New Mexico’s #1 Sports Magazine February 2015
aps metro swimming champions
heather dyche new head coach lobo women’s soccer
aps metro wrestling champions new fight league elite combat series
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Hello ABQ Sports Fans! UNM women’s soccer has a new face at the helm. She’s local Heather Dyche, a former Eagle whose career took her all the way the to pro league in Norway. After making her mark on the national coaching scene and leading her club teams to multiple state championships, she’s ready to share her skills at the collegiate level. What does this mean for New Mexico girls and their chances of playing at UNM? Find out inside.
ABQ Sports magazine P.O.Box 15981 • Rio Rancho, NM 87174 1.855.567.SPORT (7678) abqsportsmag.com Publisher Montoya Publishing, LLC
Some fierce competition at the APS Metro Swim Championships, we’ll have a look at the top boys and girls teams making waves in the weeks before State, and learn more about the man who is quietly developing team after champion team. Managing Editor
Three of the most decorated water athletes in New Mexico have signed with universities, more on their accomplishments and the one big thing that ties them together.
Sumiko Corley Sumiko@abqsportsmag.com
Youth cross country has crowned a new national champion team - they are from Cougar Track Club of Albuquerque.
Sales Manager Sabrina Guzman sabrina@abqsportsmag.com
Wrestling state championships are just weeks away. One of the most decorated high school wrestlers has earned a top ranking nationally, more about the career of Miguel Barreras in NM Notables.
Art Director
From Longhorn to Wolverine. Yes, we can only be talking about Zach Gentry.
David Lansa DL Graphic Design design@abqsportsmag.com
And it is with heavy hearts that ABQ Sports reflects on the life and career of Vicente “Rocky” Arroyo, who passed away just weeks before his induction into the NM Sports Hall of Fame.
Director of Photography
These stories, and more, in this February issue of ABQ Sports.
Carlos Montoya
Anthony Griego Photographers
On the Cover
New Mexico’s #1 Sports Magazine February 2015
view our new & improved website! abqsportsmag.com
Heather Dyche the new Head coach for the Lobo women’s Soccer. Cover photo credit Anthony Griego for Moji Photography
Brian Carlos Montoya Boysen APS METRO SWIMMING
HEATHER DYCHE LOBOS WOMEN’S SOCCER NEW HEAD COACH
#abqsportsmag
NFL Super Bowl XLIX New Mexico’s ALAN BRANCH New England Patriots 28 Seattle Seahawks 24 Being released by the Buffalo Bills was a blessing in disguise for this former Rio Rancho resident. Picked up by the Patriots last fall, Branch walked away from Super Bowl XLIX Sunday with a ring, and bragging rights as Super Bowl champ. Branch is a defensive tackle, a former standout football and basketball player at Cibola.
Jordan Montoya
A NEW BEGINNING AT
CLUB RIO RANCHO NEW FIGHT LEAGUE ELITE COMBAT SERIES
Daniel Kayla Martinez Montoya Contributing Writers
Dave Chris Friedlander Martinez
Marty Saiz
Trula Howe
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We thank you for investing your time into our magazine. Got any feedback? We appreciate any ideas, suggestions or anything we missed. Please feel to contact us anytime by phone, email, or mail.
Writers
ABQ Sports is a monthly magazine dedicated to covering all aspects of the Albuquerque and surrounding communities scene. We accept stories and photos for consideration. Email: carlos@abqsportsmag.com All contents of this magazine are copyrighted by ABQ Sports Magazine, all rights reserved. Reproduction of any articles, advertisement or material from this issue is forbidden without permission of the publisher.
PHOTO: Sam West, Sam West Photography
New Mexico’s #1 Sports Magazine FEBRUARY 2015
CONTENTS
6
LOBO aquatics
8
aps metro swimming & diving champions
12 heather dyche- new head coach lobo women’s soccer
More Sports.... 10 Lady Lobos 14 Elite Combat Series
21
cbr at the star
16 APS Metro Wrestling Champions 18 USATF All Americans
LOBO AQUATICS CLUB BY: SUMIKO CORLEY
Three athletes making a SPLASH
T
hey have spent more than half of their young lives in the water. And now, for Cassaundra Pino, Gillian St John and Magnus Holler of the Lobo Aquatics Club, their apparent webbed hands and feet have paid off in a big way, with scholarships to universities around the nation. At the recent APS Metro Photo: Julie Holler Championship St John won her all four of her events, breaking four records. Pino won both her events and broke the 200 free record, Holler captured gold in the 50 free and the 100 free. He also led off the 200 free relay and anchored the 400 free relay for wins in both. Their respective high school coaches get a lot of credit for their success, as does their own hard work. The one big thing they have in common - they have logged a lot of hours with their club team - Lobo Aquatics. Lobo Aquatics has been developing some of the state’s top water athletes for more than a half-century. Established in 1961, it is a USAS (USA Swimming) registered club team with about 120 swimmers ages 5-24, another 60 in the Masters program for adults. “Lobo has had many national qualifiers throughout the years,” says head coach Doug Forbes, “(including) a qualifier for the 2008 (Marcus Guttman who just finished his swimming career at the University of Wisconsin) and 2012 Olympic trials (Madison Bridges who is currently swimming for the University of Missouri).” Lobo, as the club is called, recently finished 3rd out of 44 teams at the 23rd annual Oklahoma City Pro/Am meet in late December, setting 11 new team and individual records. Training - that’s year round with a two-week break in August and one in March. Admission is by tryout and they practice at the UNM Natatorium. Find more information at: www.swimlobo.com. You can reach head coach Doug Forbes at coachdforbes@aol.com and 505-417-7807.
“Lobo Aquatics focuses on proper technique and high quality swimming on the physical side of the sport, and fun and good character on the emotional side of the sport. Lobo has a great record of our 17-18 year old swimmers being recruited and going on to swim at the collegiate level.”- Doug Forbes, head coach
Photo: Jennifer St. John
Gillian St. John “I chose Utah,” says St John, “because I loved the atmosphere of Salt Lake City and the team was very welcoming. The coaching staff has some really great ideas and the University was beautiful! I’m really looking forward to the next four years, go Utes!” Gillian St John, Eldorado High School Head coach Quint Seckler Utah University College swimming.com #1 ranked New Mexico recruit88th national, 4-time High School All American, 2-time Scholastic All American, High School State Champion (50 free, 100 free, 200 free plus multiple relays), Eldorado Team Captain, USA Swimming Zone Select Team (fastest 100 free), 3-time USA Swimming National Age Group Top Ten Award, USA Swimming All-Time Top 100 list 50-free 13/14 Age Group, multiple state records holder, USA swimming summer juniors and winter nationals qualifier. Chose Utah over: Arizona, San Diego State, Hawaii, ASU Top times: • 50 free 23.05scy/26.63 lcm • 100 free 50.78 scy /57.65 lcm
Photo: Julie Holler
John ‘magnus’ Holler “I’m ready to be a part of the team,” says Holler, “and see where we can go with it.” John ‘Magnus’ Holler, Cibola Head coach Janey Huffman Texas A&M
#1 ranked New Mexico Male recruit, 4-time High School All-American, high school state champion 100 free and 200 free plus relays, 2014 state team champ, multiple NM state record holder, USA Swimming Summer Juniors and Winter Nationals qualifier, current New Mexico Swimming’s Senior Athlete Representative to the USA Swimming House of Delegates. Top times: • 50 free – 20.67 • 100 free – 44.84 • 200 free – 1:39.12 • 100 back – 49.99 • 100 fly – 48.53
Photo: Elliot Madriss
Cassaundra Pino “I chose Kansas,” says Pino, “because I fell in love with the team and the coaching staff there. The campus is beautiful, Lawrence is a wonderful college town, and the school takes great strides in helping student athletes achieve the highest possible success in both the classroom and the pool. I cannot wait to be a part of the Jayhawk family for the next four years!”
Cassaundra Pino, Albuquerque High Head coach Jimmy Phillips University of Kansas College swimming.com #2 ranked New Mexico recruit, 2-time Scholastic All American, high school state champion (100 fly, 200 free, city and state record holder in 100 fly, city record holder in 200 free, 200 IM) Albuquerque Team Captain, 3-time Outstanding Winter Athlete Award, USA Swimming Zone Select Team, USA Swimming Diversity Select Team (100 Fly), USA Swimming Top Ten National Age Group Award (200 Fly) and Top Twenty Award, multiple state record holder in both individual and relays (with teammate Gillian St. John), USA Swimming Winter Juniors and Nationals qualifier. Chose Kansas over: The University of Nebraska, Cal Poly, Brown University, and San Diego State. Top Times: 100 fly: 55.10scy/ 1:03.10 lcm 200 fly: 2:02.43scy/ 2:19.20 lcm 200 free 1:51.01 scy/ 2:05.86 lcm
Sporting Events The Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau’s sports marketing department assists in bringing regional and national sporting events to the Duke City. Our facilities, authentic culture and cuisine, and 310 days of sunshine are the perfect combination for any sports event.
Here are some upcoming events that help drive the economic viability of Albuquerque:
USA Archery and Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) National Indoor Championships February 20 - 22 Albuquerque Convention Center Indoor Track Facility
Mountain West Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships
February 26 - 28 Albuquerque Convention Center Indoor Track Facility
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor Track & Field National Championships March 6 - 7 Albuquerque Convention Center Indoor Track Facility
New Mexico Rugby High Desert Tournament March 7 - 8 Balloon Fiesta Park
USA Volleyball Sun Country Regional Championship April 24 - 26 Albuquerque Convention Center
For more information about the sports marketing department at the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau:
800-733-9918
www.visitabq.org/sports
abqsportsmag.com • 7
2014-15 aps metro Swimmingo dorad l E & Diving Champs Boys & Girls
Photos: Drew Schrimsher
S
everal weeks of competition at the West Mesa Aquatics Center in late January has put the Eagles on the top of both the boys and girls podiums. Coached by Quint Seckler, who has more than 30 years experience, Eldorado is the heavy favorite in both categories at state for the team titles. Seckler has developed 11 state champion teams - seven at La Cueva and four at Eldorado. This local graduated from Las Cruces High and UNM, where he swam freestyle sprint. He also coaches the Albuquerque Triton Aquatic Club team. Seckler, by the way, is a licensed minister and teaches math at Eldorado.
“This group of kids has worked so hard this year. The girls are the two time defending state champions but they practice like they are trying to win their first ever. They very much want to win another state title...On Eldorado High School Girls & Boys Head Coach: the boys side, they are very young, but they Quint Seckler are driven to keep pace with the girls squad and the success that they are having. I am so proud of both teams as they continue to be one of the hardest working teams I have ever coached.” - Quint Seckler, EHS champion swim coach
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Lady Lobos Edge out SJSU 64-62 PHOTOS: COURTESY UNM ATHLETICS
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NM women held on for a narrow victory over San Jose State January 31st at the SJSU Event Center. It was two free throws that prevented the game from going into overtime, giving the Lady Lobos their third-straight victory.
The Lobos had the early lead 14-2, but San Jose State came on strong to snatch the lead away by halftime, 31-28. The Spartans stretched that lead to nine points in the second half before UNM rallied. Solid defense and some fine scoring from Khadijah Shumpert (6 points, 8 boards) and Antiesha Brown (17 points and nine rebounds.) Cherise Beynon added another eight points and seven boards. “People don’t understand how good San Jose State is,” said UNM women’s head coach Yvonne Sanchez, “and how good they are at home. They have very good players.”
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HEATHER DYCHE
The FUTURE of LOBO Women’s SOCCER BY: SUMIKO CORLEY PHOTOS: CARLOS MONTOYA
T
here are a lot of words to describe Heather Dyche professional, humble, mentor, coach, rolemodel, killer soccer player. Now, she’s adding university coach to her collection. UNM announced Dyche’s hire January 29th.
“In Heather Dyche, our women’s soccer program inherits a strong mentor and a dynamic addition to our group of head coaches,” says Paul Krebs, UNM Vice President for Athletics. “The fact that Heather has played competitively at a high level – and is nationally connected and respected in the sport of soccer through her involvement with the national development program and club soccer – is a benefit to her and UNM. I am particularly impressed with her work on leadership development for young women.” Her resume is as long as it is impressive - US Soccer National Instructional Staff, US Soccer National Coaching Staff, CONCACAF Instructional Staff and Region IV Staff, to name a few. For several years now she’s been Rio Rapids’ U14-U19 age group director. This 1997 Eldorado alumni graduated from Florida State University with a degree in child development and holds a Masters in sports administration. She’s earned a USSF National A License, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma, a CONCACAF D License and a US Youth Soccer Association Youth License. “I’m excited and motivated to work really hard,” says Dyche, “to provide a great experience for the players on the team and continue to create a program that ABQ is proud of.” Dyche played professionally for ROA in Norway, helping her team win the Norwegian League Championship in 2004. She is one of the nation’s top talent spotters. “My goal,” says Dyche, “is to make UNM a place where great players want to be. There is an excellent core of NM players succeeding currently on the team each year. I’ll try to bring in the best NM players who are capable of helping our program and surrounding them with other talented players.” Dyche has been coaching 11 years, helping her club teams to four state championships and one US Club regional championship. She resigned from her club team, Reign, to join UNM. “She has taught me so much,” says Reign left forward Lexi Baca. “Her belief in me gave me confidence I never had before. She pushed me to work as hard as I could every practice and every game and taught me how to be a leader, not only on the field but in everything I do. There is no way I would be the player or person I am without her.”
Miranda Hart, Lexi Baca, Dyche, Cera Moots In norway Photo by: Sumiko Corley Dyche is also the founder and head coach of the LEAD (Leadership and Empowerment through Athletic Development) Soccer Academy, which she runs with her sister-in-law Terryn Dyche, also a club soccer coach. See Dyche and the team in action August 21st, when they face defending national champion, and Dyche’s alma mater, Florida State. www.golobos.com
“I’m excited and motivated to work really hard to provide a great experience for the players on the team and continue to create a program that ABQ is proud of.” -Heather Dyche, new UNM women’s soccer coach abqsportsmag.com • 13
Elite Combat Series
Brand New Fight League with Old New Mexico Roots BY: Trula Howe PHOTOS: Sam West, Sam West Photography
A
lbuquerque MMA fans witnessed the birth of a new fight league on Saturday night, January 24 at the McKernan Events Center. Elite Combat Series (ECS), the firstborn brainchild of Eleven O2 Promotions, made its promotional debut, featuring professional and amateur fighters from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Grants, Taos, El Paso, TX and Brazil. Steven Cervantes (3-0, Luttrell’s MMA) met Romulo Vilhena Medeiros (0-2, out of Belem Para, Brazil, training at JacksonWinkeljohn MMA) for the main event. Medeiros struck first with legkicks, but Cervantes caught one, the two clinched, and Cervantes got the takedown to mount. Medeiros attempted to escape, but Cervantes took his back and locked in a rear-nakedchoke for the submission at 2:01 of the first round. Andrew Tenneson of Jackson Winkeljohn’s MMA remained undefeated (3-0) with a win over Santa Fe BJJ’s Joel Whitney (12). After a back-and-forth grappling display by two submission specialists in the second round, Tenneson secured the RNC at 3:34. Dorian Dixon (2-1, ABQ BJJ / Rosales KB) met Jesse Long (Lovato Total Fitness, 1-2) for a 150-lb catch-weigh; however, Dixon weighed in at 155. Dixon used leg and body kicks to drop Long, then, taking Long’s back, he got the rear-naked-choke at 2:53 of the first round. On an otherwise smoothly-coordinated event, there was one blemish: the fight between Francisco Marin (1-1, Chavez Dojo) and Armando Rivas (0-4, Bushido MMA). In the third round, Marin apparently landed an accidental low blow, then a head kick. When Rivas dropped, holding his groin instead of protecting his head, the referee stopped the fight, ruling TKO at 0:28, not seeing the low blow. New Mexico Athletic Commission officials spoke to referee and both sides afterward. Representatives from Bushido MMA said they would challenge the decision at the next NMAC meeting. Eleven O2 was founded in 2014 by three NM natives: Matthew Chavez, Jordan Chavez and Eric Gonzales, longtime friends and experienced boxing/MMA promoters. For more information and amateurs’ results, www.eleveno2promotions.com .
Get Ready for that Special Day W By Jim Lezeau, MS, CES, PES, Personal Training Performance Manager, Defined Fitness
ith the New Year in full swing many individuals have the resolution to make sure they are ready for the “big day� that is finally coming up. I would like to give you some tips on how to best prepare for your most special day.
Set Goals Be sure to have the big goal that you want to attain and then put it aside. Looking at the end goal everyday can lead to frustration and lack of adherence to your plan. Instead, create smaller daily and weekly goals that you will use to reach the final result. As an example, start with the small goal of eliminating 100-200kcals/day and getting to the gym 3 days/wk for 45 minutes. Also, keep your expectations realistic. Safe and longterm weight loss occurs at 1-2 pounds per week. Use this as a guideline when setting your goals.
Eat Right An easy way to begin cutting calories is to eat right. It is crucial to eat a good breakfast that has protein in it. Eating a good breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism and gives you the energy you need for the entire day. Also be sure to eat mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eating at regular intervals keeps your metabolism burning calories.
Increase the Exercise
Depending on how far away from your wedding day you are will help dictate what exercise will help best with helping you reach your goals. If you are only 2-3 months away I recommend more cardiovascular exercise. In such a short time HIIT Training (High Intensity Interval Training) will be most effective. Try a program of high intensity cardio for 30 seconds with 1 minute of rest. If you have several months to prepare, I recommend more time with resistance training. Circuit training is an effective way to burn calories. Try circuits of 3-5 exercises with 12-15 repetitions, little to no rest. If you ever have any questions about the best and most efficient way to get ready for your wedding day be sure to seek the help of a certified fitness professional. They will give you individualized information specific to our goals and your situation.
Photo: Audrianna Griego for Moji Photography
APS METRO WRESTLING
CHAMPIONS
RIO RANCHO RAMS G
reat mat action at Eldorado the last week of January as the Rams bested a field of talent. Cleveland and Rio Grande finished second and third, respectively.
Individual Metro Champions 106 113 120 145 152 160 170 182 195 220 285
Gabriel Gray, Rio Rancho Noah Mirabal, Cleveland Treavon Nicoley, Cleveland Clayton Arellano, Rio Grande Orlando Gutierrez, Rio Rancho Jordan Velasquez, Valley Travis Decker, MAN Miguel Barreras, Rio Rancho Ramon Artiago, Del Norte Grant Hermanns, Rio Rancho James Romero, Atrisco
2015 metro wrestling champion 182lbs - Miguel Barreras Photo courtesy: Mike Barreras 16 February 2015
PHOTOS: AMANDA NUNEZ
abqsportsmag.com • 17
USATF ALL-AMERICANS & NATIONAL CHAMPIONS BY: SUMIKO CORLEY PHOTOS: GRETCHEN FUTEY
Y
ou couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day - or venue - for the 2014 USA Track & Field Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championship. Myrtle Beach, SC was good to the Cougar Track Club of Albuquerque, as they raced hundreds of the very finest cross country athletes from across the nation. Eleven Albuquerque-area youth runners proved they are among the best in the nation December 13th, each placing in the top 25 of their respective age groups to earn All-America status. CTC’s head coaches are Michelle Lopez and Stephanie Poole.
“During the 2014 XC season,” says Lopez, “of about 90 kids on our practice roster, we qualified almost 70 athletes to Nationals; 3 of whom were too young to compete at Nationals! We had 45 of those qualifiers in South Carolina to represent the Cougars. The 5 teams we sent finished 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th ad 10th! In addition to our National Championship title, we had 4 athletes achieve individual All-American titles. Remarkable!!”
Elise Toya, Leah Futey, Cecilia Campos
2014 National Champion Team 9-10 boys Jett Smith, Xavier Almodovar, Cody Toya, Jude Lucero, Blayne Howell, Gordon Lee, Angel Delgado and Stoney Cutchen
Individual All-America Runners Leah Futey Cecilia Campos Elise Toya Jett Smith 4th place 18th place 21st place 8th place 9-10 girls 9-10 boys 9-10 girls 9-10 girls The NM Association of USATF will host the 2015 National Cross Country Championship December 12. Jett Smith
“To be an All-American and to win National title, an athlete has to be willing to be uncomfortable! Training takes up a lot of time and a ton of personal effort. On hard workout days, it requires the athletes to push beyond their comfort zone and feel the pain! Pain is temporary, pride is forever!” - Michelle Lopez, co-head coach, Cougar Track Club of Albuquerque
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Locally Owned, Locally Invested Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
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“During the early years of the company,” says Bill, “Laurie coached soccer running up and down the sidelines while answering the company cell phone. Affordable Service and our family grew up together as we started the company the year our youngest was born.” Five kids, countless practices and games for their various sports. As their business thrived, the Howlands in turn were able to increase their support of athletic programs in local schools and various organizations.
20 February 2015
“We’re very thankful the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho communities have supported our company,” says Bill, “which has allowed us to return that support whenever possible. We look forward to another 30 years of providing the best possible service available to the families and community we’ve grown to love and appreciate.”
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taying on the final bull of the night, Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas, took home a check for $19,750 on January 31 for winning “Bucking on the Rio Grande” at Santa Ana Star Center.
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New Mexico
NOTABLES miguel barreras
top nationally ranked nm wreslter
blake swihart showing hometown love
The MLB’s hottest catching prospect joined Albuquerque Academy alumni Max Walla helping to raise funds for the third annual “Throw Cancer a Curve All-Skills Baseball Camp”, put on by the Albuquerque Baseball Academy. The event raised more than $8,000. The ABA was able to give money to four worthy causes: The Martin L. Romero Scholarship Fund (Albuquerque), the Justin Solomon Foundation (Piedra Vista) and $1,000 in equipment to South Valley Little League, home league to Martin Romero before his death. The Academy also donated just over $2,330 to 8-year old Faith Kuhn, who’s endured 11 surgeries connected to spina bifida. Her father Chad Kuhn, coaches baseball at Valley High.
This Rio Rancho High senior is ranked #15 in the United States (160 lbs) by flowrestling.com. What a year it has been for this two-time defending individual state champion - Miguel recently won the Top of the Rockies Championship (160 lbs), holds two state champion team titles (2011, 2014) and he was instrumental in the school’s, and 6A’s, first football state championship victory last fall. He has been selected for 1st Team All State (safety & wide receiver). Barreras carries a cumulative 3.6 GPA and is headed to the University of Central Oklahoma (Div II) on a wrestling scholarship, the same school where his father Mike was a 4-time NCAA All-America wrestler and helped his team to two national team titles. Miguel’s current record is 25-1 (the sole loss to the nation’s #4 ranked wrestler at 160). He looks to leave high school as the reigning king of the mat, with the wrestling state championship in just a few weeks.
vicente “rocky” arroyo in memorial
Just weeks before induction into the NM Sports Hall of Fame, this former Olympian and standout coach died at the age of 89. He played basketball for Mexico in the 1948 Olympics, graduated high school in three years (El Paso), which included a state basketball championship, then attended UNM. He was much loved during his 30-some years as an NM athlete, coach and game official. He led Our Lady of Sorrows to three District 1 titles (1951-53), worked at Sandia National laboratories as an electrical engineer, and officiated at football games across the nation, including the Rose, Peach, Fiesta and Sun Bowls. His death comes just weeks after the passing of his son Craig. He is survived by his wife Leonella and a large extended family.
22 February 2015
zach gentry now a wolverine
The most highly recruited QB in metro Albuquerque is headed to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, lured away from Texas by new head coach Jim Harbaugh, of the San Francisco 49’ers fame. The 6-foot-7, 238-pound quarterback threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 TD’s, a considerable threat on the field for his ability to run the ball.
abqsportsmag.com • 23