Two recent Organ Mountain High School graduates are taking their cheerleading talents to the collegiate level. This fall, 18-year-olds Riley Test and Adiana Nevares will join the University of New Mexico’s Spirit Squad, officially becoming Lobos on August 4, according to Test’s mother, Veronica Ellis.
The duo made their mark as standout members of the Organ Mountain High School cheer team, which clinched two national championship titles in February—first place in both the large coed advanced cheer with music and the large advanced coed game day categories.
Their coach, Jordan Sanchez, couldn’t be prouder. “They’re going to be killing it,” she said about their upcoming performances at UNM. Sanchez added that while most of her athletes typically head to New Mexico State University, Test and Nevares are the first to join the Albuquerque-based university’s cheer team during her tenure.
Cheerleading in New Mexico, Sanchez noted, isn’t as advanced compared to other states. To compete nationally, the team had to learn two entirely different routines—one for the state competition and another for the national stage. “We practice hard—two hours a day, Monday through Thursday,” Sanchez explained. “This sport is about trust, physical strength, and pushing your limits.”
For Nevares, cheerleading is more than a sport—it’s a lifelong passion. “I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid,” she said. “It just made me so happy every time I did it.” As both a flyer and a tumbler, Nevares is regularly launched into the air while also performing flips and acrobatics.
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Test, also a tumbler, started cheerleading at the encouragement of his girlfriend. “After a few months, I really got into it,” he said. His role includes the strength-intensive job of lifting flyers—often in challenging weather while projecting his voice at full volume.
Despite the physical demands, both are excited to begin their collegiate cheer careers. Nevares says she’s most thrilled about cheering at football games. “It’s the energy, the crowd, the hype—it’s unmatched,” she said.
Test, inspired by his high school team’s national victories, knew he wanted to continue at the college level. “As a senior, I had to choose—walk away or keep going. I was still hungry for more,” he said.
Outside the gym, the commitment doesn’t end. UNM cheerleaders must maintain strong academic performance. Test is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, while Nevares is studying biochemistry with plans to become a dermatologist.
Coach Sanchez emphasized that being on a cheer team involves more than cheering at games. “They’re athletes supporting every sport. They volunteer, attend community events, and balance school and training. It’s like having a second job,” she said.
With their dedication, passion, and team spirit, Test and Nevares are ready to take on the next chapter—and lift school spirit at the University of New Mexico.
