JT Keith
Artesia football coach Jeremy Maupin did not have enough on his plate after winning three Class 5A state championships. Instead, he took on the role of the school’s athletic director.
The move emulates former Bulldog legend Cooper Henderson. Henderson previously pulled double duty, serving as the school’s athletic director and head football coach.
During his first year at the helm of the department, Maupin expressed high satisfaction with the widespread success of the school’s athletic teams.
The championship standard remained high on the gridiron and on the links. The football team secured a thrilling state title with a 25-24 victory over Roswell. The boys’ golf team and the girls’ softball team also captured state championships.
Artesia came agonizingly close to adding more hardware to the trophy case. The basketball, baseball and track teams all finished their seasons as state runners-up.
“I am really proud of our coaches and athletes and this entire class of athletes,” Maupin said. “I think our coaches do a really good job.”
The Artesia softball team holds the blue trophy after beating Aztec on Saturday in the Class 4A championship game.
The success extended to the pitch as well. The boys’ and girls’ soccer teams both won district titles. Both squads put together the deepest playoff runs in program history. The boys advanced to the state semifinals, and the girls reached the quarterfinals.
Maupin noted that the winter sports maintained a competitive edge. The volleyball team enjoyed a highly successful campaign. On the hardwood, the girls’ basketball team showed steady improvement throughout the season. They put themselves squarely on the bubble for a playoff berth.
In individual sports, the Bulldogs found plenty of validation on the big stage. Both the swimming and wrestling programs produced top-tier athletes. These competitors earned spots on the podium at their respective state meets.
Kirklyn and Breckyn Miller win the doubles at state this year.
The tennis program provided one of the year’s most historic highlights. On the court, Kirklyn and Breckyn Miller captured the school’s first state doubles championship, and the first females to win state in tennis.
Track and diamond sports capped off a stellar spring. The girls’ track team finished third overall at the state meet. In softball, the squad’s resilience particularly impressed Maupin. The Bulldogs bounced back to defeat Aztec for the state crown. This victory came after dropping a tight 6-3 decision in the opening game of the championship series.
“Having to come back and beat Aztec in softball in that second game was big for us,” Maupin said. “I think we had Albuquerque Academy and some of those teams a little worried. If we go compete at the highest level we could, I thought we had a chance to win.”
The blue trophy came back to Artesia after the golf team defeated Albuquerque Academy on May 12.
As the academic year comes to a close, the first-year director is already looking toward the future.
“I am so proud of our teams,” Maupin said. “This community is so good at supporting us. It has been a really good year, and I look forward to more good things happening this summer and next year.”
JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X @JTKEITH1.