SPORTS
THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM — AGAIN MARCH
5 RAM SWIMMERS END SEASON RANKED OCTOBER
survey revealed most 4A schools didn’t want to compete in the Open, a postseason format introduced in 2018 for dominant teams. POOL HAWKS MADE HISTORY NOVEMBER Desert Sunrise High School’s swim team did the unthinkable — qualifying all of its athletes for the state finals, a first in the school’s history. At the state meet, Chloe Armstrong led the Hawks with fourth-place finishes in the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. Ethan Armstrong was eighth in the 500 freestyle and 10th in the 200 IM. Isabella Owens was 14th in the 500 freestyle and 17th in the 100 backstroke. Not only did every swimmer make it to state, but some also managed to secure academic honors with perfect 4.0 GPAs: Chloe and Ethan Armstrong, Isabella Owens and Adrian Williams. Chloe Armstrong made waves in the 100 back and 100 fly, ranked fifth and seventh respectively, while her brother, Ethan, earned spots in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle. Sophomore Kristopher Stubbert made noise in the 500 freestyle, too, alongside teammates Adrian Williams and Alejandro Porras-Graham, who were part of two relay teams. Freshman Isabella Owens joined the list of qualifiers with impressive rankings in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Heritage Academy’s boys wrestling team was unstoppable in 2024. They clinched their third consecutive state championship, and Aiden Behnke and Jaxson Howell led the charge. Behnke, a sophomore, credited his coaches, David Hettinger and Matt Kondravy, for shaping his wrestling style and character. Howell, a junior, also starred in the classroom with a 4.13 GPA. MHS SAW FIRST PLAYER DRAFTED TO THE NFL APRIL For Mark Castanon, the selection of Jacob Cowing during the 2024 NFL Draft was a moment of pure, unfiltered joy. He was decked out in enough 49ers gear to cause a fashion emergency and wearing a Super Bowl XXIX ring on his head like a crown. And no sooner had the words “Jacob Cowing, wide receiver, Arizona” been exclaimed did he scream: “Bang bang Niner gang!” But for Rodney Lee, the Maricopa bus driver who first saw Cowing’s potential many years ago, the moment was less about surprise and more about fulfillment. Thirteen years after giving Cowing a “you’ll be an All Pro one day” pep talk, Lee’s words proved prophetic. The 23-year-old wide receiver, a 2019 graduate of Maricopa High School, became the first student-athlete from MUSD to be drafted into a major professional league since the city’s incorporation in 2003 — and the second ever (an MHS athlete was drafted to MLB in 1993). A 5-foot-9 bundle of speed and skill, Cowing went from being a two-star recruit at UTEP to a 2024 NFL Draft pick taken in the fourth round. TENNIS STAR SERVED UP ACES APRIL Cooper Krigbaum made history for Maricopa High School tennis. The senior became the first boy from the school to qualify for the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s State Tennis Singles Championship. Krigbaum’s regular season was a winning one — he finished 9-6, including a perfect 3-0 in the Yuma division. In Scottsdale, he fell to Mountain View’s Brayden Wagstaff. Maricopa Athletic Director Craig Moody was all smiles, calling Krigbaum a hard-working and deserving athlete. RAMS SOFTBALL DOMINATED APRIL Despite a near-spotless record, the Maricopa High School softball girls dropped a win-or-go-home contest in Tucson to finish 23rd in the Arizona Conference 6A ranking with a loss to Tucson High Magnet School Badgers. “They had a fantastic season finishing 23-5,” MHS Athletic Director Craig Moody said. The team ended the season as the Champions of the Owl Softball Kickoff Classic at Agua Fria High School and runner-up in the 27th Annual Cool Nites Tournament at Apollo High School.
The Maricopa High School Rams swim team made a splash in their final home meets of the season en route to a strong showing at the state meet. Luis Sanchez-Quiroz was 14th in the 100 fly and 15th in the 100 backstroke. Holden Gehrke led the charge for the Rams with a fourth- place finish in the 500 freestyle. He was seventh in the 100 breaststroke. Dante Flores was 33rd in the 500 freestyle and Myka Bitter was 39th in the 100 backstroke. The Rams’ 400 freestyle relay team, consisting of Gehrke,
Sanchez-Quiroz, Flores and Orion Chaturvedi, took 13th. GOLDEN HAWKS PUNTED ON PLAYOFF HOPES OCTOBER
The Desert Sunrise Golden Hawks won’t be making a surprise run in Arizona’s Open Division football playoffs in 2025, or maybe ever. A proposal to exclude 4A Conference teams from playoff consideration was approved, effectively ending any hopes for the Golden Hawks. With only a few seniors and a revamped coaching staff, including a new recruit from Arizona State, the team’s struggles continued. The decision came after a
Desert Sunrise High School’s head football coach, Steven Beard, photo- graphed May 9 with safety Hailey Mattson on the school’s football field.
A RATED SCHOOL
HIDDEN VALLEY KID MADE IT TO MLB JULY
We’re proud to o er a history of academic excellence and A-rated Maricopa campus.
Gavin Smith, the 18-year-old former Valley Christian High School shortstop who grew up in Hidden Valley and attended Legacy Traditional School, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Smith’s journey to the pros began with a standout performance for the Edmonton Riverhawks in Alberta, Canada, catching the eye of scouts from eight teams, including the Blue Jays. Despite his youth, Smith’s impressive 92-mph throw across the diamond was enough to earn him a spot in the Blue Jays’ minor league system in Florida. A longtime baseball enthusiast, Gavin’s career took off thanks to his early years in Maricopa club ball, where coach Geno Chavez first noticed his skills. GOLDEN HAWKS MADE EYE-POPPING ADDITIONS JULY After a stint coaching at Arizona State University, Steven Beard took over Desert Sunrise High School’s football program with hopes of bringing some of that D-I magic to the Golden Hawks. Though the 2023 season was tough with no seniors on the roster, a record 60 players showed up for summer workouts in 2024. And if you think a girl can’t make a difference in a boys’ football program, meet Hailey Mattson. The 110-pound sophomore free safety, known for her 4.0 GPA and fearless tackling, became the school’s first female footballer. She’s not only a standout in the defensive backfield but also plays softball, volunteers as a referee and dreams of becoming a sports broadcaster.
Tuition-Free We are a charter school o ering a safe, wholesome environment. Also o ering free full-day kindergarten.
Character-Based We believe character leads to success and encourage students to embrace the ‘6 Pillars of Character’ both academically and personally.
Grades K-8
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(520) 568-7800 18700 N. Porter Rd | Maricopa, AZ 85138
InMaricopa.com | January 2025
January 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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