by Dan Ninham, Contributing Writer
Emma Lewis is a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Akimel O’odham Nation, and the Wailaki Nation. Lewis is a junior at the Santa Fe Indian School.
“I live in the plaza of Tesuque Pueblo,” said Emma Lewis. “My Indian name is Kwapoquin and it means ‘Rain Lake’. I have three names and they all have something to do with rain because on the day I was born it was pouring and was the most rain people had seen in a while.”
Lewis’ athletic accomplishments include being named to the Second Team All-District in volleyball, First Team All-District and First Team All-State in basketball her sophomore year. She placed third at the state track and field meet in the shot put and seventh for javelin her sophomore year. She was named the top female athlete in New Mexico 1A to 3A Small Schools during the 2022-23 season.
Lewis was named to the 2023-24 New Mexico Class 3A First Team All State team. She had 15 double-doubles during the season and also had a 12.9 ppg and 12.0 rpg.
“Growing up in a pretty traditional family we learn the basics like respect, care, integrity, etc… as well as the importance of family, community, and identity,” said Lewis. “Throughout my athletic and academic careers I have carried that with me.”
“A reminder to keep me grounded with who I am and what I represent allows me to go into practice and games with an even mindset to better myself in every way that I can. I have, in my mind, stronger motivation to do well because I’m doing it for my family and community as well as myself. I am able to push myself even harder,” added Lewis.
“There are a lot of people that inspire me,” said Ellis. “If I had to choose it would be my two older twin sisters, Camilla and Leanna Lewis. I watched them play growing up and I watched them shine. I also saw their struggles and went through some of those struggles with them myself. They were able to overcome so much together and continue to be good people with good hearts.”
“They continue to inspire me as they get their educations at Stanford University. They persevere through the hard months of school while still finding time to have fun and make memories. They have always been there for me no matter what they might have been going through. Even now they continue to guide me and help me with my own struggles. They will forever inspire me,” added Ellis.
“I’ve known Emma had a lot of potential to be a high-performing student athlete for a long time,” said Camilla Lewis. “In elementary school, she was winning cross country meets and being awarded MVP in basketball tournaments. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to see her grow both as a student and an athlete. Being a high-achieving student has been one of the top priorities in our family, so that was always an expectation of her.”
“For sports, my family debriefs every single game, identifying what went well and what could be improved, both on an individual and a team level. It was a learning process, but as she got older and gained more experience, she was able to contribute to those conversations more. I’ve been in college for most of her high school career, so I relied on watching games online or getting updates from my parents, but I was lucky enough to make it home for a lot of her State tournament games, both the wins and the losses,” added Camilla.
“I think hugging her after those losses was the most revealing of the passion, heart, and dedication she has for any sport she plays, and I admire her a lot for the student athlete she has become,” said Camilla.
Sister Leanna Lewis also talked about her younger sister. She said, “I knew Emma was going to be a special athlete when she was a sixth grader showing up to our varsity volleyball practices. She was never afraid to jump in, absorbing everything our coach said, even to the point where she could relay the messages to other less experienced players. I knew she would keep that drive and willingness to work hard to get better as she got older. Going to shoot at the outdoor court here in Tesuque Pueblo in rain, shine, sleet, and ice, affirmed that belief. Her dedication translated to an amazing performance in the state basketball tournament and she continues to make the Lewis family proud.”
“Coach Joe Garcia has pushed me from day one to be the best that I could be,” said Emma. “Coach Teri Morrison has been one of my greatest supporters. Her and Coach Jarvis Morningdove always saw the potential in me and pushed me to achieve that. They have supported me from the very beginning in any way that they could. Not just on the court or track but in life too. All they wanted was for me to not only be an amazing athlete but an amazing person. Checking on my academics making sure I stayed on top of my work and staying out of trouble. Holding me to a high standard that they knew I would exceed. They are truly just amazing people that I am lucky to have in my life.”
Joseph Garcia, SFIS Head Volleyball Coach said, “I have known Emma since her twin sisters first played volleyball for SFIS when she was still in elementary school, and I was a C Team Volleyball Coach. She would come in on her free time to learn the game and build her skills at a very young age. At that moment, as a coach, you just knew there were so many special talents she possessed and that was just beginning. You just knew that she had a lot of desire and passion for wanting to grow in sports and academics. Her hard work and dedication are continuously paying off.”
“Coaching her the last two years at the varsity level in volleyball, I just can’t put into words how amazing and talented she is,” said Coach Garcia. “She continues to commit herself to the highest level and continues to always push herself to perform at her highest. In practice, she is always working hard and giving 110%, and I know her teammates look to her to have that same dedication and push she carries.”
“She is most certainly what coaches aspire from athletes, which is to continuously push and work hard, whether it be practice, games, or even off the court with her academics,” added Coach Garcia.
Teri Morrison was Emma’s former head basketball coach. She said, “I knew Emma was going to be special when I watched her play in a game during her seventh grade year. The one word to describe her is tenacious. She has the innate ability to be a natural scorer. She grew up in an athletic family and watched her older sisters play everything. She can play any sport with grace and fearlessness.”
“I had the pleasure of coaching Emma and her sisters through their high school careers,” said Jarvis Morningdove, SFIS Track and Field Coach. “I first met Emma when she was in elementary school. She used to come to her sister’s high school practices. Every now and then she would join in. She would step in without hesitation, no fear, just a desire to be better, be successful. She has done the same every day since.”
“The most amazing part is that she has parents who do everything they can to help her pursue that. Be it finishing a morning cross country race in Santa Fe and driving four hours to Raton for a volleyball game that afternoon or sitting in the car waiting, sitting in the stands while Emma gets extra work in, they are there. Always,” added Coach Morningdove.
“One moment that stands out is the moment her sister Leanna commented, ‘I wish I could just finish a race, come back and pop off a 30 foot throw.’ I can’t remember what meet it was, but it proved just how talented she was. Emma had just finished running, out of breath, legs still shaky, but she stepped in and delivered. It is something she does in everything she pursues, academic, athletic or otherwise,” added Coach Morningdove.
Lewis is not only an athlete but she is a student-athlete. She is on the honor roll, president of her class, and is the vice president of the National Honors Society.
“I am an all-around student-athlete that came into the light by surprise,” said Lewis. “I am the top of my class and have been since seventh grade, and not a lot of people know that because when they look at me they just see the athlete.”
She is versatile with her sports and they complement each other to achieve at each one. “I had run cross country since I was five but didn’t this last year because I wanted to focus on volleyball,” said Lewis. “People look at me and think basketball, and yes I love basketball and it’s my number one, but I am also very passionate about my other sports. And I do well in them.”
“I was surprisingly overlooked last year. People didn’t expect me, a sophomore, to shine and lead my basketball team the way I did last year. We had seven seniors on the team but there I was starting and leading my team to state. I came out of the shadows and proved my worth; I continue to prove myself even now,” added Lewis.
“In track I was also overlooked,” said Lewis. “Compared to these other throwers who focused solely on throwing I was a twig. I wasn’t as strong looking as everyone and quite frankly looked like I didn’t belong. But there I was competing all season and taking those top spots to provide points for my team. I was a measly looking sophomore that no one expected to be at State let alone placing.”
“Now it’s my goal and I am expected to qualify and place in all three of my throwing events,” added Lewis.
