Archive for August, 2009

    While high school cross-country runners generally find it necessary to wend their way over makeshift trails in the desert for pre-season conditioning, the sport switches to the more luxurious grass of Arizona golf courses to hold their meets. That will be the case on Nov. 7 when the state meet is scheduled to be held at Cave Creek Golf Course.
    Little will change this year, including those teams that were dominant last year continuing to challenge for top spots in the various meets.  And, although it will have little effect on those continually dominant schools, the 5A division has adopted a new set of qualifying rules for the statte championship. 
    This year, 5A runners are able to qualify for state meets during any 3.1 mile invitational, city or district AIA sanctioned race.   In Division I boys, the qualifying time will be 19:12, and Division II will be 20:17.  For the girls, qualifying times will be 24:49 and 25:47.
    One of the stories unfolding in the sport comes at the3A level, where Rolanda Jumbo of Chinle HS takes the next step on the path to dominating her division.  She won the state title last year as a freshman, with three more years to make her mark on the sport.
    In addition to Jumbo, the field of 2008 girls champions who will be returning include: Jessica Tonn from Xavier HS in 5A-I, Lacey Kalinen from Pinnacle HS in 5A-II, Christina Price from Sabino HS (Tucson) in 4A-I, Aeoleone Bristow from Rio Rico HS in 4A-II, and Andrea Klimowski from Northland Prep in 1A/2A.  Returning boys champions: Jorge Martinez, Alhambra HS, in 5A-I; Brian Shrader, Sinagua HS (Flagstaff), in 4A-II; Ryan Yazzie, Tuba City HS, in 3A; and Cody Rosengarten, Tombstone HS, in 1A/2A.
    A number of seniors have put together outstanding high school careers and will be running their last races this year...    (continued next page)   

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    A couple of Valley high school athletes have been honored for their play last season at Grand Canyon University in Glendale.  Samantha Murphy (picture here), a basketball standout from Phoenix Xavier Prep, was named the Pacific West Conference Female Scholar-athlete of the Year for 2008-09, and Austin Stockfisch from Desert Mountain HS was given the honor in baseball.
    The awards were just announced at the PacWest Media Day in San Francisco, CA.  Jordan Demos, who graduated last year, was honored for soccer.  Murphy is just embarking on her college career, earning her Conference accolades as freshman last year; Stockfisch is a senior this year.
    Murphy, a guard who averaged 19 points and 5 rebounds, was a first-team All-PacWest selection.  She is just one of a crop of local players that GCU women's basketball coach, Trent May, scooped up to fill his roster. 
    Others from Arizona schools contributing to the 'Lopes basketball program this season: Monique Mochiz (G), freshman from Desert Mountain HS (Scottsdale); Stephani Liscum (G), freshman from Marana HS (Tucson); Rosalyn Nelson (G), junior from Deer Valley HS (Phoenix); Stacy Haddow (F), junior from Chino Valley HS; Ashley Hardin (F), senior from Marcos de Niza HS (Tempe); Ashley Sparks (C), junior from Shadow Mountain HS (Phoenix); Jacque Stevens (F), senior from Flagstaff HS; Lindsey Begaii (C), junior from Winslow HS; and Brittany Youvella (G) freshman from North Canyon HS (Phoenix).

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    As we wrap up our Football Preview for this year, we want to again thank the high school athletic directors and football coaches who contributed to our coverage.  We were able to give some recognition to a lot of players; however, if you didn't see your school represented this year it was because the information was not submitted to us.
    This edition looks at the prospects for one school that has knocked on the door for the state title repeatedly and wants to lock it up this year, while another is so new that it puts a senior class on the field for the very first time.  Here's looking at Westview High School, Liberty High School, and Basha High School.
    "If we can replace the defensive line that graduated, we will be in the hunt again in '09," says Westview head coach, Jeff Bowen.  The Knights have been runner-up for the 5A-II state crown the past two seasons, finishing 12-5 last year.
    "Things are promising, with seven offensive and five defensive starters returning," Bowen adds. "Along with talent from the 9-0 JV squad, our numbers look good, with 60 (players) on varsity."
    Returning starters that Bowen expects to play key roles are three seniors who are two-way starters: Jourdon Grandon (QB-CB), Eric Ramsey (FB/HB-MLB), and Nate McOwen (SE-DB).  Brennan Bowen, a junior center, will also start at the defensive tackle slot this year.
    Others to watch include a quartet of seniors: Willie Chaffee (OG), Emil Romero (OT), Brandon Rediger (TE), and Joe Espinoza (FS). Rediger was moved from tackle to the tight end spot this year.  And Jordon Champion is a junior cornerback that will also start at tailback.  (Basha HS and Liberty HS continued next page)

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    The last installment put the spotlight on 4A and 5A teams: Youngker HS, Maryvale HS, Deer Valley HS, and Sunrise Mountain HS.
    Next up in our Football Preview line-up, we take a look at teams in three different divisions, two with identical mascots... the Wolves of Estrella Foothills HS (3A), perrenial powerhouse Saguaro HS (4A-I) and the Wolves of Desert Mountain HS (5A-II).
    Estrella Foothills head coach, Rich Hoyt, sees his 2009 edition picking up from where last year's squad finished off, saying this group looks "promising" and admitting that he and his staff "are optimistic" about what the coming season holds.  The Wolves went 9-3 last year, good enough for a second-place finish in Region play.
    Hoyt and his staff are expecting good performances this season from a group of seniors and juniors, to lead them back to another successful season:
    Included in that group is a seasoned passing attack led by quarterback Wes Budge, who also contributes at free safety; wide receiver Avery Boykin; and tight end Troy Coleman.  Boykin also fills in as a defensive back and Coleman is a linebacker on defense.  Also high on his list of seniors who will contribute significantly are Travis James (DE/OT) and Steven Palmer (LB/RB).
    The trio of juniors to watch are: Anthony Alfonso at linebacker, Briante Brown (FS/RB), and lineman Mike Bentley.
    In 4A competition, Saguaro is trying to re-load...   (continued next page)

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    We want to thank the high school basketball coaches from around the state that are submitting information to enable us to again run one our most popular features, a preview of the upcoming football season.  This feature enables us to get an early look at the various programs, from those in the process of rebuilding to those seeking to repeat a successful season - but most importantly, we are able to recognize the athletes that make those programs go.
    Starting the 2009 Preview, we take a look at four programs in various stages of development, two from 4A and two from 5A: Sunrise Mountain HS (4A-I), Youngker HS (4A-II), Maryvale HS (5A-I), and Deer Valley HS (5A-II).
    Each of these schools have plenty of room for improvement over last season, with Deer Valley's 5-5 mark the best of the bunch.  Among the other three, the total number of wins is 1.
    As one of the newer schools in the Valley, Youngker will be playing its first season of varsity ball in 2009, so it has no wins posted.  But the Roughriders' JV team racked up an impressive 7-1 record last year and the school has had success at both the freshman and JV levels, with a combined record of 13-5 over the first two seasons of competition.
    "With having no senior leadership and no player with varsity playng experience, our main goal as a team this year is to be competitive and learn how to be successful on the field as a varsity team," says head coach, Jason Stuewe.  "Our players worked very hard in the off-season, both on the field and in the weight room.  We feel that once they have adjusted to the varsity level of competition, they will be a very good football team."
    Stuewe is looking for a big season from several primary players, such as a backfield that includes Johnny Dix (top photo), a halfback who plays strong safety on defense, and Edgar Chavez (bottom photo), a 200 lb. fullback and nose tackle. Other top players coming into this season: Jordan Faenza, a 6'1" speedster lining up at end (both ways), and 230 lb. guard/tackle Bryant Quinones. (continued next page)

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    A Scottsdale high school senior wrapped up his summer play before heading off to college by winning the July 30-31 Arizona Match Play Championship at Desert Highlands Golf Club.
    James Ardell defeated Jordan Lowery, a 17-year-old from Gilbert, in the final match, 4 and 3.  Ardell was one of two Scottsdale players to make it to the semi finals, as Clayton Kosanovich joined Tucson's Kyle Werbylo in the semis.
    On the girls side, Melissa Hultstrand, who has been on a red hot streak for the past several weeks, took first place honors at Desert Highlands.  Hultstrand placed in the top two spots in each of the previous tournaments: seond place in the PING Junior Match Play Championship, 1st in the Scottsdale Junior Championship, and 1st in the Mesa City Championships. 
    Hultstrand defeated Nicole Tucker, a high school junior from Glendale, for the Arizona Match Play win (1 up).  Tucker was also enjoying a successful July, finishing in a tie for 2nd in the Scottsdale Junior Championship and a fifth place tied in the Mesa City Championships.
    The other golfers completing the semi finals included Sierra Sanchez, a junior from Phoenix, and Cassidy Sanchez, a 15-year-old sophomore.
    The next scheduled JGAA event will be the Fall Classic Oct. 18-19 at Augusta Ranch in Mesa.
    The field of entrants on the boys side also included... (continued next page)

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