January 21, 2006

Although the spring sports season is almost a month away, the expectations for this year’s Corona del Sol softball team continue to build.

Last season’s team was loaded at all positions, resulting in five of its members being selected for the all-city banquet. More importantly, last year’s varsity team contained no seniors and 10 juniors. Also on the Aztec squad were two sophomores and a freshman.

“Our expectation for this year’s team is to win state,” Senior Elena Marroquin said.

With 10 seniors returning to the squad, the Aztecs will leap immediately from inexperienced status to being one of the best teams in the Central Region. Head coach Jennifer Ray has led the Aztecs to a state title before and it appears this group is capable of winning another.

“Coach Ray makes it fun for everybody to play,” Marroquin said. “She is very supportive of everyone on the team.”

Senior players who signed  with colleges include Kelsey Starr at University of Nevada Reno, Caylyn Carlson at Arizona State University and Elena Marroquin at Mesa Community College.

Aztec Girls Soccer continues to roll through the competition, winning all three games in central region play. With the team’s only loss coming in its first match against Horizon High School, the Aztecs appear poised to return to the state championship game.

“I am not sure if Horizon is one of our top competitors because we have improved so much since the beginning of the year,” junior Ashley Smeltzer said.

The Aztec squad is currently ranked first in powerpoints in state and has cruised to early victories in region.  Sophomore goalkeeper Stephanie Phillips has been scored on just once in region play.

“Overall we have got a very talented team this year,” Smeltzer said.

“Our speed up front is unbelievable,” she said.

With skilled teams from Red Mountain High School and Mountain Pointe eager to upset the Aztecs in state, the team will need to continue to play its best all the way through the state tournament.

“This is one of the best teams that Corona has ever had,” Smeltzer said.

Corona Boy’s Varsity Basketball continued its undefeated season by beating rival Desert Vista High School in a central region matchup, 61-56.  The Aztecs hold on to their number one ranking in state as well as adding to their powerpoint total.

Before this game, despite losing twice this season, Desert Vista was ranked higher than the Aztecs in powerpoints and would have had the top seed in the state tournament.

Senior Brett Miller helped Corona pull away with several key three-pointers. 

Boys Varsity Soccer obtained a key region victory with a 6-3 win over the Marcos de Niza Padres.

“We tried to just stay inside our game plan,” junior Paul Schauwecker said. “The key was to control the ball.”

Head Coach Dan Salas was absent, as he was serving a one-game suspension due to an ejection against Basha High School.

This young varsity squad has only several upperclassmen and has improved significantly since the beginning of the season. The Aztecs will compete in an extremely difficult region. Top-ranked Desert Vista has had only one goal scored on them against it this season by an Arizona team.