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SPORTS & RECREATION
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 1, 2020
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Scottsdale players showcase skills at Under Armour Camp BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor
N
early 200 of the best football players from across Arizona and six other states flocked to Williams Field High School in Gilbert Sunday morning to showcase their skills as part of invite-only camp. The Under Armour All-America Camp Series made its first and only stop in the Valley on Feb. 23, inviting athletes from Arizona, Utah, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Nevada to partake in a day of position-specific drills being filmed to send off to college coaches across the country. It was also an evaluation period for those involved with the Under Armour All-America Game taking place every January. The East Valley was represented by 79 athletes in total, all from different schools across Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale and Ahwatukee. Saguaro, which finished as the run-
BRAM WALDEN
JARED WILLIAMS
QUINTIN SOMERVILLE
ner-up to Open Division champion last season, was depleted of several senior starters following the end of the 2019 season. However, as they have every year of head coach Jason Mohns’ tenure,
the Sabercats have once again reloaded with several key returning players and those looking to make a splash at the varsity level. Several of those players were among
those invited to the Under Armour AllAmerica Camp, including senior to be Bram Walden.
see CAMP page 39
Chaparral girls win 4th straight soccer title, boys fall to Brophy
BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor
M
embers of the Chaparral girls soccer program held up four fingers as cameras flashed around them. The girls, grouped near the home sideline on Campo Verde’s turf field, were in the midst of celebrating their fourth straight state championship, the second at the 6A level. Fueled by senior forward Isabella Struckman’s three goals, the top-ranked Firebirds defeated No. 7 Hamilton 4-0 to win the championship. All four of Chaparral’s championship wins have come at Campo Verde, the Firebirds’ “home away from home.”
The Chaparral girls soccer team won their fourth straight state title Wednesday night after the Firebirds defeated Hamilton 4-0 in the 6A championship. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff)
“All four of our titles have come on this field,” Struckman said. “The Campo Verde field, our home away from home.” Chaparral pressured Hamilton’s back line throughout the first half, challenging Huskies goalkeeper Asia Hart. Hart, however, remained poised in net. She racked up seven first half saves on nine total shots by Chaparral. Despite the Firebirds’ ability to dominate possession and numerous trips inside Hamilton’s box, the two teams remained scoreless through the first 40 minutes of play. “The girls came out with an intensity and drive, I’m just so proud of them,” Chaparral coach Robyn Carlson said. “We went at it
see CHAPARRAL page 39
