Santa Teresa High School’s State Championship A Win For The Community
Sunland Park was just another quiet city on the map until accusations of fraud, politicians arrested, and a videotape involving a woman dancing topless attracted negative attention to the area.
About six miles Northwest of Sunland Park you’ll find Santa Teresa High School, where laughter, music, and cheers filled the hallways on Saturday.
The Santa Teresa High School boys basketball team captured a state championship over Gallup and returned to a festive reception.
While chants of “MVP” filled the air, a sign reading, “Manny for President” was a subtle reminder of the scandal surrounding local politics, stemming from scandal and extortion littering the headlines.
“(The championship) is very important to the community,” said a proud parent. “We want people to see this (community) isn’t just bad publicity.”
The “bad publicity” started with a sexually graphic tape involving Sunland Park mayoral candidate Gerardo Hernandez being released to the media, followed by claims by Gerardo that his his opponent, Daniel Salinas, tried to extort Gerardo out of the race. Salinas has been charged with allegedly trying to extort Gerardo.
It ended with Salinas winning the election, but he can’t be sworn in because stepping on city property would land him behind bars.
But Saturday, the people of Santa Teresa began to turn the page on the negativity next door.
Santa Teresa high students put a community on their back, brushing off story lines, an opposing team and a crowd of naysayers.
“All the bad junk they say about that, we will always rise from the ashes,” said student Marilyn Monroy. “No matter what, Santa Teresa will always rise to the top.”
