Gallup honors Hozho Academy players after historic football season

Gallup city leaders used a Dec. 22 council meeting to formally recognize five Hozho Academy football players named to the New Mexico High School Coaches Association all-state team, bringing civic attention to a program that posted a 9-3 record this season and won its district title for the first time.

The honored athletes were Abraham Azua, Wyatt Piano, Brandon Bonaguidi, Kaleb Bowannie and Isaiah Bennett. Hozho Academy advanced to the state semifinals before falling to Texico High School on Nov. 22. The council vote signaled municipal recognition of the team’s on-field achievements and the broader community role high school sports play in Gallup and McKinley County.

Coach Cyle Balok framed the season as a series of defining moments, pointing to an early-season trip to Atherton, Calif., and a string of key victories that built momentum. He credited coaching staff and senior players with laying a foundation he said the program can build on in coming years. Two players who spoke during the recognition — sophomore Kaleb Bowannie and senior Wyatt Piano — reflected on growth, recovery from injury and the team’s dedication throughout the campaign.

This municipal recognition is more than ceremonial. City acknowledgment can boost local visibility for a small program like Hozho Academy, helping galvanize parental and alumni support, encourage student participation and strengthen school-community ties. For a team that reached the state semifinals and secured its first district crown, the spotlight may influence attendance at games, youth enrollment in feeder programs and public interest in scheduling or facility investments.

Looking ahead, Hozho Academy faces district realignment next season. Changes to district lines can alter travel burdens, competitive balance and budgeting for small schools across McKinley County. For local leaders and school trustees, those adjustments will raise questions about transportation costs, competitive equity and how to preserve the gains a program achieved this season.

The council recognition also underscores the role municipal government plays in civic life beyond roads and permits. Celebrating student-athletes at City Hall ties sports achievement to community identity and offers a visible signal that local institutions value youth development.

The takeaway? Keep showing up for Hozho — at games, booster meetings and school events — and stay engaged as district realignment discussions begin. Our two cents? Attend the next school board or council meeting, ask how travel and competition changes will be handled, and support the coaches and volunteers who turn a 9-3 season into a lasting foundation for youth opportunity.