Around the Hood: Taylor’s Top 10 Fall prep sports moments

The fall prep sports season is officially over, which means it’s time to look forward to some basketball, swimming, diving, wrestling, powerlifting, bowling and a ton more this winter (with a brief hiatus for the holidays, of course.)

But before we get too deep into the next fast-paced, emotional rollercoaster of a season, let’s set aside a brief moment to look back on the fall sports season and take inventory for a second.

This was a HUGE Fall prep sports season for Rio Rancho Public Schools and the City of Vision. There’s a lot to go over. From three of the four RRPS soccer teams making the playoffs, to RRPS getting its 100th and 101st state championship titles, to ... well, I don’t want to spoil it.

Let’s just say, we definitely need to debrief. And what better way to “debrief” than with a good ol’ fashioned “Top 10”.

10. Storm boys soccer falls to Rio Grande in shootoutOK, so it is a bit of a bummer to start with a loss. BUT, as someone who was at this game, it was one for the ages.

The Storm were massive underdogs coming into this state championship opening round game. Rio Grande had a reputation for tough play, and oh yeah, they also had the state’s top scorer in Leo Bencomo Zarate.

That didn’t seem to affect the Storm mentally in the least. They fought for every inch and led for most of the game. CHS goalkeeper Joaquin Armijo’s leadership was on full display, keeping his team focused during a match with several fights and bookings.

Yes, the Storm lost the game. But they took the Ravens to a shootout following two overtimes. Afterward, the players on both squads composed themselves like gentlemen and held their heads high.

9. Storm girls soccer book spot in playoffsIt was a little touch-and-go there for a bit for the Storm girls soccer squad. After a hot 4-1 start to the season, they dropped four of their next five. Through sheer tenacity and grit, they rattled off nine wins in their next 10 matches.

The Storm were on the playoff bubble rolling into their last game of the year, an emotional match against hometown rivals, the Rio Rancho Rams. The team’s star midfielder, Taylor Williamson, stepped up and scored two goals to lead her team to a playoff-berth-sealing 5-0 win over RRHS.

8. Rams boys soccer team defeats top-ranked Atrisco HeritageWhen the Rams boys soccer team arrived at the APS Soccer Complex in early September, they had a secret: (shhh) they were really freaking good.

Their opponents, the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars, were heavy favorites having just toppled La Cueva and Eldorado. It didn’t even seem to matter that the Rams had the same record, played a harder schedule and were on a five-game winning streak. All eyes were on the Jaguars.

Unfortunately for the very talented squad from Atrisco Heritage, this was the Rams official pronouncement to the rest of 5A soccer: “You better watch out, ‘cause here we come!”

The Meserve brothers, Sean and Aaron, along with team leader Bryson Strohecker dominated the pitch that night. Despite some late game heroics from the already-defeated Jaguars, the Rams walked away with a 4-2 victory and the full attention of the prep soccer community.

7. Rams volleyball defeats Cibola in the playoffsIt was difficult to find a squad who was having more fun than the Rams this season. And that absolutely translated into making them fun to watch. They played with energy and smiles and laughter. It was their secret weapon.

It was that positivity that carried them through the hard times; like losing twice in two weeks at the end of the season to their district rivals, the Cibola Cougars (3-2 on Oct. 15, 3-1 on Oct. 31).

The Rams brushed off the dual losses and were ready for the Cougars in the pool play rounds of the playoffs. The RRHS girls grabbed themselves a 3-1 win this time and earned a moral victory in the process.

6. Storm volleyball wins districtThe Storm were rolling by the time they hit the final game of the season.

They had come together as a cohesive unit, moving like a well-oiled machine. Ceci Vance, Kelsey Hefner, Emma Wild and Azlynn Tittmann were leading what appeared to be an unstoppable force.

But that’s not how it started.

The Storm came out of the summer scrimmages with more questions than answers and they were inconsistent on the court. Despite the glut of talent, the team dropped two of their first four matches.

Then the Storm girls went on a 20-game winning streak. For two consecutive months, they didn’t lose a single set (Sept. 13 to Nov. 14). They pulled together as a team, and it directly led to results.

On Nov. 7, the CHS Storm volleyball team was handed the 5A-1 district title.

5. Signing day for Rams and StormSigning days are always special.

It’s amazing to see student-athletes at the exact moment when all their hard work finally pays off: all the hours on the court and field, in the gym, pushing limits, breaking through pain, and all to reach a goal.

Then at the end of that road, low-and-behold, the prize is within reach: Just sign on the dotted line.

This Fall Signing Day, two Cleveland High School volleyball players signed: Ceci Vance and Kelsey Hefner.

Additionally, four Rio Rancho High School athletes signed. RRHS softball players Olivia Chavez, Destiny Gonzalez and Marissa Valdez all committed to colleges.

One RRHS soccer player, Santana Solano, committed as well.

4. Rams and Storm finish first and second in the first marching band championshipOK, so technically this isn’t a “sport,” but I’m putting it on here anyway. It’s my list.

There are a few reasons for it.

One, this was the very first NMAA Marching Band State Championship.

Two, I’ve never seen so many people pack a stadium for a high school event.

Three, the two RRPS high schools took the top two spots.

And four, holy cow those kids put in a lot of work.

3. Rams boys XC wins state, girls take secondIt was a big year for the Rams cross-country squad, and they capped it off with the top prize in the state: the NMAA Cross-Country State Championship title.

The boys team, led by the three-headed monster of Charlie Vause, Cody Sullivan and Mateo Herrera, dominated the track.

The girls followed with a strong showing of their own and grabbed the silver medal.

Any state title is special, of course, but this one was of particular note for being the 100th state championship for RRPS. That means Vause, Sullivan, Herrera and head coach Philip Keller will always be mentioned when discussing prep sports in Rio Rancho.

2. Cleveland Storm football wins stateIt was a dramatic football season, to be sure. There were high hopes and great expectations for the Cleveland Storm, who were coming off a phenomenal 2023 campaign.

So, it was a tough pill for head coach Robert Garza and his Storm players to swallow when they dropped the first game of the season to the Centennial Hawks.

The loss didn’t stop them though. Just as before, Garza led his squad to the state title after a loss in the first game of the season. It’s old hat for the veteran champion coach.

“Been there, done that,” Garza told me at midfield after sealing the championship.

Football is king, and in New Mexico, the Cleveland Storm are the kings of the king sport. That’s about as cool as it gets.

Heck, nothing short of a national title could knock them out of the number one spot on my list ...

1. Charlie Vause wins the national titleIn any other year, an RRPS football team winning state would be the obvious number-one choice, but not this year. This year, the title goes to local hero Charlie Vause, who marched into the NXN cross-country national championship in Portland, Oregon, and brought the trophy home.

He ran 5K in just over 15 minutes, a feat that, frankly, I find exhausting just to think about.

He can now rightfully claim the title of the “best high school runner in America.” No other New Mexican has ever done that.

It was the cap to an incredible season that would’ve gone down in RRPS/NMAA history even before the win, but now Vause’s name is the stuff of legend.

Charlie Vause is number one, and that’s why he’s number one.

EpilogueCongratulations to all the fall season athletes on a fantastic year! I can’t wait to see what all of you do next.

And an extra special “Thank You” to Todd Resch, Matt Martinez, Sal Gonzales, JP Murrieta and all the coaches, athletes, administrators and peers who’ve made my first prep sports season so unforgettable.