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Sports

Sports Issue: ABQ soccer club look to kick off first season

Andrew Gunn | February 25

After months of anticipation, press releases, social media hype, and some familiar player signings, the New Mexico United soccer club is set to kick off their inaugural season this week at Isotopes Park. Officially unveiled as an expansion club on June 7, 2018, New Mexico United will play in the United Soccer League Championship league (USL), which occupies the second tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid under Major League Soccer (MLS). As part of a rapidly expanding soccer landscape in the U.S., United will join 35 other teams in the league in pursuit of domestic silverware, including the USL Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. While other pro or semi-pro soccer clubs in New Mexico have come and gone (New Mexico Chiles, Albuquerque Geckos), United appears set to stick around. In years past, scores of clubs around the country have folded due to lack of fan support, an inability to pay their players and league restructuring. The USL, meanwhile, has gained a firmer financial footing in the U.S. market through a closer relationship with MLS, promotion to Division II status by the U.S. soccer board of directors and a broadcast partnership with ESPN.

Sports

Baseball: Lobo hopes work ethic will bring success

Matthew Narvaiz | February 25

It’s a Thursday afternoon practice and the cool, dryness of the Albuquerque air has a piercing touch. Coaches, players and staffers are all wearing long sleeves, jackets, or are layered in clothes to keep from the cold. Standing near home plate, watching his teammates take batting practice, is Jared Mang — the 5’9 senior outfielder out of Los Alamos, New Mexico. He is wearing a red long sleeve emblazoned with a Lobo and a baseball diamond around it. To keep from the cold, he also has on a skull cap, though it's noticeably wrapped around his neck — to keep warm — with his helmet atop his head.

Sports

Sports Issue: Jarrod Ronquillo works hard, loves his team

Robert Maler and Alanie Rael | February 25

His father was a Lobo. His mother was a Lobo. But coming to the University of New Mexico and becoming a Lobo himself may have seemed like a long-shot for Jarrod Ronquillo. Ronquillo, a two-sport athlete in high school, excelled on the soccer field — at an All-State level in fact, his father Tony Rochillo said. Jarrod went to high school in Minnesota and was pretty good in hockey as well, something that is probably vastly more competitive up north where more people seem to grow up around the game.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Despite difficult season, Lobos still have potential

Robert Maler | February 25

For many fans, the University of New Mexico men's basketball team has failed to live up to expectations this season — as high hopes and tremendous upside turned to mediocrity and relative embarrassment at times. The team returned a pair of seniors in Anthony Mathis and Dane Kuiper as well as sophomores Makauch Maluach and Vladimir Pinchuk — all of whom seemed to flourish under the leadership of then first-year UNM head coach Paul Weir. That quartet was joined by a slew of transfers, a couple of whom came from some high-profile programs. Vance Jackson came to UNM via UCONN, JaQuan Lyle transferred from Ohio State and the long-awaited debut eventually saw Carlton Bragg, who had previously played as a Kansas Jayhawk, take the floor.

The Santa Fe University of Arts and Design

Opinion

Sports Column: Team sports are an integral part of campus community

February 25

Team sports can be an integral part of creating a cohesive and healthy campus community. For three years, I attended a private art university that did not offer any organized sports. At first, I didn’t really care because I was an ‘artist’ and many artists didn’t do sports. At least, that’s the impression art school gave me, and I ran with it. I had participated in team sports my entire life — basketball, soccer and softball as a kid to competitive swimming as a teen— so when I was fresh out of high school, I wanted something completely different.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Postseason looks promising for Lobos

Robert Maler | February 25

The University of New Mexico women's basketball team has put together an historically good season so far and things are looking pretty promising as postseason play draws near. New Mexico (21-4, 11-3 MW) has engineered one of the most successful seasons in program history to this point. And despite a couple of recent missteps against San Diego State and Fresno State, UNM still has a shot at garnering the top seed in the Mountain West after Boise State just stubbed its toe on Saturday at Utah State.

Sports

Sports Issue: Former AD Krebs enters no plea to felony charges

Danielle Prokop | February 25

Former Athletic Director Paul Krebs made his first appearance in 2nd District Judicial Court before Justice William Parnell on Friday. He entered no plea. The court appearance was very short, lasting only five minutes or so. According to the prosecution, a preliminary hearing will be scheduled soon. He appeared with his attorney, Paul Kennedy. Five felony accounts were leveled against Krebs, stemming from investigations surrounding the infamous Scotland trip in 2015 — during which, UNM said it paid $25,000 of public funds for boosters, Krebs, family and a few others to golf in luxury at Trump Aberdeen.

President Garnett Stokes Meets with ASUNM Senators

News

ASUNM has allocated 60 percent of appropriation funds in three meetings

Justin Garcia | February 21

Another hefty round of requests was approved on Wednesday night. Three student groups received a combined total of $22,736 in appropriations. Two of them were club sports. The appropriations come as the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico's remaining budget for the spring semester falls to $40,935. Senators have appropriated $61,807 so far this semester. In Fall 2018, ASUNM appropriated $68,743 in total.

The Man, the Myth, the Legend -- John Arthur Smith

News

Bill would require UNM to reinstate cut sports

Kyle Land | February 21

State legislators have made reinstating the four sports cut by the University of New Mexico a mandatory condition in order for the UNM Athletics Departments to receive any state funding this legislative session. House Bill 2, the general appropriations bill for the legislative session, includes a clause stating that the $4.6 million to be appropriated to the UNM Athletics Department “is contingent on the reinstatement” of men’s soccer, men’s skiing, women’s skiing and beach volleyball — all of which were cut by the Board of Regents last August. The clause also states the Higher Education Department would have to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration and the Legislative Finance Committee that the sports have been reinstated for Fiscal Year 2020.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos win with strong second half

Matthew Narvaiz | February 21

The New Mexico women’s basketball team defeated Utah State 74-56 on Wednesday, thanks to scoring from the bench and a resurgent second half in which the Lobos dominated the Aggies in terms of rebounds. Both Jaedyn De La Cerda and Antonia Anderson contributed 14 and 13 points each off the bench, as UNM outscored the Aggies 36-22 in the second half. “The last 13 minutes we really played,” UNM head coach Mike Bradbury said. “Our response was really, really good. And I think that made a difference.”

News

Student develops tech that could save firefighters' lives

Catherine Stringam | February 21

Current research being done at the University of New Mexico has the potential to revolutionize the firefighting industry within the next few years. Manish Bhattarai, a graduate student and researcher in the electrical and computer engineering department at UNM, has been developing new technology to better help firefighters in dangerous situations. “I’m really passionate about using technology to address real-world problems,” Bhattarai said.

News

Brown hopes to solve problems as incoming regent

Cade Guerrero | February 21

The New Mexico State Senate recently confirmed all five of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s nominees for the University of New Mexico Board of Regents. One of those appointees was former Anderson School of Business Dean Douglas M. Brown. He previously served on the UNM Board for two years before his service as State Treasurer of New Mexico in 2005. Brown said he wants to tackle problems that will eventually help UNM in the near future. “It's really important not to show up with a big agenda, it's important to tend to the universities short problems such as budget — longer term is to plan for vitality for the future.” Brown said.

Culture

Upcoming concerts to see in Albuquerque

Shayla Cunico | February 20

As festival season peeks over the horizon and concerts start rolling into town with Albuquerque being a destination for many musicians. Last year we had a variety of acts visit the Duke City including, TDE front runners Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Japanese Breakfast, Beach House, Cuco, Mr. Carmack and Playboi Carti. 2019 is off to the same start with Vince Staples, Hippo Campus, Washed Out and Still Woozy displaying their talents to their northern New Mexico fans. In the middle of the second month of the year, the talent doesn’t look to be letting up any time soon.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos unable to finish strong, lose seventh home game of season

Robert Maler | February 18

The University of New Mexico men's basketball team looked pretty good in California for at least one half when it faced Fresno State a couple of weeks ago, but saw the game slip away thanks to some lengthy scoring droughts and spotty play. New Mexico (11-14, 5-8 MW) probably liked its chances if it could be more consistent this time around — play just a little bit better for a little bit longer. The Lobos did, and held a led deep in the second half, but saw the same outcome duplicated when it fell to the Bulldogs 81-73 on Saturday night at Dreamstyle Arena aka The Pit.

News

New Mexico Senate confirms regent nominees

Danielle Prokop | February 18

The New Mexico Senate unanimously confirmed all five nominees Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recommended to head the University of New Mexico Board of Regents on Friday. Sandra Begay, Douglas “Doug” Brown, Kimberly Sanchez Rael, and Robert Schwartz were confirmed as full regents, while Melissa Henry was confirmed as the student regent. Their terms start immediately.

News

Bill would make UNM Foundation subject to IPRA

Kyle Land | February 18

The UNM Foundation has long been critiqued for its opaqueness. Now, a bill making its way through the New mexico Legislature is looking to change that. House Bill 29 would allow “organizations providing funds or property to governmental entities” to be accessed through the Information of Public Records Act (IPRA), a transparency law that makes all public records in the state of New Mexico to be accessible upon request.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Fresno State bests Lobos in close match

Robert Maler | February 18

California hasn't been kind to the University of New Mexico women's basketball lately, as the team just dropped two of three games there this month. New Mexico (20-4, 10-3 MW) dropped a close one, 61-59, to San Diego State on Feb. 6, which snapped a six-game winning streak. And though the Lobos got back on track with a win over San Jose State on Wednesday, they faded Saturday in the second half in a 77-70 loss at Fresno State.

Culture

Wind Symphony concert cycle starts on high note

Katie Monette | February 18

Marking the beginning of this semester’s concert cycle, Popejoy Hall hosted the University of New Mexico’s Wind Symphony on Monday. The ensemble was under the direction of Dr. Eric Rombach-Kendall, and featured soloist John Marchiando, associate professor of trumpet. The hour-long program was highlighted by two selections, one of which being “Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble” featuring Marchiando. This jazzy piece was written by Spanish composer, Luis Serrano Alarcón. If the listener closes their eyes during the performance, they might find themselves in a smoke-filled bar circa the Golden Age.

News

Sandra Begay brings experience to Board of Regents

Anthony Jackson | February 18

Sandra Begay first started her University of New Mexico career when she received her Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering in 1987. After working at a national laboratory and leading science and engineering programs, Begay, a native New Mexican, returned to the University in 2000 and served on the Board of Regents until 2006. In 2008, Begay served on the Board of the Trustees through the UNM Foundation. Now, she is returning to the Board of Regents after more than 10 years. When Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Begay’s nomination, Begay said she was very happy.

Culture

Column: Disney fans should give live-action "Aladdin" a chance

Makayla Grijalva | February 18

Disney and live-action remakes are beginning to become synonymous. In 2019 alone they are planning to release a live-action remake of “Dumbo,” “Lion King” and “Aladdin” — arguably the most controversial of the three. While many Disney fans are skeptical about the “Aladdin” remake for various reasons, I trust Disney to successfully execute the film and to hold up the integrity of the original 1992 animated version. “Aladdin” was a clear candidate for the next Disney live-action remake. The original 1992 version was a staple of the Disney Renaissance period, and helped pull the Walt Disney company away from the financial and commercial struggles they had in the 1980s.