New Mexico
UCLA Bruins Insider Podcast: Football Recruiting, Key Players vs. New Mexico, and More
The UCLA Bruins are revved up for a few marquee matchups this Friday in a few different sports. Basketball and football seasons are colliding which means more exciting news to come out of Westwood this weekend.
In this episode of the UCLA Bruins Insider Podcast, Bruins on SI beat writer Tom Cavanaugh previews an upcoming visit for an in-state football prospect, several key players for the Bruins’ hoops ahead for their Friday matchup with New Mexico, and a former Bruin that is taking strides in the NBA.
UCLA Bruins on SI’s own Aidan Champion wrote a piece earlier this week on four key players to watch out for in the Bruins’ basketball matchup against New Mexico. You can read that article HERE.
Champion mentioned three transfers and one impact returner that will make waves for the program this season and should be on the lookout for breakout performances against a talented Lobos team.
Oregon State transfer forward Tyler Bilodeau, Louisville transfer guard Skyy Clark, former USC Trojan guard Kobe Johnson, and returning sophomore guard Sebastian Mack. All four had good showings in the season opener against Rider and will be put to the test against a much better program.
Former Bruin star turned NBA, Johnny Juzang, has taken a big stride in his second season with the Utah Jazz. A 17-point performance against the Nuggets earlier this month, followed by an 8-point game a few days later, is showing that he has the ability to play at the next level.
Bruins first-year football head coach DeShaun Foster will host another recruit this weekend for their Homecoming game at the Rose Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3). Elisha “Tyger” Canales is a 2025 three-star defensive back out of San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Canales will get a taste of what it’s like to play ball in Pasadena and should be immersed in one of the most electric crowds in college football, especially on Homecoming when so many former players and alumni will be in attendance.
Foster spoke to the media earlier this week and gave his thoughts on the Hawkeyes’ disciplined, physical program and what he expects from their Heisman candidate running back, Kaleb Johnson.
“This is a real culture that we’re playing against because he’s [Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz] been there for a long time,” Foster said. “The way that he wants to play is embedded into his players and you can see that, so this is a good challenge for us at home. — This kid [Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson] is special. You can see that, and he’s a guy that the more carries he gets, the more he gets going. You just got to find a way to get him down, and it’s more of swarming to the ball and not just one guy doing it.”
Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @tcav30 and never miss another breaking news story again.
Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE
New Mexico
Los Alamos Public Schools Students Compete At 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair
Students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School, and Los Alamos High School at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair at New Mexico Tech. Photo CourtesyLAPS
LAHS junior Tate Plohr and freshman Linus Plohr qualified to attend the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Phoenix, Ariz. Photo Courtesy LAPS
Los Alamos Middle School student Branden Keller was awarded the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair. Photo Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Twenty students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) and Los Alamos High School (LAHS) competed, with several garnering awards at the 2026 New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
LAHS junior Tate Plohr qualified to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) next month in Phoenix, Ariz. He was awarded the 3rd-place Grand Award. Freshman Linus Plohr qualified as an alternate and will also be attending the Regeneron ISEF.
Students who participated in the state competition include, from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Sydney Chen, Mary Beth Kelsey, Lily Neale, Aurora Roberts Voss and Henry Rodarte; and Glyn Lo and Ernest Maupin, Mountain Elementary.
Students from LAMS who competed include Evelyn Fobes, Mason Garcia, Andrew Gilbertson, James Junghans, Sequoya Ke, Brandon Keller, Nejan Liyanage and Daniel Yampolsky.
LAHS students Julia Neale, Linus Plohr, Tate Plohr, Lilia Veteva, Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch competed at the senior level.
2026 Award winners:
Category Awards – Junior Division
- Animal Science, Cellular & Molecular
- Biomedical & Health Science
- Honorable Mention: Sequoya Ke
- Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, Software & Technology
- 2nd place: Nejan Liyanage
- Physics & Astronomy
- 1st place: Sydney Chen
- 2nd place: Mason Garcia
- Honorable Mention: Marybeth Kelsey
- Plant Science
Category Awards – Senior Division
- Behavioral & Social Science:
- Honorable Mention: Linus Plohr
- Earth & Environmental
- Honorable Mention: Lilia Viteva
- Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, & System Software
- 3rd Place: Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch
- Physics & Astronomy
Grand Awards
- ISEF finalist 3rd place: Tate Plohr
- Brandon Keller received the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. James Jungans and Marybeth Kelsey garnered Thermo Fisher Awards.
Other special award winners include:
- CO2 & Greenhouse Reduction Awards (Junior Division)
- Daniel Yampolsky, 2nd place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Sequoya Ke, 1st place, Biomedical & Health Science
- Brandon Keller, 1st place, Energy & Materials Science
- Andrew Gilbertson, 1st place, Physics & Astronomy
- CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Reduction Award (Senior Division)
- Lilia Viteva, 1st place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Office of Naval Research Award
- David Shortess Award
- New Mexico AVS Award
- Citadel Award
- Naval Research Award
- NM Network for Women in Science & Engineering Award
- Yale Science & Engineering Award
- Rose Baca Rivet Award
Related
Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.
The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.
Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.
ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.
April 19
Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.
April 22
Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
April 23
Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.
Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.
Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.
April 24
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.
April 25
Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.
Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
-
Austin, TX5 minutes agoAmerica 250 celebration: Texans who fought for independence honored in Austin – Texas – The Black Chronicle
-
Alabama11 minutes agoAlabama AHSAA softball key dates and top teams approaching the 2026 playoffs
-
Alaska17 minutes ago‘We never forgot her’: Friends, family of longtime Alaska teacher gather for 100th birthday celebration
-
Arizona23 minutes agoTrying to beat the heat: Addressing rising temperatures in Southern Arizona
-
Arkansas29 minutes ago
Arkansas Lottery Cash 3, Cash 4 winning numbers for April 19, 2026
-
California35 minutes agoCalifornia couple charged with murder in death of toddler skip court
-
Colorado41 minutes agoUPDATE: Northbound Powers reopned after major crash
-
Connecticut47 minutes agoCT Lottery Cash 5, Play3 winning numbers for April 19, 2026