48 JANUARY 2023 By Mallory Gleich The 2022 fall sports season has ended. Check out what happened at Arcadia High, Brophy Prep, Veritas and Xavier Prep. ARCADIA CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach Tyler Moore had a successful season in his fourth year at Arcadia for the boys’ and girls’ cross- country teams. “The boys’ team had some huge personal improvements, with senior Team Captain Scott Gurley leading the way. They also had the pleasure of adding a standout freshman runner this year in Chase Braden, who was one of the top three overall runners,” Moore said. The boys’ team did not qualify for the State Meet this year, instead placing 14th in the Sectionals Qualifying Meet. “We will look to build up the team next year with returning runners Chase Braden, junior Samuel Vickers and sophomores Ari Schott and Isaiah Talamantes,” Moore said. The girls’ team made huge strides in overall performance and had several individual improvements with 11 personal records. The highlight of their season was placing sixth at the Sectionals Qualifying Meet and advancing to the State Meet for the first time in four years. At State, the girls placed 10th overall, one of the best performances in school history, according to Moore. The team was led by Junior Kaileena Ferguson, who finished sixth with a 5K time of 19:34. This earned her All-State First Team Honors. The remaining State runners included sophomores Charlotte Hopper, Rachel Daniggelis and Jenna Mukavitz, junior Kate Marinick, and seniors Darci Cuellar and Alanna Estrada. “In the beginning, it is very hard to understand that the real competition is a little voice inside you that wants to quit the second running gets hard,” Kaileena said. “If there’s anything I’ve learned this season, it’s that running fast is supposed to be hard, and mentally managing the ‘hard’ is what makes you great.” Arcadia Cross Country is a non-cut sport that always welcomes new athletes. Email Coach Moore at tmoore@susd.org to learn more. GOLF The Titans had a spectacular 13-match season this year, culminating in wins at the Aguila Invitational Tournament and at their last three matches of the season. They also headed to the State Tournament and finished in the top 10. The Lady Titans also won the Aguila Open Tournament and finished 10th at state. Payton Connelly, one of the state contenders, had her first Eagle at the state tournament. VOLLEYBALL The volleyball team finished the season with an 18-3 record, making it to the 4A State Championship, where they lost 3-1 to Estrella Foothills. The team ended the season as the 4A State runners-up for the first time since 2012. “We were the number five seed coming into playoffs, and we upset number four, Canyon Del Oro, and number one, Salpointe Catholic. Both were road wins in Tucson,” Head Coach Jackie Bunker said. “We were undefeated in our AZ Desert Sky Region (10-0) and region champions.” Many of the athletes were named to the AZ Desert Sky All-Region Team: senior setter Tatum Longnecker became AZ Desert Sky Player of the Year, junior middle hitter Zoe Leonard was Offensive Player of the Year, senior outside hitter Ryan Sheedy was named 2nd Team All-Region, and senior libero Maddy Malatesta, junior outside hitter Taylor Soule and sophomore middle hitter Katie Musselmann were All-Region Honorable Mentions. Not only that, but two players – Tatum and Ryan – were named to the SUSD All-District Team. Tatum also broke the all-time assist record at Arcadia with 2,056 assists. “In addition to a State Championship, we had the goal to be the top team in SUSD and the top team in the AZ Desert Sky Region,” Bunker said. “We accomplished top SUSD school with wins over Chaparral, Desert Mountain and Saguaro, and won the AZ Desert Sky Region.” The Titans will have nine varsity returning players next year. FOOTBALL The Titan football team finished the regular season with six wins and four losses, securing a spot in the 2022 AIA State Football Championships, 4A division, for the first time since 2011. They played against Snowflake and unfortunately lost that game 19-0 to the Lobos. “I’m most proud that our success was tangent to the offseason and the efforts that began in spring 2022,” Head Coach Ray Brown said, citing that the last game to qualify for playoffs – which went into overtime – was memorable. The Titan’s journey was most significant due to several injuries and the consistent availability of the full roster. According to Brown, Quinton Isabell was the team’s most valuable offensive player, and Carter Pruitt was outstanding on defense. “A big thank you goes to the players, coaches, administrators and boosters for living up to ‘working together for a great outcome,’” Brown said. “We hope to build on the season’s success and get excited about the offseason.” Carson Umble, Kevin Perry and Quintyn Isabell made All-Region First Team; Khary Beler, Cabot Wigginton, Thomas Guerrero, Ethan Jimenez, Gehrig Heil and Chris Hoos made All-Region Second Team, and Kaidan Carr, Andrew Delord, Carter Pruitt and Braylen Rooney were honorable mentions. “I felt like the season went great. We made the playoffs for the first time in years and paved a path for the first- and second-year students,” Kaidan said. “I was happy to get one last ride with all the guys on the team who became like a second family this season,” Cabot said, with Assistant Coach Grant Sanders agreeing: “With 23 seniors and one of the largest senior classes we have had in a while, it was a tremendous season all around,” he said. “Our goals are to continue building our program within and maintaining a strong foundation. Coach Brown’s leadership is infectious, and we are truly lucky to have had him at the helm for the past two seasons and the entire coaching staff.” SWIM AND DIVE Arcadia’s Dive Team made it to the District Championships this year, with Sophie Osika placing 4th, Avery Klose in 5th, and Lily Verhoff placing 6th. Of the boys, Avery Bowling placed 1st, Michael Kurschat placed 3rd, and Aidan Schott placed 4th. They did so well that they made it to State, where Sophie Osika placed 5th and Avery Bowling placed 3rd. “Six divers competed at two other Invitational meets, which helped Avery and Sophie qualify for State,” Dive Coach Brittney Blystone said. “And two other divers were only a few points away from qualifying: Avery Klose and Michael Kurschat.” Blystone said that each diver on the team of A memorable season: High school sports fall wrap up (back) Indiana Ewell, Drea Firman, Taylor Soule, Zoe Leonard, Katie Musselmann, Tallulah Johnson, Avery Nadolski, Lane Sheedy. (front) Leslie Bugg, Ryan Sheedy, Tatum Longnecker, Maddy Malatesta, Alexa Helms. Jenna Mukavitz, Darci Cuellar, Kate Marinick, Kaileena Ferguson, Rachel Daniggelis, Charlotte Hopper and Alanna Estrada. Arcadia High’s Luke Mellen. Arcadia High’s Scott Gurley. PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER MOORE PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE H. PHOTOS PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER MOORE PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKIE BUNKER

49 JANUARY 2023 21 sets independent goals for themselves. This could be anything from learning a number of new dives to scoring a certain amount during a meet. “Each diver was successful this season with reaching the goals they set out for themselves. We are really proud of them all,” Blystone said. “We’re hoping more freshmen or sophomores come out to join our dive team next year.” She also said that although diving is an individual sport, every diver was committed to each other – whether at practice or a meet, the team supported each other and boosted each other’s confidence. “Our 2022 divers were a truly united team,” Blystone said. “I hope more divers qualify to compete at the invitational meets and possibly qualify for states. We want them to continue pushing themselves to learn new dives and build confidence while having fun!” BROPHY PREP Brophy Prep’s fall sports teams had an impressive season, including three top-10 state finishes and a record-breaking state championship performance on the golf course. CROSS COUNTRY The Broncos finished eighth overall at the AIA Division I State Championships with 207 points in November at Cave Creek Golf Course. Senior Zach Loiselle was the top finisher in 14th place, and sophomore Santiago Sanchez was 33rd. Both earned All-Region honors. “We executed our game plan,” Zach said. “It was a hilly course, and I was happy with our performances.” GOLF The golf team won the 2022 AIA Division I State Championship in October with a state record of 529 two-day team total. The Broncos posted team scores of 262-267 and defeated Hamilton by 34 strokes. “I am proud of them,” Head Coach Jon Shores said. “As a coach, you want them to come out and play their best, and they did for two days. It is hard to do with all five guys. It was special for me as a coach.” Junior Tyler Spielman, who shot a state championship record 10-under par 60 in the first round, closed with a seven-under- par 63 to win the medalist honors. He is the fifth student-athlete from Brophy to win the individual state championship and the first since 1999. “He is very precise in how he manages a golf course, hitting fairways and greens,” Shores said. “It is what he did, and he made a lot of putts. He led the way for us. It took the pressure off the rest of the guys when he played as well as he was.” This is the ninth golf title in Brophy history and the first since 2018. The Broncos captured their third title under the direction of Shores, who was also named the State Coach of the Year. The Broncos also set low single-round and tournament records, while Spielman’s tournament 60-63 for a 123 total is a state championship record as his 60 from the first round. FOOTBALL The football team closed their three and eight season with an AIA 6A Conference playoff game, losing to Red Mountain 45-38 in the first round. Sixteen Broncos earned All- Premier Region honors, including first-team honors by senior running back David Lopez, senior offensive lineman Luis Gastelum and senior defensive lineman David Sweetman. SWIM AND DIVE The Broncos finished third at the November AIA Division I State Championship meet. “The boys stepped up with best times across the board,” Head Coach Daren Brubaker said. “I am proud of them.” In the finals, the team was led by two top- three finishes by senior Gabe Gonda, who placed second in the 100-yard butterfly (with a time of 49.87) and third in the 100-yard backstroke (with a time of 51.03). Senior Finnegan Crawford earned a pair of sixth-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.58) and the 100-yard butterfly (50:57). Brophy also sponsors mountain biking and club hockey programs that competed in the fall. The mountain biking program won its first regular season state title, while hockey will strive for the playoffs in February. VERITAS CROSS COUNTRY The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams made it to the Division IV Metro AIA Championship, with the girls placing ninth and the boys placing 12th in the finals. “For cross country, every runner places a Brophy’s Dylan Boenning, Tyler Spielman, Charlie Palmer, Trevor Karber and Henry Dall. The Brophy Swimming and Diving team finished third at the AIA Division I State Championships. Veritas Football. PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVE SHAFF PHOTO COURTESY OF CORIAN DENNIS