44 OCTOBER 2024 PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCADIA HIGH Y ou might not think that after driving up a dirt road for more than a dozen miles in the middle of nowhere that you would arrive at a five-star destination – but think again. In fact, it all starts with the journey to get to this one-of-a-kind place. You leave Phoenix, go to the high desert in Payson, and from there, across the rim through the largest continuous ponderosa pine forest in the world. There, you’ll find a ranch where the desert and the tall pines meet. Just outside of Young, Arizona, is the Cherry Creek Lodge, a luxury hospitality destination for folks wanting to experience the old west and Arizona history. There are people that have described the great room of Cherry Creek Lodge as a cross between Ralph Lauren and Ben Cartwright with Julia Child whipping something up in the kitchen. Others have said it’s like being on the set of “Yellowstone.” The property, which is set on ten square miles in the middle of the Tonto National Forest, is a working cattle and guest ranch. Owners Michael and Sharon Lechter designed the lodge so it would have a little something for everyone. For those who want to experience the outdoors, there’s horseback trail rides, roping and riding lessons. For the more advanced, there’s a competition called team penning. There’s target shooting and a lake to throw in a line where everyone catches a fish. Cherry Creek Lodge is a place both for adults and families, with activities suitable for all ages. Guests can even sleep in comfort under the stars. The lodge offers “glamping” right across from the lake – what the owners call Glamp Camp. They’ve set up beautiful tents with queen beds and there’s a converted two horse trailer that serves as a commode. Guests can barbecue on their own or have dinner at the lodge before enjoying an outdoor slumber party. At the heart of the Cherry Creek Lodge is the ability to disconnect so you can turn moments into memories. Whether that’s roaming the endless acres, gathering round the table for gourmet family style breakfast, or watching a beautiful sunset with pink skies ushering in the moon and the stars. As families and friends connect around a fire making s’mores (another addition at Cherry Creek), you can’t help but smile knowing you are making memories that will last a lifetime. cherrycreeklodge.com Spend a night under the stars at this northern Arizona ranch Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL

WE HAVE MOVED 4600 E Shea Blvd | Suite 100 | Phoenix, AZ 85028 NW corner Tatum and Shea | West of Trader Joes 602.955.8700 • FPSAZ.com IN PRACTICE CELEBRATING EXPERT DOCTORS AND PRACTITIONERS. CONVENIENT SERVICES. EXTENDED HOURS. Our Family Caring for Yours 45 OCTOBER 2024 By Kylie de Best Arcadia High, Veritas Prep and Xavier Prep are ready for an exhilarating volleyball season filled with fierce competition, personal growth, and unforgettable moments on the court. Coaches and players have set their sights on championship wins – but building chemistry and sportsmanship are also at the forefront.  The Lady Titans are goal-oriented, hoping to win state and retake the region and district titles. Five players are returning from last year’s varsity squad. With the seniors’ veteran leadership and the eagerness of younger players, this team is ready to compete for a successful season. There are 17 matches and two tournaments scheduled, followed by playoffs. Opponents come from all over the Valley, including Chaparral, Desert Mountain, and Saguaro, all from the same district as Arcadia High. The team is looking forward to continuing the friendly rivalry they have developed over the years with Flagstaff, which is looking to be a powerful program this year. “As a long-time teacher and coach, I like to emphasize the process and why we do things a certain way,” Coach Adrian Chang said. “I find that when players understand the reasoning behind the methodology, they are more likely to buy in and fully invest in the team process.” Players said they have created a strong bond with memorable experiences. “My favorite memory is last year when we were down two sets to Flagstaff, then pulled together as a team and came back to win the next three sets,” Senior Captain Lane Sheedy said. “I have made so many meaningful friendships through my time in the program, I wouldn’t be the same person without it,” Senior Captain Brooke Mitchell said.  According to Captain Annemarie O’Gara, Xavier’s volleyball team can best be described as “hardworking, energized, and confident.” With these important qualities, the team prides itself on having good chemistry. Though they lost in the quarter-finals last year, they are motivated to push through all the way to the end in 2024. The Gators will play 17 matches and two tournaments: The Durango Fall Classic and the Nike Tournament. Practices are divided into three categories: warm-up, skill development and competition. These categories aim to strengthen the team so that it can fulfill its goal of playing its best in the state tournament. “I want the team and I to hone in on the mindset and goals by playing with purpose and competitively to accomplish what we know we are capable of,” Captain Elle McCreery said. Lamar-Renee Bryant’s coaching style centers on giving her players the opportunity to make decisions. Instead of demanding specific actions from players, she gives them “situational recommendations.” “It is my job to analyze their results and provide positive and negative feedback – and try to assist them in learning from their past experiences so that in the future they might make the best decisions,” Bryant said. “I believe that the best one can hope for in life is to be held accountable for the actions and decisions one makes, to reap the accolades or accept the criticisms.”  The Falcons have a busy season ahead, with 17 matches against 1A-3A teams in addition to playing three invitational tournaments. According to Coach Brooks Dockter, their most significant strengths include cohesiveness and competitiveness. “Our biggest question mark to start the season is offense. We graduated our top two scorers and are looking for offensive players to help fill those gaps,” Dockter said. His coaching style is flexible, considering the staff is still getting to know the players and finding out what motivates them and how they learn best. With the program having high expectations, Veritas coaches believe in the importance of setting up all the athletes for success. To execute this vision, practices are intense and competitive. The Falcons hope to continue getting better throughout the season and win enough matches to earn a high postseason seed. “The ultimate goal is always the same: to win a state championship, with many other goals along the way,” Dockter said. “I love our team. It took some time to become comfortable with everyone, but as I grew and started to know my teammates more, I realized how special everyone was,” senior setter and Captain Joanna Llusco said. Arcadia area volleyball teams “set” for success (Back): McKenna Swonger, Mary Hamann, Grace Hamann, Mia Wall, Cate Schneider, Isabella Espinosa, Coach Brooks Dockter (Middle): Salma Ahmed, Dianne Salem, Vivian Keery, Joanna Llusco, Sara Escobar, Taylor Nicks, Sofia Suarez. (Front): McKenzie Perrault. (Back): Siddha Lennox, Riley Rooney, Katie Musselmann, Lane Sheedy, Emma Lindenmeyer, Daniela Mendez, Trinity Thompson. (Front): Brooke Mitchell, Bella Scaramella, Reagan Jackson, Tessa Dwyer-Kim, Chloe Herwig. (Back) Courtney Snopko, Tessa Larkin, Elle McCreery, Annemarie O’Gara, Amari Frazier, Allison Dunnion, Annabelle Ross. (Middle): Jane Burkhardt, Vivian Hickman, Gracie Graf, Selah O’Connor. (Front): Chineze Gray, Leighton Fig, Olivia Lenz, Madi Araujo, Mattea Saunders. PHOTO COURTESY OF VERITAS PREP PHOTO COURTESY OF XAVIER PREP PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCADIA HIGH