2025–2026 Cochise Athletics Year in Review

The 2025–2026 academic year marked another unforgettable chapter in the history of Cochise College Athletics. Across every season and every arena — from the soccer pitch and basketball court to the rodeo arena and baseball diamond — Apache student-athletes delivered championship performances, national recognition, and memorable moments that energized the Cochise community throughout the year.

Fueled by postseason success, individual accolades, and a culture of relentless competitiveness, Cochise programs continued to establish themselves among the NJCAA elite. From historic firsts to deep playoff runs, the year showcased the continued growth and national presence of Apache Athletics.

A Historic Climb to the National Stage

Women's Soccer

The 2025 season marked a historic breakthrough for Cochise College Women's Soccer, as the Apaches delivered the most successful campaign in program history. Under second-year head coach Santos Rangel, Cochise finished the year with a 16-5-4 overall record, capturing both the NJCAA Region I Championship and the NJCAA West District Championship to earn the program's first-ever berth in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Enid, Oklahoma. The Apaches' postseason run included back-to-back road victories over nationally ranked opponents, including a 1-0 upset of No. 1 Arizona Western in the Region I title match and a 2-1 win over Snow College in the West District Championship.

Offensively, Cochise featured one of the most balanced attacks in the region, led by All-Region selections Diana Taddei, Ana Velazquez, and Chayton Barron. Taddei emerged as one of the nation's top scorers, recording multiple hat tricks and finishing among the NJCAA leaders in goals scored. Goalkeepers Marissa Tamayo and Julia Vigorito anchored a resilient defensive unit that delivered clutch performances throughout the postseason, including Tamayo's 11-save shutout in the Region I Championship and Vigorito's penalty-kick save in the semifinal victory over Eastern Arizona.

The season also brought national recognition to the program, as head coach Santos Rangel was named the 2025 NJCAA West District Coach of the Year. Cochise competed against some of the top programs in the country during its national tournament appearance and continued building momentum for the future. From conference battles to championship celebrations, the 2025 Apaches established a new standard for success and elevated Cochise Women's Soccer onto the national stage.

Riding Toward Nationals Once Again

Rodeo

The Cochise College Rodeo Team put together an impressive 2025–2026 campaign, highlighted by strong team finishes, multiple event championships, and several athletes qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming. Throughout both the fall and spring portions of the NIRA Grand Canyon Region schedule, the Apaches consistently placed near the top of the standings, including multiple women's team runner-up finishes and top-three finishes from the men's team. Cochise also hosted one of the region's premier spring rodeos at the historic Wren Arena in Fort Huachuca, where the Apaches turned in one of their strongest collective performances of the season.

Individually, Cochise athletes delivered standout performances across nearly every major event. Braulio Barraza captured the Grand Canyon Region Bull Riding Championship after multiple event victories during the spring season, while Taten Erickson earned Reserve Region Champion honors in Steer Wrestling and claimed the All-Around Cowboy title. Teran Broderson finished as the Reserve Region Champion in Saddle Bronc Riding, while Macie Fowlie and Sealey Bottom consistently scored points across multiple rodeos to qualify for the CNFR. Fowlie excelled in both Goat Tying and Breakaway Roping throughout the year, while Bottom added top finishes in Goat Tying and Barrel Racing.

The season showcased the depth and consistency of the Cochise Rodeo program, with numerous Apaches recording top-10 finishes throughout the year in events including Tie Down Roping, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, Goat Tying, Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, and Bull Riding. Competing against top programs from across Arizona and New Mexico, Cochise once again established itself as one of the top collegiate rodeo programs in the Grand Canyon Region while continuing its tradition of sending athletes to the national stage.

Young Talent, Bright Future

Women's Basketball

Cochise College Women's Basketball showed resilience and growth throughout the 2025–26 season, finishing with an 11–21 overall record and advancing to the NJCAA Region I Semifinals after earning a postseason play-in victory over the College of Southern Nevada. Despite facing a challenging ACCAC schedule and an early-season stretch against nationally ranked competition, the Apaches continued to improve throughout conference play and closed the regular season with momentum, winning four of their final six games heading into the postseason.

The season was highlighted by the emergence of one of the top freshman classes in the region. Freshman forward Malika Goutay earned multiple postseason honors, including ACCAC Freshman of the Year, All-Region I First Team, and WBCA All-American Honorable Mention recognition after producing multiple double-doubles and becoming a consistent force in the paint. Fellow freshman Cecy Burruel also earned postseason recognition as an All-Region I Second Team selection and WBCA All-American Honorable Mention, establishing herself as one of the conference's top perimeter scorers with several explosive offensive performances throughout the year.

The Apaches battled through adversity all season while continuing to develop a young roster that showed significant promise for the future. Cochise earned key conference victories down the stretch, secured a home postseason game at the Cochise Stronghold Gymnasium, and returned to the Region I Semifinals for another postseason appearance. With strong freshman leadership and valuable postseason experience gained, the program continues building momentum heading into the future.

Championship Basketball Returns to Douglas

Men's Basketball

The Cochise College Men's Basketball team delivered an exciting and memorable 2025-26 campaign, finishing the season with a 21-12 overall record and capturing the program's 8th NJCAA Region I Championship. After battling through a competitive ACCAC schedule, the Apaches closed the regular season strong and entered postseason play as the Region I No. 3 seed. Cochise then made an impressive run through the tournament, defeating Eastern Arizona College in the semifinals before dominating the College of Southern Nevada to claim the region title in front of a home crowd in Douglas.

Throughout the season, the Apaches showcased one of the conference's most balanced and explosive offensive attacks. Freshmen Emmanuel Joe-Samuel, Teron Murray, and Davon Jones, along with sophomore leader Jhace Johnson, played key roles in Cochise's success both in conference play and during the postseason run. The team earned multiple postseason honors, highlighted by Joe-Samuel being named ACCAC Freshman of the Year and earning All-Region First Team recognition, while Murray and Johnson also received All-Region honors.

The season concluded in dramatic fashion in the NJCAA West District Championship, where the Apaches battled nationally ranked College of Southern Idaho to overtime before falling in a hard-fought contest. Despite the result, Cochise's postseason run brought championship basketball back to Douglas and created one of the program's most successful and exciting seasons in recent years.

Power at the Plate, Tradition on the Diamond

Baseball

The 2026 season was one of the most successful and memorable campaigns in recent history for Cochise College Baseball. The Apaches finished with a 46–15 overall record, tying the program's single-season regular season wins record with 43 victories before making a deep postseason run to the NJCAA Region 1 Championship round. Cochise also rewrote the record books offensively, setting a new program record with 78 home runs during the regular season. Along the way, the Apaches earned victories over multiple nationally ranked opponents and remained in the ACCAC title race throughout the spring, ultimately securing the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Region 1 Playoffs. The season included several dramatic postseason moments, including back-to-back elimination game victories over Southern Nevada and Arizona Western to advance to the Region 1 Championship series in Henderson, Nevada.

Cochise's success was fueled by a balanced roster filled with standout performances across the lineup and pitching staff. The Apaches earned five First Team All-ACCAC/Region 1 selections in Shiryu Sato, Gavin Mesa, Landon Blais, Jorge Cardenas, and Andrugh Yee, while Austin Cushman earned Second Team honors and was recognized as a conference Gold Glove nominee. Cochise also saw its assistant coach, Austin Nelson, recognized as the ACCAC Assistant Coach of the Year. Throughout the season, the Apaches consistently showcased power at the plate, depth on the mound, and resilience in high-pressure situations, cementing the 2026 team as one of the top baseball groups in Cochise College history.

Looking Ahead to Another Year of Excellence

As the page turns toward a new academic year, the momentum surrounding Cochise Athletics continues to grow. With returning talent, rising young stars, championship experience, and nationally recognized programs across multiple sports, the future remains bright for the Apaches.

The 2025–2026 year was defined by resilience, growth, and unforgettable moments — but more importantly, it reinforced the culture and tradition that continue to make Cochise College Athletics one of the premier junior college athletic programs in the country. From Douglas to the national stage, the Apaches once again proved that excellence is expected — and the best may still be ahead.