Storm wrestling dominates season opener

RIO RANCHO – The Cleveland Storm wrestling team finally hit the mats, and they did so in dominating fashion, defeating the visiting Socorro Warriors and West Mesa Mustangs in the season opening dual at the Thunderdome (CHS Gym) on Thursday night.

The Storm took care of business and defeated both opponents in this warm-up bout before the Southwest Shootout, happening Friday and Saturday at Rio Rancho High School.

The opening match was between the visiting girls teams. Despite the smaller squad, Socorro defeated West Mesa.

The defending-state-champion Storm girls hit the floor next, taking on Socorro. Cleveland rolled to a 66-3 drubbing of the Warriors.

Of particular note in the match was a milestone that individual state wrestling champ Heaven Guevara has been waiting all off-season for: her 100th win. Guevara is only a junior but has placed three straight times in the State Championship (2nd in 2022, 3rd in 2023 and 1st in 2024.)

The girls weren’t finished. In the final match of the evening, the Storm took on the West Mesa Mustangs. This was a much closer game, but in the end, CHS prevailed, 42-30.

The boys were just as dominant as the girls, though they only played one match (against the Socorro Warriors.) The Warriors had some size and strength, but the tenacity and skill of the Cleveland squad was too overwhelming, and the Storm won easily, 64-4.

The Southwest Shootout is next, happening RIGHT NOW at RRHS. Bot the Cleveland Storm and the Rio Rancho Rams will be on the mats for that tournament.

The big event, however, is Jan. 3 and 4 at the Rio Rancho Event Center. That’s the “Conflict at Cleveland” and it’ll feature 60 teams from all over the Southwest.

For live updates, follow @clevelandstormwrestling on Instagram. To livestream the tournaments, visit trackwrestling.com.

Cleveland Dual results

CLEVELAND 64, SOCORRO 4 (Boys)

CLEVELAND 66, SOCORRO 3 (Girls)

CLEVELAND 42, WEST MESA 30 (Girls)