34 FEBRUARY 2023 By Rachael Bouley The AIA Premier Region-6A Conference Division has announced Coach of the Year winners for the 2022 high school season, with three of our area coaches bringing home the accolade. Meet the latest recipients from Brophy and Xavier Prep. Dave Van Sickle – Cross Country Van Sickle has been coaching for over 40 years, 33 of which have been at Xavier. The Iowa native first taught at McClintock High School, then headed to MCC, Yavapai College and Bradshaw Mountain High School before finding his home with the Gators. Although his competitive nature motivated him early in his career, Van Sickle sometimes found that winning was more important than the team, who needed to be happy to train and thrive. He decided to switch up his coaching style. “I concentrated more on creating a culture where the girls had a sense of belonging, which made them happy to come to practice. The more they came to practice, the fitter they became. The fitter they became, the more they won,” Van Sickle recalled. While he was pleased to be recognized as Coach of the Year, he notes it wouldn’t be possible without the players and their dedication to distance running, something he hopes to see for years. Although they didn’t win this season, Cross Country has a record of 10 state championships and five runners-up accolades. “Winning state championships is extraordinary, but I am the proudest when the kids come back from participating in college and tell me how important running is to them,” he said. Lamar-Renee Bryant – Volleyball Brooklyn-born Bryant moved to Arizona in elementary school and graduated from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe before playing collegiate volleyball at the University of Memphis. She’s spent 18 of the past 25 years coaching at Xavier and has been the Gators’ varsity coach for the last decade. Being named Coach of the Year was an exciting moment for Bryant and a testament to her coaching philosophy as the Gators went 20-13 overall this season and made it to the playoffs. “It felt great as a coach to get validation. We weren’t the biggest or strongest team; we used our intellect to be successful,” Bryant said. “It’s all about empowering young women to be their greatest resource.” Bryant acknowledges the support of Xavier’s Sisters and the school community over the years, on and off the court. “Xavier is a special place with so many traditions,” Bryant said. “The volleyball program has continued for decades, and my goal is to continue the legacy that Xavier works to instill empowerment in young women.” Jon Shores – Golf Shores, a freshman advisor at Brophy, earned his bachelor’s at Vanguard University before continuing his master’s education at Arizona State and Northern Arizona University. He had another successful year leading the Brophy varsity golf program, with the Broncos securing their ninth golf title – the first since 2018. “I am not big on titles or accolades, but it is always nice to be recognized. I received the honor of the Coach of the Year, but in reality, the kids played well. It is appreciated,” Shores said. The 2022 AIA Division I State Championship marked Brophy’s third state title under Shores, as the team set new single-round and tournament records and won by 34 strokes. They led the state in scoring average, birdies and eagles. “It’s fun when we win, but more fun being around this group of students. They are nice boys and enjoy being around each other,” Shores said. “Winning and good play are secondary to helping develop the character of the young men in the program.” Area high school coaches bestowed with annual honor Dave Van Sickle Xavier Lamar-Renee Bryant Xavier Jon Shores Brophy Today’s Real Estate Market Can Be Confusing... But it Doesn’t Have to Be. a r c a d i a n a t i v e 1 7 + y e a r s e x p e r i e n c e t o p 2 % a g e n t c o n c i e r g e - s t y l e s e r v i c e Contact me today for your free home valuation or to start planning for your real estate future. Scan For A No-Obligation Home Valuation Dallas Peagler, Realtor® 602.821.9494 | Dallas@TheBrokery.com | DallasPeagler.com
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