Kirtland Central High School


Kirtland Central High School is located in the town of Kirtland, New Mexico, United States. Its colors are purple and gold and their mascot is the Bronco. KCHS is a part of the Central Consolidated School District along with Newcomb High School and Shiprock High School.

Athletics

Kirtland Central is a New Mexico Activities Association AAAA school in District 1-4A. KCHS competes in 15 NMAA sport and Activity Events. KCHS has taken a total of 32 State Championships in 3A & 4A.
State ChampionsYear:Total
Girls' Basketball1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984,
1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994,
1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003,
2004, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2022,
2024		21
Boys' Basketball1978, 2001, 2002, 20034
Football1963, 1964, 1969, 19734
Girls' Golf20001
Girls' Cross Country19991
Girls' Volleyball19881
Boys' Track & Field20011

Girls' Basketball

The Kirtland Central girls basketball program has put together one of the most astonishing dynasties in New Mexico high school sports. Since 1979, the Lady Broncos have appeared in 35 State Championship games and have a total of 21 state titles and 14 state runners-up. Kirtland Central is nationally ranked #4 in girls basketball for the most state titles in the USA by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The girls program has produced many All-Americans, such as; Colette Hatch, Cara Priddy, Karina Zapata and Karyn Karlin. Kirtland Central also has had numerous great outstanding standouts such as Nadia Begay, Jaimey Tanner, Sharon Max and many others.
The girls' program began with making it to the state championship game in 1979 before falling to St. Pius X High School. They then won eight consecutive state titles. Kirtland Central then became major rivals with Shiprock High School. Together, they have met for state championship a total of nine times, with Kirtland winning five: and Shiprock winning four:. Kirtland Central also won four state titles in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996, and made a 3-peat from 2003 to 2005. The Lady Broncos had undefeated seasons in 1981, 1984, 1986, and 1996. In addition, the Lady Broncos were runners-up in 1979, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2019, 2020, and 2023.
The most recent state title occurred in 2024 as the Lady Broncos defeated St. Pius X High School.

Championship Games

  • 1979…St. Pius X 51 Kirtland Central 44
  • 1980…Kirtland Central 52 Los Lunas 46
  • 1981…Kirtland Central 50 Portales 36
  • 1982…Kirtland Central 66 Tohatchi 35
  • 1983…Kirtland Central 56 Bernalillo 54
  • 1984…Kirtland Central 65 Bloomfield 28
  • 1985…Kirtland Central 44 St. Pius X 30
  • 1986…Kirtland Central 52 St. Pius X 43
  • 1987…Kirtland Central 62 Shiprock 61
  • 1988…Shiprock 60 Kirtland Central 58
  • 1989…Shiprock 83 Kirtland Central 55
  • 1990…Shiprock 57 Kirtland Central 36
  • 1992…Shiprock 58 Kirtland Central 54
  • 1993…Kirtland Central 47 Shiprock 46
  • 1994…Kirtland Central 57 Shiprock 54
  • 1995…Kirtland Central 68 Shiprock 49
  • 1996…Kirtland Central 61 Pojoaque 55
  • 1998…Pojoaque 67 Kirtland Central 65
  • 1999…Kirtland Central 46 Artesia 33
  • 2000…Silver 60 Kirtland Central 57
  • 2001…Kirtland Central 66 Farmington 55
  • 2002…Farmington 71 Kirtland Central 63
  • 2003…Kirtland Central 89 Moriarty 59
  • 2004…Kirtland Central 42 Farmington 35
  • 2005…Kirtland Central 65 Deming 50
  • 2007…Aztec 52 Kirtland Central 46
  • 2008…St. Pius X 57 Kirtland Central 48
  • 2010…Kirtland Central 71 Shiprock 52
  • 2011…Gallup 60 Kirtland Central 46
  • 2012…Kirtland Central 42 Roswell 41
  • 2019…Los Lunas 49 Kirtland Central 43
  • 2020…Los Lunas 47 Kirtland Central 33
  • 2022…Kirtland Central 55 Bernalillo 32
  • 2023…Gallup 57 Kirtland Central 47
  • 2024…Kirtland Central 45 St. Pius X 33