#15, Shafer Rubalcaba from Grand Junction High School puts down a rebound VS the Columbine High School during the Lady Wildcats Basketball Tournament at Fruita HS.

#32, Tori Catlett from Grand Junction HS hits the jumper over #22, Jaylee Tait from Columbine HS during the Lady Wildcat Girls Basketball Tournament at Fruita Monument HS.

Louis Guillen, left from Grand Junction High School pins Zachariah Gastelum from Northglenn High School in the 138lb wt. class during the Junction Wrestling Tournament at GJHS.

Jacob Trujillo, top from Grand Junction High School pins Christian School from Northglenn High School in the 145lb. wt. class during the Junction Wrestling Tournament at GJHS Saturday.

Fruita’s Mariah Love #11 tries to get the pass off as she competes for the same space on the court with Columbines Carly Perry at the Lady Wildcat Girls Basketball Tournament held this weekend at Fruita High School. photo Special to the Sentinel/ Charles Pearson

Fruita’s Mariah Love #11 gets airborne for the layup but has problems with Columbine’s Lindsay Thomas at the Lady Wildcat Girls Basketball Tournament held at Fruita High School. Photo Special to the Sentinel/ Charles Pearson

CMU’s Mavericks Kelsey Sigl is able to make a perfect layup from wrong side of the basket, helping the Mavericks to hold their own against Western New Mexico in the first half of the game. Photo Special to the Sentinel/ Charles Pearson

Maverick,  #23 Hanna Bowden works for the rebound off the glass as the Mavericks work to roll up numbers on the score board. Photo Special to the Sentinel/ Charles Pearson

Mavericks Bruna Deichmann set up for the two point shot as her intended Western New Mexico blocker Heather Hamilton find the laws of gravity are strictly enforced. Photo Special to the Sentinel/ Charles Pearson

Central High Schools D’Kota Brodie get into the air for one of the few scores for Central High School in the first half of the game against the Chaparral Wolverines in the Lady Wildcat Girls Basketball Tournament held at Fruita Monument High School.

Central’s Tyler Hays #10 found the traffic heavy as the Warriors tired to racket up the Warriors score in the first half of the game against the Chaparral Wolverines in the Lady Wildcat Girls Basketball Tournament held at Fruita Monument High School. Special to the Sentinel/ Charles Pearson

An uneven cap of ice skimmed the top of Rifle Gap Reservoir last January at the start of the ice-fishing season. This year, ice fishing again is seeing a late start, with no ice yet reported at Rifle Gap and most western Colorado impoundments.

Ski and snowboard instruction is a valuable gift for all ages, as this instructor appears to be telling his students. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is offering special youth and learn-to-ski programs.

Participants doing the Colorado River section of the 2011 Christmas Bird Count enjoyed sunny skies and a bit of white water on the day-long trip from Corn Lake to Fruita State Park. This year’s Grand Valley Christmas Bird Count is Dec. 16.

Bubba Bullen makes a call during an Oct., 2009, Grand Junction High School football game at Stocker Staduim during his final year as a referee.

Colorado Mesa University’s Bruna Deichmann, right, drives to the basket past a Mid American Christian University defender during a recent game at Brownson Arena.

Colorado Mesa University’s freshman post player Ryan Stephan takes a shot at the basket during a recent game against Dixie State at Brownson Arena.

Colorado Mesa University cycling coach Rick Crawford fights back tears Wednesday as he talks about telling his college team about his past involvement in the cycling world’s doping scandal. He said he wasn’t sure of the reception his team would have to the news, and then choked up as he spoke about their acceptance of him following his announcement.

Central HS hoops D’Kota Brodie works out with the Central HS girls basketball team.

Grand Junction’s Bri Baldwin leans into a Palisade defender to try to score Tuesday night in the Tigers’ 38-22 victory over the Bulldogs at Brownson Arena. Baldwin had two points in the win. Special to the Sentinel/Chuck Pearson

Members of Colorado Mesa University’s Student Athletet Advisory Council spread out three of the dozen bankets they tied before giving several bags of blankets to the emergency room at Community Hospital on Wednesday. From left to right are associate athletic director Chris Mort, softball player Rachel Boothe, soccer player Smanatha Burneo, wrestler Christian Holcomb, softball player Ashley Pulido and baseball player Colton Little.

#15, Cruz Maestas from Palisade Girls Hoops.

#10, Moriah Rayment with the Palisade HS Girls Hoops team.

Aaron Salazar of Grand Junction practices his putt at Lincoln Park

An uneven cap of ice covered Rifle Gap Reservoir last January at the start of the ice-fishing season. This year, ice fishing again is seeing a late start, with no ice yet reported at Rifle Gap and most western Colorado impoundments.

Ski and snowboard instruction is a valuble gift for all ages, as this instructor appears to be telling his students. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is offering special youth and learn-to-ski progams. Doug Berry/Special to the Sentinel

Participants doing the Colorado River section of the 2011 Christmas Bird Count enjoyed sunny skies and a bit of white water on the day-long trip from Corn Lake to Fruita State Park. This year’s Grand Valley Christmas Bird Count is Dec. 16.

Steve Klink from Denver snowboards on one of the open runs at Vail Mountain Resort. Vail has 6 of 31 lifts running, 13 of 193 runs open, 131 of 5289 acres open only 2 % of the resort open with 18 inch base depth.

Two big horn sheep on a hill side in Curecanti National Rec.

The views of the Grand Valley from above the second waterfall at No Throughfare Canyon are incredible.

Needle Rock, the well-known rock formation between Paonia and Crawford, gleams in the late afternoon sun. Some Paonia residents are protesting a plan to lease nearby areas for energy development.

Larry Maybon, owner of L-M Ranch Sortin in rural Grand Junction, works to cut out a calf and move it to the other end of the corral Nov. 25 during ranch sorting training exercises.

A young rider sorts a calf during jackpot competition Nov. 25 at L-M Ranch Sorting, while other competitors observe.