Santa Fe advances 4, while Capital has 3 in semifinals

Santa Fe High and Capital did what was expected on Friday, while Las Vegas Robertson continued its drive toward returning to glory.

The Demons got four wrestlers into the semifinals of the Class 6A State Wrestling Championships in the Santa Ana Star Center on Friday afternoon, while Capital managed to get three to Saturday morning’s 5A semifinal action. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have five wrestlers in the semis and, more important, 11 of 14 wrestlers still competing for championship and consolation action that will go a long way toward determining a state champion in Class 1A-4A.

All three of Santa Fe High’s top seeds — Miguel Padilla at 113 pounds, Isaac Beltran at 120 and Isaiah Martinez at 170 — reached the semifinals, while second seeded Sammy Martinez also reached the final four at 145. They helped the Demons to a sixth-place position in the team standings after Friday’s action. As for Capital, Ryan Romero’s bid for a third straight state title is alive at 120, Jasper Mares improved to 38-2 at 126 and

ALBUQUERQUE — Santa Fe Prep swimmer Sophia Gossum has plenty of big goals this weekend.

And even bigger ones for the future — but not just for herself.

“She’s so kind-hearted, and that transfers over to the way she swims; she’s a team-first swimmer,” Prep head coach Dave Caldwell said. “And when she’s not in the pool, she’s doing volunteer work and teaches kids with disabilities. Every Sunday, she goes to Las Campanas and works with kids with disabilities.

“She’s a great student and works very hard in the classroom. She excels at all sports, and I’ve been lucky enough to teach her in school the past two years.”

While Gossum, just in eighth grade, is an all-around athlete, having played soccer and even learned some tae kwon do, it’s the pool where she wants to commit athletically.

“It’s such a good workout, and I really have fun with my friends,” Gossum said. “It’s also really a nice feeling when you do well, when you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cool.’ I just love it.”

As do her teammates. The Blue Griffins haven’t sent a girls team to state in about a decade, but they could make some noise in the 1A-4A division in Saturday’s final at Albuquerque Academy.

Prep’s boys team is hoping to defend its small-school state title.

During Friday’s preliminaries, Gossum qualified for the finals in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle — setting school records in both events. Gossum and her teammates also grabbed a spot in the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay.

“We’re all really close friends, and we love the relays,” said Prep junior Arielle Nathan.

Hayden Colfax said the way the team “cheers for each other really gives us all motivation.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have Gossum as part of those relay teams.

“We’ve been swimming together in club since we were kids,” freshman Chelsea Griscom said. “But a couple of years ago, she just took off and got so fast.”

Griscom qualified on the two relay teams as well as in the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley.

But it will likely be Gossum leading the way.

Despite her youth, the 14-year-old Gossum said she hopes to finish in the top three in the individual events and help her team “to a strong finish, as well.”

This will likely be just her first of five appearances at state, which could very well lead to a number of titles. After that, she has some lofty goals as well.

“I want to make the Olympic trials,” she said. “That’s been a goal of mine for a long time.”

“That’s feasible,” Caldwell said. “She’s going to have to keep training and take it up to another step, but she’s got that ability.”

NOTES: Santa Fe Prep also got school records in the girls 200 medley relay and the boys 200 free relay in the preliminaries. The boys also qualified for the 200 medley relay.

The Blue Griffins’ Riley Kinlaw will be in the 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly finals.

Los Alamos got a school record from junior Jillian Bennett in the 100 backstroke and senior Sara Shiina made the finals of both the 100 fly and 100 breaststroke.

The Hilltopper boys advanced in the 200 freestyle.