ANOTHER STORM FRONT IS COMING
Seven consecutive appearances in the Class 6A state championship game. Five titles in the last six seasons. For V. Sue Cleveland High School, winning isn’t just a goal—it’s the standard.
Cleveland graduated 10 defensive starters, but don’t mistake new faces for lowered expectations. “We expect to be a physical team,” said head coach Robert Garza. “We expect them to know what they’re doing, and our ultimate goal is to give ourselves an opportunity to play for a state championship. These guys know what we’re shooting for, and they work for it all year.”
The offense will feature one of New Mexico’s brightest young stars in sophomore wide receiver Evan Nanez. Already holding scholarship offers from the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State, Nanez narrowly missed the 1,000-yard receiving mark as a freshman. “It would be nice to hit 1,000 yards. I was four yards short of it last year,” Nanez said. “Also, I want to win every game with the team.”
Helping him chase both goals will be sophomore quarterback Michael Denison, who steps into the spotlight following the graduation of Gatorade New Mexico Football Player of the Year Jordan Hatch. The transition may be smoother than most. Denison and Nanez have spent years building chemistry. “We have a strong friendship. I’ve been throwing him the ball since fifth grade,” Denison said. “We have that connection. It will be fun this year.”
Garza believes his new quarterback brings a dynamic skill set to the position. “He’s athletic. The kid is capable of doing a lot of things,” Garza said. “He’s got a really strong arm and runs really well. He gives you that extra dimension as a quarterback. We’re excited to see where it’s going to go with him. As a JV quarterback last year, he had a lot of success and was able to do a lot of good things. He hasn’t had a lot of varsity time, but we know what he’s capable of.”
The Storm also added proven playmakers on both sides of the ball. Running back D’Angelo Mitchell transfers in after scoring 10 touchdowns last season at Volcano Vista High School, adding another explosive weapon to Cleveland’s offense. Defensively, former Rio Rancho standout Jacari Smith joins the Storm after recording seven sacks with the Rams in 2025, providing an immediate boost to a defense replacing much of last year’s starting unit.
Despite the personnel changes, the expectations remain exactly where they’ve been for nearly a decade. For Cleveland, every season begins with one destination in mind. The Storm open the 2026 campaign at home on August 21 against Centennial, marking the sixth consecutive season the two programs have met in the season opener.
