By Don Eskins
For the past two years, the Carlsbad Local has put together and ranked what we felt were the year’s Top 25 Carlsbad High School sports stories. This year, we’re going to do something a bit different.
This year, as always, we’ll post photos with an article on 25 of the top sports stories at CHS during 2024. But we won’t be ranking them.
While the Local will focus on the stories and photos, we’ll let our readers do the ranking themselves.
Keep in mind that it would almost be impossible to list all of the outstanding performances recorded by Carlsbad High School athletes last year. Having said that, readers should feel free to add a few of their own.
Articles listed and photos posted have been compiled on available information.
Due to the amount of space required, the Local will run Carlsbad High School’s Top Sports Stories of 2024 in two parts. Today, part one will list 11 through 25. Next week, January 17, the first 10. How will you rank them? (Photos by Laura Whaley, Aaron Gonzales, CHS Sports Programs and Submitted)
CHS Top Sports Stories of 2024
Part 1: 11 through 25
11. Eight Cavemen Baseballers Receive All-State Recognition Seven Cavemen baseball players garnered 2024 All-State recognition from the New Mexico High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Two Cavemen, pitcher Hazen Wright and catcher Delmonico Moreno-Granger, received Class 5A All-State First Team Honors.
Wright, while on the mound, was 8-2. At the plate, he hit .405 with 16 RBIs and two home runs. Catcher Delmonico Moreno-Granger hit .368.
Selected to the Second Team were center-fielder Tanner Collins .351, second baseman Aden Quintella .418, utility player Eloy Lopez .353. and Fabian Hernandez. Hernandez received All-State honors as both a pitcher and third baseman. On the mound, he was 5-2, and with the bat, he hit .420
Receiving All-State Honorable Mention was shortstop Jonas Molinar, who hit .364.
12. Cavemen Football’s Diego Ramirez Named to All-State Team Senior Cavemen football player Diego Ramirez, an Inside Linebacker, was named to the 2024 All-State Second Team. During 2024, Ramirez recorded 103 tackles (31 solo), 72 assists, five TFLs, one sack, one safety, one interception, and one forced fumble.
13. Five Cavegirl Softball Players Named All-Staters Named to the 2024 Softball All-State Second Team were Cavegirls, top row left to right, Kalion Fuentes and Faith Rivera. Bottom row, left to right, Parris Weldon, Vianka Villa, and Aubrey Hernandez.
Kalion Fuentes, selected as a pitcher, posted a 7-7 record this season. During 2024, she recorded 136 K’s and gave up just 2.05 earned runs per game. At the plate, she hit .500 with 45 RBIs and 11 home runs.
Parris Weldon, CHS’s second sacker, hit .462, with 23 RBIs and five home runs, third baseman Aubrey Hernandez logged a .323 batting average with 13 RBIs, CHS center fielder Vianka Villa registered a. .400 batting average with six RBIs and one home run, and catcher Faith Rivera hit .432 with 21 RBIs and one round-tripper.
14. Dhenin District 3-4/5A Butterfly Champion Colette Dhenin collected a District 3-4A championship in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a personal- and season-best time of 1:02.17.
At the New Mexico state championships, Dhenin wrapped up her high school swimming career by grabbing a fourth-place medal in the Girls’ 100 Yard Backstroke with a personal-best time of 59.94.
15. Isabella Smith District 4/5A Top Medalist Cavegirl Isabella Smith fired a 78 to capture Top Medalist honors at the 2024 District 4/5A Golf Tournament. As the tourney’s top medalist, she was the District 4/5A’s Individual Champion.
16. Cavemen 4x400 Relay Team District 4/5A Champions CHS’s 4x400 Relay Team turned in a 3:31.48 to grab the 2024 conference title. Team members are, bottom left to right, Bryan King (10th) and Luke Peters (12th). Top, left to right, are Dylan Pedroza (10th) and Erik Carrasco (11th).
17. Eric Carrasco District 4/5A 3200 Champion Erik Carrasco ran a 10:37.23 in the 3300 to pick up the 2024 district title.
18. Isaiah Williamson District 4/5A 300 Hurdle Champion Isaac Williamson, with a 42.34, placed first in the 300 hurdles.
19. Cavegirls District 4/5A 4x800 Relay Champions The Cavegirls 4x800 relay team clocked a 10:40.36 to finish first at the conference tournament. Team members are, left to right, Alessandra Aguilar (eighth), Isabella Marquez (ninth), Aubrey Veloz (11th), and Kaitlyn Robertson (11th).
20. Cassie Bielstein District 4/5A Triple Jump Champion Cavegirl Cassie Bielstein leaped 33-04.00 in the triple jump to capture the 2024 conference title.
21. Sophia Trujillo District 4/5A Shot-Put Champion Cavegirl eighth grader Sophia Trujillo tossed the shot put 33-00.50 to claim the 2024 district title.
22. Justin Owens 4th at State Wrestling Meet Caveman sophomore Justin Owens, who wrestles at 139, posted a tournament record of 3-2 to place fourth at the Big Dance in Albuquerque.
23. Cavemen 1600 Relay fourth at State Meet
The Cavemen’s 1600 Medley Relay team placed fourth at this year’s state tournament held in Albuquerque on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18. Members on the unit are, sitting left to right, Eaven Leos (10th) and Erik Carrasco (11th). Standing left to right are Luke Peters (12th) and Reenson Akwiembi (10th). (CHS Track Photo)
24. Colton McKibben Gains District 34-6A Recognition Cavemen sophomore linebacker Colten McKibben was recognized by District 3-4/6A as the Defensive Newcomer of the Year. McKibben registered 99 tackles (40 solo), 49 assists, nine TFLs and one interception in 2024.
25. Cavemen Hardballers Named New Mexico All-Stars Caveman hurler Hazen Wright, catcher Delmonico Moreno-Granger, and pitcher infielder Fabian Hernandez were named 2024 New Mexico All-Stars.
