Around the Hood: The race to 100

This is a year of big, round numbers for our beloved City of Vision.

Thirty. That's how many years the Rio Rancho Public Schools District has been incorporated.

Fifty. That’s how long it’s been since Rio Rancho Elementary School first opened its doors.

One hundred? Well, 100 is a question mark. Because right now, the number is actually 99. That’s how many state championships RRPS has between its two high schools, across all sports (Rio Rancho 50, Cleveland 49).

The fall prep sports season is starting to come to a close, and we are starting to get a look at what the NMAA State Championship brackets might look like in the various sports. And yes, we are all “just focused on that next game.” But in the back of my head, I’m also wondering who will get that 100th state championship trophy.

It’s a big deal, really. Maybe the team who does it won’t get their faces on a Wheaties box or be in Draft Kings commercials with Kevin Hart, but for Rio Ranchoans and for people who love this city, it’s a huge deal.

The team who gets number 100 will always be mentioned when telling the history of Rio Rancho. They will have articles written about them, and their trophy will no doubt hold an honored position in whichever trophy case it finds itself.

So, how’d we get here? Well, check out rrobserver.com for the full listing of Rio Rancho prep champions, as well as a few extra numbers just for fun.

More importantly, who will be the next team on the list? Who will be the 100th state champion in Rio Rancho history?

As of right now, there are a few contenders.

Cleveland volleyball is strong and getting stronger. Ceci Vance, Emma Wild, Kelsey Hefner and the Storm team had a few hiccups out of the gate but looked untouchable for most of the season. They even grabbed the No. 1 ranking on MaxPreps last week, over the undefeated Las Cruces Bulldawgs. Their NMAA State Championship is Nov. 14-16, 2024.

Rio Rancho boys soccer is on a roll behind the power of Bryson Strohecker and the Meserve brothers. District 5A-1 was a dogfight this season, but the Rams have risen to the top. They may not be the No. 1 seed when the brackets come out, but they might still be the team to beat. Their NMAA State Championship is Oct. 29 to Nov. 9, 2024.

Cleveland Storm football had a mission of rising up from their opening-season loss to Centennial, and they’ve done that and then some. Quarterback Jordan Hatch has rounded into form behind his brick wall offensive line. Taking down Cam Dyer and the La Cueva Bears won’t be easy, but Cleveland is certainly one of the two or three teams that have a chance to do it. Their NMAA State Championship is Nov. 1-30, 2024.

Rio Rancho boys cross-country may be the best positioned with three legitimate stars at the top of the roster in Charlie Vause, Cody Sullivan and Mateo Herrera. Not to mention, this is the 11th-ranked cross country team in the country. So yeah, they ain’t bad. Their NMAA State Championship is Nov. 9, 2024.

Of course, once the brackets are set and the tournaments begin, anything can happen, and Rio Rancho schools are always a threat to take the trophy, no matter the sport.

Some may have a tougher road than others. RRHS football for example, absolutely has a chance to win the championship, but they will have to get through Cleveland, Centennial and the vaunted Bears to do it. That’s a tough ask.

On the other hand, girls soccer this season is brutal in 5A-1, and seeding will be based largely on records, which in this case won’t tell the full story of a team’s skill. In other words, there is a strong chance that both girls soccer teams are under-seeded and underestimated in the tournament.

My guess? I think it all comes down to the tournament that happens first. In this case, that’s cross-country. So, my prediction is that Charlie Vause will lead the Rio Rancho Rams boys cross-country squad to the 100th state championship for RRPS.

It’s not all bad for the 101st team though. They do get a trophy, after all. Plus, they will get the “101 Dominations” headline, which I’m very anxious to use.