Craig Daily Press / High school sports

Soroco Male Athlete of the Year: Nic Paxton

The spotlight was nothing new for Nic Paxton as he prepared for his senior year. Paxton jumped onto the Soroco stage as a sophomore, assuming playmaker roles on the Rams football and basketball teams.

Soroco Female Athlete of the Year: Josie Rossi

Senior Josie Rossi may have been farther down the offensive stat sheet, but she was one of the key cogs for the Rams girls basketball team just the same.

Comeback Player of the Year: Hayden's Ryan Domson

Ryan Domson’s return from a devastating offseason knee injury wasn’t the stuff of movies or sporting legend. The Hayden High School senior’s journey might not have been made for Hollywood, but it still dropped plenty of jaws across the Yampa Valley.

Coach of the Year: Steamboat's Betsy Frick

The challenge in front of Betsy Frick was daunting. The task was to restart a youth program from scratch with little to no help. But Frick said she had no reservations about the Steamboat Springs High School girls lacrosse team.

Boys Team of the Year: Steamboat lacrosse

The season started with a high ranking and all the optimism possible, but there were plenty of times during the regular season when it appeared this Steamboat Springs High School boys lacrosse team might not be all that special.

Girls Team of the Year: Moffat County basketball

The Moffat County girls basketball team had work ethic and a been-here-before attitude for the 2012-13 season. With seven seniors who had contributed varsity minutes the year before, expectations were high for the Bulldogs.

The Yampa Valley's top 10 games of the year

Playing in the state quarterfinals, the Steamboat and Cheyenne Mountain boys lacrosse teams went back and forth with Steamboat narrowly holding on. The win put the Sailors in the Final Four for the first time in school history.

Top Yampa Valley athletes

A list of the other top Yampa Valley athletes this past year.

Steamboat Springs High School MVPs by team

Soroco High School MVPs by team

Moffat County High School MVPs by team

Hayden High School MVPs by team

Moffat County athletics director candidates speak to community

The three candidates conducted a short interview session in front of those in attendance, then met with school officials as well as parents and a few students to end a full day in Craig.