Rams, Storm wrestlers celebrate seniors

RIO RANCHO (Jan. 15, 2025) – The Storm wrestling squad is on a roll, thanks in no small part to their seniors. And the CHS community got a chance to say so last week when they hosted their Senior Night for the wrestling team following the Storm’s dominant victory over visiting Belen High School.

“We have a great group of seniors that have put in a lot of time, energy and effort into this program and into perfecting their craft as wrestlers,” says boys team head coach Evan Copeland.

The boys won the night with a score of Cleveland 52, Belen 17.

The girls dominated as well, with the final tally reading: Cleveland 42, Belen 24.

Victories are always nice, but it was a bittersweet night for Copeland. As always, he hates to see his seniors leave but is proud of the adults they are growing into.

“We are sad that their time with us is ending but excited for their futures,” he says. “We know they are going to use what they have learned as Cleveland Storm wrestlers to be successful and outstanding people.”

On Jan. 22, the Storm found themselves heading across town to RRHS to participate in a district dual and witness the Rams own Senior Night.

As far as the dual goes, it was a rough match for the Rams. Both the boys and the girls lost in decisive fashion.

For the boys, the final tally was Cleveland 53, Rio Rancho 11.

For the girls, the final tally was Cleveland 48, Rio Rancho 18.

The defeat didn’t seem to mar the evening for the seniors, however. Friends and family packed the gym to celebrate their soon-to-graduate loved ones in a ceremony immediately following the dual.

After the final bell, the seniors gathered their things, walked past the folding table covered in gift bags, maneuvered through the balloon archway, and disappeared into the large, inflatable tunnel marked “RIO RANCHO RAMS” in bold letters across its front. Inside, friends and family waited.

Each family exited the tunnel to applause and moved quietly to the side as their senior posed for photos. After gifts and awards were exchanged, families were reunited, and an informal celebration took place at center gym.

“This group of young men and women have been a treat to coach over the years,” Rams head coach Mike Santos says. “They have made tremendous gains in the past. Many of them I’ve had the privilege to know them and their families since junior wrestling league.”

Like Copeland, Senior Night is always bittersweet for Santos, but this year is particularly special for him. This year, he has family on the team.

“My son is also a part of this senior crew, so [all these kids] are friends with him. I got to know them as more than just athletes and saw them more than just during the season,” says the veteran coach. “I got to know them throughout each year of them growing up in elementary, middle, and now high school. They are a special bunch to me.”

Santos also says he is excited to see what these kids do next, and he knows their experiences on the wrestling mat will serve them well in life.

“I wish them the best,” he said. “I know that every single one of them will be great at whatever they decide to do because they have wrestled.”

Next up, both the Storm and the Rams head to the four-corners area for district duals. They’ll face competition from Piedra Vista, Farmington, Volcano Vista and Cibola as they all clash head-to-head at PVHS in Farmington on Jan. 25.