The Las Cruces Kings from New Mexico is a semi-professional football team coached by SMHS graduate Michael Ronquillo. It is also a championship team.
The Kings are made up of players that are 18 years and older. The players represent all area high schools in Las Cruces, N.M. It also includes ex-New Mexico State Aggies as well as other ex-players from West New Mexico University and the University of New Mexico.
Coach Ronquillo explained that they participate in the Rio Grande Football League (RGFL). The league has 2 divisions. There is the Zia Division from New Mexico, which includes Coach Ronquillo’s Las Cruces Kings. There are 3 other teams in this same division: from Albuquerque, Alamogordo and Clovis. The Lone Star Division (Texas) also has 4 teams. There are 3 teams from El Paso and one from Odessa.
The Las Cruces Kings finished the 2015 season with a 9-1 record. They ended with a 9-game winning streak. The Kings won the Zia Division by defeating the defending League and National Champions (NM Wolfpack from Albuquerque) by a score of 30-14. The Kings went on to win the RGFL Championship by defeating the Sun City Reapers from El Paso 23-22. The victory came after a touchdown with only 17 seconds remaining in the game.
West Texas Amateur Football News is an online site that tracks information and news regarding Semi-Pro Football in New Mexico and West Texas. This news site selected the Las Cruces Kings quarterback Ryan Farley as Player of the Year. Michael Ronquillo was selected as Coach of the Year for the 2015 Season.
Coach Ronquillo looks forward to defending their championship in 2016.
Michael Ronquillo is the son of Steve and Mercy Ronquillo from San Manuel. He graduated from SMHS in 1996 then went on to graduate from New Mexico State University in 2001.
Not too shabby for a local boy! Congratulations, Michael.