Rising Española Valley junior Jazlynn Maestas pulled off a strong double at the recent Heroes Conquest in Socorro.
She was second in the 15 and under division and third in 18U. Her Sundevils teammates showed up well with rising senior Esmeralda Trivinio taking third in 18U, as did Allysandra Sanchez, who is a 2025 alum and wrestled last season at Hiram College in Ohio.
The Sundevils will head to an invite-only mini-camp this weekend in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Locals Earn Berths at the National Junior High Rodeo
Three students from the Española area will compete in the upcoming National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
The event from June 21–27 will bring together more than 1,200 of the nation’s top junior high rodeo athletes from across the United States, Canada, Australia and Mexico to compete for national titles and scholarships.
Waylan Valdez, of Medanales; Elias Chacon, of Medanales; and Paige Trujillo of Abiquiú, all finished among the top four among year-end contestants in their respective events during the 2025–2026 New Mexico Junior High Rodeo season.
Valdez, who is home schooled through Mosquero schools, was the reserve champion heeler in team roping and reserve champion in light rifle.
Chacon, who just finished his final year at Mesa Vista Middle School, was fourth in chute dogging.
And Trujillo, who just finished at Los Alamos Middle School, was the girls state champion in goat tying.
Athletes will compete for more than $80,000 in prizes as well as more than $200,000 in scholarships at the world’s largest junior high rodeo event.
Española Valley Seeking Baseball Coach
After going 10-41-1 in his two seasons at the helm of the Española Valley baseball team, Luis Bustos was not retained, Juan Carlos Fulgenzi, Sundevils athletic director said.
“We just wanted to go in a different direction,” Fulgenzi said.
Española went 4-22-1 last season and lost all 12 District 2-4A games. The team finished the season on a 14 game losing streak.
The program has not had a winning season or reached the state tournament since going 20-7 in 2015.