Champs to College: Football seniors, Storm athletes hold signing ceremony

Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho hosted a signing ceremony for 12 student-athletes who will advance to collegiate sports. The event, held on Wednesday morning in the school's Thunderdome, featured athletes from football, cross-country, baseball, and softball. Among the signees were football players Jacob Maldonado and Jordan Hatch, with Maldonado committing to the University of New Mexico and Hatch set to join New Mexico State University after a Mormon mission. Other notable signings included Nathaniel Gutierrez to New Mexico Highlands, Noah Escudero, and Connor Steele to Western New Mexico.

In cross-country, state champion Lucas Espinosa will attend Oral Roberts University, and Derek Abate will go to Truett McConnell University. On the diamond, Julia Montoya signed with Arizona Christian University for softball, while Treven Polanco, Alex Larvie, Noah Segura, and Francisco Hernandez committed to various community colleges, including institutions in Arizona and Maine. The ceremony highlighted the achievements of these student