Rio Rancho's Josiah Neri wins Geary Invitational 120-pound title

Josiah Neri delivered a landmark performance for Rio Rancho wrestling at the 81st Geary Invitational in Geary, Oklahoma, winning the 120-pound championship and becoming the first athlete from Rio Rancho to claim a title at the long-running tournament. Neri went 4-0 over the Jan. 9–10 weekend and secured the championship with a 5-2 victory over Cruz Enderle of Kansas City, turning the match with a four-point third period that combined a reversal and a near-fall.

The team result reflected a strong showing across weight classes. Rio Rancho placed 10th in a competitive field of 28 teams, propelled in part by multiple individual podium finishes. Teammate Jaxon Moralez finished second at 106 pounds, Mohammed Farah took fourth at 113 pounds, and Jacari Smith placed sixth at 190 pounds, giving the program depth through the brackets and helping the school climb the team standings.

Neri’s comeback in the final underscored both tactical adjustments and physical conditioning under tournament pressure. His third-period sequence—erasing a deficit with a reversal and following with a near-fall—turned a close match into a championship-clinching outcome. The win adds an important credential to Neri’s season and provides momentum for the Rio Rancho squad as it navigates the midseason tournament slate.

For Sandoval County residents, the result carries local significance. Individual championships at established invitational events raise the profile of school athletic programs in the region, attract attention from nearby communities, and can bolster participation and support for youth wrestling programs. A top-10 finish among 28 teams signals program competitiveness and suggests the Roughriders—or Rio Rancho’s wrestling program—have wrestlers capable of impacting district and state-level competition.

The Geary Invitational, now in its 81st year, draws teams from across the region and serves as an early-season gauge of strength and depth. Rio Rancho’s multiple placers indicate athletes gaining experience in high-pressure matches and accumulating ranking points and exposure valuable for postseason seeding and coach evaluation.

Looking ahead, Neri’s title and the team’s podium spread set a tone for upcoming tournaments and dual meets, offering both momentum and benchmarks for improvement. For local fans and families, the result is a reminder that Rio Rancho’s wrestlers can compete—and win—on a regional stage, with implications for attendance at future meets and continued investment in the program’s development.