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Las Cruces Sun-News 2022 National Signing Tracker

stephen wagner, las cruces sun-news
·7 min read

LAS CRUCES — National Signing Day has arrived, which means high school athletes across the country will be formally announcing their athletic destinations for the next several years.

This National Signing Day tracker will be updated with signings from local high school athletes. To notify the Las Cruces Sun-News of local signings, please email sports reporter Stephen Wagner at SWagner@lcsun-news.com or sports editor Jason Groves at jgroves@lcsun-news.com.

More: Las Cruces high schools, Santa Teresa, Deming well-represented in All-State football selections

More: High school football Class 6A District 3/4 honors released

Mayfield High’s Joey Banegas (center) signed to play football with Adams State University on National Signing Day.
Mayfield High’s Joey Banegas (center) signed to play football with Adams State University on National Signing Day.

Signings

Joey Banegas, Mayfield football: Adams State University (CO)

Banegas was a two-way tight end and defensive end for Mayfield this past season, and he was selected First Team All-State 6A at tight end. He'll play defensive end at the Division II level next season.

Banegas had 78 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries last season.

Dallas Boyd, Las Cruces High football: Papago Pumas Junior College Football (AZ)

Boyd missed the cut for an all-state selection, but the senior quarterback was named one of the Offensive Players of the Year for District 3/4 alongside Centennial senior quarterback Ian Lopez. Boyd was also named a First Team Class 6A District 3/4 All-District quarterback after racking up over 3,000 yards of total offense and 28 total touchdowns for the Bulldawgs.

Boyd was recruited as an athlete, meaning he wasn't recruited to play one specific position. Las Cruces head coach Mark Lopez believes he could play wide receiver or defensive back at the college level.

Las Cruces High football seniors Dallas Boyd (left) and Royce Paulk (right) sign with Papago and Western New Mexico on National Signing Day.
Las Cruces High football seniors Dallas Boyd (left) and Royce Paulk (right) sign with Papago and Western New Mexico on National Signing Day.

Julian Holland, Centennial football: Eastern New Mexico

Centennial’s Julian Holland signs with Eastern New Mexico on National Signing Day. Holland played defensive lineman for Centennial.
Centennial’s Julian Holland signs with Eastern New Mexico on National Signing Day. Holland played defensive lineman for Centennial.

Holland, a Second Team All-State 6A selection, spent the 2021 high school football season as a defensive lineman, although he additionally played fullback in one game. Holland was recruited as a defensive tackle, but Centennial head coach Aaron Ocampo says he believes Holland could play either offensive or defensive line collegiately as he continues to develop.

Holland had 41 total tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Hawks last season, including 14 solo tackles. He also recovered two fumbles for Centennial.

Royce Paulk, Las Cruces High football: Western New Mexico

Paulk was one of just two First Team All-State 6A selections from local high schools and one of the largest high school football players in Las Cruces. The senior offensive tackle is 6-feet-7-inches tall and 365 pounds, more than four inches and 45 pounds bigger than his next-biggest teammate.

He started all 12 games for the Bulldawgs this season and brings his overwhelming size to the Division II level. If he was on the 2021 New Mexico State football team’s roster, he would have tied for the second-tallest on the team and been the heaviest by five pounds.

Jordan Rivera, Mayfield softball: Francis Marion University

Mayfield senior Jordan Rivera signed to play softball at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. Tuesday afternoon.
Mayfield senior Jordan Rivera signed to play softball at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. Tuesday afternoon.

Rivera finishes her career as a four-year varsity letterman and has been a First Team All-District selection for two of her three seasons at Mayfield. She is hitting .473 with 10 home runs for her career, and she has amassed 105 strikeouts as a pitcher. She has maintained above a 3.0 GPA, head coach Daniel Dominguez said.

More: Mayfield softball riding the arm of Jordan Rivera

Devyn Gunn, Centennial soccer

Centennial High School’s Devyn Gunn will play college soccer.
Centennial High School’s Devyn Gunn will play college soccer.

Seth Chavez, Centennial football: Waldorf University

Chavez played a key role in Centennial's district-championship season last year, catching seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown as a tight end and consistently proving to be a key blocker in the run game. He'll look to continue his football career at a NAIA school.

Javen Gonzalez, Mayfield football: Fontbonne University

Mayfield's Javen Gonzalez signed to play college football at Fontbonne University.
Mayfield's Javen Gonzalez signed to play college football at Fontbonne University.

Gonzalez played linebacker and safety for a Trojan defense which held all of its district opponents to fewer than 14 points. He'll join teammates Jordan "Jojo" Monsivaiz and Felix Saenz at Fontbonne, a Sprint Football school.

Jordan "Jojo" Monsivaiz, Mayfield football: Fontbonne University

Mayfield football player Jordan "Jojo" Monsivaiz signed to play college football at Fontbonne University.
Mayfield football player Jordan "Jojo" Monsivaiz signed to play college football at Fontbonne University.

Monsivaiz is a 6-foot-1-inch, 225 lineman who played guard, center and defensive tackle for the Trojans last season.

Felix Saenz, Mayfield football: Fontbonne University

Mayfield football player Felix Saenz signed to play college football at Fontbonne University.
Mayfield football player Felix Saenz signed to play college football at Fontbonne University.

Saenz starred as a ball carrier at Mayfield last season during his all-district season. He'll look to do the same at the next level.

Tre Evans, Las Cruces football: Madonna University

Evans' 6-foot-3-inch, 270-pound frame is more than enough to make him an attractive target for colleges. He played defensive tackle for the Bulldawgs last season.

Jadyn Duran, Centennial soccer: Northwest Mississippi Community College

Centennial's Jadyn Duran signed with Northwest Mississippi Community College to play collegiate soccer.
Centennial's Jadyn Duran signed with Northwest Mississippi Community College to play collegiate soccer.

Centennial's midfielder scored 16 goals in 19 games last season en route to a community college offer.

Margarita Salas, Mayfield basketball: Trinidad State College

Salas averaged better than 12 points per game in her senior season and was named a team captain. She also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Jeven Beltran, Centennial basketball: Western New Mexico

Beltran established himself as one of the top players in his district, averaging almost 18 points per game last season. He also averaged four points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Deuce Benjamin, Las Cruces basketball: New Mexico State

Benjamin, the No. 1 player in the state, will become the second member of his family to play for the Aggies, joining his father, William Benjamin. He averaged 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds his senior year and led the Bulldawgs to the state championship game.

More: Breaking down NMSU's 2022-2023 basketball roster: Experience dominates Heiar's first Aggie recruiting class

More: Deuce Benjamin knows his father's NMSU basketball legacy. Now he wants to create his own

Jaci Powers, Las Cruces basketball: Southwestern Oregon Community College

Las Cruces' 6-foot senior shooting guard was dubbed "a real deal bucket getter" by SOCC in a Twitter statement and will suit up for the Lakers next season. She was an all-district guard for the Bulldawgs last season and averaged 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in her senior year.

Felicia Apodaca, Centennial soccer: Arizona Christian

Stephen Wagner is a sports reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at SWagner@lcsun-news.com.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces Sun-News 2022 high school national signing tracker