Bulldawg wrestlers end podium drought

Nearly three decades ago, the Las Cruces High School boys wrestling team finished in the top three at the state championship tournament. Since then, the Bulldawgs had not reached those heights.

In fact, it had been more than 15 years since a Las Cruces boys team placed at state. That changed in 2026. Powered by a strong senior class and bolstered by a large group of younger wrestlers, the Bulldawgs broke through, returning home from Albuquerque with a third-place finish.

“Since the beginning of the season, you could just tell we had potential,” said senior 165-pound wrestler Carlos Gamboa. “We had a lot of returners, a lot of newcomers and a lot of leaders coming back.”

Gamboa was one of those leaders, finishing second individually at state.

“We knew we had something,” said senior Mateo Montoya. “I feel like we definitely put a stamp on the sport of wrestling. It’s overlooked. Not a lot of people want to take the chance to come out and wrestle because it’s really difficult mentally and physically.”

The Bulldawgs were well aware of the program’s long absence from the podium and wanted to earn recognition from the local sports community.

“I know Cruces is known for football and baseball,” said senior Daniel Amaro, who finished third at 190 pounds. “So getting third place and getting that recognition was really big for the sport.”

“I don’t think a lot of people realize how crazy it is that we placed this year,” Gamboa said. “Especially since — what was it — 1988 or something. We had a really good freshman class this year, too, so I think it’s just going to keep building, kind of like a snowball effect.”

Gamboa, Montoya and Amaro all began wrestling in eighth grade. Teammates in football, their decision to add wrestling was a shared one.

“I’ve been wrestling since youth,” Montoya said. “Once COVID hit, we took a break. In eighth grade, me and Danny finished football and didn’t have anything to do, so we came into the wrestling room — and it’s been a ride ever since. Five straight years.”

“My freshman year after football, Mateo told me to come try wrestling,” Amaro said. “I showed up, and it was the best decision of my life. I wish I had started earlier, but these last four years felt like a brotherhood.”

The wrestlers agreed that the bond built through wrestling is different from other sports, forged through daily grind.

“It’s a grind every single day,” Gamboa said.

“It was an awesome ride with everybody in the room,” he added. “Coming in as eighth graders was scary — we were wrestling grown men. But everyone made us feel comfortable, and that bond just kept building.”

Head coach Jimmy Nevarez said he saw this success coming years ago.

“When they were eighth graders, along with the freshman group that came in that year, we knew they were special,” Nevarez said. “It was just a matter of getting there mentally. Danny’s a two-time placer. Teo’s a three-time placer. Carlos is a three-time placer. It all culminated this year — we peaked at the right time.”

The seniors helped lay the foundation for the program’s present and its future.

“Our freshman and sophomore years, there wasn’t much leadership,” Gamboa said. “But by our junior year, we started stepping up. Now, the juniors who are about to be seniors are ready to take over.”

The wrestlers said it took time to understand how much the sport translates to life beyond the mat.

“It’s the mindset,” Gamboa said. “It’s different than football or baseball. You have to conquer the day. You can’t complain. You have to beat your challenge and get it done. That mentality carries with you forever.”

The work ethic wrestling demands applies everywhere.

“Wrestling teaches you about life,” Gamboa added. “There are days you don’t want to do anything, but you still have to get up and push through the pain. It builds discipline.”

“For me, it’s the grit,” Amaro said. “Wrestling makes you find a grit you didn’t know you had. During football season last year, things were spiraling, but that wrestling mentality — that bond — kept us from giving up.”

Team wrestling also demands resilience. One loss ends an individual title run, but wrestlers can continue scoring points for their team until their second loss.

“I was in that situation this year,” Amaro said. “I lost on the first day and was really down. Coach told me, ‘It’s about your team now.’ I realized you get the same team points for third place as someone who finishes second.”

Even in disappointment, it’s about not letting the team down.

Nevarez said placing at state remains a major accomplishment for a Las Cruces program.

“Everything we do is built in the room,” he said. “We don’t get many kids ready to contribute right away. It takes years. That’s why it was so impressive to see it all come together.”