Cleveland Sweeps Rio Rancho Wrestling Duals, Boys 54-12 Girls 60-17

Cleveland rolled through Rio Rancho in a cross-town midweek dual at Rio Rancho High School on Jan 23, posting a clean sweep as the Storm boys won 54-12 and the girls prevailed 60-17. The lopsided scores underscored Cleveland’s depth across weight classes and set a tone for the upcoming district duals this weekend.

The boys meet featured a handful of bright spots for Rio Rancho but was otherwise controlled by Cleveland. Rio Rancho sophomore Jaxon Moralez and Mohammad Farah secured early wins at 106 and 113 pounds for the Rams, but Cleveland captured 10 of 11 matches from 126 to 285 pounds. Roman Luttrell’s 6-3 victory over Josiah Neri at 120 pounds served as a marquee moment; Luttrell, who defeated Neri in last season’s state championship, added a competitive rematch win that helped seal the margin. Eight of Cleveland’s victories in the boys lineup came via pin or technical fall, a sign of finishing ability that can alter team scoring quickly in dual formats.

On the girls’ side, Cleveland won 10 of 12 matchups, taking eight by fall and two by forfeit. Rio Rancho freshman Sophia Hennigh continued a strong season with a total-fall victory at 110 pounds, while Cleveland’s Heaven Guevara posted a 19-4 decision at 135 pounds to improve her season record to 24-1. Those individual performances highlight talent on both rosters and suggest the girls’ programs in Sandoval County are developing competitive depth.

The local implications are immediate. Cleveland’s convincing wins should improve confidence and give coaches tactical flexibility entering district duals, which the teams will contest again at Rio Rancho High School on Saturday as both schools prepare for postseason play. Momentum from a midweek sweep can influence seeding scenarios and matchups in district brackets, where team points and bonus-point wins matter for advancement.

Cleveland wrestlers and coaches will aim to translate pins and technical falls into consistent scoring through the postseason. Luttrell summarized the mood succinctly: “I am proud of this team,” Luttrell said. “I hope we can continue this momentum to state and finish strong.” For Rio Rancho, flashes from wrestlers like Moralez, Farah, and Hennigh offer building blocks for tactical adjustments and home-court preparation ahead of Saturday’s rematch.

For Sandoval County residents who follow local high school sports, the duals are more than win-loss records; they affect district standings, postseason pairings, and individual opportunities for regional recognition and college recruitment. Saturday’s district meeting at Rio Rancho High School will clarify which momentum carries forward and which adjustments reshape the rivalry as postseason approaches.