Bloomfield wrestling team celebrates state championship – The Tri-City Record

Rings presented to wrestling team after winning second title in school history

The Bloomfield High School wrestling team poses with the state championship trophy and rings at the end of the team’s ring ceremony on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in the high school cafeteria. (Curtis Ray Benally/Turkeyboy Photography)

Curtis Ray Benally

BLOOMFIELD – The Bloomfield High School wrestling team celebrated its first state championship in 40 years at an awards ceremony Saturday.

Bobcats coach Jason Luster was joined at a ceremony by school officials, including athletic director Ben Tensay and members of the 2024 state championship team.

Bloomfield, which hadn’t won a state wrestling title since 1984, was led by Hunter Samora. Samora captured an individual title in the 127-pound weight class with a win over Caleb Gustafason of Moriarty.

Elias Johnson, who captured a state title in the 133-pound division with a win over Moriarty’s Jonathan Valdez, was the second Bobcat to win an individual title.

Bloomfield High School wrestling head coach Jason Luster thanks the administration, booster club, parents and community members for their support of the wrestling team before presenting the state championship rings in the cafeteria on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Bloomfield. (Curtis Ray Benally/Turkeyboy Photography)

Curtis Ray Benally

Bloomfield won the Class 4A state title over Aztec, with Belen and West Las Vegas as the top four teams. The championships were held Feb. 23-24 at the Rio Rancho Events Center.

“Tonight was a celebration of togetherness,” Lustre said. “These young athletes have put their blood, sweat and tears on the mat this season and have come together in a brotherhood that every coach dreams of.”

Gunner Samora, Tyler Reinhardt, Logan Gosnell and Robert Williams each took home a third-place medal.

“This is a very special group of young athletes,” Luster said. “I have been with this group for ten years and could not ask for anything more. This team will always have a very special place in my heart and is the definition of champions.”

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