Rio Rancho Aims To Capture Wrestling Title

Guard Saiz scores 42 points to lead Bernalillo past Tigers

Cleveland High School is the defending state champion in Class 5A wrestling — and frankly, Rio Rancho is none too happy about that.

“Last year,” Rio Rancho coach Mike Santos said, “we were young and talented. This year, I think these kids are on a quest to win a state championship and bring it back to Rio Rancho.”

The Rams return half a dozen state qualifiers as they prepare to open the season this weekend by hosting the Southwest Duals.

That group is led by junior Jordan Lara, the defending state champion at 160 pounds.

Also back: sophomore Miguel Barreras at 152 (he was the state runner-up last February at 132); sophomore Brandon Leyba at 113 (he was third at 106); senior Ladigo Williams at 120 (he was third at 113); sophomore Orlando Gutierrez at 132 (he was third at 120); and senior Robert Salgado at 195 (he was a state placer at 220 last season).

Lara, Barreras and Leyba all earned All-American accolades in the offseason at tournaments.

“(Cleveland winning state) did hurt a little bit more because we didn’t continue that tradition,” Santos said. “That motivated a lot of our kids to work hard.”

CLEVELAND: The Storm will certainly challenge for another state title, led by senior Paul Mascareñas at 113 pounds, where is the defending champion.

Other key returners include: freshman Julian Roybal at 132 (third at state at 126 as an eighth-grader); Trey Nicoley at 106, where he was sixth last season; sophomore Jesse Nieto at 138 pounds; senior A.J. Lermaseaux at 152 (sixth last season at 138); senior Arturo Vigil at 170 (fifth at 152); and senior Clayton Pankey at 220.

Pankey was a state champion at Bernalillo last season before transferring.

Storm coach Corey Anderson said Cleveland is not the preseason favorite in 5A, given some of the unknown younger athletes who will be in the lineup.

Cleveland has eight qualifiers returning.

SW DUALS: Action begins at 10 a.m. Friday at Rio Rancho, with the 26 schools divided into four pools. The four pool winners will have a round robin Saturday to determine the team champion.

El Paso Franklin defeated Cleveland in last year’s finals. Franklin, Piedra Vista, Rio Rancho and Colorado Springs Coronado are perhaps the four pool favorites this weekend, with Cleveland in the mix, as well.

state

The Rams and Storm have a head-to-head dual match next Wednesday.

BERNALILLO: The Spartans will also be at the Southwest Duals, but have no returning state qualifiers this season.

Two wrestlers who could make an impact are senior Antonio Lovato at 120 and junior Jose Monclova at 152.

Boys basketball

Rio Rancho, Cleveland and Bernalillo all picked up wins Tuesday night.

Guard Brandon Saiz had 42 points, including six 3-pointers, as the Spartans (3-0) fended off visiting Los Lunas 79-76.

Bernalillo had a 20-point lead in the third quarter that was narrowed to one point before the Spartans hung on. They play host to St. Pius tonight.

Cleveland (3-2) beat visiting Oñate 50-40, as the Storm had four players score at least seven points, led by Kaydon Sneed’s 11.

The Storm also spent three days in Frenship, Texas, last weekend for a tournament.

Cleveland beat Lubbock, Texas, 59-48 in the opener as Marcus Williams and Sneed had 14 apiece. Lubbock Coronado held the Storm to 10 field goals in the semifinals, as Cleveland fell 57-38. Amarillo Palo Duro romped 79-47 over Cleveland in the third-place game.

Cleveland is home to Española Valley tonight.

Rio Rancho got down 13 points early at Española Valley on Tuesday before rallying for a 72-71 victory. Enrique DeLeon’s game-winner with eight seconds to go gave the Rams (1-2) their final lead.

Josh Lucero had 15 points for the Rams. Jeremy Swafford and Austin Patterson added 14 apiece, and Brady Patterson scored 13.

Rio Rancho’s first three games have been decided by a total of five points. The Rams last Saturday fell 70-68 to visiting Clovis. Swafford had a team-best 20 points for the Rams, who next play Tuesday at home against Gallup.

Girls basketball

Rio Rancho and Cleveland both rallied for wins Tuesday.

The Rams (1-1) held visiting Highland scoreless in the fourth quarter, and posted a 36-31 victory. Ally Salata had four 3-pointers in the win for Rio Rancho. The Rams next play at Sandia tonight.

At Cleveland, the Storm (2-1) overcame a slow first half, outscoring Oñate 36-25 after halftime to complete a 51-46 victory. Courtney Lawson had 14 points and Natalie Medina 10 in the win.

Last Saturday, the Storm was beaten 67-43 at Mayfield. Cleveland is at the Gallup Invitational starting today.

Bernalillo dropped to 0-3 with a 63-48 loss to Socorro last Friday. The Spartans are at Los Lunas tonight.