In a shift that could have some big ramifications for small-school Northern New Mexico athletes, the cross country classifications for the New Mexico Activities Association have been changed, splitting Class 1A and 2A into separate classes.
The move goes into place for the two-year cycle starting with the 2026-27 school year.
Additionally, Mesa Vista in particular, stands to benefit significantly from the move with boys and girls squads that should be vying for the 1A medal stand consistently over the coming years.
“Since I’ve been at Legacy Academy, I’ve been trying to get the NMAA to split 1A and 2A up,” Trojans cross country coach Ben Sandoval, who is in his second year at his alma mater of Mesa Vista, said. “They always said there wasn’t enough 1A teams to field a full state meet. But we’re finally getting interest from schools down south. We had 40-something teams in 1A and 2A and they realized it was time to split it up.”
Additionally, after two reclassification cycles punching above its weight, Mesa Vista, along with some of its longtime cohorts in District 5-2A, are sliding back to 1A for all sports.
“I think in basketball, we can compete with anybody,” Trojans boys basketball coach Thomas Vigil said. “But I think our school has to look outside the basketball court and figure out what’s fair and equitable for our kids.”
And in the end, he said, this was the best way to go.
“Our decision-makers wanted to do right by our kids,” Vigil said. “It was a decision that was well-thought out and researched and discussed. The fact that some of the other teams in our district also are moving down was important because we didn’t want to lose some of those rivalries. It’s not going to change anything except our district schedule. Teams are going to want to play Mesa Vista no matter what.”
Trojans girls basketball coach Jesse Boies said the move came as a surprise to him, but he can understand it.
“That’s a big one right there,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I did a little research and it makes sense. But 2A will always hold a special place in my heart. I love the competition.”
He got an interesting reaction from his players, many of whom will get to experience the lower classification.
“I had a lot of big eyes look back at me,” Boies said with a chuckle. “They all love 2A. Probably because they’re young, so that’s all they know. I went to Coronado, so I grew up playing 1A. Back in the day, it was pretty lit. It will be fun. They don’t care. They’re going to take care of business.”
Vigil pointed out that the school has an enrollment of 87 students, while Eunice, one of the larger 2A schools, is at 230, nearly triple in size.
“Our programs are really solid right now, but in our small schools what’s the sustainability of that,” he said. “We may have some years where we struggle. Is it fair to kids to go 3-23 because we’re playing in the wrong class? It’s not an easy decision, but we will not look back, we will look forward.”
Sandoval, who also coaches boys track for Mesa Vista, said the Trojans will still battle loaded squads in Cimarron, Melrose and Logan.
But he can see the Trojans making a big impact on the relays in particular, as well as the distance races. And that alone could propel them to the podium.
“I think this does a lot for our boy’s programs in general,” he said. “When you have a program like boys basketball playing at the state level, the other athletes see that. It builds the camaraderie and morale for our student athletes. When you see such a big win like that (against Hobbs), it makes the cross country, track, baseball players want to see it in other sports.”