PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

Albuquerque, New Mexico-  On Jan. 18, The Pit Arena was filled with future Lobos as the UNM Spirit Program conducted a Junior Lobo Spring practice which gives kids the chance to learn and perform with current Lobo cheerleaders and dancers.

“It’s really fun because a lot of the parents are UNM alumni,” UNM dancer and Junior Lobo Purple Stars head coach Paloma Lopez said. ”Right now, they are learning their halftime routine, doing a cheer, a dance routine, and stunts.”

All Junior Lobos in attendance ranged from ages 4 to 12, and got the chance to cheer, and perform at halftime, at the GCU vs. UNM game Jan. 17. 

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

“The cheerleaders, the coaches, have made this such a positive experience. It’s well organized, it’s something that we look forward to, and we enjoy watching her,” Maria Turjillo said, whose eight-year old daughter was participating in practice. 

Trujillo’s daughter had always enjoyed watching the Lobo cheerleaders on the sideline, and is now in her fourth year of being a Junior Lobo.

“It’s super cool to create an environment where little kids can come, put on a Lobo uniform, and feel so proud to be a Lobo. That can inspire them to become the next generation of the spirit program,” UNM spirit coordinator and head coach Gabriella Rivera said.

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

Before being named the UNM spirit coordinator and head coach back in July 2025, Rivera was a UNM cheerleader for four years, and was a coed cheer team coach for five seasons. 

Here’s what coach Rivera said about cheerleading, “It’s everything. It’s shaped who I am today. It’s taught me discipline, perseverance, how to be a good teammate, how to be a good leader, effectively. It’s everything.”

Assistant coach Gracie Silva choreographed the Junior Lobos dance which featured a song from the hit 2025 animated film  “Zootopia 2.” Before entering the coaching realm, Silva was a UNM dancer for four years, and attended a Junior Lobo camp as a kid.

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

“I love junior Lobos, and am really fortunate to have Gracie because she is also very passionate about the program,” coach Rivera said. “We teach them cheerleading elements: how to crowd lead, how to yell, use their pom poms, how to do formations which is also a dance element.” 

The UNM Spirit Program offers two Junior Lobo sessions per season: one in the Fall, and one in the Spring. 

“I think the most exciting thing for me is watching how excited they are to learn the stunts, the cheer, and the dance. They are so enthusiastic,” UNM cheerleader Mariah Martinez said. “In the Fall session, we were doing some tumbling, and they’re some kids that can do roundoff  hand springs, roundoff tucks, they’re super talented kids.”

If you want to catch the Junior Lobos in action, you can see them on the sidelines, alongside UNM cheerleaders and dancers, at the Fresno State vs. UNM men’s basketball game Jan. 21 at The Pit. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA