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Ex-NFL tight end Heap coaching sons at Red Mtn.

This is part two of a two-part series previewing the upcoming football season for Mesa high school teams.

BY DREW SCHOTT Tribune Staff Writer

On June 1st, Ja’Kobi Lane took an unof�icial visit to Arizona State. A four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, the junior at Red Mountain High School spoke with wide receivers coach Prentice Gill and defensive backs coach Chris Hawkins on his visit to Tempe. During their discussion, Todd Heap came up. Before embarking on a 12-year career in the National Football League, Heap starred at Arizona State, earning All-Pac 10 honors in 1999 and 2000 and setting the Sun Devils record for catches (115) and receiving yards (1,685) by a tight end. The Mesa native was then drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Lane was told that Heap “is that guy and doesn’t mess around.” The wide receiver has experienced that mentality �irsthand ahead of the 2021 season, since Heap is a member of the Varsity coaching staff at Red Mountain. “He’s a great mentor as a man and how to be the best ‘you’ you can be,” Lane said. “I’m very thankful to have him as a role model and his role is not so much Coach Heap, but Todd Heap. He’s a real genuine guy.” Heap is heading into his second season with the Mountain Lions, spending the 2020 campaign coaching with the freshman squad — a team that included his sons Kyle and Preston. For the NFL veteran, who also spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, he is well known across the East Valley, especially in Mesa. Graduating from Mountain View High School in 1998, he helped the Toros win backto-back state championships in 1996 and 1997 and left the school holding various records, including most career receiving yards and most career touchdown receptions. His fond memories of playing at Mountain View, as well as the ability to coach his sons, is what led him to join Mike Peterson’s staff. “I just love being around every aspect of it,” Heap said. “I love working with kids all across the offense, even watching some of these defensive guys, and working with their technique and their skills. They’re so young and a lot of them have so much talent. You want to be able to bring that out by approaching the correct techniques and the correct way to do things.” According to Heap, his role with the Red Mountain program is consultant. Calling himself a visual learner, he watches how players move, respond and react on the �ield before relaying his perspective on their play and how they can get better. What motivates Heap’s coaching style is his playing experience. He credited drills he did at Mountain View with his success at Arizona State and in the NFL. Now, the 41-year-old is putting his own spin on training to help Red Mountain’s players contend for a 6A title. “I look at my path and what I did and it was always that love of competing,” Heap said. “I was always trying to push myself to be the best that I could be and so, that’s what you want to bring out of these young guys. Try to build that �ire underneath them to where they can see their potential.” For Kyle and Preston Heap, they have been longtime bene�iciaries of their father’s mentorship and football knowledge. When they were younger, Heap ran drills to improve speed and quickness, experiences that contributed to them playing �lag football early on. In eighth grade, the brothers participated in tackle football for the �irst time. Now sophomores on Varsity, Preston followed in his father’s footsteps to tight end, while Kyle is a quarterback — a position that Todd played during his sophomore year at Mountain View. Both still receive pointers from Heap during practices and games, and his presence on the sideline gives Kyle “extra motivation” to perform at a high level. “He wants to make all of us get better and play to the best of our ability,” Preston Heap said. “Whether it’s us or our teammates, he just always is going to be there and help out.” Former NFL tight end Todd Heap, “center,” who graduated from Mountain View High School, is sharing his expertise with not only his two sons, Preston, “left,” and Kyle, but the rest of the Red Mountain football team as an assistant coach. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta )

Heap, a member of the Ravens’ Ring of Honor, was featured on the inaugural season on Hard Knocks — a show detailing a preseason with an NFL franchise — in 2001 as a rookie. Tuning in to the HBO production was Kyle Enders. As Red Mountain’s defensive coordinator, Enders pays attention to what Heap brings to the Mountain Lions. His emphasis on the small details, like hand placement on blocking. A focus on work ethic to not only win games, but take one’s talent at the next level. A priority on making sure players know their assignments when the ball is snapped. Whether in the �ilm room preparing for a game or a conversation following a sevenon-seven tournament, Enders enjoys hearing Heap’s perspective and asks him questions ranging from on-�ield adjustments to blitz packages. He added that Heap is “somebody to look up to.” They also discuss Heap’s football career. The two have talked about his appearance on Hand Knocks, as well as his time in Baltimore with players such as Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. “(Heap) said (Lewis) lived in the playbook and watched �ilm,” Enders said. “From a coach’s perspective, I’m like ‘Man, if a guy in the NFL at the highest level, they’re just watching that much �ilm and they can identify stuff, as a coach I should be doing that as much as I possibly can and then just relaying it to the kids.’” The former tight end’s impact also extends to the players on an individual level. According to Lane, Heap has advised him about the college football recruiting process, while Kyle and Preston say their father is always willing to show them pointers regarding their performance. For Heap, coaching at Red Mountain is returning to his roots. He is not just mentoring high schoolers in the same city where he grew up. He is paying homage to the competition that sparked his college and professional career: high school football. “To be back around these kids and coaches brings back a little bit of that nostalgia,” Heap said. “You get to reminisce about those great times and help these kids build some of those same memories.”

Have an interesting sports story?

Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

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Mesa’s diverse past on display at museum

GETOUT STAFF

The Mesa Historical Museum pays homage to the city’s earlier settlers with an informative and fascinating exhibit examining the diverse cultures that comprise the city’s history.

The new exhibit, which runs through June 2022, is titled “The Diversity of Mesa” and uses photos, oral histories and stories of the many ethnic groups and key individuals who came to the East Valley at the turn of the century.

The exhibit looks at the incredibly broad array of cultures that comprise Mesa’s early history, including African Americans, Mexican Americans, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans, Lebanese Americans as well as the Pima-Maricopa people who were already living in this area but did business and attended school in Mesa.

“We also focus on some of the other faith groups such as Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and the Black churches of Washington Park,” said. Museum Executive Director Susan Ricci.

“Not to say everything was perfect back then – of course it wasn’t,” she said. “But these minority cultures prospered and

Albert Mendoza shows a picture of his father and grandfather at the new exhibit on diver-

sity at the Mesa Historical Museum. (Pablo Robles/GetOut Sta Photographer)

�lourished regardless of the obstacles they faced. I think this exhibit is a great testament to their fortitude.”

Ricci said the exhibit was born out of her staff’s annual effort to create a show that highlights some unique feature of Mesa’s history. “As a newcomer to the area, I have always been impressed by how diverse this city is and how diverse it has been from the beginning,” Ricci explained.

“We felt this exhibit was not only important to showcase Mesa’s diversity but we also wanted to encourage understanding and increase awareness and encourage respect for other cultures by representing them in a positive light.” Working on the exhibit �illed the staff with admiration for the city’s ancestors.

“It took a lot of courage for all of these individuals to build a new life here, coming from a foreign country, speaking a different language,” Ricci said. “We should pay tribute to them.”

While some exhibit items were already in the Historical Museum’s possession, she said, “others we borrowed from

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Wonderland’ launches MAC’s 2021-22 season

GETOUT STAFF

The Mesa Arts Center launches its 2021-22 season from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, with “Wonderland.”

The free, family-friendly festival features live music and entertainment, a scavenger hunt, food from local vendors and the unveiling of new visionary art exhibitions at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum.

Bill Davies performs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the MAC Courtyard, followed by Prafula Athalye from 8 to 10 p.m.

The Wells Fargo Stage features Ponderosa Grove and Jerusafunk.

Food vendors include Paletas Betty, A Little Toast of Chaos, the Nile Coffee Shop, Majik Milkshakes & Classic Sodas, Sonora Sam’s Hot Dogs and Mom’s Bakery.

A scavenger hunt will challenge kids to “�ind our favorite mystical creatures from our Wonderland artwork around the MAC campus.”

Local artists Emmett Potter, Danielle Wood, Erica Black, Katherine Simpson, Dr. Jnaneshwar Das and Matt Smith will display their work.

The Arizona Museum of Natural History, i.d.e.a Museum and Desert Botanical Garden will sponsor activities, with a “mobile interactive projection show” from DREAMS Laboratory.

Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum will announce new fall exhibitions including works by international artists Alex Grey and Allyson Grey, mystical paintings by Colorado artist Amanda Sage and local creative Wiley Wallace.

The Mesa Arts Center is at 1 E. Main St. in downtown Mesa.

For more information, visit mesaa-

rtscenter.com/seasonkickoff. ■

School of Rock plans four days of live music

BY ALEX GALLAGHER

GetOut Staff Writer

After months of rehearsals, students at the School of Rock are excited to be able to play an endof-summer show.

Students playing covers of various artists across many subgenres of rock ‘n’ roll will perform hour and a half long setlists across two weekends. The �irst shows will be held on Sept. 11 and 12 at the Revelry in Mesa with the last two falling on Sept. 18 and 19 and will feature students of all ages – and even some adults.

Despite the varying ages of the performers, School of Rock Scottsdale manager Michelle Worley said this performance is a landmark for all performers.

“I think this is part of where we really learn a lot about the student,” she said. “This is the time where their nerves are going to kick in. This is the time where they will either put their foot on the amp and rock out that solo or will step on their chord and ruin the solo.”

Worley naturally hopes the latter will not happen as students have spent three hours a week over the past four months rehearsing the music of rock ‘n’ roll’s most celebrated artists.

“We use rock ‘n’ roll as a foundation for learning and the kids are motivated through different artists,” Worley said.

Students sign up to play music from various artists early on and there are some artists that some students aim for as early as they can.

“We noticed that some kids might be interested in learning Led Zeppelin speci�ically because the guitar parts are really School of Rock Scottsdale manager Michelle Worley smiles with excitement as her students prepare for another end of season show. (Pablo Robles Progress Sta Photographer) great, or the bass lines are amazing. We’ll put together different genres each season and rotate each genre based on what the kids are interested in,” Worley said.

This year, the performers will cover the music of Nirvana, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden. They also will play genre sets, such as the best of the 80’s and old school punk.

In addition, the adults across the School of Rock’s three locations – Ahwatukee, Gilbert and Scottsdale – will play their own setlists of various tunes.

“They put together a really collaborative set of music and they do the same thing that the kids do but in a whole different way because they’re adults,” Worley said.

Whether these students are young rockers or adults �inally living out their rock n’ roll fantasy, this will serve as the �irst concert for many School of Rock students. While that may sound nerve wracking, Worley chose The Revelry due to its intimate setting that she hopes will calm any nerves the �irst-time rockers may feel and allows the show to operate in a safer manner. “It feels like being outdoors in somebody’s backyard almost, it’s really comfortable,” Worley said. “The outdoor part of it allows us to execute things safely. “It has an outdoor area with picnic benches, outdoor service and an outdoors stage that has been comfortable for us because it has a misting and cooling system and is underneath an awning.” She also stated that having the shows at this venue gives the performers and audience members the same feeling they would get at a music festival. “This has more of a relaxed, festival-like setting,” Worley said. “People are set up with their chairs and some will pay close attention to the stage.”

Despite the relaxed atmosphere, Worley hopes this will be the year that fans get on their feet and move to the music these future rockstars have worked to perfect.

“We haven’t had too many dancers yet, which is kind of a bummer, but I’m hoping this year we can get them up and dancing,” Worley said with a laugh.

While Worley hopes fans enjoy all the acts across the four days of live music, there is one act that she is particularly excited to watch.

“One of the ones I’m personally most excited about is seeing the Radiohead show because my youngest son is performing his last show and is graduating from our program,” Worley said.

She is also excited to see the Stone Temple Pilots show as these students only had six weeks to put the show together.

Fortunately, these students came in ambitious and ready to put together a great show.

“They had high levels of energy and came in knowing their stuff,” Worley said.

Worley is excited for the entire show and hopes this will be a day to remember for students and families alike.

“I hope that fans can see how much the kids appreciate the music and I hope that they also see a musical community of people that are trying to teach their kids something different,” she said. “We have a like-minded community that appreciates what Rock N’ Roll can bring to somebody’s life.”

She also hopes it can serve as a good learning experience for the students. “I hope the kids grow in con�idence and I think that every exposure to the stage helps build it,” Worley said. ■

MUSEUM ���� ���� 30

some of the descendants of the families featured in our exhibit.

“The Washington Park community was very forthcoming with loaning us objects and all of the families we interviewed were eager to share photos and stories.”

She said people who attend the exhibit will discover “an interesting journey.”

“Reading these stories, listening to some of the oral histories we recorded, looking at the many black and white photos from the 1900s-through the 1960s – it is so heartening to see how people from other countries and cultures contributed so much to our local community and society,” Ricci said.

Because the pandemic forced it to be closed most of last year, this is the �irst summer in two years the museum is open. Located in the old Lehi School at 2345 N. Horne, the museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Information: 480-835-2286 or mesa-

historicalmuseum.com. ■ Ballet Folklorico Quetzaly performed during a special opening of the Mesa Historical Museum’s exhibit, titled “The Diversity of Mesa.”