Alex Waggoner leads Santa Fe High School Demons鈥� playoff run
SANTA FE, N.M. — For the first time, Santa Fe High School will be playing in the New Mexico state playoffs. The team has had an incredible season, going 19-1, winning their district and receiving the No. 1 overall seed for the tournament. With their No. 1 ranking, the Demons received a first round bye. In the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, the Demons faced the Volcano Vista Hawks who beat the eight seeded Centennial in the first round. The Demons won by a narrow margin, 4-3, versus the ninth seeded Hawks.
The unprecedented season for the Demons has been led by one stand out player, Alex Waggoner. Waggoner is a junior transfer from Taos High School whose meteoric rise to the top of New Mexico soccer could be seen early on. In his freshman season for the Taos Tigers, Waggoner lead the team in scoring with 40 goals, adding 25 assists and getting 15 wins. The 2020 season saw challenges with COVID-19 and the season was cut short. The Tigers only played seven games, but Waggoner still managed to score nine goals and add five assists.
The Tigers compete in the 4A division, which is the second highest rank. Waggoner鈥檚 talent was taken to the next division with his transfer to Santa Fe High School.
Waggoner鈥檚 success this season has the Demons as the favorites to win the state tournament. Waggoner is the No. 1 ranked player in the state, despite being just a junior. His goal scoring prowess is impressive. He has scored 65 goals during the regular season, 30 more goals than the next highest scorer in the 5A division. This total is astounding, as Waggoner has averaged over a hattrick a game. On top of the goals, he has added 16 assists, just below one a game. He has accounted for roughly four goals a game for the Demons.
With the win against Volcano Vista, the Demons will head to the semifinals. There they will face the 12th seeded Atrisco Heritage Academy who have had an incredible run to the semifinals, beating the fifth seed Rio Rancho and the fourth seed Hobbes. The Demons hope that Waggoner can continue his exceptional play and reach the finals.
This has been by far the most successful season for Santa Fe High School, and with Waggoner returning for his senior year, they will continue to be a formidable force in New Mexico soccer. Waggoner will surely be recruited heavily at the college level after an impressive season.
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