Former Salpointe standout Caleb Dudas was named a Scholar Athlete by the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) on Thursday. Dudas is a defenseman for ASU.
Former Mountain View and Arizona standout Laura Pimienta was named FC Tucson Women Defender of the Year and former BASIS Tucson North student Naija Bruckner was named FC Tucson Women Newcomer of the Year.
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.
150 athletes have been recognized for 2022 – we had 207 athletes recognized in 2021.
Laura Pimienta/Soccer
Mountain View/FC Tucson Women
FC Tucson Women Defender of the Year (8/3)
Caleb Dudas/Lacrosse
Salpointe/ASU
MCLA Scholar Athlete (8/4)
Naija Bruckner/Soccer
BASIS North/FC Tucson Women
FC Tucson Women Newcomer of the Year (8/2)
Cassie Castaneda/Softball
Sabino/North Dakota
Summit League All-Tournament Team (5/16)
Summit League Commissioner Academic List (7/22)
Bijan Robinson/Football
Salpointe/Texas
Athlon Sports Big 12 Preseason All-Conference (6/1)
Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-American
Phil Steele First-Team All-Big (6/16)
Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (7/6)
All-Big 12 Preseason Team (7/6)
Maxwell Award Watch List (7/18)
Kevin Stevens/Baseball
Cienega/UTRVG
Preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year (2/9)
Preseason All-WAC (2/9)
WAC Pitcher of the Week (5/16)
All-WAC First Team (5/24)
ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region (6/15)
Maya Benita/Golf
Catalina Foothills/Arizona
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Summer McDonough/Beach Volleyball
Pusch Ridge/Arizona
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Abby Russell/Beach Volleyball
Salpointe/Arizona
Arizona Sophomore of the Year Nominee (4/18)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Alex Parkhurst/Beach Volleyball
Salpointe/Arizona
Arizona Junior of the Year Nominee (4/18)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Miranda Erro/Beach Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Allie Skaggs/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
Pac-12 Player of the Week (4/25)
Extra Inning National Player of the Week (5/3)
Pac-12 Player of the Week Nominee (5/9)
Pac-12 Second Team (5/11)
NFCA D-I West Region First Team (5/19)
NFCA D-I Second Team All-American (6/1)
Softball America Second Team (6/2)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Carlie Scupin/Softball
Tucson/Arizona
Arizona Sophomore of the Year (4/18)
NFCA D-I West Region Second Team (5/19)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Izzy Pacho/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
NFCA D-I West Region First Team (5/19)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Devyn Netz/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Grace Driskill/Indoor Track
Rincon/UHS/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Grace Hala’ufia/Indoor Track and Field
Mountain View/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Trevor Volpe/Indoor Track
Salpointe/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Yannira Acuña/Softball
Salpointe/ASU
Pac-12 Player of the Week (3/28)
USA Softball Top 25 Finalist (4/20)
Pac-12 First Team (5/11)
CoSIDA NCAA District 8 Academic (5/11)
NFCA D-I West Region First Team (5/19)
NFCA D-I Second Team All-American (6/1)
Softball America First Team (6/2)
Third Team Academic All-America (6/7)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Turner Washington/Track and Field
Canyon del Oro/ASU
West Region Athlete of the Year (3/17)
Bowerman Watch List (3/24)
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 Team (5/26)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Nate Baez/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge/ASU
Pac-12 Player of the Week (5/9)
Collegiate Baseball 3rd Team All-American (6/2)
ABCA NCAA Div. I West All-Region Second Team (6/15)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Ellessa Bonstrom/Softball
Canyon del Oro/Utah
Pac-12 First Team (5/11)
CoSIDA NCAA District 8 Academic (5/11)
NFCA D-I Pacific First Team (5/19)
NFCA D-I Third Team All-American (6/1)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Halle Morris/Softball
Canyon del Oro/Utah
Utah All A’S Reception (3/29)
NFCA D-I Pacific Third Team (5/19)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Katie Faulk/Softball
Marana/Utah
Utah All As Reception (3/29)
Pac-12 Defensive Team (5/11)
Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (7/12)
Gabe Preble/Baseball
Salpointe/Gateway
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Kortney Cahill/Soccer
Cienega/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Marissa Lopez/Track/Cross Country
Sahuarita/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team-XC (7/11)
NJCAA All-Academic Team-TF (7/11)
Emma Nance/Soccer
Catalina Foothills/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Serinah Sanchez/Softball
Tucson/Central Arizona
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Braeden Mondeau/Baseball
Cienega/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Jesse Avina/Track
Buena/Paradise Valley
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Mykayla Tarwater/Track
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Pablo Torres Diaz/Soccer
Buena/Scottsdale
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Alec Larson/Baseball
Catalina Foothills/Eastern Arizona
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Matt Bachelier/Baseball
Nogales/Yavapai
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Alondra Lugo/Softball
Douglas/Eastern Arizona
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Kelli Samorano/Softball
Tucson/Pima
Third Team All-ACCAC (5/9)
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Andrew Stucky/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Alana Jones/Track and Field
St. David/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Alyssa Kopach/Soccer
Ironwood Ridge/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Mia Torres/Soccer
Cienega/Yavapai
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Delaney Buntin/Soccer
Cienega/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Savannah Gutierrez/Soccer
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Reece Gardner/Track and Field
Marana/Pima
NJCAA All-American: Heptathlon (3/5)
Aztecs Student-Athlete of the Week (3/8)
NJCAA All-American: Pole Vault (5/19)
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Jack Greenfield/Track
Canyon del Oro/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Juan Pablo Cervantes/Track and Field
Nogales/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Nayeli Vidal/Soccer
Sahuaro/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Rene Felix/Track
Rincon/UHS/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Tristan Spalding/Track
Palo Verde/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Karla Soto/Volleyball
Nogales/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Caitlyn Maher/Soccer
Catalina Foothills/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Alexus Mendez/Soccer
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Luciana Chavez/Track and Field
Bisbee/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Lia Dominguez/Softball
Cienega/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Kaylee Mosely/Volleyball
Marana/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Litycia Espinoza/Soccer
Sahuarita/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Briannah Gerhart/Soccer
Tanque Verde/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Analisa Gomez/Softball
Rincon/UHS/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Andrea Vigil German/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Abigail Walls/Track and Field
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Daniel Rendon/Soccer
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Sophia Duran/Soccer
Tucson/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
Jaida Olson/Track and Field
Pusch Ridge/Pima
NJCAA All-American: Pole Vault (3/5)
NJCAA All-American: Pole Vault (5/19)
NJCAA DI Outdoor Field All-America First Team (6/10)
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
William Grobe/Tack/Cross Country
Catalina Foothills/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team-XC (7/11)
NJCAA All-Academic Team-TF (7/11)
Emmanuel Corral/Track/Cross Country
Pusch Ridge/Pima
NJCAA All-Academic Team-XC (7/11)
NJCAA All-Academic Team-TF (7/11)
Brayden Graham/Baseball
Sabino/Paradise Valley
NJCAA All-Academic Team (7/11)
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)
NJCAA All-Academic First Team (7/11)
Cade McGee/Baseball
Salpointe/Gonzaga
WCC Freshman of the Year (5/24)
WCC All-Freshman Team (5/24)
WCC Honorable Mention (5/24)
Collegiate News Freshman All-American (6/8)
Baseball America 2nd Team All-American (7/5)
D1Baseball 2nd Team Freshman All-American (7/6)
Diego Bejarano/Baseball
Tucson/Park University
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Kamden Kautz/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge/Washington & Jefferson
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Jonnie Foreman/Baseball
Marana/Mary
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Gabe Ridenour/Baseball
Marana/Mary
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Cobi Cooper/Baseball
Mountain View/Rockford
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Angel Ochoa/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/SE Oklahoma State
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Terrell Huggins/Baseball
Cienega/North Dakota State
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Rene Brockman/Baseball
Desert View/Ottawa University
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Drew Calloway/Baseball
Sabino/Arizona
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Luis Garcia/Baseball
Salpointe/South Mountain
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Isaiah Pintor/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/Pima
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Logan Martin/Baseball
Sahuaro/Gateway
Sun Belt College League All-Star (7/3)
Brooks Fail/Swim
Catalina Foothills/Arizona
Arizona Outstanding Career (4/18)
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal winner (6/22)
Ben Dow/Soccer
Mountain View/Fresno Pacific
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Alastair Pardi/Cross Country
Walden Grove /Holy Names
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Kiana Swingle/Cross Country
Ironwood Ridge/Chaminade
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Ella Dotson/Volleyball
Marana/Hawai’i Pacific
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Lucas Elliott/Basketball
Pusch Ridge/Biola
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Emma Morris/Basketball
Tanque Verde/Chaminade
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Bryanne Olson/Basketball
Pusch Ridge/Hawai’i Hilo
PacWest Academic All-Conference (6/22)
Rumur Rouille/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/Long Island
NEU Spring Academic Honor Roll (6/16)
NEU Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6/16)
Delaney Schnell/Diving
Tucson/Arizona
Pac-12 Diver of the Meet (2/26)
Pac-12 Diver of the Year (4/4)
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
NCAA D-I CoSIDA District 8 (5/19)
NCAA D-I CoSIDA At-Large All-America (6/15)
Bryce Cotton/Basketball
Palo Verde/Perth Wildcats
Perth Members MVP (6/2)
Perth Top Player’s Player (6/10)
Perth Most valuable Player (6/10)
Brianna Hardy/Softball
Buena/Phoenix College
Most Decorated Athlete in NJCAA (3/31)
All-ACCAC First Team (5/9)
ACCAC D-II All-Region (5/9)
NFCA NJCAA D-II South 1st Team (5/30)
NJCAA DII Softball All-America Teams (6/8)
NJCAA DII Pitcher of the Year (6/8)
Zaylie Calderon/Softball
Mountain View/UTEP
Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal (4/15)
Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete (6/8)
Andrea Owens/Volleyball
Salpointe/North Texas
Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal (4/15)
Daniel Henely/Golf
Cienega/Pima
NJCAA DI Men’s Golf All-America Honorable Mention (5/14)
Jessie Niegocki/Softball
Mountain View/Rider
MAAC Pitcher of the Week (4/5)
All-MAAC First Team (5/11)
NFCA D-I NE Region First Team (5/19)
All-ECAC Team (6/9)
Danielle Jamieson/Softball
Sahuaro/Embry-Riddle
Cal-Pac Player of the Week (4/4)
All-Cal Pac Softball Team (5/9)
Cal Pac Scholar Athlete of the Year (6/8)
Vanessa Brink/Softball
Empire/Embry-Riddle
Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week (3/14)
Cal Pac Pitcher of the Year (5/4)
All-Cal Pac Softball Team (5/9)
NAIA All-American Honorable Mention (6/8)
Tairia Flowers/Softball
Salpointe/Loyola Marymount Coach
WCC Coach of the Year (5/17)
Kiko Romero/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/Central Arizona
First Team All-ACCAC (5/3)
First Team All-Region I, Division I (5/3)
Gold Glove (5/3)
NJCAA World Series Tournament MVP (6/4)
NJCAA World Series Outstanding Offensive Player (6/4)
NJCAA World Series Tournament Team (6/4)
Kyle Crookes/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/Central Missouri Coach
MIAA Coach of the Year (5/5)
NCBWA D-II Central Region Coach of the Year (5/19)
NCBWA D-II Coach of the Year (6/2)
Emily Darwin/Softball
Benson/Yavapai
ACCAC Pitcher of the Week (3/21)
ACCAC Pitcher of the Week (4/11)
All-ACCAC First Team (5/9)
ACCAC D-I All Region (5/9)
NFCA NJCAA D-I West Second Team (5/30)
Ashley Bradford/Softball
Sahuaro/Colorado Mesa
RMAC Player of the Year (5/6)
RMAC First Team (5/6)
NFCA D-II South Central Second Team (5/11)
D2CAA Second Team All-American (5/27)
John Michael Gonzalez/Baseball
Empire/Rainy River
MCAC North All-Division (5/13)
MCAC All-State First Team (5/24)
All-Region XIII First Team (5/24)
Gabriel Soto/Baseball
Catalina Foothills/Mesabi Range College
MCAC North All-Division (5/13)
MCAC All-State Third Team (5/24)
All-Region XIII Third Team (5/24)
Jayce Cunha/Wrestling
Mountain View/Embry-Riddle
NWCA NAIA Scholar All-American (4/25)
Christian Rodriguez/Baseball
Catalina Foothills/North Central
UMAC All-Conference (5/17)
Sydney Gray/Softball
Sabino/Nebraska, Lincoln
NFCA D-I Midwest 3rd Team (5/19)
Mateo Sierras/Baseball
Tucson/Rainy River
MCAC North All-Division (5/13)
Robby Campillo/Softball
Salpointe/Arizona Christian
CoSIDA NAIA District 4 Academic (5/11)
Mia Trejo/Softball
Tucson/UNLV
Mountain West Second Team (5/8)
Lauren Wedman/Softball
Sahuaro/Colorado Mesa
RMAC Second Team (5/6)
Aleena Alexander/Softball
Salpointe/Embry-Riddle
Cal Pac Spring All-Academic Team (5/4)
Faith Orton/Softball
Amphitheater/Pima
ACCAC Pitcher of the Week (4/25)
Third Team All-ACCAC (5/9)
Solymar Navarro/Softball
Sahuarita/Eastern Arizona
All-ACCAC Second Team (5/9)
ACCAC D-I All-Region (5/9)
Brianna Jackson/Softball
Sahuaro/Chandler-Gilbert
ACCAC D-II Player of the Year (5/9)
ACCAC D-II All-Region (5/9)
Kimberly McDaniels/Softball
Salpointe/Franciscan
PAC Freshman of the Week (3/28)
John Lemal MVP Award Finalist (4/21)
PAC Player of the Year (5/10)
All-PAC First Team (5/10)
All-PAC Sportsmanship Team (5/10)
Sierra Gaskill/Softball
Pueblo/Benedictine-Mesa
Cal Pac POW Nominee (2/28)
All-Cal Pac Softball Team (5/9)
Diana Miranda Montano/Softball
Salpointe/Embry-Riddle
All-Cal Pac Softball Team (5/9)
Emma Almodoba/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Embry-Riddle
All-Cal Pac Honorable Mention (5/9)
Preston Clifford/Baseball
Sabino/Pima
First Team All-ACCAC (5/3)
First Team All-Region I, Division I (5/3)
Romeo Ballesteros/Baseball
Salpointe/Pima
Second Team All-ACCAC (5/3)
Treyjen Meza/Baseball
Sahuarita/Cochise
First Team All-ACCAC (5/3)
First Team All-Region I, Division I (5/3)
Gold Glove (5/3)
Madison Courney/Gymnastics
Mountain View/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Halli Mayberry/Gymnastics
Canyon del Oro/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
MacKinzie Kane/Gymnastics
Emily Gray/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Ayden Schilb/Indoor Track
Cienega/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Wyatt Matson/Swim
Canyon del Oro/Arizona
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Tyler Rokop/Wrestling
Ironwood Ridge/ASU
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Sam Beskind/Basketball
Catalina Foothills/Stanford
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Taylor Alicea-Jorgensen/Swim
Catalina Foothills/Utah
Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (4/28)
Morgan Gappmayer/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/NAU
Academic All-Big Sky Conference (4/21)
Isabella Almazan/Soccer
Salpointe Northern Colorado
Academic All-Big Sky Conference (4/21)
Colin Dreis/Football
Salpointe/Montana
Academic All-Big Sky Conference (4/21)
Harrison Beemiller/Football
Ironwood Ridge/NAU
Academic All-Big Sky Conference (4/21)
Heath Beemiller/Football
Ironwood Ridge/NAU
Academic All-Big Sky Conference (4/21)
Stanley Berryhill III/Football
Mountain View/Arizona
Arizona Outstanding Career Nominee (4/18)
Elise Muñoz/Softball
Salpointe/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (4/11)
Morgan Nash/Beach Volleyball
Sahuaro/Vanguard
All-GSAC Team
Mitchell Effing/Track and Field
Flowing Wells/NAU
Big Sky Freshman of the Year (3/4)
Grant Nations/Swim
Sabino/Utah
Utah All As Reception (3/29)
Kelsey Siemons/Basketball
Catalina Foothills/Colorado Mesa
RMAC Player of the Week (1/31)
RMAC All-Academic Team (1/31)
CoSIDA Academic All-District (2/17)
RMAC 2nd Team All-Conference (3/2)
RMAC Summit Award Winner (3/4)
Jazzy Hughes/Basketball
Mountain View/CSU Pueblo
RMAC Academic Honor Roll (1/31)
RMAC 2nd Team All-Conference (3/2)
Summer Fox/Basketball
Pueblo/Black Hills State
RMAC Academic Honor Roll (1/31)
Conner Verdugo/Basketball
Walden Grove/Embry-Riddle
Cal Pac All-Academic (3/4)
Chase Verdugo/Basketball
Walden Grove/Embry-Riddle
Cal Pac All-Academic (3/4)
Ana Rodriguez/Softball
Tucson/Central Arizona
ACCAC D-I Pitcher and POW (3/7)
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)
Tianna Carter/Basketball
Canyon del Oro/NC Central
MEAC Player of the Week (2/8)
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)