New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Announces its
2023 Special Recognition Recipients as
part of the 50th Year Induction Celebration Weekend.

50th Induction Celebration Weekend events will be held June 21-23
Albuquerque, NM – January 13, 2024 – The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame celebrates 50 years this June. The first Induction Banquet was on March 5, 1974. As part of this celebration, the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fameproudly announces their special recognitions for the past year, celebrating accomplishments by fellow NewMexican individuals or teams.
• Chase Ealey – World Champion in shot put.
• Josh Kerr – World Champion 1500 meters
• Mitch Garver – Member of the World Series Champion Texas Rangers
• Gianna Rahmer, Eldorado High School – 6A State Champion, SW Nike Regional Champion & 6th in Nike
Nationals cross-country
• Jack Nixon, NMSU – 500th football game – play-by-play
• Jerry Kill and the NMSU Football Team – 2 straight bowl appearances
• Savannah Sanchez – Hope Christian School Soccer – broke the state girls’ soccer record for goals at 170
and 407 points.
• Jalyn Montes – Cibola Softball player – broke the state girls’ softball record for home record with 20
home runs in the 2023 season.
• Makayla Munoz, Aztec High School – the only four-time state champion in girls’ wrestling.
• Albuquerque Isotopes – 2023 Bob Freitas award winner for best overall Triple-A organization in Minor
League Baseball. 11 millionth fan in September. Named the 2023 Copa de la Diversión Campeón.
• Habtom Samuel, University of New Mexico – finished as an NCAA Men’s Cross-Country Runner-Up.
• Brian Mendoza – won the WBC interim junior middleweight championship
• NMSU Cheer Team – NMSU comes away from USA Collegiate Championships with two first-place
finishes.

These special recognitions will occur at the 50th Anniversary Induction Banquet on June 23rd during the
Induction Celebration Weekend. The Induction Banquet will be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame will hold a formal press conference on Saturday morning, February 10th
at the Albuquerque Convention Center to announce the Class of 2023 inductees.

For more information, as well as updates on the candidates, inductees, partnership opportunities, and event
information, please visit the updated New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Website at www.nmshof.org