High School Reunion: 2005-06 Athletes of the Year
- Updated
Here's a look at the Arizona Daily Star's 2005-06 high school athletes of the year.
Editor's note
Online sports producer Drew McCullough is spending his summer digging through Star archives and compiling a list of every high school athlete of the year since 1999. Today: 2005-06.
Football player of the year
Name: Glyndon Bolasky
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Second in Southern Arizona with 1,711 yards, Sabino's swift running back scored 25 touchdowns. — Greg Hansen, 2005
Girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Whitney Dosty
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: In only two seasons as a volleyball player, Dosty, a senior at Salpointe, became the state's top player and possibly the nation's most-sought college recruit. — Greg Hansen, 2005
Boys cross country runner of the year
Name: Victor Zazueta
School: Desert View
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys cross country
From the archives: In the 4A-II competition, Desert View junior Victor Zazueta won the boys championship in 16:39.
"It feels great; it's just amazing to win," Zazueta said.
Zazueta found himself surrounded by runners from Page for the majority of the race, but ran with them to the end until he pulled away.
"We got to 800 meters and we spread out a little," he said. "Somebody was always there pushing somebody else." — Jason Scheer, 2005
Girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Tara Erdmann
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Southern Arizona's runners were expected to perform fairly well in Saturday's high school cross country championships at Cave Creek Golf Course.
However, not many would have predicted that local runners would account for three individual titles and two team titles.
Flowing Wells junior Tara Erdmann predicted last week that the state championship was going to come down to either herself and Glendale Sandra Day O'Connor's Lindsay Prescott.
She was right - Erdmann beat Prescott to win the Class 5A-II championship with a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds.
Prescott finished second by 8 seconds.
The runners were neck-and-neck throughout the race, then Erdmann's strategy paid off at the end.
"At the very beginning, I let her take the lead, so there was no pressure," Erdmann said. "I was just trying to keep pace."
With 800 meters left, Prescott picked up her pace.
But Erdmann stayed with her.
The Flowing Wells junior made her kick at the 400-meter mark, which proved to be too much for Prescott.
"I wasn't sure how good her kick was going to be, so I went all out, hoping my kick was faster," Erdmann said. — Jason Scheer, 2005
Boys golfer of the year
Name: Chase Hite
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys golf
From the archives: A boy named Hite stayed flat Thursday, and it paid off.
Chase Hite, Sabino's standout senior golfer, put together a 2-under-par 70 at Randolph North to win the Class 4A-I state championship.
Hite's win came at the best possible time - his final event as a prep golfer.
"It's awesome. It's the best. It doesn't even feel like I won," Hite said. "I don't even need a trophy at all. This is just the best. I'm happier than all get-out."
Hite's post-game ebullience belied the fact that he was all business - professional, calm, composed - in the final round en route to a 2-under score of 70.
Thursday's score, coupled with his 3-under 69 Wednesday, gave him a two-stroke win over Lake Havasu City's Kyle Nielsen (141).
Hite did not get too high or low in the final round, both in his mind and on his scoresheet. He did not bogey, and he birdied only two.
"He has ice in his veins," Sabino coach Rod Allen said.
"This was probably his most focused performance over a two-day period all season. He has been constantly improving all year and did a good job of staying focused."
Hite made big strides after finishing second to teammate Dan Ross in last week's 4A Sonoran Regional.
"I just stayed solid," he said. "I was basically all pars and no bogeys. I needed to make some shots, and I made them." — Ryan Finley, 2005
Girls golfer of the year
Name: Andrea Ratigan
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls golf
From the archives: Sabino's Andrea Ratigan (74) finished her high school career with a fourth-place finish, tops among Southern Arizona golfers. — Patrick Finley, 2005
Boys swimmer of the year
Name: Ben Aaberg
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys swimming and diving
From the archives: Aaberg won the state title in the 200 individual medley and the 100 freestyle, and helped lead his team to a ninth-place finish at the 4A-I state meet. — Star staff, 2005
Girls swimmer of the year
Name: Emma Darlington
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls swimming and diving
From the archives: Salpointe Catholic's girls tallied 174 points for a third-place tie, equaling their best finish in nine years.
Emma Darlington earned first place in the 50 freestyle, beating last year's winner Aleesha Miller in 23.05 seconds, just .02 seconds off the state record.
Two events later, Darlington took first in the 100 freestyle, finishing less than 1 second off Salpointe coach Emily Mastin's 1995 state record.
"I hope she breaks it next year," Mastin said. "She's a good kid and she works hard. She deserves to break it." — Andrew Fredricks, 2005
Boys basketball player of the year
Name: David Jackson
School: Rincon/University
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys basketball
From the archives: Rincon/University's David Jackson led the Rangers to the Class 4A-I state championship game with his tough play at center. Jackson is pictured in front of a screen projection of the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett, who Jackson says is one of his favorite athletes. — Star staff, 2006
Girls basketball player of the year
Name: Rachelle Federico
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls basketball
From the archives: Flowing Wells' Rachelle Federico was the one constant on the area's most surprising team. As Flowing Wells' most feared scorer, she led the Caballeros' to the Class 5A-II state final. Federico is pictured with an image of Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, who she admires for her tough play at Connecticut. — Star staff, 2006
Boys soccer player of the year
Name: Fernando Gauna
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys soccer
From the archives: Fernando Gauna's deft scoring ability helped Salpointe Catholic's boys all the way to the Class 5A-I state championship game. It nearly got them the title, too - Gauna's potentially game-winning goal was waved off after referees ruled that time had expired in overtime. Gauna wears jersey No. 9 for Brazil's Ronaldo, his favorite player. — Star staff, 2006
Girls soccer player of the year
Name: LeeAnn Felder
School: Catalina Foothills
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls soccer
From the archives: Catalina Foothills' LeeAnn Felder helped lead the Falcons to a perfect 26-0 season and the Class 4A-I state title. She is pictured with an image of American women's soccer hero Brandi Chastain, who scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup. — Star staff, 2006
Wrestler of the year
Name: Kyle DeBerry
School: Sunnyside
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Wrestling
From the archives: Kyle DeBerry has been a part of Sunnyside wrestling since he was a baby. The son of longtime Blue Devils coach Bobby DeBerry proved his mettle this winter by winning the 5A state crown in the 152-pound weight class. He is pictured with an image of his father, whom he calls "my favorite person." — Star staff, 2006
Baseball player of the year
Name: Chris Moon
School: Tucson High
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Baseball
From the archives: The Tucson High School pitcher went 6-1 with a 1.32 ERA and hit .467 when not pitching. — Star staff, 2006
Softball player of the year
Name: Kenzie Fowler
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Freshman
Sport: Softball
From the archives: What didn't the CDO freshman do? She went 28-4 with an 0.13 ERA and led the Dorados to the 4A-I state championship softball game with 10 no-hitters. She then was selected to USA Softball's junior national team. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Boys tennis player of the year
Name: John Nanosky
School: Ironwood Ridge
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys tennis
From the archives: The state's 4A boys singles tennis champion as an Ironwood Ridge High School junior has signed to play at Minnesota. — Star staff, 2006
Girls tennis players of the year
Name: Tristany Leikem
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls tennis
From the archives: The Flowing Wells High School tennis partners won the 5A-II state title for the second year and had outstanding seasons for the Cabs' cross country teams. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Name: Kirsten Leikem
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls tennis
From the archives: The Flowing Wells High School tennis partners won the 5A-II state title for the second year and had outstanding seasons for the Cabs' cross country teams. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Boys track athlete of the year
Name: Bryce Livingston
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys track and field
From the archives: In 5A-I, Salpointe Catholic distance-running sensation Bryce Livingston succumbed to the relentless pace of Phoenix Desert Vista's Garrett Kelly in the boys' 5A-I 3,200 final. The duo was locked in a dead heat for five laps, but Livingston fell behind. He used a torrid kick in the final half-lap to finish second. — Star staff, 2006
Girls track athlete of the year
Name: Jaime Minor
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls track and field
From the archives: Minor was outstanding for coach Jim Truitt as she helped CDO win the 4A-I state track and field title. She won the state triple jump, was second in the long jump and ran a leg on a third-place relay team. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Boys volleyball player of the year
Name: Kevin Tong
School: Catalina Foothills
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys volleyball
From the archives: Two matches. Six games. Three hours.
That's what it took for the Catalina Foothills boys team to win its first volleyball state championship on Saturday.
After a win over Sabino in the semifinals, second-seeded Foothills (40-7), fueled by a quick lunch and some pre-game adrenaline, clinched the 4A/5A-II state championship, upsetting Sahuaro 18-25, 25-18, 25-23 in a thriller at Mountain View High School.
Led by Kevin Tong's 10 kills and a relentless defense, Foothills earned only the second boys' volleyball crown by a Southern Arizona school in state history.
"It's always nice to take out the top dog," Foothills coach Andrea Fyock said.
Sahuaro (38-3) breezed through the semis with a win over Pueblo. The Cougars looked like the top seed in Game 1 of the championship when senior Colin Hosto drilled three consecutive kills to give them an 18-13 lead.
Teammate Alex Keicher took the reins and posted six kills to give Sahuaro a 25-18 win in the first game.
Still, Foothills hitter Tong wouldn't let his team be disheartened. "(I told them) that if we just kept confident, we'd do it," he said.
The Falcons' did just that. They entered the court recharged in Game 2, led by Tong, who sunk six kills in the frame.
A laser by sophomore Sam Magill ignited a three-point scoring run that gave Foothills a 17-13 lead.
Shortly afterward, setter Kalen Johnson made a key block to give the Falcons a 25-18 win and force a third game.
Sahuaro jumped out in front early and took a 16-13 lead on a kill by outside hitter Adam Foard.
Outside hitter A. J. Wysopal joined in the surge, notching five kills, his last one putting the Cougars ahead 22-20.
The Falcons were spent. Bent over and hands on their knees, Tong rallied the team.
He rocketed a kill off the hands of two Sahuaro defenders, sending the ball out of bounds to tie the game at 22.
Tong struck again moments later, splitting the Cougar defense with another kill off the right side to gain a 24-23 lead.
A rattled Sahuaro front fumbled the ball between players before letting it fall to the court on the ensuing play. It was all the Falcons needed to secure the victory.
Tong said an outstanding team effort helped the Falcons prevail.
"By myself I can't do anything," he said. "It's a team sport, and I needed everybody else to be there." — Peter J. Stevenson, 2006
- Updated
Click the photo below to check out more athletes of the year in our "High School Reunion" series.
- Updated
2005 girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Whitney Dosty
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: In only two seasons as a volleyball player, Dosty, a senior at Salpointe, became the state's top player and possibly the nation's most-sought college recruit. — Greg Hansen, 2005
- Updated
2005 football player of the year
Name: Glyndon Bolasky
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Second in Southern Arizona with 1,711 yards, Sabino's swift running back scored 25 touchdowns. — Greg Hansen, 2005
- Updated
2005 girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Tara Erdmann
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Southern Arizona's runners were expected to perform fairly well in Saturday's high school cross country championships at Cave Creek Golf Course.
However, not many would have predicted that local runners would account for three individual titles and two team titles.
Flowing Wells junior Tara Erdmann predicted last week that the state championship was going to come down to either herself and Glendale Sandra Day O'Connor's Lindsay Prescott.
She was right - Erdmann beat Prescott to win the Class 5A-II championship with a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds.
Prescott finished second by 8 seconds.
The runners were neck-and-neck throughout the race, then Erdmann's strategy paid off at the end.
"At the very beginning, I let her take the lead, so there was no pressure," Erdmann said. "I was just trying to keep pace."
With 800 meters left, Prescott picked up her pace.
But Erdmann stayed with her.
The Flowing Wells junior made her kick at the 400-meter mark, which proved to be too much for Prescott.
"I wasn't sure how good her kick was going to be, so I went all out, hoping my kick was faster," Erdmann said. — Jason Scheer, 2005
Football player of the year
Name: Glyndon Bolasky
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Second in Southern Arizona with 1,711 yards, Sabino's swift running back scored 25 touchdowns. — Greg Hansen, 2005
Girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Whitney Dosty
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: In only two seasons as a volleyball player, Dosty, a senior at Salpointe, became the state's top player and possibly the nation's most-sought college recruit. — Greg Hansen, 2005
Boys cross country runner of the year
Name: Victor Zazueta
School: Desert View
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys cross country
From the archives: In the 4A-II competition, Desert View junior Victor Zazueta won the boys championship in 16:39.
"It feels great; it's just amazing to win," Zazueta said.
Zazueta found himself surrounded by runners from Page for the majority of the race, but ran with them to the end until he pulled away.
"We got to 800 meters and we spread out a little," he said. "Somebody was always there pushing somebody else." — Jason Scheer, 2005
Girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Tara Erdmann
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Southern Arizona's runners were expected to perform fairly well in Saturday's high school cross country championships at Cave Creek Golf Course.
However, not many would have predicted that local runners would account for three individual titles and two team titles.
Flowing Wells junior Tara Erdmann predicted last week that the state championship was going to come down to either herself and Glendale Sandra Day O'Connor's Lindsay Prescott.
She was right - Erdmann beat Prescott to win the Class 5A-II championship with a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds.
Prescott finished second by 8 seconds.
The runners were neck-and-neck throughout the race, then Erdmann's strategy paid off at the end.
"At the very beginning, I let her take the lead, so there was no pressure," Erdmann said. "I was just trying to keep pace."
With 800 meters left, Prescott picked up her pace.
But Erdmann stayed with her.
The Flowing Wells junior made her kick at the 400-meter mark, which proved to be too much for Prescott.
"I wasn't sure how good her kick was going to be, so I went all out, hoping my kick was faster," Erdmann said. — Jason Scheer, 2005
Boys golfer of the year
Name: Chase Hite
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys golf
From the archives: A boy named Hite stayed flat Thursday, and it paid off.
Chase Hite, Sabino's standout senior golfer, put together a 2-under-par 70 at Randolph North to win the Class 4A-I state championship.
Hite's win came at the best possible time - his final event as a prep golfer.
"It's awesome. It's the best. It doesn't even feel like I won," Hite said. "I don't even need a trophy at all. This is just the best. I'm happier than all get-out."
Hite's post-game ebullience belied the fact that he was all business - professional, calm, composed - in the final round en route to a 2-under score of 70.
Thursday's score, coupled with his 3-under 69 Wednesday, gave him a two-stroke win over Lake Havasu City's Kyle Nielsen (141).
Hite did not get too high or low in the final round, both in his mind and on his scoresheet. He did not bogey, and he birdied only two.
"He has ice in his veins," Sabino coach Rod Allen said.
"This was probably his most focused performance over a two-day period all season. He has been constantly improving all year and did a good job of staying focused."
Hite made big strides after finishing second to teammate Dan Ross in last week's 4A Sonoran Regional.
"I just stayed solid," he said. "I was basically all pars and no bogeys. I needed to make some shots, and I made them." — Ryan Finley, 2005
Girls golfer of the year
Name: Andrea Ratigan
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls golf
From the archives: Sabino's Andrea Ratigan (74) finished her high school career with a fourth-place finish, tops among Southern Arizona golfers. — Patrick Finley, 2005
Boys swimmer of the year
Name: Ben Aaberg
School: Sahuaro
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys swimming and diving
From the archives: Aaberg won the state title in the 200 individual medley and the 100 freestyle, and helped lead his team to a ninth-place finish at the 4A-I state meet. — Star staff, 2005
Girls swimmer of the year
Name: Emma Darlington
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls swimming and diving
From the archives: Salpointe Catholic's girls tallied 174 points for a third-place tie, equaling their best finish in nine years.
Emma Darlington earned first place in the 50 freestyle, beating last year's winner Aleesha Miller in 23.05 seconds, just .02 seconds off the state record.
Two events later, Darlington took first in the 100 freestyle, finishing less than 1 second off Salpointe coach Emily Mastin's 1995 state record.
"I hope she breaks it next year," Mastin said. "She's a good kid and she works hard. She deserves to break it." — Andrew Fredricks, 2005
Boys basketball player of the year
Name: David Jackson
School: Rincon/University
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys basketball
From the archives: Rincon/University's David Jackson led the Rangers to the Class 4A-I state championship game with his tough play at center. Jackson is pictured in front of a screen projection of the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett, who Jackson says is one of his favorite athletes. — Star staff, 2006
Girls basketball player of the year
Name: Rachelle Federico
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls basketball
From the archives: Flowing Wells' Rachelle Federico was the one constant on the area's most surprising team. As Flowing Wells' most feared scorer, she led the Caballeros' to the Class 5A-II state final. Federico is pictured with an image of Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, who she admires for her tough play at Connecticut. — Star staff, 2006
Boys soccer player of the year
Name: Fernando Gauna
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys soccer
From the archives: Fernando Gauna's deft scoring ability helped Salpointe Catholic's boys all the way to the Class 5A-I state championship game. It nearly got them the title, too - Gauna's potentially game-winning goal was waved off after referees ruled that time had expired in overtime. Gauna wears jersey No. 9 for Brazil's Ronaldo, his favorite player. — Star staff, 2006
Girls soccer player of the year
Name: LeeAnn Felder
School: Catalina Foothills
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls soccer
From the archives: Catalina Foothills' LeeAnn Felder helped lead the Falcons to a perfect 26-0 season and the Class 4A-I state title. She is pictured with an image of American women's soccer hero Brandi Chastain, who scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup. — Star staff, 2006
Wrestler of the year
Name: Kyle DeBerry
School: Sunnyside
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Wrestling
From the archives: Kyle DeBerry has been a part of Sunnyside wrestling since he was a baby. The son of longtime Blue Devils coach Bobby DeBerry proved his mettle this winter by winning the 5A state crown in the 152-pound weight class. He is pictured with an image of his father, whom he calls "my favorite person." — Star staff, 2006
Baseball player of the year
Name: Chris Moon
School: Tucson High
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Baseball
From the archives: The Tucson High School pitcher went 6-1 with a 1.32 ERA and hit .467 when not pitching. — Star staff, 2006
Softball player of the year
Name: Kenzie Fowler
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Freshman
Sport: Softball
From the archives: What didn't the CDO freshman do? She went 28-4 with an 0.13 ERA and led the Dorados to the 4A-I state championship softball game with 10 no-hitters. She then was selected to USA Softball's junior national team. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Boys tennis player of the year
Name: John Nanosky
School: Ironwood Ridge
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Boys tennis
From the archives: The state's 4A boys singles tennis champion as an Ironwood Ridge High School junior has signed to play at Minnesota. — Star staff, 2006
Girls tennis players of the year
Name: Tristany Leikem
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls tennis
From the archives: The Flowing Wells High School tennis partners won the 5A-II state title for the second year and had outstanding seasons for the Cabs' cross country teams. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Name: Kirsten Leikem
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Sophomore
Sport: Girls tennis
From the archives: The Flowing Wells High School tennis partners won the 5A-II state title for the second year and had outstanding seasons for the Cabs' cross country teams. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Boys track athlete of the year
Name: Bryce Livingston
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys track and field
From the archives: In 5A-I, Salpointe Catholic distance-running sensation Bryce Livingston succumbed to the relentless pace of Phoenix Desert Vista's Garrett Kelly in the boys' 5A-I 3,200 final. The duo was locked in a dead heat for five laps, but Livingston fell behind. He used a torrid kick in the final half-lap to finish second. — Star staff, 2006
Girls track athlete of the year
Name: Jaime Minor
School: Canyon del Oro
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls track and field
From the archives: Minor was outstanding for coach Jim Truitt as she helped CDO win the 4A-I state track and field title. She won the state triple jump, was second in the long jump and ran a leg on a third-place relay team. — Greg Hansen, 2006
Boys volleyball player of the year
Name: Kevin Tong
School: Catalina Foothills
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Boys volleyball
From the archives: Two matches. Six games. Three hours.
That's what it took for the Catalina Foothills boys team to win its first volleyball state championship on Saturday.
After a win over Sabino in the semifinals, second-seeded Foothills (40-7), fueled by a quick lunch and some pre-game adrenaline, clinched the 4A/5A-II state championship, upsetting Sahuaro 18-25, 25-18, 25-23 in a thriller at Mountain View High School.
Led by Kevin Tong's 10 kills and a relentless defense, Foothills earned only the second boys' volleyball crown by a Southern Arizona school in state history.
"It's always nice to take out the top dog," Foothills coach Andrea Fyock said.
Sahuaro (38-3) breezed through the semis with a win over Pueblo. The Cougars looked like the top seed in Game 1 of the championship when senior Colin Hosto drilled three consecutive kills to give them an 18-13 lead.
Teammate Alex Keicher took the reins and posted six kills to give Sahuaro a 25-18 win in the first game.
Still, Foothills hitter Tong wouldn't let his team be disheartened. "(I told them) that if we just kept confident, we'd do it," he said.
The Falcons' did just that. They entered the court recharged in Game 2, led by Tong, who sunk six kills in the frame.
A laser by sophomore Sam Magill ignited a three-point scoring run that gave Foothills a 17-13 lead.
Shortly afterward, setter Kalen Johnson made a key block to give the Falcons a 25-18 win and force a third game.
Sahuaro jumped out in front early and took a 16-13 lead on a kill by outside hitter Adam Foard.
Outside hitter A. J. Wysopal joined in the surge, notching five kills, his last one putting the Cougars ahead 22-20.
The Falcons were spent. Bent over and hands on their knees, Tong rallied the team.
He rocketed a kill off the hands of two Sahuaro defenders, sending the ball out of bounds to tie the game at 22.
Tong struck again moments later, splitting the Cougar defense with another kill off the right side to gain a 24-23 lead.
A rattled Sahuaro front fumbled the ball between players before letting it fall to the court on the ensuing play. It was all the Falcons needed to secure the victory.
Tong said an outstanding team effort helped the Falcons prevail.
"By myself I can't do anything," he said. "It's a team sport, and I needed everybody else to be there." — Peter J. Stevenson, 2006
2005 girls volleyball player of the year
Name: Whitney Dosty
School: Salpointe Catholic
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
From the archives: In only two seasons as a volleyball player, Dosty, a senior at Salpointe, became the state's top player and possibly the nation's most-sought college recruit. — Greg Hansen, 2005
2005 football player of the year
Name: Glyndon Bolasky
School: Sabino
Year in school: Senior
Sport: Football
From the archives: Second in Southern Arizona with 1,711 yards, Sabino's swift running back scored 25 touchdowns. — Greg Hansen, 2005
2005 girls cross country runner of the year
Name: Tara Erdmann
School: Flowing Wells
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Girls cross country
From the archives: Southern Arizona's runners were expected to perform fairly well in Saturday's high school cross country championships at Cave Creek Golf Course.
However, not many would have predicted that local runners would account for three individual titles and two team titles.
Flowing Wells junior Tara Erdmann predicted last week that the state championship was going to come down to either herself and Glendale Sandra Day O'Connor's Lindsay Prescott.
She was right - Erdmann beat Prescott to win the Class 5A-II championship with a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds.
Prescott finished second by 8 seconds.
The runners were neck-and-neck throughout the race, then Erdmann's strategy paid off at the end.
"At the very beginning, I let her take the lead, so there was no pressure," Erdmann said. "I was just trying to keep pace."
With 800 meters left, Prescott picked up her pace.
But Erdmann stayed with her.
The Flowing Wells junior made her kick at the 400-meter mark, which proved to be too much for Prescott.
"I wasn't sure how good her kick was going to be, so I went all out, hoping my kick was faster," Erdmann said. — Jason Scheer, 2005
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
44 things to do in Tucson this weekend, April 10-12
-
$25 challenge: Inside Warm Shape’s treasure trove of Tucson-made goods
-
Taste 'Mexico in a bottle' at Tucson agave fest this weekend
-
New Eats! 20 new restaurants that opened up in Tucson this winter 🍽️
-
Vintage band tees take center stage at Tucson’s new shop Almandel
-
Pima County Fair returns with all new rides, big name concerts and fun foods 🎡
-
Over 70 fun events happening in Tucson in April 🎡🐰
-
Viral fruit ice cream and strawberry Oreos: the $25 challenge at Sandyi Oriental Market
-
Bloomfest celebrates palo verde blooms and Tucson culture
-
Your Tucson weekend guide: Nearly 50 events happening April 17-19