Sports 28
SPORTS
THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MARCH 6, 2022
Chandler Sports Hall of Fame celebrates latest induction class BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor
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’Keal Harry’s favorite memory from his time at Chandler High School came in the 2014 state championship game at State Farm Stadium. Knowing the Wolves had the game secured, he stood on his team’s bench with quarterback Bryce Perkins and athlete Chase Lucas. The trio faced the crowd in their Nos. 1, 2 and 3 jerseys and raised their hands in the air. The crowd erupted in the stands. Chandler’s players erupted on the field moments later when the championship was officially theirs. Moments like that made Harry an icon in Chandler and the state. What he went on to do after that cemented his legacy as one of the state’s greats, despite his young age. Another chapter in his legacy was
From top left: N’Keal Harry, Mark Tucker, Phil Gonzales, Greg Haagsma, Camille Casteel and Sierra Rodriguez were all part of the 17th induction class or special recognition to the Chandler Sports Hall of Fame Saturday, Feb. 19 at Hamilton High School. Cole Luke and Markus Howard were also inducted. (Dave Minton/Staff) written on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Hamilton
High School as the 24-year-old joined
six others — Dr. Camille Casteel, Valley Christian’s Greg Haagsma, Hamilton tennis coach Phil Gonzales, Hamilton alum Cole Luke, Perry and Findlay Prep basketball standout Markus Howard and Basha softball great Sierra Rodriguez as the 17th class to be inducted into the Chandler Sports Hall of Fame. “Just all the hard work I’ve put in throughout the years – all the blood, sweat and tears – to see it all come to fruition, it’s a blessing,” Harry said. “It’s an indescribable feeling.” Harry’s legacy began at Chandler as a junior, where he caught 30 passes for 657 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a senior he was ranked as the top wideout in the country and enrolled at Arizona State. He is currently in the top four all-time for receptions, yards and touchdowns
see HALL OF FAME page 29
Chandler Raiders win second consecutive flag national title BY DREW SCHOTT Arizonan Staff Writer
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hen the Chandler Raiders arrived in Las Vegas, Caleb Ely and Trey Knox felt like they and their teammates would be lifting a trophy after the NFL Flag National Championships. Since Dec. 2016, the Raiders — led by head coach Harley Ely and assistant coach Percy Knox, the fathers of Caleb and Trey — had numerous reasons to back up the prediction. They have succeeded on multiple levels of flag football by building a team of players similar in age across multiple seasons. They have the pedigree of winning big games, earning a title at the 12-and-under level in the 2020 NFL Flag National Championship game. “I just felt that we had a connection
From left: Percy Knox, Carter Ochoa, Caleb Ely, Ryder Rapp, Gage Baker, Jayden Giacinto, Dylan Quick, Dash Blake, Trey Knox, Alphonso Gloria, Jack Lewis and coach Harley Ely are all part of the Raiders football program that claimed the 14U national championship this season. (Photo courtesy Harley Ely)
and some of the other teams didn’t,” Trey Knox said. “I just felt like we had this in the bag.” But there was a more nostalgic reason, as well. Harley Ely said the tournament was “probably the end of our flag football run” due to players moving on to high school and aging out. So the Raiders made sure to make a lasting memory in what was likely their final game together, winning the 2022 14-and-under NFL Flag National Championship 13-12 over the Apex Predators at Allegiant Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. “It was just a great way to go out and reward these boys for all the hard work and preparation they put in,” Harley Ely said. “It’s just great to go out on top.” According to Percy Knox’s calculations, the Raiders — who won back-to-
see RAIDERS page 29
