May 13, 2006

Six members of Pueblo Middle School's boys track and field team compiled enough points to capture second place in the team category at the Arizona Junior High School State Track and Field Meet held at Chandler High School.

The Pueblo 4-by-100 meter relay team sprinted to a state record time of 46.68 seconds.  The relay team of Josh Hempstead, Tarik Smith, Michael Lang and Kyle Homewood broke the 11-year-old record of 46.8 seconds set by Sunrise in 1995.

Homewood added golds in the 200- and 400-meter runs; Smith earned gold in the 75-meter high hurdles and silver in the 110-meter low hurdles.  Lang received bronze in the 100-meter dash.  Andrew Nguyen added silver in the high jump and Chase Cartwright rounded out the Pueblo team. 

The team is coached by Head Coach Jeff Fulkerson. The event was held Saturday, April 29.

Club Arizona Boca Juniors are holding tryouts for local youth for the 2006-07 season.  CABJ is a competitive youth soccer club serving the East Valley. The club emphasizes family, community, skill development and education on and off the field.

Tryouts are open to both boys and girls U8-U14 at Benedict Park in Tempe.  The sessions will be 8-10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, and 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 2.

More details can be found at www.CABJ.net or by calling (602) 689-2225.

Kyrene Corridor resident Amanda Martin was the 5A singles state runner-up in girls tennis. Martin attends Xavier High School and has been a member of Xavier's varsity squad all four years. She will continue her tennis career next year for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Corona del Sol Track and Field finished the region meet with the boys team placing third and the girls  fourth. Standout performances for the Aztecs included senior Katie Cartwright winning the 300-meter hurdles and placing second in the long jump; junior Ryan Kelly winning discus; senior Brenden McMaster winning the two-mile; sophomore Samia Stokes placing second in the shotput; and junior Ian Caracciolo qualifying for state by taking third in the 300- and 110-meter hurdles. University of Washington football commit senior Matt Mosely anchored the region winning boys 4-by-100-meter relay team.

Cartwright says she is excited to end her high school career competing to be the best.

“I’m working on the mental part of my game,” Cartwright said. “My goal is to get out hard and have a good fast start.”

Cartwright recently chose to train in the long jump and was rewarded for her efforts with a second place in region, and most likely qualifying for state.

“I just thought it would be fun to do,” Cartwright said.

Corona Varsity Softball is down but not out after a loss to Horizon in the double elimination state tournament.

“Our defense and hitting were not as strong as normal,” senior Elena Marroquin said.

In order to get to the championship the Aztecs must defeat Mesa High and then Horizon twice. Marroquin will play an important role for Corona, coming out undefeated in games she has pitched so far this season.

“As a team we have all been getting along well; we went out for breakfast the day of our first game in state,” Marroquin said. “There has been a lot of support for us from everybody--the coaches, parents, players and fans.”

Horizon is riding a 25-game winning streak but the Aztecs believe eliminating them from contention is within reach.

“If we come out fired up and can hit off their pitcher we can beat them,” Marroquin said. “Everything has to be on for us, hitting, pitching, defense...everything.”

With a final record of 21-12, Varsity Boys Volleyball goes into the state playoffs as the number-seven seed. The team’s first round matchup will be against Mesa Westwood High School. The Aztecs have a 1-2 record against Westwood during the season and will need to play their best to win.

“We have to stay together as a team and have the will to win,” senior Matt Fargotstein said.

By defeating Central region champion Desert Vista, the Aztecs moved past rival Mountain Pointe in power points and avoided a second-round matchup with number-one seed Mountain View.

Captain Fargotstein wishes to ensure the team’s season does not end with a loss in the first round of state.

“I have to make sure the team stays focused,” Fargotstein said. “We are one team and we have to have the same goal.”

With the post-season looming, the squad can't afford to overlook any team.

“Every team is our biggest rival,” Fargotstein said.