Meet Our Head Coach

Coach Jason Nickal

In his third year as RAMS Wrestling Coach. Coach Nickal's squad are 2008 NM Class 5A State Champions again.

Coach Nickal comes to Rio Rancho from Torrington, Wyoming where he was the head wrestling coach and Science Department Chair.  In his twelve years as a head coach, Jason has compiled a 152-24 dual record, coaching 17 state champions, and 70 state placers in the last seven years.

Jason led Torrington High School to a 112-14 dual record winning six consecutive regional team championships, while earning four state runner-up and two state championship trophies.  Coach Nickal has been the recipient of eleven different "Coach of the Year" awards from five different organizations.

Coach Nickal has twice been selected to coach the Wyoming National Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling Teams while also initiating the development of the Wyoming Junior Olympic Wrestling Program.  While in Colorado, Coach Nickal was also selected to coach the Colorado National Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling Team, the Colorado National Dual Team, and the Colorado All-State Wrestling Team.  Additionally, Jason has served as the Wyoming state representative in the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

In addition to volunteering as a youth football and baseball coach Jason, and his wife Sandy, relish their involvement as huddle leaders with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The 2008 wrestling season ended with yet another District I-5A Championship and the New Mexico 5A State Championship.

Included in this feat were four state champions; Louis Trujillo (125), Chris Rubalcaba (130), Max Ortega (140) with his fourth state title, and Paul Cabbage (171).  The Rams also accumulated third, fourth, and fifth individual medalists at the state meet.

During the course of the season, Rio Rancho Wrestling went 13-0 and took first place at the SW Duals while also winning the Las Cruces Invitational, the Joe Vivian Invitational, and the Top of the Rockies Tournament in LaFayette,CO.  Seeking to strengthen their schedule, the Ram wrestlers sought stiffer competition in Peoria, Arizona and the Northern Colorado Inivitational, finishing with second place team titles at each of these events. 

Four Ram Wrestlers traveled to Virginia Beach to compete in the NHSCA Nationals. Ram wrestlers returned to Rio Rancho with two individual national champions in Matt Ortega (125) and Louis Trujillo (119). A second place finish was earned by Max Ortega (130) and a third place finish by Vicente Varela (135) capped a strong national showing. Matt Ortega will continue his wrestling career competing at the University of Indiana in the Fall while Vicente Varela will continue his career at Arizona State University. Rio Rancho and the Ram wrestlers wish these two young men well in their future pursuits.

Ram Wrestling…setting the standard for others to follow!