May 16, 2012
More STEM Fest
Photos by Mila Lira
Superior Sun, Superior, Arizona
Page 15
Junior Panthers celebrate athletic success at annual banquet By Mila Lira Parents, grandparents and student athletes gathered last week to celebrate the athletic accomplishments of the Superior Junior High Panthers. Jose Lira Jr. led the banquet with the pledge of allegiance and Elias Olmos offered the invocation. Each of the coaches for each sport commented on the success of their teams and athletes. Richard Toner, coach of the Junior High Panthers, explained that he was extremely proud of the Junior High Football team because they had a great season and played with fewer players than most of the other teams in the region. Winning football awards were: Anthony Denogean, Most Valuable Player; Elias Olmos, Offensive Player; and Raudel Castro, Defensive Player. Girls Volleyball Coach Rosie Tameron announced that she along with her husband Richard and brother in law Joe Tameron would be retiring after 16 years of coaching Girls Junior High Sports. They thanked the parents and grandparents for supporting their athletes and encouraged the female athletes to continue to do well in their academics and athletics. Winning seventh grade volleyball awards were: Elizabeth Ochoa, Most Valuable Player; Danielle Lopez, Most Spirited Player; Maribel Castro, Most Improved Player; and Macey Hernandez, Most Improved Player. Eighth Grade volleyball award winners were: Gabriella Salcido, Most Valuable Player; Ariana San Miguel, Most Valuable Player; Silvia Longoria, Most Spirited Player; Phalicitee Thomas, Most Improved Player; and Ashley Guerra, Most Improved Player.
Gabby Salcido and Elias Olmos were awarded the Diablo Award for 20112012. (Mila Lira photo) Boys Basketball Coach Luis Navarro commented that the kids in Superior do not often have the opportunity to play basketball competitively until Junior High due to the lack of basketball programs in Superior and the surrounding areas. He congratulated the seventh grade team for taking first place in their division of seven teams. Winning seventh grade basketball awards were: Nicholaus “Gage” Cruz, Most Outstanding Player; Austin Navarrette, Most Valuable Player, and Jesse Lopez, Most Improved Player. Navarro explained that the eighth grade team was comprised of five eighth graders and that was often a challenge if someone got hurt or fouled out. Those winning eighth grade basketball awards went to: Elias Olmos, Most
Valuable Player; Andrew Lopez, Outstanding Offensive Player; Anthony Denogean, Outstanding Defensive Player; Jose Lira, Most Improved Player; and Adan Gutierrez, Most Intense Player. Rosie Tameron explained that this was the first year that there was a seventh grade and and eighth grade basketball team. This year seventh grade award winners are: Elizabeth Ochoa, Most Valuable Player; Maribel Castro, Most Improved Player; and Juliana Ortega, Most Improved Player. Eighth Grade award winners were: Ariana San Miguel, Most Valuable Player; Gabriella Salcido, Best Offensive Player; Silvia Longoria, Most Improved Player; and Ivie Lopez, Most Improved Player. Girls softball awards
went to: Gabby Salcido, Most Valuable Player; Keana Torres, Best Offensive Player; Ashley Guerra, Best Offensive Player; Ivie Lopez, Best Defensive Player; Phalicitee “Pinky” Thomas, Best Defensive Player; Elizabeth Ochoa, Most Improved Player; and Marcelina Jimenez, Most Improved Player. Baseball Awards were received by: Nicolaus “Gage” Cruz, Most Valuable Player; Elias Olmos, Outstanding Defensive Player; and Anthony D. Denogean, Outstanding Defensive Player. Each year the Diablo Award is given to a male and female student who exhibit athletic and academic excellence. This year the Diablo Award was given to Gabby Salcido and Elias Olmos.