DENVER – Another solid season on the gridiron brought another round of honors for local athletes as CHSAA released its all-state teams for the 2025 season. Eight area athletes earned recognition after all four teams chased playoff spots until the final week.
Three Mancos Bluejays highlighted the second-team all-state list.
Senior linemen Adam Martinez and Colten Vannest earned repeat honors for the blue-and-white, helping pave the way for tailback Jonah Ritter, who joined his classmates on the state’s honor roll. Martinez earned his third all-state appearance, including his second straight second-team nod. Vannest and Ritter picked up their second mentions; Vannest was first team in 2024, while Ritter made honorable mention last fall.
Mancos closed out its 7-4 season with the program’s 11th straight playoff appearance – the longest active streak among eight-man programs in the state.
Two Dove Creek seniors landed on the honorable mention team for the eight-man classification. Nicholas Aragon made his second straight appearance, joining classmate Trevan Ivie after a gritty 4-5 season for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs’ duo joined two Dolores seniors on the honorable mention list. Deven Winter and Michael Rantz celebrated one of the Bears’ best seasons in two decades with a 4-4 mark. The honor marked Rantz’s second straight year on the all-state squad.
Montezuma-Cortez earned a representative on the honorable mention team after its 5-4 season, as senior lineman Karston Ozment landed his first all-state nod. Ozment anchored a stingy defensive front for the Panthers in their third winning season in four years and opened lanes for one of the most threatening ground games in the Intermountain League.
The eight-man Mountain League posted its postseason accolades, headlined by Nicholas Aragon earning the league’s defensive player of the year honor. Aragon joined Dove Creek teammates Trevan Ivie (first team), Josh Kibel (second team), Teagan Larimore (second team), Kycen Gritz (second team) and Cael Beanland (honorable mention) on the Mountain League honor roll.
Dolores placed Michael Rantz and Deven Winter on the first team, with Darren Hicks and River Wickstrom on the second team and Daniel Jacket as honorable mention.
The three Mancos all-state selections – Jonah Ritter, Colten Vannest and Adam Martinez – all achieved first-team status. Michael Resner, Traycer White and Gavin Smith collected second-team mentions, while James Potts earned honorable mention.
Sanford’s Cody Reynolds was named coach of the year, and quarterback Trason Gartrell earned offensive player of the year after the Mustangs captured the league title.
