Winter did not belong to one program across the board. Instead, it unfolded through a series of defining moments—some loud, some quiet—that collectively shifted the standings.
By Levi Gwaltney
Photos: Courtesy (cited, below)
The second year of the Neighbors Cup is beginning to take shape—and for now, it looks familiar.
After claiming the inaugural title a year ago, Centennial High School has opened the 2026 race with a strong winter showing, building an early lead behind a mix of high-impact moments, late-season swings and steady point accumulation across multiple sports.
Winter standings place Centennial at 45 points, followed by Las Cruces at 32, with Organ Mountain (8), Mayfield (6.5), Hatch Valley (6), Mesilla Valley Christian (6), Chaparral (5), Santa Teresa (3.5) and Gadsden (2.5) rounding out the field.
The gap is notable—but the path that created it is more nuanced.
A Season Defined by Moments, Not Margins
Winter did not belong to one program across the board. Instead, it unfolded through a series of defining moments—some loud, some quiet—that collectively shifted the standings.
On the girls side, Centennial built its advantage through consistency and a single standout performance that carried outsized weight.
At the 2026 NMAA State Swimming and Diving Championships, Dara Ayala delivered one of the season’s defining efforts, capturing the Class 5A state title in the 50-yard freestyle (24.68) while adding a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle. In a sport with limited local participation, the performance stood alone—and it mattered.
Photo: Courtesy Thrive575 Athletics (via Facebook)
That theme repeated throughout the winter. In sports where depth was limited, individual excellence often determined the outcome.
Basketball’s Late Turn Shifts the Balance
If swimming provided a high point, basketball delivered the season’s most dramatic shift.
For much of the winter, Las Cruces appeared in control of District 3/5A. The Bulldawgs held the top spot deep into the schedule, positioning themselves as the district’s most complete team, but the final stretch changed everything.
Centennial closed the regular season with a pivotal win over Las Cruces, while Organ Mountain added a result of its own. When the standings settled, Las Cruces had slipped from first to third—an outcome that not only reshaped district seeding, but created a measurable swing in the Neighbors Cup standings.
Centennial Boys and Girls captured top honors in District 3/5A. Photo: Courtesy Thrive575 Athletics (via Facebook)
Centennial carried that momentum through the district tournament, capturing the championship and solidifying its winter position.
The result was a reminder of how quickly a season can turn—and how much a single game can matter.
Wrestling Depth Keeps Las Cruces Within Reach
If Centennial built its lead through key moments, Las Cruces answered with depth—nowhere more clearly than on the wrestling mats.
At the 2026 NMAA State Wrestling Championships, the Bulldawgs delivered one of the strongest collective showings in recent memory.
Sophomore Kolby Gonzales headlined the weekend with a dominant run to the Class 5A title at 157 pounds, winning all four matches by fall. On the girls side, Autiana Caro added a state championship at 115 pounds, anchoring a runner-up team finish.
(Left) Kolby Gonzales wins NMAA State Wrestling Championship at 157 lbs. Photo: Courtesy NMAA; (Right) Autiana Caro on the mat competing for NMAA State Wrestling Championship at 115 lbs. Photo: Courtesy Thrive575 Athletics (via Facebook)
Across both brackets, Las Cruces stacked podium finishes, turning consistency into points and keeping pressure on the standings despite Centennial’s edge elsewhere.
Las Cruces High School Girls Wrestling, 2025-26 State Runners Up. Photo: Courtesy Thrive575 Athletics (via Facebook)
The performance underscored a broader truth about the winter season: while headline moments can swing standings, depth keeps teams in contention.
Powerlifting Provides Quiet Separation
Some of the most consequential points of the winter season came with far less visibility.
At the state powerlifting championships, athletes from Centennial and a lone competitor from Las Cruces delivered record-level performances that translated directly into Neighbors Cup scoring.
Centennial’s Luke Matherly captured a state title in the 308-pound division with a 1,490-pound total, while Las Cruces’ Richard Medina posted a 1,575-pound performance that ranked among the top totals of the meet.
The 3,065 lb. photo. Left, Luke Matherly. Right, Richard Medina. 2026 New Mexico Activities Association State Powerlifting Champions. Photo: Courtesy Thrive575 Athletics (via Facebook)
On the girls side, Centennial added two more state champions—Lorena Zamora (105) and Aliyah Salas (198)—further reinforcing the program’s impact.
The totals were impressive on their own. In the context of the Cup, they were decisive.
Powerlifting did not dominate headlines—but it helped shape the standings.
A Field Defined by Individual Excellence
Beyond the top two programs, the winter season highlighted a range of individual and program-level efforts across our broader community.
Organ Mountain’s basketball and powerlifting contributions, Mayfield’s balanced presence across girls sports, and Hatch Valley’s continued strength in girls powerlifting all added to a standings table that reflects more than just the top line.
Hatch Valley Girls Powerlifting at the 2026 NMAA State Powerlifting Championships. Photo: Courtesy HVPS Athletics & Activities (via Facebook)
Chaparral and Santa Teresa produced key individual finishes, while Mesilla Valley Christian added points with competitive showings in the only team sport of the winter season—boys and girls basketball.
In many cases, the results reflected a common challenge: participation depth. Across multiple sports, local programs produced athletes capable of competing at the highest level—but often without the numbers needed to convert those performances into team titles.
Winter Sets the Stage, But Does Not Decide It
If winter has revealed anything about the 2026 Neighbors Cup race, it is this:
The margin exists—but it is built on moments.
Centennial has positioned itself for a potential repeat, carrying forward the momentum of its inaugural title with a strong pair of seasons taking them to the home stretch. Las Cruces, meanwhile, has shown the depth and resilience to remain within reach.
And with spring sports well underway, the standings remain what they have always been intended to be: A reflection of what has happened—and an invitation to see what comes next.
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