SPORTS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 27, 2022
31
TheMesaTribune.com @EVTNow /EVTNow
EV wrestlers have strong performances at state BY REECE ANDREWS Tribune Contributing Writer
W
restlers from across the East Valley came to play last weekend at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, as 81 finished as state placers – including 12 first-place winners – expanding across all four divisions from boys and girls. The East Valley nearly doubled their first-place medals from two years ago with big performances in the heavier weight classes in Division I. Had it not been for Sunnyside’s dominance across Division I, taking home eight of 14 possible titles, there could’ve been more success on the East Valley’s side. Division II was dominated by Casteel, earning four golds to go along with its 12 placers. Head coach Bob Callison was extremely proud of his team and explained Casteel’s unique situation. “This group is special because Casteel High School is a seventh through twelfth
Westwood wrestler Taliyah Armstrong captured her second state championship Saturday, Feb. 19 at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, the site of the AIA wrestling state meet. (Reece Andrews/Tribune Contributor)
grade school and I’ve had these seniors since I’ve been there,” Callison said. “I’ve been there six years and so we’ve built
this from the ground up. They are the base of our program and I’m really proud of all of their effort and all they’ve put
into it.” It was the second straight year Casteel’s boys took home the team title. Desert Ridge and Desert Vista came in third and fourth, respectively in Division I. American Leadership Academy – Gilbert North placed third in Division III. On the girls’ side, Westwood placed second overall with Casteel third. Hamilton, which represented Chandler alongside Casteel, placed fourth in girls thanks to Trinity Howard’s win at 120 pounds. There were no East Valley gold winners in Division III and Seton Catholic Prep’s Lucas Eviston was the only state placer in Division IV. He won gold at 132 pounds. Where the East Valley lacked in Division III titles, the girls picked up the slack by taking home five gold medals. Overall, East Valley girl wrestlers accounted for 19 medals. Wrestling is an extreme and physically
see WRESTLING page 32
Skyline baseball hungry for a shot at postseason BY ETHAN BRIGGS Tribune Contributing Writer
A
fter coming within one place of making the playoffs, the Skyline Coyotes are looking for redemption this year and one group in particular is hungry for this season. The seniors of the Skyline Coyotes varsity baseball team have been working since September to get to a playoff this year and they believe that it is definitely possible even with a team of only 11 players. There are five seniors: Elias Harrington, Ryan Mioni, Madek Katzenmeier, Johnathan McBee and Dillon Nels. According to head coach Brian Gregory, it is a group which is almost half of the team and brings a lot of maturity to the field. “They understand the game and the thing that’s going to carry them is their maturity. Their maturity has been
From left: Ryan Mioni, Dillon Nels, Johnathan McBee, Elias Harrington, Madek Katzenmeier are all part of a new-look Skyline baseball team eager to make a splash in the postseason this year. (Ethan Briggs/Tribune Contributor) through the roof and for them to be here five days a week is a mature thing to do,” Gregory said. “It got them through the
fall and through the winter and I think that’s what is going to carry us through the season.”
This group has been through hardship. Whether that be the pandemic or their head coach resigning. They also lost three players to either transfer or a loss of interest in the game. However, that hasn’t led them to falter up this point and to a certain extent it makes their desire to get to and win a playoff game even greater. There is a sense of confidence and excitement for this upcoming season with this group despite all they have gone through and having a smaller team. For some of them, it brings a sense of comfort. The thing that is most comfortable though, is having each other to rely on. “I think it helps a lot,” Katzenmeier said. “We’ve all mostly played together from junior high until now, so we all know each other pretty well.”
see SKYLINE page 32
