Good genes: In 1961, Buddy Doolen led Catalina High School to the state basketball championship game. He went on to win the state championship in the decathlon, become a starting guard at Arizona, and, later, a starting defensive back for the UA football team. He remains one of the top athletes in Tucson history, and is certainly from one of the leading athletic families in state history. His father, B.C. “Bud” Doolen, coached Tucson High to state basketball championships in 1943, 1945, 1948 and 1949, establishing a state record with 51 consecutive victories. Buddy himself coached Mesa Westwood to more than 350 basketball victories. Over the weekend, Buddy was in Prescott to watch his grandson, Brock Doolen, the state’s No. 1 ranked wrestler at 182 pounds, compete for a state championship.


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