Compiled by Gary Herron

RRHS sports briefsMiddle school girls’ hoops coaches soughtRio Rancho High School varsity girls’ basketball coach Patrick Puentes is hiring middle school coaches for girls’ basketball at Eagle Ridge and Lincoln middle schools.

If interested, contact RRHS athletic coordinator Vince Metzgar at 896-5800 or Puentes at 896-5874. Juarez resigns golf postJim Juarez, the Rio Rancho High School varsity girls’ golf coach since the 2001 season, resigned his position last week.

Juarez, who led the Rams girls to a tie for fifth place at the 2009 Class 5A state tournament, led the Rams to school-best fourth-place finishes in 2003 and 2008.

Rio Rancho Public Schools Athletic Director Bruce Carver said varsity boys coach Jason Black, who succeeded Debbie Zamprelli when she moved with her family to Castle Rock, Colo., in the summer of 2003, will assume the reins and guide both programs.

Black led the Rams boys to 5A state titles in 2005 and 2007.

Reserve Rams football season tickets soon Season tickets for the upcoming Rio Rancho High School football season are on sale.

The cost for season tickets is $30 and they can be purchased at the high school athletics office between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The Rams have five Friday night home games: Sept. 4 vs. Salpointe, Ariz.; Sept. 18 (Goddard); Sept. 25 (Clovis); Oct. 9 (Gallup); and Oct. 30 (Cleveland). Game starts at 7.

For more information, call Sylvia Greenbaum at 896-5800.

CHS sports briefsStorm football tickets on sale this week, tooReserved season tickets for the Cleveland Storm football season cost $24 and are available at the Rio Rancho Public Schools Athletic Office, 500 Laser Road, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call CHS athletic coordinator Randy Adrian at 867-0667, ext. 197, or 948-4224.

More briefsSports Advisory Council tabs two local athletesFormer Rio Rancho High School golfer Tim Madigan was named the Athlete of the Month for June by the Rio Rancho Sports Advisory Council for winning the USGA Amateur Public Links sectional qualifier at Sonoma Ranch Golf Course in Las Cruces. Madigan shot two rounds of 70 en route to the victory.

The 2007 RRHS graduate followed up that victory by winning the Albuquerque Men’s City Amateur Golf championship on July 5 and winning the Callaway Golf Players championship at Isleta Eagle Golf Course this month.

Michael Fanelli, age 10, was named the Athlete of the Month for July by the SAC after he set the single-lap track record at Sandia Motor Speedway, shaving three tenths of a second off the previous mark. More importantly, he won a national quarter-midget racing championship in the 160 “heavy modified” division in the Eastern Grand Nationals in Huntsville, Ala.

Madigan was the SAC Athlete of the Month in June 2005 and March 2006; it was the first award for Fanelli.

The two will be eligible for the SAC’s Athlete of the Year, to be presented next June.

Eat pancakes today, help young RamsCome enjoy a pancake breakfast with the Sophomore Division East Rams of the Young America Football League between 8 and 10 a.m. today (Aug. 23) at Applebees on NM 528, just north of High Resort Blvd.

The cost for a pancake breakfast is $5 a person. Proceeds benefit Coach Fred Marquez’s team. For more information, call Marquez at 306-4706 or Edward Montoya at 681-4418.

Get better at skatingRegistration is underway at Blades Multiplex Arenas, 801 Loma Colorado, for the fall session of “Learn to Skate.”

Classes for both figure skating and hockey will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., beginning Aug. 25 and 26, and Saturday mornings from 10:30 to noon, beginning Aug. 29.

The cost of the eight-week session is $110. A $12 USFS fee is attached to all first-time registrations. You may register in person, over the phone, or online.

For information, contact Blades at 892-9222 or visit bladesnm.com.

Blades is also offering a four-week Introductory “Skating Skills” class for both figure skating and hockey for those who wish to give ice skating a try.

That class begins Saturday, Aug. 29, and runs from 11 to 11:30 a.m. for 4- to 6-year-olds and from 11:30 a.m. to noon for ages 7 to adult. The cost is $49. This class is for beginners only.

Grappling championships back at RRHSThe second annual Southwest Grappling Championships will be held in the Rio Rancho High School gymnasium Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This will be a double-elimination tournament. Food will be available at the event.

For more information, visit combatsportsclub.com.

Games at Milne, Wilson televised on WebAlbuquerque Public Schools Athletics and ProView Networks announced a partnership last week that allows for hundreds of APS athletic events, including every varsity football game played at Wilson and Milne stadiums, to be streamed live over the internet by the new broadcast media partner of APS Athletics, ProView Networks. (ProViewNetworks.com).

T-Birds add money-back guaranteeThe Albuquerque Thunderbirds have announced a new money-back guarantee on all season tickets for the upcoming 2009-10 season. The ticket program will entitle season ticket holders to a two-game trial, during which time they will be able to determine whether or not they want to remain a season ticket holder for the remainder of the season.

“We want to give people a chance to try our product with freedom,” said vice president of business operations Adam Minnick. “I think fans will be entertained and want to continue to enjoy Thunderbirds games.”

The campaign is the first of its kind in the NBA Development League.

In addition to the money-back guarantee, the team will also be implementing a ticket redemption program for all home games. In the event that a season ticket holder misses a game, unused tickets can be redeemed at any other regular season game. This redemption program will ensure that no tickets are left behind and will guarantee the ticket holder is able to utilize their entire allotment of tickets during the course of the season.

Season tickets are now on sale for as low as $4 per game. Call 265.3865 or visit abqtbirds.com for more information.

Get ready for another PatriotThe second annual Patriot Triathlon will take place Sept. 13, starting and ending at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center, 745 Loma Colorado Drive NE.

Registrations are being accepted online at active.com by typing Patriot Triathlon-Rio Rancho in the search field. Those who register before Aug. 1 will receive a reduction in registration fees.

The triathlon will begin at 8 a.m. and will consist of a 400-yard swim, 25-kilometer bike ride and a 5K run. For course maps and training tips, visit the Fit Fundamentals Web site, fitfundamentals.com/patriot.html.

Ten percent of the race proceeds will be donated to Rio Rancho Police and Fire Rescue department charities. Police, fire fighter, emergency medical service and military personnel who participate in the triathlon will receive a reduced registration fee.

The Patriot Triathlon is sponsored by the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Defined Fitness, High Desert Bicycles, Fitness Anywhere, and Comfort Inn of Rio Rancho.

For additional information or questions, contact race coordinator Andie Talmadge at 239-4246 or andie@fitfundamentals.com.

Basketball leagues start in CorralesThe Village of Corrales will begin registration for its Youth NBA/WNBA basketball leagues on Sept. 15, with registration conducted Monday-Thursday from 1 to 6 p.m. daily. The cost is $60 per player.

The leagues are for boys and girls in grades 1 through 6, with three divisions, based on grade attended. There will be one practice each week, with games played on Saturdays.

Volunteer coaches and referees are also needed; they will receive training.

For more information, or to volunteer, call Larry Buffaloe at 899-8900.