Basketball

Sending kids off to college…


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Top Row (L-R) Coaches, Jane Morales, Dee Buechler, Vihn Rocker, Brian Colwill (Middle) Jackie Schamahorn, Emily Robinson, Kailey Mellen, Rachel Bennett, Molly Latin, Erin Rocker. (Bottom) Kelsey Buechler, Rylee Lizardi, Morgan Messick, Maggie Morales, Sydney Colwill, Sabrina Ellis.

Top Row (L-R) Coaches, Jane Morales, Dee Buechler, Vihn Rocker, Brian Colwill
(Middle) Jackie Schamahorn, Emily Robinson, Kailey Mellen, Rachel Bennett, Molly Latin, Erin Rocker.
(Bottom) Kelsey Buechler, Rylee Lizardi, Morgan Messick, Maggie Morales, Sydney Colwill, Sabrina Ellis.

Packing for college signifies the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. For our family, it’s the end of 20 years of club and high school sports spread out evenly between three talented daughters and the beginning of college softball for the youngest.

Arianna was an All-State setter at Canyon del Oro but wisely chose academics at the University of Arizona and then North Carolina State; Brittney was a founding member of the Desert Thunder fastpitch organization, won two state softball championships at CDO and turned down a scholarship to (also wisely) pursue her dreams of being a free spirit and Maggie is off to play softball at Minnesota-Crookston after winning another title at CDO.

She will work towards her goal of becoming an occupational therapist.

When your have kids, their dreams should become your dreams and leaving home is part of the process. Still, I am often asked (mainly by moms) how I can let her go so far away.

How can I not?

I cannot judge parenting skills but I learned right away that everything about being a parent is about them not you.

Tears? Maybe.

Worry? Of course.

Smiles? Yes.

The picture above features an Oro Valley 8U All-Star team from about ten years ago. Almost every one of the 12 girls went on to play sports in high school and in college and a few pursued other successful avenues.

Middle Row (L-R): Jackie Schamahorn became a standout basketball player at CDO and was a standout track athlete. Emily Robinson pitched Ironwood Ridge to a state championship before going to Pima. Kailey Mellen was a standout pitcher at Mountain View and is now at Coastal Carolina. Rachel Bennett. Molly Latin ran distance at Ironwood Ridge and is now running cross country at Forester in Illinois. Erin Rocker was also part of the championship at Ironwood Ridge and is now at Auburn.

Bottom Row: Kelsey Buechler won a softball championship at Ironwood Ridge and has an offer to play for Fort Lewis. Rylee Lizardi is a student at Clemson. Morgan Messick was a standout golfer at CDO and is now at NAU. Maggie Morales. Sydney Colwill was a standout golfer at Ironwood Ridge and is now at Memphis. Sabrina Ellis was recently recognized by the Town of Oro valley for her community service while at Ironwood Ridge.

If you have a similar old photo from a youth team with several local successful athletes featured in it please share it with me and I’ll work to get it up.

The only drawback to taking Maggie to college is that I will miss the football games this Thursday and Friday night. But, I think my experiences as a former athlete, coach and father of athletes makes our site unique so I will quickly catch up the games from this week.

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here, on AZPreps365.com and on the pages of the Vail Voice and the Tanque Verde Voice. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com

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