Six months later, Iβm still in awe.
Pusch Ridge Christianβs football team put together an unbelievable run on the way to the programβs first state championship. What the Lions did over three straight weeks last fall is arguably the top story from the 2015-16 high school sports season.
Now that itβs all over, letβs take a look back at some of the highlights, including plenty of dominant or record-breaking performances:
Top boys performance
The award goes to: Justice Summerset, Mountain View track and field athlete
Why: This was another easy pick, as Summerset broke the state high jump record, clearing 7 feet 2Β½ inches in his final home meet.
Two weeks later, the Arizona Wildcats signee captured two gold medals at the Division II state championship meet, winning the high jump (6-9) and the 400 meters (48.93 seconds).
Next best: Jared McKemy, Ironwood Ridge football player. The senior wide receiver hauled in five catches for 151 yards and three touchdowns to lead fourth-seeded Ironwood Ridge to a 34-30 win against No. 13 Sunnyside in the first round of the state playoffs.
Top girls performance
The award goes to: Allie Schadler, Rio Rico cross-country runner
Why: The junior captured her third straight state title in record-breaking fashion. Schadlerβs winning time of 17:04 at the Division III state meet set a course record and was the best mark by more than a minute. Schadler also won four events at the track and field state meet this spring, and the Hawks took home the runner-up trophy.
Next best: Nic Conway, Catalina Foothills softball player. The sophomore powered the Falcons to their first softball championship, as she struck out 61 batters and gave up just one earned run through five games in the Division III state playoffs.
Most dominant boys team
The award goes to: Catalina Foothills tennis
Why: This was an easy pick, as the Falcons put together their third straight unbeaten season and won their third straight Division II state title. With star senior Mike Lee leading the way, Foothills didnβt even give up a singles match in the state tournament, capped off by a 5-0 win against Pusch Ridge Christian.
Next best: Tucson Highβs boys soccer team. Senior forward Julian Gaona scored 33 goals and tallied 15 assists to help the Badgers go unbeaten until a season-ending loss in the Division II state quarterfinals.
Most dominant girls team
The award goes to: Ironwood Ridge softball
Why: Sophomore third baseman Isabel Pacho helped lead the way as the Nighthawks put together an impressive 33-4 season and captured their second state championship in three years. I-Ridge outscored opponents 338-89 and rattled off five straight wins after losing its regular-season finale against rival Canyon del Oro.
Next best: Salpointe Catholicβs girls soccer team. Senior captain Hope Seasholes helped anchor a defense that gave up just eight goals in 25 matches. The Lancers posted a 23-2 record, earned the No. 1 seed in the Division II state tournament and reached their first championship match since 2001.
Best farewell
The award goes to: Danny Vega, Ironwood Ridge wrestler
Why: Not only did Vega go out by winning his third straight state title, he also helped the Nighthawks take home the Division I team championship. Vega, a 113-pound senior who has signed with Iowa State, finished his high school career with 116 consecutive victories.
Next best: Taylor Nations, Sabino swimmer. The Arizona Wildcats signee repeated as the girls Division II 100-yard backstroke champion in 56.7 seconds, won the 100 fly in 55.93 and anchored Sabinoβs 400 relay team to a win in 3:39.72 to close out her prep career.
Best postseason run
The award goes to: Pusch Ridge Christianβs football team
Why: Three straight come-from-behind wins helped the Lions capture their first state title in dramatic fashion. First it was a last-second touchdown grab by senior tight end Ben Walker in the Division IV quarterfinals and then Pusch Ridge rallied from a 14-point deficit for a 17-14 overtime win in the semifinals. But the most unthinkable came the following week, when the Lions scored two touchdowns in the final 5:05 to beat Phoenix Northwest Christian 14-7 in the championship game. Walkerβs game-tying touchdown capped a 99-yard drive; sophomore running back Tamerat McLeod then rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:11 remaining to give the Lions the lead.
Next best: Tucson Highβs baseball team. Senior pitcher Jose Contreras survived an 11-inning marathon in the first round and the Badgers won four straight elimination games to get back to the Division II state final.
