BHS, LLHS sixth at state wrestling; individuals excel

RIO RANCHO — Although Belen and Los Lunas did not reach the podium as teams last weekend during the New Mexico State Wrestling Championships at the Rio Rancho Events Center, both squads featured strong individual performances.

Those efforts helped the 4A Eagles and 5A Tigers to sixth-place finishes.

Heading the list for LLHS was James Bachicha, who captured the 160-pound title with an upset of Volcano Vista’s Lorenzo Gallegos, an All-American and two-time state champion.

“I wanted that, and it felt so good now that I got it,” said Bachicha, a senior. “Confidence in yourself builds a champion.”

Five other Tigers placed, including Ayden Cordova, who was third at 139 pounds.

“You’ve got to stick with the mentality that I can win the backside. You can’t give up,” Cordova said about coming back after a loss earlier in the tournament.

“I’m so excited that we pulled out six state placers,” said LLHS coach Steve Chavez. “We have some first-year kids on varsity that stepped it up.”

Joining Bachicha in the championship round was Belen’s Joshua Jaramillo, who lost a tight 6-4 decision to Isaiah Estrada, of Socorro, at 121 pounds.

“He’s more than a wrestler — he’s a great person,” BHS coach Nick Sanchez said about Jaramillo, a three-time state runner-up. “We’re going to miss him a lot. He helps us with everything. He has that brain of a coach.”

BHS, third in 2024 and first in 2023, had seven wrestlers capture medals this year, with Damian Gomez, a sophomore, third at 172 pounds.

Gomez lost in an early round to an opponent he defeated twice this season, giving him plenty of motivation to, “work harder over the summer, become a stronger and bigger beast. Next year, you’ll see me take it all.”

Valencia had two wrestlers take third at 107 pounds, including freshman Dominik Suarez.

“I’m overjoyed. I’m out of words. This is big time for me,” Suarez said.

In the all-class girls championship, VHS junior Alexis Avis-Labus also finished third, the only Valencia County female wrestler to place.

“I’m tired,” Avis-Labus admitted shortly after her final match. “I’m really proud of myself about how well I’ve done this year. I’m going to come back next year and bring it even harder.”

Avis-Labus was runner-up in 2024.

Boys 5A state wrestling team results

1. Volcano Vista, 261

2. Cleveland, 240

3. La Cueva, 138

4. Atrisco Heritage, 133

5. Rio Rancho, 122.5

6. Los Lunas, 111

Boys 5A state wrestling individual results

127 pounds: 6. Anthony Scott, LLHS, junior

133 pounds: 6. Andres Romero, LLHS, junior

139 pounds: 3. Ayden Cordova, LLHS, senior

145 pounds: 6. Aaron Pyle, LLHS, senior

160 pounds: 1. James Bachicha, LLHS, senior

215 pounds: 5. Treg Sanchez, LLHS, senior

Boys 4A state wrestling team results

1. Aztec, 184

2. Bloomfield, 169.5

3. West Las Vegas, 152.5

4. St. Pius, 145.5

5. Silver, 134

6. Belen, 133

15. Valencia, 35.5

Boys 4A state wrestling individual results

107 pounds: 3. Dominik Suarez, VHS, freshman, 4. David Sedillo, BHS, sophomore

121 pounds: 2. Joshua Jaramillo, BHS, senior

133 pounds: 5. Mythias Layton, BHS, freshman

139 pounds: 6. Ansel Salas, BHS, senior

160 pounds: 4. Edward Freeman, BHS, senior

172 pounds: 3. Damian Gomez, BHS, sophomore

215 pounds: 5. Daniel Chilimidos, BHS, senior

Girls state wrestling team results

1. Cleveland, 125

2. Atrisco Heritage, 92

3. West Mesa, 87.5

4. Miyamura, 83

5. Sandia, 79.5

26. Valencia, 25

36. Los Lunas, 14

40. Belen, 8

Girls state wrestling individual results

107 pounds: 3. Alexis Avis-Labus, VHS, junior