New Mexico
New Mexico teen called back to compete on American Ninja Warrior
If you’re an avid American Ninja Warrior watcher, perhaps you’ve seen Ixchel Valentino.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – If you’re an avid American Ninja Warrior watcher, perhaps you’ve watched Ixchel Valentino.
The UNM student competed on the show this season but didn’t make it past the first round of the finals. But that doesn’t mean we’re done seeing her on the famous obstacle course.
“It still feels like a whole dream to me, because I grew up here, and there’s only a few people from New Mexico that have made it that far on the show. And so now I get to be one of those people,” said Valentino.
Valentino is back on UNM’s campus after taking the national stage on American Ninja Warrior.
“You have to qualify through a few things. You have to do the qualifiers, move on to the semi-finals, win in the semi-finals to move on to the actual finals. So I made it all the way to stage one, and then, unfortunately, did not do my best out there, but I was super happy to make it that far,” said Valentino.
Even though she didn’t win it all, the 19 year old says she’s cheering on her fellow ninjas, who are now her friends.
“I got the experience to go film with them, compete with them, I’m like, actually friends with some of those people, and we go train together, and we meet up at competitions,” Valentino said.
The UNM sophomore calls herself the “Nerdy Ninja,” and is studying nuclear engineering.
“Starting the school year, it’s a little stressful. The work loads a lot, but I’m excited for it. If I could handle something like the big stage on American Ninja Warrior, I think I could handle a few exams,” said Valentino.
On top of all her schoolwork, she’s going back to the competition floor later this month.
“About three weeks ago, I got called back for season 17 of American Ninja Warrior. They’re going to be filming in Las Vegas, so I get to go back to the big stage,” Valentino said.
While she was a rookie this season, she’s no stranger to competitions.
“I did robotics competitively at the age of five. I did it all the way through high school,” said Valentino.
She says that experience, plus her time on Ninja Warrior, is preparing her to come back better than ever.
“I was really used to getting my mind in that state for a competition, getting myself prepared to, like, take on a course. I would just kind of block everything out. I was very sound mentally. But with Ninja, you have to also be ready physically,” said Valentino. “Since I filmed before, I’ve gotten a lot stronger, both physically and mentally, with how I approach competitions and how I train myself.”
You can watch Valentino next season on American Ninja Warrior, but she isn’t the only New Mexican tackling the course.
Albuquerque native, Katie Bone, announced on social media she got the call for season 17 of American Ninja Warrior as well.
Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.
There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.
How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.
Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 27, 2025, results for each game:
Powerball
05-20-34-39-62, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Day: 4-1-4
Evening: 3-8-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Lotto America
08-10-20-47-50, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 05
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 6-9-5-0
Day: 4-9-4-3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Roadrunner Cash
03-21-24-33-37
Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball Double Play
13-22-33-61-62, Powerball: 20
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.
An offensive role for Gophers defensive back Koi Perich was a major storyline before the 2025 season. The experiment was seemingly over until he played more offensive snaps in Minnesota’s Rate Bowl win over New Mexico than the entire regular season combined. Let’s take a deeper look at every position Perich lined up at against the Lobos.
Defense (69 snaps)
Positional breakdown: via Pro Football Focus (PFF)
- FS: 20 snaps
- ILB: 20 snaps
- Slot CB: 16 snaps
- SS: 10 snaps
- OLB: 3 snaps
Defensive production
- 69.7 PFF grade
- 5 total tackles
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Perich’s defensive production took a slight step back in 2025, but his 69.7 PFF grade in the Rate Bowl against New Mexico was his third-highest of the season. It marked only the fourth time this season that he had one missed tackle or fewer.
Offense (22 snaps)
Positional breakdown
- Slot WR: 12 snaps
- Outside WR: 10 snaps
Offensive production
- 4 receptions, 34 yards
- 2 carries, 7 yards
Friday was Perich’s best offensive game of his college career. It might’ve taken five wide receivers to enter the transfer portal and Le’Meke Brockington opting out of the game, but he essentially acted as their No. 3 wide receiver.
His previous career high for offensive snaps came in Week 1 against Buffalo when he saw the field seven times. He also had his most productive game against the Lobos with four receptions for 34 yards, which was the second most on the team. When Minnesota wanted Perich to play offense, you’d have to assume Friday’s game was how they wanted it to look.
Special teams
- One punt return, four yards
Perich played his normal special teams role against New Mexico, as Minnesota’s primary punt returner and kick returner, but he only had one punt return for four yards.
A handful of transfer portal entries and bowl game opt outs opened the window for Minnesota to revisit the Perich experiement on offense, and it was sucesful. It will be an interesting storyline to follow whether or not it was just bowl game theatrics or a look into a true two-way role in 2026.
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