RRPS State Championships: By the Numbers

The Rio Rancho Public Schools District is coming up on 100 State Championships (they currently sit at 99.) Here’s how that breaks down, “by the numbers”.

NMAA-recognized sports:

Fall: Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Volleyball

Winter: Basketball, Powerlifting, Spirit, Swimming, Wrestling

Spring: Baseball, Golf, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field,

New Mexico numbers:

Most titles: Albuquerque Academy, 147

Most dominant (titles per sport): Artesia football, 32

Oldest sport/year: Track & Field, 1913

Newest sport/year: Powerlifting, 2022

RRPS numbers:

RRPS Total Championship titles: 99

RRPS title count: RIO RANCHO 50, CLEVELAND 49

RRPS most titles by sport: boys wrestling – 16 total

RRPS reigning champions:

- RRHS - boys cross country, girls cross country, girls powerlifting, girls track & field

- CHS – girls soccer, girls wrestling, boys powerlifting, boys track& field

RRPS winningest coach: Kenny Henry, Cleveland Track & Field, 11 Championships

Cleveland numbers:

Year Cleveland (CHS) opened: 2009

Current student population: 2,631

Most CHS titles by sport: boys track & field, 11

Most CHS titles by year: 2011-12 & 2020-21 (tie), 6

Zero titles: baseball, girls basketball, dance, girls powerlifting, boys swimming, girls swimming, boys tennis, girls tennis

Rio Rancho High numbers:

Year Rio Rancho High (RRHS) opened: 1997

Current student population: 2,573

Most RRHS titles by sport: boys wrestling, 12

Most RRHS titles by year: 2006-07, 5

Zero titles: girls basketball, dance, girls golf, boys powerlifting, boys swimming, girls swimming, boys tennis, girls tennis, boys track & field

Complete listing of RRPS State Championships:

Baseball State Champions - 4

Year, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2023, Rio Rancho (27-2-2), Ron Murphy

2013, Rio Rancho (23-8), Ron Murphy

2009, Rio Rancho (26-4), Ron Murphy

2007, Rio Rancho (24-5), Ron Murphy

Basketball Boys State Champions - 3

Year, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2021, Cleveland (14-1), Sean Jiménez

2016, Rio Rancho (19-12), Wally Salata

2007, Rio Rancho (30-1), Brian Smith

Basketball Girls State Champions - 0

Cross Country Boys State Champions - 10

Year, Team (Avg. Time)

2023, Rio Rancho (15.46.71)

2022, Rio Rancho (16:25.88)

2020, Cleveland (16:28.07)

2019, Cleveland (17:04.45)

2018, Cleveland (16:49.64)

2017, Cleveland (16:44.79)

2014, Rio Rancho (16:51.52)

2013, Rio Rancho (16:47.89)

2012, Cleveland (16:08.99)

2011, Cleveland (16:31.04)

Cross Country Girls State Champions - 8

Year, Team (Avg. Time)

2023, Rio Rancho (19:51.92)

2022, Cleveland (19:38.78)

2020, Rio Rancho (19:59.65)

2017, Cleveland (19:54.12)

2016, Rio Rancho (19:18.07)

2015, Cleveland (19:23.60)

2011, Cleveland (20:14.59)

2008, Rio Rancho (19:29.25)

Football State Champions - 7

Year, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2022, Cleveland (11-2), Robert Garza

2021, Cleveland (13-0), Heath Ridenour

2019, Cleveland (11-2), Heath Ridenour

2016, Rio Rancho (13-0), David Howes

2015, Cleveland (13-0), Heath Ridenour

2014, Rio Rancho (13-0), David Howes

2011, Cleveland (13-0), Kirk Potter

Golf Boys State Champions - 5

Year, Class, School, Course, Head Coach

2017, 6A, Cleveland, Spring River, Roswell, Jim Tillery

2015, 6A, Cleveland, Pinon Hills, Farmington, Jim Tillery

2014, 5A, Cleveland, NM Tech, Socorro, Jim Tillery

2007, 5A, Rio Rancho, UNM, Albuquerque, Jason Black

2005, 5A, Rio Rancho, Santa Ana, Bernalillo, Jason Black

Golf Girls State Champions - 2

Year, Class, School, Course, Head Coach

2019, 5A, Cleveland, The Canyon Club, ABQ, Scott Georgia

2016, 6A, Cleveland, The Canyon Club, ABQ. Jim Tillery

Powerlifting Boys State Champions - 1

Year, School, Points

2024, Cleveland, 47

Powerlifting Girls State Champions - 1

Year, School, Points

2024, Rio Rancho, 39

Soccer Boys State Champions - 3

Year, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2022, Cleveland (13-6-5), Shaun Gill

2020, Rio Rancho (10-2), John Shepard

2018, Cleveland (20-3), Shaun Gill

Soccer Girls State Champions - 2

Year, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2023, Cleveland (22-1), Gregory Rusk

2007, Rio Rancho (21-3), Uwe Balzis

Softball State Champions - 5

Year, Class, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2021, 5A, Cleveland (21-2), Angel Castillo

2019, 5A, Rio Rancho (28-3), Paul Kohman

2015, 6A, Rio Rancho (23-8), Paul Kohman

2014, 5A, Rio Rancho (28-4), Paul Kohman

2003, 5A, Rio Rancho (19-9), Paul Kohman

Spirit State Champions - 8

Year, School, Points

2022, Rio Rancho, 187.27

2021, Cleveland, 157.80

2019, Rio Rancho, 174.73

2016, Rio Rancho, 185.22

2013, Cleveland, 521

2011, Rio Rancho, 518

2001, Rio Rancho, 754.5

2000, Rio Rancho, 291.5

Swimming & Diving Boys State Champions - 0

Swimming & Diving Girls State Champions - 0

Tennis Boys – 0

Tennis Girls - 0

Track Boys State Champions - 11

Year, Class, School, Head Coach

2024, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2023, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2022, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2021, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2019, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2018, 6A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2017, 6A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2016, 6A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2014, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2013, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

2012, 5A, Cleveland, Kenny Henry

Track Girls State Champions - 5

Year, Class, School, Head Coach

2024, 5A, Rio Rancho, Michael Gonzales

2017, 6A, Cleveland, Tim Flores

2016, 6A, Cleveland, Tim Flores

2015, 6A, Cleveland, Tim Flores

2012, 5A, Cleveland, Tim Flores

Volleyball State Champions - 7

Year, Team (rec.), Head Coach

2012, Cleveland (22-2), Brian Ainsworth

2009, Rio Rancho (20-4), Toby Manzanares

2007, Rio Rancho (22-2), Toby Manzanares

2006, Rio Rancho (23-1), Toby Manzanares

2005, Rio Rancho (8-19), Toby Manzanares

2003, Rio Rancho (21-2), Toby Manzanares

2002, Rio Rancho (21-2), Toby Manzanares

Wrestling Boys State Champions – 16

Year, Class, School, Head Coach

2019, 5A, Rio Rancho, Mike Santos

2018, 6A, Rio Rancho, Mike Santos

2017, 6A, Cleveland, Evan Copeland

2016, 6A, Cleveland, Corey Anderson

2015, 6A, Rio Rancho, Mike Santos

2014, 5A, Rio Rancho, Mike Santos

2013, 5A, Cleveland, Corey Anderson

2012, 5A, Cleveland, Corey Anderson

2011, 5A, Rio Rancho, Mike Santos

2010, 5A, Rio Rancho, Jason Nickal

2009, 5A, Rio Rancho, Jason Nickal

2008, 5A, Rio Rancho, Jason Nickal

2007, 5A, Rio Rancho, Jason Nickal

2005, 5A, Rio Rancho, Dennis Friedland

2004, 5A, Rio Rancho, Dennis Friedland

2003, 5A, Rio Rancho, Dennis Friedland

Wrestling Girls State Champions – 1

Year, Class, School, Head Coach

2024, A-5A, Cleveland, Macario Borrego