Breaking News
Home / Sports News / David Rodriguez Makes Debut Tonight as St. Mike’s Head Coach

David Rodriguez Makes Debut Tonight as St. Mike’s Head Coach

David Rodriguez steps in as new head coach of boy’s basketball at St. Michael’s by opening tonight in Sandia Park at East Mountain

Santa Fe High bounces in at West Mesa in Albuquerque and Santa Fe Prep, already 1-0, plays at Mesa Vista

Arnie Leshin

By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today

The first three games of the St. Michael’s boy’s basketball season are the same, the only thing that has changed is the head coach as the Horsemen open tonight at East Mountain in Sandia Park.

After a dozen years of guiding the fortunes of the Horsemen, reeling in three state championships and being the most feared foe for perennial power Albuquerque Hope Christian, Ron Geyer hands the role to veteran coach David Rodriguez and finally takes a break.

Geyer won state over the Huskies in 2006, in 2007, and in 2012. He lost in the finals to Hope in 2009, 2013, 2014.

Rodriguez certainly has the experience, having coached the boy’s basketball program at Santa Fe High for 20 years, and before he can call on the football players whose season has just ended, he counts on his present roster to jump-start his initial contest.

“Most of the football players who come out will probably play on the junior varsity,” Rodriguez said last week.

It’s the same start as last season for the Horsemen, who opened at home than by routing East Mountain, 64-27, winning 71-21 over visiting Albuquerque Bosque School, and then losing to Los Alamos, 59-50. Now they take their first three on the road. Last year, St. Michael’s wound up all even at 15-15 and went 4-4 in district.

While 6-foot junior guard Jevon Montoya is the top returner, the tri-captains are seniors Jerome Baca, Alex Schandelwein, and Devin Ritschel. Baca is a 5-6 guard, Schandelwein goes 6-2 and plays the post, while Ritschel is 6-7 and hopes to contribute more his final season.

Ritschel does have the size, but has to improve on his rebounding, shot blocking, handling the ball, and taking advantage of his height by taking charge inside. Baca figures to team with Montoya in the backcourt. Schandelwein showed some improvement last season, and Rodriguez is hoping for more.

To add more height, there’s 6-3 junior Connor Glatz, 6-2 sophomore Thomas Wood and 6-2 junior Derek McQuiston. There’s also 5-11 junior Victor Otero, and 5-9 senior guard Lucas Gonzales.

Rodriguez, a graduate of St. Michael’s, has put his coaching staff together, with Frank Leyba as assistant coach, Oscar Chavez as JV coach, Donald Flores as coach of the C Team, Jordan Romero as coach of the 8th graders, and Jonathan Moon as coach of the 7th graders.

Marcus Lujan is the director of basketball operations and Romero returns to his alma mater after starring under Geyer and then playing and graduating from Eastern New Mexico. His dad, Martin Romero, has resigned as Lady Horsemen head coach and replaced by Martin Esquibel.

St. Michael’s was all even at 15-15 last season, 4-4 in district.

Santa Fe High, under Zack Cole for the third year, opens at Albuquerque West Mesa. For size, Cole can bank on 6-4 senior Jonah Baca at power forward and 6-4 freshman Fedonta “Jib” White, who will go at wing and power forward.

The best returning Demon is 6-foot senior Victor Salcido, a shooting guard and wing, and then there’s 6-1 junior Stephen Romero, Jr., a power forward and wing, plus another senior in 5-10 power forward Hector Salcido.

Playing in 6A, Cole did a masterful job last year in putting together a 17-11 overall record and 7-3 in district. He opened with a 59-52 win at home last season over 6A West Mesa. The Mustangs went 10-16 for the season.

Santa Fe Prep does not open tonight. It already had a 66-53 win over Bosque School. Under its head coach, it hopes to improve on last year’s 9-18 mark as it takes the court at Mesa Vista tonight.

The 3A Griffins have but two seniors, Harrison Miller and Victor Rios. Talented junior Sam Sparks is looking for a big season, along with fellow junior Reed Kellam.

Check Also

All seven rounds of the 3-day NFL College Football Draft went smoothly

By Arnie Leshin  If anyone expected the Cincinnati Bengals to by pass Joe Burrow with …