38 JANUARY 2026 By Alex Gross The Arcadia High School and Veritas Prep football teams both cemented their names in the history books this fall with undefeated regular seasons that led to deep playoff runs. For Arcadia, the success marks a return to form for an established program. For Veritas, it proves that the traditionally academic Great Hearts school still can field a formidable football team. In his first year as the head coach of Arcadia, BJ Pasquel led the Titans to a 10-0 record, earning them the top seed in the 4A State playoffs. He spent the previous two seasons as the school’s offensive coordinator before stepping to the helm and being named the 4A Desert Sky Region Coach of the Year. Despite a heartbreaking loss in the 4A State Championship, the Titans’ three playoff wins gave the team its first title game appearance since 1962. “We’ve had a good run the last three, four years as far as making the playoffs, but this group of seniors took it to the next level with their work ethic,” Pasquel said. This class included the Region Player of the Year in quarterback Zach Smith as well as standouts Nick McCormick, Ian Slater, and Walter Driggs, all earning region first- team nods. “I started as a freshman coach, so a lot of these kids I’ve known for four years,” Pasquel said. “I’ve watched them on their journey, watched them grow and get better. They are really good young men.” It was a strong group of seniors that also set the tone for Veritas’ success. There were 25 total upperclassmen on the Falcons’ roster, an impressive number given that the school only has a few hundred students enrolled at the high school level. Head Coach Mike Sanfratello, who attended and coached at Coronado High School with Pasquel in the past (and who, along with Pasquel, earned nominations in the Coach of the Year poll for contributions to their teams’ record-breaking seasons), has helped rewrite the program’s reputation. “We haven’t been a football power by any stretch,” Sanfratello said. “Last year we went 8-4 and won our first playoff game in school history.” This year’s squad managed an even better showing, cr uising through a perfect regular season that earned them a number one seed in the 2A State playoffs. The Falcons also got to host their first-ever postseason games, the second of which they narrowly lost in the quarterfinals. “For us to go undefeated, that’s a first. For us to finish number one in the polls, that’s a first,” Sanfratello said. “We landed five guys on the All-State team, which they have not done, ever.” Among those were seniors Rocco Guido and Will Barrett, who earned Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in their region, respectively, while junior Baylor Arnold led the state with 10 interceptions and is 14th in the nation on interceptions out of 56,000 people in his position. Baylor and his brother, Broden, are both defensive backs, but they’ve each pursued a high school career in different places. Baylor chose to stay at Veritas after his eighth-grade year when he learned that Sanfratello, his childhood coach, would be taking over the football team. Broden, on the other hand, switched to Arcadia. “My main reasons for staying were a great group of guys who wanted to change the program and a great new head coach coming in who was going to lead the way,” said Baylor, who hopes to take his talents to the collegiate level following some Division II offers. While he trains a lot with his older brother, Broden, a sophomore, he also looks up to the seniors who distinguished themselves on this year’s Arcadia squad. “I’ve learned from Nick McCormick as a position player; watching him play has taught me so much,” Broden said. “Ian Slater also led the team a lot this year.” The two schools are hoping that a strong batch of underclassmen talent can fill the voids left by graduating players and continue their trends of postseason success. Historic football seasons mark milestones for two programs PHOTO COURTESY OF COLEY ARNOLD Defensive backs Baylor and Broden Arnold. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE SANFRATELLO Anthony Sanfratello with his mom and dad, Coach Mike Sanfratello. B.J. Pasquel

39 JANUARY 2026 By James Furcini Arizona is home to some of the most premier golf teams in the country. Boasting 13 of the PGA’s top 30 boys’ golf programs and six of the top 30 girls’ programs nationwide, the Grand Canyon State has become a proving ground for young players. As the high school postseason came to a close, several of Arizona’s top teams – including Arcadia, Brophy and Xavier – delivered standout performances on the biggest stage.  Led by Head Coach Eric Sage, the Titans delivered one of their strongest seasons in years, rising to No. 5 in Arizona and No. 21 nationally before finishing third at the AIA Division II State Championship. Senior Jackson Malatesta (USA No. 50) led with a seventh-place finish at two under par, while senior Hank Hubbard (Arizona No. 57) and junior Beck Sage (Arizona No. 24) anchored a tournament lineup defined by depth and consistency. Malatesta said Arcadia’s rise came from genuine internal growth. “We felt tighter this year. Rather than competing with each other as individuals, we relied on each other as a team,” he said. One of the season’s defining moments came from Beck, who fired a district-record 62 to win the Scottsdale District Championship and earn District Golfer of the Year. Sage emphasized the support behind the program’s rise, crediting assistant coaches John Dadam and Marv LaVasseur, booster managers Scott and Jamie Fitzgerald, and the ongoing partnership with Nigel Spence and the Arizona Country Club. “The best part about golf is just the relationships that you can create in the sport,” Sage said. “That’s what I love about the game, and that’s why I coach. I really enjoy it.” With only three graduating seniors, the Titans return a strong core and expect continued momentum next fall.  Arcadia girls’ golf entered a rebuilding year under head coach Heidi Ferguson, who returned a roster with no seniors and only seven players after graduating six upper-class athletes the year before. Despite the transition, Coach Ferguson said coaching the group remained deeply fulfilling. “Coaching golf is the highlight of my day,” she said. “Watching these girls grow, work hard, and learn life skills on and off the course is so rewarding. People like me don’t do this for money; we do it because seeing young adults flourish is the greatest reward there is.” The season’s brightest moment came from junior Annie Dreier, the Titans’ captain and lone State qualifier. Dreier posted consistent rounds of 83 to finish tied for 60th at the AIA Division II girls’ championship – a strong marker of her rapid improvement over the past year. “Throughout the season, I watched attitudes shift, and our collective love for the game grow stronger,” Dreier said. “Golf can be incredibly frustrating, so developing that genuine passion is essential – it’s what keeps you coming back and pushing to improve.” Coach Ferguson said she is encouraged by the foundation being built. “We’re hoping to get new talent with our incoming freshmen and continue building a team that wants to stay together, improve, and maybe even play in college someday,” she said.  The Broncos added another chapter to their storied tradition, capturing the 2025 AIA Division I State Championship in dominant fashion. Under head coach Jon Shores, the team closed the year ranked No. 1 nationally while carrying an exceptional team scoring average of 274.5. Senior and Fort Lewis College commit Mateo Berastegui (Arizona No. 22) said Brophy’s steady progression throughout the season prepared them all for postseason dominance. “We started a little slow, but coach put us in the right moments,” he said. “Playing tough tournaments in Florida and Flagstaff helped us handle pressure. By State, we didn’t feel nervous – we just played our game.” At the Championship, Brophy opened with a blistering 16-under round and followed it with an 11-under finish to reach 27 under par – one of the strongest performances in recent memory. Junior and Oklahoma State commit Asher Nelson and sophomore Hank Miller (both USA No. 5) tied for third at nine under, and Brophy placed four golfers inside the top 12, showcasing unmatched depth. Coach Shores said the culture behind the program is as valuable as the talent. “There’s something special about playing for Brophy,” he said. “These guys really want to be here. It’s an honor for them to make the team, and they push each other because they don’t want to let one another down.” Brophy claimed its 11th state title, tying Arcadia for the most in Arizona history.  Xavier continued its unprecedented dominance, capturing its 40th state title and third straight AIA Division I Championship. Under Head Coach Tui Selvaratnam, the Gators finished the year ranked No. 1 nationally with a scoring average of 288.5 – nine strokes better than any other girls’ program in America. After ending the first day tied at 292 with Casteel, Xavier fired a 285 on Day 2 to pull away and win State by 12 strokes. Junior and Texas commit Alexis Lamadrid (USA No. 1) claimed her second consecutive individual title at nine under par. Senior and Colorado commit Isabella Piazza (USA No. 28) added a top-six finish, while freshman Addison Taylor (USA No. 58) placed inside the top 10. All five Xavier golfers finished inside the top 20, a testament to the program’s talent. Coach Selvaratnam said her coaching philosophy centers on preparing athletes for the next stage of their careers. “I’m here to help the girls through their high school journey,” she said. “Almost all of our players go on to play college golf. It’s about helping them grow in confidence and maturity as the next stepping stone.” With multiple returners and another strong freshman class expected, Xavier is positioned to extend one of the most dominant runs in American high school sports. Rising talent, record rounds; Arcadia area high school golf (back) Coach John Dadam, Jack Cowley, Luke Zavislak, Jackson Malatesta, Hank Hubbard, Cooper Fitzgerald, Beck Sage, Luca Hogan and Coach Eric Sage. (front) Jayden Diaz, Cody Dreier, Ryder Erickson, Michael Cunningham and Kalen Sorokin. Not pictured: Coach Marvel LaVasseur. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKSON MALATESTA Jack Langbein, Asher Nelson, Hank Miller, Mateo Berastegui, Evan Tyree, Head Coach Jon Shores. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE SHAFF Head Coach Tui Selvaratnam, Danica Bustos, Maia Bleyl, Audrey Smith, Ellie Von Kolan, Sophie PeBenito Brooks, Jaina Bhatnagar, Isabella Piazza, Addison Taylor, Alexis Lamadrid, Natalia Lamadrid, Emily Mousa, Piper Vega-Fortney, Gabrielle Doss, Paige LaRocco, Assistant Coach Jane Ladensack. PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA ZUBA