ALAMOSA – A total of seven student-athletes from the San Luis Valley signed national letters of intent on Tuesday.

KayLee Gonzales-Moore

KayLee Gonzales-Moore will attend Adams State University and will compete in women’s swimming.

“They provided an opportunity for me to finish my academic career and my swimming career,” she said. “I just decided to stay in the valley because of the rich culture here and swimming has always been a passion of mine. So if I had to do all of that together, I chose Adams State for that.”

Gonzales-Moore is a member of the Sargent girls swimming team and she is a multiple state qualifier in her three years with the program.

“It was definitely different from being a Moose,” she said. “I had to put down my pride and swim for Sargent. But within the last three years I’ve actually had a great experience there. The girls are amazing and my coach, Anna Gearhart, has gotten me pretty successful where I’m at right now.”

Gonzales-Moore does compete in track and field for Alamosa.

“I just do track on the said,” she said. “I fell in love with it, but not as much as swimming.”

Eryc Heredia

Eryc Heredia, an Alamosa student who plays boys volleyball for Pueblo South, will continue his career at Mount Mercy University, an NAIA school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“I like the community and coaches,” Heredia said. “They made me feel welcome there,”

Heredia played setter and defensive specialist for the Colts’ boys volleyball program.

“The two-hour drive every day was quite long, but it was so worth it,” Heredia said. “I absolutely love it so much what it meant to me.”

He also made a contribution to the Alamosa girls volleyball team as its student manager. There he learned a lot about playing volleyball from the Lady Mean Moose players and coaches.

“Coach Annie (Mortensen) definitely helped me build my volleyball skills to where they are today. And she made me want to pursue it in my college career.”

Kaden Madrid

Monte Vista’s Kaden Madrid signed to play football at Adams State University.

“I talked a lot with my family and coaches, and I had other opportunities,” Madrid said. “But I felt this was the spot that felt most right for me. I felt wanted here.”

Madrid was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Pirates. Monte Vista went to the playoffs two years and he led the Pirates to the league title this past season.

“It was amazing,” Madrid said. “Obviously, I played my first year at Del Norte. My dad had high praises for coach Manny Wasinger, and playing under coach Was was a privilege and I took full advantage of it. It was very important for me to be able to say that I played under a great coach like coach Was. Playing three years under him was amazing and I couldn’t have made it without coach Was. So I’m thankful for that.”

Madrid also played basketball and baseball for the Pirates. But he said football was his first love.

“I love basketball and I love baseball,” Madrid said. “But at the end of the day, football is going to be my thing.”

Kaden Mellott

Monte Vista’s Kaden Mellott signed to play men’s golf at Kansas Wesleyan University

“It seemed to be a fitting college for me with lots of resources both in golf and academically,” Mellott said.

Mellott was a four-year starter on the Monte Vista golf team and went to state all four years. He led the Pirates to a sixth-place finish in 2023 when they were still in Class 3A, and Monte Vista was second in the first year of Class 2A.

“I placed ninth this year, and after tying with my brother at that had a little fuel to the fire to keep going,” Mellott said. “It definitely was very fun. I think we accomplished a lot and I hope to continue the success going forward.”

Mellott was also on Monte Vista’s basketball and baseball teams, but he said golf was his passion.

Morgan Ortega

Alamosa’s Morgan Ortega will play volleyball for Lamar Community College beginning in the fall.

“I really like their coach,” Ortega said. “I think he’s trying to establish a good program and that’s what I’m looking for. To get better as I move on from high school and into college.”

Ortega had an outstanding career at Alamosa. She led the Lady Mean Moose to three state tournaments and she is also the school’s all-time leader in assists.

“I really liked it here,” Ortega said. “We had our ups and downs for sure, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I had one of the best coaches in high school for sure.”

Ortega is also on the Alamosa girls basketball and girls golf teams. But she said that volleyball is her passion.

“I’m excited to finished out my time here and continue on to volleyball,” she said.

Taybor Wiedeman

Alamosa’s Taybor Wiedeman selected Lamar Community College to continue her volleyball career.

“The coach was the best reason,” Wiedeman said. “He just felt very homey and he felt very welcoming and that he would take care of me.”

Wiedeman played all four years of volleyball for the Lady Mean Moose and she had a great career which included going to the state tournament three times.

“I had the best volleyball experience ever,” Wiedeman said. “I so grateful for Annie (Mortensen) and Shauna (Shores). Alamosa’s volleyball program is one of the best in the state.”

Wiedeman also plays golf and previously played basketball for Alamosa.

“I just picked up golf as a side hobby,” Wiedeman said.

Cody Williams

Alamosa’s Cody Williams will attend Nebraska Wesleyan University where he will be a member of the cross country and track and field teams.

“I really like the coaches,” Williams said. “They’re really energetic and they reminded me a lot of my high school coaches. The facilities are great and the I really liked their academic programs. I really want to be an athletic trainer and they have a really good exercise program there.”

Williams was on the AHS cross country and track programs all four years and he was a state qualifier.

“I was on varsity all four years I throughout high school,” Williams said.