48 OCTOBER 2022 By Rachael Bouley After the final bell rings, signaling the end of the school day, 46 swimmers and 22 divers from Arcadia High School don’t go home. No, these dedicated and motivated individuals head to the pool for training four days a week, two hours a day – and this doesn’t include their personal training sessions. Dive coach Brittney Blystone said the team looked strong throughout their first home dual meet and invitational – against Saguaro High and Shadow Mountain – with plenty more to come in a season that runs until state title competitions begin in November. “We have many returning divers and welcomed many new faces to our team. Several divers are already looking to compete at state,” Blystone said. Those divers include previous state competitors Sophie Osika and Avery Bowling, who was honored with an SUSD All-District Athletic Award after finishing first at last year’s district meet and sixth at state as a freshman. Swim coach Risa Moran said the swimmers also show a lot of potential. After wrapping up the 2021 Division II State Championships with the boys ranked 12th and the girls 21st, the swim program trusts its seasoned competitors to lead the way this season. “Our biggest strength is that we have a lot of experienced swimmers who can help our newer members,” Moran said. “We had several swimmers compete in State in previous years, including Emily Dodd, Henry Ord, Kate Webster, Lola Webster, Noelle Elrod, Ella Loel, Reagan Drewett, Aidan McClure, and Ryan Mallender.” Dodd, one of the leading point scorers at last year’s swim meets, and the rest of the confident competitors encourage newer swimmers to give every pool session their all, whether it’s for practice or a meet. It’s a team effort as the Titans face strong competition from schools like Sunnyslope, Horizon, Cactus Shadows, and Millennium. Most of these competitions are dual meets where Arcadia faces one other team. “The meets are full of energy, and the races alternate between boys and girls – this year, boys get to go first,” Moran said. “Our ultimate goal is to have fun and beat our previous times.” Although there are inevitable challenges as student-athletes juggle other after-school activities and homework, the coaches are committed to making it work by being flexible and supportive. “We are overcoming these challenges by encouraging students to make the most of their time after school to get work done before practice starts,” Moran explained. The coaches motivate team members by reminding them that the more practice they do, the more meets and events they will be able to compete in. As Coach Moran said, “the key to success is showing up to each practice ready to give it their all.” At the tri-meet against Shadow Mountain and Saguaro, the girls’ and boys’ teams placed second, while the Dive Team won by default. Teams will compete against Cactus Shadows on October 6, Chaparral, Desert Mountain and Saguaro on October 22 and Millennium on October 27. Arcadia swim and dive starts with a splash 2022 Arcadia Swim and Dive team. PHOTO: LEE FERGUSON AFFORDABLE DENTAL CARE FOR UNINSURED ADULTS e subject to change without notice. L: (602) 703-1195 l exam and X-Rays ....$50 ic Cleaning ................... $50 wn ..................................$699 er Pricing ..................... Call AFFORDABLE DENTAL CARE FOR UNINSURED ADULTS Price subject to change without notice. CALL: (602) 703-1195 Full exam and X-Rays ....$50 Basic Cleaning ................... $50 Crown ..................................$699 Other Pricing ..................... Call AFFORDABLE DENTAL CARE FOR UNINSURED ADULTS Price subject to change without notice. CALL: (602) 703-1195 Full exam and X-Rays ....$50 Basic Cleaning ................... $50 Crown ..................................$699 Other Pricing ..................... Call (602) 703-1195 S ophon ophon H en g g , D . D .S. | 602-703-1195 2600 N. 44th St., Ste. 106 | Phoenix AZ 85008 Z 85008 P Pri ric ces su es sub bje je b je b b je b c ct t t to change without noti o change without notic ce e.

49 OCTOBER 2022 By Jennifer Marshall The grass is green, the flags are set, and Arcadia, Brophy and Xavier’s golf squads are ready to play their best. Arcadia News caught up with our area high school teams to see what they’re most excited about this season. ARCADIA The Arcadia boy’s 11-member squad kicked off their season in August and will compete until early November. The season started with matches against Notre Dame Prep and Mountain Pointe and they also participated in a 23- team tournament. The team practices once or twice a week, playing nine- hole matches and doing skill work. According to Head Coach Stephen Danford, the team’s strengths reside in their depth and experience, while their weakness is inconsistency, which he said they’re working on improving. “Of course, our ultimate goal is to win the state championship,” Danford said. “Over the last four years, we have won State twice and came in third last year.” “After finishing third in State last season, as a senior, I feel like there’s unfinished business this year,” golfer Jack Peters said. The Titans have upcoming matches against Horizon, Desert Mountain and Chaparral. They are currently ranked 6th in the state for Division II schools and they won three matches in a row at the start of the season, with senior Parker Bond medaling in each match. The Lady Titans have had matches with Cactus Shadows, Desert Mountain and Chaparral thus far. Practices include going to the driving range, chipping, sand traps or putting. Some days, the squad plays five-to-six-hole games. “Our strengths are that we have several returning players from last year, who played a lot in the off-season, so they are stronger this season,” Head Coach Erica McClurg said. “I cannot think of any weaknesses – I only try to focus on the strengths.” They were the district champs last year, so they’re hoping for the same winning streak this season. “I’m looking forward to state. Golf is a great team bonding experience – plus, we get to skip school and play golf with our friends!” team member Payton Connelly said. “So far, matches have been very hot,” McClurg said, “we play nine holes when we have matches against one other school, and then we play 18 holes when we have invitationals.” Most recently, the lady Titans won the Aguila Open, an 18-hole tournament against 12 other schools. Mackenzie Bream placed first and Payton Connelly shot a 76, her personal best. BROPHY “We played one tournament and one dual to start off the September season,” Steven Shaff, Brophy’s Sports Information Director, said. “Last year, Brophy was the runner-up at the AIA State Championships in Division I.” According to Coach Jon Shores, the strength of the 11-member team is found in the fact that “we’re a small but tight-knit group of guys who genuinely care for one another and root for one another. This brings out the best in all of them.” By contrast, he said their weakness is that they need a constant reminder to think about all 11 teammates, not just the five they think might help them perform their best. In addition to making it to the state competition, the team’s goal is to foster a strong bond between all the players as they help each other grow as golfers and leaders on and off the course. To date, the team has won three of four matches. The Broncos participated in – and won – two invitational matches. After an upcoming tournament in Flagstaff on October 7 and 8, they will head to Florida for another tournament on October 14-15. XAVIER Xavier’s golf squad will play ten matches and four invitationals throughout the season. Coach Tui Selvaratnam said their main focus is to play each match well and qualify for the State Championship. “The main strength of the 2022 team is that we have a very deep team,” she said. The competition among the 20 team members is very high!” Practices are broken down into three sections: putting green, chipping and short game area, and driving range. All team members spend equal time in each area, working on their game. “The one thing we need to work on is being consistent each time we compete,” Coach Selvaratnam said. In the last 43 years, Xavier College Prep has won 37 state titles and six state runners-up – they started off this season well with a win at their first match against Chandler. “The ladies are most excited about making new friends, becoming a family, helping each other, playing well, making the top five and winning back the State Championship,” Coach Selvaratnam said. As of deadline, Xavier has four wins; against Chandler, Hamilton, Basha and Perry. Upcoming matches this month include Horizon, Mountain Ridge, Millennium and Liberty. Hold on to your putts: golf season is here Parker Bond, Ian Christoffersen, Hank Hubbard, Jackson Malatesta, Joseph Mellen, Guy Milisci, Jack Peters, Oliver Smith, Drew Stauffacher and Greyson Tass. Not pictured: Grant Erickson. Kylee Rohde, Katie Cross, Maryn Cross, Avery Wahl, Mackenzie Bream, Payton Connelly, Annie Spiekerman, Coach McClurg, Phoebe Kleinlein, Logan Jenkins, Maggie Bogart. Not pictured: Scarlett Danninale. Coach Jon Shores, Tyler Spielman, Nico Nuez, Scott Belgrad, Dylan Boenning, Henry Dall, Charlie Palmer, Ty Blaicher, Nick Butkiewicz, Jack Abraham, Trevor Karber and Nick Lyman. (back) Giulianna Bulkley, Kate Hauptman, Jayden Jevnick, Kyla Layman, Alanna Karuru, Karter Nannen, Isabella Piazza and Natalia Lamadris. (middle) Annie Dawson, Reimi Bleyl, Aanvi Goel, Lauren Campbell, Ellie Van Kolen, Sophie PeBenito-Brooks and Sophie Stamatis. (front) Madalyn Gubernick, Grace Rubelsky, Lena Durette, Kalyn Doss and Carrie Doss. PHOTO: STEPHEN DANFORD PHOTO: STEVE SHAFF/BROPHY ATHLETICS PHOTO: ERICA MCCLURG PHOTO: TUI SELVARATNAM