Tucson's top 20 high school athletes of 2015-16
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These high school students were chosen as the Star's athletes of the year in their respective sports for the 2015-16 school year.
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Flowing Wells' Dionte Flores was Southern Arizona's top rusher this season with 2,062 yards and 29 touchdowns on 187 carries. He had at least 150 yards rushing in all but two games with a season-high 325 yards and four scores on 20 carries in a win against Amphitheater.
The senior, who doubled as a defensive back, was also second on the team with 10.6 tackles per game. Behind Flores, Flowing Wells went 9-2 and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Caballeros' lone losses came against the Division IV state champion and runner-up.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: The 6-foot senior outside hitter amassed 553 kills, 348 digs, 44 aces and 29 blocks to help Salpointe come within one victory of reaching its first state championship match since 1970. The Lancers were the lone state semifinalist from Tucson and finished the regular season ranked fourth in Division II.
Top performance: Lowry had a season-high 37 kills in a five-set loss at Ironwood Ridge on Oct. 20. Two weeks later, the senior finished with a match-high 22 kills in a sweep against Gilbert Mesquite, sending Salpointe on to the Division II state semifinals.
What’s next: Lowry earned an academic scholarship with San Francisco and will also walk on to play for the women’s volleyball team, which went 17-14 this fall. She’s considering studying journalism with the hopes of becoming a sideline reporter.
Runner-up: Mia Sokolowski, Tucson. The 6-foot-4-inch Florida-bound outside hitter led the Badgers with 349 kills, 207 digs and 29 blocks.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
What he did: The junior finished sixth at the Division I state championship meet in 16 minutes, 11 seconds, a time that would have been first at any other level. The week before that, Olivo-Quinones finished third at the Division I, Section I Championship meet in 16:00.
Top performance: Olivo-Quinones had the third-fastest time in the state this season when he ran a 15:19.9 at the Desert Twilight Meet on Oct. 2. He finished 10th in the sweepstakes race with the next-closest Southern Arizona finisher coming in 46th.
What’s next: Olivo-Quinones will be running track in the spring and then will have another shot at winning a cross-country championship next fall when he is a senior.
Runner-up: Sam Pershing, Catalina Foothills. Pershing, a junior, ran a 15:53.8 to win his race at the Desert Twilight invitational. Despite being injured, he also finished third at sectionals in 16:19.5 but opted not to run at the state meet the following week.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: Not only was Schadler the top runner in Southern Arizona, she was also the unquestioned No. 1 in the state. The junior won her third straight state championship and shattered the course record at the meet with a speedy time of 17 minutes, 4 seconds. To put that in perspective, the second-fastest girls time at state was 18:09 by the Division I champion.
Top performance: Schadler, the daughter of Rio Rico coach Steve Schadler, certainly saved the best for last with the remarkable finish at the state meet. But, the week before that, she won the Division III, Section III championship at Marana in 16:47.7, setting another course record and giving her the fastest time in the state this season.
What’s next: Schadler isn’t going anywhere. You can expect to see her dominate just as much on the track; she won the 800- and 1,600-meter.
Runner-up: Samantha Schadler, Rio Rico. The freshman finished second at both sectionals and the state meet behind Allie, her older sister.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
What he did: Werbylo came within one stroke of winning a state title and helped Salpointe finish as the Division II state runner-up. The junior finished the season as the top-ranked golfer in the division ahead of Catalina Foothills’ Gavin Cohen. Werbylo opened the season with a 3-under 32 and won the 36-hole Santa Rita/Flowing Wells Tournament of Champions at Silverbell Golf Course.
Top performance: Werbylo opened up the Division II state championship with a remarkable 5-under 67 to take the lead into the final round. He shot a 74 on the second day, finishing just one stroke behind Aaron Ramos of Glendale Desert Edge.
What’s next: He’ll be back for his senior season and is once again expected to contend for the state crown after finishing as the runner-up in each of the last two seasons.
Runner-up: Briggs Duce, Sierra Vista Buena. The senior, who has signed with Arizona, finished third at the Division I state championship, three strokes behind the winner.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: Ottman won the Division II state championship and helped Sahuaro win its second team title in three seasons. The senior also won the Nighthawks Invitational and finished a close second behind teammate and fellow senior Taylor Hughes in the division rankings.
Top performance: Ottman was one stroke out of the lead heading into the final round at state and matched her first-round score of a 2-over 72 to beat Amphitheater’s Jessica Williams by seven strokes.
What’s next: Ottman has verbally committed to play for Grand Canyon next year and will sign her national letter of intent in April. She’s planning on studying English and business.
Runner-up: Haylin Harris, Salpointe Catholic. The sophomore had another impressive season, even with a move up to Division I. Harris finished the regular season ranked 11th and placed fifth at the Division I state meet with a 1-over 145.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: Fail was Southern Arizona’s lone champion at the Division I state meet as he placed first in the 500-yard freestyle in 4 minutes, 26.68 seconds, and was third in the 200 free in 1:39.96. The junior was also part of Foothills’ 200 medley relay team which placed seventh in 1:39.47, a time that would have been third in Division II.
Top performance: Fail was part of four first-place finishes in the TYR High School Classic a month before the state meet. He won the 200 IM and the 100 free in addition to helping both the 200 and 400 relay teams to victories.
What’s next: Fail had a hand in winning three titles as a sophomore a year ago and will again be one of Southern Arizona’s top swimmers next fall.
Runner-up: Braden Christensen, Cholla. The junior won the 200 IM in 1:59.13 at the Division II state meet and was second in the 100 backstroke.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
What she did: Nations, the Star’s girls swimmer of the year in 2014, turned in another impressive season by capturing two individual titles and having a hand in a relay championship. The Arizona Wildcats commit repeated as the 100-yard backstroke champion in 56.7 seconds and won the 100 fly in 55.39. Nations also finished off the state meet by anchoring Sabino’s 400 relay team to a win in 3:39.72.
Top performance: Just like at state, Nations had a hand in three titles at the TYR High School Classic at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. She won the 100 free, the 100 back and anchored the 400 relay team to a win over Catalina Foothills.
What’s next: Nations is signed to swim for the Arizona Wildcats starting next season. She also had offers from NAU, Houston and San Diego State.
Runner-up: Olivia McNally, Green Fields Country Day. The sophomore emerged onto the scene a year ago by winning the Division II 50 free but made an even bigger splash in her second trip to the state meet. McNally repeated as the 50 free champion in 24.65 and won the 100 free in 53.47.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
What he did: Inclan capped off a stellar four-year career by leading the Blue Devils to the Division II, Section I championship and a trip to the state quarterfinals for the second year in row. The 6-foot-3-inch forward stepped up to fill in for injured center Santino Duarte and didn’t disappoint. Inlcan averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists per game. Sunnyside earned the No. 6 seed in the state tournament and was on the verge of a trip to the semifinal round of the state playoffs before suffering an 80-77 double-overtime loss to Peoria Sunrise Mountain.
Top performance: The four-year starter scored a career-high 38 points with 16 rebounds in a 71-64 win over Cholla to start out the season but it was another double-double Inlcan might best be remembered for, in his final home game. Coming off a first-round bye, Inclan scored 23 points and pulled in 15 rebounds to power Sunnyside past Chandler Seton Catholic for a 68-55 win in the second round of the state playoffs.
What’s next: Inclan will play for South Mountain Community College for the next two years and hopes to move on to a four-year school from there. The Cougars are coming off a trip to the NJCAA nationals.
Runner-up: Brendan Rumel, Rincon/University. The Portland State-bound big man averaged a whopping 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game and helped the Rangers earn the No. 17 seed in the Division II state tournament. Rumel scored 17 points, snagged 20 rebounds and accounted for five blocks in a 70-68 first-round loss at Avondale La Joya to close out his high school career.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: The senior wing and four-year starter was one of the most prolific scorers in the state, averaging 26.4 points per game on 45 percent shooting. Cortez also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks per game as she paced Tucson High to the Division II, Section IV championship, helping it earn the No. 4 seed in the state tournament. Following a first-round bye, the Badgers fell victim to a 65-60 upset against 13th-seeded Sahuaro, despite a game-high 21 points from Cortez. It put an unexpected end to a promising season and a storied career that saw Cortez score 2,479 points, putting her fifth among Arizona’s all-time scoring leaders.
Top performance: Cortez surpassed 40 points in four games and scored at least 30 in seven others but one of her biggest games came when she scored just 12 points. Cortez showed off her versatility with a team-high eight rebounds and six blocks as Tucson topped Ironwood Ridge 52-50 in the championship game of the Division II, Section IV tournament.
What’s next: Cortez signed to play for East Carolina University, where she hopes to make an immediate impact. The Pirates posted a 13-19 record in 2015-16 and graduate their top two scorers.
Runner-up: Lexy Ram, Ironwood Ridge. The 5-foot-11-inch senior wing averaged 15.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game and helped the Nighthawks reach the second round of the Division II state playoffs. Ram, who is signed with Cal Baptist, scored at least 20 points in eight games; she finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 60-42 early-season win against Phoenix South Mountain, the eventual Division III state champion.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: The striker danced his way through opposing defenses to score 33 goals and dish out 15 assists this season. Gaona helped Tucson High win both the Brandon Bean Kickoff Classic and the Chris Maier Invitational and powered the Badgers back to the state tournament, two years after leading them to their first state championship. Gaona, the Star’s 2013-14 player of the year, scored multiple goals in nine matches and accounted for the lone goal in Tucson High’s second-round loss in the Division II state tournament against Phoenix South Mountain, which went on to win the state title.
Top performance: Gaona scored six goals in a 7-2 win over Sierra Vista Buena in the final week of the season but it was another hat trick a month earlier that proved to be much more important. His three goals in a 3-3 draw at Canyon del Oro on a rainy, chilly night helped the Badgers finish the regular season unbeaten. Gaona scored a go-ahead goal with less than 90 seconds remaining but the Dorardos managed to tie the match in the final minute.
What’s next: Gaona will play for coach Dave Cosgrove’s Pima College team the next two years before trying to move on to a Division I program. The Aztecs posted a school-record 21 wins in 2015 and reached the NJCAA nationals for the second year in a row.
Runner-up: Christopher Cooper, Rincon/University. Like Gaona, Cooper haunted opposing defenses on his way to scoring 25 goals and assisting on 12 others. The senior captain also helped the Rangers earn the No. 1 seed in the Division II state tournament and post an 18-5 record. Cooper will also be playing at Pima College next season, along with Gaona.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: Igulu scored a state-record 62 goals this season to help lead Palo Verde to its first state championship match since 2012. The junior striker, who also accounted for eight assists, scored a career-high five goals in an early-season win over Flowing Wells. Igulu scored four goals in four matches and tallied three goals in another seven matches. Palo Verde scored 127 goals as a team and posted a 23-3 record, with the lone regular-season loss coming at Walden Grove, the defending state champion. Igulu scored twice in that game but was held without a goal in the Division III state championship match as Fountain Hills won 4-2.
Top performance: With a trip to the state semifinals on the line, Igulu posted a hat trick to power fourth-seeded Palo Verde past Glendale Independence for a 5-0 victory. She also broke the previous state record of 59 goals — held by Sahuarita’s Taylor McClelland — with her first score of the match.
What’s next: Igulu will be back at Palo Verde next season with a chance to break her scoring record and lead the Titans back to the state finals.
Runner-up: Olivia Lai, Catalina Foothills. The junior midfielder scored 13 goals and logged 14 assists to lead a young Foothills team to a 14-6-1 record and a trip to the Division II state quarterfinals.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: Vega capped off his storied career by winning his third straight championship while helping the Nighthawks capture their first Division I team title. The 113-pound Vega posted a 39-0 record as a senior and finished his high school career with 116 straight wins, a streak that dates back to his sophomore season when he won his first state crown. In addition to winning his third straight state title, Vega collected victories at the Flowing Wells Invitational and the Reno Tournament of Champions. Vega also became Arizona’s first selection in 21 years to the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, which is tabbed “The Rose Bowl of Wrestling.”
Top performance: Vega saved the best for last, when he cruised to the 113-pound title with two pins and two tech fall victories. His championship bout lasted just 2 minutes, 12 seconds before Vega won 15-0 to set the tone on a night Ironwood Ridge went on to capture its first team championship since 2013, when the Nighthawks were in Division II.
What’s next: Vega was signed with Grand Canyon University but the school announced last month that it was going to discontinue its wrestling program. He has since re-opened his recruitment and is looking at Arizona State, Iowa State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon State and Utah Valley. Vega says all his options remain open and he isn’t going to rush his decision.
Runner-up: Roman Bravo-Young, Sunnyside. The sophomore had a very strong argument to earn this honor once again, after he plowed his way through another perfect season, despite jumping up two weight classes. Bravo-Young, the Division I 106-pound champ as a freshman, won the 120-pound title with a tech fall and is a favorite to win again in each of the next two seasons.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: Estrella shined on the mound and at the plate as he helped Ironwood Ridge pull within one win of reaching the Division II state championship game. The right-handed senior batted .488, hit 12 doubles, 11 home runs and drove in a team-high 53 runs for the Nighthawks. Estrella, the team’s ace, also posted an 8-3 record with a 2.88 ERA.
Top performance: With the season on the line, Estrella took a shutout into the eighth inning and struck out 12 batters as 10th-seeded I-Ridge knocked off No. 7 Sunnyside to reach the double-elimination stage of the Division II state tournament. Four days later, Estrella struck out eight in another complete game, this time against Mesa Westwood, to send I-Ridge on to the semifinals.
What’s next: Estrella is signed with Azusa Pacific University, where he will continue playing in the infield. The Cougars finished with a 30-20 record in 2016.
Runner-up: Tristan Peterson, Canyon del Oro. The senior catcher was one of the top sluggers in the state and helped the Dorados advance deep into the postseason. CDO was also one of Tucson’s top programs during the regular season, before earning the No. 6 seed in the Division II state tournament.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: Conway led the way as Catalina Foothills captured its first-ever softball state championship. The star sophomore posted a 23-6 record with a 1.06 ERA and struck out 302 batters. Conway also led the Falcons at the plate, with a .430 batting average and 49 hits, to go along with 30 RBIs, nine doubles, five triples and one home run.
Top performance: Conway pitched all 34 innings of the Division III state tournament for Foothills, capped off with a complete-game, 14-strikeout performance in an 8-0 win against Payson in the championship game. In five postseason games, Conway struck out 61 batters while surrendering 16 hits and just one earned run.
What’s next: Conway, who moved from Dallas before her freshman year, isn’t going anywhere. She’ll have a shot at leading Foothills to another state championship next spring, when the Falcons will be playing in Class 4A.
Runner-up: Nickole Robles, Pueblo. Like Conway, Robles caused headaches for opponents in the postseason. The senior pitched all 29 innings in the Division IV state tournament as the Warriors captured their first state title since 1990. Robles posted a 14-2 record with a 1.27 ERA and struck out 97 batters in 99 innings.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: Parikh plowed through the Division II singles state tournament to win his second championship in three seasons. The star senior finished out a stellar career with a perfect 22-0 season, in addition to helping Salpointe reach the semifinals of the team tournament.
Top performance: Parikh, who also won a singles state title as a sophomore, dropped just two games on his way to getting back to the state finals. That’s where Parikh took down Surprise Shadow Ridge’s Carlos Hassey, to avenge a semifinal loss from the year before. The top-seeded Parikh held on for a 7-5 win in the first set against Hassey, before rolling to a 6-1 win in the second to secure the title.
What’s next: Parikh is taking a gap year to play in some tournaments and better his game, before enrolling in school in the fall of 2017. In four seasons at Salpointe, Parikh won two singles titles and twice more finished third, losing to the eventual champion in the semifinals both instances.
Runner-up: Michael Lee, Catalina Foothills. The Arizona Wildcats signee teamed up with his brother to reach the championship round of the doubles state tournament and helped the Falcons capture their third straight team crown.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: Only a sophomore, Pesqueira put together a perfect season on her way to becoming Rincon/University’s first singles state champion since 1999. The postseason stage was nothing new to Pesqueira, who reached the doubles semifinals as a freshman in 2015. She also helped the Rangers earn the No. 5 seed in the team tournament and reach the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.
Top performance: The second-seeded Pesqueira knocked off No. 1 Alexa Cooke of Scottsdale Notre Dame 6-2, 6-3 in the singles championship, after beating the No. 3 seed 6-4, 6-2 earlier in the day. The straight-set victories allowed Pesqueira to finish off the season without dropping a set.
What’s next: Pesqueira will have a slightly bigger challenge to defend her title next season, as Rincon moves up to Class 5A. But she’ll have two attempts to match or surpass Tricia Kempton as the program’s only two-time champion.
Runner-up: Abby Watson, Catalina Foothills. Watson repeated as the Division II doubles state champion while she helped the Falcons reach the team finals for the eighth straight season.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: The Mountain View senior captured two state championships and became Tucson’s first high jumper to clear 7 feet. Summerset, who is signed with the Arizona Wildcats, also secured his place in the history books when he jumped 7-2½ in his final home meet to set an Arizona high school state record. Summerset was the state’s lone high jumper to go over 7 feet this spring and he did it twice prior to his record-breaking performance on April 23.
Top performance: After three years of heartbreak, Summerset broke through at the state championship meet in Mesa to capture his first high jump championship, with a winning mark of 6-9. Minutes after that, he placed first in the Division II 400-meter run in 48.93 seconds to claim his second gold medal of the day.
What’s next: Summerset will be high jumping for the UA over the next four years and hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Coincidentally, now Summerset is teammates with Bryant O’Georgia, who broke the high jump state record in 2016 as a senior at Phoenix North Canyon.
Runner-up: Tavian Ross, Tucson High. Ross repeated as the Division I 400 champion in 48.28, placed third in the 200 in 22.07 and was a member of the Badgers’ 400 relay team, which posted the second-fastest qualifying time in 41.64.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What she did: Schadler continued to add to her already large collection of gold medals and again posted some of the best marks in the state. The junior distance runner had a hand in winning four titles at the state meet as Rio Rico finished as the Division III runner-up for the first time in program history. Schadler also finished the season with the state’s best times in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.
Top performance: Schadler repeated as the 1,600 champion in 4 minutes 49.03 seconds in the first day of action at the state meet and won three more titles the next day. First, she anchored the 3,200 relay team to a win in 9:53.34 and then she won the open 3,200 in 10:16.72 — the third-fastest time in state history. Schadler capped off the night by running a speedy final leg in the 1,600 relay to another win in 4:02.19.
What’s next: Schadler heads into her senior year with high expectations, both in cross country and track. She’s the three-time defending cross country champion and the three-time defending 1,600 champion on the track.
Runner-up: Brielle Sterns, Sahuaro. The junior won the Division II 100 hurdles for the third straight season in 14.58 and placed second in the long jump with a mark of 18-4¾. Sterns, who was also fourth in the 300 hurdles, is committed to New Mexico State and will be one of Southern Arizona’s premier athletes next year.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
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What he did: Mott helped pull Cienega within one win of reaching its first state championship appearance. The 6-foot-2-inch do-it-all setter tallied 821 assists, 135 kills, 92 digs, 77 blocks and 37 aces to pace the Bobcats to a 16-0 regular season and a section championship. Mott, the son of coach Heather Mott, distributed the ball evenly to allow four different players to register at least 174 kills.
Top performance: With the Division II, Section I championship still up for grabs, Mott dished out a season-high 45 assists to lead Cienega to a 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17) win at Rincon/University on April 28. Mott also tallied six digs, five kills and five blocks in the four-set victory to keep the Bobcats unbeaten in regular-season play.
What’s next: Mott will be back at Cienega for his senior year next season, along with his top target Skyler Cavanaugh, a junior outside hitter who led the Bobcats with 219 kills.
Runner-up: Griffin Whithed, Mountain View. The 6-foot-2-inch senior outside hitter totaled a team-high 230 kills as the Mountain Lions more than tripled their win total from a year ago and earned the No. 6 seed in the Division II state tournament.
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Flowing Wells' Dionte Flores was Southern Arizona's top rusher this season with 2,062 yards and 29 touchdowns on 187 carries. He had at least 150 yards rushing in all but two games with a season-high 325 yards and four scores on 20 carries in a win against Amphitheater.
The senior, who doubled as a defensive back, was also second on the team with 10.6 tackles per game. Behind Flores, Flowing Wells went 9-2 and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Caballeros' lone losses came against the Division IV state champion and runner-up.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: The 6-foot senior outside hitter amassed 553 kills, 348 digs, 44 aces and 29 blocks to help Salpointe come within one victory of reaching its first state championship match since 1970. The Lancers were the lone state semifinalist from Tucson and finished the regular season ranked fourth in Division II.
Top performance: Lowry had a season-high 37 kills in a five-set loss at Ironwood Ridge on Oct. 20. Two weeks later, the senior finished with a match-high 22 kills in a sweep against Gilbert Mesquite, sending Salpointe on to the Division II state semifinals.
What’s next: Lowry earned an academic scholarship with San Francisco and will also walk on to play for the women’s volleyball team, which went 17-14 this fall. She’s considering studying journalism with the hopes of becoming a sideline reporter.
Runner-up: Mia Sokolowski, Tucson. The 6-foot-4-inch Florida-bound outside hitter led the Badgers with 349 kills, 207 digs and 29 blocks.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: The junior finished sixth at the Division I state championship meet in 16 minutes, 11 seconds, a time that would have been first at any other level. The week before that, Olivo-Quinones finished third at the Division I, Section I Championship meet in 16:00.
Top performance: Olivo-Quinones had the third-fastest time in the state this season when he ran a 15:19.9 at the Desert Twilight Meet on Oct. 2. He finished 10th in the sweepstakes race with the next-closest Southern Arizona finisher coming in 46th.
What’s next: Olivo-Quinones will be running track in the spring and then will have another shot at winning a cross-country championship next fall when he is a senior.
Runner-up: Sam Pershing, Catalina Foothills. Pershing, a junior, ran a 15:53.8 to win his race at the Desert Twilight invitational. Despite being injured, he also finished third at sectionals in 16:19.5 but opted not to run at the state meet the following week.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Not only was Schadler the top runner in Southern Arizona, she was also the unquestioned No. 1 in the state. The junior won her third straight state championship and shattered the course record at the meet with a speedy time of 17 minutes, 4 seconds. To put that in perspective, the second-fastest girls time at state was 18:09 by the Division I champion.
Top performance: Schadler, the daughter of Rio Rico coach Steve Schadler, certainly saved the best for last with the remarkable finish at the state meet. But, the week before that, she won the Division III, Section III championship at Marana in 16:47.7, setting another course record and giving her the fastest time in the state this season.
What’s next: Schadler isn’t going anywhere. You can expect to see her dominate just as much on the track; she won the 800- and 1,600-meter.
Runner-up: Samantha Schadler, Rio Rico. The freshman finished second at both sectionals and the state meet behind Allie, her older sister.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Werbylo came within one stroke of winning a state title and helped Salpointe finish as the Division II state runner-up. The junior finished the season as the top-ranked golfer in the division ahead of Catalina Foothills’ Gavin Cohen. Werbylo opened the season with a 3-under 32 and won the 36-hole Santa Rita/Flowing Wells Tournament of Champions at Silverbell Golf Course.
Top performance: Werbylo opened up the Division II state championship with a remarkable 5-under 67 to take the lead into the final round. He shot a 74 on the second day, finishing just one stroke behind Aaron Ramos of Glendale Desert Edge.
What’s next: He’ll be back for his senior season and is once again expected to contend for the state crown after finishing as the runner-up in each of the last two seasons.
Runner-up: Briggs Duce, Sierra Vista Buena. The senior, who has signed with Arizona, finished third at the Division I state championship, three strokes behind the winner.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Ottman won the Division II state championship and helped Sahuaro win its second team title in three seasons. The senior also won the Nighthawks Invitational and finished a close second behind teammate and fellow senior Taylor Hughes in the division rankings.
Top performance: Ottman was one stroke out of the lead heading into the final round at state and matched her first-round score of a 2-over 72 to beat Amphitheater’s Jessica Williams by seven strokes.
What’s next: Ottman has verbally committed to play for Grand Canyon next year and will sign her national letter of intent in April. She’s planning on studying English and business.
Runner-up: Haylin Harris, Salpointe Catholic. The sophomore had another impressive season, even with a move up to Division I. Harris finished the regular season ranked 11th and placed fifth at the Division I state meet with a 1-over 145.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Fail was Southern Arizona’s lone champion at the Division I state meet as he placed first in the 500-yard freestyle in 4 minutes, 26.68 seconds, and was third in the 200 free in 1:39.96. The junior was also part of Foothills’ 200 medley relay team which placed seventh in 1:39.47, a time that would have been third in Division II.
Top performance: Fail was part of four first-place finishes in the TYR High School Classic a month before the state meet. He won the 200 IM and the 100 free in addition to helping both the 200 and 400 relay teams to victories.
What’s next: Fail had a hand in winning three titles as a sophomore a year ago and will again be one of Southern Arizona’s top swimmers next fall.
Runner-up: Braden Christensen, Cholla. The junior won the 200 IM in 1:59.13 at the Division II state meet and was second in the 100 backstroke.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Nations, the Star’s girls swimmer of the year in 2014, turned in another impressive season by capturing two individual titles and having a hand in a relay championship. The Arizona Wildcats commit repeated as the 100-yard backstroke champion in 56.7 seconds and won the 100 fly in 55.39. Nations also finished off the state meet by anchoring Sabino’s 400 relay team to a win in 3:39.72.
Top performance: Just like at state, Nations had a hand in three titles at the TYR High School Classic at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. She won the 100 free, the 100 back and anchored the 400 relay team to a win over Catalina Foothills.
What’s next: Nations is signed to swim for the Arizona Wildcats starting next season. She also had offers from NAU, Houston and San Diego State.
Runner-up: Olivia McNally, Green Fields Country Day. The sophomore emerged onto the scene a year ago by winning the Division II 50 free but made an even bigger splash in her second trip to the state meet. McNally repeated as the 50 free champion in 24.65 and won the 100 free in 53.47.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Inclan capped off a stellar four-year career by leading the Blue Devils to the Division II, Section I championship and a trip to the state quarterfinals for the second year in row. The 6-foot-3-inch forward stepped up to fill in for injured center Santino Duarte and didn’t disappoint. Inlcan averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists per game. Sunnyside earned the No. 6 seed in the state tournament and was on the verge of a trip to the semifinal round of the state playoffs before suffering an 80-77 double-overtime loss to Peoria Sunrise Mountain.
Top performance: The four-year starter scored a career-high 38 points with 16 rebounds in a 71-64 win over Cholla to start out the season but it was another double-double Inlcan might best be remembered for, in his final home game. Coming off a first-round bye, Inclan scored 23 points and pulled in 15 rebounds to power Sunnyside past Chandler Seton Catholic for a 68-55 win in the second round of the state playoffs.
What’s next: Inclan will play for South Mountain Community College for the next two years and hopes to move on to a four-year school from there. The Cougars are coming off a trip to the NJCAA nationals.
Runner-up: Brendan Rumel, Rincon/University. The Portland State-bound big man averaged a whopping 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game and helped the Rangers earn the No. 17 seed in the Division II state tournament. Rumel scored 17 points, snagged 20 rebounds and accounted for five blocks in a 70-68 first-round loss at Avondale La Joya to close out his high school career.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: The senior wing and four-year starter was one of the most prolific scorers in the state, averaging 26.4 points per game on 45 percent shooting. Cortez also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks per game as she paced Tucson High to the Division II, Section IV championship, helping it earn the No. 4 seed in the state tournament. Following a first-round bye, the Badgers fell victim to a 65-60 upset against 13th-seeded Sahuaro, despite a game-high 21 points from Cortez. It put an unexpected end to a promising season and a storied career that saw Cortez score 2,479 points, putting her fifth among Arizona’s all-time scoring leaders.
Top performance: Cortez surpassed 40 points in four games and scored at least 30 in seven others but one of her biggest games came when she scored just 12 points. Cortez showed off her versatility with a team-high eight rebounds and six blocks as Tucson topped Ironwood Ridge 52-50 in the championship game of the Division II, Section IV tournament.
What’s next: Cortez signed to play for East Carolina University, where she hopes to make an immediate impact. The Pirates posted a 13-19 record in 2015-16 and graduate their top two scorers.
Runner-up: Lexy Ram, Ironwood Ridge. The 5-foot-11-inch senior wing averaged 15.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game and helped the Nighthawks reach the second round of the Division II state playoffs. Ram, who is signed with Cal Baptist, scored at least 20 points in eight games; she finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 60-42 early-season win against Phoenix South Mountain, the eventual Division III state champion.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: The striker danced his way through opposing defenses to score 33 goals and dish out 15 assists this season. Gaona helped Tucson High win both the Brandon Bean Kickoff Classic and the Chris Maier Invitational and powered the Badgers back to the state tournament, two years after leading them to their first state championship. Gaona, the Star’s 2013-14 player of the year, scored multiple goals in nine matches and accounted for the lone goal in Tucson High’s second-round loss in the Division II state tournament against Phoenix South Mountain, which went on to win the state title.
Top performance: Gaona scored six goals in a 7-2 win over Sierra Vista Buena in the final week of the season but it was another hat trick a month earlier that proved to be much more important. His three goals in a 3-3 draw at Canyon del Oro on a rainy, chilly night helped the Badgers finish the regular season unbeaten. Gaona scored a go-ahead goal with less than 90 seconds remaining but the Dorardos managed to tie the match in the final minute.
What’s next: Gaona will play for coach Dave Cosgrove’s Pima College team the next two years before trying to move on to a Division I program. The Aztecs posted a school-record 21 wins in 2015 and reached the NJCAA nationals for the second year in a row.
Runner-up: Christopher Cooper, Rincon/University. Like Gaona, Cooper haunted opposing defenses on his way to scoring 25 goals and assisting on 12 others. The senior captain also helped the Rangers earn the No. 1 seed in the Division II state tournament and post an 18-5 record. Cooper will also be playing at Pima College next season, along with Gaona.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Igulu scored a state-record 62 goals this season to help lead Palo Verde to its first state championship match since 2012. The junior striker, who also accounted for eight assists, scored a career-high five goals in an early-season win over Flowing Wells. Igulu scored four goals in four matches and tallied three goals in another seven matches. Palo Verde scored 127 goals as a team and posted a 23-3 record, with the lone regular-season loss coming at Walden Grove, the defending state champion. Igulu scored twice in that game but was held without a goal in the Division III state championship match as Fountain Hills won 4-2.
Top performance: With a trip to the state semifinals on the line, Igulu posted a hat trick to power fourth-seeded Palo Verde past Glendale Independence for a 5-0 victory. She also broke the previous state record of 59 goals — held by Sahuarita’s Taylor McClelland — with her first score of the match.
What’s next: Igulu will be back at Palo Verde next season with a chance to break her scoring record and lead the Titans back to the state finals.
Runner-up: Olivia Lai, Catalina Foothills. The junior midfielder scored 13 goals and logged 14 assists to lead a young Foothills team to a 14-6-1 record and a trip to the Division II state quarterfinals.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Vega capped off his storied career by winning his third straight championship while helping the Nighthawks capture their first Division I team title. The 113-pound Vega posted a 39-0 record as a senior and finished his high school career with 116 straight wins, a streak that dates back to his sophomore season when he won his first state crown. In addition to winning his third straight state title, Vega collected victories at the Flowing Wells Invitational and the Reno Tournament of Champions. Vega also became Arizona’s first selection in 21 years to the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, which is tabbed “The Rose Bowl of Wrestling.”
Top performance: Vega saved the best for last, when he cruised to the 113-pound title with two pins and two tech fall victories. His championship bout lasted just 2 minutes, 12 seconds before Vega won 15-0 to set the tone on a night Ironwood Ridge went on to capture its first team championship since 2013, when the Nighthawks were in Division II.
What’s next: Vega was signed with Grand Canyon University but the school announced last month that it was going to discontinue its wrestling program. He has since re-opened his recruitment and is looking at Arizona State, Iowa State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon State and Utah Valley. Vega says all his options remain open and he isn’t going to rush his decision.
Runner-up: Roman Bravo-Young, Sunnyside. The sophomore had a very strong argument to earn this honor once again, after he plowed his way through another perfect season, despite jumping up two weight classes. Bravo-Young, the Division I 106-pound champ as a freshman, won the 120-pound title with a tech fall and is a favorite to win again in each of the next two seasons.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Estrella shined on the mound and at the plate as he helped Ironwood Ridge pull within one win of reaching the Division II state championship game. The right-handed senior batted .488, hit 12 doubles, 11 home runs and drove in a team-high 53 runs for the Nighthawks. Estrella, the team’s ace, also posted an 8-3 record with a 2.88 ERA.
Top performance: With the season on the line, Estrella took a shutout into the eighth inning and struck out 12 batters as 10th-seeded I-Ridge knocked off No. 7 Sunnyside to reach the double-elimination stage of the Division II state tournament. Four days later, Estrella struck out eight in another complete game, this time against Mesa Westwood, to send I-Ridge on to the semifinals.
What’s next: Estrella is signed with Azusa Pacific University, where he will continue playing in the infield. The Cougars finished with a 30-20 record in 2016.
Runner-up: Tristan Peterson, Canyon del Oro. The senior catcher was one of the top sluggers in the state and helped the Dorados advance deep into the postseason. CDO was also one of Tucson’s top programs during the regular season, before earning the No. 6 seed in the Division II state tournament.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Conway led the way as Catalina Foothills captured its first-ever softball state championship. The star sophomore posted a 23-6 record with a 1.06 ERA and struck out 302 batters. Conway also led the Falcons at the plate, with a .430 batting average and 49 hits, to go along with 30 RBIs, nine doubles, five triples and one home run.
Top performance: Conway pitched all 34 innings of the Division III state tournament for Foothills, capped off with a complete-game, 14-strikeout performance in an 8-0 win against Payson in the championship game. In five postseason games, Conway struck out 61 batters while surrendering 16 hits and just one earned run.
What’s next: Conway, who moved from Dallas before her freshman year, isn’t going anywhere. She’ll have a shot at leading Foothills to another state championship next spring, when the Falcons will be playing in Class 4A.
Runner-up: Nickole Robles, Pueblo. Like Conway, Robles caused headaches for opponents in the postseason. The senior pitched all 29 innings in the Division IV state tournament as the Warriors captured their first state title since 1990. Robles posted a 14-2 record with a 1.27 ERA and struck out 97 batters in 99 innings.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Parikh plowed through the Division II singles state tournament to win his second championship in three seasons. The star senior finished out a stellar career with a perfect 22-0 season, in addition to helping Salpointe reach the semifinals of the team tournament.
Top performance: Parikh, who also won a singles state title as a sophomore, dropped just two games on his way to getting back to the state finals. That’s where Parikh took down Surprise Shadow Ridge’s Carlos Hassey, to avenge a semifinal loss from the year before. The top-seeded Parikh held on for a 7-5 win in the first set against Hassey, before rolling to a 6-1 win in the second to secure the title.
What’s next: Parikh is taking a gap year to play in some tournaments and better his game, before enrolling in school in the fall of 2017. In four seasons at Salpointe, Parikh won two singles titles and twice more finished third, losing to the eventual champion in the semifinals both instances.
Runner-up: Michael Lee, Catalina Foothills. The Arizona Wildcats signee teamed up with his brother to reach the championship round of the doubles state tournament and helped the Falcons capture their third straight team crown.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Only a sophomore, Pesqueira put together a perfect season on her way to becoming Rincon/University’s first singles state champion since 1999. The postseason stage was nothing new to Pesqueira, who reached the doubles semifinals as a freshman in 2015. She also helped the Rangers earn the No. 5 seed in the team tournament and reach the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.
Top performance: The second-seeded Pesqueira knocked off No. 1 Alexa Cooke of Scottsdale Notre Dame 6-2, 6-3 in the singles championship, after beating the No. 3 seed 6-4, 6-2 earlier in the day. The straight-set victories allowed Pesqueira to finish off the season without dropping a set.
What’s next: Pesqueira will have a slightly bigger challenge to defend her title next season, as Rincon moves up to Class 5A. But she’ll have two attempts to match or surpass Tricia Kempton as the program’s only two-time champion.
Runner-up: Abby Watson, Catalina Foothills. Watson repeated as the Division II doubles state champion while she helped the Falcons reach the team finals for the eighth straight season.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: The Mountain View senior captured two state championships and became Tucson’s first high jumper to clear 7 feet. Summerset, who is signed with the Arizona Wildcats, also secured his place in the history books when he jumped 7-2½ in his final home meet to set an Arizona high school state record. Summerset was the state’s lone high jumper to go over 7 feet this spring and he did it twice prior to his record-breaking performance on April 23.
Top performance: After three years of heartbreak, Summerset broke through at the state championship meet in Mesa to capture his first high jump championship, with a winning mark of 6-9. Minutes after that, he placed first in the Division II 400-meter run in 48.93 seconds to claim his second gold medal of the day.
What’s next: Summerset will be high jumping for the UA over the next four years and hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Coincidentally, now Summerset is teammates with Bryant O’Georgia, who broke the high jump state record in 2016 as a senior at Phoenix North Canyon.
Runner-up: Tavian Ross, Tucson High. Ross repeated as the Division I 400 champion in 48.28, placed third in the 200 in 22.07 and was a member of the Badgers’ 400 relay team, which posted the second-fastest qualifying time in 41.64.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What she did: Schadler continued to add to her already large collection of gold medals and again posted some of the best marks in the state. The junior distance runner had a hand in winning four titles at the state meet as Rio Rico finished as the Division III runner-up for the first time in program history. Schadler also finished the season with the state’s best times in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.
Top performance: Schadler repeated as the 1,600 champion in 4 minutes 49.03 seconds in the first day of action at the state meet and won three more titles the next day. First, she anchored the 3,200 relay team to a win in 9:53.34 and then she won the open 3,200 in 10:16.72 — the third-fastest time in state history. Schadler capped off the night by running a speedy final leg in the 1,600 relay to another win in 4:02.19.
What’s next: Schadler heads into her senior year with high expectations, both in cross country and track. She’s the three-time defending cross country champion and the three-time defending 1,600 champion on the track.
Runner-up: Brielle Sterns, Sahuaro. The junior won the Division II 100 hurdles for the third straight season in 14.58 and placed second in the long jump with a mark of 18-4¾. Sterns, who was also fourth in the 300 hurdles, is committed to New Mexico State and will be one of Southern Arizona’s premier athletes next year.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
What he did: Mott helped pull Cienega within one win of reaching its first state championship appearance. The 6-foot-2-inch do-it-all setter tallied 821 assists, 135 kills, 92 digs, 77 blocks and 37 aces to pace the Bobcats to a 16-0 regular season and a section championship. Mott, the son of coach Heather Mott, distributed the ball evenly to allow four different players to register at least 174 kills.
Top performance: With the Division II, Section I championship still up for grabs, Mott dished out a season-high 45 assists to lead Cienega to a 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17) win at Rincon/University on April 28. Mott also tallied six digs, five kills and five blocks in the four-set victory to keep the Bobcats unbeaten in regular-season play.
What’s next: Mott will be back at Cienega for his senior year next season, along with his top target Skyler Cavanaugh, a junior outside hitter who led the Bobcats with 219 kills.
Runner-up: Griffin Whithed, Mountain View. The 6-foot-2-inch senior outside hitter totaled a team-high 230 kills as the Mountain Lions more than tripled their win total from a year ago and earned the No. 6 seed in the Division II state tournament.
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