Is this Heaven?

Cleveland High School freshman Heaven Guevara became the first female to become a high school All-American, following her third-place finish in the 126-pound division at mid-December’s Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev.

The Storm girls’ team finished 14th of 42 competing teams.

The CHS boys team finished 32nd of 95 teams, and was led by 106-pound freshman Roman Luttrell, who placed fifth.

Heaven Guevara

Prep wrestling fans should mark Jan. 6-7 on their calendars; that’s then the annual Conflict at Cleveland will take place in the Thunderdome. Thirty-one teams from New Mexico, including the host Storm and Rio Rancho Rams, plus two teams from Arizona and three from Colorado are expected to participate.

 

Seven city volleyballers are All-State

Four Cleveland High School volleyball players and three from Rio Rancho High School have earned All-State honors for the 2022 season.

The Storm quartet was named to the first team: senior defensive specialist Aubrey Ortiz, junior setter Marian Hatch and middle blockers Kelsey Heffner, a sophomore, and junior Lauren Snippen.

The trio of Rams earned second-team honors: senior setter Ashleigh Meyer, and defensive specialist Jenny Baker and outside hitter Cecelia Vance, both juniors.

It’s the second year in a row for first-team All-State acclaim for Hatch and Vance; Meyer and Ortiz were second-teamers in 2021.

 

Thurston, 81, perfect on the lanes

Further proof that bowling is a lifetime sport was provided by 81-year-old Bob Thurston of Rio Rancho when he won the Open division of the Christmas Cash 9-pin No-Tap tournament at Tenpins & More on Dec. 11.

Thurston, an assistant bowling coach for Rio Rancho High School, fired off 290, 242, 266, 242, 277 and a 300, proving that accuracy and consistency win tournaments.

His 1,617 total beat Joseph Paterson of Socorro by one pin, with John Lund next four pins away.

Trent Irwin, one of Tenpins’ most-improved bowlers this year, showed the advantage of his free practice as a member of the Center’s Perks Club, winning Men’s A with 1,513, beating out Blaine Sparks by nine pin; Steve Quintana was next, five pins back.

Isaac Perdue, a new Rio Rancho resident, beat Seth Muller in Men’s B; Rusty Steele, a former Cibola Cougars alum, was third, six pins behind.

James DeGroat dominated Men’s C, carding 1,363, ahead of Hunter Schwind by 133 pins, followed by Socorro’s Will Hall.

Donielle Waite (1,509) included 286, 277 and 288 in her Women’s A win; Johnna Mora (1,451) was second, Jolene Sokohl (1,391) third.

Tina Yarnell, who bowled two high scores in the Monday Senior Trios League season, overcame a slow start to close with 256 and 1,326/6, ahead of Evelyn Trujillo (1,285) and Alice Garcia (1,280) in Women’s B action.

Jessica Regulski’s 1,187 was enough to put qualifying leader Margaret Romero into second place; Marilyn Wassmann was third in Women’s C.

Alvarez makes mark at JBT

Former Rams anchor bowler Yarelis Alvarez teamed with aspiring local pro bowler DeeRonn Booker to capture the scratch division Junior Bowlers Tour Mountain region doubles at Tenpins & More last week.

Alvarez, enjoying a full-ride bowling scholarship at Tulane University in New Orleans, ran down three other duos in the stepladder final to win the title at the event, in its 22nd year.

Donald Gallegos came home to Rio Rancho from Arizona to team with current Ram bowler, Mia Medina to win the handicap final, also overcoming three other teams, two of whom had shared the lead all day.

Other Rams Carson Belnap and Alex Thompson finished third behind father-and-son Josh and Land Matthies.

In the accompanying singles tournament, Noah Saul won his first scratch title, leading from rounds five through eight, then beating Cayden Matherly 181-146 in a tough final on a demanding lane condition.

Mason Vandeventer won two close matches — 198-192 over Angela Romero, then local Alan Blair (208-206) — in the handicap division roll-off, while Volcano Vista’s Dylan Lopez squeezed out a nine-pin margin over Alex Thompson for the under-17 boys win.

Improve your diamond skills

A baseball camp is coming to the Albuquerque Baseball Academy Jan. 14-15, with former MLB infielder German Duran, who’s appeared locally before, and Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martinez.

Session 1 runs from 9 a.m. to noon; session 2 runs from 1-4 p.m. each day.

There are limited spots, at $300 per player, available.

For more information or to register, call 505-967-3104 or visit ballcharts.com/rrbaseball.