Montezuma-Cortez seniors Manuel Martinez and Skyler Yarbrough have been named to the Intermountain League’s all-conference second team.

Because M-CHS finished last in league play, the Panthers were not allowed an all-conference first team nomination.

They received just one spot on the second team, and Martinez and Yarbrough tied for the selection.

The duo played a significant part in the Panthers’ success during the 2016 season, in which the team finished 4-10. Most notably was their play in the team’s final three contests.

Midway through October, M-CHS was 1-10 on the season and winless in conference play.

But with just three games remaining, the Panthers caught fire and defeated Ridgway (5-4), Telluride (3-2), and Pagosa Springs (5-4 OT) to end the year on a high note.

The two seniors were crucial in the final three wins, as Martinez exploded for 11 goals, and Yarbrough, who was tossed into the net as goalkeeper for the first time, came up with 32 saves during the win streak.

“Manny brought a bunch of goals and he led the team with that,” said M-CHS head coach Sean Fitzgerald. “So someone is going to have to step up big next year. He’ll be missed for his scoring. Eleven goals in the last three games is unheard of.”

“Skyler brought team leadership, hard work, commitment, dedication, everything you ask for in a captain, for sure,” he continued. “Everyone followed him, he was a leader, he talked out on the field, and he stepped into the goal the last three games without hesitation.”

“Both of those guys are going to be extremely missed just because of all of the leadership qualities that they both have,” he concluded.