Farmington's Hannah Yazzie rises to state tennis champion for Diné pride

Hannah Yazzie’s climb from a freshman newcomer to a state champion ended with Farmington holding another trophy and the Four Corners claiming a first in school history. By the time Yazzie entered her senior year in 2026, she had become one of New Mexico’s top varsity girls tennis players, and she and recently graduated teammate Marley Deswood delivered the breakthrough finish Farmington had been building toward.

Yazzie and Deswood won the New Mexico Activities Association Class 5A doubles title in May 2026, rallying from a first-set loss to beat Rio Rancho sisters Ella and Calli Jones 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. The Jones sisters came into the final at 10-2, while Yazzie and Deswood were undefeated at 8-0. The title helped Farmington capture a second consecutive girls team championship and the program’s ninth overall state title.

The win carried weight beyond the scoreboard. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren recognized Yazzie and Deswood as the first Diné doubles tennis champions in Farmington High history, a milestone that connected the state tournament to Navajo Nation pride and to San Juan County’s own athletic identity. Yazzie said throughout the season that she felt responsibility to represent both the Four Corners and the Navajo Nation, a burden that became part of her rise as much as any match result.

Her season was built on versatility and resilience. Yazzie played mainly at No. 4 singles and went 15-0 there, while also competing across No. 1 through No. 5 singles and in multiple doubles positions. That constant movement made her a target for gamesmanship and comments about where she was placed in the lineup, but it also showed why Farmington leaned on her in the biggest moments.

Farmington’s doubles team was seeded second at state and beat Centennial in the semifinals 7-6 (4), 6-4 before taking the title. The girls team then closed the championship run with a 5-1 victory over Santa Fe High. For coach Pat McGrath, who retired in 2026 after 33 years, the team title marked his ninth state trophy, ending a long run with another banner for Farmington High School.