arm.” (Who could forget that? Well, I did.). The left-hander went to New Mexico Highlands University and Newman University in college, and continues to pitch in adult leagues and professionally in the Pecos League, chasing 400 wins for his career.
Tiffany Garcia, Santa Fe High, track and field, 2012-14. For one year, Garcia blew away the competition on the track. She won the 100, 200 and 400 meters at the 2014 State Track and Field Championships, setting state records in each in the process. She was also a part of a state-record producing 800-relay squad that year, as well. Garcia went on to New Mexico Junior College, where was a part of a pair of NCJAA runner-up relay teams (400 and 1,600 relays).
Fernandez family, St. Michael’s, 1960-now. The Fernandez family is a force, what can you say? It began with David “Freight Train” Fernandez, who was a standout football and basketball player and a part of the 1961-62 “Mighty Midgets” team. Son Joey Fernandez was a multisport standout in the mid-1980s, and his family continued the legacy. Joel, Jocelyn and Joey Jr. played under their head coach dad in football and were multisport athletes themselves. Jocelyn was a two-time state champion javelin thrower. Joelyn, a senior currently plays volleyball, basketball, and runs track and field.
I’m pretty sure there are plenty more — and not from St. Michael’s — and I’m positive I’ll hear about them.
I’m looking forward to it.