Pima sophomore Reece Gardner (Marana) captured the NJCAA Indoor National Title in the Heptathlon this week. Gardner finished with a Pima record of 5112 points.
Pima freshman Joel Gardner (Ironwood Ridge) earned NJCAA All-American honors and broke the Pima school record in the 5,000 meter race with a time of 14 minutes, 43.36 seconds.
Pima sophomore Lucy Chavez (Bisbee) took eighth place in the Weight Throw with a mark of 14.90 meters on her first attempt.
Pima freshman Jaida Olson (Pusch Ridge) took second place in the Pole Vault. She earned NJCAA All-American status and set a Pima Indoor and overall record with a vault of 3.55 meters on her third attempt.
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 collegiate and professional recognitions. NOT CHAMPIONSHIPS. If you are aware of anything I have missed along the way, please let me know. amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
Portions from news release.
We have 13 recognized so far in 2022 – we had 207 athletes recognized in 2021.
Reece Gardner/Track and Field
Marana/Pima
NJCAA All-American: Heptathlon (3/5)
Aztecs Student-Athlete of the Week (3/8)
Joel Gardner/Track and Field
Ironwood Ridge/Pima
NJCAA All-American: 5,000 (3/5)
Lucy Chavez/Track and Field
Bisbee/Pima
NJCAA All-American: WT (3/5)
Jaida Olson/Track and Field
Pusch Ridge/Pima
NJCAA All-American: Pole Vault (3/5)
Tianna Carter/Basketball
Canyon del Oro/NC Central
MEAC Player of the Week (2/8)
Angel Addleman/Basketball
Palo Verde/Pima
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week (1/5)
Second Team All-ACCAC (2/26)
First Team All-Region I, Division II (2/26)
Nikya Orange/Basketball
Tanque Verde/Pima
Third Team All-ACCAC (2/26)
First Team All-Region I, Division II (2/26)
Luisayde Chavez/Basketball
Rio Rico/Pima
Third Team All-ACCAC (2/26)
Second Team All-Region I, Division II (2/26)
Daniel Moody/Basketball
Walden Grove/Pima
All-ACCAC Honorable Mention (2/24)
Second Team All-Region I, Division II (2/24)
Mikayla Santa Cruz/Softball
Canyon del Oro/Creighton
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week (2/14)
UTEP Invitational All-Tournament (2/14)
Max Hernandez/Volleyball
Tucson/Cornerstone
Golden Eagle Athlete of the Week (2/7)
Kevin Jimenez/Baseball
Nogales/New Mexico State
PG Preseason WAC Team (2/4)
Jack Langan/Baseball
Sabino/Cornell
NCAA D-III SAAC Member (1/27)