2025: Year in Review
Special to the Times | Reginald Chee
Winslow Bulldog Michael Romero shows his emotions after winning his first state title at 144 pounds during the AIA Division IV state wrestling tournament at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sat., Feb. 22.
By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK – It’s been a busy year for the sports department at the Navajo Times.
We’ve covered everything from the local sports scene to a few regional and national sporting events such as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the 2025 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as part of our coverage.
Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
The Navajo Prep Lady Eagles celebrate after receiving the 2025 New Mexico 3A championship trophy at midcourt of the UNM Pit in Albuquerque on Friday, Mar. 14.
Like we did last year, the Times has compiled a list of our top stories from 2025 in a month-to-month layout so pick up the Navajo Times at your local newsstands.
Some of the stories that were reported on included the Arizona and New Mexico state wrestling tournament. Several wrestlers won state titles including four in Arizona. In New Mexico, Aztec reclaimed the boys state title with nine wrestlers earning state medals while state runner-up Bloomfield had three individuals take gold.
Our local fans were treated to five state championships in basketball with the Flagstaff girls, Navajo Prep girls, Gallup girls, Albuquerque Sandia girls and Phoenix Central boys all hoisting state championship trophies.
In rodeo, there were several milestones hit during 2025 with Derrick Begay winning RodeoHouston in mid-March with heeling partner Colter Todd. During the summer months, Tuba City cowboy Aaron Tsinigine won the prestigious Reno Rodeo for the third time with heeling partner Jeremy Buhler in late June
Courtesy photo
NMSU cowboy Brad Moreno holds his all-around championship saddle following the conclusion of the 2025 CNFR in Casper, Wyo. Moreno captured the coveted title with 255 points. He is pictured here, from left to right, mother, Yolanda Moreno, grandma Lilly White and aunt Bobbi White.
The Tsinigine/Buhler combo added another championship win at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo the following month. At that same rodeo, Diné cowgirl Danielle Lowman earned the win in the breakaway.
At the College National Finals Rodeo, Brad Moreno captured the men’s all-around crown. To win the all-around, Moreno placed third in the bull riding average race. He also competed in the team roping competition with heeling partner with Lucas Madera Cruz as they finished one spot of making the short round.
In late September, Mexican Springs, New Mexico cowgirl Bailey Bates won the event title at the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as she amassed a total of $34,978, which helped her earn a trip to the National Finals Breakaway Roping.
The prep cross country season had five runners win state crowns. In Arizona, Flagstaff senior Taylor Biggambler won the Division II race while Page senior earned the Division III title and Valley Lutheran senior Benjamin Benally repeated as Division IV titlist.
In New Mexico, Laguna Acoma senior Tagoya Pedro and Navajo Prep junior repeated as state champs.
In football, the Bloomfield Bobcats repeated as the Class 4A state champs in New Mexico.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow