High school wrestling season begins with question marks

There is little doubt that Belen and Los Lunas will be among the top wrestling schools in their classes this season, but the bigger question is will the Eagles and Tigers challenge for state titles or a spot on the podium?

Both feature some of the top wrestlers in New Mexico but also have question marks on the roster.

Valencia looks to continue its momentum on the girls’ team, while the boys will have a young roster.

Los Lunas Tigers

“We have some veterans, a nucleus,” said Steve Chavez, LLHS head coach. “At the same time, we have some young kids who are going to have to step it up.”

Chavez says he will look for big things from returners, Cash Bachicha, Andres Romero, Matthew Valdez, Aaron Pyle and others.

Los Lunas had six placers at the 2024 state championship, led by seniors Logan Talley, state champion at 189 pounds, and Noah Gurule, runner-up at 121. The Tigers finished fifth as a team in the 5A championship.

“I’m excited for the boys because I know we can still come in top five, which would be a heck of a thing,” Chavez said. “If we come in top five, I’d be pretty ecstatic about that.”

Because of the teams’ depth, the LLHS wrestling room will see plenty of competition.

“I don’t think our lineup (boys) will be ready until January because we have so many kids competing,” according to Chavez. “We’re going to have a lot of challenges” to determine who wrestles in meets.

Girls wrestling, still a fledgling sport in New Mexico, had been slow to catch on at LLHS, but not this year.

“We have 16 girls at this point,” Chavez said, after averaging three or four in previous years. “I’m pretty excited about having those big numbers,” which should fill every weight class. “The key is getting a full lineup, and anything can happen.”

Elise Baldonado returns to the varsity but after that, “The rest are green, green as it gets.” However, Chavez says several freshmen have strong wrestling backgrounds, while seniors new to the sport are “learning so fast. I’m excited.”

Belen Eagles

After winning the 4A state title in 2023, Belen came in third in 2024, something of a disappointment to those involved in the program. That says a lot about the expectations the Eagles embrace year after year.

“We’re just worried about keeping our tradition going, of being consistent, working hard and improving,” said Nick Sanchez, BHS head coach. “Hopefully, by the end of the year we’ve done enough improvement, stayed healthy,” to have a successful state meet.

Sanchez doesn’t specify what a successful state meet would be, but his wrestlers look for a top three finish.

“I think we can be really good this year. We have a lot of hammers in the room,” said Tommy Freeman, a hammer himself, finishing fifth at state at 139 pounds.

“All of our weight classes are filling out pretty nice. We’re just going to get stronger and be ready for February.”

Bloomfield and Aztec, the top two teams from last year’s 4A championship, are considered the favorites.

“We’re underdogs this year,” said Josh Jaramillo, a runner-up at 107 pounds. “Last year, everybody was looking to beat us. Now we’re hunting. Nobody thinks we’re going to win this year, but we’re going to surprise everybody.”

There are no bold predictions from Sanchez, just optimism.

“It seems the formula right now to finish top three at state is placing seven, eight kids. We’re hoping we have that in this room, right now.”

Manny Vardez, fifth at 114 pounds, returns, but the Eagles lost three seniors who placed last season: Derian Rodriguez, Diego Avila and state champion Augustine Lopez.

The BHS girls could use more numbers.

“We’re building,” Sanchez says, with returners Lisette Sanchez and Olivia Sanchez key building blocks.

Valencia Jaguars

Valencia made a statement last season in the all-classes NMAA Girls State Wrestling Championship, finishing in eighth place.

The Jaguars return state runner-up Alexis Avis-Labus and senior Abigail Vigil but will miss Katie Booth and Zipporah Heneghan, who both graduated after reaching the podium in 2024.

The boys are led by Yovan Suraz, junior, a fourth-place finisher at 107 pounds. Emanual Aragon, VHS coach, said the roster “is young and flourishing with potential.”

While underclassmen and women make up the bulk of the rosters, Aragon is counting on the veterans to “provide the leadership required to motivate and compete at the next level.”

The Jaguars will be without the consistency of Elijah Duran, a powerful force at 215 pounds, who completed his career with a fourth-place medal at state.

“We are focusing on developing technical strength and endurance,” said Aragon, “turning this group into a formidable force by season’s end.”