Two BHS wrestlers pin down college choices

BELEN — Recently-graduated Belen wrestlers Augustine Lopez and Quinton Thompson will continue to compete at the college level.

Lopez will attend New Mexico Highlands University, where he will participate in both wrestling and football.

“I really liked it. I thought it was a cool place,” said Lopez, who captured the 4A state wrestling title at 189-pounds and was a linebacker in football.

“Yeah, 100 percent,” was Lopez’ response when asked if he was ready to be a dual-sport athlete in college. “I wanted to continue doing both sports—something to keep me busy.”

Coaches at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reached out to Thompson, who wrestled at 152-pounds for the Eagles.

“It just felt like a place where I belonged. Everyone there was super nice,” said Thompson about his visit to the private liberal arts school, which competes at the NCAA Division III level.

Thompson is very aware that Iowa is a hotbed of wrestling.

“They take it very seriously over there,” he said.

Thompson will study marketing, while Lopez will be a business major, looking to get his real estate license.