Perhaps the best part about my job as sports editor of the Optic is going to all of the sporting events that the local teams participate in. All the football games, all of the tournaments for various sports, everything with a trophy on the line. Unfortunately I did not make every event the local teams participated in 2021-22, but I came pretty close. In sports the question is always what is the best, so here are my top five events of the 2021-22 athletic calendar year.
Mateo Contreras rises up for a jump shot in the Cardinals’ state championship victory against St. Michael’s at The Pit.
Basketball state tournament weekend
In a given year I do not believe anything tops the state basketball tournament weekend at The Pit here in New Mexico, this year it was no different. In the area we were lucky enough to have three local teams playing for state titles with two of them bringing home the blue. That alone makes it the best sporting event of the year for me. Watching the Robertson girls basketball team win Friday afternoon, followed by the Robertson boys winning Saturday afternoon was maybe the highlight of the calendar year, especially as it pertains to this area. Even watching Pecos on Saturday morning attempt to and nearly succeed in overcoming the immense size of Menaul in the 2A state championship game was captivating to watch. What set this weekend apart from everything else though was the finale. The 5A boys state championship game between undefeated powerhouses Volcano Vista and Las Cruces was billed as the game of the year all season and it did not disappoint, going into overtime before Volcano Vista emerged victorious. It was one of the most hyped up state championship games in recent memory and it lived up to all expectations. I spent over 24 hours at The Pit over the span of two days. I don’t believe that anybody not affiliated with the NMAA spent more time at The Pit that weekend than I did and I would do it all over again.
2021 Vegas Bowl (Regular season)
Jesse James Gonzales runs for what would be the game sealing touchdown in the 2021 Vegas Bowl on Oct. 30
WLV and Robertson met in the playoffs as well, but their regular season meeting was the best and most fun football game of the year for this town. For a portion of the game it appeared that the Dons were going to end their 12-year losing streak to the Cardinals until they didn’t. The game, though, was compelling, big plays made by both teams, massive momentum swings, including 50+ yard touchdowns being scored on back to back plays from scrimmage on a beautiful day where it felt like the whole town was at Cardinal Stadium. What made this particular game special was that we did not get a Vegas Bowl in 2020, so both fan bases were chomping at the bit to see this one kick off on Oct. 30. We had some awesome individual games this year, but this one was the best.
Stu Clark Tournament Day 1
Enrique Gonzales goes up for a layup against Pecos during day one of the Stu Clark tournament on Dec. 27
When I first took this job one of the first events I was informed about what the Stu Clark tournament at NMHU. I was basically told it’s a must-see event, so I scheduled my Christmas vacation early in order to make it back to Las Vegas for the first day on Dec. 27. In the three day event, the first day was the best one, because that day featured the best games. Three of the four games came down to the final possession, and the first day was the only day where both WLV and Robertson played in the same session, which led to the best crowd of the event on one night. A big part of what makes the event is the crowd, and the first night of Stu Clark was not only the best crowd of that event, but maybe the best crowd the city of Las Vegas had for any sporting event in 2021-22. The whole tournament itself was awesome and I was there for every second of the action, but one night was about as good as it got in Las Vegas in 2021-22.
Volleyball state title game
This one was certainly the most unique experience of the year, and I loved the build up to it. Robertson volleyball winning the blue in 2021 felt almost like a formality, especially entering the state title game against a St. Michael’s team that they had already beaten twice during the regular season. What made this event special was the buildup to the opening serve. At the Rio Rancho Events Center the 1A, 3A and 5A championship games were all set to take place at the same time and right next to each other. The introductions for each game was done simultaneously and it took quite a bit of time, but it was worth it as a packed crowd waited anxiously for each of the three games to begin. Different cheers and chants echoed throughout the building as each set of fans was interested in their team. When seeing that three title games were going to happen right next to each other simultaneously I was skeptical, but it turned out to be one of the most fun events of the athletic season, and it ended with the first of six blue trophies brought home by a Las Vegas team in 2021-22.
Hope Christian Tournament
I’m a basketball guy at heart, so I love a good basketball tournament, even if nothing is truly on the line. I had heard nothing but amazing things about the Hope Christian Tournament, so I made it a point to go out to Albuquerque that weekend and was lucky enough that the Dons were participating. Hope does a fantastic job putting on an event and the hospitality there is second to none. The basketball was great as well, Hope is a perennial powerhouse, Taos was the No. 2 seed in the 4A tournament, Artesia was one of the top teams in 4A this season and so was St. Pius, who reached the semifinals in the state tournament. WLV athletic director Richard Tripp told me I had to go to the Hope Christian Tournament before the basketball season began, and he was not wrong. I know WLV will be playing in the event next season and I fully intend to return with them.
After the top spot, making this list was the equivalent of splitting hairs. I know that everyone reading this will have their own opinion on what the best events were. There were also so many good ones that didn’t quite make the cut, like day two of the state softball tournament at Rio Rancho high school. The 3A football state championship at Robertson was a day of celebration for anyone who wears red and black. The final NMHU basketball home game where they let fans in for free had the best atmosphere of any NMHU sporting event this season and the Cowboys were playing for their RMAC tournament lives in that game. We had so many great events to choose from that this could have easily been a top 10 or 15 list. We had no shortage of action this year, this was the first ‘normal’ athletic season we’ve had since 2018-19, which saw all sports play a full season and it was awesome. It just makes me excited for 2022-23 and I know all the local sports fans are as well.
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