Featured News — DCHS Sports

Hernandez Steps Down as Head Soccer Coach

April 22, 2025 By DCHS Sports

Saul Hernandez Era Ends at DCHS

The Dodge City Red Demon Soccer Program will be under new leadership next fall after Saul Hernandez today announced his resignation from the program.

Hernandez has built the Red Demon program into a perennial winner at DCHS. The numbers from the past ten years of Red Demon Soccer are unmatched in the state, as Hernandez elevated DCHS Soccer into rarified air.

A DCHS alum, Hernandez took over the program in 2015 after the sudden departure of Charles Johnson just days before the season began. His first season ended with the Red Demons winning their first ever state tournament game and finishing in third place.

It was a sign of things to come as Hernandez led the Demons to the State Championship the following season (2016). In his decade at the helm of the boys’ program, the Red Demons twice won State Championships (2016, 2020) and finished in the Top-Four eight times. This past season the Red Demons finished as 6A Runners-up.

During his tenure at DCHS, Red Demon Soccer was 21-0 versus Garden City, 19-3 versus Liberal, and 16-10 at the 6A State Tournament.

Hernandez also coached the Lady Demons for seven seasons before stepping down from that position to coach boys’ soccer at Dodge City Middle School in the spring. Along the way, Hernandez received widespread recognition for his efforts and accomplishments on the pitch. However, Hernandez was always quick to highlight the outstanding talent, dedication, and loyalty of his coaching staff and players.

Dodge City Soccer became one of the best atmospheres in the state – due in large part to the success and the way in which Coach Hernandez led the program. Under his direction, Coach Hernandez built a soccer community that will continue to thrive in the future.

The search for a new Head Coach will begin immediately. The DCHS Athletic Department will place a priority on hiring a certified high school teacher who has the necessary expertise and experience to lead the Red Demon soccer program.

Saul Hernandez Accomplishments

NFHS National Rules Committee (2023-25)
NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year (2020, 2016)
NFHS State Coach of the Year (2020, 2016)
NHSCA National Coach of the Year (2020)
United Soccer Coaches Association Large School Regional Coach of the Year (2020)
United Soccer Coaches Association Large School Kansas Coach of the Year (2020, 2016, 2015)
Kansas Coaches Association (KCA) Coach of the Year (2020, 2015)
Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (Boys – 2024-2019, 2017-2015)
Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (Girls – 2017, 2016)
KHSSCA 6A Coach of the Year (2020, 2016)
Hutchinson News Regional Coach of the Year (2016, 2015)
Kansas Gatorade Players of the Year (Alan Lopez – 2020, Miguel Baca – 2016)

While Saul may be best known for his continued success as the all-time winningest coach in DCHS soccer history – I am most proud of how Saul developed young men for future successes. When you look at Saul’s impact on our community – it is in the quality of young people he has helped mold. It is not uncommon to see alumni at games – both home and away – and the community support of the program is unmatched. This is a credit to Saul and his staff as they have consistently demonstrated for our student-athletes the value of hard work, preparation, and character both on and off the field. Coach Hernandez will certainly be missed. I will personally miss his family and the personal relationship we have built over the years. We are happy for the next chapter for Saul and his family and thank them for their time spent with us in Dodge City.”

Jay Gifford, DCHS Athletic Director

This program has been my heart for the past decade. Every training session, every bus ride, every celebration and heartbreak, we lived it together – as a family. I’ve been blessed to coach some of the most hardworking, loyal, and passionate young men and women you could ask for. The memories we have made and the bonds we have built will stay with me forever. Stepping away isn’t easy, but I do so with a full heart and deep gratitude. Dodge City gave me everything, and I’ll always be proud to be a Red Demon.”

Saul Hernandez

Snodgrass steps down as Girls Basketball Coach

April 18, 2025 By DCHS Sports

Lady Demon Head Girls Basketball Coach Kelley Snodgrass has stepped down after thirteen seasons at DCHS.

Snodgrass will leave Dodge City with the most wins in school history (148), and three state tournament appearances. The 2020-21 team finished tied for third place at the 6A State Tournament with a school record for wins (21) in a season. Besides leading the basketball program, Snodgrass coached tennis and softball, while teaching math during her tenure at Dodge High.

Coach Snodgrass coached the Lady Demons to four WAC titles and coached (2) 1,000-point scorers in Kisa Unruh and Camree Johnson. During the best stretch of her coaching career at DCHS, the Lady Demons were 57-11 from 2019-2022. Snodgrass leaves Dodge City with an overall 148-135 record and was named the WAC Coach of the Year four times. She also finishes her career with a 58-45 WAC record, and 19-8 over rival Garden City.

Kelley Snodgrass has been a valuable leader in her many roles at DCHS. Her dedication to the student-athletes and community have been exemplary and we are truly grateful for the hard work and dedication she has shown during her time in Dodge City. Her successes have not only been on the court, but in the classroom, and with the many players she has helped develop during her time as a Red Demon.”
Jay Gifford, DCHS Athletic Director

It has been an honor to lead the Lady Demon’s for so many years. I would like to thank all the former, present, and future players for allowing me to coach you and I wish you continued success in all that you do. Without my amazing assistants and a wonderful administration who have showed great support throughout the years this journey would not have been possible. My family is very grateful to the community of Dodge City and all those that work behind the scenes to make DCHS a great place to work.”
Kelley Snodgrass

Amaro selected to Kansas Shrine Bowl

February 10, 2025 By DCHS Sports

Dodge City High School is proud to congratulate Jayden Amaro on his selection to the 52nd annual Kansas Shrine Bowl. This year’s game will take place on June 21st at Dodge City’s Memorial Stadium.

Jayden is the 34th Red Demon player all-time to be selected to play in this prestigious event. He is the second player selected for this all-star event for Head Coach Glenn O’Neil at Dodge City High School – and ninth overall in his career.

Jayden will be recognized for his selection to the Shrine Bowl Tuesday night at halftime of the DCHS Boys Basketball game.

Jayden was recognized as a 1st Team Western Athletic Conference receiver this past season and Honorable Mention All-State receiver by KSHSAA Covered, Wichita Eagle, and Sports in Kansas.

Red Demon Shrine Bowl Participants

2025 – Jayden Amaro
2022 – Emmanuel Aguilar
2020 – Beau Foster
2019 – Evan Darville
2018 – Dawson Williams
2017 – Thomas Sanchez
2016 – Eric Reid
2013 – Justin Gemaehlich
2012 – Trey Hallman
2011 – Jesse Trent
2010 – Landon Head
2008 – Mykael Thompson (MVP)
2007 – Paul Nelson
1998 – Chris Bailes
1996 – Bruce Redenbaugh
1995 – Brian Goolsby
1993 – Joe Schartz

1990 – Keith Galindo
1989 – Tom Stubblefield
1989 – Jay Gifford
1988 – Lance Cullen
1987 – John Brown
1987 – Alan Schneweis
1986 – Terry VanLaningham
1986 – Wayne Winkler
1985 – Phillip Briney
1985 – Rick Masters
1984 – Mike Lorenzen
1983 – Monty Matthews
1982 – Kurt Fitzsimmons
1978 – Todd Bertsch
1976 – Jeff Allen
1975 – Jim Thompson
1974 – Kelly Kulbiski

Lady Demons Defend Home Turf!

January 14, 2025 By DCHS Sports

Even without the normal friendly confines of the DCHS Fieldhouse, the Lady Demon Wrestling program was determined to protect their home turf at the DCHS Invitational Wrestling Tournament held at the United Wireless Arena this past weekend.

The Lady Demons cruised to the Championship over 14 visiting teams. On their way to the title, Dodge City won five weight classes and finished second in three.

The Red Demon Boys got things started on Friday – while the Girls team joined in on Saturday. The Red Demon boys finished 13th out of 17 teams. Hoxie and Manhattan tied for the Boys Team title. The Red Demons were led by Jayden Amaro who finished in 4th at the 175-pound weight class. Carlos Sic finished 7th at 106, Ryan Gonzales finished 8th at 150, Ramses Ruiz finished 6th at 157, Asa Moreno 6th at 215, and Luis Garcia 6th at 285.

Coach Tate Lowe commented on his team’s performance and how they are preparing for the second half of the season. “This year we have a young team (youngest team I have ever coached) so taking our lumps and having ups and downs through the year is expected. I feel like they have bought into the pillars of our program: hard-work, positivity, competing and team. I am expecting to see big jumps in success in years to come with this group. It is very difficult for younger wrestlers to have a ton of success with the schedule that we wrestle throughout the year as we are battling the best teams in Kansas and surrounding states every week. Our kids are improving and the benefit of our work may not be fully realized this year, but it will come to fruition in the following years and I think our kids understand and have bought into that.”

Lowe went on to say that he expects several wrestlers to be in the medal hunt at state this season: Ryan Gonzales, Ramses Ruiz, Anndy Rosales, Jayden Amaro, Armando Garcia.

On Saturday, the Lady Demons were on top from start to finish. Individual champions included:

Elizabeth Ramirez (18-1) at 105, Ashley Alonso (17-1) at 110, Hailey Ramos (20-1) at 135, Lilliana Arroyo (16-6) at 145, and Yareli Garcia remained undefeated at (20-0) winning the 155-weight class.

Other podium finishes for the Lady Demons included: Briana Garcia – 5th, Yessenia Castro – 2nd, Hodilia Velasquez – 6th, Joselin Ramos – 6th, Yoselyn Rubio – 2nd, Naomi Orozco – 4th, and Maribel Castro – 2nd.

Coach Tate Lowe was pleased with how the Lady Demons competed in front of the home crowd. “Stay the course and focus on how we get better each day. This has been a dominant group again this year and has another shot at a state title. We need to focus on what we can control and our own improvement. The girls have placed 2nd at Randall Ruckus (Amarillo), and then 1st at The Christmas Clash (Great Bend) and Lady Cat Class (Basehor) which both tournaments claiming to be the toughest tournament in the state of Kansas. I think a major reason a lot of our girls have seen improvement from last season is due to the time they spent in the offseason working to get better. Their work and dedication is paying off and we are seeing the results. I also believe this is the best team chemistry we have ever had on the girl’s side and when that happens you are going to get better because you have an entire team supporting one another.”

The Demon grapplers return home on Thursday, January 30th for their first home WAC dual of the season as they take on the always tough Great Bend Panthers.

Red Demon Swim Team shows improvement at Great Bend meet

December 11, 2024 By DCHS Sports

The Dodge City High School Boys Swim team traveled to Great Bend on Tuesday afternoon for the Great Bend Invitational at Barton County Community College. The Red Demons finished 4^th out of 6 teams with 271 team points, ahead of conference foes Great Bend and Liberal. The below results are swimmers and relays that score points at the GBHS Meet.

Event 2 200 Yard Freestyle

4^th Easton Steiner 2:31.92

12^th Andrew Kimball 3:14.12

15^th Gabriel Blanco 3:36.79

Event 4 50 Yard Free

5^th Eliot Gay 27.10

6^th Andrew Pelton 27.12

7^th Pedro Scalise 27.32

Event 6 100 Yard Butterfly

2^nd Jordan Schneweis 1:15.10

Event 7 Men 100 Yard Freestyle

6^th Andrew Pelton 1:02.73

7^th Eliot Gay 1:05.15

8^th Jacoby Sutton 1:07.00

Event 9 200 Yard Relay

6^th DCHS “A” 2:06.78 (Jordan Schneweis, Niko Bollati, Andrew Kimball, Andrew Pelton)

10^th DCHS “B” 2:33.95 (Gabriel Blanco, Jameson Sutton, Christian Chavez, Hugo Simile)

Event 10 Men 100 Yard Backstroke

4^th Pedro Scalise 1:14.84

5^th Jacoby Sutton 1:16.03

7^th Easton Steiner 1:20.33

Event 11 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke

4^th Jordan Schneweis 1:26.99

Event 12 Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

2^nd DCHS “A” 4:22.50 (Pedro Scalise, Eliot Gay, Andrew Pelton & Jacoby Sutton)

6^th DCHS “B” 5:13.66 (Francisco Zerlo Morales, Niko Bollati, Jameson Sutton & Easton Steiner)