Belen grabs second, LLHS fifth, as VHS crowns two champions

RIO RANCHO — As teams from Belen, Los Lunas and Valencia head south back home Saturday night following the New Mexico State Wrestling Championships, there were likely few thoughts of ‘what might have been’ following the two day tournament at Rio Rancho Events Center.

Instead, there was plenty to look back on with pride. BHS held on for second in the boys 1A-4A battle, the LLHS boys had a surprisingly strong showing in 5A to just miss the podium and Valencia captured two individual championships, one for the boys, one for the girls.

Belen Eagles

Late during the championship rounds of the state meet, Belen coach Chris Perea finally started to relax as he watched behind a barrier away from the mats. While Aztec had long clinched the team title, the Eagles had finally held off West Las Vegas by three points for the runner-up spot.

“This is definitely a team trophy,” said Perea, in his first season as BHS boys and girls head coach. “If any of these guys give up on the backside (consolation round) we don’t get a trophy.” The Eagles had nine wrestlers who placed, but only sophomore Ryder Williamson (285 pounds) reached a championship match. “We had more placers, and that’s what it came down to,” Perea said.

A long day for Williamson, who said he arrived at the arena at 6:30 a.m., ended when he was pinned in one of the final matches of the night. An emotional Williamson said he was “disappointed” in the result but planned to use the result as motivation. “I’ve got to work. I’m going to be in the lab (wrestling room) all summer. I’m going to be all over the place,” competing.

Belen qualified four wrestlers in the all-classes girls championship, led by Olyvia Sanchez who was fourth at 114 pounds. Belen finished 20th in the team standings, with Cleveland the repeat champion. “Our girls program qualified seven, which is great,” said Perea, who pointed out that he will have many girls and boys returning next season.

Valencia Jaguars

Valencia was one of the few teams to secure individual titles in both the girls and boys tournaments, with senior Alexis Avis-Labus (105) and sophomore Dominik Suarez (106) atop the podium. “Those two really showed up and showed out,” said first-year VHS coach Shawn Avis-Labus, the father of Alexis. “I knew we’d shock some people this season.”

Alexis scored first period pins in all four matches, concluding her final high school season with only one loss to become the first female state champion in school history. “I definitely earned it this year. I worked very hard. There’s a lot of emotions going on because this is it for me,” said Alexis, who is weighing several college offers.

One of the surprises of the boys bracket was Suarez. As a fifth seed, Suarez defeated wrestlers who were ranked twelfth, fourth, first and second. “I’m just so thankful for everything that has been done for me,” Suarez said shortly after pinning an Aztec opponent in the final. “I was going in there calm, collected. I knew what I had to do.”

“I’ve been coaching him since he was about eight years old and to watch him do that was just unreal,” Avis-Labus added.

Also scoring points for VHS was the older brother of Suarez, Yovan. “These last two days are going to be personal for me,” said Yovan following his first match. “It’s my senior year, it’s my last chance to do it.” Yovan took home third place at 113 pounds.

The Jaguars were a solid eighth in the boys competition and 23rd on the girls side.

Los Lunas

For a program with the pedigree of the Los Lunas boys, a fourth place finish may be something of a disappointment but not this season. Injuries and illness left the Tigers with several holes going into the 5A State Championship, with many observers not expecting LLHS to reach the top five.

“Talk about overachieving. It’s just unbelievable,” is how Steve Chavez, LLHS coach, described the showing. The Tigers had seven medalists, with Noah Chavez third in the 132-pound weight class. “Everyone contributed points. I’m just so happy for the team,” Chavez said.

Cleveland took the team title, followed by Volcano Vista, Las Cruces and LLHS.

In the girls tournament, Los Lunas qualified three wrestlers with junior Haidyn Garley taking fourth place. “I knew once I got her on her back, I couldn’t let her up,” said Garley after a pin in her opening match, adding, “Once you learn to let go of those nerves, you have fun.”

In the fall, LoriAnn Archuleta was hired as the first designated girls coach at LLHS. “I loved it,” Archuleta said of her first season. “It was so much fun this season and I’m excited for next year.”

The Tigers were 32nd in a field of 51 teams.

Belen boys

2. Ryder Williamson (285)

3. Tristan Lopez (165)

4. Mythias Layton (126)

4. Mason Carillo (106)

5. Manny Valdez (132)

6. Alberto Jaquez (144)

6. Damion Gomez (175)

6. David Sedillo (113)

6. Jeremy Trujuque (190)

Belen girls

4. Olyvia Sanchez (114)

Valencia boys

1. Dominik Suarez (106)

3. Yovan Suarez (113)

4. Malachi Mccoy (190)

6. Yorgen Booth (120)

Valencia girls

1. Alexis Avis-Labus (105)

Los Lunas boys

3. Noah Chavez (132)

4. Matthew Valdez (126)

4. Diego Perea (144)

4. Andres Romero (150)

5. Anthony Scott (138)

6. Nava Gurule (120)

6. Elias Serafin (215)

Los Lunas girls

4. Haidyn Garley (190)

1A-4A boys team results

1. Aztec 241

2. Belen 156

3. West Las Vegas 153

4. St. Pius 149.5

8. Valencia 81.5

5A boys team results

1. Cleveland 317

2. Volcano Vista 283.5

3. Las Cruces 151.5

4. Los Lunas 121.5

5. Rio Rancho 116

All-Class girls team results

1. Cleveland 146

2. Las Cruces 114.5

3. Miyamura 110

20. Belen 36

23. Valencia 33