Serving the High Plains

Death prompts delayed, canceled THS games

Tucumcari High School boys and girls basketball games last week were canceled or postponed in the wake of a player’s death in a vehicular accident.

Jayden Gloms, a freshman on the boys junior varsity team, died when a vehicle he was in overturned the afternoon of Jan. 24 at Five Mile Park. (See other story in this edition.)

Gloms also was a running back and linebacker on the football team.

As a result of the tragedy, boys and girls non-district home games Thursday against Melrose as part of Homecoming week were canceled.

THS’ boys and girls district home games set for Friday against Dexter were rescheduled to Feb. 16. That day will serve as the school’s Homecoming game instead.

Athletic Director Wayne Ferguson said he made the decision to cancel or delay those games last week.

“There was no point in doing it,” he said Wednesday. “We’ll have to get back to it sometime, but as to what state the boys basketball team will be in is unknown.

“The coaches may open the gyms to let the kids hang out and have a place to shoot around. But we won’t have any organized basketball practices until next week,” Ferguson added.

Tucumcari High School’s next scheduled basketball games are Friday at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, a district matchup.

Tucumcari Middle School basketball games on Jan. 25 against Santa Rosa also were canceled.

Tucumcari High School’s wrestling teams went ahead with their road dual meets Thursday against Volcano Vista and Albuquerque Academy.

The girls wrestling team withdrew from the Lady Don Invitational at West Las Vegas on Saturday, however.

The boys wrestling team is scheduled to compete at a district dual meet Thursday against Del Norte and Valley in Albuquerque. The girls wrestling regionals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Del Norte.