Ad
2024 Top Sports Stories in Valencia County
Published
Modified
Here are some of the top sports stories in Valencia County for 2024, not in any particular order.
On the mat
Wrestling had an interesting 2024, on and off the mat. Both Belen and Los Lunas had impressive seasons. BHS was third at the 4A state wrestling championship, LLHS fifth in 5A, while Valencia was a solid eighth in the girls’ all-class tournament. The year 2024 also saw the longstanding dual meet between the Eagles and Tigers put on hiatus, in part because of poor fan behavior.
Aldaz remembered
Heartbreak was part of the sports world in 2024 with the death of Sergio Aldaz, an honor student and soccer player at Los Lunas High School. Aldaz, 17, was killed in a motorcycle crash. Several emotional ceremonies to honor Aldaz were held during a Tigers’ game on Oct. 10.
In the swing of things
Rylee Salome was on this list in 2023 and could be again in 2025. Salome won her third straight 4A golf title in 2024 for Belen and is a big favorite to do it again in the spring. Plus, Salome will continue her career in the fall at New Mexico State. Jonah Utash of LLHS finished third in 5A at the state tournament.
Tigers’ turnstile
Shortly after being eliminated from the boys’ 5A state basketball tournament, Los Lunas coach Travis Julian resigned. Assistant Pablo Gabaldon was hired, and star Jalin Holland transferred to Arizona for his final year of high school. In November, Holland signed to play college ball at the University of Colorado.
Spurred on
Ad
After decades in Belen, the Baca Rodeo Series moved to Bosque Farms in 2024. CJ Baca confirmed the rodeo will return to Bosque Farms next year, expanding to four weekends starting March 29 and concluding April 20, Easter Sunday.
Girl power
One of the most exciting developments in 2024 was the continued emergence of high school girls’ wrestling and powerlifting. It is a kick to see the doors open in sports that were considered “unladylike” by many not that long ago.
Packing a punch
Valencia County continued to be represented well in the boxing world by Alexa Garrobo, Peralta, and Kat Lindenmuth, Bosque Farms. Garrobo captured the USA Boxing National Junior Olympics elite division title at 132 pounds. Lindemuth continued to pursue her dream as a professional fighter while earning a master’s degree in criminal justice.
In and out
On the gridiron, Valencia, Belen and Los Lunas each qualified for the postseason. We also witnessed the end of the decades long Los Lunas-Belen football rivalry, the Valencia Bowl, and the revival of the Belen-Valencia series. VHS won the “Plow Trophy” for only the second time, defeating the Eagles 20-14 in a game that wasn’t decided until the final moments. This is a rivalry that has potential.
She shoots and scores, often
Belen’s Addison Carter led all New Mexico soccer players with 61 goals and 131 points. In addition, Carter was in the top ten in both categories nationally according to MaxPreps. Not bad for a freshman.
Southwest Regional Softball Showcase
It was a treat for local fans to watch NCAA Division II softball in their backyard again. We’ve learned that the Southwest Regional Softball Showcase, hosted by Western New Mexico University, will return to the Los Lunas Sports Complex for a third year. Eight teams will compete Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
