Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
Without being given the opportunity to attend New Mexico Military Institute, Carlos Marrujo might not have become the first person in his family to obtain a college degree.
Thanks to NMMI he was able to get the acceleration he needed in both the classroom and on the baseball diamond.
Now back at his alma mater, Marrujo is serving as both an athletic academic advisor and assistant baseball coach.
“I gained a lot of respect for this place and it helped me get to where I am now,” Marrujo said about attending NMMI. “It really propelled me and got me to where I need to be, it opened up a lot of doors.”
Marrujo graduated from Roswell High in 2005 where he played football and baseball. Under former head coach Mark Beeman he garnered all-district selections twice with the Coyotes as an infielder.
Former NMMI Bronco head baseball coach Marty Zeller offered Marrujo a scholarship to continue his career at home. Marrujo made an almost immediate impact.
“We were about six games in and there was a guy ahead of me that was pretty good,” Marrujo said. “He didn’t play well during those first few games. The next weekend, I got my chance to play and did well. After that I was an everyday starter.”
Marrujo continued to play well as a freshman with a hot bat on offense. He posted a .363 batting average over 38 games while maintaining a solid glove on defense with a .892 fielding percentage. Those numbers earned him an invitation to play in the NJCAA Region V All-Star game and a chance to play at Baylor University during the summer event.
After his time at NMMI from 2005 to 2007, Marrujo attended Eastern New Mexico University where he played under former head coach Phil Clabaugh for two years.
Redshirting as a freshman, Marrujo decided to hang up the cleats during his junior season after hitting a rough patch and battling some injuries.
Upon graduation from ENMU in 2009, he began his coaching career at NMMI as an assistant under former head coach Bret Simmermacher.
Marrujo assisted the Broncos for a year and a half before landing the head baseball position at Roswell High, a title he held for three years.
In March of 2017 he returned to NMMI to become a recruiter in admissions.
As a former cadet, Marrujo understands the issues that new students might face during their first year at NMMI.
“It’s awesome that I have the opportunity to help these kids be successful and move on,” he said. “But with me, someone who’s been here, I can offer a little bit more than what someone that hasn’t been through NMMI can offer. I enjoy it.”
After a day of advising, Marrujo dons his coaching gear for afternoon practices under current Bronco head baseball coach Chris Cook.
During the past few years under Cook’s tutelage, he has learned a lot about the inside and outside of the game.
“Coach Cook has taught me so much. He’s been awesome,” Marrujo said. “He’s all about getting these kids here and getting them out to a four-year university.
“Being on the backside of that and soaking all that in helps out so much.”
One of the most enjoyable parts of Marrujo’s job is seeing kids get the opportunity to attend a four-year school.
NMMI has served as a last chance for most athletes to obtain the skills needed to accelerate and succeed at the next level.
“Who knew Roswell, New Mexico would be home to such a great place, a diamond in the haystack,” Marrujo said about NMMI. “It sets people up to be successful and that’s the biggest thing — allowing students to find their potential.
“They just need someone that’s gonna push them a little bit more.”
NMMI did not just allow Marrujo to excel in baseball and learn valuable skills such as time management. He also got to further his relationship with his future wife, Amber, at NMMI.
Amber played for the Bronco volleyball squad as a defensive specialist in 2008 under current head coach Shelby Forchtner.
“My wife — she actually came here after I left,” Carlos said. “That was one of the cool things about Amber coming in and playing here — it opened a lot of doors for her as well.
“That kept me connected because after I left I would still come back and watch her play.”
Unlike most schools, NMMI is one of the very few that is not conducting online learning and instead is having its students attend classes.
The first week of school can be stressful for both students and staff.
For Marrujo, he has around 200 junior college cadets to advise and help reach their full potential.
His everyday duties include processing new schedules, making sure cadets are on track to graduate and eligible to transfer to a four-year university.
If students are struggling with their classes he suggests certain tutors and for those that are exceling he can help them go even further.
“This is their last chance to get something done and the opportunity to move on and go play,” he said. “The coaches do a good job of bringing in athletes. They have a good eye on who to bring in and who not to bring in.
“(I’m) just trying to figure out what’s the easiest and best way to get these kids on to the next level and sometimes it’s tough.”