Greg Hansen's Top 100 sports figures of 2015
- Updated
The Star columnist counts down the year's best Southern Arizona sports figures.
No. 1 • Ali Farhang
The Tucson attorney is chairman and founder of the inaugural Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
No. 2 • Matt Grevers
The UA’s volunteer swimming coach broke the world record in the 100 backstroke this month, part of another stellar year. He won a silver and bronze medal in the backstroke at the World Championships, and was part of Team USA’s gold-medal winning 400 freestyle relay team.
No. 3 • Sean Miller
Not only did Arizona’s basketball coach steer his team to a 34-4, Elite Eight season, and a 12-1 start this season, he coached the USA Basketball 19U team to a gold medal.
No. 4 • Blake Martinez
The Pac-12’s leader in tackles (132), Martinez, a Canyon del Oro grad, was a first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker and a third-team AP All-American for the Rose Bowl-bound Cardinal.
No. 5 • Dave Cosgrove
Pima College’s men’s soccer coach reached the NJCAA championships for the second year in succession, posting a school-record 21 victories (21-4-2), winning the Region and District championships.
No. 6 • T.J. McConnell
The heart and soul of Arizona’s 34-3 Elite Eight team, the hard-nosed point guard was an All-Pac-12 selection who averaged 10.4 points and 6.3 assists. He then made the Philadelphia 76ers as an undrafted free agent and started 16 of the club’s first 28 games.
No. 7 • Bryce Cotton
Reaching the NBA with both the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns, the Palo Verde High grad was an NBA D League second-team all-star, averaging 22.4 points for the Austin Spurs.
No. 8 • Troy Cropp
In his final season at Pusch Ridge High School, Cropp went 13-1, winning the Division IV state championship with three consecutive come-from-behind playoff victories.
No. 9 • Kendra Veliz
Coaching the best season in Pima College women’s soccer history, Veliz’s team went 21-2-1, winning the ACCAC and reaching the NJCAA national championships.
No. 10 • Wesley Payne and Landry Payne
Pima College's football-playing brothers were both selected first-team NJCAA All-Americans. Wesley, a linebacker, led the WSFL with 149 tackles and was the league’s defensive Player of the Year. Landry, a cornerback, intercepted five passes and made 54 tackles.
No. 11 • Donny Toia
A former CDO and FC Tucson soccer player, Toia started 29 games for the MLS Montreal Impact and played 2,699 minutes.
No. 12 • Kevin Cordes
In his final season at Arizona, Cordes won the NCAA 100 breast stroke, was second in the 200 breast stroke, and won a silver medal in the 100 breast stroke at the FINA World Championships.
No. 13 • Bobby Dalbec
The Pac-12 home run champion (15) also won the Cape Cod League home run title (12) and hit two more for the USA Baseball national collegiate team. At Arizona, Dalbec also pitched 61 innings and had a 3.21 ERA.
No. 14 • Jason Romero
Leading Pima College to the region soccer championship, Romero was the ACCAC Player of the Year with 32 goals and a first-team NJCAA All-American.
No. 15 • Laura Ianello
Arizona’s women’s golf coach won the Pac-12 championship for the second time as the Wildcats reached the final eight, team match play, at the NCAA championships.
No. 16 • Samantha Pickens
In her final season at Arizona, Pickens won the NCAA and Pac-12 championships at 1-meter diving. She was third in the U.S. trials for the world championships and finished 16th at the world finals.
No. 17 • Jim Monaco
In his second year as Pima College’s football coach, Monaco guided his club to the WSFL championship game with a 7-4 record and had 21 players offered Division I, II or III scholarships.
No. 18 • Tony Amato
Arizona’s soccer coach guided his club to a 14-6-2 record and a berth in the NCAA women’s soccer Sweet 16.
No. 19 • Margo Geer
A member of the USA National swimming team, part of a bronze medal 4x100 freestyle relay team at the World Championships, Geer, an Arizona grad, was one of nine finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
No. 20 • Rick Schantz
Head coach of FC Tucson’s mountain division champion in the Premier Division League, Schantz led his club to a 9-3-5 season and the PDL Western Conference championship game.
No. 21 • Brent Strom
Longtime Tucsonan is the pitching coach for the Houston Astros, who led the American League in ERA (3.57) and produced Cy Young Award-winner Dallas Keuchel.
No. 22 • Devyn Hunley
The Sabino High grad was a first-team All-ACCAC soccer player and a second-team NJCAA All-American at Pima College in her sophomore season.
No. 23 • Murphy Gershman
One of the top basketball players in Pima College history, Gershman was a second-team All-American after averaging 24.8 points and 12 rebounds per game.
No. 24 • Pau Tonnesen
The UA junior finished second in the NCAA decathlon with a school-record 8,247 points, which included a pole vault of 17 feet, 4 ½ inches.
No. 25 • Carlos Villarreal
Rio Rico High School’s distance running standout won state titles in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs, and then staged an epic come-from-behind victory at the Prefontaine Classic high school mile in Eugene, Oregon.
No. 26 • Daniel Gonzales
Despite missing two games with injury, Navy’s starting middle linebacker from Cienega High School made 63 tackles for the 11-1 Midshipmen.
No. 27 • Kayla Bonstrom
In her junior season at Stanford, Bonstrom, a CDO grad, hit .439 with 16 home runs to make the All-Pac-12 first team and the AFCA All-American second team.
No. 28 • Roman Bravo-Young
Sweeping the state wrestling title at 106 pounds, the Sunnyside High freshman went 43-0 and was then ranked No. 2 nationally for a Pennsylvania invitational.
No. 29 • Gabi Stoian
In her sophomore year at Arizona, Stoian was first-team All-Pac-12 with six goals and eight assists to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA soccer’s Sweet 16.
No. 30 • Edgar Soto
Pima College’s athletic director oversaw perhaps the most successful athletic season in school history, with across-the-board success in fall, winter and spring sports.
No. 31 • Penina Snuka
Bidding to become the top setter in UA volleyball history, Snuka was an All-Pac-12 first-team selection as she led her team to the NCAA tournament.
No. 32 • Allie Schadler
At Rio Rico High School, Schadler won the state cross-country title with the top mark in the state. In the spring, she won state championships in the 1,600- and 800-meter finals.
No. 33 • Scott Kingery
Arizona’s second baseman led the Pac-12 with a .392 batting average and was the second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies.
No. 34 • Christine Clark
In her rookie season in the Italian EuroLeague, the Tucson High grad averaged 14.8 points for Lavezzini Parma. This year she is averaging 17.9 points.
No. 35 • Donny Sands
The eighth-round draft pick of the New York Yankees hit .309 in 55 minor-league games after leading Salpointe to a 27-7 record by hitting .451 and striking out 38 in 23 innings.
No. 36 • Zach Malis
In his senior season at Desert Christian High School, Malis hit .569 with 64 RBIs and was a perfect 10-0 as a pitcher for the 31-1, Division IV state champions.
No. 37 • Drew Riggleman
Arizona’s senior punter from Sahuaro High School was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection with an average of 44.8 yards per punt, the third-highest number in UA history. He was the only UA football player to make the first- or second-team all-conference list.
No. 38 • Madison Mariani
A sophomore at Sabino, Mariani won the West Region all-around gymnastic championship, her 16th victory in 17 competitions, and then was 10th overall in the U.S. Junior Olympics finals with girls two years older. She has committed to compete for Michigan.
No. 39 • Keith Francis
Canyon del Oro’s baseball coach won his second state championship at the school, guiding his club to a 32-2 record.
No. 40 • Kevin Newman
As the All-Pac-12 shortstop, Newman hit .370 for Arizona and was then the No. 19 overall choice in the baseball draft, by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
No. 41 • George Cunningham
After leading Arizona with a 71.6 stroke average as a freshman, Cunningham was the second-highest qualifier at the U.S Amateur and a second-team All-Pac-12 golfer.
No. 42 • Steve Naemark
A second-team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings, Naemark, a Mountain View High grad, went 11-1 and was Pitcher of the Year for San Angelo State in the Lone Star Conference. He then had a 1.47 ERA for four Houston Astros minor-league teams.
No. 43 • Delaney Schnell
The Tucson High diver finished eighth in the Pan American Games and ninth in Mexico City at the FINA Grand Prix finals.
No. 44 • Brandi Park
A second-team All-American as a midfielder/defender for the Pima College women’s soccer team, the Sabino High grad was first-team All-ACCAC.
No. 45 • Sherry Cervi
Marana’s three-time world champion barrel racer finished ninth overall in the 2015 pro rodeo standings, earning $163,820. She won the final round at the National Finals Rodeo.
No. 46 • Jorge Carrasco
The motor of Cholla’s 25-2 boys basketball season, Carrasco averaged 22.7 points and was the Star’s player of the year.
No. 47 • Ian Kinsler
The former Canyon del Oro infielder hit .296 with 11 homers and 73 RBI as the Detroit Tigers’ second baseman.
No. 48 • Danny Vega
Undefeated at 34-0, Vega won the state title in the 113-pound wrestling class for Ironwood Ridge.
No. 49 • Jon Pearlman
FC Tucson’s general manager produced another remarkable year in scouting and development for Tucson’s soccer operation.
No. 50 • Max Smith
As CDO won the state baseball title, Smith went 8-1 as the club’s top pitcher. As an outfielder, he hit .380 with seven homers and 33 RBIs.
No. 51 • Greg Wenneborg
His Pima College women’s cross country team finished No. 6 in the NJCAA finals and his men’s team was No. 9 overall. In track, Wenneborg’s women’s team was No. 15 in the nation.
No. 52 • Shannon and Brittany Woolridge
The father-daughter combination at Empire High School clicked all the way to the state Division III softball championship. Shannon coached the Ravens to a 30-5 record and Brittany, a senior pitcher, was 20-1 with an 0.78 ERA.
No. 53 • Tim Derksen
Now in his senior basketball season at San Francisco, Derksen, a forward from Amphitheater High, is averaging 14.7 points. He averaged 12.3 as a junior starter.
No. 54 • Jeremy Timpf
Starting at linebacker for Army, the Sabino High product tied for the team lead with 92 tackles in his junior season. He was a co-captain for the Cadets.
No. 55 • Lindsey Weaver
As a junior golfer at Arizona, Weaver was first-team All-Pac-12 and a second-team All-American who finished No. 18 in the NCAA finals.
No. 56 • Carly Lowry
Leading Salpointe Catholic to the state volleyball semifinals, Lowry had a remarkable 533 kills for the season as the Lancers finished 35-5.
No. 57 • Chris Rastatter
One of the Pac-12’s leading basketball referees, Rastatter, a Rincon High grad, worked four NCAA tournament games, capped by an Elite Eight Kentucky-Notre Dame game.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 58 • Oscar Romero
Coaching a Tucson High baseball team made up mostly of underclassmen, Romero led the Badgers to the state championship game, 30-7 overall.
No. 59 • Sydni Stallworth
Now starting and averaging 13.1 points at Pima College, Stallworth scored 620 points in her senior season at Palo Verde High School, an average of 20.9 per game. She was the NJCAA national Player of the Week in mid-December.
No. 60 • Jesse Mermuys and Matt Brase
Mermuys, a Salpointe and UA grad, became the head coach of the NBA D League’s Raptors 905, the Toronto affiliate. Brase, a Catalina Foothills and UA product, is now the head coach of the D League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a San Antonio Spurs affiliate.
No. 61 • Lester Medford
The point guard for Baylor's Top-25 basketball program, the Amphitheater High grad has started every game for two years, averaging 7.6 points last season and 6.8 through mid-December this year.
No. 62 • Nnenya Hailey
As an Arizona junior, Hailey finished sixth in the NCAA finals in 400 hurdles, becoming a first-team All-American.
No. 63 • Terrell Stoglin
Through Dec. 17, the former Santa Rita High basketball All-State point guard averaged 27.3 points per game for Adanspor, a Turkish team in the European Basketball League.
No. 64 • Robin Landrith
Baylor’s starting catcher from Ironwood Ridge High School, Landrith hit .333 in 42 starts for a team that won 41 games. She was also an All-Big 12 academic unanimous choice.
No. 65 • Masai Dean
The resurgence of Cholla boys basketball can be traced to Dean, who coached the Chargers to 21 consecutive victories in a 25-2 season.
No. 66 • Krystal Quihuis
The Pac-12’s Freshman Woman Golfer of the Year, the Salpointe Catholic grad was the second-lowest scorer (73.6) for the year as Arizona won the Pac-12 championship.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 67 • Grant Hopkins
He coached Desert Christian to its third consecutive state baseball title. This time his team finished 31-1 and outscored the opposition 430-58.
No. 68 • Michael Thompson
Beginning his sixth season as a PGA Tour regular, the Rincon/University grad is 93rd in FedEx points with $100,593 in winnings. For the 2015 season, he earned $599,835.
No. 69 • Alex Verdugo
Hitting a combined .311 for two Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class A affiliates, the Sahuaro High grad was selected the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Award winner as their top minor-league position player.
No. 70 • Marcus Titus
Preparing for another run at the Olympic Trials, the Flowing Wells and UA grad finished second in the U.S. Winter nationals in the 100 breast stroke this month. He was seventh in the U.S. Summer nationals.
No. 71 • Isabella Solorza
In an amazing junior soccer season at Walden Grove, Solorza scored 35 goals for the state champs, and this year had nine goals through the first nine games.
No. 72 • Brendan Rumel
The 6-foot-11-inch Rincon/University senior accepted a scholarship to Portland State after averaging 17.9 points last year. Through 11 games this season, he was averaging 24.6 with 11.9 rebounds.
No. 73 • Emily Parker
Her soccer career at Catalina Foothills included two state titles. As a senior in 2015, Parker scored 30 goals and then played in the regular rotation for the Oklahoma Sooners last fall, scoring two goals in 18 games.
No. 74 • Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
After making the All-Pac-12 basketball team, Hollis-Jefferson was a first-round draft pick and averaged 5.5 points for the Brooklyn Nets before breaking his ankle this month.
No. 75 • Eric Tatham
Cienega’s girls softball coach won his second state championship, leading the Bobcats to a 26-8 season.
No. 76 • Alexis Cortez
Tucson High’s senior basketball standout, bound for East Carolina on a basketball scholarship, averaged 25.6 points as a junior and could threaten 30 per game this winter.
No. 77 • Kathryn Ottman
At the Division II girls state golf championships, Ottman, a Sahuaro senior, won the individual title by seven strokes, shooting back-to-back 72s.
No. 78 • Nate Renfro
Not only did Renfro lead Sahuaro with a 16.4 scoring average last season, he had a 4.0 GPA. As a freshman forward at San Francisco, Renfro is averaging 23 minutes and 5.5 points a game.
No. 79 • Jamee Swan
As a junior center at Colorado last season, the Marana High grad averaged 13.2 points and 7.9 points, leading the Buffaloes in both categories.
No. 80 • Alejandro Gonzalez
A first-team All-ACCAC midfielder for region champion Pima College, Gonzalez played high school soccer at Flowing Wells.
No. 81 • Luis Gonzalez
As a freshman outfielder at New Mexico, the Catalina Foothills grad hit .299 in 37 starts, with 16 extra-base hits. He also made 16 pitching appearances and was 4-2 for the Lobos.
No. 82 • Kalei Mau
Arizona’s junior outside hitter was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection after producing eight games of 20 or more kills.
No. 83 • Daniela Sanchez
As a Pima College freshman, Sanchez was the All-ACCAC goalkeeper with 87 saves in 19 starts, allowing just 16 goals after a Sabino prep career.
No. 84 • Kellie Fox
A defensive stopper at shortstop, Fox was a first-team All-Pac12 player at Arizona, hitting a club-high .400. She was a third-team NFCA All-American.
No. 85 • Maddie Pothoff
Tucson’s leading female tennis player accepted a scholarship to Alabama after rising to No. 20 in the USA amateur rankings for girls 18-U.
No. 86 • Alexis Alfonso
As Pima College went 46-14 to finish third in ACCAC softball, Alfonso, a CDO grad, hit .381 with eight home runs and was the Aztecs’ top pitcher, at 27-7.
No. 87 • Dan Slania
The former Salpointe Catholic pitcher went 4-5 with 16 saves and 90 strikeouts in 71 innings for the Class A San Jose Giants.
No. 88 • Katiyana Mauga
A third-team NFCA All-American, Mauga hit 26 homers and drove in 76 runs as an Arizona Wildcat sophomore outfielder.
No. 89 • Aaron Anderson
The Mountain View High School grad became a pro basketball player, averaging 6.3 points per game for the Sodertaljc Kings of the Swedish EuroLeague.
No. 90 • Carey Bauer
Walden Grove won its first state championship in 2015 as Bauer guided the Red Wolves to a 25-1 record and the Division III girls soccer title.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 91 • Caitlin Leverenz
The 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, a Sahuaro High and Cal Bears grad, continued as one of America’s top swimmers, winning national championships in the 200 IM and 400 IM.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 92 • Tyler Fallwell
After leading Palo Verde to the 2014 state baseball title, Fallwell continued his good work at Cochise College, going 4-2 in 66 innings with 59 strikeouts as Cochise went 44-17 and finished second in the ACCAC.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 93 • Michael Perez
After starting 22 games at shooting guard for the Nevada Wolf Pack, the Pueblo High product signed with the Halcones de Veracruz franchise in the Mexican pro basketball league.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 94 • Tom Wilhelmsen
Regaining his role as closer for the Seattle Mariners, the Tucson High grad had 13 saves and struck out 60 in 62 innings for the Mariners with a 3.19 ERA.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 95 • Kaysee Pilgrim
An all-star volleyball player at Pima College, Pilgrim switched to the high jump in the spring and won the NJCAA national championship.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 96 • Haley Howell
Four times the Salpointe Catholic grad was the MAAC volleyball Player of the Week, the league’s top setter for the Siena Saints and a first-team all-conference selection.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 97 • Alex Robles
A first-team All-Ohio Valley baseball player from Tucson High, Robles had a 6-2 pitching record in 84 innings, and also hit .328 with 39 RBI at Austin Peay.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 98 • Nathan Farmer
In his first year at Pima College, the Ironwood Ridge grad scored 89 points at Pima College, making 14 of 17 field goal attempts and 47 of 48 point-after kicks.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 99 • Nicco Blank
The Catalina High product struck out 40 batters in 41 innings and had a 2.40 ERA for Class A Brooklyn, the New York Mets’ affiliate.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 100 • Chelsea Goodacre
After hitting 24 home runs and driving in a Pac-12-high 86 runs, Arizona’s senior catcher was a second-team all-conference selection.
No. 1 • Ali Farhang
The Tucson attorney is chairman and founder of the inaugural Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
No. 2 • Matt Grevers
The UA’s volunteer swimming coach broke the world record in the 100 backstroke this month, part of another stellar year. He won a silver and bronze medal in the backstroke at the World Championships, and was part of Team USA’s gold-medal winning 400 freestyle relay team.
No. 3 • Sean Miller
Not only did Arizona’s basketball coach steer his team to a 34-4, Elite Eight season, and a 12-1 start this season, he coached the USA Basketball 19U team to a gold medal.
No. 4 • Blake Martinez
The Pac-12’s leader in tackles (132), Martinez, a Canyon del Oro grad, was a first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker and a third-team AP All-American for the Rose Bowl-bound Cardinal.
No. 5 • Dave Cosgrove
Pima College’s men’s soccer coach reached the NJCAA championships for the second year in succession, posting a school-record 21 victories (21-4-2), winning the Region and District championships.
No. 6 • T.J. McConnell
The heart and soul of Arizona’s 34-3 Elite Eight team, the hard-nosed point guard was an All-Pac-12 selection who averaged 10.4 points and 6.3 assists. He then made the Philadelphia 76ers as an undrafted free agent and started 16 of the club’s first 28 games.
No. 7 • Bryce Cotton
Reaching the NBA with both the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns, the Palo Verde High grad was an NBA D League second-team all-star, averaging 22.4 points for the Austin Spurs.
No. 8 • Troy Cropp
In his final season at Pusch Ridge High School, Cropp went 13-1, winning the Division IV state championship with three consecutive come-from-behind playoff victories.
No. 9 • Kendra Veliz
Coaching the best season in Pima College women’s soccer history, Veliz’s team went 21-2-1, winning the ACCAC and reaching the NJCAA national championships.
No. 10 • Wesley Payne and Landry Payne
Pima College's football-playing brothers were both selected first-team NJCAA All-Americans. Wesley, a linebacker, led the WSFL with 149 tackles and was the league’s defensive Player of the Year. Landry, a cornerback, intercepted five passes and made 54 tackles.
No. 11 • Donny Toia
A former CDO and FC Tucson soccer player, Toia started 29 games for the MLS Montreal Impact and played 2,699 minutes.
No. 12 • Kevin Cordes
In his final season at Arizona, Cordes won the NCAA 100 breast stroke, was second in the 200 breast stroke, and won a silver medal in the 100 breast stroke at the FINA World Championships.
No. 13 • Bobby Dalbec
The Pac-12 home run champion (15) also won the Cape Cod League home run title (12) and hit two more for the USA Baseball national collegiate team. At Arizona, Dalbec also pitched 61 innings and had a 3.21 ERA.
No. 14 • Jason Romero
Leading Pima College to the region soccer championship, Romero was the ACCAC Player of the Year with 32 goals and a first-team NJCAA All-American.
No. 15 • Laura Ianello
Arizona’s women’s golf coach won the Pac-12 championship for the second time as the Wildcats reached the final eight, team match play, at the NCAA championships.
No. 16 • Samantha Pickens
In her final season at Arizona, Pickens won the NCAA and Pac-12 championships at 1-meter diving. She was third in the U.S. trials for the world championships and finished 16th at the world finals.
No. 17 • Jim Monaco
In his second year as Pima College’s football coach, Monaco guided his club to the WSFL championship game with a 7-4 record and had 21 players offered Division I, II or III scholarships.
No. 18 • Tony Amato
Arizona’s soccer coach guided his club to a 14-6-2 record and a berth in the NCAA women’s soccer Sweet 16.
No. 19 • Margo Geer
A member of the USA National swimming team, part of a bronze medal 4x100 freestyle relay team at the World Championships, Geer, an Arizona grad, was one of nine finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
No. 20 • Rick Schantz
Head coach of FC Tucson’s mountain division champion in the Premier Division League, Schantz led his club to a 9-3-5 season and the PDL Western Conference championship game.
No. 21 • Brent Strom
Longtime Tucsonan is the pitching coach for the Houston Astros, who led the American League in ERA (3.57) and produced Cy Young Award-winner Dallas Keuchel.
No. 22 • Devyn Hunley
The Sabino High grad was a first-team All-ACCAC soccer player and a second-team NJCAA All-American at Pima College in her sophomore season.
No. 23 • Murphy Gershman
One of the top basketball players in Pima College history, Gershman was a second-team All-American after averaging 24.8 points and 12 rebounds per game.
No. 24 • Pau Tonnesen
The UA junior finished second in the NCAA decathlon with a school-record 8,247 points, which included a pole vault of 17 feet, 4 ½ inches.
No. 25 • Carlos Villarreal
Rio Rico High School’s distance running standout won state titles in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs, and then staged an epic come-from-behind victory at the Prefontaine Classic high school mile in Eugene, Oregon.
No. 26 • Daniel Gonzales
Despite missing two games with injury, Navy’s starting middle linebacker from Cienega High School made 63 tackles for the 11-1 Midshipmen.
No. 27 • Kayla Bonstrom
In her junior season at Stanford, Bonstrom, a CDO grad, hit .439 with 16 home runs to make the All-Pac-12 first team and the AFCA All-American second team.
No. 28 • Roman Bravo-Young
Sweeping the state wrestling title at 106 pounds, the Sunnyside High freshman went 43-0 and was then ranked No. 2 nationally for a Pennsylvania invitational.
No. 29 • Gabi Stoian
In her sophomore year at Arizona, Stoian was first-team All-Pac-12 with six goals and eight assists to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA soccer’s Sweet 16.
No. 30 • Edgar Soto
Pima College’s athletic director oversaw perhaps the most successful athletic season in school history, with across-the-board success in fall, winter and spring sports.
No. 31 • Penina Snuka
Bidding to become the top setter in UA volleyball history, Snuka was an All-Pac-12 first-team selection as she led her team to the NCAA tournament.
No. 32 • Allie Schadler
At Rio Rico High School, Schadler won the state cross-country title with the top mark in the state. In the spring, she won state championships in the 1,600- and 800-meter finals.
No. 33 • Scott Kingery
Arizona’s second baseman led the Pac-12 with a .392 batting average and was the second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies.
No. 34 • Christine Clark
In her rookie season in the Italian EuroLeague, the Tucson High grad averaged 14.8 points for Lavezzini Parma. This year she is averaging 17.9 points.
No. 35 • Donny Sands
The eighth-round draft pick of the New York Yankees hit .309 in 55 minor-league games after leading Salpointe to a 27-7 record by hitting .451 and striking out 38 in 23 innings.
No. 36 • Zach Malis
In his senior season at Desert Christian High School, Malis hit .569 with 64 RBIs and was a perfect 10-0 as a pitcher for the 31-1, Division IV state champions.
No. 37 • Drew Riggleman
Arizona’s senior punter from Sahuaro High School was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection with an average of 44.8 yards per punt, the third-highest number in UA history. He was the only UA football player to make the first- or second-team all-conference list.
No. 38 • Madison Mariani
A sophomore at Sabino, Mariani won the West Region all-around gymnastic championship, her 16th victory in 17 competitions, and then was 10th overall in the U.S. Junior Olympics finals with girls two years older. She has committed to compete for Michigan.
No. 39 • Keith Francis
Canyon del Oro’s baseball coach won his second state championship at the school, guiding his club to a 32-2 record.
No. 40 • Kevin Newman
As the All-Pac-12 shortstop, Newman hit .370 for Arizona and was then the No. 19 overall choice in the baseball draft, by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
No. 41 • George Cunningham
After leading Arizona with a 71.6 stroke average as a freshman, Cunningham was the second-highest qualifier at the U.S Amateur and a second-team All-Pac-12 golfer.
No. 42 • Steve Naemark
A second-team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings, Naemark, a Mountain View High grad, went 11-1 and was Pitcher of the Year for San Angelo State in the Lone Star Conference. He then had a 1.47 ERA for four Houston Astros minor-league teams.
No. 43 • Delaney Schnell
The Tucson High diver finished eighth in the Pan American Games and ninth in Mexico City at the FINA Grand Prix finals.
No. 44 • Brandi Park
A second-team All-American as a midfielder/defender for the Pima College women’s soccer team, the Sabino High grad was first-team All-ACCAC.
No. 45 • Sherry Cervi
Marana’s three-time world champion barrel racer finished ninth overall in the 2015 pro rodeo standings, earning $163,820. She won the final round at the National Finals Rodeo.
No. 46 • Jorge Carrasco
The motor of Cholla’s 25-2 boys basketball season, Carrasco averaged 22.7 points and was the Star’s player of the year.
No. 47 • Ian Kinsler
The former Canyon del Oro infielder hit .296 with 11 homers and 73 RBI as the Detroit Tigers’ second baseman.
No. 48 • Danny Vega
Undefeated at 34-0, Vega won the state title in the 113-pound wrestling class for Ironwood Ridge.
No. 49 • Jon Pearlman
FC Tucson’s general manager produced another remarkable year in scouting and development for Tucson’s soccer operation.
No. 50 • Max Smith
As CDO won the state baseball title, Smith went 8-1 as the club’s top pitcher. As an outfielder, he hit .380 with seven homers and 33 RBIs.
No. 51 • Greg Wenneborg
His Pima College women’s cross country team finished No. 6 in the NJCAA finals and his men’s team was No. 9 overall. In track, Wenneborg’s women’s team was No. 15 in the nation.
No. 52 • Shannon and Brittany Woolridge
The father-daughter combination at Empire High School clicked all the way to the state Division III softball championship. Shannon coached the Ravens to a 30-5 record and Brittany, a senior pitcher, was 20-1 with an 0.78 ERA.
No. 53 • Tim Derksen
Now in his senior basketball season at San Francisco, Derksen, a forward from Amphitheater High, is averaging 14.7 points. He averaged 12.3 as a junior starter.
No. 54 • Jeremy Timpf
Starting at linebacker for Army, the Sabino High product tied for the team lead with 92 tackles in his junior season. He was a co-captain for the Cadets.
No. 55 • Lindsey Weaver
As a junior golfer at Arizona, Weaver was first-team All-Pac-12 and a second-team All-American who finished No. 18 in the NCAA finals.
No. 56 • Carly Lowry
Leading Salpointe Catholic to the state volleyball semifinals, Lowry had a remarkable 533 kills for the season as the Lancers finished 35-5.
No. 57 • Chris Rastatter
One of the Pac-12’s leading basketball referees, Rastatter, a Rincon High grad, worked four NCAA tournament games, capped by an Elite Eight Kentucky-Notre Dame game.
No. 58 • Oscar Romero
Coaching a Tucson High baseball team made up mostly of underclassmen, Romero led the Badgers to the state championship game, 30-7 overall.
No. 59 • Sydni Stallworth
Now starting and averaging 13.1 points at Pima College, Stallworth scored 620 points in her senior season at Palo Verde High School, an average of 20.9 per game. She was the NJCAA national Player of the Week in mid-December.
No. 60 • Jesse Mermuys and Matt Brase
Mermuys, a Salpointe and UA grad, became the head coach of the NBA D League’s Raptors 905, the Toronto affiliate. Brase, a Catalina Foothills and UA product, is now the head coach of the D League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a San Antonio Spurs affiliate.
No. 61 • Lester Medford
The point guard for Baylor's Top-25 basketball program, the Amphitheater High grad has started every game for two years, averaging 7.6 points last season and 6.8 through mid-December this year.
No. 62 • Nnenya Hailey
As an Arizona junior, Hailey finished sixth in the NCAA finals in 400 hurdles, becoming a first-team All-American.
No. 63 • Terrell Stoglin
Through Dec. 17, the former Santa Rita High basketball All-State point guard averaged 27.3 points per game for Adanspor, a Turkish team in the European Basketball League.
No. 64 • Robin Landrith
Baylor’s starting catcher from Ironwood Ridge High School, Landrith hit .333 in 42 starts for a team that won 41 games. She was also an All-Big 12 academic unanimous choice.
No. 65 • Masai Dean
The resurgence of Cholla boys basketball can be traced to Dean, who coached the Chargers to 21 consecutive victories in a 25-2 season.
No. 66 • Krystal Quihuis
The Pac-12’s Freshman Woman Golfer of the Year, the Salpointe Catholic grad was the second-lowest scorer (73.6) for the year as Arizona won the Pac-12 championship.
No. 67 • Grant Hopkins
He coached Desert Christian to its third consecutive state baseball title. This time his team finished 31-1 and outscored the opposition 430-58.
No. 68 • Michael Thompson
Beginning his sixth season as a PGA Tour regular, the Rincon/University grad is 93rd in FedEx points with $100,593 in winnings. For the 2015 season, he earned $599,835.
No. 69 • Alex Verdugo
Hitting a combined .311 for two Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class A affiliates, the Sahuaro High grad was selected the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Award winner as their top minor-league position player.
No. 70 • Marcus Titus
Preparing for another run at the Olympic Trials, the Flowing Wells and UA grad finished second in the U.S. Winter nationals in the 100 breast stroke this month. He was seventh in the U.S. Summer nationals.
No. 71 • Isabella Solorza
In an amazing junior soccer season at Walden Grove, Solorza scored 35 goals for the state champs, and this year had nine goals through the first nine games.
No. 72 • Brendan Rumel
The 6-foot-11-inch Rincon/University senior accepted a scholarship to Portland State after averaging 17.9 points last year. Through 11 games this season, he was averaging 24.6 with 11.9 rebounds.
No. 73 • Emily Parker
Her soccer career at Catalina Foothills included two state titles. As a senior in 2015, Parker scored 30 goals and then played in the regular rotation for the Oklahoma Sooners last fall, scoring two goals in 18 games.
No. 74 • Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
After making the All-Pac-12 basketball team, Hollis-Jefferson was a first-round draft pick and averaged 5.5 points for the Brooklyn Nets before breaking his ankle this month.
No. 75 • Eric Tatham
Cienega’s girls softball coach won his second state championship, leading the Bobcats to a 26-8 season.
No. 76 • Alexis Cortez
Tucson High’s senior basketball standout, bound for East Carolina on a basketball scholarship, averaged 25.6 points as a junior and could threaten 30 per game this winter.
No. 77 • Kathryn Ottman
At the Division II girls state golf championships, Ottman, a Sahuaro senior, won the individual title by seven strokes, shooting back-to-back 72s.
No. 78 • Nate Renfro
Not only did Renfro lead Sahuaro with a 16.4 scoring average last season, he had a 4.0 GPA. As a freshman forward at San Francisco, Renfro is averaging 23 minutes and 5.5 points a game.
No. 79 • Jamee Swan
As a junior center at Colorado last season, the Marana High grad averaged 13.2 points and 7.9 points, leading the Buffaloes in both categories.
No. 80 • Alejandro Gonzalez
A first-team All-ACCAC midfielder for region champion Pima College, Gonzalez played high school soccer at Flowing Wells.
No. 81 • Luis Gonzalez
As a freshman outfielder at New Mexico, the Catalina Foothills grad hit .299 in 37 starts, with 16 extra-base hits. He also made 16 pitching appearances and was 4-2 for the Lobos.
No. 82 • Kalei Mau
Arizona’s junior outside hitter was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection after producing eight games of 20 or more kills.
No. 83 • Daniela Sanchez
As a Pima College freshman, Sanchez was the All-ACCAC goalkeeper with 87 saves in 19 starts, allowing just 16 goals after a Sabino prep career.
No. 84 • Kellie Fox
A defensive stopper at shortstop, Fox was a first-team All-Pac12 player at Arizona, hitting a club-high .400. She was a third-team NFCA All-American.
No. 85 • Maddie Pothoff
Tucson’s leading female tennis player accepted a scholarship to Alabama after rising to No. 20 in the USA amateur rankings for girls 18-U.
No. 86 • Alexis Alfonso
As Pima College went 46-14 to finish third in ACCAC softball, Alfonso, a CDO grad, hit .381 with eight home runs and was the Aztecs’ top pitcher, at 27-7.
No. 87 • Dan Slania
The former Salpointe Catholic pitcher went 4-5 with 16 saves and 90 strikeouts in 71 innings for the Class A San Jose Giants.
No. 88 • Katiyana Mauga
A third-team NFCA All-American, Mauga hit 26 homers and drove in 76 runs as an Arizona Wildcat sophomore outfielder.
No. 89 • Aaron Anderson
The Mountain View High School grad became a pro basketball player, averaging 6.3 points per game for the Sodertaljc Kings of the Swedish EuroLeague.
No. 90 • Carey Bauer
Walden Grove won its first state championship in 2015 as Bauer guided the Red Wolves to a 25-1 record and the Division III girls soccer title.
No. 91 • Caitlin Leverenz
The 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, a Sahuaro High and Cal Bears grad, continued as one of America’s top swimmers, winning national championships in the 200 IM and 400 IM.
No. 92 • Tyler Fallwell
After leading Palo Verde to the 2014 state baseball title, Fallwell continued his good work at Cochise College, going 4-2 in 66 innings with 59 strikeouts as Cochise went 44-17 and finished second in the ACCAC.
No. 93 • Michael Perez
After starting 22 games at shooting guard for the Nevada Wolf Pack, the Pueblo High product signed with the Halcones de Veracruz franchise in the Mexican pro basketball league.
No. 94 • Tom Wilhelmsen
Regaining his role as closer for the Seattle Mariners, the Tucson High grad had 13 saves and struck out 60 in 62 innings for the Mariners with a 3.19 ERA.
No. 95 • Kaysee Pilgrim
An all-star volleyball player at Pima College, Pilgrim switched to the high jump in the spring and won the NJCAA national championship.
No. 96 • Haley Howell
Four times the Salpointe Catholic grad was the MAAC volleyball Player of the Week, the league’s top setter for the Siena Saints and a first-team all-conference selection.
No. 97 • Alex Robles
A first-team All-Ohio Valley baseball player from Tucson High, Robles had a 6-2 pitching record in 84 innings, and also hit .328 with 39 RBI at Austin Peay.
No. 98 • Nathan Farmer
In his first year at Pima College, the Ironwood Ridge grad scored 89 points at Pima College, making 14 of 17 field goal attempts and 47 of 48 point-after kicks.
No. 99 • Nicco Blank
The Catalina High product struck out 40 batters in 41 innings and had a 2.40 ERA for Class A Brooklyn, the New York Mets’ affiliate.
No. 100 • Chelsea Goodacre
After hitting 24 home runs and driving in a Pac-12-high 86 runs, Arizona’s senior catcher was a second-team all-conference selection.
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