Category: Mesilla Valley Sports Show

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Every Body Rides with Grace and the Adaptive Cycle Parade

6/4/2026

This episode of the Mesilla Valley Sports Show featured a conversation with Grace Holguin, her mother Andrea, and Velo Cruces President George Pearson, focusing on the origins and growth of the Adaptive Cycle Parade, Every Body Rides with Grace . The guests shared Grace’s journey navigating physical challenges and her determination to participate in cycling activities alongside other children, which helped inspire the creation of the event. The discussion highlighted the collaborative efforts behind organizing the parade, the importance of adaptive equipment, and the role of community support in making inclusive events possible. It also explored broader advocacy work in Las Cruces aimed at improving access and equity for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing how initiatives like this can open doors for greater participation and connection across the community.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Mary & Lori Henson Remember Lou Henson, the Coach Who Put NMSU on the Map

5/7/2026

Hosts Mike O'Larey and Brian Cox welcome Mary Henson and her daughter Lori for a warmand lively conversation about the life and legacy of legendary NMSU basketball coach Lou Henson. Mary traces the arc from the beginning: how she and Lou met working summers at a pea canning plant in Illinois and later married in a Las Cruces courthouse with Lou back at practice later that afternoon.

Lou's early years coaching math and basketball at Las Cruces High School brought three consecutive state championships, and his return to NMSU in 1966 launched the era of the Amazing Aggies, with national rankings, NCAA tournament runs, and the 1970 Final Four. Lori reflects on what it was like growing up in a coaching family, following her father from Williams Gym to the Pan American Center he helped design.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Mike & Brian Look Back on a Year of Cruces Sports

4/30/2026

With no guest this week, hosts Mike O'Larey and Brian Cox take stock of the past year on the Mesilla Valley Sports Show. They reflect on the many memorable guests who have shared their stories: Hall of Fame Aggie athletes who stayed in Las Cruces and gave back through coaching, pro athletes who came up through the local sports pipeline, administrators and behind-the-scenes figures who keep programs running, and community builders running everything from skateboard shops to safe routes to school programs. Along the way they also dig into the current sports moment - a hotly contested District 3 softball race, NMSU baseball's extra-inning win over UNM, men's golf advancing at Conference USA, and a standout shoutout to Aggie softball pitcher Faith Aragon, ranked fifth in the nation in strikeouts while pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. The episode is part highlight reel, part love letter to Las Cruces sports.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: NMSU Head Football Coach Tony Sanchez Returns

4/23/2026

This episode of the Mesilla Valley Sports Show featured a return visit from NMSU head football coach Tony Sanchez, who provided an in-depth update on the program heading into the 2026 season. Sanchez reflected on a 2025 campaign that included several close losses while noting key areas for improvement, particularly along the offensive line and running game . He discussed how changes to the transfer portal and the introduction of revenue sharing have helped stabilize the roster, allowing the Aggies to improve retention and better compete within Conference USA . The conversation also covered recruiting efforts, the addition of new talent at key positions, and increased depth—especially at quarterback and along the lines—along with the year-round demands of roster management in modern college football.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Safe Routes to School Coordinator Ashleigh Curry

4/16/2026

Host Mike O'Larey sits down with Ashleigh Curry, who has spent nearly two decades building the Las Cruces Safe Routes to School program from a single volunteer role at Mesilla Elementary into a district-wide operation with a full staff team and 100% participation across all 25 LCPS elementary schools. Curry explains how the program works and the wide coalition of city, county, health, and law enforcement partners that supports it. The conversation also covers the upcoming Family Bike Fiesta at Lynn Middle School, the launch of a first-ever girls mountain biking camp this summer, recently passed state legislation adding bike and pedestrian awareness to driver's ed, and the "Idaho stop" law that changed how cyclists can legally treat stop signs and red lights.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Bridle Up Hope's Kelly Koerper

4/9/2026

Mike and Brian welcome Kelly Koerper, local director of Bridle Up Hope, to discuss how the equine-based program is helping girls and women build confidence, resilience, and self-awareness through hands-on experiences with horses. Koerper explains how the curriculum blends horsemanship with principles from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, creating powerful opportunities for personal growth. She shares how horses mirror human emotions, helping participants manage anxiety, process grief, and develop stronger communication and life skills. Through inspiring stories from the Las Cruces program, the conversation highlights the unique bond between humans and horses - and how that connection can lead to meaningful, lasting change.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: NMSU Golf Course Director Jason White

4/2/2026

On this episode of the Mesilla Valley Sports Show, Mike and Brian sat down with NMSU Golf Course Director Jason White for an in-depth look at the operations, history, and community impact of one of the region’s premier golf facilities . White shared his path from a high school golfer in the Pacific Northwest to New Mexico State’s PGA Golf Management program, and ultimately to leading the course. He described the scope of his role overseeing a complex operation that includes course maintenance, golf programming, dining, events, and a large student workforce. The conversation also explored the course’s deep community ties, from youth and veteran programs to hosting charity tournaments, illustrating how the facility serves not just golfers, but the broader Las Cruces community.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: NMSU Basketball Hall of Famer William Benjamin

3/26/2026

Hosts Mike O'Larey and Brian Cox sit down with NMSU Basketball Hall of Famer and longtime Las Cruces High School boys basketball coach William Benjamin for a conversation about one of the most storied careers in local sports. Benjamin recalls his four years as an Aggie point guard under coach Neil McCarthy — four straight postseason appearances, a signature upset of seventh-ranked UNLV at a rocking Pan American Center, and a Sweet 16 run that ended against a UCLA team loaded with future NBA players. He also shares the story of McCarthy personally paying his tuition to help him finish his degree after his playing days ended. The conversation turns to his 15-plus years coaching the Bulldawgs, including five state championship game appearances, titles in his fourth year and again in 2020.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Gymnasts Mila Noopila and Rylie Barrios with Coach Bridgette Scholljergedes

3/19/2026

Hosts Mike O'Larey and Brian Cox sat down with two of Las Cruces' top gymnasts - Mila Noopila and Rylie Barrios - and their coach, Bridgette Scholljergedes, owner of Elevate Gymnastics and Athletics, ahead of the New Mexico State Championships. Both seniors have accomplished something rare for Southern New Mexico athletes: college gymnastics commitments, with Noopila heading to UW-Eau Claire and Barrios to SUNY Brockport in New York. The conversation covered how each found the sport, the mental and physical demands of competing at level 10, the grueling 18-20 hour weekly training schedule, and what it takes to navigate the recruiting process in a sport with fewer than 2,000 college roster spots nationwide.

Mesilla Valley Sports Show: Athletic Trainers Daryl Wooten, Ben Snyder & Jazzy Benavides

3/12/2026

In honor of National Athletic Training Month, host Mike O'Larey brings together three local athletic training professionals to discuss the profession — what it is, what it isn't, and why it matters. Daryl Wooten, a nearly 40-year veteran of high school athletic training in Las Cruces, reflects on the city's long legacy of strong athletic training programs and pays tribute to the late Tim "Doc" Acklin of Mayfield High School. Ben Snyder, Director of Clinical Education for NMSU's Master of Athletic Training program, talks about preparing the next generation of athletic trainers. Jazzy Benavides, Athletic Trainer Coordinator for Las Cruces Public Schools, describes her role creating district-wide consistency in athlete care. Together they cover the emotional demands of the job, the ongoing challenge of getting the profession properly recognized, and why Las Cruces has set a standard that much of the state still hasn't matched.

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