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There’s hardly a sport that Academy has not excelled in – when it comes to state tournaments. Sometimes, the Chargers have had dominating stretches.
Check out Academy’s highlights in the
Roll Call of State Championships…
Boys Basketball
1994…An unprecedented six championships in a row as Academy knocks off Silver 62-57 in 3A state title game
1993…Coach Mike Brown’s crew captures fifth crown in a row with 70-56 win over Cobre
1992…Chargers continue to dominate in Class 3A by pulling away from Zuni 66-51
1991…A 24-2 season is capped by a 75-62 victory over Portales for Academy’s third straight title
1990…Academy dumps Onate 80-61 in 3A finale for finishing touches on a 25-1 campaign
1989…Get ready for more! Chargers edge Lovington 78-76 for first of six consecutive championships
1984…A 25-1 season is capped for Academy and coach Vince Cordova with a 67-58 victory over rival St. Pius
1981…Chargers squeeze by Wingate 69-67 to claim first hoops title in over a decade
1968…The Class B state title goes to Academy and coach Buster Hiller following a 77-50 win over Cloudcroft
Boys Soccer
2001…Three straight blue trophies for Academy after a 1-0 win over St. Pius in 4A final
2000…Chargers and Sartans kiss sisters in 4A championship, but claim titles nevertheless as co-champs. Final: Academy 0, St. Pius 0
1999…Academy settles for co-champion status after tying St. Pius 1-1 in 1A-3A championship contest
1984…For second straight year, Chargers prove nobody’s better: Academy 3, Cibola 0 in 4A title game
1983…A perfect 17-0 season ends with Academy beating Sandia -1 for 4A crown
Girls Soccer
2008…For third time in decade, Los Alamos is victim in championship as Academy tops the ‘Toppers 1-0
2002…Chargers get coach Bill Weir his fourth title by edging Los Alamos 1-0 in 4A title game – it’s Academy’s third-in-a-row
2001…Academy doubles up Los Alamos 6-3 to finish a 23-2 championship season
2000…Chargers claim first girls soccer crown by edging St. Pius 1-0 in finale
Baseball
2009…Academy grabs third championship on the diamond by beating PiedraVista 7-5 for 4A blue trophy
1999…Two straight for Chargers, led by coach Richard Ball, as Academy beats Artesia 4-1
1998…Academy adds baseball to list of accomplishment with a 7-0 whitewash of Los Alamos for 3A title
Volleyball
1998…Rivals Academy & St. Pius hook up to decide 3A honors, with Chargers winning in five for only volleyball title
Tennis
Success on the tennis courts at Academy isn’t measured by winning one championship. Chargers’ multi-titlists for singles are Andrea Goldberg (five-time girls 1994-98), Randy Clark (four-time boys 1970-73), Lauren Pick (three-time girls 2007-09), Andy Cooper (three-time boys 2005, ’07, ’09), Lilas Rajaee (three-time girls 1981-83), Nick Goldberg (three-time boys 1999-2001), Dick Maguire three-time boys 1967-69) and Tony Richey (three-time boys 1978-80).
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And now, a word from our Sponsor…
“Ole!” greets drive-through customers from the speaker box.
If that’s the case, it can only be one business: Taco Box.
From frijole burritos to Spanish fries to pig-in-a-panchos, and quite nearly everything in-between, the restaurant has been serving up its eclectic menu for 40 years.
According to owner Tom Martin, the number one seller is the simple-and-tasty frijole burrito while tacos, chalupas and cheese sticks follow closely in popularity.
A popular side item are Spanish fries, a Taco Box-invented title for another potato-based munchie (any guesses?). Martin says his restaurant has only occasionally ventured into making regular french fries and the attempts have ultimately always been futile with the Taco Box customer base.
“I always joke that I don’t make french fries so I can help keep McDonald’s in business,” Martin says.
Other items also remain popular to an extent even though not officially on the menu board anymore – a testament to the loyalty of the typical Taco Box consumer.
The Mexi-Burger was on the menu back in the early 1980s and still gets ordered today. By those in the know, at any rate.
“There’s probably at least a dozen different items over the years like that,” Martin says. “We took it off, just because of space, but we still make ‘em. We probably sell as many as we did when they were on the menu.”
Martin lists breakfast tacos, frijole tacos, guacamole tacos as other such “underground” items. And that’s not to mention the vast array of drink combinations, utilizing the different soft drinks and flavorings, that have actually never been listed on the big board at Taco Box.
Martin, raised in Cleveland and a graduate from Cornell University in New York, ventured west after college and tried his hand with the Taco Box brand. He took over Taco Box on June 1, 1970.
Remembering his first foray into Mexican food, Martin has an oft-repeated story with some variation or another.
“I never had a taco until I was 21. I remember having a mild green chile taco and I thought I was going to die,” Martin recalls.
After having a tastebud-adjustment and following countless tacos served to his customers at Taco Box, it’s safe to say one thing about the guy who originally thought he’d be in the Land of Enchantment for “a couple of years.”
Well Tom, you’re a New Mexican now.
