2025 Team Preview: Volcano Vista Hawks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 VOLCANO VISTA PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been nearly three years since Volcano Vista won a playoff game. In 2023, the Hawks were stunned at home by #11 seed Farmington. Last season, the Hawks earned the #4 seed and a first-round bye but were beaten at home by Las Cruces in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a result, the main topic of conversation around the Volcano Vista program during this off-season is easy to figure out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our message to our players has been the expectations are high,” Volcano Vista head coach Chad Wallin told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “In order to meet those expectations and satisfy our goals, we have to amp up and keep working to get better. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We can't get complacent about being a solid program. We want to be a great program. We knew we had to make some changes. We've tried some different things in the off-season.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the biggest changes is having the players engage in more physical, competitive activities such as wrestling, Wallin said..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're not paying attention to who's winning or losing,” Wallin said. “We're seeing who's battling and who has the fight. That's what we need to get to the next level.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1423739' first='D'Angelo' last='Mitchell'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1245683' first='Ismael' last='Mendez'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1266890' first='Gabe' last='Koeppe'] (OL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Volcano Vista will have a new quarterback in 2025, replacing two-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='1119623' first='Ilijah' last='Hansen'], who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 31 TD. The competition has boiled down to rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748663' first='Spirit' last='Cook']</strong>, last season's backup, and rising junior <strong>Aurelious Wiley</strong>, a dynamic athlete and the JV QB in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Spirit is not as fast but he's very competitive,” Wallin said. “He's a gritty kid. He's not afraid to run the ball. He always fights for extra yards. When the ball is snapped, he grinds and works hard.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1257357' first='Mason' last='Gurule'] was a next level talent (offered by Sterling College on Tuesday; visited Western Colorado). Behind him on the 2024 rushing chart was promising rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1423739' first='D'Angelo' last='Mitchell']</strong>, who led the Hawks with 8 rushing TDs. Rising senior <strong>Justus Foutz</strong> and rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825989' first='Max' last='Marcum']</strong> are competing for the No. 2 RB job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“D'Angelo is a horse,” Wallin said. “He really fits our inside zone schemes. We learned quickly last season that we can lean on D'Angelo for some tough yards. I expect him to get a heavy dose of the ball this year.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1245683' first='Ismael' last='Mendez']</strong> (25 receptions for 374 yards and 3 TD in 2024), better known as ‘Taco,' is back. <strong>Aurelious Wiley</strong> should see significant action at WR if he doesn't win the starting QB job. Rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613703' first='Aiden' last='Gonzales']</strong>, already an outstanding DB, is planning to play both ways. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748667' first='Zachary' last='Corona']</strong> had 11 receptions in 2024 and he'll also play outside linebacker. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679989' first='Isaiah' last='McCary']</strong> was a JV standout in 2024. Rising senior <strong>Xander Shelton</strong> will also make the step up from JV.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks offensive line will be led by rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600926' first='Samuel' last='Chavez']</strong> and 6-foot-7, 280-pound <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266890' first='Gabe' last='Koeppe']</strong>, who missed about half of the 2024 season with an injury. Rising junior newcomer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788654' first='Richard' last='Holder']</strong> should earn a starting job along with promising rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788647' first='Alex' last='Miramontes']</strong>.                        </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1224569' first='Kaleb' last='Vander Wilt'] (DE/Edge); [player_tooltip player_id='1429624' first='Alvin' last='Gomez'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1613703' first='Aiden' last='Gonzales'] (DB).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-5 athletic DE/Edge <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1224569' first='Kaleb' last='Vander Wilt']</strong> is &nbsp;a next level talent on the perimeter of the Hawks defense. He was Second Team All-State in 2024. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1429624' first='Alvin' last='Gomez']</strong> also returns to the D-Line after earning First-Team All-State honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“With those two guys, we feel we're going to be really solid on the D-Line,” Wallin said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At linebacker, the two inside LBs will be rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679996' first='Lucas' last='Languit']</strong> and rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748673' first='Jesse' last='Sarabia']</strong>. Both played JV last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825989' first='Max' last='Marcum']</strong> (see above) is expected to lay LB as well. Rising junior <strong>Jayden Valencia</strong> brings good size and athleticism to the LB group, but he underwent shoulder surgery following last season and the Volcano Vista coaches are waiting to see how he responds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have a very good defensive line and a very good secondary, so if we can grow at the linebacker position and hold our own there, we'll be solid,” Wallin said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613703' first='Aiden' last='Gonzales']</strong> is a rising sophomore safety but already two years of varsity experience under his belt. He started as an 8^th-grader in 2023 before battling a back injury in 2024 that caused him to miss about five games. <strong>Houston Brown</strong>, a member of Volcano Vista's 5A championship-winning basketball team, filled in for Gonzales last season and proved to be a reliable contributor. Gonzales and Brown will anchor the secondary as the two safeties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748683' first='Mauro' last='Castro-Mendoza']</strong> should be one of the starting cornerbacks. Rising juniors <strong>Preston Urquidez</strong> and <strong>Aziah Gonzales</strong> will compete for the other CB job. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Volcano Vista Football Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 21 at La Cueva (Thur., 7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 28 at Las Cruces (Thur., 7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 5 at Sandia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 WEST MESA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 ELDORADO</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 &nbsp;PIEDRA VISTA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 at Farmington*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 RIO RANCHO*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 CLEVELAND (Sat., 11 am)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 at Cibola* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-1 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">check out my 2024 season highlights!<br>37 total tackles<br>8 tfls<br>5 sacks<br>6 qb hurries<br>6 pass deflections<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWallin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWallin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vvhsfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachList13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachList13</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSitdikov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSitdikov</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a><a href="https://t.co/ddFC1IuONO">https://t.co/ddFC1IuONO</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1224569' first='Kaleb' last='Vander Wilt'] (@Kaleb_vw) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kaleb_vw/status/1862006687298892061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One day at a time <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBruere?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBruere</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vvhsfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Valdez5Island?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Valdez5Island</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_jb71?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_jb71</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWallin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWallin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/1zliEAZWma">pic.twitter.com/1zliEAZWma</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1245683' first='Ismael' last='Mendez'] III (TACO) (@IsmaelMendezIII) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsmaelMendezIII/status/1912610591556161871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Freshman varsity season <br>2nd year SS/FS starter<br>All Academic <br>7 GP<br>22 solo tckls <br>5 asst tckls<br>27 tot. tckls<br>2 int<br>1 PBU<br>1 Fmb rec<br>T/G 3.9<br>(4 games missed due to injury)<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vvhsfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWallin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWallin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachList13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachList13</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSitdikov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSitdikov</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/gHDHa7ohNr">pic.twitter.com/gHDHa7ohNr</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1613703' first='Aiden' last='Gonzales'] (@aidengonzales0) <a href="https://twitter.com/aidengonzales0/status/1881182596962590956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔥 Huge shoutout to [player_tooltip player_id='1429624' first='Alvin' last='Gomez'] for earning a spot on the 2024 All-State 1st Team as a defensive lineman! Your hard work and dedication paid off, and we couldn't be prouder. Keep shining, Alvin! 🏆💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GATA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GATA</a> <a href="https://t.co/wC2zdTKV5J">pic.twitter.com/wC2zdTKV5J</a></p>&mdash; Volcano Vista HS Football (@vvhsfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball/status/1867617028502090170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->