Busy start for Santa Fe High senior athlete Molly Wissman

Once an athlete always an athlete.

Such is the case with Santa Fe High senior Molly Wissman, a member of the school’s girl’s soccer team and boy’s football team. She’s been a regular at this, and although the season hasn’t begun yet, she comes off pre-season practices with both teams with a busy start.

That’s correct, busy start as the Demonettes begin soccer Wednesday at home against neighboring rival St. Michael’s, and once again Wissman will be the goalkeeper. The next night, it’s off to West Mesa High for her as  football opens on the road at Community Stadium and she’s set to do the punting and extra-point kicking.

In soccer, the Lady Horsemen and Santa Fe High open the season again, this time at the Demonettes. Last year, they blanked St. Michael’s, 4-0, at the Lady Horsemen.

“We didn’t get off to a good start,” said St. Michael’s head coach Alfonso Camarena, in his third year after first winning the state championship and being the runners-up last season. “We have most of our team returning and hope for a better game this time.”

Having to replace starting goalie Melina Keene hasn’t been easy. Presently, Camarena is going with freshman Marisa Dominguez, and senior Jacquelin Gorman will also see time in the net.

“Jacquelin will also play the field,” Camarena said, “probably as a mid-fielder. She’s fast and a good athlete. We also get back Lauren Pecos, a senior mid-fielder-defender who missed time with a leg injury.”

Among the returning starters are seniors Grace Sandoval and Logan Hunt, juniors Tara Schneider, Cameren Gantt, and Jada Lujan. The team has two seniors, four juniors, one sophomore, seven freshmen and four 8th-graders.

Santa Fe High has 10 seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, and two 8th-graders. Top returnees are Wissman, senior mid-fielder Sophia Mifsud, senior forward Sarah Dunston and senior striker Jazzi Gonzalez.

As for the Demons on the gridiron, head coach Andrew Martinez doesn’t recall playing West Mesa before. It’s a non-district game and the Mustangs are thinking post-season, as is Santa Fe High. Martinez said he doesn’t  know much about them but road games are always tough.

“We graduated our quarterback and top running back,” Martinez said, “but we have depth this time at most positions. At quarterback, we will go with junior Michael Abeyta, and the back-up Andrew Allen, will be starting at defensive end. We also get back a good cornerback in senior Israel Rodriguez and a very good middle linebacker in senior Michael Serrano.”

Alex Mora’s brother led the rushing game for the Demons and was one of the best in the state, and now Alex gets a chance to run the ball.

Santa Fe High plays Roswell next at home, and then heads for St. Michael’s. Last year, the Demons turned back the Horsemen and Capital to claim the city title. The rest of the schedule is also tough.

There’s a visit from Silver, a test at Albuquerque Manzano, a home contest against Lovington, a tough trip to play at Clovis, then a home game versus Los Lunas, a contest at Albuquerque High, and then the regular-season finale at home against Capital.