Durango Duel 2025 Team: From left to right, David Hargather, Elijah Martinez, Coach Michael Rosenow, Conner Komathy, Devlin Rosenow, Korbin Parton, Steven Richardson, Coach Antonio Martinez, Ronan Parton (on a knee), Teki Sauceda (SF), Sam Cowen (SF), Coach Jennifer Martinez Pose at the start of day 2 in Durango. Missing: Brian Cardon & Rhys Rosenow Photo by Megan Parton
Throughout the season, our often younger/smaller players showed no fear as depicted here by Devlin Rosenow setting up at wing prior to a faceoff. This Durango Demon, a clear head taller might have had the size advantage, but not the heart advantage that our Toppers bring to every game! Photo by Megan Parton
BY MICHAEL ROSENOW
Los Alamos Lacrosse
Ending the 2025 U10 LAYLAX season in Durango was emblematic of the past three months of our team’s evolution to develop, displaying: Throughout the season, our often younger/smaller players showed no fear as depicted here by Devlin Rosenow setting up at wing prior to a faceoff. This Durango Demon, a clear head taller might have had the size advantage, but not the heart advantage that our Toppers bring to every game!perseverance, character and overall grit. The Durango Demons hosted Los Alamos, and the Duke City Bears at all 3 levels, a substantial drop in total teams for 2025.
After beating the Bears for the final time of the season in game one, 9-6, the Toppers faced off against a dominant and technically skilled Durango Red team, sporting 3-4 times as many substitutes as our LAYLAX boys. From the first face off, the U10 team knew they were in for a challenging weekend vs Durango Red. Despite the 9-10 loss, the on-scene spectators can attest to the sheer grit and power that our players exhibited over two, 20 minute-halves.
As the referee chose to allow play after sporadically blowing a penalty whistle, versus calling penalties, depriving the athletes of a learning opportunity, play became quite heated as multiple overlooked slashing, pushing, and tripping penalties began to frustrate our passionate players. LAYLAX program Head Coach, Jered Steck, requested an official time out to help recalibrate expectations, which is to learn and honor the game while avoiding injuries. This is of the utmost importance for the U10 level, where almost all athletes are either brand-new or a year or two into the sport.
With our heads held high, we cheered “Hilltoppers!!!” on three to cheers of the many parents, relatives and friends who came to cheer on the team! After a borderline warm, sunny Saturday, Durango’s Sunday forecast flipped by presenting overcast, much lower temperatures and impending rain. As 9am approached, the boys took a tight knee to ensure all were focused on THE game at hand, the most important game of the weekend, while reviewing clean contact, appropriately assertive coverage and keeping heads on swivel while looking for a pass and making split second decisions. Prior to the 9am whistle, Durango Duel organizer Andy Grenhart, recalibrated both teams’ appreciation for the storied past of Lacrosse, it being the oldest organized team sports played in America.
With its Native American roots, the boys found a new appreciation and desire to “Honor the Game!”. With the boys down to two subs, and veteran goalie, Elijah Martinez between the pipes and Korbin Parton at face-off, the whistle launched 40 minutes of pure grit! Season top scorer, David Hargather adeptly defended the cage while also sinking balls to keep the Toppers competitive as the minutes ticked. Korbin and Ronan Parton displayed their aggressive advancement in the game by covering defense as well as attack and midfield as necessary to provide tactical advantages while capitalizing on their near endless supply of “wheels!”.
Santa Fe, adopted Hilltoppers, Samuel Cowen and “Teki” Sauceda overcame a slight touch of PTSD from last year’s Duel where the play was at least as brutal as 2025 was presenting. After slinging some skilled passing, dunking a few points and being able to keep up with Durango, confidence surged and we approached the end of the first half, down 4-5.
Rotating in Devlin Rosenow and Conner Komathy proved just the edge we needed as Conner’s flexibility in positions and Devlin’s speedy moves and low center of gravity, both played to the boys’ collective advantage.
As luck would have it though, the colder temps turned that day’s rain, into a wintry mix that was, unfortunately, accompanied by nearby lightning. As a result, all play was stopped and three games worth of athletes, coaches, refs, fans and vendors crowded under the ample weather structure. With lightning nearing and the chance of restarting after a lightning-free 30-minute delay essentially evaporating, the tournament organizer decided to settle games in the tried-and-true battle of Rock, Paper, Scissors! Three experts were selected from each team in a best of 3 rout! First up, David Hargather, who in three rounds lost a Scissor to Rock versus the first Durango Demon.
Next, Steven Richardson tied up the battle in covering a Rock with his adeptly chosen Paper. In the tie breaker, both teams presented their goalies, the backbone of any team sport!
Elijah Martinez was quick to throw down matching Rocks, to Paper, to Scissor. The crowd was growing tense, with cheering and jeering… then, all were still as Andy called out the final, Rock, Paper, Scissors… SHOOT! Durango went wild and Los Alamos just had to snicker, as they know their heart of hearts, that the only way Durango was going to “beat” the Toppers that day would have been under such circumstances. Until next season.
Lastly, huge shout out to our U10 Champions crowned at the fantastic end of season Lacrosse Olympics/picnic. From burning slingers at the cage with LAPD confirmed radar speeds topping 50 mph and winning several other competitions, including the furthest goal (Devlin Rosenow), most passes (Brian Cardon and Steven Richardson) and ground ball battles (Ronan Parton), our players continued to perform even as the season concluded. Keep your eyes peeled for an exciting kick off of the 2026 season as hockey is wrapping up!