For more than 20 years, the Gallup Youth Boxing Program has been providing the community with free training in basic boxing techniques. The program began as a part of the New Mexico Police Athletic League.

When the state PAL folded a few years ago, the volunteer trainers, Chuck Padilla and Frank Diaz, struggled to keep the program afloat. Having a facility to operate the program was the biggest concern.

Support from the city now has the program under Gallup Parks and Recreation Department. The boxing program is headquartered at the former fire station on the north side of town at 204 W. Maloney Ave.

Most recently, the building was home to the non-profit veterans organization...

Gillentine, McCaskill too much for Gallup

The Aztec Lady Tigers sat back and took it relatively easy during the early part of the first quarter, but didn’t decide until later to make a definitive scoring move against Gallup in a 52-40 5A win Jan. 27 at Gallup High School.

As a result of the win, the Lady Tigers improved to 7-10, 1-3 in district play and Gallup fell to 13-7, 2-2. Both teams are in the midst of the season-ending stretch of 5A contests. Gallup was coming off a 49-48 road win against Bloomfield (16-4, 3-1) on Jan. 25. That game was the first district loss for the Lady Bobcats.

Gallup controlled Saturday’s game for the better part of the first quarter. But they...

The 30th Annual Down Under Sports competition announced their selection of Miyamura High School junior student Elijah Begay, 16, to represent New Mexico on the 2018 Cross Country Team in Queensland, Australia.

So what is Down Under Sports?

The organization, based in Utah, provides exceptional athletes “with the opportunity to experience the culture, beauty and grandeur of the land down under all within the framework of spirited and intense competition,” according to a press release.

Begay, of Gallup, said, “It’s a real special honor to get invited [by Down Under Sports] and to represent New Mexico.”

Growing up, Begay never thought he would be a runner. His father...

Gallup dominates game on defense

The Gallup Bengals started slow on offense, but kept the defensive pressure on the Bloomfield Bobcats for long periods of time and came away with a 60-45 decision Jan. 23 in a boys 5A conference game played at Gallup High School.

The Bengals (12-7, 3-0) are in the midst of district play, having started Jan. 16 with a 61-47 home win against Farmington (7-12, 2-1).

Tuesday’s game saw five turnovers in the first six minutes, thanks to some heady defense by both teams. The Bengals went ahead, though, by the score of 4-0 on shots by senior forward Zakarri Fields and sophomore shooting guard Quincy Smith. Bloomfield (6-14, 1-2), challenged Gallup...