No. 1: Volleyball title team is top story

Coaches tend to stay away from the word dynasty, fearing usage of such a word seems more like a boast, or could maybe put too much pressure on their teams to perform in the future and live up to that term.

That said, what word better describes the Rio Rancho High School volleyball program? Here's the Rams' record for their three teams - freshman, junior varsity and varsity - 2006-07: 57-1. And that one loss didn't even come to a team from New Mexico.

After all, 10th-year head coach Toby Manzanares has led his team to seven straight District 1-5A titles and appearances in the last six Class 5A championship matches, in which his Rams have won four of the last five.

The Rams successfully defended their title won in 2005 in November, when they won their 19th, 20th and 21st consecutive matches - a school record - along the way.

The Rams (23-1) sputtered a bit in their state tournament appearance at Tingley Coliseum, finishing as the No. 2 team in their six-team pool, then needing all five games to defeat long-time rival Cibola in the quarterfinals, four more to turn back upstart Manzano, and then five again in the championship match against another nemesis, not to mention the team that wound up as the No. 1 team in their pool, Las Cruces.

Interestingly, in the Rams' six championship match string, the two losses have been to Las Cruces schools, Las Cruces in 2001 and Mayfield in 2004. And, for good measure, Las Cruces ended the Rams' hopes for a first-ever title in 2000, when the Lady Bulldawgs swept the Rams in a semifinal match.

The Rams began the 2006 season as the No. 1 team, and ended it the same way. There were never any doubts and, unlike their championship run of 2005, no transfers ruled ineligible and matches forfeited as a result.

There will be a lot of battling for roster spots in the 2007 season but, taking a look at the way the younger teams played, filling those spots shouldn't be a problem.

The Rams return setter Kayla Hammond and outside hitter Ashley Rhoades, who took it upon herself to proclaim the Rams will win again next fall.

"Feeling this good is so awesome - winning it with this team is like the best thing ever. This team is like perfect to win a state championship with," Rhoades said, shortly after she helped her teammates accept the latest blue trophy, this time at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, where the state tournament was held.

"Myself and Kayla, we did not want to lose this for the seniors. We wanted to win this for them and also ourselves. ... We didn't want them to leave us with a loss," Rhoades said. "We're gonna win next year for sure. I'm predicting it already."

Shortly after the season ended, senior Jori Morrison signed a letter of intent to play at Western New Mexico University next season; her sister, Lindsay, will be a teammate as she will be a senior in 2007.

Morrison was one of six Rams to be named to the All-District 1-5A first team this season; she was joined by Stephanie Lopez, Christina Norton, co-Player of the Year Colleen Connelly, Hammond and Rhoades. Patricia Barress and Fara Harrington were named to the second team, while Manzanares, to nobody's surprise, was named the Coach of the Year.

The Rams were further honored this month, when the All-State teams were released.

Rhoades (outside hitter), Hammond (setter), Connelly (middle hitter) and Lopez (libero) were named to the first team. Barress (outside hitter) and Norton (libero) were honorable-mention selections.

Manzanares was named Coach of the Year.

No. 2: Boys hoops team wins 1-5A title, gets to state

In winning its first District 1-5A championship, Rio Rancho High School boys basketball went from the pits to The Pit.

A 20-win campaign, which included four victories over rival Cibola, sans standout Kasey Cunningham, elevated the Rams to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Six nights after beating visiting Cibola for the District 1-5A championship, the fourth-seeded Rams avenged their opening-night loss to Sandia with a stirring 79-66 victory over the 13th-seeded Matadors.

"We opened up that third quarter pretty much on fire," first-year coach Brian Smith said of the Friday triumph. "When we're hitting 3s, we're pretty tough to stop."

The Rams haven't always drained 3s; so nailing more treys, along with the consistency this season has been the team's tenacious defense.

"We run the ball and that's one of our strengths is getting the ball up and down the floor, and our defense," he explained. "Our defense has created our offense."

That sent the Rams into the quarterfinals at The Pit, where they lost to Alamogordo, ending the magical season but not the promise of more success on the hardwood.

What was the secret to the Rams' unexpected success, which is continuing this season?

The players said it's because Smith has them playing "together."

"He's had these kids believe in each other," explained RRHS cross country and track and field coach Larry Chavez.

"They've come together and they all get along and like each other. This group coming up, the "Lincoln kids" -- Lawrence (Chavez) and Daniel (Steffensen) came up together. When somebody else moved in they accepted them. They've been winners all their careers here at Rio Rancho. (Some of the juniors) were on the ninth-grade team that went undefeated (18-0) two years ago."

That team, by the way, was coached by Larry Chavez, whose son Lawrence is a starting guard this year.

"The big thing was when we went to La Cueva and beat them there. Daniel and Marcus (Williams) said they've never lost to La Cueva.

"They get along with each other and Brian does a good job keeping them together," Chavez said. "There's been other teams with as much talent, maybe more, but they didn't have that intangible - something there's no stats for."

"I could have been a pessimist - I went for that same job," Chavez said. "My kid (got to) run down the ramp ... and Brian's done a good job. I didn't see this type of success coming, I really didn't."

But, then, who did?

"The guys have played with the attitude nobody really respects them and nobody really thinks they can win. We don't mind playing the underdog role and I think there's a lot of people that thought we were the underdog at the 4 seed and we shouldn't have been seeded fourth, and that's fine," Smith said.

The Rams went 28-0 in summer play and then opened the 2006-07 season as the second-ranked team in Class 5A.

Now that's respect.

"That's one of the things we've been trying to work on, getting some respect," Smith says. "They'll have to prepare to beat us. I don't think anybody can take us lightly; the bull's eye on our chest has gotten bigger.

"That's one of my goals; we are a respected program in this state," he said. "(When they play us), people are in for a dogfight. I was here in the early years - I got to see the transformation. I'm glad we get some respect; I don't mind playing the underdog role."

No. 3: Title on ice for Rams team; avenges '05 loss

One year after they lost to La Cueva in the Rio Grande Cup championship game, and a little more than 48 hours after losing the first game in the three-game round-robin playoff series to La Cueva, the Rio Rancho High School hockey team whipped the Bears 6-2 to win their first state title.

After the 5-4, first-round loss to La Cueva, the Rams (15-6-1) bounced back to beat the other teams contending for the cup, edging Los Alamos 3-2 Saturday morning and then beating Taos 4-3 in dramatic fashion, the game-winner scored by Vince Tafuro on a slap shot from the point with :12 left in the third period, to set up another championship game meeting with the Bears, 3-2 winners over the Rams at Tingley Coliseum in the 2005 championship game.

Eight seconds into the game, the Rams had the lead on a goal by Archuleta..

After the Bears tied the game, Jacob Hopkins got the puck near his own blue line, entered the Bears' zone, deked a defender and beat goalie Brad Tonnessen for a 2-1 Rams lead.

Brian Wharton whacked in two more goals in the final two minutes of the opening period to give Rio Rancho a 4-1 lead.

In the first minute of the second period, Adam Alaouieh was sent to the penalty box for holding, which led to a Bears power play and a 4-2 Rams' lead.

Then, with two Rams in the box, tournament MVP Thomas Mebust scored to give the Rams a 5-2 lead, and Hopkins soon made it 6-2 on a Rams power play for a comfortable 6-2 lead.

Although a Bears player received what amounted to a nine-minute penalty in the third period, thanks to a match penalty, and the Rams had a few power-play opportunities in the third period, neither team was able to score. Goalie Brad Finkbeiner turned in some outstanding play in the crease, helped by some heads-up work by the defense.

"I was surprised at a couple saves I made tonight," Finkbeiner said after the championship game. "On Friday, we came in a little too confident. We had beaten La Cueva the last time we played them (4-2) here, and so we were a little confident in that game and so it changed Saturday when we had to win both games."

"Today we really wanted it a lot more. Friday we went in too cocky," Mebust agreed. "They took it to us that day. We were ready for them today and really played our hearts out because we wanted this bad."

"It's over with; I can sleep now," second-year coach Tim Camacho said. "I woke up about three times this week at about 3 o'clock in the morning and didn't know what to do with myself, just thinking, thinking."

"We knew it was going to be hard this year; we lost a lot of good players, so it was going to be real hard for us," Mebust said, referring to the loss of six seniors from the 2004-05 team. "We really worked and we really grew as a team."

"This is a real special moment for me," Camacho added.

No. 4: Matmen upset by Eagles, denied four-peat

For having just won his third straight state championship, Rio Rancho High School junior Matt Ortega looked downright glum.

About 15 minutes after his freshman brother Max had just won his second state title, giving the brothers five state titles between them, eclipsing the record of three previously owned by twins Paul and Bryan Tice, Matt Ortega had become just the second Rams wrestler to win three mat titles. Nick Ramirez was the first to achieve that honor, winning at 103 in 2002, then at 125 in '04 and '05.

The underlying reason for his pain, of course, was that he knew he had needed to win by fall, as did all five Rams wrestling for a championship, to pass Eldorado and win a fourth straight state team title. "I really wanted to do good for the team. Wrestling's an individual sport, so I'll take the win. I'm just going to have to train really hard next year, up the intensity of my wrestling, so I can achieve my fourth state title next year."

It didn't happen, and Eldorado dethroned the Rams, 222-215, for the Eagles' first state wrestling championship since 1987, when their current coach, Charlie Dotson, won his fourth state title at 132 pounds. Scott Evans, helping the NMAA run the state meet, was at Johnson Gym Saturday; the Eagles' coach in '87, Evans enjoyed what he saw.

"We lost about six overtime and one-point matches to day and it killed us," Rams coach Dennis Friedland said before the consolation round began. "If our guys take care of business (we can win). Everything's going right for (Eldorado); head to head, we'd beat them."

And the Rams had done just that on Dec. 7; the Rams also won the Joe Vivian Classic at Cibola High, where the Eagles finished third, on Jan. 14.

The Rams went to state without a 103-pounder; James Benavidez failed to make weight.

"I was really worried before the tournament started," Friedland admitted. "I knew Eldorado had a chance to do well. (Not having anyone at 103) was huge; that was probably 10 or 15 points. That would have been the championship right there. Eldorado has the big guys we don't have."

In addition to Matt Ortega's championship, 112-Max Ortega, 125-Dominic Valencia and 130-Vicente Varela won individual championships for the Rams.

The Rams, with their four state champs, were followed in that department by Santa Fe and Los Lunas, with two champs apiece. EHS had one champ.

"(Eldorado) beat a lot of the kids in this tournament that they didn't beat during the year," Friedland noted. "Their kids did better than they were supposed to - and that's where this tournament is won, the backside (consolation matches)."

No. 5: Bowlers win the first-ever state tournament

Making what was probably their first visit to a casino, Rio Rancho High School and Mid-High bowlers departed with a big payback.

Rio Rancho High School claimed another state championship in late May, when the first state bowling championships were held at Starlight Lanes at Santa Ana Star Casino.

Although it wasn't the Rams' home lanes, they made it seem that way, as the five-boy A team combined for a scratch score of 2,716 to win the "big school" (classes 4A and 5A) championship.

Individual champ Stephen Smith (170-246-247-663) won honors as individual champ for Rio Rancho. Rounding out the championship team were Matthew Helmick (233-162-233-628), Jamison Spam (148-167-196-511), Paul Carper (139-149-166-454) and Ryan Scheer (127-160-173-460).

There were 24 teams, with RRHS and a few other schools sending two teams apiece, to the inaugural tournament. Starlight Lanes "comped" the lane fees and didn't charge for shoe rental.

Santa Fe Capital (2,468) was the runner-up, while Roswell (2,454) finished third. The Rams' B team finished fourth (2,429), missing out on a trophy by 25 pins. Rounding out the top 10 were Sandia (2,345), Valley No. 2 (2,330), Eldorado (2,325), Goddard (2,295), Del Norte (2,284) and La Cueva (2,252).

The Rams' B team was made up of Ethan Biswell (162-212-201-575), Josh Barress (96-123-178-397), Ralph Mora (136-156-198-490), Alex Baker (128-164-147-439) and Alex Lopez (163-167-198-528).

On hand to watch the fun, almost lost within a large throng of parents and fans at Starlight Lanes, was United States Bowling Congress associate director of high school and collegiate bowling Gary Brown.

It was his first trip to New Mexico since the ABC2000 at the Albuquerque Convention Center; the ABC2008, by the way, will be in Albuquerque.

"We're just excited to have it as part of the USBC program, as well as part of the growth of high school bowling across the country," Brown said. "They have 29 teams out here - that's larger than a lot of the states we have currently that have had it as a varsity sport for a while.

"We've had a great turnout. ... It's going to continue to grow every year," he said. "You can tell by the excitement the kids have already."

NMAA executive director Gary Tripp was happy with the turnout, given short notice for the planning stage, and much more bowling to come for high school kids.

"Twenty-nine teams and a good representation from around the state; Roswell and Roswell Goddard are both here," he said. "I tell you what ... it's a great experience. If we start with 29, our goal is maybe 58 the following year and 106 after that.

"We're excited because it's going to be a great opportunity to build into a powerful sport in the state of New Mexico," Tripp said. "About 60-70 percent of these kids are not doing a second sport at their schools. It's nice to see great loyalty to their schools and it's nice to see them wearing their school pride and everything else and shooting for a trophy."

Rams bowler Paul Carper, a junior, said he was happy to compete.

"It's not just getting physically fit, it's also mental toughness, getting prepared, and it's a lot about math," the long-time Tenpins & More bowler said, wishing he'd done better. "It was hard. We kind of struggled the first game and in the second game my teammate Stephen Smith shot 246 and bumped us into first, and then from there we just kept a positive mind and bowled good."

Fourth-year Rio Rancho High School football coach Phil Lopez must feel like weatherman Phil Connors, the Bill Murray character in "Groundhog Day."

Each of the last three Rams' seasons has been eerily similar.

They go something like this: Lose to Artesia, lose to Clovis, run the table against district teams, and lose a first-round playoff game at home.

This time, it was the Rio Grande Ravens and a tiny, unstoppable running back named Jeff Acosta that turned out the lights on the Rams' season.

The 11th-seeded Ravens (7-5) scored the game's first 10 points and the last 14 points for a 24-14 victory over the Rams (7-4). The Ravens were spanked 48-0 the next week in a quarterfinal game at Alamogordo.

The stage had been set for a dramatic comeback by the Rams, who pulled off a fourth-quarter goal-line stand

With the ball on the 9, after a 38-yard run for a first down by Acosta, the Ravens were unable to finish their drive.

The Rams stopped Acosta on first down at the 8, kept Adrian Baca out of the end zone after he got as far as the 1, stopped quarterback Chris Brito on a sneak at the 1-foot line on third down, then stopped fullback Austin Ramirez in his tracks for no gain.

Onto the field came quarterback Chris Charley and the Rams' offense, 99 yards and two feet away from the lead.

But that's when the Ravens' defense matched what the Rams had just done: Sabino Vidaurri went nowhere, Marcus Williams managed a yard, Vidaurri again went nowhere on third down, and Jude Terry-Gonzales punted from his own end zone.

Taking over less than 30 yards from paydirt, the Ravens salted the game away with a four-play drive, this time capped when Brito went six yards around right end for a TD. Acosta's PAT made it 24-14.

Now 10 points down and less than a minute to mount a miracle finish, Charley threw his third interception of the game and the Ravens began celebrating.

A one-week delay caused by unhappy Las Cruces parents probably played into the Ravens' hand, as Acosta would have been unable to play one week earlier, when the first-round games were originally scheduled to be played.

As they had done in their opening-game loss to Highland, the Rams could only score one offensive TD in the loss.

"It seemed like offensively and defensively we couldn't get into a groove," Lopez said after the loss to the Ravens. "We picked a bad day to make the mistakes we made."

"This is just like life," Lopez said he told the players after the game. "Sometimes it doesn't treat you very fair or very kindly, but you have to fight through that and keep on going. I'm very proud of them; they're a young team even though we did have a lot of seniors we had a lot of young people in key places."

Lopez will have a lot of returnees for the 2007 season, when the Rams will take aim at a fourth consecutive 1-5A crown.

Hopefully, for Lopez and Rams fans, it won't seem like "Groundhog Day" again.

No. 7: Mele is Player of Year, but Rams lose in quarters

The Rio Rancho High School girls soccer team's season ended in a state quarterfinal game at the soccer complex near Bernalillo on Nov. 2 after the Rams couldn't find the net in 100 minutes of playing time.

The 1-0 shootout setback ended the sixth-seeded Rams' impressive 11-game losing streak with the loss to third-seeded Highland (17-4).

Neither team could score in either 40-minute half, nor either 10-minute overtime session.

So, for the third time in 2006, it took a shootout to decide who'd advance and who'd start turning in equipment.

The Hornets, beating the Rams (16-5) by one goal for the second time in three meetings this season, pushed all four shots they took past senior goalkeeper Sadie Mele.

Mele had been spectacular all season, helping the Rams post seven shutouts during their winning streak, which included a 2-0 Round of 12 victory over Hobbs one day earlier.

In the shootout, Megan Carpenter and Amanda Solwick beat Hornets goalkeeper Kaitlyn Healey, but ensuing kicks by Katie White and Courtney Carpenter weren't even on goal: White's shot sailed to Healey's right, Courtney Carpenter's shot sailed well over the net.

The Hornets' 4-2 edge to that point sealed the victory.

Mele had to come up with seven saves in the finale, including one second-half save in which she leaped high and used her fist to direct the ball over the crossbar - a miss there and the teams wouldn't have needed OT to settle it. Healey was called on for just two saves.

Tenth-year coach Uwe Balzis said he hoped Mele wouldn't take the loss too hard; it was her final varsity game.

"Sadie played well, as usual," he said. "I told the team before the first overtime we cannot have Sadie constantly save us. ... We had a lot of fouls called against us, rightly so, because we're moving in when the ball is already gotten to their player, who has gone up.

"Highland placed it well (in the shootout)," he said. "We needed to have Klarissa Ames making dynamic runs, you need to have Kelly (Angerosa) work hard up front and in the one-on-ones. I don't want to use it as an excuse, because I had a chance to give them a lot of time sitting down (in the first round)."

It marked the second year in a row the Rams' season ended when they came out on the short end of a shootout. Last year, after beating Eldorado 1-0 in a shootout in the quarterfinals, the Rams lost to state champion Las Cruces 1-0 after a shootout.

"We have the core coming back, and what's coming in from the JV's looking good, and it looks like we have some pretty good eighth- and ninth-graders. From there, we will build up," Balzis said, looking ahead to 2007. The Rams had four seniors on this year's roster; scoring leader Ames and Angerosa will return, as will back-up goalkeeper Julia Rasmussen.

Rio Rancho went 9-0 in its district games, winning its second district title in a row.

Mele was named the District 1-5A Player of the Year and was the first-team goalkeeper. Joining her on the All-District first team were twins Courtney and Megan Carpenter, Ames and Angerosa. Rams on the second team were Brenna Dominguez, Elisa Jaramillo and Natali Coen. Katie White and Ashley Ibarra were honorable mention selections.

The Carpenter twins and Ames also earned All-State first team honors; Mele was a second-team selection and Angerosa was an honorable mention pick.

No. 8: Boys soccer team completes perfect district season

Someday, the Rio Rancho High School boys soccer team will find a way to beat former district rival Eldorado.

Until then, however, it appears the Rams won't be able to win a state championship.

Eldorado beat the Rams 3-0 on Nov. 2 at the soccer complex near Bernalillo in a state quarterfinal game, and then went on to win its second straight Class 5A championship two days later.

The Eagles' victory over the Rams was their 13th in a row, as in 13-0 all-time against the Rams (13-6). It was déjà vu for the Rams, who began and ended their 2005 season with losses to the Eagles, and did so again in 2006.

The loss ended the Rams' impressive 10-game winning streak, which began as they opened what turned out to be a perfect 9-0 stretch en route to the District 1-5A championship.

The Eagles got a pair of first-half goals, then tacked on an insurance goal by Kevin Herig in the third minute of the second half when Rams goalkeeper Spencer Porter came out of the net and the ball went in. Porter apparently misjudged the speed of the oncoming Eagle, who booted the ball past him for what turned out to be the game's final goal.

The Eagles have won five of the teams' last six meetings by shutout.

This time, the Eagles out-shot the Rams 7-4; Porter made four saves in the contest, while Eagles 'keepers Nate Navarro and Javier Lane combined for three saves.

"They out-played us pretty badly in the first half," said coach John Shepard. "The second half was pretty even. ... Credit Eldorado; they came out hard.

"I'm proud of my guys; they showed good sportsmanship, good character, quality young men that their families and the community can be proud of - and that's far more important than any soccer game."

Shepard, traditionally a man of few words after a loss, had more to say after the Rams' 1-0 victory over Carlsbad in the first round win a day earlier.

Porter, James Bajek, Asa Scott, Josh Herrera, Danny Crouch and Trevor Madding were named to the All-District first team. Aaron Madding was named to the second team. Porter was also a co-Player of the Year.

Porter, Bajek, Crouch and the Madding brothers earned honorable mention notice on the All-State teams.

No. 9: RRHS campus plays host to state CC meet

The surprise of Saturday, Nov. 4, wasn't seeing Eldorado High School harrier Matt Tebo cross the finish line in first place of the Class 5A boys meet, something he'd done the previous two years as well, it was seeing Rio Rancho High School successfully pull off such a huge endeavor.

The "huge endeavor" was hosting the state meet for all classifications, eight races in all, on a course visible from several locations on the school's campus.

It was the first time RRHS had undertaken such a large event; the school had played host to regional basketball and volleyball competition, a few state baseball games and more, but nothing as challenging as putting on a cross country meet. Gallup had held the meet the previous 14 or so years, but RRHS boys cross country coach Larry Chavez submitted a bid to hold it here for two years and was awarded the bid by the New mexico Activities Association, which had been wanting to hold the races at a more centrally located site.

Earlier that November day, Chavez had told a local high school sports radio show host that if he had his choice, he wasn't sure which was more important to him: seeing his team earn a trophy later that day or having been able to pull off hosting a successful state meet.

He was batting .500 by day's end; the Rams boys finished fourth.

Run under clear skies, with warm temperatures and a hint of a breeze, the meet was, according to all accounts, quite successful.

The meet was pulled off in under four hours for the eight races and needed a mere 47 minutes -- Larry Chavez said it's a record -- for the medals ceremony, there were nearly 4,000 spectators gathered all over the course, with many in the stadium, to watch the races.

The attendance mark, he said, "set a record."

Better yet, he said, "We heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone; there were a few that said, 'Take it back to Gallup.' But for the most part, every coach that came by loved it -- they loved the way it was done and the athletes really loved the course," he said. "A lot of the coaches from this area and the south wish the state meet would stay here in Rio Rancho as long as possible... It's a monstrosity, I'll tell you that."

Rio Rancho will play host to the 2007 state meet as well. Beyond that, Chavez said, when it comes to bidding for 2008 and '09, "It all depends on a couple of situations we're going to look into; get the city and county to work hand in hand to help us out ... a couple of brush fires we need to put out.

"Overall, it was a successful event; as with anything being run, there are these minor, behind-the-scenes things you need to take care of. Like toilet paper running out in the bathroom," he said, crediting some 200 volunteers for their efforts, as well as Chuck Davis, in charge of the security personnel. "They earned their money," Chavez said. "Our Mid-High security people did the job. Stacy Salinas's group was bringing in three cars at a time ... an overflow. It was an awesome sight.

"I just want to thank all the volunteers; I gave out 80 official worker vests; we had JROTC, 40 National Guardsmen.

"It was an amazing event," he continued. "I also want to thank Art Perez and Judi Snow (of the Rio Rancho Convention and Visitors Bureau). Without their help, we couldn't have got this done."

"You know what? They did a great job; Larry Chavez and Andy Sweet and the administration. I think it was a great way to demonstrate to the state that Rio Rancho is a first-class community," lauded Gary Tripp, executive director of the New Mexico Activities Association. "We're looking forward to doing it again next year." The surprise of Saturday, Nov. 4, wasn't seeing Eldorado High School harrier Matt Tebo cross the finish line in first place of the Class 5A boys meet, something he'd done the previous two years as well, it was seeing Rio Rancho High School successfully pull off such a huge endeavor.

The "huge endeavor" was hosting the state meet for all classifications, eight races in all, on a course visible from several locations on the school's campus.

It was the first time RRHS had undertaken such a large event; the school had played host to regional basketball and volleyball competition, a few state baseball games and more, but nothing as challenging as putting on a cross country meet. Gallup had held the meet the previous 14 or so years, but RRHS boys cross country coach Larry Chavez submitted a bid to hold it here for two years and was awarded the bid by the New mexico Activities Association, which had been wanting to hold the races at a more centrally located site.

Earlier that November day, Chavez had told a local high school sports radio show host that if he had his choice, he wasn't sure which was more important to him: seeing his team earn a trophy later that day or having been able to pull off hosting a successful state meet.

He was batting .500 by day's end; the Rams boys finished fourth.

Run under clear skies, with warm temperatures and a hint of a breeze, the meet was, according to all accounts, quite successful.

The meet was pulled off in under four hours for the eight races and needed a mere 47 minutes -- Larry Chavez said it's a record -- for the medals ceremony, there were nearly 4,000 spectators gathered all over the course, with many in the stadium, to watch the races.

The attendance mark, he said, "set a record."

Better yet, he said, "We heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone; there were a few that said, 'Take it back to Gallup.' But for the most part, every coach that came by loved it -- they loved the way it was done and the athletes really loved the course," he said. "A lot of the coaches from this area and the south wish the state meet would stay here in Rio Rancho as long as possible... It's a monstrosity, I'll tell you that."

Rio Rancho will play host to the 2007 state meet as well. Beyond that, Chavez said, when it comes to bidding for 2008 and '09, "It all depends on a couple of situations we're going to look into; get the city and county to work hand in hand to help us out ... a couple of brush fires we need to put out.

"Overall, it was a successful event; as with anything being run, there are these minor, behind-the-scenes things you need to take care of. Like toilet paper running out in the bathroom," he said, crediting some 200 volunteers for their efforts, as well as Chuck Davis, in charge of the security personnel. "They earned their money," Chavez said. "Our Mid-High security people did the job. Stacy Salinas's group was bringing in three cars at a time ... an overflow. It was an awesome sight.

"I just want to thank all the volunteers; I gave out 80 official worker vests; we had JROTC, 40 National Guardsmen.

"It was an amazing event," he continued. "I also want to thank Art Perez and Judi Snow (of the Rio Rancho Convention and Visitors Bureau). Without their help, we couldn't have got this done."

"You know what? They did a great job; Larry Chavez and Andy Sweet and the administration. I think it was a great way to demonstrate to the state that Rio Rancho is a first-class community," lauded Gary Tripp, executive director of the New Mexico Activities Association. "We're looking forward to doing it again next year."

No. 10: How Sweet it is

Rio Rancho High School athletics took on a new look, in a manner of speaking, as the school began its 10th year of operation.

After nine years at the helm of RRHS athletics, Gary Hveem's last day on the job was May 31. It wasn't his last day of being a Ram at heart; Hveem remained in Rio Rancho, attended as many football games as he could, and still takes his duties as a member of the Sports Advisory Council seriously.

"How do I like retirement this far?" Hveem said in December. "Very good; I recommend it to whoever's eligible.

"It's been delightful, actually; it's been an opportunity to see family and spend some quality time with my own children, rather than someone else's," he said, noting what he has "missed the most is the relationships with people. ... I had the luxury of going to work with my best friends everyday and (now) I don't see them everyday. I miss that part."

Former Clovis High School principal Andrew Sweet assumed the reins the next day and was no stranger to the action when the fall season began.

Sweet could be found along the sidelines at Rams football games, shouting encouragement to the players and occasionally doing a silent slow-burn when officials' calls didn't go the Rams' way; he helped out at the scorer's table at volleyball matches, which also afforded him a good view of the girl wearing 14 on her back for the Rams, his daughter Tarrah), and soon found the best way to find rivals' gymnasiums when basketball season arrived.

You no longer see Sweet wearing Clovis's purple; he's become a Ram through and through.

Sweet, finding a few awesome responsibilities coming his way - RRHS was hosting the state cross country meet and he had an athlete to suspend because of a DWI charge - said in the spring that he had his own theories in dealing with student-athletes, namely to "Pray over them daily. Love them as though they were your own and tell them so frequently. Hurt with them when they hurt. Rejoice with them in their successes. Lift them up and encourage them in all things."

He was rewarded with his first state championship in November, when the Rams volleyball team won its fourth Class 5A title in five seasons.

There were a few other changes within RRHS athletics. Three head coaching jobs changed hands as the 2006-07 school year rolled in:

Jason Nickal was hired to replace six-year wrestling coach Dennis Friedland, who resigned after the Rams' runner-up season of 2005-06;

Hilario Chavez was named as the girls track and field coach, replacing Ron and Liza Mascarenas, who served only one season after replacing former coach Tim Flores;

Nicholas Morris was named to replace Randall Stotts as the girls tennis coach; Stotts and his family moved to Texas.