Rio Rancho Tops Scorpion Invite as Local Teams Shine in Pool

Rio Rancho High School swimmers opened the new year with a strong showing at the Scorpion Invite hosted by Farmington High on Jan. 5. The Ram boys took first place in team scoring, while the girls finished third, producing a second-place overall finish for Coach Jeremiah Stanton’s program in a meet that showcased both individual talent and relay strength.

Top performances for Rio Rancho included Charlie Scott, who won the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle. Sean Bogue captured the 100-yard breaststroke, and Caleb Solis won the 100-yard freestyle; Stanton noted Solis as one of the team’s top performers. On the girls’ side, Kendal Moody won the 200-yard IM and the 50-yard freestyle. Rio Rancho also claimed two relay victories, sweeping the 200-yard medley and the 200-yard freestyle relays with teams anchored by Bogue, Solis and Jacob Rice.

“Our boys swam really well, even with coming out of our tough winter break training,” Stanton said. “We had a great meet.”

Cleveland High School provided strong competition across divisions. Cleveland’s boys finished third overall and the girls placed fourth. The Chargers’ 400-yard freestyle relay team of Lucia Pena, Hailey Wagenblast, Genavae Mason and Ziyah Chavez-Rodriguez posted an emphatic first-place win by a full 12 seconds. For the boys, Guha Hari won the 50-yard freestyle and placed second in 1-meter diving, a result that reflects growth in Cleveland’s dive program.

“The teams really enjoy traveling together,” Cleveland Head Coach Patrick Dorman said. “I love that we get the opportunity to travel together and represent Rio Rancho.”

Beyond medals and placings, the meet underscores broader community considerations. Organized youth swimming contributes to cardiovascular fitness, injury prevention through supervised training, and social supports that can be protective for adolescent mental health. Those benefits depend on reliable access to pools, qualified coaches, and resources for travel and meets, factors that vary across districts and affect equitable opportunities for students.

For Sandoval County residents and policymakers, the performances spotlight the returns on investment in school athletics and the need to ensure programs are accessible to all students regardless of income or neighborhood. As the season continues, strong individual and relay showings at meets like the Scorpion Invite boost team morale and give families reasons to support local aquatics programs that promote health, teamwork and community pride.