Rio Rundown: trophies and awards galore!

Rio Cheer has Elite performanceRio Elite All-Star Cheer returned home last week from their trip to Colorado for the Celebrity Championships, a weekend-long club cheer and dance competition.

The squad was racked with illness, forcing numerous routine changes and a tight practice schedule for the Rio Rancho-based cheer team. Despite this, they performed admirable, nabbing six podium finishes.

Lil Leopards, Scratch and Lady Lions all won their divisions and took home 1st-place trophies. Bobcats and Untamed both took silver medals, and Jags grabbed a bronze.

Next up, Rio Elite heads to Orlando, Florida for UCA International on Mar. 8-9.

For more information, visit rioelitecheer.com.

Powerlifting on the horizonAfter placing first in their first meet of the season, the Rams powerlifting team is looking to continue its winning ways. This weekend, Feb. 22, the Rams take on the Cibola Cougars at home.

The Cleveland Storm, who kicked off their season with a 68-51 victory over the Volcano Vista Hawks, are heading to Grants to face the Pirates on Feb. 22.

RRHS coach in the running for major awardEvery year, the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) chooses a coach (and assistant coach) from each of the recognized high school sports to be the recipient of their Coach of the Year award. This year, Rio Rancho High School golf coach Jason Black is one of the finalists. Coach Black has had a big year, leading his team to success on the links and watching his son Payton sign a commitment to play for Montana State University-Billings.

The NHSACA Awards will be given out at the annual convention on June 21-25 in Rapid City, South Dakota.

E3 Volleyball goes bigE3 Volleyball, a Rio Rancho-based volleyball club team, returned home from Arizona on Feb. 16 and their “13 Jim” team did so with a 1st-place trophy held high. The 13 Jim team took first place at Festival Fiesta 2025, an interstate volleyball tournament, which took place Feb. 15-16 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona.

Additionally, the E3 squad 13R1 went undefeated in pool play and 12N1 got the 2nd-place trophy in their division.

For more information, visit e3vb.com.