St. Michael’s president refutes brawl reports

Santa Fe police respond to calls of fights but no arrests made

SANTA FE — More than a dozen Santa Fe police officers responded to reports of fights at St. Michael’s High School following the Horsemen’s come-from-behind victory Thursday over visiting Robertson in the District 2-4A basketball semifinals.

“Robertson fans are fighting with St. Michael’s fans and (the caller) believes there may be players involved,” according to an SFPD dispatcher’s log.

But the initial reports were blown out of proportion, said St. Michael’s president Taylor Gantt.

“There were not fights, no blood, no broken bones,” he said. “We don’t have any of that. Reports that there was a big fight at St. Mike’s, that’s just not true.”

He also said reports that a Robertson coach pushed a St. Mike’s coach aren’t true.

Police reports were not available, said SFPD spokesman Greg Gurulé. Gantt said

no arrests were made.

The incident occurred after St. Mike’s came back from an 11-point deficit to win 60-58. A security guard made a call to police saying, “There are people that are going to fight,” the dispatch narrative says. “Around 50 people look like they are going to fight.” Another caller said there are “several fights in lobby and (parking lot).”

Las Vegas City Schools Superintendent Kelt L. Cooper and Robertson athletic director Juan Carlos Fulgenzi did not return calls seeking comment Friday.

A Twitter video shows a shirtless Robertson player striding across the court following the handshake ritual, making an obscene gesture at fans before leaving the gym, then returning moments later to enter the stands before the video ends. What the video doesn’t show, Gantt said, is that the player almost immediately left the stands and the gym.

“I was at the game and I didn’t see any actual fights and the players during the game played hard and played with class,” Gantt said. “We have some bitter rivalries up here in northern New Mexico. St. Mike’s-Robertson is an intense rivalry. And it shows up anytime we play them in any sport.”