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For the first time since 2014, the Los Alamos High School wrestling team has a state champion.

Devin Atencio, a freshman in the 106-pound weight class, claimed the title by defeating all four of his opponents last weekend at the NMAA State Wrestling Championships. And he did it in convincing fashion, appearing in control throughout every match.

“It feels amazing,” Atencio said. “I have been working at this for my whole life. It’s just a great feeling.”

Last year, as an eighth-grader, Atencio finished in fourth place at the championships, easily getting through the first two rounds of the competition before falling in the semifinals and the third-place match.

This year, he seemed determined to keep that from happening.

In the first round, he faced Española Valley’s Joey Fernandez, who he defeated for the District 2-5A championship the week prior. Much like the first matchup, Atencio had little trouble defeating Fernandez, pinning him in 1:13.

The quarterfinal round against Kirtland Central’s Devin Montano was equally dominant for Atencio, as he earned the pin just 32 seconds into the second round to advance to the semifinals.

Beginning next school year, no student with an “F” grade in any class will be eligible to compete in sports in New Mexico.

I, for one, think this is a great idea for the New Mexico Activities Association.

Until now, students could compete in sports as long as they had a 2.0 GPA and no more than one “F” grade.

My problem with allowing a student to have an “F” in any class is that they are failing in their main role, as a student. For anyone in high school, that has to be the top priority.

If competing in sports interferes with a kid’s ability to pass his classes, they no longer need to be on the field.

Without a quality education, no amount of athletic ability will matter that much in the long run. After all, they are called student-athletes for a reason. The first part has always been far more important than the second.

Competing in sports in high school is a privilege, something that is earned through hard work in the classroom. With these new rules in place, students will earn that right more than ever before.

After a successful showing at the individual district championships last weekend in Española, the Los Alamos High School wrestling team is sending 14 athletes to the state championships, and claimed four individual district championships.

Devin Atencio, Israel Gellis, Dylan Irish and Milo Light claimed championships in their weight classes, while Donovan Atencio, Damian Gonzales, Aiden Johnson, Reyes Mendez, Ty Nieto, Lewis Harvey, Dmitri Bullock and Arturo Rodriguez placed in the top three, earning automatic berths to the state championships.

Also advancing are Liam Johnston and Gloria Ramos. After finishing in fourth place in the 126-pound weight class at the district championships, Johnston earned a wild card berth to the state championships.

Ramos, the only girl on LAHS’ wrestling team, did not compete at the district championships so she could compete in the New Mexico Activities Association’s first-ever girls’ wrestling tournament.

According to NMAA Associate Director Dusty Young, there will be eight weight classes (101, 106, 111, 121, 131, 143, 160, 185) with eight girls per weight participating in the combined-classification exhibition tournament. A total of 38 high schools will be represented in this event.

Despite generally low snow this winter, Southwest Nordic Ski Club was lucky to have two different events within reasonable driving distance on the same day and fielded 27 racers between the two venues.

The larger group headed to Crested Butte, Colorado, for their famous and colorful Alley Loop races now in its 32nd year.

The distances for Alley Loop range from 1.5K all the way to marathon distance of 42K. Typically all courses start and finish on Main Street and snake through town’s quaint alleys giving the event it’s name.  

This year, due to lower snow, the race started at the Nordic Center but longer courses were still able to ski through alleys in town. Racers, as well as spectators, dress up in costumes and celebrate the event all day along the course making for colorful and fun photos of the event.

In the 1.5K race, SWNSC girls swept the podium with Anna Simakov (age 8) in first, Harper Reid (age 7) in second and Samantha Baily (age 6) in third. Liv Niklasson (age 8) raced as well but forgot to put on her timing chip. Her finish would’ve also placed her on the podium had she been counted in the timing.