Fourth-seeded Salpointe Catholic has advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals, where theyβll take on No. 1 Peoria Sunrise Mountain Friday at Glendale Ironwood High School.
The Star spoke with Chris Aguirre, the Lancersβ top defender and the Kino Region Defensive Player of the Year, and Washington-bound offensive lineman Matteo Mele.
Hereβs what they said:
What are you looking forward to most about playing top-seeded Sunrise Mountain?
Aguirre: βTheyβre faster than any team that weβve played and itβs a Phoenix team β¦ Thereβs always something between the Tucson and the Phoenix teams, so weβve got to go out and make a statement against them.β
Mele: βThey got a lot of publicity in being a good team and I think weβre a good team so Iβm looking forward to a game and most likely getting a win.β
What was it like being named Kino Region Defensive Player of the Year?
Aguirre: βI have a great defensive line so they make it easy for me to get all of the tackles and itβs been a good year. Iβm happy.β
Why did you commit to Washington as opposed to UA in your recruitment?
Mele: βWhen I got up there for my first visit to Washington, of course itβs such a great program and I knew that before I got there. Everything clicked when I was there, the campus, the city of Seattle, the coaches, everyone so I couldnβt not make that decision.β
Whatβs it like blocking for Bijan Robinson, your star running back?
Mele: βItβs great. Bijan is one of those players where you can make a mistake and everyone will think you did your job well, because Bijan scores a touchdown. Heβs so dynamic and explosive, itβs crazy.β
What was it like setting the school record for most shutouts in a season?
Aguirre: βItβs special and itβs nice to have the record, but really what weβre going for is the state championship. It was nice to have the record and that looks good on our whole defense, but weβre not done yet. Weβre looking for a state championship.β
