Today's Sports

Winning a national championship, earning All-American status and racking up a bunch of high-profile wins on the mat — all of which Doug Moses’ wrestlers have done over the course of his coaching career — are nice accomplishments.

But Moses places a higher value on what his grapplers have done in the classroom and in life beyond their athletic days.

On the far southwest corner of the basketball court at Gillie Lopez, in the narrow space of hardwood designating the right wing, is a piece of real estate that John Balizan knows as his happy place.

The West Las Vegas sophomore has hit several huge shots from that particular spot, winning games or sending them into overtime.

But as time ran out in Wednesday night’s District 2-4A boys’ quarterfinal between West and crosstown rival Robertson, Balizan slapped that area of floor in frustration.

“Arrrrrghhh!”

RIO RANCHO — Four Robertson wrestlers captured individual state championships for the second consecutive season, but a late win by a Taos wrestler bumped the Cardinals to fourth place in the final team standings for Class 1A-4A.

RHS finished just one point out of third, trailing repeat winner Silver, Cobre and the district-rival Tigers on Saturday night at the conclusion of the two-day state tourneys, held at an unusually rowdy Santa Ana Star Center. Several scuffles erupted in the stands and resulted in multiple ejections, though none involved locals.

Bottom of the ninth. Bases loaded. Two outs. The home team down by one run.

Alas, the Hollywood finish was not to be for Highlands’ baseball team on Sunday afternoon at Brandt Park.

A fly ball to left, fielded cleanly by Fort Hays State’s Marcus Altman, snuffed the Cowboy rally, and the score ended 6-5 in favor of the visiting Tigers

FHSU won two of the three-game series over the weekend, Highlands’ first home baseball games of the season.