The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

The most exciting sports week in New Mexico is in the books and three local teams capped it off with a dream ending.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are joined by a few newly crowned state basketball tournament champions — Santa Fe Indian School girls coach Khadijha Jackson, Mesa Vista girls coach Jesse Boies and St. Michael’s boys coach Dakota Montoya. The coaches relive moments from their title runs and share life has been like in the days following their teams’ immense achievements.

In the first interview, Jackson discusses the Lady Braves’ journey to winning the program’s first state title since 2011 and ending Navajo Prep’s quest for a three-peat. Jackson, who played for coach Rainy Crisp at Navajo Prep, talks about what it was like playing for Crisp and the experience of coaching against her former coach in the 3A state title game.

In the second interview, Boies talks through the final moments of the Lady Trojans’ thrilling 2A championship game win over defending champ Tatum. Mesa Vista clawed back from a nine-point deficit and capped its comeback with a deep 3-pointer by freshman Aaliyah Boies, Jesse’s daughter, with two seconds left for a 49-47 win. Jesse Boies shares what it was like to see his daughter come up clutch such a monumental moment and what the program’s first state title means for its basketball-crazed community.

In the last interview, which was cut a bit short due to some recording issues, Montoya discusses St. Michael’s 3A championship game rematch with Robertson and what allowed the Horsemen to avenge last year’s difficult loss. Montoya talks about his team being blessed with size and depth, and shares what he’s been doing to decompress since the big win.

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State basketball week is a grinder for The New Mexican’s sports guys as they pump out several stories each day, but the excitement generated from the atmosphere and the memorable games keep them going. This season has been no exception.

On the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Will Webber and James Barron share their favorite memories through Thursday and look ahead at the storylines and matchups for the semifinals and finals on Friday and Saturday.

The guys start off by discussing the Mesa Vista boys team’s heartbreaking loss to Rehoboth Christian, which rallied from a 22-point second-half deficit to advance to the 2A semifinals.

They also talk about the high level Santa Fe Indian School and St. Michael’s are playing at as they prepare for a 3A semifinal that they guys say could just as well be the championship. On the other side of the bracket, Robertson and Bosque have their own interesting storylines.

And oh look, the Pecos boys are back in another state semifinal.

On the girls’ side, Will and James talk about Santa Fe Indian School’s dominant semifinal win over Robertson and how the Lady Braves could match up with top seed Navajo Prep.

They also look at Mesa Vista’s run to its first state title game in program history.

Between the boys and girls tournament discussion, Will and James chat a bit about the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team ahead of its opening game of the Mountain West Tournament against San Jose State.

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Fans from across the state will pack The Pit and the Rio Rancho Events Center this week to watch their favorite teams vie for a blue trophy at the boys and girls state basketball tournaments.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Will Webber and a dapper James Barron zero in on the quarterfinals matchups that catch their eye, including 3A boys showdowns involving Santa Fe Indian School versus Navajo Prep and Cobre against Bosque.

The guys also chat a bit about the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team, which will likely need to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament.

In the second segment, Will and James chat with St. Michael’s graduate Estevan Sandoval about his journey from student manager at UNM to assistant coach at the University of North Dakota. Sandoval discusses his close ties with newly named UNM athletic director Ryan Berryman as well as what he learned under Craig Neal and Paul Weir.

Check back Thursday evening for a bonus episode of "The Sports Den" as Will and James discuss the state semifinals and finals. 

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The seedings are set and the most anticipated high school sporting event of the year is about to tip off.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron take a look at all the brackets in the state basketball tournament before switching gears to chat with Highlands baseball coach Steve Jones about his return to Las Vegas.

The North is well represented in the state tournament, sporting contenders in a at least a few of the brackets. Will and James spend some extra time discussing the Class 3A boys bracket, where top seed St. Michael’s could face Santa Fe Indian School in the semifinals and fellow district foe Robertson lurks on the other half of the bracket. James also expresses his disagreement with the seeding in the 3A bracket.

Before the break, the guys touch on University of New Mexico men’s basketball. The Lobos still have a chance to finish atop the Mountain West if they can beat Colorado State and league leader Utah State in their last two regular season games.

In the second segment, Will and James have a chat with their old pal Steve Jones. The longtime New Mexico Highlands baseball coach left the school in 2014 to start the NAIA program at Texas A&M-Texarkana. Last year, he was an assistant coach on a LSU Shreveport team that went a record-breaking 59-0 and won the NAIA national championship.

Jones shares what it was like to coach on the unbeaten squad and talks about his decision to return to Las Vegas to try to revive the Cowboys program.

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We’re entering the most wonderful time of the year for New Mexico hoops fans with the beginning of postseason play as prep teams position themselves to make a run at a blue trophy.

With its first winning season since 2021-22, the Santa Fe High girls basketball team has put itself in the mix to compete at state in Class 5A. The Demonettes are looking to improve their seeding with a strong showing in their district tournament.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron speak with Santa Fe High girls basketball head coach Nate Morris about his squad’s strong season and how he has been working to get his players to believe they can compete with top teams.

Morris discusses the upcoming postseason path for the Demonettes and shares what he feels have been the strengths of this year’s squad.

The guys also ask Morris about his playing days on the University of New Mexico football team and his opinion on what coach Jason Eck has done to energize the program.

In the second segment, Will and James offer some thoughts on local prep basketball teams as they head into district play and speak a bit about a critical stretch for the UNM men’s basketball team’s hopes to make the Big Dance.

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After each home game at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena, the men’s basketball players at Eastern New Mexico University make the rounds to shake hands and visit with the Greyhound faithful. Head coach Daven Võ says the fans’ relationship with the team is a big reason why ENMU leads the Lone Star Conference in attendance and has created an intimidating atmosphere for visiting opponents.

While embracing a small-town culture, Võ has assembled a tight-knit group that is reaching new heights. Winners of nine straight games, the 21-3 Greyhounds sit atop the Lone Star Conference standings and are now No. 9 in the Division II rankings. It’s the highest ranking for the program in the NCAA era.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Võ joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron to speak about his team’s impressive run.

Võ says the squad’s success largely stems from its continuity, as it returned eight players from last year’s team that went 18-11. The roster includes players from four countries and states across the U.S., but Võ says the centerpiece is 6-foot-9 senior forward Jose Murillo. The Albuquerque Highland graduate is among the conference leaders in points, rebounds and blocks this season.

In the second segment, Will and James talk about the upcoming state wrestling and swimming tournaments before touching on Will’s recent curling experience and James’ planned participation in the New Mexico Senior Olympics Winter Games.

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It’s that time again. Every four years, curling has its moment in the spotlight as sports fans fixate on the mesmerizing Winter Olympic event.

Associated with cold climates, the game has also found a foothold in the high desert.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron speak with a local curling expert to learn more about the sport, its social culture and upcoming opportunities to play in Santa Fe.

Patrick Reid, who runs the curling program at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, has been involved in the sport for more than a decade. Hooked by the camaraderie and intricacies of the game, he participates in events around the region and teaches newcomers his passion.

Reid says curling is really built around its social aspect and describes a term new to Will and James — broomstacking. It’s a custom where teammates and their opponents socialize, often while drinking, after or between games.

From 2-4 p.m. the next two Sundays, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, anyone interested in curling will have the chance to give it a try for free at the GCCC and get involved in some broomstacking afterward. Sign up for a 30-minute curling session at santafecurling.com.

In the second segment of the podcast, Will and James talk prep hoops, discuss the implications of a rough week for Lobos men’s basketball and share their thoughts on the announcement that longtime FCS powerhouse North Dakota State will be joining the Mountain West Conference in football.

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Dakota Montoya was a surprise pick to some when he was named head boys basketball coach at St. Michael’s in 2024. The Clayton graduate who played football at Eastern New Mexico University said he recognized there were some critics and question marks early on, but he was excited to step up to the challenge of the school’s high standards.

Following a state runner-up season in 2024-25, Montoya has the Horsemen atop the Class 3A rankings this season as they look to take care of “unfinished business.”

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Montoya joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron to discuss his squad’s strong season, his passion for athletics and how he handles high expectations.

Montoya talks about the luxury of his team having size that’s unusual at the 3A level. He also touches on how the squad has dealt with injuries and how his players have improved at shooting and playing inside-out basketball.

The former ENMU player ends by sharing his thoughts on the school hiring Art Briles to lead its football program, and offers his Super Bowl prediction.

After the break, Will and James dive into some Lobo talk ahead of the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team’s big matchup with Utah State. They also give their predictions for Super Bowl LX.

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From a men’s basketball team student manager to interim athletic director, Ryan Berryman has made a meteoric rise up the ranks of the University of New Mexico’s athletics department. The 31-year-old has seen Lobo athletics go through some turbulent times, and in 2025 achieve one of the most successful years in its history.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Berryman joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss his path to attaining his position, the figures who served as his influences, UNM’s recent success and the department’s ambitions for the future.

A standout basketball player at East Mountain High School, Berryman explains his decision to pursue administrative roles instead of going down the coaching path. He talks about his early days at UNM, where he got his first opportunities working in athletics under former men’s basketball coaches Craig Neal and Steve Alford.

Berryman shares what he learned during a stop at the University of Washington, where he served as senior associate athletic director and chief financial officer before returning to UNM in March of 2025 as deputy athletic director — chief operating officer under Fernando Lovo. He was named interim AD soon after Lovo accepted the AD job at Colorado in late December.

Looking to the future, Berryman discusses renovation plans for University Stadium and the potential for development near UNM’s athletic complexes. He also speaks on the athletic department’s ambitions in a new-look Mountain West Conference, where he wants to see the Lobos positioned for conference championships in every sport.

In the second segment, Will and James run through a big week of district games for local prep hoops teams. They also marvel at Diego Pavia, the incredible shrinking quarterback. The guys wrap things up trying to decide which events they want to compete in during the upcoming New Mexico Senior Olympics Winter Games in Santa Fe.

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It’s the dog days of winter, prep basketball teams are entering district play, and at least one of The New Mexican’s sports writers is distracting himself with random bits of news until the blissful arrival of postseason hoops.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Will Webber and James Barron review the latest developments that have caught their eye in the local high school basketball scene, touch on the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team’s upcoming games and talk about the Santa Fe Fuego’s new manager.

James says the St. Michael’s boys are “hands down the team to beat” in Class 3A, rising above Santa Fe Indian School and Navajo Prep in his mind. In 2A, the guys say there’s probably a five-team race involving Texico, Mesa Vista, Pecos, Santa Rosa and Escalante.

Will keeps turning the discussion to the Fuego, because who can get enough Pecos League baseball talk in January? Along with welcoming the team’s new manager, Will launches his campaign to be the Fuego’s play-by-play announcer in 2026.

Will also brings attention to the University of Illinois’ gargantuan new video board, which stretches 250 feet wide and 69 feet tall. He makes a plea to local teams to up their video board game.

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