NM Sports Hall of Fame is awarding these individuals and teams for their accomplishments in 2023
Jan. 13—The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame has announced 11 individuals and three teams as recipients of special-recognition awards for their accomplishments in 2023.
They are:
Los Alamos' Chase Ealey, who won a World Track and Field gold medal in the shot put in August in Budapest
Scotland's Josh Kerr, a former New Mexico Lobo who won a world title in the 1,500 meters in Budapest.
Former La Cueva Bear and UNM Lobo Mitch Garver, who helped the Texas Rangers win the 2023 World Series.
Cross country phenom Gianna Rahmer, who as an eighth-grader won the Class 5A state title for Eldorado as well as a Nike Regional title.
Longtime New Mexico State play-by-play announcer Jack Nixon, who called his 500th football game in 2023.
Former New Mexico State football coach Jerry Kill and his 2023 Aggies, who won 10 games for the first time since 1960, made it to the Conference USA title game in their first year in the league and played in a bowl game for the second straight season.
Hope Christian soccer player Savanah Sanchez, who set state records with 170 goals and 407 points during her prep career.
Cibola softball player Jalyn Montes, who hit a state-record 20 home runs last spring.
Aztec's Makayla Munoz, New Mexico's first four-time girls state wrestling champion.
The Albuquerque Isotopes, awarded the 2023 Bob Freitas Award as baseball's best Triple-A organization and winner of the Copa de la Diversion.
UNM's Habtom Samuel, the Mountain West Conference and Mountain Region cross country champion and national runner-up.
Rio Rancho's Brian Mendoza, who in April won the World Boxing Council interim welterweight tItle with a stunning, seventh-round knockout of previously unbeaten Sebastian Fundora.
The New Mexico State cheer team, which took two first places at the USA Collegiate Championships.
The above awardees will be honored at the the NMSHOF's 50th-year induction banquet, scheduled for June 23 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The 2023 inductees will be announced on Feb. 10.
