A dramatic win against Sandia Prep in penalty kicks in last year’s Class 1A-3A boys soccer state championship match gave Santa Fe Prep its first state title since 2016 and its fourth in program history. Following an 18-1 regular season in 2026, the Blue Griffins head into this year’s state tournament eyeing a repeat.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Blue Griffins head coach Rick Canby joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the success of his squad and its mentality heading into the tournament.

The Santa Fe Prep boys have the No. 2 seed in the tournament after winning it all as the top seed last year. Canby talks about the impact of Dylan Chandler, one of the state’s best players, and other strengths of the squad. He also looks at the Blue Griffins’ path and discusses other top contenders in the tournament.

In the second segment, the guys make their picks for the final week of the prep football regular season and talk about the University of New Mexico football team’s big win over North Dakota State.

A dramatic win against Sandia Prep in penalty kicks in last year&rsquo;s Class 1A-3A boys soccer state championship match gave Santa Fe Prep its first state title since 2016 and its fourth in program history. Following an 18-1 regular season in 2026, the Blue Griffins head into this year&rsquo;s state tournament eyeing a repeat.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, Blue Griffins head coach Rick Canby joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the success of his squad and its mentality heading into the tournament.
The Santa Fe Prep boys have the No. 2 seed in the tournament after winning it all as the top seed last year. Canby talks about the impact of Dylan Chandler, one of the state&rsquo;s best players, and other strengths of the squad. He also looks at the Blue Griffins&rsquo; path and discusses other top contenders in the tournament.
In the second segment, the guys make their picks for the final week of the prep football regular season and talk about the University of New Mexico football team&rsquo;s big win over North Dakota State.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.   
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp; The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.  

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Santa Fe Prep seeks to repeat as state soccer champs; plus Lobos talk and prep football picks

Our guest for this week's podcast was Derek Hanson, the brand manager for 740 The Fan, KNFL-AM in Fargo, North Dakota.

A longtime Fargo resident, he hosts a sports talk show on KNFL and KFGO, 104.7 FM. He was with us to share his insights on North Dakota State's football team. The Bison will be in Albuquerque this Saturday to face New Mexico at University Stadium, a game that will go down as one of the biggest regular season games in program history.

North Dakota State is in its first season at the Football Bowl Championship level and is the newest addition to the Mountain West Conference. The Bison (6-1 overall, 3-1 in the conference) have the nation's second-ranked defense.

The Lobos (5-1, 2-0) are hoping for a sellout crowd, which would be the third in the last two seasons under coach Jason Eck. UNM has won 10 straight games at home, and the Lobos have never lost a home game since Eck took over as coach prior to last season.

Our guest for this week's podcast was Derek Hanson, the brand manager for 740 The Fan, KNFL-AM in Fargo, North Dakota.
A longtime Fargo resident, he hosts a sports talk show on KNFL and KFGO, 104.7 FM. He was with us to share his insights on North Dakota State's football team. The Bison will be in Albuquerque this Saturday to face New Mexico at University Stadium, a game that will go down as one of the biggest regular season games in program history.
North Dakota State is in its first season at the Football Bowl Championship level and is the newest addition to the Mountain West Conference. The Bison (6-1 overall, 3-1 in the conference) have the nation's second-ranked defense.
The Lobos (5-1, 2-0) are hoping for a sellout crowd, which would be the third in the last two seasons under coach Jason Eck. UNM has won 10 straight games at home, and the Lobos have never lost a home game since Eck took over as coach prior to last season.

UNM Football faces North Dakota State, the nation's second-ranked defense.

Six wins in seven games has already secured a winning season for the Santa Fe Indian School football team. It’s uncharted territory for the players of a program that had gone four straight seasons with just one win, and the Braves are hoping to keep the momentum rolling.  

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, SFIS head coach Anthony “Bones” Segura joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports Will Webber and James Barron to discuss his squad’s dramatic turnaround and its aspirations as the playoffs near.

Segura, now in his third year at the helm, has the Braves sitting at 6-1 heading into Friday’s key matchup with Newcomb (3-3) in their regular season home finale. SFIS hits the road for its last two regular season games, played at Shiprock and Cuba.

A former star running back at Capital, Segura discusses some of the early challenges he faced when taking over a program that had fallen on hard times. He also shares what he’s learned from mentors, including Bill Moon.

While the Braves are enjoying their new success, Segura says they still have big aspirations. Their goals to start the season, he said, were to win their district and to host a playoff game, both of which are still in play.

In the second segment, Will and James make their prep football picks and offer support for longtime Albuquerque Journal sports writer James Yodice.

Six wins in seven games has already secured a winning season for the Santa Fe Indian School football team. It&rsquo;s uncharted territory for the players of a program that had gone four straight seasons with just one win, and the Braves are hoping to keep the momentum rolling.  
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, SFIS head coach Anthony &ldquo;Bones&rdquo; Segura joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports Will Webber and James Barron to discuss his squad&rsquo;s dramatic turnaround and its aspirations as the playoffs near.
Segura, now in his third year at the helm, has the Braves sitting at 6-1 heading into Friday&rsquo;s key matchup with Newcomb (3-3) in their regular season home finale. SFIS hits the road for its last two regular season games, played at Shiprock and Cuba.
A former star running back at Capital, Segura discusses some of the early challenges he faced when taking over a program that had fallen on hard times. He also shares what he&rsquo;s learned from mentors, including Bill Moon.
While the Braves are enjoying their new success, Segura says they still have big aspirations. Their goals to start the season, he said, were to win their district and to host a playoff game, both of which are still in play.
In the second segment, Will and James make their prep football picks and offer support for longtime Albuquerque Journal sports writer James Yodice.

From 1-9 to district contenders, Santa Fe Indian School football team enjoying landmark season

A member of a top-three NCAA cross country team in the nation, it would be easy to assume the University of New Mexico’s Tina Nisoli followed the course of most other exemplary athletes with a decorated prep career translating into college success. But her story took an uncommon route.

Nisoli went to a high school — Los Alamos High — that has one of the top cross country teams in New Mexico year after year. But Nisoli never participated in cross country or track at the school.

What she did was run every afternoon during a free period after lunch because she was restless and needed a release to be able to sit still in class the rest of the day. Often she would wear Converse sneakers and jeans, not athletic apparel and running shoes.

Now, she has a chance to wear a medal around her neck at the end of the season as the Lobos pursue a national championship.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron speak with Nisoli about her unusual path to becoming an elite college athlete.

Nisoli shares why she decided not to run in high school and how she still ended up running for a college program that is consistently one of the best in the nation. She also talks about how she has balanced athletics with studying to be a nurse.

The Lobos’ men’s and women’s teams have both produced not just some of the best runners in the NCAA, but some of the best in the world. Nisoli shares what sort of influence they have had on her through her college career.

In the second segment, Will and James review the football action from the past week and make their picks for this week’s prep football games, including the game of the week between St. Michael’s and West Las Vegas.

A member of a top-three NCAA cross country team in the nation, it would be easy to assume the University of New Mexico&rsquo;s Tina Nisoli followed the course of most other exemplary athletes with a decorated prep career translating into college success. But her story took an uncommon route.
Nisoli went to a high school &mdash; Los Alamos High &mdash; that has one of the top cross country teams in New Mexico year after year. But Nisoli never participated in cross country or track at the school.
What she did was run every afternoon during a free period after lunch because she was restless and needed a release to be able to sit still in class the rest of the day. Often she would wear Converse sneakers and jeans, not athletic apparel and running shoes.
Now, she has a chance to wear a medal around her neck at the end of the season as the Lobos pursue a national championship.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron speak with Nisoli about her unusual path to becoming an elite college athlete.
Nisoli shares why she decided not to run in high school and how she still ended up running for a college program that is consistently one of the best in the nation. She also talks about how she has balanced athletics with studying to be a nurse.
The Lobos&rsquo; men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s teams have both produced not just some of the best runners in the NCAA, but some of the best in the world. Nisoli shares what sort of influence they have had on her through her college career.
In the second segment, Will and James review the football action from the past week and make their picks for this week&rsquo;s prep football games, including the game of the week between St. Michael&rsquo;s and West Las Vegas.

Santa Fe Prep seeks to repeat as state soccer champs; plus Lobos talk and prep football picks

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