Former Marana standout runner Reece LaFaye earned All-Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track & Field honors in the Decathlon and 4×400 relay for Weber State.
This list was updated all year in an effort to recognize all former local prep stars who had 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.
Reece LaFaye/Decathlon
Marana (2014)/Weber State
Big Sky Outdoor All-Conference Team (6/12)
Levi Wallace/Football
Tucson (2013)/Alabama
Alabama Defensive Player of the Week (9/4)
SEC Defensive Player of the Week (10/2)
Jim Thorpe Award Finalist (10/23)
Alabama Outstanding Defensive Performer (12/4)
AJ Valenzuela/Soccer
Desert View/Pima
ACCAC/Region I Player of the Year (10/23)
United Soccer Coaches Men’s D-I All-American (12/7)
Julian Gaona/Soccer
Tucson (2016)/Pima
All-ACCAC/Region I (10/23)
United Soccer Coaches Men’s D-I All-American (12/7)
Erika Bennett/Softball
Buena (2008)/UTEP coach
Rising Star Finalist (12/3)
Taylor Nations/Swim
Sabino (2015)/Arizona
Arizona Student-Athlete of the Month (11/2)
CSCAA Scholar All-American Honorable Mention (6/21)
Matt Lujan/Swim
Catalina Foothills (2015)/Arizona
Pac-12 Swim & Dive All-Academic 1st Team (4/3)
CSCAA Scholar All-American Honorable Mention (6/21)
C.A.T.S. Academics Student Athletes for the month (12/1)
Jacob Inclan/Basketball
Sunnyside (2016)/South Mountain
SMCC Athlete of the Week (11/27)
Hannah Whetzel/Cross Country
Catalina Foothills (2015)/Arizona
Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team (11/22)
Carlos Villarreal/Cross Country
Rio Rico (2015)/Arizona
Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention (11/22)
Kennedy Kurtz/Beach & Indoor Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Sacramento State
Spring Academic All-Big West Team (6/29)
Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week (9/11)
Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week (10/2)
Big Sky Conference MVP (11/16)
Big Sky First Team (11/16)
Morgan Nah/Volleyball
Sahuaro (2017)/Missouri Southern
MIAA Honorable mention (11/14)
Francisco Dicochea/Football
Cienega (2105)/Pima
2nd Team All-WSFL and All-ACCAC (11/14)
Isaiah Murphy/Basketball
Cienega (2015)/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (11/13)
Victoria Davis/Volleyball
Sahuaro (2014)/Pima
Second Team All-ACCAC (10/31)
NJCAA All-Region I, Division II team (10/31)
Katherine Bruno/Cross Country
Canyon del Oro (2017)/Pima
NJCAA Division I National Athlete of the Week (10/9)
First Team All-Region (10/28)
Sionna Johnson/Cross Country
Cienega (2017)/Pima
First Team All-Region (10/28)
Morgan Risch/Cross Country
Flowing Wells (2017)/Pima
Second Team All-Region (10/28)
Cindy Corrales/Cross Country
Nogales (2017)/Pima
Fourth Team All-Region (10/28)
Mariah Loya/Soccer
Ironwood Ridge (2017)/Maryville
Maryville Saint of the Week (10/23)
Alexis Hernandez/Soccer
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/Pima
ACCAC Co-Player of the Week (9/5)
ACCAC Player of the Week (10/9)
First Team All-ACCAC/Region I (10/24)
Emily Bliven/Soccer
Sahuarita (2015)/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic First Team
First Team All-ACCAC/Region I (10/24)
Taylor Bigelow/Soccer
Salpointe (2015)/Pima
Second Team All-ACCAC/Region I (10/24)
Bailey Pedersen/Soccer
Mountain View (2016)/Pima
All-ACCAC/Region I Honorable Mention (10/24)
David Cosgrove/Soccer
Catalina/Pima
ACCAC/Region I Coach of the Year (10/23)
Chris Cooper/Soccer
Rincon/UHS (2016)/Pima
All-ACCAC/Region I (10/23)
Ricky Flores/Soccer
Desert View (2014)/Pima
All-ACCAC/Region I (10/23)
Kelsey Jenkins/Softball
Sabino (2014)/Wisconsin
Fastpitch News Preseason Top 50 College Hitters (1/23)
Fastpitch News Preseason All-American (1/25)
DI Softball News Preseason Top 50 Watch List (1/31)
Big Ten All-Defensive Team (5/10)
NCAA D-I All-Region Team (5/21)
Academic All-Big Ten (5/31)
Big 10 Distinguished Scholar (7/5)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Melanie Cross/ Softball
Cienega (2015)/Wisconsin
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Brittany Woolridge/Softball
Empire (2012)/Texas A&M Commerce
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Kelly Decker/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/Fort Lewis
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Reina Bondi/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/UNLV
All-Mountain West Spring Academic Team (7/17)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Merrilee Miller/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2015)/Arizona
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Sammy Nettling/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2014)/Northwestern
Academic All-Big Ten (5/31)
Big 10 Distinguished Scholar (7/5)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Maggie Morales/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/Minnesota-Crookston
UMC All-Academic Team (4/23)
CoSIDA Academic All-District® Team (5/4)
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Spring All-Academic Team (5/16)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Loriann Olson/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/Grand Canyon
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Niki Gonzalez/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2014)/Grand Canyon
CoSIDA Academic All-District® Team (5/4)
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Madelyn Dowdle/Softball
Pusch Ridge (2015)/Grand Canyon
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage/Softball
Salpointe (20160/Grand Canyon
WAC Pitcher of the Week (2/27)
All-WAC Second Team (5/10)
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Heaven Acquart/Softball
Sahuarita (2015)/Grand Canyon
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Ariana Garcilazo/Softball
Rio Rico (2016)/Arizona Christian
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Arryanna Bracamonte/Softball
Flowing Wells (2015)/Phoenix
ACCAC D-II All-Region (5/1)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Sierra Gaskill/Softball
Pueblo (2016)/Phoenix
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Monique Castillo/Softball
Canyon del Oro (2015)/Phoenix
ACCAC D2 Player of the Week (4/11)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Marisa Garcia/Softball
Catalina Foothills (2016)/South Mountain
NFCA Scholar-Athlete (10/10)
Jose Osete/Baseball
Salpointe/Cal State San Marcos
California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic (10/9)
Kaycie Cormier/Cross Country
Douglas (2016)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Conference Freshmen Runner of the Week (9/28)
Tara Kase/Soccer
Buena (2016)/Pima
ACCAC Goalkeeper of the Week (9/11)
Nick Gonzales/Baseball
Cienega (2017)/New Mexico State
NBC All-American (8/11)
Chaz Mack/Basketball
Catalina Foothills (2014)/Cochise
NJCAA All-Academic First Team
TSPL All-Star (7/30)
Roland Jones/Basketball
Palo Verde (2011)/Pima
TSPL All-Star (7/30)
Caleb Highley/Basketball
Bisbee (2015)/Cochise
TSPL All-Star (7/30)
Marc Matthews/Basketball
Buena (2012)/Montana State
GNAC Player of the Week (1/2)
D-II National Player of the Week (1/3)
TSPL All-Star (7/30)
Garrett Jackson/Basketball
Buena (2015)/Cochise
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
TSPL All-Star (7/30)
Cameron Gause/Basketball
Sabino (2012)
TSPL All-Star (7/30)
Branden Hance/Baseball
Salpointe (2017)/Trinity/Cortland Crush
Cortland Coaches Pick Award (7/23)
Morgan Sibson/Soccer
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Angelo State
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Adrianna Grijalva/Golf
Ironwood Ridge (2012)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Clarissa Moreno/Softball
Desert View (2015)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Brooklyn Misenhimer/Softball
Sahuaro (2014)/ Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Mariangela Garcia/Softball
Desert View (2014)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Jacob Valdez/Football
Buena (2016)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Bailey Gin/Volleyball
Tucson (2016)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Jose Rojas/Cross Country
Rio Rico (2013)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Roberto Cota /Cross Country
Pueblo (2013)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Roberto Contreras /Cross Country
Rio Rico (2015)/Western New Mexico
Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/27)
Tyler Berson/Track& Field
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Air Force
Mountain West Academic All-Conference Team (7/17)
Sierra Rodriguez/Track & Field
Flowing Wells (2016)/Air Force
All-Mountain West Spring Academic Team (7/17)
Amanda Nicholas/Softball
Sahuaro (2017)/Nevada
All-Mountain West Spring Academic Team (7/17)
Callie McGarrigle/Softball
Sabino (2015)/New Mexico
All-Mountain West Spring Academic Team (7/17)
Max Smith/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (UNLV)
All-Mountain West Spring Academic Team (7/17)
Robby Campillo/Baseball
Salpointe (2016)/New Mexico
All-Mountain West Spring Academic Team (7/17)
Nick Estrella/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/Azusa Pacific
PacWest Freshman of the Week (2/14)
Albany Dutchmen PGCBL All-Star (7/14)
McKenzie Mott/Volleyball
Cienega (2014)/Utah State Eastern
NJCAA Academic All-American Third Team (7/12)
Daniel Tolano/Baseball
Cholla (2014)/Pima/Tennessee Wesleyan
Southern Collegiate Showcase All-Star (7/5)
Alex Verdugo/Baseball
Sahuaro (2014)/Oklahoma City Dodgers
Mlbpipeline.com Prospect Watch (1/29)
Pacific Coast League All-Star (6/28)
Allison Curtis/Softball
Salpointe (2015)/Central Michigan
MAC Softball Player of the Week (3/13)
All-MAC First Team
Distinguished Scholar Athlete (6/26)
Mally Gage/Track
Marana (2013/Grand Canyon)
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Sydney Madrid/Track
Marana (2014)/Grand Canyon
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Briana Myers/Track
Santa Rita (2014)/ Grand Canyon
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Emily Wilkinson/Track
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/Grand Canyon
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Ivan Estrella/Baseball
Tucson (2014)/UT Rio Grande Valley
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Zach Malis/Baseball
Desert Christian (2015)/Grand Canyon
Preseason All-WAC Team (2/8)
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Billy Comeaux/Golf
Sabino (2013)/Grand Canyon
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Lyndsay Leikem/Basketball
Flowing Wells (2013)/Missouri–Kansas City
Academic All-WAC (6/26)
Kiana Verdugo/Track
Sahuarita (2014)/Hamline
Indoor Track & Field MIAC All-Academic Team (6/21)
Outdoor Track & Field MIAC All-Academic Team (6/21)
Tristan Peterson/Baseball
Canyon del Oro (2016)/Kansas State
Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (1/25)
Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team (6/15)
Luis Gonzalez/Baseball
Catalina Foothills (2014)/New Mexico
Mountain West Player of the Week (2/27)
John Olerud Player of the Year watch list (4/14)
ABCA/Rawlings Midwest All-Region Second Team (6/14)
Perfect Game/Rawlings third team All-American (6/14)
Matthew Duce/Baseball
Buena (2014)/Dallas Baptist
All-Missouri Valley Conference
MVC All-Tournament Team
Lanea Tuiasosopo/Rowing
Ironwood Ridge (2015)/UCLA
Pac-12 Rowing All-Academic First Team (6/19)
Justice Summerset/High Jump
Mountain View (2016)/Arizona
NCAA Indoor All-American (3/11)
NCAA Outdoor All-American (6/9)
Sonia Garcia/Soccer
Sabino/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Mari Ruiz/Softball
Cholla/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Reazsha Benjamin/Basketball
Sahuaro/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Melissa Cotsonas/Track & Field
Mountain View/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Moana Hala’ufia/ Basketball
Marana/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Maury Urcadez/Soccer
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Isabella Burrola/ Track & Field
Nogales/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
Emmanuel Doe/Track & Field
Mountain View/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
Jacob Meeker-Hackett/Football
Cienega/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
Dalton Reisig/Tennis
Catalina Foothills/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
Ernesto Romero/Baseball
Salpointe/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
Amber Romero/Softball
Sahuaro/Scottsdale
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
Hannah Semon/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/Yavapai
NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Baylie Stephens/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/Yavapai
NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Margarita Corona/Softball
Tucson/Pima
ACCAC D-I Player of the Week (3/21)
ACCAC First Team D-I (5/1)
NFCA All-West Region 2nd Team (NJCAA Division I).
Alex Robles/Baseball
Tucson (2013)/Austin Peay
Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week (3/10)
John Olerud Player of the Year watch list (4/14)
Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week (5/22)
First-Team All-OVC (5/23)
OVC Championship All-Tournament team (5/27)
Corinne Belkoff/Gymnastics
Catalina Foothills (2015)/ASU
CoSIDA Academic All-District® Team (5/11)
Brendan Rumel/Basketball
Rincon/UHS (2016)/Portland State
Big Sky Winter All-Academic Team (4/27)
Melanie Zibrat/Track
Ironwood Ridge (2013)/NAU
Big Sky Winter All-Academic Team (4/27)
Maddie Pothoff/Tennis
Arizona Connections Academy (2015)/Alabama
ITA All-American (5/23)
Colton Gage/Golf
Cienega (2014)/Pima
NJCAA Region I, Division I All-Region (5/19)
Shelby Kennedy/Softball
Cienega (2015)/Yale
Ivy League Honor Roll (3/20)
Ivy League Honor Roll (4/24)
Second Team All-Ivy (5/18)
Desiree Hong/Golf
Sahuaro (2015)/Pima
ACCAC Conference Player of the Year (4/20)
All-ACCAC First Team
First Team All-Region
NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention (5/18)
Kayla Green/Softball
Cienega (2015)/New Mexico State
Preseason All-WAC Team (2/1)
WAC Pitcher of the Week (4/1)
WAC Pitcher of the Week (5/8)
All-WAC Second Team (5/10)
Andie Larkins/Softball
Sahuaro (2015)/Seattle
All-WAC Second Team (5/10)
Erin Peterson/Basketball
Catalina Foothills (2011)/Pima
Lawrence R. Toledo Leadership Award (5/8)
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Austin Nehls/Basketball
Catalina Foothills (2014)/Central Connecticut State
CoSIDA Academic All-District® Team (2/9)
Courtney Brown/Softball
Flowing Wells (2015)/Pima
ACCAC First Team D-I (5/1)
ACCAC D-I All-Region (5/1)
Mandy Lorenson/Softball
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/Pima
ACCAC D-I Pitcher of the Week (3/21)
NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Week (3/22)
ACCAC D-I Pitcher of the Week (4/18)
NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Week (4/19)
ACCAC D-I Second Team (5/1)
ACCAC D-I All-Region (5/1)
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Gabriela Trejo/Softball
Desert View (2015)/Pima
ACCAC D-I Second Team (5/1)
ACCAC D-I All-Region (5/1)
Leighann Ballesteros/Softball
Tucson (2015)/Mesa
ACCAC D-II All-Region (5/1)
Emerald Grijalva/Softball
Nogales (2015)/Mesa
ACCAC D-II All-Region (5/1)
Oscar Larranaga/Baseball
Sunnyside (2013)/Pima
Second team All-ACCAC (4/30)
Second team All-Region I, Division II (4/30)
Ernesto Romero/Baseball
Salpointe (2015)/Pima
Second team All-ACCAC (4/30)
Second team All-Region I, Division II (4/30)
Samantha Hacker/Golf
Sahuaro (2015)/Pima
Second Team All-ACCAC (4/20)
First Team All-Region
Abby Miller/Golf
Ironwood Ridge (2016)/Pima
Second Team All-Region (4/20)
Deion James/Basketball
Empire (2015)/Pima
ACCAC Co-Player of the Year (3/2)
ACCAC 1st Team (3/2)
First Team All-Region I, D-II (3/2)
Region-I, D-II championship MVP (3/9)
NJCAA Player of the Week (3/15)
NJCAA All-American First Team (4/13)
NJCAA D-II Player of the Year (4/20)
Sydni Stallworth/Basketball
Palo Verde (2015)/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (1/17)
National Player of the Week (1/20)
ACCAC 1st Team (3/1)
First Team All-Region I, D-II (3/1)
ACCAC D-II Player of the Year (3/1)
NJCAA All-American First Team (4/14)
Jaime Garcia/Baseball
Sabino (2016)/Rainy River
MCAC Northern Division Pitcher of the Week (4/11)
Sarah Macdonald/Track
Pusch Ridge (2013)/Seattle Pacific
NCAA Indoor All-American (3/10)
Kellye Springstead/Softball
Tanque Verde (2015)/California Baptist
PacWest Pitcher of the Week (3/27)
Matt Brase/Basketball
Catalina Foothills (2001)/Rio Grande Valley Vipers
NBA Development League Coach of the Month (3/2)
Emilio Acedo/Basketball
Salpointe (2011)/Pima
ACCAC 2nd Team (3/2)
First Team All-Region I, D-II (3/2)
Denesia Smith/Basketball
Buena (2014)/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (2/21)
ACCAC 2nd Team (3/1)
First Team All-Region I, D-II (3/1)
Brooklyn Beardshear/Softball
Sahuaro (2013)/Dixie State
PacWest Pitcher of the Week (2/20)
PacWest Pitcher of the Week (2/27)
Franky Teran/Basketball
Pueblo (2011)/ Antelope Valley
Cal Pac Player of the Week (1/30)
Andrew Mike/Football
Sabino (2014)/Florida
2016 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll (2/8)
Dylan Greenberg/Football
Salpointe (2013)/Kentucky
2016 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll (2/8)
Madeline Bolin/Swimming
Ironwood Ridge (2014)/West Virginia
2017 Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2/21)
Trey Stine/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge (2013)/Pima/New Mexico State
Preseason All-WAC Team (2/8)
Portions from news release.
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he 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 and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com