Coach Baguskis Reviews 2025 Campaign, All-District 2-4A Volleyball Announced

MORIARTY — Following the team’s recent awards banquet, Moriarty High School volleyball coach Michael Baguskis has officially closed the book on the 2025 season. But for a program built on a foundation of continuity and youth development, the page has already turned toward a promising 2026.

Baguskis, who served as an assistant for over a decade before taking the helm four years ago, credits the graduating class of 2025 for establishing a culture that will pay dividends for years to come.

“Before the season even started, the seniors came to me and talked about how they wanted to continue the legacy of getting better, but also to include all the young girls even more,” Baguskis said. “They took the initiative and really just rolled with it this year.”

This initiative included a “Secret Sister” program in which players exchanged small gifts and encouragement before games. This off-court bonding proved vital for a roster that relied heavily on underclassmen throughout the 2025 schedule.

Trial by Fire

The Lady Pintos’ 2025 campaign was defined by young talent stepping into high-pressure roles. Baguskis highlighted the performance of freshman Emma Quintana, who earned a starting spot straight out of tryouts.

“Being a freshman is really hard by itself… but being thrown into the fire as a starter speaks a lot,” Baguskis noted. “She was kind of a solid force.”

Looking toward the 2026 season, the team will lean on the leadership of returners like Lily Shoemate-Means, who Baguskis expects along with the rising sophomore class to capitalize on the hard-earned experience they gained this past fall.

“The sky is the limit,” Baguskis said regarding the group returning for 2026. “We actually pulled up four eighth-graders [at the end of the year] as well… so I think we have an excellent foundation.”

A Culture of Support

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the 2025 season wasn’t a specific win, but the way the team gelled across age gaps. Baguskis recalled a defining moment when sophomore Eva Lopez was pulled up to the varsity squad mid-season.

“The group that was just varsity, they exploded in our practice gym, just so excited and ran over to her,” Baguskis said. “Whether it was sophomores taking a spot or whatever it might be, [the seniors] were always encouraging.”

The Road to 2026

With many Lady Pintos being multi-sport athletes currently participating in basketball and track, the official volleyball off-season program kicks off in March and April with open gyms.

However, the summer of 2026 will be busy. Baguskis plans to host a tournament in July and organize team trips for camps, continuing the program’s tradition of traveling to locations like UNM, Greeley, or Portales to build chemistry.

With a dedicated coaching staff and a roster of battle-tested young athletes, Baguskis believes the program is primed for the future.

“We have a good foundation,” Baguskis said. Having that out there shows our community, the East Mountains, and the surrounding schools that the kids are part of something and growing.

All-District 2-4A & Awards Banquet

The Moriarty Pintos capped off their season by bringing home a significant haul of post-season accolades, ranging from All-District selections to prestigious academic honors.

Leading the athletic recognition, Michaela Dunn was named to the 4A 2nd All-Metro Team. In a testament to her performance this season, Dunn was also selected to compete in the Red vs. Green All-Star Game.

Senior Lily Shelby received a major nod for her excellence both in competition and the classroom. Shelby was named an All-Metro Senior Student-Athlete Nominee. She is now in the running for one of five scholarships provided through the Marty Saiz State Farm Agency, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

District 2-4A Honors The Pintos made their presence felt in District 2-4A voting. Kristina Means and Michaela Dunn were both named to the 1st Team All-District squad.

Securing spots on the 2nd Team All-District were Emma Quintana and Lilly Shoemate-Means. Additionally, Kendall Carpenter, Lily Shelby, and Payten Butler received Honorable Mention nods for their contributions this season.

Academic Excellence The team proved to be just as dominant in the classroom as they were in competition, with numerous players earning All-District Academic Awards. Highlights included Payten Butler (4.06 GPA) and HollyAnn Stout (4.0 GPA) leading the pack.

Other academic honorees included:

• Lily Shelby: 3.89 GPA
• Lilly Shoemate-Means: 3.68 GPA
• Kristina Means: 3.56 GPA
• Marisa Ipiotis: 3.55 GPA
• Kendall Carpenter: 3.52 GPA
• EmmaRose Chavez: 3.5 GPA
• Shae Rios

Furthermore, three seniors—Kristina Means, Marisa Ipiotis, and Lily Shelby—were named to the All-Metro Senior All-Academic Team, a distinction reserved for seniors maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Senior Tributes To close out the season, the program honored their graduating class with Senior Athlete Award Plaques. The recipients were Kailey Everett, Lily Shelby, Marisa Ipiotis, Michaela Dunn, and Kristina Means.