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Kennedy Kurtz (Sacramento State)
Sacramento State junior setter Kennedy Kurtz was named the Big Sky Conference’s Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she helped the Hornets to a pair of road wins to open the conference season. Kurtz set the Hornets to a 3-1 win at Weber State on Friday, and 24 hours later, a 3-2 win at Idaho State on Saturday.
The former Ironwood Ridge standout averaged 11.22 assists, 3.11 digs, 0.33 blocks and 0.33 aces per set over the Hornets’ two victories. She hit a team-best .467, comprised of seven kills without an error in 15 swings. That included the match-clinching kill at 24-23 in the fourth set of Friday’s win at Weber State. Kurtz posted double-doubles in both matches, and had at least three kills, 49 assists, 14 digs and a .333 hitting percentage in both contests.
Her combined totals for the week were seven kills, 101 assists, three aces, 28 digs and three blocks.
This list will be updated all year in an effort to recognize all former local prep stars who have gone on to achieve either academic and/or athletic awards at the next level. These are not high school awards but college and professional awards. NOT CHAMPIONSHIPS. If you are aware of anything I have missed along the way, please let me know. amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com.
Kennedy Kurtz/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Sacramento State
Big Sky Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week (9/26)
Macy Kurtz/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/St. Francis Brooklyn
Lafayette Invitational All-Tournament Team (9/17)
Anissa Conrad/Volleyball
Sahuaro (2015)/Pima
San Diego City College All-Tournament Team (9/24)
Kellen Marruffo/Baseball
Sabino (2011)/Pima/Utah/Okotoks Dawgs
All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (6/2)
All NCAA Oxford Region Team (6/5)
Western Major Baseball League Hitter of the Week (6/28)
Western Major Baseball League Player of the Week (7/24)
Western Major Baseball League All-Star
Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club MVP (9/19)
Justin Martin/Football
Pueblo (2016)/Pima
WSFL/ACCAC Offensive Player of the Week (9/7)
Alex Verdugo/Baseball
Sahuaro (2014)/Dodgers
mlbpipeline.com 2016 All-Leap Team
Texas League All-Star (6/14)
Texas League’s Hitter of the Week (7/18)
Texas League End of Year All-Star (8/31)
Stefen Romero/Baseball
Sunnyside (2007)/Tacoma Rainiers
Pacific Coast League All-Star (6/30)
2016 All-PCL Team (8/29)
Heather Knight/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/Purdue
Durham Brothers Leadership Award (8/21)
Ryan Retz/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2010)/Tucson Saguaros
Pecos League All-Star (7/11)
Pecos League Playoffs MVP (8/16)
Javier Medina/Baseball
Sahuaro (2015)/Boise Hawks
Northwest League All-Star (7/26)
Hayden May/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/North Dakota State
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Niki Gonzalez/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/Grand Canyon
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Maddie Dowdle/Softball
Pusch Ridge (2015)/Grand Canyon
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Mally McGarity/Track
Marana (2013)/Grand Canyon
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Billy Comeaux/Golf
Sabino (2013)/Grand Canyon
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Zach Malis/Baseball
Desert Christian (2015)/Grand Canyon
WAC Hitter of the Week (4/25)
All-WAC Second Team (5/24)
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Makayla McAdams/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2012)/New Mexico State
First Team All-WAC (5/11)
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Amy Bergeson/Softball
Sahuaro (2014)/New Mexico State
WAC Academic All-Conference (6/21)
Winston Welch/Baseball
Sahuaro (2014)/NMMI
WJCAC Honorable Mention
Pancho Mariscal/Baseball
Sahuarita (2014)/NMMI
WJCAC Honorable Mention
Justin Felix/Baseball
Nogales (2014)/NMMI
WJCAC First Team
Ryan Penaflor/Baseball
Salpointe (2012)/Grinnell
MWC Academic All-Conference (7/18)
Cody Treatch/Baseball
Mountain View (2016)/Gateway
Carolina Shores League All-Star (7/12)
Tyler Berson/Track& Field
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Air Force
Mountain West Academic All-Conference Team (7/7)
Tristan Peterson/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2016)/Kansas State
Mid-Plains League All-Star (7/1)
Adrianna Grijalva/Golf
Ironwood Ridge (2012)/WMNU
All-RMAC First Team Academic
WGCA All-American Scholar (7/5)
Courtney Gourdin/Golf
Marana (2013)/SOSU
WGCA All-American Scholar (7/5)
Max Smith/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/UNLV
HCBL Rawlings Player of the Week
Gwen Murphy/Volleyball
Valley Union (2011)/ New Mexico State
NMSU Female Athlete of the Year (4/27)
Western Athletic Conference Joe Kearney Award (6/29)
Anthony DeNiro/Baseball
Catalina Foothills (2015)/Chapman
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team (7/1)
Mattie Fowler/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2011)/Nebraska
Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year (4/17)
2016 Big Ten Medal of Honor (4/18)
First-team Academic All-District (5/5)
Second-team All-Big Ten (5/11)
All-Defensive Team Big Ten (5/11)
Academic All-Big Ten (Unblemished cumulative GPA) (6/1)
First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American
Second-Team NFCA All-Midwest Region
Big Ten All-Tournament Team
Nebraska Life Skills Heart & Soul Award
Tom Osborne Citizenship Team
2016 NCAA Woman of the Year nominees
Krystal Quihuis/Golf
Salpointe (2014)/Arizona
Golfweek Division I Honorable Mention All-American (6/22)
Tyler Falwell/Baseball
Palo Verde (2014)/Cochise
All ACCAC First Team (5/2)
First Team All-Region I (5/2)
ACCAC Division I Gold Grove nominee (5/2)
NJCAA Division I 3rd Team All-American
Darick Hall/Baseball
Buena (2013)/Dallas Baptist
Louisville Slugger First Team All-American
Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year
MVC Newcomer of the Year
First Team All-MVC
NCAA Lubbock Regional All-Tournament Team
John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Semifinalist
Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Semifinalist
Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region First Team (6/15)
Luis Gonzalez/Baseball
Catalina Foothills (2014)/New Mexico
All-Mountain West Second Team (5/25)
Mountain West Championship Most Valuable Player (5/28)
ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region Second Team (6/15)
Arryanna Bracamonte/Softball
Flowing Wells (2015)/Phoenix College
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Exemplary Award
Elizabeth Deaton/Track/Cross Country
Cienega (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Superior Award
Jamie Holliday/Volleyball/Track
Sahuaro (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Superior Award
Chris Leach/Cross Country/Track
Cienega (2013)/Pima
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Superior Award
Rozario Martinez/Football
Palo Verde (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Superior Award
Casey Morinelli/Golf
Mountain View (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Superior Award
Carley Nelson/Golf
Marana (2014) Pima
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Pinnacle Award
Frankie Wu/Golf
Canyon del Oro (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Division I Ping All-District team (5/16)
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Exemplary Award
Kelly Bumb/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Yavapai
NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Superior Award
Courtney Brown/Softball
Flowing Wells (2015)/Pima
2016 NJCAA DI Softball Top Newcomer
ACCAC Division II Player of the Week (2/9)
1st Team All-ACCAC (5/2)
ACCAC All-Region I, Division II team (5/2)
NFCA 1st Team All Region (5/30)
NJCAA Division II All-American (5/31)
NFCA All-American (6/10)
Margarita Corona/Softball
Tucson (2015)/Pima
2016 NJCAA DI Softball Top Newcomer
2nd Team All-ACCAC (5/2)
ACCAC All-Region I, Division II team (5/2)
ACCAC Division II Player of the Week (5/3)
NFCA 1st Team All Region (5/30)
NFCA All-American (6/10)
Cesar Salazar/Baseball
Sahuaro (2015)/Arizona
All-NCAA Lafayette Region Team (6/6)
Michelle Malis/Volleyball
Sahuaro (1991)/Arizona
USA Volleyball Outstanding Female Coach (5/23)
Clark Rustand/Golf
Sabino (2000)/Pima Coach
NJCAA Division I National Coach of the Year finalist (5/16)
NJCAA Division I Coach of the Year for District I (6/6)
Kelsey Jenkins/Softball
Sabino (2014)/Wisconsin
Wisconsin Best Offense Award (5/1)
First-team All-Big Ten (5/11)
Academic All-Big Ten (6/1)
Sammy Nettling/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2014)/Northwestern
Academic All-Big Ten (6/1)
Austin Moore/Baseball
Mountain View (2012)/ West Texas A&M
Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week (3/2)
Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week (3/8)
Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week (3/29)
Lone Star Conference First Team (5/11)
LSC Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team (5/14)
Nick Chapman/Baseball
Sabino (2011)/West Texas A&M
Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week (5/4)
LSC Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team (5/14)
Alex Robles/Baseball
Tucson (2013)/Austin Peay
John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List (4/21)
Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference (5/24)
Desiree Hong/Golf
Sahuaro (2015)/Pima
ACCAC Conference Player of the Year (4/19)
All-ACCAC Conference First Team (4/19)
First Team All-Region (4/19)
NJCAA All-American (5/18)
Jaide Stepter/Track
Canyon del Oro (2012)/USC
USC Student-Athlete of the Week (1/19)
Pac 12 Women’s Track Athlete of the Week (3/19)
Pac-12 Women’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year (5/10)
David Rauer/Golf
Cienega (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Division I Ping All-American (5/16)
NJCAA Division I Ping All-District team (5/16)
Allison Curtis/Softball
Salpointe (2015)/Central Michigan
MAC Softball Player of the Week (4/18)
All-MAC First Team (5/10)
MAC All-Freshman Team (5/10)
Sydni Stallworth/Basketball
Palo Verde (2015)/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (1/18)
ACCAC Player of the Week (2/8)
First Team All-ACCAC (2/24)
First Team All-Region I, Division II (2/24)
ACCAC Division II Player of the Year (2/24)
All-NJCAA Tournament Team (3/19)
NJCAA First Team All-American (4/6)
NJCAA All-Star (5/18)
Emeric Quade/Gymnastics
Rincon/University (2012)/Ohio State
2016 All-American (4/15)
Academic All-District Men’s At-Large Team (5/12)
Linnea Doumas/Swimming
Rincon/University (2012)/Alaska Fairbanks
Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Team (5/12)
Samantha Ruth/Tennis
Catalina Foothills (2010)/Pima
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award for Region II (5/8)
Stephanie Nickles/Tennis
Ironwood Ridge (2014)
ITA Most Improved Player for Region II (5/8)
ITA National Most Improved Player (5/8)
Anthony Felix/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/Pima
ACCAC Division II Gold Grove nominee (5/2)
Ryan Ramsower/Baseball
Salpointe (2014)/Pima
ACCAC 2nd Team All-Region I, Division II (5/2)
Odalis Orduno/Softball
Desert View (2014)/Pima
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week (2/17)
NJCAA National Division II Pitcher of the Week (2/18)
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week (3/22)
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week (4/18)
ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week (4/26)
2nd Team All-ACCAC (5/2)
ACCAC All-Region I, Division II team (5/2)
Araceli Peralta/Softball
Tucson (2014)/Pima
3rd Team All-ACCAC
Melanie Cross/Softball
Cienega (2015)/Wisconsin
Wisconsin newcomer of the Year (5/1)
Courtney Pitts/Volleyball
Catalina (2011)/Pima/Benedictine
Benedictine Mesa Female Athlete of the Year
Samantha Hacker/Golf
Sahuaro (2015)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference 2nd Team (4/9)
Second Team All-Region (4/19)
Adriana Moreno/Golf
Cholla (2014)/Pima
All-ACCAC Conference 2nd Team (4/9)
Mariangela Garcia/Softball
Desert View (2014)/Western New Mexico
RMAC Player of the Week (3/15)
RMAC All-Academic First Team (4/18)
Kayla Green/Softball
Cienega (2015)/NM State
WAC Pitcher of the Week (4/18)
Jamee Swan/Basketball
Marana (2012)/Colorado
ALL-PAC-12 Honorable Mention (2/29)
NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars MVP (4/9)
Melanie Cross/Softball
Cienega (2015)/Wisconsin
Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week (3/28)
Sean Elliott/Basketball
Cholla (1985)/Arizona
Pac-12 All-Century Men’s Basketball Team (3/10)
Brianna Garcia/Softball
Sunnyside (2015)/South Mountain
DII ACCAC Player of the Week (3/8)
Kendra Behr/Softball
Benson (2014)/Eastern
DI ACCAC Pitcher of the Week (3/1)
Emerald Grijalva/Softball
Nogales (2015)/Phoenix
DII Pitcher of the Week (3/1)
Shalise Fernander/Basketball
Flowing Wells (2014)/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (1/4)
NJCAA National Player of the Week (11/6)
Third Team All-ACCAC (2/24)
Second Team All-Region I, Division II (2/24)
Region I, Division II Championship MVP (3/5)
Austin Nehls/Basketball
Catalina Foothills (2014)/Central Connecticut
Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team (3/1)
Shakir Smith/Basketball
Tucson (2011)/Adams State
All-RMAC First Team (3/1)
Marc Matthews/Basketball
Buena (2012)/Montana State
Honorable Mention All-GNAC (3/1)
Iliana Gonzales/Basketball
Salpointe (2012)/Franciscan
All-Allegheny Mountain First Team (3/1)
Jio Orozco/Baseball
Salpointe (2015)/Mariners
MLB.com Seattle Prospect Watch No. 19 (2/29)
Andie Larkins/Softball
Sahuaro (2015)/Seattle
WAC Pitcher of the Week (2/29)
Yusuf Shehata/Basketball
Amphitheater (2014)/Pima
Third Team All-ACCAC (2/25)
Second Team All-Region I, Division II (2/25)
Denesia Smith/Basketball
Cienega (2014)/Pima
Second Team All-ACCAC (2/24)
First Team All-Region I, Division II (2/24)
Madeline Bolin/Swim
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/West Virginia
Academic All-Big 12 Swimming & Diving Team (2/23)
Daniel Chavez/Basketball
Buena (2009)/Bethesda University
Jersey retirement (2/18)
Daniel Tolano/Baseball
Cholla (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Week (2/11)
Francisco Rodriguez/Baseball
Tucson (2013)/Pima
NJCAA Division II Player of the Week (2/11)
Kayla Bonstrom/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2012) /Stanford
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List (2/3)
Kellye Springstead/Softball
Tanque Verde (2015)/Cal Baptist
PacWest Newcomer of the Week (2/1)
Ryan Gray/Baseball
Catalina Foothills (2012)/Trinity
Baseball America Preseason DIII Pitcher of the Year (1/29)
Kennedy Kurtz/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Sacramento State
Big Sky All-Academic (1/27)
Terrence Johnson/Basketball
Cienega (2015)/South Mountain
ACCA D2 Player of the Week (1/20)
Jared Cochran, New Mexico Military, DH, Palo Verde
2016 NJCAA DI Baseball Top Incoming Freshmen – Western District
Sati Santa Cruz, Central Arizona, P, Sahuarita
2016 NJCAA DII Baseball Top Incoming Freshmen – Southwest District
Miguel Figueroa, Pima, P, Tucson High
Trevelle Hill, Pima, P, Tucson High
Manny Ramirez, Pima, SS, Bisbee
2016 NJCAA DI Softball Top Newcomers – District A (Region 1)
Hailly Greenough, Southeastern, Buena
2016 NJCAA DII Softball Top Newcomers – District A (Region 1)
Jade Allee Gateway, P, Buena
Lexi Valencia, Mesa, 3B, Tucson
Leighann Ballesteros, Mesa, Tucson
Edgar Poe/Football
Cienega (2012)/Army
Army Most Valuable Player (1/9)
Jeremy Timpf/Football
Sabino (2012)/Army
Creighton W. Abrams Award (1/9)
Portions from news release.
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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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