50 JANUARY 2023 goal for themselves at the start of the season. By the end, each of them had accomplished their goal and even beat their own records,” Athletic Director Corian Dennis said. FOOTBALL The Falcons varsity football squad finished the season with five wins and five losses, placing third in the 2A division and 12th place overall. They made it to the playoffs but were bumped out first round against Holbrook, 42-18. VOLLEYBALL The varsity volleyball team ended their season 11-6, which placed them first in their region and eighth overall. “In volleyball, the team had a goal to finish their season in the top eight and win the region. One of their earlier games was against Phoenix Country Day, who at the time was ranked number one – and we beat them, which was a great feeling,” Dennis said. The squad made it to the playoffs, winning the first game against Scottsdale Prep but ultimately losing to Horizon Honors School. SWIM AND DIVE In varsity swim, the girls’ team took eighth place at the State AIA Championships, with sophomore Gwen Kainass taking third in the 100 free and 100 back events. The boys’ team also made it to the championships, placing 32nd. The swim teams also brought home a trophy from the PCDS Small Schools Swim Meet, where they were the runners-up. “Overall, the strength at Veritas is our athletic sportsmanship. The players encourage and support each other on and off the court, and it makes for great team camaraderie, whether they are winning or losing,” Dennis said. “Next season, we want to keep growing as an athletic program and strive to develop every athlete to the best of their ability.” XAVIER Xavier’s varsity teams had a spectacular season this year, culminating in two coaches winning the AIA State Coach of the Year award: Coach Dave Van Sickle for cross country and Coach Lamar-Renee Bryant for volleyball. SPIRITLINE AND CHEER Xavier’s spirit squad competed at the USA Regional competition in November, where all of the teams – Pom, Cheer, Jazz, Game Day and all-girl stunt – qualified for the National Competition in February 2023 in Anaheim, California. The cheer team also took first place in the Varsity Show Cheer Advanced and All Girl Stunt divisions. According to Coach Monica Gaspar, senior Jaya Vijungco had a standout season, despite numerous setbacks: “One year ago, Jaya tore her ACL on a ski trip, had surgery in February and worked hard to get back into the routine. She was cleared to compete just a couple of months ago. She is a captain of her team, is in the All Girl stunt routine (which only has five of our best athletes) and was also able to tumble again in these routines. An amazing recovery, an amazing young woman and leader of this team!” BADMINTON The varsity badminton team finished their season with ten wins and six losses. There were nine players this season in singles and doubles matches, finishing at the #4 spot in Div. 1 Premier. GOLF The Lady Gators made it to the state golf championships after an undefeated season, ten straight wins. Senior Annie Dawson was awarded for her golf skills and academic achievements. Since she was a top-10 finisher in the American Junior Golf Association, she was invited to apply for Rolex Scholastic Junior All-America honors. Dawson was one of 44 students nationwide named a Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American (including Brophy senior Charlie Palmer!). This honor recognizes athletic talent along with academics. “I work to improve myself in the classroom and on the golf course because of an intrinsic motivation to be my best self,” Annie said. “I am always pushing myself to top my previous accomplishments in everything I do. This keeps me progressing and on top of my game, in school and in golf. Plus, it’s all about time management and not getting behind.” CROSS COUNTRY Cross Country finished third in AIA Sectional and State Championships. Coach Van Sickle said of his team, “We kept improving all season. At state, all seven girls worked super hard, which improved our finish from a predicted 7th to 3rd place. It was a good day!” SWIM AND DIVE Swim and Dive placed third at the Brophy Invitational and first at the AMDG State Qualifier, and also won three dual meets during the fall season. Swim Coach Glen Coy also shared some heartwarming news about one of the swimmers: “In August 2020, sophomore Genevieve George was diagnosed with median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), which restricts blood flow to upper organs and compresses nerves. Because she had a feeding tube and several procedures, she could not practice and swam in only one meet freshman year.” Now, Genevieve is back in the pool and, according to Coy, was instantly the fastest swimmer on the team during tryouts. “Being back in the pool this year was the best feeling ever. It was hard at first to come back because I wasn’t as fast as I used to be, but I was happy to be with my teammates and back in the water. After being out for so long, I knew it would be different, but once I hit the water, everything came back, and I felt at home again,” Genevieve said. VOLLEYBALL The varsity volleyball squad placed 9th in the state and first in the Premier Region, with three players making it to the All Premier Region 1st Team, including one freshman. “It feels so great to be nominated. It was so special to be on varsity this year for Xavier. By playing high school volleyball, I bonded with my teammates and made friendships that will last for years to come,” Vivian Hickman, who was voted freshman player of the year, said. “I learned a lot by playing with talented, hardworking athletes and dedicated coaches who pushed us to succeed. I hope to have the opportunity to do it again next fall!” Veritas Volleyball. Xavier Spiritline. PHOTO COURTESY OF CORIAN DENNIS PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA ZUBA Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available Learn to be a Servant Leader at CLS! 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8

51 JANUARY 2023 By Rachael Bouley Phoenix Swim Club is on a mission to make competitive swimming more accessible for young children through a new scholarship program. The PSC scholarship is based on financial need and can cover up to 100 percent of the monthly membership dues for a practice group. Kim McClure, vice president of the PSC Board of Directors, said the scholarship is the latest initiative in a long history of community outreach, which includes swimming for Special Olympic athletes and a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Arizona. “The scholarship exists because of support in the form of donations from the PSC community and the Thunderbirds Charities,” McClure said. “The donation from the Thunderbirds was really important and amazing because it put the scholarship program into a sustainable position where it can fund swimmers over a longer term.” PSC Head Coach Darian Townsend is pleased with the initial launch of the scholarship, as the club has been able to offer financial assistance to all athletes who demonstrated need in 2022/23. “From the Thunderbirds Charities and our current membership, we have received tremendous support in the form of donations as well as positive feedback, which has further strengthened our belief that the initiative we have introduced is for a good cause,” Townsend said. With different demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds making up the club’s membership, they felt it was essential to offer a scholarship to support current members in the pool and invite new swimmers to join. The club is looking forward to growing its swim family, which has produced numerous state champions and college athletes since it first opened in 1989. This includes Arcadia High graduates Matt Anderson, Sydney Carlson, Savanna Carlson, Chase An, and Isabella Fratesi, who have all gone on to swim at the college level in recent years. The club currently has five professional athletes training to qualify and represent their country at the 2024 Olympic Games, following in the footsteps of Olympians like Gary Hall and Anthony Ervin. While coaches are passionate about producing champions in the pool, they also emphasize the importance of being good teammates and supporting one another, which is what the scholarship program is all about. “PSC is a big team, but we are also a close family where every swimmer is cared about and worked with to ensure they reach their full potential,” Townsend said. “Our goal is never to turn away a swimmer or family.” teamunify.com Scholarship program makes a splash at Phoenix Swim Club Grace Hull, Jack Sorenson, Gabe Gonda and Evelyn Silguero at the Four Corners Sectionals Meet, which is comprised of the best swimmers from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM MCCLURE By Rachael Bouley After two knee surgeries and raising three kids, a low-impact workout was exactly what Arcadia mom Cameron Ballinger was looking for when it came to fitness. She found it in Row House, a boutique rowing studio focused on full-body fitness for everyone. Ballinger and her partner Kurt Rupprecht were inspired to open their own Row House after discovering the fitness franchise in Virginia. Realizing there wasn’t a local studio in the Valley, the duo set out to bring this unique fitness concept to the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area. “For me, the idea of a low-impact workout was intriguing for long-term sustainability,” Ballinger said. “I also fell in love with the motto ‘pull together,’ as there is something beautiful about an entire class rowing together, approaching fitness as a team versus an individual struggle.” Since opening, Row House has built a loyal following of folks supporting one another during these high-intensity workouts. The studio prides itself on an inclusive environment where people of all fitness levels can burn calories, build muscle and improve cardiovascular health. Ballinger and Rupprecht credit a background in CrossFit for sparking their interest in rowing. “The Concept2 RowErg machine is used in CrossFit workouts, and that’s where it started for us,” Ballinger recalled. “Kurt was a natural rower and took to that machine immediately.” “I, on the other hand, struggled with rowing for years as my body preferred running. Row House taught me the proper technique, and I have become stronger and more efficient. As with any exercise, the more your body enjoys it, the more likely you are to stick with it and continue to excel,” she said. A fun environment and energetic, dedicated staff are two keys to success. The studio offers five classes: Signature, Full Row, Intervals, Strength and Restore. Most classes are 45 minutes, although 30-minute lunchtime classes and open-row sessions are also available. Enthusiastic coaches lead the way, with classes set to 70s, 80s, 90s or pop music (coach’s choice!) as drills, sprints, and strengthening exercises are incorporated into routines. “All of our workouts are set to the cadence of music. Rowing to the beat. We also do themed rows, where the music is set to a certain decade or a specific artist. Our rowers love it,” Ballinger said. “We created such an inviting space and are incredibly lucky to have an inspiring staff. People always leave with a glisten to their skin and a smile on their face.” Row House’s team said they are grateful for the strong community support, which is why they decided to give back with a special campaign to help local schools. “For any membership purchased at our studio naming a specific school, we give 10 percent of monthly dues to that parent- teacher organization,” Ballinger explained. “We have worked with Hopi, Archway Veritas, Saguaro, Cherokee, Cochise and Kiva, and already donated $3,000 this year to their PTOs.” With plans to open two more studios, Ballinger wants people to know that anyone can row. “The erg is an effort-based machine, which means what you put into it, you get out. You create your own resistance. You are in control of the intensity and calories burned,” Ballinger said. “It may take a few sessions for your body to learn this new movement, but our coaches will have you efficiently and effectively working in no time.” The studio offers a free class for first- time visitors and $7 for seven days in the first week. Unlimited membership is $119 a month. Five, 10, and 20 class packs are offered, as well. therowhouse.com New boutique fitness studio offers rowing workouts These folks participated in the Fundraiser Row for a Cause for the ALS Association. PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMERON BALLINGER Cameron Ballinger