Rio Rancho Nico Acala and Vascon Smith emerged as the champions of Class 5A after defeating Centennial High School in Las Cruces. The match took place on 13 May 2023 at UNM, and the two players shared an emotional hug after their victory in the state championship.
In the year-end column for the 2022-23 school year, the author reflects on the five Spring State Championships. Jennifer Riordan Sparks moved to his Kindness Sports Complex for Week 2 of State Baseball, and it proved to be a positive addition, allowing spectators to watch multiple matches simultaneously. However, there were some issues with seating and parking, and three of the four fields played on Friday had major problems with the grass pitchers’ mounds.
Despite these minor flaws, the author found the week to be enjoyable and was impressed by the performances of two future UNM Robos, Gene Trujillo and Vascon Smith, who both ended their preparation careers at the Championship. For Carlsbad softball, a second consecutive championship victory was secured, as no teams from the metropolitan area competed for the title for the second consecutive academic year.
Multisport athletes were celebrated for their efforts in juggling various disciplines, with Cohen Mulville, Jax Mulville, and Stephanie Romero among them. Cohen hit the decisive hit in Saturday’s baseball title game against the Albuquerque Academy, having also competed in the Class 4A State Golf Tournament the previous week. Romero won the Class 5A state doubles title in tennis and the team tennis championship, as well as competing in the All-State Individual and team tournaments in golf.
Finally, the article highlights the touching story of Josh, a Sandia Prep freshman who played a key role in the Sun Devils’ march to the Class 3A title. With his mother’s name on the complex and having lost her in a Southwest Airlines crash five years prior, he delivered an emotional performance on the big stage to secure the victory.