Carlsbad has a new head football coach – Oliver Soukup. Soukup participated in a meet and greet Wednesday at the high school cafeteria.  He also had a chance to meet with the Cavemen this week.

For the past seven years, he has been a member of the NMSU Aggie football staff, where he served as an assistant head coach, linebacker coach and special team coordinator. In 2017, he helped lead NMSU to its first bowl game in 57 years. Soukup was also a four year letterman for the Aggies in 1997-2000. Soukop is married with four children. His wife, Kristin, is a nurse. We welcome Coach Soukup and his family to this community and look forward to visiting with him soon. The off-season football program actually begins next week.

It’s a big week for Carlsbad on the basketball court as well. The Cavemen and Cavegirls will both be battling undefeated (in district) Hobbs on Friday. If Carlsbad (4-1) wins either game, the two teams will play again for the district championship on Feb. 21. The district tournament will begin next week.  Carlsbad’s boys are on the road and the girls are at home. The Cavemen defeated the Roswell High Coyotes, 49-31, last week. The Cavegirls beat Roswell, 28-25.  

In wrestling, the Carlsbad Cavemen will be sending 13 athletes to compete in this year’s state tournament in Albuquerque this weekend. Eleven of those athletes placed first place in their district competition. One Cavegirl, Danica Medina, also qualified for the state meet. Best of luck to all of the Cavemen and Cavegirls. 

From the office of Mayor Dale Janway