AlamogordoTownNews.com Sports History: Tiger Early 80's Athletic Star Chris Rollerson. Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now?

Chris Rollerson, early 1980’s Alamogordo Tiger Football, Track and Field Star and academic success.

During the early 1980’s one could not pick up the Alamogordo Daily News without seeing the speed, agility and smile of Chris Rollerson leading the pack in athletic prowess from Football to Track and Field…

1979-80 Alamogordo Tiger Football Team

1980 Tiger Football Team Photo Courtesy Coach Bob Sepulveda The Hveem Years Book 2 Available at Roadrunner Emporium 928 New York Avenue Alamogordo and in 46 Countries on Amazon

Front Row L to R: Bobby Miller, Robin Duva, Sam Mitchell, Mike Stringfield, Greg Garcia, Mike Garrett, Todd Tuttle, David Black, Dennis Crimmins, Todd Hveem, Steve Diehl, Shannon Roach, Calvin Dilworth, David Caraway, John Vega. Row 2: John Meyer, Eugene Jaramillo, Steve Koehnke, Greg Olsen, Donny Black, Carl Moore, James Venezuela, Joe Rivera, David Thomas, Robert Torres, David Cline. Row 3: Ronnie Reyes, Dana Sandenaw, Dan Fernald, Orrick Wells, Larry Gilbert, Jimmy Pierson, Mike Hopkins, Tom Aiken, David Burton, David Milledge, Doug Clark, David Reece, Mike Richards. Row 4: Richard Martinez, Hilario Terrazas, Johnny Gwynne, Ken Teweleit, Frank Volin, Steve Dwyer, Jerry Gallardo, Roger Bacon, Ron Tardif, Tim McDaniel, Darnell White, Bobby Hernandez, Myron Driscoll. Row 5: Keith Sanford, Doug Shoemaker, Jose Chapa, Mike Salazar, Gerald Miller, Mike Tores, James Garcia, Harold Wagner, Randy Cawthon, Chris Padilla, Gordy Mayfield, Toby Kraft. Row 6: Danny Fifer, Bill Davis, Chris Rollerson, Gary Taylor, Larry Harvey, Charles Cromer, Charles Washington, Jamie Rios, Leonard Brent, Anthony Johnson, Dago Gonzalez. Row 7: Brad Dillard, Danny Lucero, Clint Delconte, Mark Reome, Tommy Evans, Lloyd Childree, Floyd Zamora, David Sandoval, Frank Deleon, Fernie Trujillo, Danny Torres. Row 8: Coaches Dan Paxton, Curtis Fortney, Gary Hveem, Greg Martin, Jim Smelser and Tom Jones.

To Sprinting…

L to R: Sprinters: Calvin Dilworth, Jeff Coning, Roger Black, David Bromley, Dago Gonzales, John Johnson, Robert Bailey, Jeff Griggs, Tracy Johnson, Russell Jaskolowski and David Caraway. Bottom Row: Scott Holt, Chris Rollerson, Tracy Motley, Charles Washington, Richard DeLeon

Boys District Meet 1980

Fourteen members of the Alamogordo Tiger Boys Track & Field Team qualified for the state meet.

Participants that qualified for the state meet include:

• Chris Rollerson 400. 800 and 1600 Meter Relays
• Dago Gonzalez 400, 800 Meter Relay and 200 Meter Dash
• Rene Sepulveda 3000 Meter Run
• Tracy Motley 100 & 200 Meter Dash and 400 & 800 Meter Relay.
• Mike Wood 1500 Meter Run, 1600 Meter Relay
• Steve Diehl 800 Meter Relay
• Larry Harvey Discus
• Calvin Dilworth 400 & 1600 Meter Relay and 400 Meter Dash
• Greg Roper 800 & 1600 Meter Relay
• Jansen Jordan 800 Meter Run
• Robert Bailey 1600 Meter Relay
• Bryan Austin Discus
• Jeff Coning High Jump
• David Caraway Pole Vault, 800, 1600 & 1600 Medley Relays.

Alamogordo News Sports Headline May 11, 1980 Page 5

Alamo Boys Win District

The Alamogordo Tigers Boys Track Team upset defending state champions Highland at Irvin Stadium at El Paso for the District 3AAAA crown. It marks the first time since 1974 that the title has come to Alamo.

The Tiger Thinclads tallied 115 points during the district meet, to upend Highland’s Hornets by 5 points. With just the mile relay remaining the Thinclads were 3 points behind defending district champion Highland, but a strong second place finish put the title on ice.

Pole Vaulter David Caraway got the day started right for the Tigers by winning his favorite event with a pole vault of 13’ 2”. Tracy Motley won both the 100 and 200 Meter

dashes with times of 10.98 and 22.21. Calvin Dilworth

continued his domination of the 400 Meter Dash with a clocking of 50.15 Greg Roper took 1st
place points in the 800 Meter run with a 2:01.99

Two Tiger Relay teams also recorded 1st place

Finishes. Chris Rollerson, Dago Gonzalez, Calvin Dilworth teamed up for the 400 Meter crown, with Rollerson, Gonzalez, David Caraway and Tracy Motley running their way to victory in the 880 Yard event.

1980 Boys District Medalist:

• David Caraway, 1st Place, Pole Vault, 13’-2”
• Tracy Motley, 1st Place, 100 Meter, 10.98
  • o 1st Place, 200 Meter, 22.21
• Calvin Dilworth, 1st Place, 400 Meter, 50.15
• Greg Roper, 1st Place, 800 Meter, 2:01.99
• Chris Rollerson, Dago Gonzalez, Calvin Dilworth, 1st
  Place, 400 Meter Relay.
• Rollerson, Gonzalez, David Caraway, Tracy Motley, 1st
  Place, 880 Yard (800 Meter) Relay.
• Rene Sepulveda (freshman), 2nd Place, 3000 Meter, 9:25.22
• Jeff Coning, 2nd Place, High Jump, 6’ 5”
  • o 4th Place, Long Jump, 19’ 11”
• o 5th Place, 165 Meter Low Hurdles, 21.44
• Mike Wood, 2nd Place, 1500 Meters, 4:12.71
• Janson Jordan, 2nd Place, 800 Meter Run, 2:02.73
• Larry Harvey, 2nd Place, Discus, 152’- 11”
• Chris Rollerson, Calvin Dilworth, David Caraway, Mike Wood, 2nd
  Place, Mile Medley Relay, 3:38.7
• Robert Bailey, Calvin Dilworth, David Caraway, Greg Roper, 2nd Place, Mile Relay, 3:26.3
• Dago Gonzalez, 3rd Place, 200 Meter, 22.3
  • o 4th Place, 100 Meter Dash, 11.0
• Robin Duva, 3rd Place, Shot Put, 49’ 5 ¾”
• Roger Black, 3rd Place, 165 Meter Low Hurdles, 21.3
• Bryan Austin, 3rd Place, Discus, 144’ 10 ¾”
• Robert Baily, 4th Place, 400 Meter Dash, 52.2
• Miguel Carter, 4th Place, 800 Meter Run, 2;05.74
• Tracy Johnson, 5th Place, Pole Vault, 12’ 2”
• Anthony Johnson, 5th Place, Shot Put, 45’ 4”
• Steve Diehl, 5th Place, Long Jump, 19’ 10

Las Cruces finished the meet with 38 points in 3rd place. A total of 14 boys qualified for state competition. Alamo qualified all relay teams.

State Medalist included:

• Calvin Dilworth, 1st Place, 400 Meter Dash, 49.21
• Jeff Coning, 2nd Place, High Jump, 6’ 8” (career best)
• Tracy Motley, 2nd Place, 100 Meter Dash, 11.08
  • 3rd
    Place, 200 Meter Dash, 21.90
• Michael Wood, 2nd Place, 1500 Meter Run, 4:08.20
• Chris Rollerson, Dago Gonzalez, Calvin Dilworth, 3rd
  Place, 400 Meter Relay, 43.09
• Chris Rollerson, Calvin Dilworth, David Caraway, Mike Wood, 2nd
  Place, Mile Medley Relay, 3.32.29

The Alamogordo Boys ended their season in 1980 with a respectable 3rd
place win in the state and experience that would carry many of the team members to successful careers in college and beyond. Many of the class of 80 will go on into adulthood with fond memories and lessons learned from their interscholastic athletic careers.

Alamogordo Tigers both the boys’ and girls’ teams were showing a tremendous amount of success this season and the press was generous with an incredible amount of positive coverage from El Paso Texas to Albuquerque and beyond the Tigers gained praise from the press. El Paso Times April 17, 1981 By Richard Luna Times Staff Writer,

Alamo Tracksters Romp: Tiger Talent Tells the Tale

Anthony NM – Alamogordo’s schoolboy track team left little doubt it will be a strong contender to repeat as District 3-4A champion in New Mexico. And there are several El Paso teams that are relieved that Alamogordo is in New Mexico and not in Texas.

The Tigers were quite impressive, rolling up 105 points to win the team trophy. The meet, run on the grass track, marked the end of the regular season for the El Paso squads, which begin district competition next Wednesday. But for Alamogordo, its district meet is 3 weeks away and Coach Robert Sepulveda believes his team is headed in the right direction after last year’s district championship and 3rd place state finish.

For Alamogordo starting with Jeff Coning’s victory in the high jump, the Tigers then went 1, 2 and 3 in the 180 Hurdles behind Scott Holt, Coning and Roger Black and took the gold and the silver in the 100 yard dash behind Dago Gonzales and Chris Rollerson to pick up big points.

Michael Wood won the 880 Yard dash in 1:58.45 and then looked to the relays. In the 880, the foursome Taylor, Rollerson, Stanley Roper and Gonzalez ran a 1:31.03. And the medley relay it was Taylor, Rollerson, Mike Torres and Rene Sepulveda ran a 3:46.40…

The positive press continued…

Alamogordo Daily News…

Tigers take Las Cruces

Frosh win crown and take meet by storm

Tiger gals triumphant ay West Mesa

Several Tigers listed in State Top Five

20 Tigers Qualify for State Track Meet

The Alamogordo Tiger girls’ varsity track team Friday afternoon won its 7th meet of the season and combined with the Tiger boys qualified a total of 20 athletes for the state championship during a special state qualifying meet at Tiger Stadium…

Girls Coach Marilyn Sepulveda and her staff saw a total of 9 Alamo girl qualify for state championships in 7 events. Boys coach Bob Sepulveda and his staff had 11 state qualifiers in 8 events and that means a great deal of the pressure will be off of the district meet to be held May 9th at the Tiger stadium.

Qualifying for the girl’s team were Jamie Soistman, Mary Irvine, Dedra Smith, Jackie Joyner, Sandra Lee, Gloria Hunter, Cassie Alexander, Joan Anderson, and Lisa Valle.

Boys qualifying included Jim Chambers, Myron Driscoll, Jeff Coning, Michael Wood, Rene Sepulveda, Jansen Jordan, Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Dago Gonzales, and

Mike Torres.

The first win of the day for the Tiger boys went to Jim Chambers who sailed the discus 150’ 1 ½”.

Myron Driscoll won the shot put with a put of 51’ 9 ¾” qualifying for the state by a foot, Chambers placed 3rd
and Craig McDowell placed 4th…

Steve Roper jumped 21 feet in the long jump with Jeff Coning taking second at 19’ 7 ½”,

Coning, jumping alone after clearing the 6’ 3” needed to make the state championships went on to clear 6’ 7” in the high jump without a miss…

The relay team of Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Stanley Roper, and Dago Gonzales ran their way to the victory in the 400-Meter relay with a qualifying time of 43 seconds flat.

Tim Provost took the 110-Meter High Hurdles in 15.26 and Coning was just behind at 15.62 for a one two finish. Michael Wood will return to state again this year after qualifying with a 4:04.81 in the 1500-Meter run.

After winning the 400 meter relay Taylor, Rollerson, Roper and Gonzalez returned to the track and qualified for the 800 Meter Relay clocking a time of 1:29.46

Rene Sepulveda and Jansen Jorden both qualified for state in the 800 Meter run with times of 2:00.18 and 2:01,01, respectively.

The Tiger boys finished 1, 2 and 3 in the 165 meter hurdles with Scott Holt, Roger Black and Jeff Coning placing but not qualifying at this meet for state.

Taylor, Rollerson, Wood and Torrez put it all together to post a win and a qualifying time in the 1600 Meter Relay taking the course in 3:36.53,

Dago Gonzalez and Stanley Roper were 1 and 2 in the 200 meter dash with times of 22:48 and 22:66 neither were a qualifying state score and there were no state qualifiers in that event.

The Tiger Boys scored a whopping 164 points and easily walked away with the team win over 2nd place Gadsden with 53 points and Las Cruces in 3rd with 46.5 points.

The Tiger girls went above the 100 point mark for the 5th straight time this season in gaining their 7th straight team victory scoring 130 points. Las Cruces finished 2nd with 82

and Mayfield placed 3rd with a team score of 39.

There were no state qualifiers in the long jump. Susan Miller finished second for the Tigers with a leap of 16’ 7”.

It was a 1,2,3 sweep for the Tiger girls in the shot put with Jamie Soistman winning and qualifying at 37’ 6”, Mary Irvine was 2nd with a 34’ 4” and Kristen Whelan 3rd
with a 33’ 5 ¾”

The trio took 1st, 3rd,
and 4th in the discus with Irvine’s 113’ 6” best for the day qualifying her for the state meet. Soistman posted a 102” 0” and Whelan’s best was 101’ 5 ½”

Michelle Biehl was tops for Alamo in the 400 meter dash posting a 3rd place 1:03.77, Renae Figueroa was 5th at 1:04.40. There were no state qualifiers in the event.

Susan Miller, Diana Sponagel and Jackie Joyner put a lot of points on the tally sheets in the 75 meter hurdles, but all failed to qualify. Miller took second at 11.65, Sponagel third at 12.17 and Joyner took fifth in 12.55.

The girls 400 Meter Relay Team of Jackie Joyner, Gloria Hunter, Sandra Lee and Dedra Smith won their event by more than 2 seconds and qualified with a 49.35.

The 800 Meter Team also qualified consisting of Cassie Alexander, Gloria Hunter, Sandra Lee and Dedra Smith winning the event with a 1:43

Dedra Smith’s 12.48 in the 100 Meter dash took her to the victory lane and also advances her to the state meet.

Lisa Valle was 2nd in the 800 meter run, but her 2.23.29 buys her a trip to state.

The Alamo relay team of Lisa Valle, Gloria Hunter, Joan Anderson, and Cassie Alexander in the 1600 Meter Relay took the course with a 4:08 estav85 to win and qualify for the state.

District Boys 1981 Track & Field Medalist

• Jim Chambers, 2nd Place, Discus, 151’ 5”
  • 4th Place, Shot Put, 47’ 10 ½”
• Larry Harvey, 5th Place, Discus, 140’ 1”
• Myron Driscoll, 2nd Place, Shot Put, 49’ 11”
• Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Stanley Roper, and Dago Gonzalez, 1st Place, 400 Meter Relay, 42.60 (Tied District Record)
  • o 1st
    Place, 800 Meter Relay, 1:28.94 (Stadium Record)
• Tim Provost, 1st Place, 110 Meter High Hurdles. 14.75
• Jeff Coning, 1st Place High Jump, 6’ 9”
  (District Record)
  • 1st Place, Long Jump, 22’
• 5th Place, 165 Meter Low Hurdles, 21.51
• Curtis Markham, 3rd Place, High Jump, 6’ 1”
• Dago Gonzales, 1st Place, 100 Meter Dash, 10.90
  • 2nd Place, 200 Meter Dash, 22.31
• Michael Wood, 1st Place, 1500 Meter Run, 4:06.88
• Jansen Jordan, 3rd Place. 1500 Meter Run, 4:13.61
• Chapa, 5th Place, 1500 Meter Run, 4.22.0
• Jimmy Gallardo, 3rd Place, Long Jump, 21’ 0”
  • 4th Place, 400 Meter Dash, 52.14
• Stanley Roper, 4th Place, Long Jump, 20’ 8 ¾”
• Scott Holt, 2nd Place, 165 Meter Low Hurdles, 20.60
• Roger Black, 4th Place, 165 Meter Low Hurdles, 21.47
• Rene Sepulveda, 4th Place, 800 Meter Run, 2:02.38
• Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Mike Torres, Michael Wood, 1st Place, 1600 Meter Medley Relay, 3:38.28
• Stanley Roper, 1st Place, 200 Meter Dash, 22.27
• Scott Long, 2nd Place, 3000-Meter Run, 9.10.66
• Andy Selph, 3rd Place, 3000-Meter Run, 9.32.17
• Phillip Shevis, 4th Place, 3000-Meter Run, 9.34.95
• Mike Torres, Jimmy Gallardo, Stanley Roper, Rene Sepulveda, 3rd Place, 1600 Meter Relay, 3.27.30

1981 State Track & Field Meet

Albuquerque Highland captured the Class AAAA boys state high track and field championship, Hobbs captured the girls’ title.

Highland used its overall depth to roll up 70 points and outscore defending champion and pre-meet favorite Hobbs, which finished second with 53 points. Alamogordo boys brought home the 3rd
place Green state trophy with 45 points.

Highland which placed second in the district behind the Alamogordo Tiger boys captured the title due to victories in the medley and 400 meter relays pulling them to the lead.

In the girl’s division, Hobbs narrowly defeated Marilyn Sepulveda’s Tiger girls with a score of 54 points to Alamogordo’s 51 ½ points. Santa Fe placed 3rd
with 36 points.

Boys State Medalist for 1981 include:

• Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Stanley Roper, and Dago Gonzalez, 400 Meter Relay, 2nd Place, 42.55
• Jim Chambers, 3rd Place, Discus, 159-9
• Michael Wood, 3rd Place, 1500-Meter, 4:04.50
• Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Stanley Roper, Dago Gonzalez, 800 Meter Relay, 2nd Place, 1:27.93
• Mike Torres, Jimmy Gallardo, Stanley Roper, Rene Sepulveda, 3rd Place, 1600 Meter Relay, 3:20.50
• Rene Sepulveda, 4th Place, 800 Meter, 1:57.0
• Jeff Coning, 1st Place, High Jump, 6’-8”
  • 5th Place, 21.6
• Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Mike Torres, Michael Wood, 4th Place, Medley, 3:36.76
• Dago Gonzalez, 3rd Place, 200 Meters, 22.35
• Bryon Driscoll, 4th Place, Shot Put, 50-3.
• Scott Long, 5th Place, 3000 Meters, 9:03.55

Girls State Medalist for 1981 include:

• Carla McKinley, 3rd Place, High Jump, 5-2
• Jackie Joyner, Gloria Hunter, Sandra Lee, Dedra Smith, 1st Place, 400 Meter Relay, 48.56 (State Record Old Mark 48.66)
• Jackie Joyner, 1st Place, 100 Meter Hurdles, 14.28
  • 5th Place, 75 Meter Hurdles, 11.17
• Dedra Smith, 1st Place, 100 Meters, 11.96
• Cassie Alexander, Gloria Hunter, Sandra Lee, Dedra Smith, 1st Place, 800 Meter Relay, 1.41.78 (State Record, old mark 1.42.44)
• Lisa Valle, 5th Place, 800 Meters, 2.21.79
• Jamie Soistman, 5th Place, Shot Put, 36-0
• Jackie Joyner, Gloria Hunter, Sandra Lee, Dedra Smith, 2nd Place, Medley, 1.49.75
• 1981 Boys State Track Honoree’s

L to R Stanley Roper, Mike Torres, Rene Sepulveda, Gary Taylor, Chris Rollerson, Back Row: Jeff Coning, Jim Chambers, Myron Driscoll, Michael Wood and Dago Gonzalez.

1981  Girls State 2nd Place Champions Front Row L to R Jackie Joyner, Lisa Valle, Diana Sponagel, Chris Roman, Cassie Alexander. Back Row: Jamie Soistman, Jerry Rhodes, Carla McKinley, Gloria Hunter, Susan Miller, Dedra Smith and Sandra Lee. Jackie Joyner was also named High Point Leader for the Tiger Girls and Susan Miller was awarded the All Around Award.

So where is Chris Rollerson now? He is the lead Sports Commentator for KALH Radio Alamogordo and the Sports Commentator for the Tularosa Wildcats. So if you want to hear from Chris listen to Friday’s nights sports commentary live from the Wildcats Football games. 

If you want to learn more about Chris and the history of Alamogordo Sports Check out the Coach Bob Sepulveda book series which covers Football and Track and Field in Alamogordo from 1912 to 1995. The first two books of the book series will be available for a book signing on September 4th from 6 pm to 8 pm at Roadrunner Emporium, 928 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Coach Gary Hveem. Coach Bob Sepulveda will be on hand as well as several athletes from the past and KALH radio is doing a live remote from 6 to 8 pm so you may even see Chris Rollerson as well. Come check us out September 4th, 6 pm to 8 pm New York Avenue Alive After 5.

Excerpted from Coach Bob Sepulveda The Early Days and Coach Bob Sepulveda The Hveem Years Books written by Authors Chris Edwards and Rene Sepulveda. Available online at Amazon and at Roadrunner Emporium, 928 New York Avenue Alamogordo

More News from Alamogordo

• APD Releases Report on Two Deaths from Accident at 10th and White Sands Blvd Two families mourn from the tragic car accident of April 7th.
• Come Out to the Bob Sepulveda Track and Field Invitational Friday at 3 pm The athletes excel at the Bob Sepulveda Track and Field state qualifying meet 3 pm Friday! Come on out!