What’s next for high school athletics in New Mexico?
We thought we’d have some insight on May 6. But the New Mexico Activities Association on Monday pushed back its next board meeting from May 6 to Friday, May 15.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order until May 15 meant the NMAA couldn’t have made any headway on the immediate future of high school sports on May 6.
So it will wait another nine days.
Among the items that will be discussed at the teleconference meeting on May 15 is summer activities, sports physicals, and athlete scholastic eligibility for the fall.
As far as starting on time with the fall sports seasons in August and September, NMAA executive director Sally Marquez said Monday there is not yet a firm date for the organization to make a yea/nay decision on pressing forward with football, soccer, volleyball and cross country.
DURAN HEADED EAST: One of New Mexico’s premier hurdlers is going to the Ivy League.
Sandia Prep senior Sevilla Duran, a three-time state champion in the hurdles — the 100-meter high and 300-meter intermediate — will compete for Columbia University, in New York City.
“I wanted a school that was going to challenge me academically and athletically,” Duran, 17, said. “Columbia being in such an amazing city, having so many opportunities, I was really drawn to it.”
Duran is a two-time 300-meter hurdles champion, in 2018 and 2019. She also captured a state title in the 100 hurdles two years ago.
Duran said she was also considering Air Force and Notre Dame.
HARGE MOVING ON: Pecos boys basketball coach Ira Harge, Jr., who has led the Panthers to four consecutive boys state basketball championships, has resigned.
Harge will be the new athletic director at Española Valley.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” Harge said. He said he was a contract coach at Pecos, and got furloughed in the aftermath of the coronavirus.
It was then, he said, he inquired about the AD position at Española Valley.
The Panthers were a jaw-dropping 112-8 during their magnificent four-year run, from 2016-17 through the 2019-20 season.
OTHER ATHLETE UPDATES: Sandia High track and field runner Mia Roy has signed Division I with Dallas Baptist University. Roy is a hurdler and sprinter; she was part of Sandia’s state-record setting 4×100-meter relay squad a year ago. … Rio Rancho High wrestler Tim Lopez, twice a state champion with the Rams, has signed with Cal State Bakersfield. … Las Cruces basketball guard Rayshad Brown also has signed with Western New Mexico; Atrisco Heritage guard Joziah Ramos signed with WNMU last week. … Another Bulldawg, Gonzalo Corbalan from Argentina, arguably the most valuable player on that Las Cruces High state championship team last month, has signed with Lubbock Christian University. … Centennial girls basketball guard Jessica Rios last week signed with Sacramento State, the second Las Cruces girl in recent seasons to choose the Hornets, following Las Cruces High graduate Sarah Abney who is a sophomore there. … Clovis running back Jeston Webskowski announced on Twitter that he has received his first Division I offer, from the University of Montana. … Mayfield track and field athlete Reagan Gorzeman has signed with Nevada. … La Cueva defensive end Ja’shon Lowery on Monday received an offer from New Mexico State. He also has one from UNM.
Journal correspondent Glen Rosales contributed to this story.
