When high school swimmers head north to the Albuquerque Academy Natatorium for the state swimming championships, it’s often athletes from that part of the state who excel. The Las Cruces area hasn’t traditionally been a hotbed of swimming success, but Centennial High junior Dara Ayala is a notable exception.
After finishing third in the girls 100 a year ago, Ayala broke through in 2026, claiming gold in the 50 and finishing second in the 100. She was the lone gold medalist from Las Cruces, where participation numbers remain so small that all four high school teams train together.
“We’re a pretty tight-knit group, cheering for each other no matter what,” Ayala said. “All the schools in Las Cruces are really there for each other because there aren’t a lot of swimmers.”…