Air Force vet turned airline pilot enjoys soaring for relaxation PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN As an Air Force Academy graduate and a seasoned commercial airline pilot, Brad Peterson knows about being grounded. So when it happened on Thursday during the Standard Class Nationals soaring competition at the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, and Peterson wasn’t able to take his JS1 glider up for …

Champions! Lady Eagles pull away from Rio Rancho for state title PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN ALBUQUERQUE – The Hobbs girls basketball team is in the business of contending for state championships. It’s what they do, how they roll. Like a fast food joint churning out hamburgers, the Lady Eagles serve up title contenders on a regular basis. Winning a state title is …

Eagles repeat as tournament champions PETER STEIN NEWS-SUN New Year’s Eve is a day for looking back and looking forward. Fitting for the Hobbs boys basketball team, because the Eagles gave themselves good news for both 2025 and ’26. With Wednesday’s 41-36 comeback victory over Albuquerque High in the 66th Hobbs Holiday Tournament title game, the Eagles brought the good …

Turrubiates and Lady Coyotes beat Clay and Lady Falcons JASON FARMER/NEWS-SUN Friday afternoon former Hobbs Lady Eagle basketball teammates Elise Turrubiates and Bhret Clay took the court, as opponents. It was a battle of young versus old, with Turrubiates being a senior with South Dakota while Clay is a freshman with Air Force. The two former Lady Eagles, who were …

Eagles basketball players inducted into Hall of Fame Levi Hill/News-Sun Two prodigies of the Ralph Tasker era of Hobbs Eagles basketball were inducted into the Lea County Sports Hall of Fame Friday. Both men were honored not just for their prowess on the court, but their service to the community outside the arena and both were long-overdue additions to the …

Flag football league coming soon PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN Jeremy Padilla had a dream, or more like an inspiration. When the United Way sponsored the fourth annual TURFS flag football tournament outside of Watson Memorial Stadium last month, it gave Padilla some motivation. That tournament for the younger players was all fine and well, especially because it helped raise thousands of dollars …

Five Lady Wildcats earn All-State softball recognition PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN It was a heck of a run for the Lovington softball team, one that lasted all the way to the state championship round. The Lady Wildcats battled their way out of the consolation bracket during this past spring’s state tournament, winning three games on Friday May 16 in Rio Rancho to …

Sanchez signs with NMJC track and field PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN Alejandra Sanchez thought she’d try something new. She didn’t realize it would be something that would turn into a college athletic career. Sanchez was a Hobbs High junior in the spring of 2024 when track & field first beckoned. She had been a softball player, had played some basketball and run …

Hobbs, Lovington savor state cheer titles PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN Hobbs and Lovington won state championships at The Pit after all. Though the Hobbs boys and girls basketball teams were defeated in the state semifinals and finals, respectively, at The Pit earlier this month, and both Lovington basketball teams fell just short of making it there, the Hobbs and Lovington cheer teams …