SPORTS

Senior football players get scholar honors from NFF

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Arizonan Sports Editor

Bryce Chen takes pride in Arizona College Prep football.

It was the program he found his calling in when he was a freshman at the school’s old campus, a small building along Alma School Road. It was the program he grew up with, playing alongside some of his best friends and for a coach that truly valued each and every one of his players.

Chen was one of the architects of the ACP football program, which will now move up to the 4A Conference and for the first time, has a field and campus to call its own after it opened in 2021 near Gilbert and Ocotillo roads. So it’s only fitting Chen be honored for his accolades not only on the field as a receiver for the Knights, but in the classroom as well.

“There’s 23 of us here today and it’s really exciting,” Chen said. “I’m just amazed right now. I’m at a loss for words because I’m from a small school. Some of these kids are from big 6A schools. I’m just …. wow, I’m here.”

Chen was one of 23 high school football players from around the state honored by the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter at its 41st Scholar Athlete Luncheon at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler.

Currently with a 4.35 GPA at ACP, Chen was honored with the Core Construction Award, awarded to athletes that solidify themselves as difference makers on and off the field, something Chen did during his time at ACP.

As a wide receiver and defensive back, Chen ranks second all-time in career receptions, receiving yards, yards per reception and receiving touchdowns. Despite battling an injury that kept him out the first few games of the season, he again became the top wideout for junior quarterback Jayden Diaz.

He earned a scholarship to play at the next level at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a Division III engineering school in Indiana.

Chen was joined by other Chandler athletes as part of the NFF luncheon Saturday, April 23.

Nason Coleman’s high school career was nearly derailed by a knee injury before the start of his junior season. But as a senior he reestablished himself as one of the best at his position in the state as he helped lead the Wolves to yet another Open Division State Championship appearance last fall.

He will attend BYU to continue his football and academic career.

“The amount of games and seasons we’ve gone through, just making those relationships with my teammates is what is going to stick with me the most,” Coleman said. “Going out with this honor means a lot. I think this focuses more how you are outside of the football field. That’s something Chandler teaches us a lot, how to represent ourselves off the field. I think it’s an extremely great honor.”

Dawson Hubbard’s time at Hamilton was short as he transferred in before his junior season from Illinois. But in that time, he became a dominating presence for the Huskies on the defensive line.

Hubbard starred at the position for the Huskies, helping lead them to the Open Division State Championship game in his first season and the semifinals as a senior. He also maintained a 3.6 GPA throughout, which helped him earn a scholarship offer to Butler University where he will continue his football career.

Hubbard was one of four players named to the 2022 Elite Fiesta Bowl Academic Team and was honored at the Scholar Luncheon. To him, it was the perfect event to cap off his high school career.

“The situation I was put in, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Hubbard said. “Moving during COVID and playing at one of the best high schools in the nation, I’m just thankful to God, my coaches and my family.

“They accepted me for who I was and gave me the best opportunity to play football.”

Seton Catholic senior Mattias Benally was also honored by the NFF as he received the Native American Award. Other notable Chandler ties included an inaugural scholarship in honor of former Chandler offensive line and in-game run coordinator Chris Chick, who passed away suddenly last year.

Chick’s family established the scholarship in his honor, with Florence’s Ryan King named the inaugural recipient for his leadership and passion for football and academics with a 4.22 GPA.

The Scholar Athlete Luncheon honored three local college football players at the event as well as three distinguished Arizonans, which included AIA Executive Director David Hines, Arizona State awardwinning Associate Athletic Director of Media Relations Mark Brand and longtime quarterback coach Dan Manucci.

Other East Valley high school honorees included Red Mountain senior Ryan Grossklaus, Mesa senior Joshua Irish and Notre Dame Prep senior Duke Frye, who received the Coach Tom Wheatley Memorial Award. Saguaro senior Miles Crutchley was the fifth recipient of the Bob and Janet Casciola Family Scholarship on Saturday. He shared the moment with teammate Thomas DeChesaro, who received the highest honor of the day.

“There’s a lot of really good, smart athletic guys here,” DeChesaro said. “It’s really cool to all come together for one big event like this to honor our achievements.”

DeChesaro was named the NFF Valley of the Sun Chapter Scholar Athlete of the Year. The senior helped lead Saguaro to the Open Division State Championship last fall, beating Chandler.

Ahwatukee resident Adonis Watt, who captured the hearts of the hearts of the high school football community when he made his varsity debut in 2019 for Brophy. A sophomore at the time, he lined up at running back against Alhambra High School and plunged into the end zone from a yard out.

Moments like that motivated him to continue pursuing his dream of playing football. He was honored with the Shaw Courage Award. “When you find something you love, stick with it as long as you can or until you don’t love it anymore, until the wheels fall off,” Watt said. “That’s what I’m doing and what I’m going to continue to do.

“Everyone has their own battles. Mine just happens to be my vision. That’s how I look at it.”

Left: Arizona College Prep senior Bryce Chen was honored with the Core Construction Award from the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter during its 41st annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon on Saturday, April 23 at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler. Right: Chandler senior Nason Coleman was another honoree at the luncheon. He will continue his academic and athletic career at BYU in the fall after winning three state titles during his time with the Wolves. (Dave Minton/Arizonan Staff)

AZSTA donates $80K Dignity, local school athletic trainers

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Arizonan Sports Editor

Athletic trainers are often the forgotten piece to any sports program, especially at the high school level.

They can treat a wide variety of injuries, from bumps and bruises to immediate urgent care until paramedics can arrive on scene. They can be a coach’s best friend or worst enemy, depending on who you ask.

But one thing is clear: They’re there no matter when called upon.

School districts will often spend enough to ensure its head athletic trainer and staff have the necessary equipment. But like in most aspects of education, the funds aren’t unlimited.

That’s where Dignity Health has come in.

In partnership with the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, Dignity secured an $80,000 grant for new equipment for its partner schools across Queen Creek, Chandler and Gilbert. In total, 28 schools received new equipment for its training staff, including 14 high schools.

“The athletic trainers are extremely grateful, said Suzie Squires, Athletic Training Manager of the Dignity Health Sports Medicine Program. “They know having the funds and these items allow them to do their jobs that much better which is their ultimate goal. Some of our schools, it’s adding to their long-running wish list.”

Most of the equipment donated through the grants went to portable automated external defibrillators. Some schools, like Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, will receive a new equipment cart used to transport equipment, staff and when necessary, injured athletes.

The new cart is a welcomed sight for Campo Verde head athletic trainer Julia Marino. While still in her first year, she’s felt the brunt of having an outdated cart with battery issues. But she now looks forward to a new one on the way.

“Our current golf cart is running on its last leg,” Marino said. “Just to have those funds available, we don’t have to fundraise or find the funds, we can give more attention to our athletes knowing Dignity is in the background preparing these resources for us. We can get around easier, we can build our program and use some of that money elsewhere.

“Same thing with the AED. Those get old quickly. Many schools apply for grants and get denied so having Dignity under our belt is amazing.”

Campo Verde, like other schools, will also receive five years of subscriptions for an electronic medical record software used by trainers daily. The software allows trainers to better monitor and track each individual athlete.

Some schools are also receiving iPads and WiFi jetpacks with the grant, which can be used for training and a variety of other things related to the head athletic trainer’s day-today operations keeping athletes healthy.

Chris Marquez came to Arizona College Prep two years ago from Arizona State where he served as the wrestling athletic trainer.

At the time of his arrival, ACP was still at its old campus near Alma School and Ray roads in Chandler. The school, at the time, had a practice field and small gym, but not much else.

But last fall the school opened its larger standalone campus near Gilbert and Ocotillo roads, which included multiple practice fields, softball, baseball, a football stadium and large gym and weight room. Quickly, Marquez had much more ground to cover during the school year when most sports are in full swing.

“Having access to those supplies and have the golf carts to cover the such a huge ground has been so helpful, especially as we find new access points and a way to run athletics out there,” Marquez said. “It’s a lot of ground to cover.”

Along with ACP, Basha, Chandler, Hamilton, Perry and seven middle schools and junior highs received part of the grant. In Gilbert, Mesquite, Desert Ridge, Gilbert, Highland and Gilbert Classical Academy were the beneficiaries alongside Campo Verde and five junior highs.

Queen Creek, Eastmark, Queen Creek Middle School and Newell Barney Middle School in Queen Creek were gifted equipment.

Casteel, one of the newer and fastestgrowing schools on the border of Queen Creek and Chandler, received most of its equipment from a previous grant gifted to Dignity in year’s past. This time around, the athletic training staff received the software and an extra AED.

School athletic trainer Jennifer Yates said the school’s partnership with Dignity has been key for their growth, especially as the school’s athletic programs continue to see a constant uptick in participation from its students.

“Our campus is super spread out, we have a junior high and high school in one,” said Yates, who has been at Casteel for four years. “Having access to golf carts or new AEDs, new ice submerging tubs or whatever it may be has been fantastic because of how many athletes we are working with in such a large, expansive space.

“Having the support of Dignity is amazing.”

Since 2014, Dignity has partnered with schools in the three communities to deliver top-notch care in a timely fashion for athletes.

Along with in-season injury prevention and care, Dignity also routinely hosts events that allow athletes to receive a full screening before the start of their respective season.

The most recent one was held at Chandler Gilbert Community College on Saturday, April 23. Trainers and physicians from Dignity were on site with multiple stations for a wide variety of tests often conducted during a sports physical.

Hundreds of high school athletes from Dignity’s partner schools attended the event to be cleared for summer workouts and the season. Yates said the ability for them to get cleared early gives them the opportunity to enjoy their summer and trainers the peace of mind heading into a new season.

“It’s nice for the athletes to come in today, get it done and be over with it,” Yates said. “The coaches back us on this as well because they need it done to play and can’t practice. We get support from all sides to have something this big.”

Left: From left: Chris Marquez of Arizona College Prep, Julia Marino of Campo Verde and Jennifer Yates of Casteel are all in the process of receiving new equipment from Dignity as part of an $80,000 grant from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. In total, 23 middle schools and high schools in Gilbert, Chandler and Queen Creek will benefit from the grant. Right: Since 2014 Dignity has partnered with local schools to deliver top-notch athletic training programs. Along with grants, it has also set up events where athletes can receive a full screening to be cleared for play well in advance of the season. The most recent event was held Saturday, April 23 at Chandler Gilbert

Community College. (Dave Minton/Arizonan Staff)