Corona’s boys volleyball squad returned seven players from last year’s 20-game-winning team, at least three of whom are expected to have a strong impact on this year’s matches.
“Jake Nuneviller is going to provide our team with leadership and consistency in the setting position,” said head coach Brynne Evans.
“We also returned Alex Davis, outside hitter, who shows great strength during clutch plays and leads the rest of the team by example. He could be our main go-to player. Charlie Haulde should give us a lot of offensive opportunities with his strong defensive plays.”
Other returning varsity players include Kyle Niemtschk, opposite, Blake Pendleton, defensive specialist, Scott Burdick, middle blocker, and Peter Rueckle, middle blocker.
That leaves seven new players, which can be both good and bad, according to Evans.
“We have a mix of experienced and beginning players, which creates a unique dynamic in practice,” said Evans. “We’re working on consistency with our returners and skill development with our new players.”
One new player Evans may find especially promising is 6-foot-8 Matthew Seall, at the middle blocker position. Both Seall and junior, 6-foot-3 Zac von Allworden decided this year, as juniors, to try volleyball.
Other new varsity players include Sean Zwenger, Sean Hughes, Matt Lim, Gabe Encinas and Danyal Kadi.
Evans is expecting the Central region to be tough again this year, with Gilbert, Highland, Mesquite and Mesa Mountain View as the Aztecs’ most challenging matchups. No wonder Mountain View, Gilbert and Mesquite were recently ranked as the top five 5A teams in the state along with Brophy and Mountain Pointe. Expect some switching in the ranks, however, according to Evans.
“I think that the top-ranked teams will constantly be changing,” said Evans. “In the end, the team on top will be the team that is most consistent and makes adjustments quickly.”
Corona was mentioned in a recent article as one of a slew of teams that could climb up the rankings. Evans thinks her team has a good chance with its versatility and height.
“This year’s team seems to be one of my most versatile, and it is the tallest team I have coached in three years,” said Evans. “I look forward to pushing them defensively and exploring the offensive possibilities provided by their height.”
The Aztecs were scheduled early in the season to play some of their most competitive matches. They were set to play at Gilbert on March 10, Mesquite on March 22, and Mesa Mountain View at home March 24.
Corona Track and Field — Corona’s track and field teams came out competing and making a statement in their first two meets by defeating Brophy/Xavier in a dual meet on March 2, then taking first place at the Paradise Valley Relays on March 5, according to head coach Tim Kelly.
With a number of outstanding results, Kelly said he was pleased that all the CdS athletes stepped up and performed well.
In track, the boys 4×800 relay team of Dillion Baker, Mike Seall, Cody Jackson and Jared Hirschl ran a phenomenal opening season time, according to Kelly.
“Jackson in the 800-meter run and Lakevia Stormer in the 400 meter run are also looking fantastic right now,” said Kelly. “In the field events, Dana McKenzie started the season off with a 5-foot-5-inch high jump.”
“McKenzie was a softball player who came to track late last year as a sophomore and ended up second in the state in the high jump with a 5-foot-2 jump,” said Kelly. “This year she has decided to solely focus on track and is nationally ranked.”
Corona took first in both the girls and boys events at the Paradise Valley Relays. The girls team totaled 108 points defeating the No. 2 team, Mountain Pointe, by 13 points while the boys team tallied 92 points, beating out the second place team by a whopping 47 points.
Six Corona girls relay teams took first place: the 4×100, 4×200, 800 Sprint Medley, 4×400, 4×800 and the 4×100 Meter Shuttle Hurdle relay races. Running in the 4×100 were Taylor Johnson, Megan Benson, Grace Ashu and Gabriella Dotson.
The 3×200 was Benson, Lakevia Stromer, Johnson and Ashu. Johnson, Ashu and Dotson also ran in the 800 Sprint Medley along with Lauren Milovich as the third runner.
The 4×400 team consisted of Ashu, Hallie Swenson, Sarah S. Williams and Stormer while in the 4×800 was Dani Lemieux, Stormer, Williams and Swenson. The members of the 4×100 Meter Shuttle Hurdle winning team included Stephanie Allen, Tadessa Smith, Dana McKenzie and Jackie Vogt.
Results of the girls team in the field events included a first-place finish for McKenzie and a tie for fourth by Kim Valentine and West in the High Jump Relay.
Carli Giese tied for third in the Pole Vault Relay and Benson was second in the Long Jump Relay. Kaylyn McGowan was second in the Discus Throw Relay.
Paradise Valley Relay results for the boys team included a first place finish for Dylan Huch, Stephan Hill, Dominic Mercurio and Matt Hayhurst in the 800 Sprint Medley.
Dominique Bransumb, Jackson, Patrick Buck and Seall also took first in the 4×400 as did the Aztec 4×800 Meter Relay team of Baker, Seall, Jackson and Hirschl.
George Bafaloukus and Bransumb tied for first in the High Jump Relay jumping 6 feet even.
Three sophomores, Quinn Robertson, Buck, Daniel Saman and freshman Tevin Mayfield took first in the 4×110 Meter Shuttle Hurdle.
Mayfield was picked as a newcomer to watch in the 300 hurdles and long jump by the East Valley Tribune. He has started very well this season and is expected to only get better according to Kelly.
Another freshman, Grace Ashu, was part of several winning relay teams in the Paradise Valley Relays and Kelly expects her to continue to be an asset in the sprints and relays.
Corona will be competing March 23 in a dual meet at Basha and then the Chandler Rotary Invitational at Chandler High School March 25-26.
Corona Girls Soccer Awards — Senior MyKaylin Rosenquist made the Central region first team along with sophomores Olivia Montoya, Kelsey Cartwright and Stephanie Petre.
Corona Boys Basketball Awards — Junior guard Calaen Robinson was named the 5A-I Central region’s Player of the Year. Named to the Central region first team was junior Avery Moss. Casey Benson was named to the second team and senior Michael Miller received honorable mention.
Former Corona Athlete — Nicole Coggins was part of Denison University’s first 28-0 North Coast Athletic Conference team. Coggins, a 2009 Corona graduate, played in all 28 regular season games and was ranked No. 3 in several team statistical categories including points per game, field goals made, assists, steals and minutes played.
Denison won the 2011 North Coach Athletic Conference Tournament for the sixth time in seven years Feb. 26 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament, where they eventually fell to Washington-St. Louis in the first round. Coggins was the second leading scorer in that final game with 10 points.
