40 SEPTEMBER 2026 By AJ Stone Arcadia High, Brophy Prep, Veritas Prep, and Xavier Prep are poised to take the court by storm in a season marked by rigorous practices, intense competition, and the energy from players and fans. These schools are anticipating some major wins, all while building their skills and abilities as a team.  The Titans opened up the season at home against Crimson. Last season ended in a crushing defeat to Ironwood Ridge, leaving AHS just missing the playoffs and a chance to hang a banner. The Titans head into this season looking to rewrite history. New Head Coach Rylee Brown says the program is as much about developing young adults as it is maintaining a winning culture. The “core four” focuses are growth, leadership, community, and competing. “I want every athlete to make meaningful progress, gain confidence, improve skills, and push past what they thought they could do. Growth isn’t just about performance; it’s about becoming better every day,” Coach Brown said. “My hopes are to enjoy my last season of volleyball with my best friends and win our region and make a run at state,” teammate Riley Rooney said, with player Tessa Peters echoing the feeling: “I am really hoping to build an amazing team with amazing people and create a special atmosphere that lasts for years to come.” Practices will focus on skill-based development and working toward cohesion as a team. “We compete to win, and that’s a goal we embrace. But winning comes from preparation, teamwork, and discipline – the habits we build every day. When we focus on the process, the results follow,” Coach Brown said.  Brophy had an incredible run in the regular season last year. They finished with a 25-10-1 record, but that streak ended after a tough playoff loss to the Chandler High Wolves. Since then, the team has been biding its time to return to the courts. With so much success on their side, it seems like the only thing holding Brophy back from playoff success was the offseason. This year, with Head Coach Tony Oldani leading the charge, the Broncos will look to chase down playoff wins and a banner to boot.  Veritas kicked off the season in an away contest against Arizona Lutheran Academy on August 27. Although it was a non-region game, the Falcons will need to get back on track early to keep momentum on their side. “The Falcons spent the summer building strength in the weight room, endurance through conditioning, and discipline through every rep,” Coach Sarah Kersey said. “Now we’re turning that foundation into speed, intensity, and execution. Our team motto this season is ‘No Plays Off!’ The first whistle is here, and we’re ready to compete with 100 percent effort.”  Xavier volleyball opened up with a home thriller on August 27 against Mountain Ridge. Coming off back-to-back state championships, Coach Lamar-Renee Bryant says the culture at Xavier focuses on high competition. “We always try to be competitive in the gym,” she said. “We compete in everything we do from the beginning of the practice to the end.” After their recent run of dominance, Xavier is trotting out a young lineup this season, full of newcomers. The only senior on the roster, Tessa Larkin, looks to lead her squad to another finals appearance. Larkin has already earned a Gatorade Player of the Year award and a finals MVP. She’ll attend Stanford after she graduates and is playing with the US National Team U21. “I know she is going to take a leadership role for our squad,” Coach Bryant said. “We have four freshmen, so it’s going to be a lot of teaching, but we are fully confident that these freshmen are going to catch up and will be capable.” In addition to on-court success, Xavier was named a recipient of the AVCA All- Academic Award for the 2025 to 2026 season. This award highlights teams that maintain at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale year-round. They also earned the additional distinction of being on the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll, representing the top 20 percent of GPAs nationally by division. The Gators did just that, and after earning such a prestigious award, they’ll look to translate their success in the classroom onto the court. “It’s a new team, it’s a new year. We won back-to-back state championships, and obviously we’re looking for our third, but we are just working on getting better every single day,” Coach Bryant said. Big hopes “set” up success for volleyball squads Arcadia High varsity Brophy Prep’s Callaway Johnson PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE SHAFF PHOTO COURTESY OF AHS PHOTO COURTESY OF XAVIER PREP Xavier Prep’s 2025 championship team.

41 SEPTEMBER 2026 A s we look toward the future, water remains one of our most important priorities. New federal guidelines for the Colorado River are expected to bring major cuts beginning in 2027, and I know that can raise questions about what those changes will mean for our neighborhoods. Phoenix has been preparing for this moment for decades. Thanks to careful planning, significant water storage, drought infrastructure and a diversified water supply, residents and businesses will not experience water service interruptions because of the upcoming reductions. But that does not mean we can take our water supply for granted. Phoenix is currently in a Stage 1 Water Alert under the city’s Drought Management Plan, and I encourage everyone to do their part to help protect our water future. Being “PHX Water Smart” does not require major lifestyle changes. Small steps, repeated across our community, can make a meaningful difference. Our landscapes are another opportunity to conserve. Consider replacing water-intensive plants with native desert species that are naturally better suited to our climate. If you have an irrigation system, a smart irrigation controller can help ensure you are watering according to actual weather and landscape needs rather than simply following a fixed schedule. Perhaps most importantly, I hope we continue building a desert-water mindset throughout our community. Conserving water should not be viewed as something we do only during a drought. It is part of living responsibly and ensuring that we remain a strong, sustainable city for generations to come. There are also several important updates I want residents to know about. The city will host a special 9/11 remembrance event on Thursday, September 10, at Steele Indian School Park’s Memorial Hall. The evening will feature members of Arizona Task Force 1, who deployed to New York following the attacks, as well as youth leaders discussing how life has changed in the 25 years since 9/11. Preserved pieces of the World Trade Center will also be on display. Additionally, the Cholla Sewer Diversion and Abandonment Project is underway. As always, I encourage residents to stay informed, conserve where they can and look out for one another. Together, we can meet the challenges ahead while protecting the resources that make Phoenix home. For more information about water conservation and Phoenix’s Drought Management Plan, visit Phoenix.gov/WaterFuture. Thank you, vi Preparing Phoenix for what’s next ARCADIANEWSARCHIVES.COM Councilman District 6 602-262-7491 District6@phoenix.gov KEVIN ROBINSON  It seems like just yesterday that the Toney family gathered for a picture on the front porch. That was in 1996, when the family numbered 21. Thirty years later, in 2026, the family grew to 41 members, including spouses, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and babies on the way. At the heart of the family are Margaret and Ken, who were married for nearly 63 years before Margaret passed away in 2018. Ken, now 92, continues to live in Phoenix, where he enjoys golf, bridge, and spending time with family and friends. For the past 20 years, he has also enjoyed creating beautiful oil paintings. Theresa Filiger is a retired teacher and mom of three, living in Prescott with her husband, Dennis. Theresa’s oldest, Brady, lives in Mesa with his wife, and their son. Cody lives in North Carolina with his fiancée, and Riley is serving in the Army. Julie Daly is retired from teaching and lives in Prescott with her husband, Jim. Julie’s daughter, Stephanie, lives in Virginia with her husband, Joe, and their four children. Daughter Toni lives in Hanapepe on the island of Kauai with her husband, Isaiah, and their three children. Their son, Michael, lives in Phoenix with his wife, Amanda, daughter, Chloe, and a baby on the way. Katy Regester is a teacher and lives with her husband, John, in Phoenix. Their daughter Laura lives in Denver with her husband, Neal, and a baby on the way. Emily, a nurse, lives in Phoenix with her fiancé, Mike, while Charlie lives in Phoenix with his fiancée, Bri. Matthew Toney, an IT Specialist, and his wife, Barbara, have three children in Phoenix. Their eldest son Zach lives and works in Phoenix. Annabell Riley and her husband, Jace, are also in Phoenix with their son. Henry works and goes to school in the Valley. Patrick Toney is an attorney and lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Tara, and their son, Hollis, a contractor and musician. From a family of 21 in 1996 to 41 in 2026, the Toney family continues to grow and spread across the country. Despite the miles between them, family gatherings, shared memories, and strong connections keep everyone close. 30 30 YEARS AGO YEARS AGO WHERE ARE THEY NOW?