56 DECEMBER 2017 Arc A d A News By Mallory Gleich The Arcadia High School boys’ golf team won the State Championship in Tucson this October, crowning a record-setting season. The highly successful Arcadia golf season, which runs August through October, saw the team play 10 matches, four invitationals and culminated with the state championship. The team is comprised of 11 players total. Co-Captain Bobby Peirce, Co-Captain Jaxx Davies, Tucker Clark, Chaz Aurilia, and Gavin Aurilia are the five players who participated regularly in this year’s matches and invitationals. “The best part of competing is being around these guys,” Clark said. “We’re all pushing each other and after last year, losing by one, we set our eyes on winning the state championship.” And win they did, beating out 16 Arizona teams by 18 strokes. The boys spent two days playing 36 holes at Tucson Omni National, with Tucker placing third and Peirce placing sixth, individually. At the Antigua National High School Golf Invitational at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, the team competed against top high school golfers from all around the county, with Clark, Peirce and Chaz Aurilia placing in the top 10. “The boys realize that the easiest part of playing is that they’ve got four other teammates who are around them that can support them,” said Coach Daniel Thompsett. This is Thompsett’s first year coaching at Arcadia. He previously coached soccer in Montana before making the move to Arcadia to coach golf. The team prepares for matches by playing practice rounds on the courses to become familiar with them. “We practice and play more and more and just get better every day,” Gavin Aurilia said. The boys also played at the Brophy Invitational, placing third, as well as finishing as runners up at the Chaparral Invitational, but perhaps their most significant accomplishments this season were breaking three state records at the Dobson Classic, an event they won by 31 strokes. The boys shared the importance of maintaining a positive mindset while on the course: “It’s important to stay optimistic when you’re playing; think about the good things you’ve done,” Gavin Aurilia said. “Think positive and think about your next shot. You can’t change the past, so you just have to move forward,” Gavin Aurilia said. The majority of the boys plan on playing golf in college, although most are undecided where. Chaz Aurilia has already committed to playing for UCLA. Peirce plans on switching it up and playing baseball in college. The team looks forward to celebrating their achievements at “Relish Bistro” at the Phoenician Resort, fittingly, over the golf pro shop. The boys’ advice for playing competitive golf is simple: “Just work as hard as you can, and take every opportunity you get,” Peirce said. Arcadia golf finishes with record-breaking season (from left) Coach Daniel Thompsett, Chaz Aurilia, Jaxx Davies, Bobby Peirce, Tucker Clark, Gavin Aurilia. PHOTO BY WENDY PEIRCE The best part of competing is being around these guys. We’re all pushing each other and after last year, losing by one, we set our eyes on winning the state championship.” Serving the Arcadia area since 1958          Find us on Facebook! Member Since 1959      •  •    •    •    •         4855 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018 | www.ingleside.com WISHING YOUR FAMILY A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY! Schedule Your Holiday Boarding Today! BRIAN A. SERBIN, DVM • RACHEL BART, DVM KATIE CHILES, DVM • KATHERINE HEWITT, DVM • TALI TONCRAY, DVM HOSPITAL 602-840-3446 | GROOMING 602-952-1754 Grooming OPEN Tues - Sat

57 DECEMBER 2017 Arc A d A News By Kaylee Sumpter Arcadia High School’s varsity girls’ volleyball team made the playoffs for the second year in a row, continuing to build momentum which began last year. The Titans went into the postseason ranked No. 12, and defeated a challenging Marana team 3-0 at home in a play-in match. The team then faced No. 5 Queen Creek, which, despite a great effort by Arcadia, beat the Titans 0-3. Despite the tough loss, the team was proud of how far it got this year. “I was excited to go into playoffs! It is such a great accomplishment and we were all very proud of ourselves for making it that far,” said Grace Forshey, a senior at Arcadia. “I was excited that I still had a chance to play volleyball and continue to get better.” Head coach Jackie Bunker lauds her players for their hard work throughout the season, and their willingness to change focus. “About halfway through the season, we decided that we needed to get away from focusing on outcomes and start focusing on effort. We started to look at putting maximum effort into everything that we did on the court. When we started to do that, we did start to see improvement every day in the gym,” Bunker said. Junior outside hitter Haley Westhoff says working as a team made a difference this season. “When it comes to my team, I am most By Rachael Bouley Volleyball is more than just a sport for Jacalyn Sharko – it’s a support system that has taught her valuable lessons. Now in her senior year at Veritas Prep Academy, the senior outside hitter makes a difference on and off the court as a leader and treasured teammate. Sharko first hit the volleyball court in fifth grade, joining the school team at St. Thomas Aquinas. In 7th grade, after her friend encouraged her to try out, she took her skills to the next level at Matrix Club Volleyball. “I didn’t really want to at first, but when I made the team and started to play, I realized that this was meant to be,” Sharko said. Since then, she’s grown into a talented, determined player. “When I started club, I could barely serve over the net but my coach told me I was very coachable,” she said. “He saw that my mechanics needed some work but said I had a great vertical.” Sharko recognizes that her favorite sport has opened her eyes and helped her learn the importance of consistency. “In volleyball, it’s important to keep a consistent attitude – neither too low nor too high – so your teammates can always count proud of the dedication we put in every single week. The days get long, school gets stressful, and the competition is intense; yet, everyone finds a way to show up at practice and games, and forget about on you in pressures situations,” she said. “It’s important to keep a consistent character because in order to be a friend, sister, daughter, or student, you have to be dependable.” For Sharko, the key to her success is to remember that everything is temporary. “At any moment, whether you are up or down, the game can change either in your favor or against it. Being able to adapt to the situation allows you to bounce back,” she said. “Knowing that everything in life is temporary allows you to reach a consistent character.” She credits this positive attitude and close team environment with helping her through tough times when her parents divorced two years ago. “That was a true test of consistent character because all I wanted to do was cry, but I leaned on my teammates every day at practice and they helped me through it,” she said. “That was a prime example of when life was low but still temporary. Without my teammates, I couldn’t have gotten through it.” “Winning games or championships isn’t what’s the most important thing in volleyball, it’s the relationships formed.” everything else going on to play a sport we all love so much,” she said. “I would just like to thank all of the coaches and everyone else who made this amazing journey this year possible for us. We couldn’t have done it without you,” Haley added. “And for my 10 seniors who are off to college next year, I am inexplicably thankful for time I was able to spend with each and every one of you.” AHS girls volleyball makes second straight playoffs appearance Consistency, positive attitude help Veritas athlete succeed The Titans defeated Marana in the play-in game, before bowing out against Queen Creek.