For this issue, Questa Independent Schools Board Member Juan Cisneros nominated husband and wife couple Ernie and Rebecca Griego to be recognized for their Years of Service to Questa students. Ernie is the athletic director for Questa Jr./ Sr. High School. Below are their separate interviews:
Rebecca Griego
How many years have you been working with the student athletics program?
We have been working with youth sports in Questa for about 15 years.
What is the most fulfilling thing about working with students?
Seeing the kids grow and develop their skills in and outside of sports.
How did you get involved? What was your motivation or driving force?
We started when my nephew was in first grade—we started coaching the basketball teams for that class. We made the decision to move back to Questa when there were opportunities for us at the Molycorp (Chevron) mine. We knew this is where we wanted to raise our family and we knew that one trade-off from the city is there might not be opportunities for kids in youth sports. It’s important that kids get involved in youth sports not only to develop fundamentals in sports, but it teaches them to work on a team and how to communicate with others.
What is the most challenging thing about being involved with student athletics?
We have coached basketball, baseball, and football. The hardest thing is that in this area there aren’t always teams for the Questa youth teams to compete against. Our youth football program played in the Northern New Mexico Children’s Football League in Santa Fe. And the traveling for families can be tough.
The league was great at working with our teams and the experience has prepared the kids for competition at the middle and high school level.
Why did you choose to stay in Questa and work with the students?
Questa is my home and I wanted my children to have a small town upbringing because students who graduate from here really form lifelong friendships and support each other as they become adults and begin to have families of their own. Questa is a really special place.
Did you always think you’d be working with students?
For me, no, I have my job in finance which I enjoy. My impact with youth sports is just organization and making sure they have opportunities to play.
Is there anything you’d like people to know about why you do what you do?
Youth sports programs do not succeed without support from parents and the community. Fifteen years in youth sports: we are thankful for the parents, families, businesses, and schools who have supported our teams and the youth in Questa.
Ernie Griego
How many years have you been working with the student athletics program?
I can’t tell you exactly how long. The only thing I know is that the first kids that I coached were in elementary—first or second grade—when I coached them, and now they are 22 or 23 years old and some of them have kids of their own! …and their kids are now joining some of our youth sports teams here in Questa. So, it’s been a long time.
What is the most fulfilling thing about working with students?
When kids first start out, they are just learning to dribble, catch and throw a ball. Seeing the joy and excitement in them when they make their first basket, first touchdown, or score in baseball: that is a special moment to be able to see and to be a part of. I get to see this every day as a P.E. teacher. I see their skills grow year to year. As the athletic coordinator in Questa, I get to see kids become Wildcat athletes for the Questa middle and high school programs. I sometimes think back to their first youth sport practice and it’s amazing to see the growth in the kids. What I see in the kids of Questa is a lot of athletic talent and they are willing to work hard to become better students and better athletes.
How did you get involved? What was your motivation or driving force?
When we moved to Questa I was working at the mine, and our nephew’s basketball team was looking for a coach and he asked me if I would help coach the team. Sometimes students who are from a small district like Questa get overlooked for opportunities to play sports beyond high school. I want to help students develop their fundamentals in all sports through our youth sports programs. But also, to be able to help them find opportunities to continue to play beyond high school. There is a ton of talented kids across all sports in Questa and they should have the opportunities that students in the cities and larger school districts have.
What is the most challenging thing about being involved with student athletics?
I really enjoy working with the students and I feel like this is what I was meant to do. And some days are challenging and tiring but I really enjoy being a P.E. teacher, coach and athletic coordinator.
Why did you choose to stay in Questa and work with the students?
When the mine closed in 2014, we had to make some decisions. I could have gone to work in another mine, but our kids were young, and I did not feel that was the best decision for my family. I started working as a custodian at the school and it was here that I really discovered that I enjoyed working with the students. Thankfully, Chevron worked with the government to offer laid off employees the opportunity to go to college through the Trade Adjustment Act . I took that opportunity to go to college and earn my teaching degree in physical education with a concentration in sports and recreation management. I was given the opportunity to become the athletic coordinator for the Questa Schools. It is another part of my job that I absolutely enjoy.
Did you always think you’d be working with students?
After the mine closed, I was not sure what I was going to do but now that I am working with students, there is no other job that I could see myself doing.
Is there anything you’d like people to know about why you do what you do?
I want to see my students become successful adults who contribute positively to their communities. I believe that participation in youth and school sports helps kids to develop skills that they need not only to be successful on the field/court, but the skills learned in sports help kids become successful adults who can make the world a better place. If, as a teacher or a coach, I can make one kid’s day a little better or have a positive impact on them; that is a win.
