This fall sports season was one of the most successful for our Palisade athletics department in several years. This season, we had an all time high of players and coaches honored with achievements for their successes. Our football and volleyball teams were honored with the title of Southwestern League Champions, as well as individual successes for several of their athletes and coaches.
For our football team, at the All-Conference level, we had four athletes qualify for Honorable Mention and eight athletes qualify for First Team All-Conference. At the All-State level, seven athletes qualified for Honorable Mention, and Seniors Keden Everett and Vincent Johnson qualified for Second Team All State.
Furthering these successes, Johnson qualified for the title of “Lineman of the Year” for the second year in a row. Johnson has been playing football for six years, and plans on furthering his career at Fort Hays University in Kansas.
To add to the successes Senior Easton Embrey was honored with the title of “Offensive Player of the Year.” Embrey has been playing football for about seven years, and his dedication to the sport shows on the field.
To cap off our successes on the football field, Head Coach Joe Ramunno was honored with the title of “Coach of the Year.” Ramunno has been coaching for 40 years total and 23 years here at Palisade. He spent 14 of his years coaching for Colorado Mesa University, giving him a wide range of athletes he has worked with. He gives his all for our football program, and it shows through the admiration of his players.
Palisade High School is honored to have one of the best volleyball teams in the valley, with strong and dedicated players who constantly dominate the court year after year. Three of our Senior Bulldogs were recognized for First Team All-Conference with one Honorable Mention. At the All State level, two athletes went on to be honored as Second Team All-State, and the three were selected to play in the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State games.
Senior Braeleigh Macaskill has been playing volleyball for nine years, and has played as Setter here at Palisade. Macaskill was recognized for First Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention for All-State, and was selected to play in the CCGS All-State games. The sport has been a part of her life through family and friends, and she has plans to play at a collegiate level.
Senior Addie Ritterbush has been playing volleyball since the third grade, and crushes the position of Middle Hitter here at Palisade. Ritterbush was recognized for First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-State, was selected to play in the CCGS All-State games, and was honored with the incredible title of “Player of the Year.” Ritterbush has dominated the courts all four years she has spent with the Bulldogs and will now go on to play both Beach and Court Volleyball at Colorado Mesa University.
Senior Sabrina Landman has been playing volleyball for Palisade for all four years, playing the positions of both Outside Hitter and Right Side. Landman was recognized as First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-State, and selected to play in the CCGS All-State games. Her dedication to the team has never gone unnoticed, and she will continue on her career at Regis University.
Senior Kyra Birch has been playing volleyball for ten years, and plays as an Outside Hitter and back row for the Bulldogs. Birch was recognized as All-Conference Honorable Mention. She has been a staple part of the team all four years of her career and will continue to be an inspiration for our younger generations.
To finalize the successes for our Palisade Volleyball program, Head Coach Wendy Macaskill was honored with the title “Coach of the Year.” Macaskill has been coaching for 30 years, and the past 24 of them have been here at Palisade High School. She has always strived to form one of the most successful and incredible group of athletes on the court and has never failed to achieve this goal.
Palisade is also gifted with incredibly talented runners in our Cross Country program. For the first time since 2013, our Bulldogs were able to provide representation at the State Cross Country Championships. Junior Hank DeFord was our solo-qualifier, representing Palisade well with his impressive and incomparable dedication. DeFord began running track his Freshman year and XC until his Sophomore year. DeFord’s talent is unmatched, with an impressive 16:32 5k Personal Record, and a 4:45 PR in the mile.
Our softball team has also seen lots of personal successes and growth. Three of our Bulldogs achieved the title of First Team All-Conference with one Second Team All-Conference. Two of our athletes, Junior Madison Gray and Senior Anaiah Guajardo-Zarate were honored with “Honorable Mention” at the All-State level.
Gray has been playing softball for 11 years of her life, and has received the honor of First Team All-Conference every single year of her high school career. She is an incredible and determined athlete even through injuries, proving her strong devotion to her team and her sport.
Guajardo-Zarate has a strong love and passion for her sport, seen on the field and through all of her achievements. She was honored as “First Team All-Conference,” “Honorable Mention All-State,” and was invited to play in the All-State games.
Our Palisade High School tennis team also saw great successes this season. Freshman Jack Yu was able to provide representation at the State Competition, showing off the talent us Bulldogs have at Palisade High School.
Here at Palisade, we pride ourselves on our Athletic Department’s ability to produce gritty, strong, determined, and hard-working athletes. This will forever be a season to remember, and inspiration for all the rising young athletes to continue to work hard and do their best. We have a lot of big shoes to fill with the loss of several incredibly Senior athletes, but we have no doubt that we will continue to strive for excellence.