The Fruita Canyon Dental athlete of the week has quite a background in sports. Ryan Mixon, a junior next year at Fruita Monument High School, has played JV Golf, tennis as a freshman, in middle school he ran track and cross-country, has played football and basketball.

His love for the game of baseball began with T-ball, grew into the minors for three years, then majors for three years and really got hot with Gene Taylor’s competitive team for two years.

“Our record was 64 wins, 9 losses,” he said. “We got to play in Glenwood Springs, Pueblo, Denver, St George in Utah, and Mesquite in Nevada. Denver had the strongest teams. We played up to grade eight.”

As a freshman, Kent Clinkenbeard and Landon McKee, came on the scene as coaches for the team.

“I’ve learned so much from these two,” he said. “The best lesson is keep your mouth shut, do your job and you’ll do well. This way you won’t get in trouble with the upper classmen. It is a true lesson.”

Mixon competed as a pitcher, a centerfielder and first base when he played on the competitive team. He has continued these positions as a freshman and junior varsity. He plays first base and works as a pitcher on varsity.

“Probably a game I’ll never forget was in the sixth grade,” he said. “ I hit a grand slam off my best friend and I threw a perfect game, all strike outs.”

He didn’t do badly in the playoffs for the past high school varsity season. He hit a home run in the playoffs; a solo shot in the second inning and got a walk.

“Our team did well this year,” he said. “We are a young team and we weren’t expected to do much; then we went on the seven-game winning streak for our league. We surprised a bunch of people. We made it to the playoffs.

“Coach McLennan knows baseball really well and he is cool, calm and collected. Our team is great, the best ever. It just has the right chemistry. We’ve played years together.”

The team does jell having played together since Little League. Mixon talked about the ways the team kept spirits up including playing wiffle ball before games.

Derek Jeter, shortstop for the Yankees, is Mixon’s favorite professional athlete.

“I try to watch baseball every night.”

At present, Mixon sports a 4.1 grade point average.

“I’ll be taking trig and pre cal next year,” he said. “Science is okay. Anyway I might go into business or law enforcement when it comes to college.”

Mixon is typical in liking Italian food. Pasta always gives energy before games. Favorite movies include Gladiator and adventure movies.

His idea of changing the world was to “get a brain lobotomy for most of the leaders in the world in light of all the awful things going on.”

Pat Nolan, Fruita Monument’s athletic director said of Mixon, “I wish all our athletes were like him.”

Coach McLennan was happy to point him out and one of his outstanding athletes.

Shan and Bret Mixon, his parents, were both involved in sports. His mother ran track and played basketball. His father ran track and played football. Sibling Shelby, a freshman next year, runs track, plays basketball, softball and volleyball.

Whatever Mixon does in the future you can bet sports will be a part of his life.

Summer plans include summer ball camps and travel.