Sports Extra: Michael Montoya’s monument to a friend

Pueblo Central football player Michael Montoya was home schooled until 9th grade. At the beginning of 9th grade, the football season began and Montoya, who is reserved, didn't know anyone. That was until Eric "Mikey" Lopez introduced himself to Montoya, and their friendship began. Lopez making Montoya feel like he was part of the team was simple act of kindness, but then again it was not surprising because Lopez was the consummate teammate.

Lopez always made sure that his teammates didn't stand alone..

"Eric had a very unique personality," Montoya said. "He was always laughing. He was lively. Everybody loved him."

Eric Mickey Lopez was loved because of his selfless attitude. If you scored a touchdown,  he was the first to congratulate you. 

"He rarely did anything for himself  on the team. Whenever anybody scored,  he'd run over to the end zone and give them a high five; give him a hug. "

Eric had this great ability to get people to loosen up. For example,  Pueblo Central's big bruising running back Michael Montoya,  who admittedly is shy by nature, was convinced by Eric to be a cheerleader  for the central powder puff game.

"And he says, you should be a cheerleader.  I was like, okay.  So I was a cheerleader. I got all dressed up in the outfit  and he loved it."

He also loved to play practical jokes. 

"He says  he might  come sit on my shirt.  Do I smell?  I don't think so. So I go to smell his shirt  and kisses me on the forehead. "

But the young man who tried to put a smile on the faces of so many died in January of 2023 by suicide.

"It really hurt when we lost him because it felt like I wasn't there for him, like he was there for me.  And I remember him making me laugh all the time,  making others laugh all the time, and always smiling.  And it's really extremely painful that  to even think what he was feeling inside, I just  I just pray that  he wasn't completely alone."

Along the Arkansas River atop the Pueblo levee. There's a steel statue.  The statue that stands in the shadow of Dutch Clark Stadium above the school logo. Eric graduated from Pueblo Central. 

"I sketched it out in a notebook."

Montoya wanted to honor his friend and those who are struggling with mental health, so he decided to build the statue.

"So I chose this pose based off of a picture of Eric playing."

"I chose that picture  because  I really like the abstract message that I see in it.  When I see this,  I see,  you know,  a member of a team  reaching out  for a ball. But, I see a member of a team reaching out for hope and, that can translate, and sort of morph into a member of a community reaching out for help if they're struggling.  And I see this as a reminder that  you should reach out.  The statue is named: 'You don't stand alone', because on a football team, you're part of a team.  You don't stand alone. " 

The 'You don't stand alone' statue was not done alone.  With the help from artist Eric McCue  and the generosity from the Pueblo community through fundraising,  Montoya's vision  became a reality. 

"I think it's beautiful.  So you can probably tell it's  very hard to look away from.  I spent  so many hours  looking at this. "

Montoya and McCue put in a lot of hours in this labor of love. 

"From start to finish, it took me a whole year. "

Even though Eric has been gone now for a little more than a year, he still has an impact on his friends. 

"Losing him  made me want to be  a better person and really check up on my friends more. But I have had  multiple people approach me and say thank you for  for,  for creating that.  And it's very special to me. I'm very grateful  and  I'm glad it's able to help. And I really do hope it's able to help people who are struggling."

On the front of the statue, there's a QR code which leads to resources for those struggling with mental health. Montoya says he will continue to raise awareness for those who are in need.