Mat Madness: Football standouts capture state wrestling titles
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The New Mexico state wrestling championships were held last Friday and Saturday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Several football players won state championships in their respective weight classes (listed by alphabetical order): Mark Handy Mark Handy 6'6" | 295…
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Continue ReadingThe New Mexico state wrestling championships were held last Friday and Saturday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Several football players won state championships in their respective weight classes (listed by alphabetical order):
Mark Handy Mark Handy 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL La Cueva | 2025 State NM , La Cueva (5A, 285): Handy capped off an undefeated junior season (28-0) by beating West Mesa’s Tristan Caraveo Tristan Caraveo 5'11" | 250 lbs | DL West Mesa | 2025 State NM by major decision in the title match. Handy is our #1 ranked offensive linemen in the updated 2025 rankings. He’ll take an official visit to Texas Tech in June.
Cameron Hernandez Cameron Hernandez 6'0" | 170 lbs | LB Hobbs | 2024 State NM , Hobbs (5A, 172): After making 80 tackles with 21.0 TFL, 8 sacks and 20 QB hurries for Hobbs last season, Hernandez won the 5A, 172-pound state championship with a 5-2 decision in the title match. Roswell LB Keegan Nichols Keegan Nichols 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Roswell | 2025 State NM finished third in the weight class and then participated in the College Football Prospect ID Showcase on Sunday.
Elias Johnson, Bloomfield (4A, 133): Johnson was an outside linebacker for Bloomfield last fall and made 33 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries for the Bobcats defense. Saturday, he won the Class 4A, 133-pound title by fall 1:15 into the match.
Augustine Lopez, Belen (4A, 189): Lopez made 51 tackles for the Belen defense in the fall and then captured the Class 4A, 189-pound championship with a pin just 26 seconds into the title match.
Cruz Martinez Cruz Martinez 6'0" | LB West Las Vegas | 2025 State NM , West Las Vegas (4A, 152): Martinez made 59 tackles for West Las Vegas as a junior in 2023. Saturday, he won the Class 4A, 152-pound class title with a 10-6 decision in the final match. Martinez will be one of the Dons; top defensive players in 2024.
Amiri Mumba Amiri Mumba 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Highland | 2025 State NM , Highlands (4A, 172): Mumba was one of the top running backs in the state last season, rushing for 1,847 yards and 16 TD. He’ll be back for the Hornets in 2024. He’s the first Highland male wrestler to win a state championship since 2012. His wrestling record was an impressive 31-2.
Mason Posa Mason Posa 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB La Cueva | 2025 State NM , La Cueva (5A, 215): Posa three-peated as state champion in his weight class by beating Farmington’s Isaac Foutz Isaac Foutz 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Farmington | 2024 State NM in the title match for the 215-pound weight class. Posa is also our #1 ranked prospect for the 2025 class. Posa holds numerous offers, notably Alabama, Oregon, Arizona, Stanford and Texas Tech.
Hunter Samora, Bloomfield (4A, 127): As a junior, Samora made 14 tackles for Bloomfield last fall as the Bobcats reached the Class 4A semifinals. Saturday, he won the Class 4A, 127-pound championship with a major decision (13-1) in the title match.
Niko Trujillo, Cobre (4A, 160): Trujillo was a running back and outside linebacker for Cobre last season and helped the Indians secure a top four seed and a semifinal appearance in the Class 3A playoffs. He’s also an elite wrestler as he showed this past weekend by winning the state title in the Class 4A, 160-pound class.