Wrestling
Rio Rancho (Class 5A), Belen (4A) and Robertson (1A-3A) all won team titles at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Again.
The Rams have won seven of eight. The Eagles earned their fifth-staight championship. The Cardinals have won eight of 11.
Impressive? Of course. However this dominance, across all classes, saps much of the drama and buzz from the team competition.
On an individual level there is plenty to hook casual fans. Upsets can and do happen -- in the 125-pound class No. 1 ranked Seth Chavez, from Albuquerque High, lost to No. 2 Louis Trujillo of Rio Rancho. But, at the group level, there's not much reason to watch the scoreboard.
Career achievements in wrestling always shine brighter. Max Ortega of Rio Rancho and Robertson's Jake Martinez each won their fourth state title Saturday. Only ten other wrestlers have ever done that.
Ortega should win his fifth next season. If -- I should probably say when -- he does, Ortega will be the second wrestler in history with five state titles. The other was Michael Scott Owen, who squeegeed the mats with his opponents from 1994-98.
For the complete results, click here.
Again.
The Rams have won seven of eight. The Eagles earned their fifth-staight championship. The Cardinals have won eight of 11.
Impressive? Of course. However this dominance, across all classes, saps much of the drama and buzz from the team competition.
On an individual level there is plenty to hook casual fans. Upsets can and do happen -- in the 125-pound class No. 1 ranked Seth Chavez, from Albuquerque High, lost to No. 2 Louis Trujillo of Rio Rancho. But, at the group level, there's not much reason to watch the scoreboard.
Career achievements in wrestling always shine brighter. Max Ortega of Rio Rancho and Robertson's Jake Martinez each won their fourth state title Saturday. Only ten other wrestlers have ever done that.
Ortega should win his fifth next season. If -- I should probably say when -- he does, Ortega will be the second wrestler in history with five state titles. The other was Michael Scott Owen, who squeegeed the mats with his opponents from 1994-98.
For the complete results, click here.
Swimming
On the surface the La Cueva girls team's state title looks like a twist, a departure from the usual.
It's not.
Albuquerque Academy might have dominated the pool recently, winning three straight crowns before this season. But in the past 15 years two teams have dominated girls swimming: Academy and -- you guessed it -- La Cueva. The Bears and Chargers have zipped their way to 14 titles in that time.
The boys side was no different. Academy won its third straight state title and eighth in 10 years. The Chargers accumulated nearly twice as many points (406) as second place Sandia Prep (206).
Again this is impressive, but it's not where the excitement comes.
Many of the individual races are riveting. Even with a heavy favorite in the water drama exists, because of history. In swimming, state records can only be set at the state meet, so it's the only chance for the elite to prove themselves against all-time greats. This can't be replicated in basketball, football or baseball.
Saturday featured two record-setting performances.
For the complete results, click here.
On the surface the La Cueva girls team's state title looks like a twist, a departure from the usual.
It's not.
Albuquerque Academy might have dominated the pool recently, winning three straight crowns before this season. But in the past 15 years two teams have dominated girls swimming: Academy and -- you guessed it -- La Cueva. The Bears and Chargers have zipped their way to 14 titles in that time.
The boys side was no different. Academy won its third straight state title and eighth in 10 years. The Chargers accumulated nearly twice as many points (406) as second place Sandia Prep (206).
Again this is impressive, but it's not where the excitement comes.Many of the individual races are riveting. Even with a heavy favorite in the water drama exists, because of history. In swimming, state records can only be set at the state meet, so it's the only chance for the elite to prove themselves against all-time greats. This can't be replicated in basketball, football or baseball.
Saturday featured two record-setting performances.
- Academy's 200 meter medley relay -- Preston Feinberg, Elliot Feng, Marcus Guttman, Kelani Kaula -- broke Eldorado's 15-year-old record. Sandia Prep's relay team also broke the record, but finished behind the Chargers.
- Sandia Prep's Kate Nelson set the 100 breaststroke record, bettering a time swam by Hobbs' Kannon Betzen in 2006.
For the complete results, click here.
3 comments:
" Upsets can and do happen -- in the 125-pound class No. 1 ranked Seth Chavez, from Albuquerque High, lost to No. 2 Louis Trujillo of Rio Rancho."
Uh, 2 over 1 is not really that much of an upset, my friend.
~Gidal
You have a point. I should have mentioned that Chavez had beaten Trujillo twice before.
There we go ... call me this week, I might need some help up in the Duke City
~Gidal
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