Cleveland Wins Metro Relay; Rio Rancho, City Teams Eye Home Invite

Cleveland High School’s boys capped a strong showing at the APS Metro meet by winning the 200-meter freestyle relay in 1:34.65, a result that underscores the depth developing across city programs and has implications for athlete support and community pools. The Storm quartet of Dylan Schluep, Mark McLaughlin, Devin Harris and Guha Hari delivered the metro title that marked Cleveland’s first of the season and helped keep city teams prominent on the podium.

Guha Hari anchored the winning relay and added individual firepower with a second-place finish in the 50-meter freestyle in 22.19. Hari also placed third in 1-meter diving, where Rio Rancho sophomore Jacob Rice took second. Rice doubled his impact by finishing second in the 100-meter butterfly, a sign that Rio Rancho upperclassmen are contributing across disciplines.

Rio Rancho High School, representing Sandoval County, placed third overall among the top teams and sent a broad group of athletes toward the state meet. Freshman Ewan Mason qualified in the 100-meter backstroke, senior Caleb Solis finished third in the 100-meter freestyle, and junior Sean Bogue took third in the 100-meter breaststroke. Mason, Solis, Bogue and Rice teamed up for third in the 200-meter medley relay. Rams head coach Jeremiah Stanton emphasized roster strength, saying, "Our B-relays are qualifying for state, too. That speaks to the depth of our team." Stanton also noted individual growth: "Jacob continues to just get better and better at diving."

Across the 12 events at metros, Rio Rancho or Cleveland appeared in the top three in 10, demonstrating competitive balance and program depth that benefits athlete development and community engagement. Storm head coach Patrick Dorman reflected on the meet environment, saying, "The Cleveland boys had an amazing meet on Saturday. The energy at this meet is always something that the swimmers draw from."

For Sandoval County and Albuquerque families, the results matter beyond medals. State-qualifying times translate into additional travel, time commitments and potential costs for families and schools. The emergence of underclassmen like Mason highlights the value of early access to practice time and coaching, raising questions about equitable pool access, safe transportation and funding for school athletic programs. Local public health aims, increasing youth physical activity, reducing social isolation and supporting mental health through team sports, intersect with these operational needs.

Cleveland and Rio Rancho were set to host the Cleveland Invite on Jan. 24, offering another chance for athletes to tune up before state competition. Community support for swim programs, whether by attending meets or advocating for facility maintenance and equitable funding, will shape how far these swimmers can go this season.