New Mexico athletics delivered another packed week of storylines, from the NFL Draft stage to pivotal conference series on the softball and baseball diamonds, while the future of Lobo basketball continued to take shape through international recruiting additions.
James-Newby Adds Another Chapter to Lobo NFL History
New Mexico added another name to its long NFL legacy over the weekend when defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, going 252nd overall and becoming the 67th player in program history drafted into the league.
James-Newby’s selection marked more than just another draft pick for the Lobos — it was a historic one. He became the first New Mexico defensive lineman drafted since Larry Dibbles was taken by the Minnesota Vikings in 1973, ending a drought of more than five decades. He also continued a recent trend of defensive talent reaching the next level, joining Jerrick Reed II as the second defensive Lobo drafted in the last four years.
In only one season in Albuquerque, James-Newby made an immediate and lasting impact. He led the Mountain West in sacks with nine, finished second in tackles for loss with 15.0, totaled 52 tackles, and added five pass breakups while earning First Team All-Mountain West and Third Team PSFN All-America recognition. His disruptive presence helped anchor New Mexico’s defense throughout the 2025 campaign and elevated his draft stock into the spring.
While James-Newby was the lone Lobo drafted, he won’t be the only former New Mexico player heading to an NFL camp. Running back and return specialist Damon Bankston signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants, while Luke Drzewiecki earned an invitation to rookie minicamp with the Baltimore Ravens. Former Lobos AJ Haulcy, JC Davis and Luke Wysong also found NFL opportunities after continuing their careers elsewhere.
The result is a striking number for the program — 15 former Lobos are expected to be represented across NFL camps this offseason, underscoring New Mexico’s growing presence in professional football circles.
Softball Splits Road Series at San José State
New Mexico softball battled through another competitive Mountain West series on the road, taking one of three against San José State while continuing to show resilience in conference play.
The weekend opened with an 8-2 loss Friday in a game where a rough first inning put the Lobos in chase mode early. Three full-count walks helped the Spartans manufacture a four-run opening frame, and though New Mexico eventually responded, the early deficit proved too much.
Jessica DeLeon led the way offensively with two hits and an RBI, while Miracle McKenzie added a sacrifice fly and Allie Williams contributed her 15th double of the season. The Lobos showed life in the sixth inning when DeNae Vasquez-Dickson drew a leadoff walk, Williams doubled, and DeLeon and McKenzie each drove in a run to cut into the margin. One of the defining moments of the game came in that frame when Melanie Macias battled through a remarkable 16-pitch at-bat, fouling off 10 straight pitches before drawing a walk.
Caitlin Benningfield went the distance in the circle, tossing her seventh complete game of the season on a career-heavy 144 pitches.
Saturday brought a statement response.
The Lobos erupted for eight runs in the second inning and rode a dominant complete-game shutout from McKenna Guest to an 8-0 run-rule victory, evening the series while securing New Mexico’s 10th conference win — the program’s first double-digit conference win total since 2015.
It was a complete performance.
All eight runs came in a two-out rally during a monster second inning as the Lobos sent 14 batters to the plate. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson and Gabrielle Briones delivered key RBI singles before McKenzie launched a three-run homer, her 16th of the season, moving her further up the program’s single-season home run list.
Briones finished a perfect 4-for-4, Macias went 3-for-3, and New Mexico piled up 14 hits overall.
Guest was equally dominant in the circle, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out six in a complete-game shutout. It was her seventh career shutout as a Lobo and the fourth shutout by the team this season.
With the series on the line Sunday, the Lobos struck first but couldn’t hold off San José State in a 4-1 loss.
Hayden Luderer drove in New Mexico’s lone run with a sacrifice fly in the second after Williams recorded her 16th double of the season, tying for the fourth-most in program history. But the Spartans answered immediately with three runs in the bottom half and added an inside-the-park home run later for insurance.
Guest threw another complete game in defeat, her eighth of the season, as the Lobos closed the weekend with a hard-fought road series split.
Men’s Basketball Continues International Recruiting Push
The future of Lobo men’s basketball continued to take shape with multiple additions to Eric Olen’s first recruiting class.
Earlier in the week, New Mexico announced the signing of 6-foot-10 German center Fynn Lastring, a versatile frontcourt prospect who arrives after competing for RASTA Vechta and the Artland Dragons.
Lastring brings a polished offensive skill set, averaging 11.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for Vechta 2 while shooting over 61 percent from two-point range and better than 45 percent from three. His international résumé also includes a strong showing at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, where he averaged 12.6 points and 7.9 rebounds.
The class expanded further Tuesday with the additions of California guard Dax Hall and Austrian forward Benjamin Schuch.
Hall arrives as the CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year after a remarkable senior season in which he averaged 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists, posting nine 30-point games and joining his older brother Jake on next year’s roster.
Schuch adds even more international pedigree. The 6-foot-9 Austrian has competed for his senior national team and impressed at the 2025 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, where he averaged 13.4 points and 9.1 rebounds.
Taken together, the additions of Lastring, Hall and Schuch signal a clear recruiting identity under Olen — versatile, skilled players with international experience and positional flexibility.
Women’s Basketball Adds Veteran Assistant
New Mexico women’s basketball also made an offseason addition, hiring Patrick Harrison as an assistant coach on Amy Eagan’s staff.
Harrison brings an extensive résumé that includes stops at Wichita State, Stephen F. Austin, New Mexico State, Kansas City and North Dakota State, among others. His background includes conference championship experience, postseason appearances and a history of player development.
His addition bolsters a coaching staff continuing to build under Eagan heading into the 2026-27 season.
Baseball Splits Weekend at Washington State
New Mexico baseball opened its road series at Washington State in dramatic fashion Friday, jumping ahead 3-0 in the first inning before the Cougars responded with a 10-3 win.
Anthony Diaz sparked the early offense with a leadoff single, while Akili Carris drove in a run as the Lobos briefly seized momentum. But Washington State answered with four runs in the bottom of the first and never relinquished control.
Karsen Waslefsky continued his hot stretch with two hits, Luke Mansy added a multi-hit game, and the bullpen offered positives late as Matt Romero and Matthew Cornelius combined to help hold WSU scoreless over the final three innings.
Saturday, the Lobos responded with one of their grittiest wins of the season.
Trailing early and managing just one hit through four innings, New Mexico surged late for a 4-3 victory to even the series.
Gene Trujillo ignited the comeback with a solo home run in the sixth, his fifth of the year. The Lobos then pieced together a two-run seventh, with Khalil Walker driving in a run on a groundout and Anthony Diaz delivering another RBI knock.
After Washington State tied it, New Mexico found a final answer in the ninth when Lenny Junior Ashby delivered the go-ahead RBI single.
The pitching staff made it stand.
Ryan Castillo kept the Lobos within striking distance over six innings before Josh Barnhouse and Cooper Corkrean combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Corkrean stranded the bases loaded late and improved to 6-0 on the season.
Sunday’s rubber match went Washington State’s way, 13-3 in eight innings.
The Lobos fought back from an early deficit to pull within 5-3 behind RBI singles from Carris and Ashby, but the Cougars pulled away late to secure the series.
Diaz extended his hitting streak to 13 games, while Ashby and Carris each recorded two-hit outings. Despite the series loss, New Mexico remained firmly in the Mountain West race, still just fractions behind the conference leaders.
Women’s Golf Wraps Mountain West Championship
The New Mexico women’s golf team closed out the Mountain West Championship with a tie for ninth at 48-over after a final-round 15-over performance at Mission Hills.
Juliette Hole paced the Lobos in the final round with a 2-over 74 and finished tied for 27th individually, while Ciara Rushmer led New Mexico overall in 25th place at 9-over.
UNLV captured the team title at 14-over, edging San José State by two shots.
Though the Lobos finished outside the top tier of the team standings, head coach Jill Trujillo pointed to the team’s resilience through an up-and-down season and praised senior Maria Caparros Levin’s leadership in her final event.
Men’s Tennis Falls in Mountain West Quarterfinals
The defending conference tournament champions saw their season end in the quarterfinals as Boise State swept past New Mexico 4-0.
Despite dropping the doubles point and falling behind early in singles, the Lobos showed resistance. Dario Ciobotaru and Jakub Prachar both forced third sets in unfinished matches, continuing the fight that had characterized UNM’s injury-plagued season.
Ultimately, Boise State’s early control proved too much to overcome.
The loss closed New Mexico’s season at 8-16 and marked the end of the collegiate careers for senior leaders Jan Skerbatis and Tyler Waddock.
Women’s Tennis Season Ends Against Wyoming
New Mexico women’s tennis also saw its season conclude in the Mountain West Tournament, falling 4-2 to Wyoming.
The Lobos grabbed early momentum by winning the doubles point behind victories from Sarah L’Allier and Ana Veroux and the clutch pairing of Vivica Corley and Coumba Ben Niangadou.
Corley added a singles victory to tie the match at 2-2, and several courts pushed deep into deciding sets, but Wyoming closed out the final two points to advance.
The loss ended New Mexico’s season at 12-13, but with only one senior departing, much of the roster remains intact moving forward.
Comments