NEW KINGS OF THE MAT
Rio Rancho wrestlers dethrone rival Cleveland for state Class 6A title
New winner — but as usual, the same city.
The Rio Rancho High wrestlers last weekend claimed the Class 6A state championship at the Santa Ana Star Center, ending a two-year run atop the division by rival Cleveland.
The Rams had five individual state champions in the two-day event, led by senior Orion Gutierrez at 160 pounds, where he was a repeat state champion.
Senior Edward Chavez posted an upset of undefeated Joey Castillo of Las Cruces to claim the 195-pound crown. Thomas Carrillo, a No. 3 seed, upset topseeded Alejandro Gutierrez of Rio Grande in the 132-pound final.
And sophomore Tim Lopez got the finals off to a great start for the Rams with his championship victory at 106 pounds, where he pinned Cleveland’s Isaiah Trujillo.
Rio Rancho scored 195 points, 13 in front of runner-up Carlsbad. Cleveland took third place with 171 points.
The Storm’s Tristan Mascareñas captured the title at 113 pounds, decisioning Santa Fe’s Miguel Padilla 10-4 in the final. He becomes the third brother in that family, following Paul and Mikey, to become an individual state wrestling champion.
Two Rio West athletes lost in the finals, including Cody Glenn of Rio Rancho at 152 pounds and West Mesa heavyweight Devon Gonzales.
In the team standings, Cibola was 10th, West Mesa 11th, Volcano Vista 13th and Valley 18th.
CLASS 5A: Three St. Pius wrestlers reached the finals, but all were beaten in the season’s final match.
Matthew Sanchez, who was unseeded, fell in the 106-pound final to Los Alamos’ Devin Atencio. No. 1 seed Steven Sanchez lost a 2-1 decision to Del Norte’s Frankie Baca at 113. And top-seeded Diego Pavia at 160 pounds lost a 3-2 decision to Belen’s Rowdy Robinson.
St. Pius finished 12th as a team. Aztec was the team state champion.
GIRLS: There was a first-ever girls state exhibition tournament this year, and two local girls, Cibola’s Chloe Baker and Bernalillo’s Yaracely Saenz, wrestled in the state final before losing.
Swimming/diving
Cibola’s boys had two state champions at the Albuquerque Academy Natatorium last weekend.
Senior Josh Harlan was a double champ and set two state records in the process. He won the 200-yard IM in a time of 1 minutes, 48.04 seconds, and also the 100-yard breaststroke, in 56.29 seconds. Cougars teammate Keelan Hart took first place in the 100-yard freestyle final, and also was third in the 200-yard free final.
Other athletes from the area who posted top-three finishes at state:
Cleveland’s Jake Gatten was runner-up in the 1-meter diving competition;
Freshman Hannah Jones of Cleveland was state runnerup in the 100-yard backstroke and placed third in the 100-yard freestyle;
Cibola’s Harlan, Hart, Stephen Duckett and Aidan Gallegos touched the wall second in the 200-yard free relay;
Evan Rand of Volcano Vista was third in the 100-yard backstroke.
In the team standings, Cibola’s boys placed fourth, with Cleveland eighth. Cleveland’s girls were the top Rio West team, in ninth place. Eldorado’s boys and Academy’s girls were team state champions.
Basketball
Four Rio West boys and girls teams are hosting district tournament championship games today.
The Cibola girls have a 5:30 p.m. game in the District 1-6A final; Volcano Vista boys play play at 7:30 in the boys’ 1-6A title game.
West Mesa’s girls play at 7 p.m. today in the District 4-6A final, with Bernalillo’s boys in the District 5-4A final at 7 p.m.
Valley’s boys (versus West Mesa), Rio Rancho’s girls (meeting Piedra Vista) and Cleveland’s boys (taking on Rio Rancho) were all hosting district tournament semifinal games late Friday. (See today’s Journal sports section for details on those games.)
All other Rio West teams were eliminated in their district tournaments earlier in the week, but some will receive at-large bids to the state tournament. The fields will be announced Sunday night.