High School Reunion: 1999-2000 Athletes of the Year
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Here's a look at the Arizona Daily Star's 1999-2000 high school athletes of the year.
- Arizona Daily Star
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Editor's note
Online sports producer Drew McCullough is spending his summer digging through Star archives and compiling a list of every high school athlete of the year since 1999. Today: 1999-2000.
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Football player of the year
Name: Reggie Robertson
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Sahuaro senior quarterback Reggie Robertson simply demolished every city record that is kept for passers, including single-season marks for yards (2,933) and touchdowns (34), in leading the Cougars to the Class 4A state championship game. Along the way, Robertson helped his teammate, first-team All-Southern Arizona wide receiver Calvin Dacus, become the most prolific at his position in state history with 215 catches.
Robertson finished his high school career with 7,106 passing yards and 77 touchdowns, good for second and third, respectively, in the state's record books. Such numbers allowed him to receive numerous scholarship offers, including one from the University of California. On Dec. 17, he verbally committed to the Golden Bears. — Star staff, 1999
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Girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Julie Plotts
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: When Julie Plotts began her high school volleyball career at Sahuaro four years ago, she had two major ambitions: win a state championship and earn a Player of the Year award.
Despite winning the region title every year Plotts played at Sahuaro, the Cougars never advanced past the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament.
But there still was a shot at being named the city's best player.
"After we lost (to Scottsdale Chaparral in the 4A quarterfinals) I didn't think I was even a nominee," she said.
As co-captain of the Cougars, Plotts, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Volleyball Most Valuable Player, helped lead her team to a 27-5 record and the school's ninth consecutive region title. In her first year at a new position, setter, she finished second in the city in assists.
From the time she started playing volleyball, Plotts had been a powerful outside hitter, the position at which she received first-team all-city honors last season. But when Sahuaro coach Sandy Novak felt there was a void at the setter position, she did not hesitate to move Plotts from her natural position.
"Julie is such a good all-around athlete, I knew she could play any position, any time," Novak said.
"Being a setter is definitely more fun than being a hitter," Plotts said. "I felt like a quarterback on the court. I like it when the game is in my hands."
Since most college outside hitters are 6 feet tall or taller, Plotts, at 5-8, most likely will continue to play setter at the next level. Several Division II and III colleges have shown interest.
"Wherever she decides to go, that team will benefit from Julie's talent," Novak said. "She is such a good player and role model. It's very sad to see her go." — Tyler Hansen, 1999
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Boys cross country runner of the year
Name: Mike Howard
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys cross country
From the archives: Mike Howard of Canyon del Oro made the most of his one season running cross country in Tucson.
Howard had the best showing of any Southern Arizona runner at the 5A state meet earlier this month, finishing fourth in a time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds.
Howard, a Canyon del Oro senior, and his family moved from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, during the summer after his father took on a new job.
A proven runner on the Chicago cross country scene, Howard, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, quickly made his move against the Southern Arizona competition. Howard finished second at regionals, one second behind Sierra Vista Buena's Nathan Franz.
Howard was not too thrilled with the finish.
"It was OK, not too disappointing," Howard said. "But, I did not reach my goals."
Howard's goals were high for a reason: He had posted better times during his junior year in Illinois.
The times were the first thing that CDO cross country coach Rick Glider knew about his new runner.
"The first week of August, he called my house a couple of times," Glider said. "I called back and talked to his mom, who told me some of his times.
"I thought, 'OK, I can deal with this. This looks real good.' "
Howard lived up to the hype, setting four course records during the season.
Most impressive is that Howard accomplished this while making a somewhat smooth transition from the cool, grassy courses in Chicago to the the rougher terrain and hotter weather in Tucson.
"I talked to him about the heat," Glider said. "If it was a problem, it did not show much."
Glider is disappointed that he will only get to coach Howard once.
"I would have loved to work with him for four years." — Joel Flom, 1999
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Girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Amber Quigley
School: Sunnyside
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Amber Quigley of Sunnyside needs more time to properly reflect on her 4A state cross country championship.
"Not really," Quigley said when asked if being state champ had sunk in. "I am just shooting for nationals."
Quigley, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star girls cross country runner of the year who also won the regional championship, has moved on to bigger things. She is training for the Footlocker Championships in California, where she will compete in the elite class.
An eighth-place finish there would send her to the national championship in Orlando.
Quigley runs six days a week, taking Sunday off. Well, sort of. She still either swims or bikes on the seventh day.
"It is the same as any other race," Quigley said. "I am just trying to stay focused."
She stays with a game plan, something she has had little problem doing.
"That is what makes her so special," Sunnyside coach Ruben Ruiz said before the state meet. "She is very coachable. We set up a plan and she sticks to it."
The game plan at state was to let the other runners do the hard work early and then take over at the second mile mark. Quigley had to admit, however, that the coaches for her pursuer, Chinle's Kristen St. Germaine, helped her as well.
"They kept saying, 'Go! You have to take her now!' So that just made me go harder," Quigley said.
With a homecoming queen crown to go with her state championship, Quigley has no complaints about the season.
"This has been the funnest year," Quigley said. — Joel Flom, 1999
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Boys golfer of the year
Name: Osvaldo Machado
School: Douglas
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys golf
From the archives: Osvaldo Machado swears there is nothing different that he does in his approach to regional and state competitions, but somehow that's where he finds the most room to excel.
Over the past two seasons Machado, a senior golfer from Douglas High School, has managed to post his best scores in the postseason.
Machado won the 1998 4A Kino and 1999 4A Sonoran individual titles, took third at the 1998 Class 4A state tournament at Randolph North following a six-hole playoff and ended his high school career with a seventh-place showing at the 1999 4A state tournament in Mesa three weeks ago.
"I just like competition," said Machado, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Boys Golfer of the Year. "I just concentrate more. You have to play good (at those events), so I just expect it from myself."
Machado is joined on the All-Southern Arizona first team by Sahuaro senior Luke Bathel, Catalina Foothills junior Ben Kreger, Canyon del Oro senior Brandon Muir, Sabino junior Nate Tyler and CDO junior Jimmy Yandell.
Douglas boys golf coach James Selchow says that Machado has always been a slow starter to the season, as he was this season. However, as the year progresses, so does Machado.
"He just doesn't get nervous," Selchow said. "He usually has a plan and sticks to it. He's very goal-oriented."
Selchow said Machado has been in contact with several junior colleges about the possibility of playing collegiate golf.
He said Machado will continue to travel to Tucson most weekends to compete in junior tournaments in an effort to broaden his abilities from just the one course in Douglas. — Brian J. Pedersen, 1999
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Girls golfer of the year
Name: Lisa Lambeth
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls golf
From the archives: Lisa Lambeth had the great fortune of beginning her career with the Canyon del Oro High School girls golf team alongside future Division I players Christina Baena, Stacie Ferguson and Kristin Scholl.
Two years later, she is on the verge of leading the next generation of girls golfers to the next level.
"My little sister (Sara) is going to be a freshman next year, and then there is a girl named Sara Brown who will be playing at Salpointe (Catholic)," said Lambeth, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Golfer of the Year. "And (teammate) Marissa Muir is going to be a sophomore."
Lambeth is joined on the All-Southern Arizona first team by freshman teammate Muir, Salpointe Catholic senior Kelsey Crebbs, Sahuaro senior Kate Day and Flowing Wells junior Tara Morgan.
Lambeth has been consistently at the top of the leader board in all events throughout the state since her freshman season, and this year she finished ninth at the Class 5A state tournament in Goodyear as the Dorados took third in the team standings.
The reason there has been such an influx of younger girls taking up the sport of golf has been because of the dedication of junior organizations, said Lambeth, who began swinging clubs at the driving range with her father when she was 11.
"The girls golf clubs are doing wonderful things getting girls interested and keeping them going," said Lambeth.
Lambeth also said golf is appealing to many because of its avoidance of competition against others.
"I liked how it was me against the course and not me against another person," Lambeth said. — Brian J. Pedersen, 1999
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Boys swimmer of the year
Name: Chris Trimble
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys swimming and diving
From the archives: Salpointe Catholic junior Chris Trimble knew he was a good swimmer, but he had no idea he was the best in the state.
So Trimble surprised himself Nov. 6 at Arizona State University when he made the last turn in the Class 5A 200-yard freestyle event and saw that he was in the lead.
Trimble, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Boys Swimmer of the Year, maintained the lead and won the state championship in that event, then helped the Lancers to silver medals in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay events.
"The competition was very good this year," Trimble said. "There were a lot of good swimmers. I was real surprised that I won.
"On the last 50 or so, I looked around and saw that it was a really close race. Then I gave it everything I could have possibly given."
Trimble might have been surprised that he won a state championship as a junior, but there's no denying that he put in enough work to earn the title.
He swims every day after school from 3:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for Hillenbrand of Tucson. His freshman brother, Pat, also practices daily at Hillenbrand. He swims the same events as his older brother.
Both boys have been swimming regularly since moving to Tucson from Colorado six years ago. Chris said Pat has the potential to win state titles in the future.
Trimble has plans for his swimming future. He said he hopes to repeat as the 200 free champion and add a 500 free title to his résumé. Then he'd like to swim for a Division I school in California in 2001.
Trimble placed third in the 500 at state this year and second in the event at regionals.
But for now, Trimble can relax just a little bit. He has already won his first state title faster than he had ever thought possible.
"I'm so happy," Trimble said. "I didn't even expect this." — Phil Villarreal, 1999
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Girls swimmer of the year
Name: Kate Rollins
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls swimming and diving
From the archives: Kate Rollins is one girl with a hefty trophy case.
Rollins, a Sabino senior, concluded her high school swimming career Nov. 6 in the 5A state championships at Arizona State University with a title in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
When she got back to town, Rollins just threw it on the pile. She had already won consecutive state titles in the 100 backstroke and the 200 free relay in her sophomore and junior years, along with a 200 medley relay title her sophomore year.
Rollins didn't win a third straight 100 backstroke title, but she did swim the best race of her life at state - it just happened to come in preliminaries and not the finals.
Rollins' time of 56.38 seconds qualified her for the 2000 Olympic trials.
But the next day, Rollins couldn't overcome a bad start and mistimed turns. She placed second, losing to Phoenix Mountain Pointe's Amy Wagner by .38 of a second.
But it wasn't as though Rollins had never won a state title. She was able to focus from the positive result that came from the meet - the trial qualification.
"It felt so good," said Rollins, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Swimmer of the Year. "After getting that time, I know that I can break 55 seconds. I know I can go so much faster."
She'll get plenty of chances to show that she can indeed go faster. If not in the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, than definitely in college. Rollins recently accepted a scholarship to Nebraska.
"I just love it. You wouldn't think that you'd want to go to Nebraska to swim," said Rollins, whose family moved to Tucson from Vermont before her sophomore year.
"There's a lot of foreign swimmers there. They're really, really nice. The coach seems really good, and the team seems really fun." — Phil Villarreal, 1999
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Boys basketball player of the year
Name: Mark Brown
School: Santa Rita
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys basketball
From the archives: Brown was the cream of an extremely strong crop of guards in Southern Arizona this season. After leading the Eagles to the 4A state title last season, Brown lead Santa Rita as far as the quarterfinals this year before losing to eventual champion Sahuaro.
Brown is most noted for his ball-handling skills. The 5-foot-10-inch senior averaged 15 points and six assists per game. — Star staff, 2000
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Girls basketball player of the year
Name: Katie Bruns
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls basketball
From the archives: Bruns was known as Barbie by opposing teams’ fans for her blond hair and blue eyes, but on the court she was one of the most difficult players to guard.
The senior guard broke down defenses with her ability to dribble through presses. She was the starting point guard all four years, winning a state title in 1998 and reaching the final in 1999. — Star staff, 2000
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Boys soccer player of the year
Name: Ben Stuart
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys soccer
From the archives: Stuart stood head and shoulders above the rest of Southern Arizona’s soccer elite, literally. The 6-foot-2-inch senior was almost always around the net when a scoring chance was there for Salpointe, and he cashed in for 24 goals and 16 assists in 26 games.
Stuart scored the Lancers’ only goal in a 2-1 loss to Glendale Ironwood in the state championship game. He is headed to the University of San Francisco on a soccer scholarship. — Star staff, 2000
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Girls soccer player of the year
Name: Kelly Burke
School: Catalina Foothills
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls soccer
From the archives: In only her sophomore season, Burke stepped to the forefront of the Falcons’ attack to lead Foothills into the 4A state semifinals, the furthest the school has gone in the playoffs.
Burke even played through pain, fracturing her collarbone in the quarterfinals. She is the main cog of a youth-laden team that returns almost its entire lineup next season. — Star staff, 2000
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Wrestler of the year
Name: Dominic Capanna
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Wrestling
From the archives: Capanna, a senior, was a two-time freestyle All-American at 103 pounds, but before this season he never placed at the high school state championships in Phoenix.
His final match, a 6-4 decision over Flowing Wells’ Frankie Romero, gave Capanna the Class 5A state championship at 103.
He finished the season with only one loss, and did the unheard of by staying at the same weight for all four years of his prep career. — Star staff, 2000
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Baseball player of the year
Name: Will Smith
School: Palo Verde
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Baseball
From the archives: Smith completed his second consecutive season with at least 14 home runs, 40 RBIs and a batting average over .500, leading the Titans into the Class 4A state semifinals.
Smith, an ASU signee, also has his eyes on next month's First-Year Player Draft, where he is projected to be selected in the first five rounds. — Star staff, 2000
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Softball player of the year
Name: Rebekah Quiroz
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Softball
From the archives: Quiroz is probably the smallest player in the metro area, but at an even 5 feet, she still possesses more fire and energy than someone twice her size.
Quiroz has been the sparkplug for her Caballeros the past two seasons, playing shortstop and batting leadoff on back-to-back state champions. She has signed to play at Arizona next season, along with teammate Candace Abrams. — Star staff, 2000
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Boys tennis player of the year
Name: Patrick Brick
School: St. Gregory
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys tennis
From the archives: This is more of a lifetime achievement award for Brick, who by winning the Class 1A-2A state title last month became only the second boys tennis player in Arizona history to win four singles titles.
Brick is expected to attend Princeton in the fall, where he will aim for a spot on the tennis team. — Star staff, 2000
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Girls tennis player of the year
Name: Kendra Strohm
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls tennis
From the archives: Strohm has hardly missed a beat since playing her first match for Salpointe last year as a freshman. Since then, she has dropped only one set and has won both 5A state singles titles.
The top-ranked 16-and-under tennis player in the USTA Southwest section, Strohm is on pace to become the first girl in Arizona history to win four singles championships. — Star staff, 2000
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Boys track athlete of the year
Name: Adrain Thomas
School: Sierra Vista Buena
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys track and field
From the archives: Thomas was a bolt of lightning down the tracks of Southern Arizona this season, recording the fastest local times in the 200- and 400-meter runs.
Thomas, who is expected to run for UA next season, capped his career off with a second-place finish in the 200 and a state title in the 400 at the 5A state meet in Tempe. — Star staff, 2000
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Girls track athlete of the year
Name: Connie Jerz
School: Tucson High
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls track and field
From the archives: Jerz was leaps and bounds above the rest of the competition, literally. She broke the state pole vault mark four times during her senior year. The record stands at 12 feet, 6½ inches, more than a foot longer than the previous high and more than 4 feet better than anyone else in Tucson.
Jerz, who is expected to compete for San Diego State next season, also had the city's best long jump at 17-3½. — Star staff, 2000
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Boys volleyball player of the year
Name: Shane Robinson
School: Rincon
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys volleyball
From the archives: Robinson averaged close to 12 kills per game during his senior season, during which the Rangers compiled a 20-6 record and finished second in the 5A Southern Region.
Robinson was also a strong server for one of only two teams in Southern Arizona to defeat perennial powerhouse Canyon del Oro. — Star staff, 2000
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Click the photo below to check out more athletes of the year in our "High School Reunion" series.
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1999 girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Julie Plotts
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: When Julie Plotts began her high school volleyball career at Sahuaro four years ago, she had two major ambitions: win a state championship and earn a Player of the Year award.
Despite winning the region title every year Plotts played at Sahuaro, the Cougars never advanced past the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament.
But there still was a shot at being named the city's best player.
"After we lost (to Scottsdale Chaparral in the 4A quarterfinals) I didn't think I was even a nominee," she said.
As co-captain of the Cougars, Plotts, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Volleyball Most Valuable Player, helped lead her team to a 27-5 record and the school's ninth consecutive region title. In her first year at a new position, setter, she finished second in the city in assists.
From the time she started playing volleyball, Plotts had been a powerful outside hitter, the position at which she received first-team all-city honors last season. But when Sahuaro coach Sandy Novak felt there was a void at the setter position, she did not hesitate to move Plotts from her natural position.
"Julie is such a good all-around athlete, I knew she could play any position, any time," Novak said.
"Being a setter is definitely more fun than being a hitter," Plotts said. "I felt like a quarterback on the court. I like it when the game is in my hands."
Since most college outside hitters are 6 feet tall or taller, Plotts, at 5-8, most likely will continue to play setter at the next level. Several Division II and III colleges have shown interest.
"Wherever she decides to go, that team will benefit from Julie's talent," Novak said. "She is such a good player and role model. It's very sad to see her go." — Tyler Hansen, 1999
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1999 football player of the year
Name: Reggie Robertson
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Sahuaro senior quarterback Reggie Robertson simply demolished every city record that is kept for passers, including single-season marks for yards (2,933) and touchdowns (34), in leading the Cougars to the Class 4A state championship game. Along the way, Robertson helped his teammate, first-team All-Southern Arizona wide receiver Calvin Dacus, become the most prolific at his position in state history with 215 catches.
Robertson finished his high school career with 7,106 passing yards and 77 touchdowns, good for second and third, respectively, in the state's record books. Such numbers allowed him to receive numerous scholarship offers, including one from the University of California. On Dec. 17, he verbally committed to the Golden Bears. — Star staff, 1999
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1999 girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Amber Quigley
School: Sunnyside
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Amber Quigley of Sunnyside needs more time to properly reflect on her 4A state cross country championship.
"Not really," Quigley said when asked if being state champ had sunk in. "I am just shooting for nationals."
Quigley, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star girls cross country runner of the year who also won the regional championship, has moved on to bigger things. She is training for the Footlocker Championships in California, where she will compete in the elite class.
An eighth-place finish there would send her to the national championship in Orlando.
Quigley runs six days a week, taking Sunday off. Well, sort of. She still either swims or bikes on the seventh day.
"It is the same as any other race," Quigley said. "I am just trying to stay focused."
She stays with a game plan, something she has had little problem doing.
"That is what makes her so special," Sunnyside coach Ruben Ruiz said before the state meet. "She is very coachable. We set up a plan and she sticks to it."
The game plan at state was to let the other runners do the hard work early and then take over at the second mile mark. Quigley had to admit, however, that the coaches for her pursuer, Chinle's Kristen St. Germaine, helped her as well.
"They kept saying, 'Go! You have to take her now!' So that just made me go harder," Quigley said.
With a homecoming queen crown to go with her state championship, Quigley has no complaints about the season.
"This has been the funnest year," Quigley said. — Joel Flom, 1999
More like this...
Football player of the year
Name: Reggie Robertson
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Sahuaro senior quarterback Reggie Robertson simply demolished every city record that is kept for passers, including single-season marks for yards (2,933) and touchdowns (34), in leading the Cougars to the Class 4A state championship game. Along the way, Robertson helped his teammate, first-team All-Southern Arizona wide receiver Calvin Dacus, become the most prolific at his position in state history with 215 catches.
Robertson finished his high school career with 7,106 passing yards and 77 touchdowns, good for second and third, respectively, in the state's record books. Such numbers allowed him to receive numerous scholarship offers, including one from the University of California. On Dec. 17, he verbally committed to the Golden Bears. — Star staff, 1999
Girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Julie Plotts
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: When Julie Plotts began her high school volleyball career at Sahuaro four years ago, she had two major ambitions: win a state championship and earn a Player of the Year award.
Despite winning the region title every year Plotts played at Sahuaro, the Cougars never advanced past the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament.
But there still was a shot at being named the city's best player.
"After we lost (to Scottsdale Chaparral in the 4A quarterfinals) I didn't think I was even a nominee," she said.
As co-captain of the Cougars, Plotts, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Volleyball Most Valuable Player, helped lead her team to a 27-5 record and the school's ninth consecutive region title. In her first year at a new position, setter, she finished second in the city in assists.
From the time she started playing volleyball, Plotts had been a powerful outside hitter, the position at which she received first-team all-city honors last season. But when Sahuaro coach Sandy Novak felt there was a void at the setter position, she did not hesitate to move Plotts from her natural position.
"Julie is such a good all-around athlete, I knew she could play any position, any time," Novak said.
"Being a setter is definitely more fun than being a hitter," Plotts said. "I felt like a quarterback on the court. I like it when the game is in my hands."
Since most college outside hitters are 6 feet tall or taller, Plotts, at 5-8, most likely will continue to play setter at the next level. Several Division II and III colleges have shown interest.
"Wherever she decides to go, that team will benefit from Julie's talent," Novak said. "She is such a good player and role model. It's very sad to see her go." — Tyler Hansen, 1999
Boys cross country runner of the year
Name: Mike Howard
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys cross country
From the archives: Mike Howard of Canyon del Oro made the most of his one season running cross country in Tucson.
Howard had the best showing of any Southern Arizona runner at the 5A state meet earlier this month, finishing fourth in a time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds.
Howard, a Canyon del Oro senior, and his family moved from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, during the summer after his father took on a new job.
A proven runner on the Chicago cross country scene, Howard, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, quickly made his move against the Southern Arizona competition. Howard finished second at regionals, one second behind Sierra Vista Buena's Nathan Franz.
Howard was not too thrilled with the finish.
"It was OK, not too disappointing," Howard said. "But, I did not reach my goals."
Howard's goals were high for a reason: He had posted better times during his junior year in Illinois.
The times were the first thing that CDO cross country coach Rick Glider knew about his new runner.
"The first week of August, he called my house a couple of times," Glider said. "I called back and talked to his mom, who told me some of his times.
"I thought, 'OK, I can deal with this. This looks real good.' "
Howard lived up to the hype, setting four course records during the season.
Most impressive is that Howard accomplished this while making a somewhat smooth transition from the cool, grassy courses in Chicago to the the rougher terrain and hotter weather in Tucson.
"I talked to him about the heat," Glider said. "If it was a problem, it did not show much."
Glider is disappointed that he will only get to coach Howard once.
"I would have loved to work with him for four years." — Joel Flom, 1999
Girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Amber Quigley
School: Sunnyside
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Amber Quigley of Sunnyside needs more time to properly reflect on her 4A state cross country championship.
"Not really," Quigley said when asked if being state champ had sunk in. "I am just shooting for nationals."
Quigley, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star girls cross country runner of the year who also won the regional championship, has moved on to bigger things. She is training for the Footlocker Championships in California, where she will compete in the elite class.
An eighth-place finish there would send her to the national championship in Orlando.
Quigley runs six days a week, taking Sunday off. Well, sort of. She still either swims or bikes on the seventh day.
"It is the same as any other race," Quigley said. "I am just trying to stay focused."
She stays with a game plan, something she has had little problem doing.
"That is what makes her so special," Sunnyside coach Ruben Ruiz said before the state meet. "She is very coachable. We set up a plan and she sticks to it."
The game plan at state was to let the other runners do the hard work early and then take over at the second mile mark. Quigley had to admit, however, that the coaches for her pursuer, Chinle's Kristen St. Germaine, helped her as well.
"They kept saying, 'Go! You have to take her now!' So that just made me go harder," Quigley said.
With a homecoming queen crown to go with her state championship, Quigley has no complaints about the season.
"This has been the funnest year," Quigley said. — Joel Flom, 1999
Boys golfer of the year
Name: Osvaldo Machado
School: Douglas
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys golf
From the archives: Osvaldo Machado swears there is nothing different that he does in his approach to regional and state competitions, but somehow that's where he finds the most room to excel.
Over the past two seasons Machado, a senior golfer from Douglas High School, has managed to post his best scores in the postseason.
Machado won the 1998 4A Kino and 1999 4A Sonoran individual titles, took third at the 1998 Class 4A state tournament at Randolph North following a six-hole playoff and ended his high school career with a seventh-place showing at the 1999 4A state tournament in Mesa three weeks ago.
"I just like competition," said Machado, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Boys Golfer of the Year. "I just concentrate more. You have to play good (at those events), so I just expect it from myself."
Machado is joined on the All-Southern Arizona first team by Sahuaro senior Luke Bathel, Catalina Foothills junior Ben Kreger, Canyon del Oro senior Brandon Muir, Sabino junior Nate Tyler and CDO junior Jimmy Yandell.
Douglas boys golf coach James Selchow says that Machado has always been a slow starter to the season, as he was this season. However, as the year progresses, so does Machado.
"He just doesn't get nervous," Selchow said. "He usually has a plan and sticks to it. He's very goal-oriented."
Selchow said Machado has been in contact with several junior colleges about the possibility of playing collegiate golf.
He said Machado will continue to travel to Tucson most weekends to compete in junior tournaments in an effort to broaden his abilities from just the one course in Douglas. — Brian J. Pedersen, 1999
Girls golfer of the year
Name: Lisa Lambeth
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls golf
From the archives: Lisa Lambeth had the great fortune of beginning her career with the Canyon del Oro High School girls golf team alongside future Division I players Christina Baena, Stacie Ferguson and Kristin Scholl.
Two years later, she is on the verge of leading the next generation of girls golfers to the next level.
"My little sister (Sara) is going to be a freshman next year, and then there is a girl named Sara Brown who will be playing at Salpointe (Catholic)," said Lambeth, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Golfer of the Year. "And (teammate) Marissa Muir is going to be a sophomore."
Lambeth is joined on the All-Southern Arizona first team by freshman teammate Muir, Salpointe Catholic senior Kelsey Crebbs, Sahuaro senior Kate Day and Flowing Wells junior Tara Morgan.
Lambeth has been consistently at the top of the leader board in all events throughout the state since her freshman season, and this year she finished ninth at the Class 5A state tournament in Goodyear as the Dorados took third in the team standings.
The reason there has been such an influx of younger girls taking up the sport of golf has been because of the dedication of junior organizations, said Lambeth, who began swinging clubs at the driving range with her father when she was 11.
"The girls golf clubs are doing wonderful things getting girls interested and keeping them going," said Lambeth.
Lambeth also said golf is appealing to many because of its avoidance of competition against others.
"I liked how it was me against the course and not me against another person," Lambeth said. — Brian J. Pedersen, 1999
Boys swimmer of the year
Name: Chris Trimble
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys swimming and diving
From the archives: Salpointe Catholic junior Chris Trimble knew he was a good swimmer, but he had no idea he was the best in the state.
So Trimble surprised himself Nov. 6 at Arizona State University when he made the last turn in the Class 5A 200-yard freestyle event and saw that he was in the lead.
Trimble, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Boys Swimmer of the Year, maintained the lead and won the state championship in that event, then helped the Lancers to silver medals in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay events.
"The competition was very good this year," Trimble said. "There were a lot of good swimmers. I was real surprised that I won.
"On the last 50 or so, I looked around and saw that it was a really close race. Then I gave it everything I could have possibly given."
Trimble might have been surprised that he won a state championship as a junior, but there's no denying that he put in enough work to earn the title.
He swims every day after school from 3:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for Hillenbrand of Tucson. His freshman brother, Pat, also practices daily at Hillenbrand. He swims the same events as his older brother.
Both boys have been swimming regularly since moving to Tucson from Colorado six years ago. Chris said Pat has the potential to win state titles in the future.
Trimble has plans for his swimming future. He said he hopes to repeat as the 200 free champion and add a 500 free title to his résumé. Then he'd like to swim for a Division I school in California in 2001.
Trimble placed third in the 500 at state this year and second in the event at regionals.
But for now, Trimble can relax just a little bit. He has already won his first state title faster than he had ever thought possible.
"I'm so happy," Trimble said. "I didn't even expect this." — Phil Villarreal, 1999
Girls swimmer of the year
Name: Kate Rollins
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls swimming and diving
From the archives: Kate Rollins is one girl with a hefty trophy case.
Rollins, a Sabino senior, concluded her high school swimming career Nov. 6 in the 5A state championships at Arizona State University with a title in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
When she got back to town, Rollins just threw it on the pile. She had already won consecutive state titles in the 100 backstroke and the 200 free relay in her sophomore and junior years, along with a 200 medley relay title her sophomore year.
Rollins didn't win a third straight 100 backstroke title, but she did swim the best race of her life at state - it just happened to come in preliminaries and not the finals.
Rollins' time of 56.38 seconds qualified her for the 2000 Olympic trials.
But the next day, Rollins couldn't overcome a bad start and mistimed turns. She placed second, losing to Phoenix Mountain Pointe's Amy Wagner by .38 of a second.
But it wasn't as though Rollins had never won a state title. She was able to focus from the positive result that came from the meet - the trial qualification.
"It felt so good," said Rollins, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Swimmer of the Year. "After getting that time, I know that I can break 55 seconds. I know I can go so much faster."
She'll get plenty of chances to show that she can indeed go faster. If not in the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, than definitely in college. Rollins recently accepted a scholarship to Nebraska.
"I just love it. You wouldn't think that you'd want to go to Nebraska to swim," said Rollins, whose family moved to Tucson from Vermont before her sophomore year.
"There's a lot of foreign swimmers there. They're really, really nice. The coach seems really good, and the team seems really fun." — Phil Villarreal, 1999
Boys basketball player of the year
Name: Mark Brown
School: Santa Rita
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys basketball
From the archives: Brown was the cream of an extremely strong crop of guards in Southern Arizona this season. After leading the Eagles to the 4A state title last season, Brown lead Santa Rita as far as the quarterfinals this year before losing to eventual champion Sahuaro.
Brown is most noted for his ball-handling skills. The 5-foot-10-inch senior averaged 15 points and six assists per game. — Star staff, 2000
Girls basketball player of the year
Name: Katie Bruns
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls basketball
From the archives: Bruns was known as Barbie by opposing teams’ fans for her blond hair and blue eyes, but on the court she was one of the most difficult players to guard.
The senior guard broke down defenses with her ability to dribble through presses. She was the starting point guard all four years, winning a state title in 1998 and reaching the final in 1999. — Star staff, 2000
Boys soccer player of the year
Name: Ben Stuart
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys soccer
From the archives: Stuart stood head and shoulders above the rest of Southern Arizona’s soccer elite, literally. The 6-foot-2-inch senior was almost always around the net when a scoring chance was there for Salpointe, and he cashed in for 24 goals and 16 assists in 26 games.
Stuart scored the Lancers’ only goal in a 2-1 loss to Glendale Ironwood in the state championship game. He is headed to the University of San Francisco on a soccer scholarship. — Star staff, 2000
Girls soccer player of the year
Name: Kelly Burke
School: Catalina Foothills
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls soccer
From the archives: In only her sophomore season, Burke stepped to the forefront of the Falcons’ attack to lead Foothills into the 4A state semifinals, the furthest the school has gone in the playoffs.
Burke even played through pain, fracturing her collarbone in the quarterfinals. She is the main cog of a youth-laden team that returns almost its entire lineup next season. — Star staff, 2000
Wrestler of the year
Name: Dominic Capanna
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Wrestling
From the archives: Capanna, a senior, was a two-time freestyle All-American at 103 pounds, but before this season he never placed at the high school state championships in Phoenix.
His final match, a 6-4 decision over Flowing Wells’ Frankie Romero, gave Capanna the Class 5A state championship at 103.
He finished the season with only one loss, and did the unheard of by staying at the same weight for all four years of his prep career. — Star staff, 2000
Baseball player of the year
Name: Will Smith
School: Palo Verde
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Baseball
From the archives: Smith completed his second consecutive season with at least 14 home runs, 40 RBIs and a batting average over .500, leading the Titans into the Class 4A state semifinals.
Smith, an ASU signee, also has his eyes on next month's First-Year Player Draft, where he is projected to be selected in the first five rounds. — Star staff, 2000
Softball player of the year
Name: Rebekah Quiroz
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Softball
From the archives: Quiroz is probably the smallest player in the metro area, but at an even 5 feet, she still possesses more fire and energy than someone twice her size.
Quiroz has been the sparkplug for her Caballeros the past two seasons, playing shortstop and batting leadoff on back-to-back state champions. She has signed to play at Arizona next season, along with teammate Candace Abrams. — Star staff, 2000
Boys tennis player of the year
Name: Patrick Brick
School: St. Gregory
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys tennis
From the archives: This is more of a lifetime achievement award for Brick, who by winning the Class 1A-2A state title last month became only the second boys tennis player in Arizona history to win four singles titles.
Brick is expected to attend Princeton in the fall, where he will aim for a spot on the tennis team. — Star staff, 2000
Girls tennis player of the year
Name: Kendra Strohm
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls tennis
From the archives: Strohm has hardly missed a beat since playing her first match for Salpointe last year as a freshman. Since then, she has dropped only one set and has won both 5A state singles titles.
The top-ranked 16-and-under tennis player in the USTA Southwest section, Strohm is on pace to become the first girl in Arizona history to win four singles championships. — Star staff, 2000
Boys track athlete of the year
Name: Adrain Thomas
School: Sierra Vista Buena
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys track and field
From the archives: Thomas was a bolt of lightning down the tracks of Southern Arizona this season, recording the fastest local times in the 200- and 400-meter runs.
Thomas, who is expected to run for UA next season, capped his career off with a second-place finish in the 200 and a state title in the 400 at the 5A state meet in Tempe. — Star staff, 2000
Girls track athlete of the year
Name: Connie Jerz
School: Tucson High
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls track and field
From the archives: Jerz was leaps and bounds above the rest of the competition, literally. She broke the state pole vault mark four times during her senior year. The record stands at 12 feet, 6½ inches, more than a foot longer than the previous high and more than 4 feet better than anyone else in Tucson.
Jerz, who is expected to compete for San Diego State next season, also had the city's best long jump at 17-3½. — Star staff, 2000
Boys volleyball player of the year
Name: Shane Robinson
School: Rincon
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys volleyball
From the archives: Robinson averaged close to 12 kills per game during his senior season, during which the Rangers compiled a 20-6 record and finished second in the 5A Southern Region.
Robinson was also a strong server for one of only two teams in Southern Arizona to defeat perennial powerhouse Canyon del Oro. — Star staff, 2000
1999 girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Julie Plotts
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: When Julie Plotts began her high school volleyball career at Sahuaro four years ago, she had two major ambitions: win a state championship and earn a Player of the Year award.
Despite winning the region title every year Plotts played at Sahuaro, the Cougars never advanced past the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament.
But there still was a shot at being named the city's best player.
"After we lost (to Scottsdale Chaparral in the 4A quarterfinals) I didn't think I was even a nominee," she said.
As co-captain of the Cougars, Plotts, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Girls Volleyball Most Valuable Player, helped lead her team to a 27-5 record and the school's ninth consecutive region title. In her first year at a new position, setter, she finished second in the city in assists.
From the time she started playing volleyball, Plotts had been a powerful outside hitter, the position at which she received first-team all-city honors last season. But when Sahuaro coach Sandy Novak felt there was a void at the setter position, she did not hesitate to move Plotts from her natural position.
"Julie is such a good all-around athlete, I knew she could play any position, any time," Novak said.
"Being a setter is definitely more fun than being a hitter," Plotts said. "I felt like a quarterback on the court. I like it when the game is in my hands."
Since most college outside hitters are 6 feet tall or taller, Plotts, at 5-8, most likely will continue to play setter at the next level. Several Division II and III colleges have shown interest.
"Wherever she decides to go, that team will benefit from Julie's talent," Novak said. "She is such a good player and role model. It's very sad to see her go." — Tyler Hansen, 1999
1999 football player of the year
Name: Reggie Robertson
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Sahuaro senior quarterback Reggie Robertson simply demolished every city record that is kept for passers, including single-season marks for yards (2,933) and touchdowns (34), in leading the Cougars to the Class 4A state championship game. Along the way, Robertson helped his teammate, first-team All-Southern Arizona wide receiver Calvin Dacus, become the most prolific at his position in state history with 215 catches.
Robertson finished his high school career with 7,106 passing yards and 77 touchdowns, good for second and third, respectively, in the state's record books. Such numbers allowed him to receive numerous scholarship offers, including one from the University of California. On Dec. 17, he verbally committed to the Golden Bears. — Star staff, 1999
1999 girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Amber Quigley
School: Sunnyside
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Amber Quigley of Sunnyside needs more time to properly reflect on her 4A state cross country championship.
"Not really," Quigley said when asked if being state champ had sunk in. "I am just shooting for nationals."
Quigley, the 1999 Arizona Daily Star girls cross country runner of the year who also won the regional championship, has moved on to bigger things. She is training for the Footlocker Championships in California, where she will compete in the elite class.
An eighth-place finish there would send her to the national championship in Orlando.
Quigley runs six days a week, taking Sunday off. Well, sort of. She still either swims or bikes on the seventh day.
"It is the same as any other race," Quigley said. "I am just trying to stay focused."
She stays with a game plan, something she has had little problem doing.
"That is what makes her so special," Sunnyside coach Ruben Ruiz said before the state meet. "She is very coachable. We set up a plan and she sticks to it."
The game plan at state was to let the other runners do the hard work early and then take over at the second mile mark. Quigley had to admit, however, that the coaches for her pursuer, Chinle's Kristen St. Germaine, helped her as well.
"They kept saying, 'Go! You have to take her now!' So that just made me go harder," Quigley said.
With a homecoming queen crown to go with her state championship, Quigley has no complaints about the season.
"This has been the funnest year," Quigley said. — Joel Flom, 1999
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