Two Organ Mountain students cheer for UNM

Two Organ Mountain High School graduates are starting at the University of New Mexico’s Spirit Squad this fall.

The two teenagers, Riley Test and Adiana Nevares, both 18, officially became UNM Lobos on August 4^th, according to Riley’s mom, Veronica Ellis.

Test and Nevares were both a part of Organ Mountain High School’s cheer team, which won two national championship titles in February. The team won first place in the large coed advanced cheer with music and first place in the large advanced coed game day.

Organ Mountain High School Cheer Coach Jordan Sanchez said Test and Nevares are “going to be killing it” when they cheer for the Lobos this year.

“Most of my athletes go to NMSU. They’re the first to go to Albuquerque since I’ve been coaching here," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said New Mexico is “behind in the cheerleading world,” so competing at the national level required that the Organ Mountain High School Cheer Team had to learn two different routines to compete first at state, then for the national competition.

Sanchez said the cheer team at OMHS practice for two hours everyday Monday through Thursday. Cheering is a physically rigorous sport, requiring strength.

“They’re trusting each other to keep another person up in the air. They have to stay physically fit every day. Every day they put their lives in danger. There’s a whole person coming at them at full speed. You’re expected to catch them and make it look good,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said the team conditions in addition to working out and working on the team’s cheer routine.

But for Nevares, cheering is something she dreamed of since she was a child.

“I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. I’ve always just loved it. Every chance I could do it, I did. It made me so happy. I thought it was so fun,” she said.

Nevares is a tumbler and a flyer.

“I’m the one they put up in the air and I tumble, too, and do all the flips,” Nevares said.

Test is also a tumbler and does flips but part of his job is to lift girls up in the air.

“My girlfriend got me into it,” Test said. “After a couple of months of getting into the groove, I started to really like it.”

Test said being on the cheer team is physically demanding. He said it can require working hard in all kinds of weather while yelling at the top of his lungs.

Nevares said she is “super excited” to cheer now for the UNM Lobos. She said cheering at the collegiate level “has been a dream since I was a little kid.”

Nevares is most looking forward to cheering for the football team “because of how hyped up they are.”

“And how many people will be there. The vibe and energy,” she said.

Test said he felt inspired after the Organ Mountain High School cheer team won its national titles to continue with the UNM, although he said he is looking forward to cheering for the many different sports.

“When you’re a senior, you have to decide if you’re done with this sport or keep going. I was hungry for more to go on to the collegiate level,” he said.

But being a part of the cheer team also requires keeping up in academics and maintaining a minimum GPA. Test is studying mechanical engineering. Nevares plans to study biochemistry. She said she wants to become a dermatologist.

Sanchez said being on the cheer team comes with a lot of responsibility because the cheer team are athletes themselves supporting every other athletic team. In addition, they are invited to appearances and are often required to greet people.

“They’re volunteering. We help nonprofits for food drives. They’re still maintaining school, managing to be on their team and compete at their level. They make cheer like it’s a second job,” she said.