2015 Arizona Daily Star High School Fall Athletes of the Year
- Updated
These high school students were chosen at the Star's athletes of the year for the 2015 fall sports.
- Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
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
- Updated
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
- Updated
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
- Updated
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
2015 Football Player of the Year
The Star will unveil its 2015 football player of the year next weekend.
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- 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.
