Best Of Preps 2019

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Tuesday Tuesday May May 7, 7, 2019 2019 •• WICK SierraCOMMUNICATIONS Vista Herald Special Sections

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Willie

BEST OF PREPS GUEST SPEAKER

diamondbacks Special Assistant to the President & CEO

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Bloomquist Willie Bloomquist ent er s h i s t h i r d season as a Special Assistant to D-backs P resident & CEO Derrick Hall after joining the front office in May 2016. In this role, Bloomquist assists H a l l a nd other departments throughout the baseba l l a nd bu si ness side of the organization, including working on-field with Minor League players, attending community events, meeting with corporate partners, interacting with season ticket holders and visiting D-backs Minor League affiliates.

Bloomquist became the first Arizona State Sun Devil to play for the D-backs and spent 3 seasons with the franchise from 2011-13, serving a key role on the 2011 National League West Championship team. In 225 games for the D-backs, he hit .289 with 36 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers, 63 RBI, 43 walks and 27 stolen bases. In the 2011 NL Division Series vs. Brewers, his

lone trip to the postseason, he hit .318 with 1 RBI and 3 stolen bases in 5 games. In 2012, he set career highs with a .302 average and 21 doubles.

During his 14-year Major League career, which included time with the Mariners (2002-08, ‘14-15), Royals (200910) and Reds (2010), Bloomquist hit .269 with 778 hits, 110 doubles, 18 home runs, 225 RBI and 133 stolen bases in 1,055 games.

T he Washing ton native played 3 seasons at ASU (1997-99) and earned 1999 Pac-10 Player of the Year honors as a junior. In 1998, he tied a College World Series single-game record with five

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AWARD DEDICATIONS THE JOHN ‘MAC” MCGLUMPHY WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Mac began teaching at Benson Union High School (BUHS), Benson, Ariz., in the fall of 1958 and taught History there until he retired in 1989. In the winter of 1959, “Mr. Mac” started the first rural school wrestling program in Arizona. He coached wrestling for the next 17 years, where he would coach over 175 wrestlers, 68 all-state wrestlers, and 22 state champions.

Five teams would place at state, with one state championship team in 1971.

hits in a game. He finished his college career with a .394 average before being drafted by the Mariners in the third round of the 1999 draft.

In December 2001, he graduated from ASU with a degree in management and in 2013, he was inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame.

A fan favorite in both Seattle and Arizona, Bloomquist has long been involved in the communities in which he played and was the D-backs’ 2012 Roberto Clemente nominee for his efforts with Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

He and his wife, Lisa, have four daughters, Natalie, Ava, Layla and Sydney.

Congratulations to all Best of Prep Winners and Nominees!

THE GERALD R. COPPOLA BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

He pitched for the University of Arizona baseball team and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education through the UA. He coached the Buena baseball team for 20 years, from 1963 to 1983. He continued teaching at Buena until his retirement in 1992. With a career coaching record of 271-139-1, Coppola coached his players to the Arizona state tournament several times.

In 1996, the Buena Varsity Baseball field was named Coppola Field in honor of the longtime coach. And in 2010, he was inducted into the Arizona Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

THE STEPHEN R. KURTZ FAN OF THE YEAR

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There’s no question Steve Kurtz bled Buena blue.

Known for his Buena school spirit, dedication to his family and community, as well as his passion for kids, the man deemed “the voice of the Colts”.

Kurtz first started calling Colt football games more than 45 years ago, and has also served as a PA announcer for the Sierra Vista high school’s basketball and baseball teams.

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athletes of the year

MALE ATHLETE NOMINEES Nathan Snider Alek Samaniego

BATTING AVERAGE: .680 RBIS: 47 ERA: .29

BASEBALL NOMINEES Emiliano Mata Diego Alan Ochoa Adrian Aguilera Rique Martin Robert Andrade Zekiel Esparza Kason Jacquez

bisbee high school

“I WANT TO BE THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE ANYONE WHEN I NEEDED IT.” He plays shortstop, which he has played for most of his career, and he’s the Pumas’ ace pitcher for the second consecutive season. He started pitching for Bisbee in his sophomore campaign. Vasquez says he prefers playing shortstop even though he’s been hard to touch as a pitcher.

In his five starts this season, he holds a 4-0 record, has given up 10 hits, has 35 strikeouts, seven walks and no earned runs allowed. Vasquez is one of 12 pitchers in Arizona who have not allowed a run this season. He has the most innings of work — 25.2 innings — of the 12.

Vasquez is the leader for the Bisbee High School baseball team on and off the field. It’s not because the 18-year-old is a senior

AWARD: FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

TO HAVE THAT MUCH

TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS

SUCCESS… I THOUGHT

I’D BE PRETTY GOOD BUT HAD NO IDEA I WOULD BE AMONG THE

ELITE EIGHT.” NOMINEES Brianna Guzman Douglas Yasmin Morales Bisbee Heaven Murphy Tombstone

or because of his powerful bat, though that helps. Rather, it’s because of the way he carries himself and how he’d rather focus on the team than himself.

“He is the leader of this team.

All of them have been playing together since they were 7, 8 and 9 years old,” Hammett said.

“They’ve looked up to him since they were at Naco Elementary School.”

Vasquez is the reigning 2A East Offensive Player of the year and he has picked up where he left off last season, even though he says he could have done more in the Pumas’ playoff run.

Last season he had a .591 batting average in 66 at-bats, with 39 hits, 35 RBI, and .603 on-base percentage.

During the last two summers, the Naco resident has played in a Sunday baseball league in Mexico. He says that playing across the border has benefited his game because he was facing faster pitches.

“Coming back here and playing, it’s like batting practice,” Vasquez said with a smile.

In the season leading up to baseball, Vasquez stayed in shape on the basketball court. He has played on the Bisbee High School basketball team all four years and was the only Puma to receive region recognition this year as he was named to the 2nd All-Region Team.

If he’s not in school maintaining his grades or on the field playing the game he loves, he can be found tutoring at one of the elementary schools. Vasquez works for the LEA P program and helps students in grades five through 12 with their academics.

He said he even tutors some of his teammates.

“I want to be there for people who need help because I didn’t have anyone when I needed it,” Vasquez said. “I don’t like seeing my teammates with their heads down. If they are, I go over and (try to lift them up).”

Emily Darwin, a three-sport student-athlete at Benson High School, is doing it again on the softball field.

The sophomore followed up an impressive freshman campaign by again topping the state RBI leaderboard, driving home 73 runs while belting 16 home runs to go with 62 runs scored. Those are the numbers following the just-completed regular season as the Bobcats are currently mired in their quest for a third consecutive 2A state softball championship.

It’s been an action-packed couple of seasons for Darwin.

Admittedly, she had no idea what to expect as a freshman, a first year she finished as one of three finalists for the American Family

“I ACTUALLY DIDN’T THINK I WAS GOING

darwin emily

benson high school

Douglas Douglas Buena Buena Buena Tombstone St. David

AWARDS: MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BASEBALL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Vasquez Eduardo

There’s no other place Eduardo Vasquez would rather be than on the baseball diamond.

“It’s the thing I love most,” he said. “The reason I play baseball is because it runs in my family.”

His confidence and cool demeanor on the diamond resonates with his teammates and coach — who he has known most of his life.

“This is where’s he’s comfortable,” said Bisbee baseball head coach Todd Hammett, pointing to the diamond at Warren Ballpark.

“Not in the limelight.”

Vasquez first took the field when he was 5 years old in Tucson. He’s been hooked ever since.

It helps that he and his brother used the sport to bond and continue to do so even though they are in separate states most of the time. The teenager says his brother helps him correct things and points out any mistake he makes so he can improve.

The senior has played on Bisbee’s varsity squad all four years.

Tombstone Douglas

Insurance All-USA Arizona High School Softball Player of the year.

“I actually didn’t think I was going to have that much success … I thought I’d be pretty good but had no idea I would be among the Elite Eight,” she said at the time.

That’s how Darwin summed up her freshman year.

This season, Darwin picked up where she left off. She posted a .565 batting average and again is helping to lead the Bobcats for what Bobcat Nation hopes is their third straight state softball championship.

Emily, who competes at a high level in volleyball and basketball as well, is the daughter of Jeff and Nancy Darwin of Benson.

EMILY DARWIN GETTING IT DONE ON THE DIAMOND SOPHOMORE BELTED 16 HOMERS, 73 RBI

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to the male and female athlete of the year!

Kino Bellinger

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Boys basketball athlete of the year NOMINEES

CAREER POINTS: 1485, BUENA HIGH SCHOOL RECORD CAREER 3-POINTERS MADE: 320 2018-2019 SEASON POINTS: 318

bellinger kino

Buena High School

“IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND IT’S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM AND BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT IT LIKE THAT AND

(COMPETE) AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL.”

Before Kino Bellinger put on a Colts uniform, Buena High boys basketball head coach Dave Glasgow knew he would be the school’s all-time leading scorer.

“He’s a shooter,” Glasgow said of Bellinger.

“I told Marc Matthews Kino would break his record.”

It’s official now. Bellinger is Buena’s all-time leading scorer in boys basketball.

“He’s (Glasgow) been saying it for a long time,” the teenager said. “I went along with it. I would just laugh and smile about it.”

On Tuesday during Buena’s game at Nogales, the 17-year-old broke the Sierra Vista school’s record for the most points scored in a player’s career. Bellinger knocked down a three-pointer from the corner to break Matthews’ previous record of 1,374 points, which he set in 2012.

“It means a lot to me, and it’s an honor to be a part of the program and being able to represent it like that and (compete) at such a high level,” Bellinger said. “My parents are happy.

“They were super excited when I got home.”

Although he was one point away from breaking the record as Bellinger and the Buena squad warmed up for their region matchup with Nogales, the guard had no idea he was within striking distance, as his head coach made sure to keep it a secret.

“I didn’t know until after the game,” Bellinger said. “Jose (Galvez) told me in the second

Golf athlete of the year NOMINEES Ethan Hightower RJ Wright Jay Zamora

Buena Bisbee Douglas

TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS

“HE HAS ALL THE PHYSICAL TOOLS. I THINK HE HAS A SHOT AT THE TOP-FIVE AT STATE.”

Grant Ward Nathan Snider Anthony Duran Christopher Acuna Eduardo Vasquez

Buena Tombstone Tombstone Douglas Bisbee

quarter, but I wasn’t really thinking about it.”

In an interview with the Herald/Review last year, Matthews said he knew Bellinger would break his record, and was hoping he would do so. Bellinger and the former record-holder knew each other from their time together at the local Boys & Girls Club.

Tuesday’s record-setting performance wasn’t the senior’s first in a Colts uniform.

His first appearance in the history books came his sophomore year.

In January 2017, he set a new high for three-pointers made in a single season when he drilled his 72nd trey of the 2016-17 campaign.

The previous record was set in 2012 when Kyani Dillard had 71.

Bellinger finished his sophomore campaign with 98 made three-pointers. That wasn’t the last time the Sierra Vista native would have his name inked in Buena High history. Last season, Bellinger broke two Buena records in the Colts’ game against Douglas.

He hit 11 three-pointers in three quarters, which was a new high. The previous record had been set in 1990.

He also knocked down 20 points in the quarter, which is the most any Buena player has scored in a single quarter.

In January, Bellinger became the fourth player in Buena boys basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points milestone.

Logan Adams

Logan Adams of Willcox High School finished 19th in the state golf championships as a sophomore and 14th last year as a junior. He routinely finishes in the top three during the season competitions. He has claimed the top spot in multiple area tournaments, including titles at Safford and Willcox. This coming year, he is eyeing a top 10 finish at the Division III tournament as a senior.

Adams led Willcox to their first team appearance at state in over 20 years during his freshman season and to a top-16 ranking as a sophomore.

His coach, Calvin King, says, “He has all the physical tools. I think he has a shot at the top five at state.”

Adams was unable to attend the Best of Preps ceremony, where he was awarded a medal for the top golfer, due to being at this year’s state competition.

adams logan

willcox high school

Arista Bohnas NOMINEES Paulette Vildosola Holly James Kay Lee Merrill

Girls Tennis athlete of the year

Douglas Buena Benson

The first time Arista Bohnas played tennis was her first practice two years ago.

Now a senior, Bohnas joined the tennis team her junior year after her volleyball coach and the school’s tennis coach, Dan Romero, convinced her to join the squad. Bohnas credits her athleticism for her ability to learn and pick up the game in a timely fashion.

In just her second season, she finished the year with a 22-3 overall record, losing just one singles match and two doubles matches.

“I’m really committed to practice,” she said. “I really tried to get the right form and technique.”

Bohnas admits it was the extra time she put into the sport outside of the team’s practices that allowed her to have the success she has had in the last two years.

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“I’M REALLY COMMITTED TO PRACTICE. I REALLY TRIED TO GET THE RIGHT FORM AND TECHNIQUE.” Tombstone girls tennis qualified as a team for the state playoffs the last two seasons.

The 2017 team, which included Bohnas, was the first team in the school’s history to make the state playoffs. That team finished 10-3 overall. This year’s team was 11-1, with their only loss coming to the Gregory School on April 3.

Bohnas says she likes that tennis is an individual sport as well as a team sport, since she has only played team sports. She says it’s less pressure because “you’re winning for yourself” rather than others being affect-

TEAM of the year NOMINEES Tombstone Football Buena Girls Basketball Douglas Boys Soccer

bohnas arista

Tombstone High school

OVERALL RECORD: 22-3 SINGLES: 11-2 DOUBLES: 11-1

BENSON SOFTBALL BACK TO BACK 2A STATE CHAMPIONS FINISHED THE 2019 REGULAR SEASON 18-0 AND NO. 1 TEAM IN THE CONFERENCE

softball bobcats

benson high school

THE BOBCATS ARE IMPOSING ENOUGH WITHOUT THE ADDED INCENTIVE FOR THE

accomplishing that. Sherman’s 26 wins and 270 strikeouts headed into state tournament play were tops in the state, regardless of division, while carrying a 1.04 earned run average. Sherman has also tossed three no-hitters and three perfect games this year.

S ophomore Emi ly Da r w i n i s again the state leader in RBIs with 73, while Abby Workman was fifth with 56. Darwin has 16 homers and is tops in runs scored with 62. The conference leaderboards read like a Bobcats’ who’s who.

The Bobcats are: Mikayla Wales,

A ly Fenn, Jamie Barney, Katie Sherman, Brooklynne Pullis, Abby Work m a n, Taylor Fen n, Sh aylin Taylor, Emily Darwin, Teagan Metheney, Li ly Speer, Ashlynn Poulsen, Kayla Sherman and Letty Lopez. The Bobcats are coached by Brittney Batten. She is assisted by Ernie Batten, Bert Cardenas and Jeff Darwin.

In four seasons, the five seniors - Barney, Fenn, Sherman, Wales and Workman - have been a part of 115 Benson wins, two state titles and a state final four appearance as freshmen in 2016.

THREEPEAT. IT’S SOMETHING THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AT THE CONCLUSION OF LAST YEAR’S

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS

Solidly impressive, in all aspects of the game, is about the only way to characterize the Benson Bobcats on the softball diamond.

Loaded with individual talent, the Bobcats’ team-first approach, those seeds planted back in Little League and middle school softball continue to pay dividends for Benson High School, whose chase for a third consecutive 2A state softball championship begins now in earnest.

As of this writing, the top ranked Bobcats are mired in the postseason, the favorite to perform the Three-Peat. They can beat you a variety of ways and, when firing on all cylinders, not many do it better. Built around stellar pitching, the Bobcats can seamlessly apply an effective short game, up and down the order, with gasp - eliciti ng, eyebrow-raisi ng power, backed by fundamentally solid and formidable defense.

The Bobcats are imposing enough without the added incentive for the Three-Peat. It’s something they were talking about at the conclusion of last year’s championship game.

The Bobcats are bolstered by nearly untouchable pitching; senior ace Katie Sherman is on track for 100 career high school wins in the circle and would join former Benson great Megan Ellsworth in

ed by her performance.

During her time at Tombstone, Bohnas has played on the volleyball team since her freshman year and played on the basketball team for two years. She was one of six seniors to lead the Yellow Jacket volleyball team to their first playoff appearance in three years.

Bohnas will attend Northern Arizona University in the fall upon graduating from Tombstone this month. She received an academic scholarship to the school in Flagstaff. Bohnas will enter as an exploratory major and, as of now, intends to ultimately major in business.

Bohnas says she is excited for her next chapter.

When asked what advice she has for athletes at or entering Tombstone, she encourages students not to get discouraged if they don’t play on a varsity team right away and be persistent.

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Mateo Borrego NOMINEES

Miguel Urcadez Brandon Oliveras Konnor Cormier Andy Ortiz

Bisbee Bisbee Douglas Douglas

Boys cross country athlete of the year

7TH PLACE FINISH AT 2018 STATE MEET WITH A TIME 16:27.5 PERSONAL RECORD: 15:44.0 ON 10/16/19 AT JUSTIN PREVATTE CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC Some run for fun, others to stay in shape.

Then there’s Mateo Borrego, who runs for the love of the sport and the bond he has with his teammates.

The Buena High School senior was first introduced to cross-country when he watched his older cousin compete while Borrego was in middle school.

“I thought it was really cool,” Borrego said.

“I wasn’t sure my freshman year (if I wanted to join the team), and then once I got involved, I was hooked from the beginning, because it was just intoxicating being around these people — just ‘cause it was such a refreshing crowd.

“They weren't really like everyone else. It was just somewhere I could belong.”

The group of people and runners he has competed against and been teammates with is one of the main reasons he has continued to run through the desert.

“There’s a great group of guys involved, and coach Bristow is the greatest,” Borrego said.

“You kinda just spend so much time together, you become really close friends.”

The Sierra Vista native is one of three seniors on this year’s squad. The elder Colt is using what his predecessors showed him and hoping to instill those qualities into his younger teammates.

Although he is one of the oldest members on the team, Borrego says he’s still learning about

the sport and life lessons from his coach, Roger Bristow. In fact, he encourages athletes to join cross-country because it’s a way to better yourself, even if you don’t realize it.

“If they’re looking to improve themselves in a way without really recognizing they’re doing it, this is the way to do it. ‘Cause you’re improving your life ‘cause you’re learning a lot of valuable lessons with coach Bristow because he makes you think about what you’re doing with your life.

“And when you start thinking about it, you tend to just be (a) better (person).”

While he is absorbing knowledge at practice, come race day, Borrego says he’s emptying his mind when he is running. He uses the time to self-reflect and focus on what is in front of him.

“For us, it’s an only (3 miles) because it goes by fast — faster than you think,” Borrego said.

“You’re focused on catching the guy in front of you. If you pass him, then it’s on catching the next guy.

“And if you’re first, then it’s just go faster.”

People often think you have to be able to run long distance all the time to be able to compete in cross-country, but Borrego dispels that myth and the tale of the runner’s high.

In the summer, the team runs a higher mileage to build up its endurance while during the season they run shorter distances to work on their speed.

TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS

Tyler Cepero

Being a natural doesn’t mean less work.

Tombstone High School senior Tyler Cepero proves that point to his teammates and peers.

Cepero is far and away the school’s best javelin thrower, but that doesn’t stop him from training every day, even on his own time. The 18-year-old broke Tombstone’s javelin record last year at the Marana Invitational and was determined to break his own record this season.

“I knew I had more work to come,” Cepero said.

“I didn’t want to stop there, so I just kinda, like, took it how it was. It was just a record, so I just kept working.”

On March 2 at the Ted James Invitational hosted by Douglas High School, and the first javelin event of the season, he broke the school record once again. This time with a throw of 145 feet, 6 inches.

“It’s pretty cool, actually (being in the THS record book),” Cepero said. “Most of the records here are pretty old and to have a newer one is kinda cool to look at.”

Cepero first started throwing the javelin his sophomore year when his coach, Jake Winslow, asked in the team meeting who was interested in the event.

“It kind of started out as a joke,” he said. “(Winslow) kind of joked around and was like, ‘Who wants to try the javelin?’ I would always raise my hand. He just brought it out one day and it came kind of natural.”

“It feels kind of, like, primal,” he said. “People used to use spears to hunt and stuff like that, so it feels kind of like a primal instinct.”

Prior to adding the javelin to his track resume of the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters, Cepero didn’t participate in any of the throwing events. He admits he threw the discus in practice

borrego mateo

Buena High School

“I WASN’T SURE MY FRESHMAN YEAR (IF I WANTED TO JOIN THE TEAM), AND THEN ONCE I GOT INVOLVED, I WAS HOOKED FROM THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST INTOXICATING BEING AROUND THESE PEOPLE — JUST ‘CAUSE IT WAS SUCH A REFRESHING CROWD.

boys track athlete of the year

NOMINEES Troy Bently Andy Richardson Geoffrey Gribble Gabriel Mungarro Adrian Teso Elian Villasenor

Buena Buena Bisbee Bisbee Benson Douglas

once and it “wasn’t pretty,” but that didn’t deter the teenager from testing his strength again, which has resulted in him receiving offers to continue his athletic endeavors in college.

“He’s an elite thrower right now. Period,” Winslow said. “He’s put in the work to improve each year (and) he has a lot more in the tank.”

Cepero is the 22nd-ranked boys javelin thrower in the state of Arizona and hopes to break the 170-foot mark, which his coach is confident he can do.

His success wouldn’t have been discovered if it weren’t for his older brother, Kyle, who has graduated from Tombstone High School. In sixth grade, Cepero tried out for track because Kyle Cepero tried it in high school and really enjoyed it.

“We’d always hang out with each other, you know, and goof around,” Cepero said. “He would always be the person I’d look up to and mirror his image. He played basketball. I play basketball. He ran cross country in high school, I ran cross country in middle school. He ran track. I run track.”

“There’s a lot of hard work that comes with success,” he said. “It’s part of the process.”

BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD FOR JAVELIN THREE TIMES, TWICE THIS PAST SEASON. HIS FARTHEST THROW ITS 145 FEET 6 INCHES.

cepero tyler

Tombstone High school

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Cheer/dance athletes of the year NOMINEES Payton Barry Julissa Rubio Alexandria Rife Desirey Sullivan

Douglas High School’s co-ed spiritline team of Litzy Arevalo, Nayeli Moreno and Elian Villasenor placed second at the Arizona Interscholastic Association Spiritline State Championships that were held in Phoenix on Saturday, Feb. 2.

The co-ed stunt competition consists of an action packed one-minute routine of back to back stunts done to music.

“Their routine consisted of a walk-up extended lib, heel stretch, cupie, arabesque and several different entries into their stunts all to rock and roll themed music,” DHS coach Andrea Barallardos said.

“They improved their routine from basic level at qualifiers to super elite level at state. They scored 86.3 out of 100 which is higher than the all of the teams at qualifiers.”

The coach said her team went into the state c omp et it ion ra n ke d sixth.

“These athletes put in a lot of work since

Bisbee Bisbee Buena Tombstone

Dec. 1 and it paid off,” she said. “To be at the top it takes both hard work and dedication. I am very proud of their accomplishment.”

Moreno is a three-year varsity athlete. Her position is flyer which is the top person in the stunt.

“It is her job to wow the crowd and audiences with her skill and performance,” Coach Barallardos said. “In those three years she led us to a third-place finish at nationals as a freshman and a runner up title this past season.

Every year she qualified for state in coed cheer or coed partner stunt.”

The coach describes Nayeli as a very talented stunter, jumper, and gymnast.

“Her ability grew each year and (she) is now considered an elite athlete,” her coach said.

“She is a driven young lady and would have been able to compete at the collegiate level if it were not for her dreams to be in the Air Force.

We all have athletes that

DHS Cheer trio

Arevalo, Moreno, Villasenor Douglas High School are talented but not all are driven. Nayeli is truly driven. She strives to be her best each day.

She gave me 100 percent at practice and on the mat. She will definitely be remembered as one of my best all time athletes.”

Nayeli said she enjoyed working with her teammates.

“It was hard, it was intense but it was worth it when we took second,” she said. “I love being a

flyer. I trust my team so I know they are going to catch me if I ever fell.”

A reva lo i s a l so a three-year varsity athlete. Her position is base which is the person on the bottom of the stunt responsible for strength and stability, said her coach.

“In the three years she was on the team she led us to a third-place finish at nationals and runner up title this year. She helped the

team qualify for state all three years as a varsity athlete. Lizty was my absolute best base.

No matter which base position I put her in she excelled. She is very strong and has quick reaction time which increases the safety of the flyer. Aside from being an amazing athlete she is a great person. You will not find an athlete that is as easy going, compassionate, and motivated as her. She gets along with every one she comes in contact with and is extremely easy to coach. She is an all-over great athlete.”

Unbeknown to her t e a m m at e s A r eva lo cheered the entire season with a cyst in her knee which Villasenor said he would unknowingly hit from time to time. She waited however until after the season to tell her teammates about her injury.

Villasenor is a first year spiritline athlete and in his first year doing partner stunt he qualified for state.

“He worked hou rs per week which paid off with a runner up title at the State Champion-

ships this year,” said his coach. “He is definitely collegiate ready and has been thinking of competing at that level in the future. Elian is a great athlete, takes care of his body and mind equally.”

The coach added it is difficult enough to lift weights above your head and hold them there for extended period of time.

“Imagine how difficult if the weight you are li fting is a 115 pound person,” she said.

Elian describes the preparation for state as “insane” adding the preparation he went through was something he never expected.

He says he was happy he did join cheerleading and is very appreciative to Coach Barallardos for giving him this opportunity and to Nayeli and Litzey for their support and motivation.

Villasenor plans on attending Arizona State University this fall.

He says he is considering trying for the ASU cheer squad. Arevalo plans on pursuing a career in nursing.

TOOK 2ND PLACE AT THE CO-ED STUNT COMPETITION

TUESDAY TUESDAY MAY MAY 7, 7, 2019 2019 •• WICK SIERRACOMMUNICATIONS VISTA HERALD SPECIAL SECTIONS

Aliana Vega Gallego Aliana Vega Gallego wishes she had started wrestling years ago instead of waiting until she was a junior.

Two years ago, when the Arizona Interscholastic Association made female wrestling a sanctioned sport, Vega Gallego took advantage of the opportunity and joined the Douglas High School wrestling team coached

by Richard Ross. Prior to the AIA sanctioning, the sport there had been club level that had its own state tournament.

Aliana has played junior varsity football, powder puff football, basketball and thrown the shot put and discus in track. She said wrestling was something different and something that intrigued her so she gave it a shot coming out for the first time as a junior.

“Right away I fell in love with the sport,” she said. “There’s just something about it.”

This past year she posted a 19-14 record against both male and female wrestlers, and won the 160-pound weight class at the 4A female sectional tournament becoming the first Lady Bulldog wrestler to have her name placed on Sectional Champions Wall in the DHS wrestling room. In

WON THE 160-POUND WEIGHT CLASS AT DIVISION 1 SECTION 3 REGIONAL DOUGLAS’ FIRST FEMALE REGIONAL CHAMPION addition, she was named the Lady Bulldogs Outstanding Wrestler this past year.

Coach Ross describes Aliana as an all-around great individual.

“She works hard,” he said. “Whatever she decides, she will do her best always; (she) will make our community proud.”

Vega Ga l lego ad mits she was somewhat surprised that she was able to have the success she did this past year on the mat, winning the sectional title for her weight class.

She credits that first year of learning from her coaches and growing on the mat as a major factor in her having the success she did this past year.

“I kind of surprised myself,” she said of winning the sectional championship for her weight class this past year. “I knew I could do it if I put in the hard work, but to actually go

Female wrestling athlete of the year NOMINEES Glenda Cosgrove Jasmine Jacquay Kate Fellows

Bisbee Tombstone Buena

out and do it kind of surprised me.”

State did not quite go as well as she would have liked and she was eliminated earlier than she would have liked.

“It was a good experience,” she said. “I know I could have done better.”

Looking back on her career at DHS, Aliana feels that if she would have had that additional year of wrestling, she might have been able to do better than what she did this past year.

Gallego, who will graduate from Douglas High School this month, has accepted a wrestling scholarship to Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona. She becomes the second female wrestler from DHS to take her skills

Gallego Aliana

Bisbee High School

to the next level.

“I’m so appreciative that in the little time that because of wrest li ng I had I got to experience something new; something that I have found out I really enjoy,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the next chapter in my life will bring.”

Clayson Goodwin boys wrestling athlete of the year

Winning. That’s what drives Clayson Goodwin.

The Benson High School junior won his third Arizona state wrestling championship in as many attempts in February.

The Division IV trifecta enables Clayson to join Alvaro Fenn as Benson High School’s only three-time state champions, and he hopes to be alongside Fenn as the only four-time champ when all is said and done in 2020.

It would be hard to bet against.

In three high school seasons, Clayson has amassed an impressive 162-win count against nine defeats, seven of which came his freshman year. He is 114-2 over the last two seasons, while posting the 56-1 record this year.

It’s a simple formula for Clayson.

“I don’t ever want to be last,” he said, acknowledging the three-for-three state titles as a “big accomplishment.”

He has been wrestling since seventh grade, and won his first Arizona state championship as an eighth-grader in 2016. He is Benson Middle School’s first-ever state champ.

Clayson, 17, appears more than comfortable on the mat. His aim is to simplify. During matches, Clayson crouches into a football-like three-point stance, then tears into his opponent.

“I want to win. I don’t think much … I just go into wrestling mode, I focus on what I need to do,” he said.

The 2019 championship came at a third weight class. As a freshman in 2017, he wrestled out of the 182-pound weight class. He finished that season at 48-7. As a sophomore, at 58-1, he won the title at 195. He grappled out of the 220-pound class in 2019.

“I love the challenge,” he answered, in re-

3TIME STATE WRESTLING CHAMP

sponse to a question on what drives his relentless pursuit. Away from the mat he “loves” hunting.

The mat accolades are not lost on Clayson’s parents, Marshall and Michelle Goodwin. But they also recognize the need for perspective.

“It’s been an amazing road,” said Michelle. “He has been one that if he really sets his mind to something he can do it… Wrestling is really influenced by your mind. If his mind is not in the right place it shows, so we do try and give him days off to hunt, ride and really just de-stress during the season. We are obviously beyond proud of him.”

Success has not come without some angst.

“I worry every year about the stress of everyone knowing and watching to see if he can do it again, and I see how devastating losing that can be,” Michelle said. “Witnessing those tears are hard. This sport is like no other, that’s why I like it most. You, as a wrestler, determine your fate…

This sport mentally challenges kids to push themselves. What they do is hard.”

Benson wrestling coach Ben Katshor marveled at the accomplishments and what lies ahead.

“Clayson is an amazing athlete. He has so much talent and is a constant in our lineup and program,” said Katshor, recognizing the recent three-peat. “He is in the process of doing something no one has done in 40 years and which has only happened once before. …This year he was a lot more coachable and willing to try new things.

Next year we look at him being our leader and captain. Every year he elevates himself and motivates himself right before state. He meets tough competition head on and I think it’s what keeps him motivated and working hard.”

Brianna Guzman Girls soccer athlete of the year

douglas high school

guzman briana

Tombstone Douglas Douglas

“IT’S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF DHS SOCCER. I FEEL I GREW A LOT AS A PLAYER. I HAD A LOT OF FUN. THE TEAM WE HAD THIS PAST YEAR WAS LIKE FAMILY, WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER AND GOT ALONG REALLY WELL. IT WAS AN AMAZING GROUP TO BE AROUND.”

goodwin clayson

benson high school

NOMINEES Manaia Fruean Mario Lopez Christian Contreras David Ens Damian Montiel Sergio Zuniga Caiden Hall

Buena Buena Bisbee Benson Douglas Douglas Willcox

For four years, Brianna Guzman has been known as the heart and soul of the Lady Bulldogs’ defense, never missing a game.

As goalie for Douglas, rarely did a ball get past her.

In 2017-18 she was named the Gila Region’s Player of the Year. This past year, she was named the Gila Region’s Defensive Player of the Year.

In the past two years, she has been the Gila Region’s top goalie, giving up 29 total goals, recording 23 shutouts and had 168 saves. This year she also achieved All-State All-Academic Honorable Mention honors with her 3.8 GPA. Her coach, Mario Romero, describes her as quiet leader and co-captain who leads by example.

“She never criticized her teammates and always encouraged them,” he said. “She was dedicated and could always be counted on to attend practice and never missed a game in her four years with the Lady Bulldogs.”

“It’s been an honor to be a part of DHS soccer,” Guzman said, looking back on her career. “I feel I grew a lot as a player. I had a lot of fun. The team we had this past year was like family. We all worked together and got along really well. It was an amazing group to be around.”

She credits her coaches, Romero and his assistant Diego Guerrero, for pushing and motivating her to be at the level she is at now.

Guzman said there is a lot of pressure playing goalie because it’s your job to keep the ball out of the net and to anticipate the shot that’s coming.

She adds that she likes the pressure, however, and the challenge of knowing what’s at stake.

“When we played Salpointe, they had over 30 shots and I had 30 saves that night,” she said. “It was intense.”

Guzman will be keeping her talents close to home the next two years, accepting an athletic scholarship to Cochise College, where she will play goalie for the Lady Apaches.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of being a goalie at the college level,” she said. “It’s going to be fun and exciting.”

TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS

NOMINEES Victoria Maxwell Vanessa Galindo Jana Romero

11

12

Ximena Iniguez It was Senior Night for Ximena and her teammates, who were playing their last home game of their high school careers, hosting a Palo Verde team that had beaten them by 29 points several weeks before in Tucson.

Going into the game, Iniguez had 999 career points and needed just one basket to surpass the 1,000-point mark, something only a select few Lady Bulldog basketball players have ever achieved.

Palo Verde was very aware of what was happening and had a box-and-one defense on Iniguez to start the game.

Feeling the pressure, Ximena rushed some shots early on, only to see them fall short of the basket. Finally, with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter, she stole the ball from a Palo Verde player, broke toward the basket and scored a lay-up, giving her 1,001 career points while also tying the game at 11.

Play was temporarily halted as Iniguez celebrated with her teammates and her coach, Clint Hill, presented her with a basketball shirt commemorating the accomplishment.

Douglas went on to defeat Palo Verde 48-46, making the evening even more memorable.

When the game was over, Iniguez said it felt great knowing she had surpassed the 1,000-point mark. She admitted she was thinking about getting that shot early in the game and acknowledged she rushed a couple of

Iniguez Ximena

FIRST TEAM ALL-GILA REGION. ARIZONA ALL-ACADEMIC GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM FIRST TEAM DIVISIONS 1-4 WITH A 4.0 GPA FINISHED WITH 1,014 CAREER POINTS AT DHS

four seasons.

“I couldn’t have done what I did had it not been for the support of my teammates,” she said.

She says, looking back on her four years at DHS, it’s hard to believe it’s over, as are her days of playing competitive basketball. She says she will forever remember that special night in February when she surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her high school career.

Ximena has accepted a full-ride academic scholarship to Arizona State University, where she will major in kinesiology.

Douglas High School

shots she might not have otherwise attempted.

“When I finally did get my shot and it went in, it was a great feeling,” she said. “I was so happy to be able to do it in front of my family and friends.”

Ximena has been running the point guard position on the Lady Bulldogs the past four years.

“She started as a freshman,” Coach Hill said. “She’s worked hard; she’s always in the gym. She’s been coached by a lot of different people. All those

people had a lot to do with her success. It’s going to be hard to replace her next year. … I wish her only the best in life. I know she will succeed in whatever she chooses to do.”

The outgoing senior said she really enjoyed being able to play for Coach Hill and she is going to miss him and her teammates just about as much as they are going to miss her.

Iniguez thanked all those who supported not only her, but also the rest of the team over the course of the last

Girls basketball ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES Lydia Griffith Jaslyn Booker Alani Chapman Yasmin Morales Sydney Klump Emily Darwin

Buena Buena Bisbee Bisbee Willcox Benson

TUESDAY TUESDAY MAY MAY 7, 7, 2019 2019 •• WICK SIERRACOMMUNICATIONS VISTA HERALD SPECIAL SECTIONS

Matthew Jusino For nine years, Matthew Jusino has protected quarterbacks as a guard.

Eight of those years, his parents have been on guard in the stands.

When Matthew was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, which came as a shock to his parents Michael and Millie Jusino.

“I just noticed Matthew was going to the bathroom a lot and being very thirsty,” Millie said. “He had blurred vision, and just a couple things to me were signs of having diabetes. Because I worked in the medical field, I kind of know these signs, and didn’t know the different types obviously until he was diagnosed.

“It was a tough time for us.”

At the time, Matthew’s blood sugar was in the high 400s, which prompted a trip to Tucson Medical Center for treatment and a four day stay.

“He was approaching ketoacidosis, which is life threatening and where the blood fills in with ketones and basically stops the organs from working,” Michael said.

Devin Thurber, Type 1 diabetes coordinator and pediatric nurse practitioner at Chiricahua Medical Center, said there isn’t a known cause for Type 1 diabetes. A cold or broken bone can cause the autoimmune disease to attack the pancreas and prevent it from making insulin.

“Kids with Type 1 have really sensitive blood sugar,” she said. “It’s like a roller coaster.”

Type 1 diabetes is often confused with Type 2, which can be treated

with diet and exercise. There is no cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Despite the ups and downs, Matthew didn’t want to give up football, and his parents weren’t going to make him.

“I don’t want to limit him,” Michael said. “Whatever he wants to do, we’re not going to let diabetes control us; we’re going to control it.”

Early on, Michael and Millie were in the dark when it came to Matthew’s blood sugar levels while he was on the field but now with the junior’s continuous glucose monitor (CGM ) he, his parents and Buena High School athletic trainer Wesley Wood can monitor Matthew’s blood sugar levels on their phones at all times.

Matthew wears the CGM on his lower abdomen and keeps an iPhone in an Otterbox case in his pads so he and his supporters can keep an eye on his levels while he’s on the field.

“It's just right by the thigh pad and it fits perfectly,” the 16-year-old said.

“It looks nothing more than a thigh pad. It doesn’t stick out, it’s just right there.”

In addition to monitoring his levels Matthew has learned to trust his body’s warning signs. When he has a feeling he looks to see if he needs a sip of Gatorade or needs to correct his numbers with insulin.

“It takes a lot of patience and time to learn to manage their blood sugar,” Thurber said. “Once you can get a handle on it you can do whatever you

The courage award ATHLETE want to do.”

This was a scary lesson Matthew had to learn the hard way. Midway the 2017 football season, Matthew was hospitalized because he wasn’t staying on top of his blood sugar checks.

“There were those days of no blood sugar checks that ended up hurting me in the end because I basically sat out the rest of the season,” Matthew said. “Everything now is so different than last year, especially because I’m a starter.”

Despite the scare, Matthew’s love of football — a sport that helped him grow as a person and introduced him to many of the friends he has now — never faded.

“If I didn’t go into high school ball, I wouldn’t have some of the friends I have now,” Matthew said. “I’ve never wanted to stop. I’ve always pushed through.”

His teammates, coaches, friends and acquaintances know about his diagnosis. Matthew doesn’t want to keep his diabetes a secret because others can benefit from it. “(Being open about Type 1) not only helps myself, but it helps the people around me just feel more comfortable about it,” Matthew said. “Not always having to worry (my parents) or

Jusino Matthew

Buena High School

worry my friends or my friend’s parents makes stuff easier.”

The support Matthew has from his friends, coaches, teachers and the community gives Millie and Michael peace of mind, and allows them to let Matthew act on his own.

“It gives me a sense of freedom of knowing they’ll be supportive of whatever I do,” Matthew said. “Just knowing that they’ll be there for me to help me with whatever I need just gives me security.”

13

s n o i t a l u t a r Cong to our Sportsmanship Award Winner!

Keep up the hard work to all Best of Prep 2019 Award Winners and Nominees!

154875

1718 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 520-458-1835 • www.CochiseKidsDDS.com

Tuesday May 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS Tuesday May 7, 2019 • Sierra Vista Herald Special Sections

C CHISE CHILDREN’S DENTAL CENTER

14

Brynn Lumpkin

Girls track athlete of the year

bisbee high school

100 METERS: 13.43 PR 200 METERS: 26.80 PR 100M HURDLES: 19.21 PR 300M HURDLES: 47.84 PR POLE VAULT: 8’ 9” PR

Bisbee High School sophomore Brynn Lumpkin doesn’t worry about reaching the automatic qualifying time for the state track meet during the season, instead she concentrated on insuring she has the best possible placement at the final race.

Lumpkin as qualified for this year’s state meet at Mesa Community College in five events: the pole vault, 300-meter hurdles, 200 -meters, 100 -meters and 10 0 -meter hurdles. She said she won’t compete in all five as she will stick to her three main events — the pole vault, 300-meter hurdles and 200-meters.

“I was expecting (to qualify for state) because the division 4 times aren’t hard to get,” Lu mpkin said. “I’m happy about it, obviously.”

She first started running track in fifth grade after being introduced to the sport because her parents were track athletes. The teenager says she likes track because it’s a competitive sport and because it’s primarily an individual sport.

“I think the experience of (track) is fun, like going on trips with the team and staying at the same hotel for state,”

Lumpkin Brynn

NOMINEES Raelynn Salazar Sydney Klump Allena Rowland

Dougas Willcox Buena

TUESDAY TUESDAY MAY MAY 7, 7, 2019 2019 •• WICK SIERRACOMMUNICATIONS VISTA HERALD SPECIAL SECTIONS

Kiera Lumpkin Running long distances is a walk in the park for Bisbee High School sophomore Kiera Lumpkin.

She set a personal record as a freshman, finished ninth at the state race this past fall and still has two more seasons to run for the Pumas.

“I like cross country better because it’s easier for me,” Lumpkin said. “I’m more of a distance runner and I like going off-road.”

B i s b e e d i d n’ t h a v e e n o u g h f e m a l e cross-country runners to qualify or receive a team score at the state race, but that didn’t stop Lumpkin from pushing the pace. Going into the race she thought she had a good chance of finishing 15th or 16th, but during the races she found herself amongst the lead group. She said it made her feel good about herself to finish as high she did.

When cross-country season comes to an end, she transitions into soccer mode. The sophomore said she has been playing soccer since the sixth grade so it’s a sport she has grown to love. Lumpkin played basketball her freshman year but chose not to this past season to give her body a break before track season.

Lumpkin has qualified for the pole vault at this year’s state track meet. She said it was expected for her to qualify for the state meet as a freshman and again this year. She is one of three girls on Bisbee’s track team this year.

Although the team is small, they have a lot of heart. Lumpkin said people don’t expect much from Bisbee because it’s a small town, so when she suits up in her Bisbee uniform, no matter the sport, she’s on a mission to prove Bisbee is a team to beat and wants to do the best she can.

Lumpkin said. “We are all really close. It’s nice because we have each other’s backs.”

Bisbee’s girls track team consists of three athletes, including Brynn. Her twin sister Kiera is also on the team.

Lumpin said it’s nice having her sister on the team because they are competitive with one another and push each other to become better.

In the seasons leading up to track and field Lumpkin is on Bisbee’s cross-country and basketball teams. She also plays soccer for Coronado Athletic Club when she’s not in red or gray.

“With basketball it is nice to be on a team a team and make connections,” Lumpkin said. “I prefer shorter distances. You don’t have to pace yourself.”

She said running long distances is a mental test in addition to a physical challenge because a runner has to stay focused.

“I feel like it can be hard in longer races mentally and in shorter races not as much of is how mentally through you are, it’s more physical,” she said.

Lumpkin and her teammates will compete in the preliminary rounds of the state meet on May 3 in Mesa.

Girls cross country athlete of the year

NOMINEES Paige Mariscal Kalia Hart Akira Jones

Douglas Buena St David

“I’M MORE OF A DISTANCE RUNNER AND I LIKE GOING OFF ROAD.”

PERSONAL BEST: 20:09 set 9/29/17 SEASON BEST: 20:28 set 10/16/18 FINISHED NINTH at 2018 state race

Lumpkin kiera

bisbee high school

heaven Murphy Being a Yellow Jacket is in Heaven Murphy’s blood.

The 17-year-old attends Tombstone High School, like her parents and grandparents did before her, although she has lived in Sierra Vista her entire life.

“My family has definitely encouraged and helped me continue playing,” Murphy said.

“This school, as little as it is, has given me a lot of opportunities and has opened so many new doors for me.”

Murphy plays volleyball and tennis for her high school. She has also played basketball and ran track for Tombstone during her more than three years.

“It’s nice to see she’s stuck with volleyball,” said Tombstone teacher as well as Murphy’s volleyball and tennis coach said. “She watched the high school team since she was in junior high. This year I couldn’t ask for better leadership from her. She really leads the team.”

The senior began playing volleyball when she was in fifth grade and continued to perfect her craft through camps at the University of Arizona over the years.

“I like just working as a team and I just fell in love with the sport itself — and bont being afraid to hit the ground and not being afraid to just (react),” Murphy said. “I’m passionate about volleyball.”

She credits her family support for her success and growth in athletics and in the classroom.

“Both my sets of grandparents are incredible people,” she said “... They are are always there.

They’re my rock.”

“My dad doesn’t live here but he is a huge part of my life still. I feel like he’s one of the rare people who understands me. My mom too.

She’s very understanding and just a loving women. I’m just thankful for my entire family.

They are a huge support group for me.”

In the spring Murphy decided to stray away from track to play tennis for the Yellow Jackets and her volleyball coach.

“He’s (Romero) been our coach but he’s like, I don’t know, hes like out dad almost here at Tombstone,” Murphy said. “He’s someone we

15

Volleyball athlete of the year

Sportsmanship award can joke around with but he’s still strict when he needs to be.”

Murphy qualified with her doubles partner for the state tournament. The team participated in the postseason for the first time in school’s history. She said she had never played tennis before the spring of 2018 but fell in love with the sport by the end of the season.

“Besides her athletic prowess, she excels in the classroom,” Daniel Wood wrote in his nomination of Murphy. “Since her freshman year and even before she entered high school she has competed and won many regional and state science fair competitions. Last year she was recognized by Governor Ducey as one of the top five high school innovators of the year award.”

Murphy has created two devices for the science fairs she has competed in. One was to a device to remind drivers of children and dogs in the car to prevent them from being left in the vehicles. The second device she created was an automatic break fros strollers, wheelchairs and other mobile units so the stop once hands are taken off of them.

Although English and language arts are her favorite subjects Murphy wants to study computer science in college. She said so far she has been accepted to Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona and Grand Canyon University.

“I enjoy coding and things like that,” Murphy said. “With the devices and stuff that I made that’s one my favorite hobbies.”

Murphy hopes to venture out of the city and state she has called home her entire life for a new experience.

“I want to explore and I want have adventures,” Murphy said. “I’m excited for the little journey ahead.”

Murphy Heaven

Tombstone High school

NOMINEES Victoria Lopez Tazlina Shake Jimena Valdez Madison Green Kimberly Salazar Yasmin Morales Emily Darwin Jaylin Richardson

Bisbee Bisbee Bisbee Douglas Douglas Bisbee Benson St David

Audrey Palma fan of the year

Audrey

the sport or school activity, odds are she will be there cheering on her beloved Bobcats.

Her advice to today’s Benson students: “Make plans for your future, stick to it and remember, ‘Team has to work together to win together – it takes more than one to accomplish goals and do your very best.’ ” With regard to her adopted hometown: “I love all the people of Benson; they are like a big family,” she said.

Palma was honored last year by the high school students who recognized her as their Homecoming Parade Marshal.

So, when the band kicks up the Fight Song next football season as the community is settled into the Jerry P. Lee Athletics Complex and the Benson Bobcats are ready to engage the opposition on the gridiron, odds are Audrey Palma will be right there, front and center, cheering on her Bobcats, decked out in red and blue.

TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • WICK COMMUNICATIONS TUESDAY MAY 7, 2019 • SIERRA VISTA HERALD SPECIAL SECTIONS

benson high school

palma

If you’ve attended any Benson High School sporting or school event, you’ve surely come across Audrey Palma.

No matter the sport or activity, you can bet Palma will be there, decked out in Bobcat red-andblue regalia. The longtime Benson resident is a fixture at Benson High School sporting and school events.

Born and raised in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, Audrey graduated from Martin’s Ferry High School in 1955. During high school, she participated in tap dancing, band and was head majorette.

Her current hobbies include watching sports, especially her Bobcats, dancing, karaoke and talking to the kids – Audrey Palma likes to talk!

Palma was named an Honorary Benson Bobcat Alumni last fall for her steadfast support of everything Benson Schools.

Age and health have done little to slow Palma down. No matter

16

Carson Rice In just his first year of diving, Carson Rice already has two new Buena High School records.

On Sept. 13, the team’s Senior Night, Rice broke the school record for points scored on six dives in a dual meet.

Against Douglas recently, the senior scored 222 points for his six dives. The previous record was 219, which was set

by Jay Bergstrom more than 10 years ago.

“I didn’t know (until a day later),” Rice said Wednesday. “I was so excited, I didn’t know how to react.”

Rice decided to join the team this year because it was his senior year, after wanting to participate for a number of years.

“I’ve seen the athletes really excel in a short amount of time. It’s really cool,” head coach Doug Esche said. “As a coach, I’d like to see him (Carson) break the 11dive record and go to State.”

A month after claiming one new record, Rice broke the school record for highest score in an 11-dive meet. His mark of 345.10 smashed the old record of 307.15, which was also held by Bergstrom for over 10 years.

swim/dive athlete of the year NOMINEES Nicholas Gerosa Victoria Lucero Diego Martinez Tracey Tram

Buena Buena Douglas Douglas

SCHOOL RECORDS: MOST POINTS SCORED IN A SIX- AND 11-DIVE MEET.

Dan Romero

Rice Carson

Coach of the year

Faces and people come and go inside the halls of Tombstone High School year after year. But one face, one person, has walked the halls, taught in a Yellow Jacket classroom, and coached for 24 years.

That familiar face is Dan Romero.

“Once I got my resume, I just put in applications everywhere,” he said. “And it just so happens Tombstone was the first to call. They were looking for a tennis (coach) and history teacher at the time and I said, ‘Well, that’s right up my Dan alley.’

Tombstone High school “So I’ve been here ever since.”

The history teacher and multi-sport coach graduated from Miami High HIGHLIGHTS: LED THE GIRLS VOLLEYSchool, 186 miles north of Tombstone. After BALL TEAM TO A 13-7 RECORD AND graduating, Romero joined the military, where THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE IN he was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For three years he worked in THREE YEARS S2 intelligence, which was primarily field duty LED THE GIRLS TENNIS TEAM TO AN 11-1 and serving as a driver for the major. He enlistOVERALL RECORD AND THEIR SECOND ed in the Army because he wanted a break from CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF APPEARANCE school and the constant studying.

“I’m glad I did the military thing,” Romero LED THE BOYS TENNIS TEAM TO A 9-3 said. “It was an eye-opener to realizing I need to OVERALL RECORD AND A TRIP TO THE go back to school.”

POSTSEASON After his stint in the military, Romero began taking classes at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher. It was there he began volunteering to versity and accepted the position at Tombstone teach someone tennis after they asked him to — which was the first offered to him — 24 years ago. teach them the sport.

“I did pass up a lot of other opportunities when “Through that is where I ended up getting my coaching background,” Romero said. “Just vol- it’s all said and done, but I can’t complain,” unteering when my brothers and sisters were Romero said. “I could have left, (but) family’s close by. I enjoy the small atmosphere and the growing up. And I’ve stayed with it ever since.”

The U.S. and world history teacher decided small classrooms.”

He added that being able to connect with the on his career path when he was in high school and was inspired by his history teacher. Romero local families when he first started made him finished his degree at Western New Mexico Uni- feel more welcomed and teaching a bit easier

NOMINEES Wesley Wood Courtney Borquez Alfonso Romero Roger Bristow Benson Softball Gustavo Enriquez

Buena Bisbee Douglas Buena Berean

since he knew some of the kids before they reached the high school.

Romero’s day isn’t over when the final school bell rings, no matter the season.

In the fall, Romero coaches the girls volleyball team, which he helped with from 2002 until he took over the head coach position in 2005.

In the winter, he serves as the head coach for the boys junior varsity basketball team and is the assistant coach for the varsity boys basketball team.

In the spring, he simultaneously coaches the boys and girls tennis teams — a sport he’s led since he arrived in Tombstone. Last season, Tombstone’s girls tennis team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in the school’s history.

Being a coach in a southeastern Arizona school isn’t easy, as it requires a lot of travel and late nights, especially for Tombstone since they travel to Thatcher, Pima and Morenci quite frequently throughout the season. He said coaching positions years ago, even at the junior varsity level, were hard to come by but nowadays there seem to be more openings because of the time commitment that is required. But the late nights and large time commitment doesn’t deter Romero from coaching.

“It hasn’t crossed my mind,” he said. “When we start school in August, the month of August goes so slow. It’s just practice there’s no games.

There’s nothing going on. But once September rolls around or towards the end of August, all of a sudden things are going. Days are going quick and I guess that’s the best part of coaching: your time every year goes by fast.”

As of now, the plan is to continue teaching and coaching. Romero says he wants to reach 30 years of teaching.

Romero

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Buena High School

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Alek Samaniego Ever since he can remember, Alek Samaniego has had a soccer ball by his side.

Having grown up playing in the Douglas AYSO and having played the last four years for Douglas High School, Samaniego was honored this past season as the Gila Region Player of the Year.

According to his mother, DUSD Superintendent Ana Samaniego, her son began playing soccer when he was 5 years old.

“I think at that point, he played for fun because he enjoyed the game,” she said. “When he was around 10 to 12 years old, the competitive athlete really came out. He was on the traveling team for many years and really developed a passion for soccer. At the same time, he was a baseball player, but he enjoyed soccer much more.”

Ana said soccer allowed him to develop his skills and become a better player over time.

His sophomore year he decided to give up baseball so that he could train all year long with his soccer team.

Alek said playing soccer for the Bulldogs has been a great experience and he will always be proud to have worn the black and gold.

For the past three years, Samaniego has been selected the Bulldogs’ Offensive Player of the Year. This year he was also the recipient of the Coach’s Award which goes to the individual that best exemplifies leadership on and off the field.

Samaniego will graduate from DHS this May. He plans on attending the University of Arizona, where he will study engineering.

“I would have liked to continue playing soccer, but I chose academics,” he said.

NOMINEES Nico Allen Levi Griffith Alex Vera-Galaz Zergyo Adame

Buena Buena Douglas Bisbee

Samaniego says he’s really appreciative of the DHS coaching staff of Alfonso Romero, Victor Ramos and the late Ken Cormier, as well as the other assistants who gave him the opportunity to play a sport he loves and helped him improve and get better to the point other coaches in the conference began to notice.

“When Alek came in to our soccer program he brought leadership, great work ethic and lots of speed,” Coach Romero said. “For the four years he has been the player to go to on the offensive side in our soccer program. He is not only a great student/athlete but above all a great person.”

Coach Ramos added it was a pleasure to have such a fine young man in the program.

“He is very competitive at all levels and always tries to be the best,” Coach Ramos said “He is a very quick and strong forward that scored many goals because of his desire to never give up a ball or played that seemed lost. This year he struggled with shin splints during many games and he played through the pain just to try to help the team. He was one of our captains this year and he was an excellent leader for the other players. We wish him the best in his future.”

Samaniego Alek

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Katie Sherman

Sherman katie

benson high school

Boys soccer athlete of the year

Stellar. That’s about the only way to describe Benson Bobcats’ ace softball pitcher Katie Sherman’s accomplishments in the pitcher’s circle.

The Benson High School senior is on track to collect 100 career wins, and would join fellow Benson pitching great Megan Ellsworth in that accomplishment.

Sherman, in her senior year toeing the rubber for the Benson Bobcats, is as tough as they come. As a freshman, she posted a 24-7 record and followed that up with a 23-5 mark her sophomore year. As a junior, she posted an impressive 25-1 record last and just completed the 2018-19 regular season at 26-2 overall, just two shy of the coveted 100-win milestone.

Assistant coach Ernie Batten offered the best description during a Senior Day pregame ceremony held prior to the last home game of the season.

“This girl right here has shown the heart of a champion over and over again … I wouldn’t trade her for anybody,” Batten said in announcing Sherman during the ceremony.

But the star pitcher has also contributed in other ways, posting a .576 batting average to go with 53 hits and 41 RBIs. But it’s in the pitcher’s circle where Sherman is in her domain. Sherman has fanned 270 batters this season while posting a 1.04 earned run average to go with her 26-2 overall record. That’s 98-15 since 2016, with the upcoming postseason to be added to the tally.

Sherman will suit up next year for Eastern Arizona Community College in Thatcher.

douglas high school

18-19 SEASON: 13 GOALS CAREER: 25 GOALS. 5 ASSISTS

Softball athlete of the year

NOMINEES Emily Darwin Alondra Lugo Kimberly Salazar Desirey Sullivan Victoria Lopez Olivia Conklin Sofia Griffith Lauren Brown Abby Workman Maya Working

Benson Douglas Douglas Tombstone Bisbee Bisbee Buena Buena Benson Buena

“THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE HAS SHOWN THE HEART OF A CHAMPION OVER AND OVER AGAIN ...”

Nathan Snider

TENNIS: 19-5 OVERALL 10-2 SINGLES 9-3 DOUBLES BASKETBALL: 7.9 POINTS PER GAME 9.2 REBOUNDS PER GAME

Tombstone High school

Snider Nathan

Boys tennis athlete of the year NOMINEES Konnor Cormier Caleb Thomason Cody Haws

Douglas Tombstone Buena

Nathan Snider doesn’t take a season off.

The Tombstone High School senior represents the Yellow Jackets in three sports throughout the academic year.

In the fall, he could be found on the football field. In the winter, he was on the basketball court, and in the spring he’s helping the Tombstone boys tennis team.

“It’s an honor (to put on a Tombstone jersey),” he said.

“You’ve had to play a good game to beat us. I’m going to miss (coach Dan) Romero, the people and the sports.”

Snider picked up a racket for recreational fun with his family but decided to give the sport a try competitively his sophomore season. He said Coach Romero convinced him to join the team after he decided he didn’t want to play baseball again because it wasn’t active enough for him.

“I like (tennis) better than football and basketball because I’m better at it and there’s a lot more you can do with it,” Snider said.

“It was easy to adjust (to tennis) because of football and basketball. I’ve never dreaded going to

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practice.”

He credits his commitment to the game and his teams for his success.

Snider pl aye d i n t he nu mber one singles slot and on the number one doubles team. He lost just two singles matches this past tennis season to finish with a 10 -2 record. He was 19-5 overall, including doubles matches. The teenager admitted he didn’t think he wou ld lose just two matches but knew he wou ld have some success i n t he sp or t b e c au s e of h i s athleticism.

Prior to tennis season, Snider played on the basketball team.

Although the season didn’t end the way he wanted it to, it had a lasting impact on him since he and his teammates have been playing with each other since the fifth grade.

“I gave it everything I could,” he said. “I loved this basketball season. I’m OK with this being my last one.”

The Tombstone resident is still deciding if he will join the military or attend trade school after graduating later this month.

Tyler Wilridge Football athlete of the year NOMINEES Jovoni Borbon Christian Estrella Ryan Edsall Jacob Murphy John Ballesteros Kevin Chavez Andres Moreno Kiki Escalante Dano Lopez Caiden Hall D’Ondre Villalobos Shane Dezonia

Buena Douglas Bisbee Buena Douglas Douglas Douglas Douglas Bisbee Willcox Benson Benson

side part of my leg. Honestly they were telling me ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to play any sports or anything again.”

Eight months later Tyler was back on the football field, but not without a setback.

“It (the rehab) was tough and depressing,” Tyler said. “I lost 35 pounds because I was so depressed, I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to do anything.”

Ultimately it was conversations with his father and grandmother which helped him overcome his depression and start working out.

“It was a huge set back for us as a family,” Wayne said. “It was hard to watch. He felt like it was all over.”

Tyler returned to the football field with his Yellow Jacket teammates eight months after his second surgery.

“He was nervous about running, he was nervous about getting tackled when he came out for football his junior year,” Wayne said. “It was a big setback but made him humble and aggressive.”

Wilridge Tyler

Tombstone High school

RUSHING YARDS: 2,393 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 29 CARRIES: 167 FUMBLES: 0

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Tyler Wilridge is a man on a mission, proving his doubters wrong.

Listed at 5 feet 7 inches tall the Tombstone High School strong safety and running back has heard his to small to play football but that hasn’t stopped the senior. In the “What keeps me wanting to play is the people that doubt me,” Tyler said. “For the people that tell me I’m too small. For the doubters.”

Yellow Jackets game against Santa Rita on Oct. 12 Tyler crossed the 2,000 yards rushing mark. He is the first running back in Arizona to cross that mark this season.

“I don’t really look at what people say about me,” Tyler said. “I just let what I do on the field show.

By day Tyler is a studious student in the classroom but when the final bell rings at Tombstone High School Wilridge maneuvers his attention to football or track depending on the season.

“It says it for itself. Student first, athlete second,” the senior said. “The way I go by (is) a student-athlete is known as a student first not an athlete first.”

Wayne Wilridge, Tyler’s father, instilled the importance of academics in Tyler and all of his children from a young age. Wayne said if they had any C’s they wouldn’t be able to participate in athletics. But for Tyler the reality of the importance have performing well in the classroom was driven home in 2016.

“When I broke my leg, I realized that could be a career ending injury,” Tyler said. “A school can’t take what you know in your head away you. They can’t take your education from you but football can be gone any time, any day.”

Tyler broke his leg and dislocated his ankle during an All-American scrimmage, the day before the game, in Georgia as a sophomore.

“When I first broke it, I broke it in Georgia and the people who were seeing it had never seen a break like (mine) before,” he said. “The didn’t know what to do cause I broke it clean and dislocated it (and) had a hairline fracture on the in-

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