Opinion by Tyler Hansen: The winner is... High schools' best

The high school sports season came to a close last weekend, a year in which Southern Arizona athletes and teams won 120 state championships — exceeding last year's record total of 115.

It was a performance for the ages, and one that should be honored appropriately. Here are of some of the year's finest players and moments, done in the same format as the Academy Awards.

The envelopes, please …

On StarNet: See a slideshow of nominees for best picture: prepsports.azstarnet.com

Best supporting actor: Darnell Shumpert, Santa Rita

He rode shotgun next to Player of the Year teammate Terrell Stoglin during the Eagles' state runner-up finish, but Shumpert was a star in his own right.

"D.J." averaged a triple-double for the year (11.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 10.6 blocks) and — according to MaxPreps.com — led the nation in blocks. Santa Rita coach Jim Ferguson called Shumpert the best post player he has ever had.

• Other nominees: Colin Anderson, Rincon/University soccer; Tyler Campbell, Catalina Foothills tennis; Justin Zumwalde, Sabino baseball

Best supporting actress: Katie Asher, Canyon del Oro

It is almost criminal to suggest Asher played second fiddle to anyone, but CDO's resident All-American, Kenzie Fowler, tends to have that effect.

Nonetheless, Asher's season was otherworldly: She batted .481 with 14 home runs — the highest total in the state. She hit the game-winning homer in the state semifinals, then belted the game-tying bomb in the final to spur the Dorados in a 3-2 win.

• Other nominees: Aeoleone Bristow, Rio Rico cross country; Kari Emery, Flowing Wells tennis; Azya Peoples, Flowing Wells basketball

Best director: Jeff Scurran, Santa Rita football

No story this school year was as inspiring as the Eagles' inconceivable run during the 2007 season. With first-year coach Scurran leading the charge, they went from an 0-10 squad to an 11-2 juggernaut overnight and were one win from the state championship game.

It may have been Scurran's finest work yet in a remarkable coaching career.

• Other nominees: Pat Nugent, CDO football; Amy Swiderski, CDO softball; Rachel Williams, Amphi girls volleyball

Best costume design: Cienega football

Best foreign language film: Catalina boys soccer

The Trojans' trek to the 4A-II state final was marked by high-quality soccer and cultural diversity. Their talent-laden roster consisted of players from Afghanistan, Kenya, Honduras, Liberia, Russia, Somalia and other countries.

English was the second (or third) language for many.

Luckily for Catalina, soccer is universal. Record-setting goal-scorer Edwin Peña and the Trojans were state runners-up.

Best original screenplay: Ted Farhat, Salpointe Catholic softball

Locked in a scoreless tie with the defending state champion in the state playoffs, Farhat scripted the gutsiest play call of the year.

Freshman Kristi Gragg was on third base when Farhat ordered her to steal home in between pitches while St. Mary's pitcher Dallas Escobedo had her back turned.

Gragg sprinted home. Escobedo froze. Salpointe won 1-0.

"They had no idea what hit 'em," Farhat said that day.

Best makeup: Flowing Wells girls basketball

This has nothing to do with rouge or mascara. The Caballeros were the most dominant team in Southern Arizona all school year and got solid contributions throughout the lineup.

The Cabs won their last 29 games to finish 33-1, winning the 4A-I state title by a championship-game record 32 points. Average margin of victory all season: 61-32.

• Other nominees: Catalina Foothills boys tennis; CDO football; Sunnyside wrestling

Best unsung heroes: Athletic secretaries

OK, so this is not an award the Academy actually gives out, but the behind-the-scenes work done by these athletic department officials is majorly underappreciated.

The secretaries help organize tournaments, answer a million questions, work event operations, schedule bus trips, book hotel rooms, manage the budget, work concession stands and do anything else so the fans and media can focus strictly on the action.

Over the last two years, I nagged a slew of athletic secretaries for information on a daily basis. I would not have been able to do my job without their help.

Thanks primarily to Salpointe's Terry Eischeid, Marana's Lisa Pargas, Tucson's Maggie Contreras, Ironwood Ridge's Margie Nelson, Sabino's Debbie Fradkin, Flowing Wells' Tery Williams, Palo Verde's Christine McCleery, Sahuaro's Patty Garcia, Catalina Foothills' Carol Karcher, and Jacque Gibson of TUSD.