Former Tucson High and University of Arizona standout Neysia Howard earned the Thunder Award from GCU as the impact athlete for Track and Field.
Former Catalina Foothills standout Cole Altherr was named Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week for Embry-Riddle after he threw a complete game shutout against the Park-Gilbert last week, helping the Eagles to take two out of three from the Buccaneers. The senior righty struck out 12 batters and gave up just four hits in his nine-inning stint.
Former Rio Rico and Pima standout Abril Nerey was named Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week for Park-Gilbert after throwing a two-hit shutout to beat La Sierra on Monday and adding 5.2 scoreless inning in relief in game one against (RV) Arizona Christian on Wednesday. She then threw another four innings of relief in the second game, allowing only one earned run, to keep the Bucs in the game and allow them to overcome a 5-0 deficit to upset ACU in extra innings. She struck out 11 in her 16.2 innings with 0.42 ERA, and opponents hit .143 against her for the week.
This list will be updated all year in an effort to recognize all former local prep stars who have gone on to win 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.
31 athletes have been recognized for 2024 – we had 307 athletes recognized in 2023.
Neysia Howard/Track
Tucson/GCU
WAC High Point Award (2/20)
WAC Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year (3/5)
GCU Thunder Award (4/1)
Cole Altherr/Baseball
Catalina Foothills/Embry-Riddle
Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week nominee (4/1)
Abril Nerey/Softball
Rio Rico/Park-Gilbert
Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week nominee (3/18)
Cal PAC Pitcher of the Week (3/25)
Cal PAC Pitcher of the Week (4/1)
Alec Larson/Baseball
Catalina Foothills/Benedictine Mesa
Cal Pac Player of the Week nominee (3/4)
Cal Pac Player of the Week nominee (4/1)
Vanessa Brink/Softball
Empire/Embry-Riddle
Cal PAC Pitcher of the Week (3/11)
Cal PAC Pitcher of the Week (3/18)
Cal PAC Pitcher of the Week Nominee (3/18)
Leah Salas/Softball
Sahuarita/Embry-Riddle
Cal PAC Player of the Week nominee (3/18)
NAIA Player of the Week (3/26)
Emma Almodoba/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Embry-Riddle
Cal Pac Player of the Week (3/4)
Isaiah Roebuck/Baseball
Marana/Jamestown
Iron Jimmie of the Month (3/29)
Abraham Valenzuela/Track and Field
Palo Verde/Pima
First Team All-ACCAC (3/29)
Nathaniel Curtiss/Track and Field
Rincon/UHS/Pima
First Team All-ACCAC (3/29)
Alyssa Brown/Basketball
Sahuaro/UNLV
Mountain West Player of the Week (1/8)
Mountain West Tourney MVP (3/13)
Outstanding Rebel of the Week (3/22)
Camilla Zepeda/Softball
Tucson/Pima
ACCAC D-I Player of the Week (3/21)
Jazmyne Waddell/Softball
San Manuel/Pima
ACCAC D-I Pitcher of the Week (2/28)
ACCAC D-I Pitcher of the Week (3/21)
Emily Darwin/Softball
Benson/Grand Canyon
WAC Pitcher of the Week (3/11)
Sydney Gray/Softball
Sabino/Nebraska
Big Ten Player of the Week (2/19)
Big Ten Player of the Week (2/21)
Big Ten Player of the Week (3/11)
Dillan Baker/Basketball
Salpointe/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (1/2)
ACCAC Player of the Week (1/9)
All-ACCAC DII First Team (3/6)
All-Region DII First Team (3/6)
Lual Lual/Basketball
Catalina Foothills/Mesa
All-ACCAC DII Second Team (3/6)
All-Region DII Second Team (3/6)
Gabriella Lopez/Basketball
Bisbee/Pima
DII Defensive Player of the Year (3/6)
All-ACCAC DII Second Team (3/6)
All-Region DII Second Team (3/6)
Dominique Acosta/Basketball
Nogales/Pima
ACCAC Player of the Week (1/2)
All-ACCAC DII First Team (3/6)
All-Region DII Second Team (3/6)
Mason White/Baseball
Salpointe/Arizona
Bobby Bragan Award Watch List (2/16)
Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/8)
Frisco Classic All-Tournament Team (3/6)
Bria Medina/Basketball
Salpointe/Knox
Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year (2/27)
Midwest Conference First Team (2/27)
Kylee Callahan/Basketball
Salpointe/Knox
Midwest Player of the Week (1/3)
Midwest Conference First Team (2/27)
Aaliyah Ortiz/Basketball
Palo Verde/Culver-Stockton
All-Heart of America Team (3/1)
Dylan Dreis/Football
Salpointe/Arizona
Arizona Bow Intern of the Year (2/29)
Isaiah Miller/Wrestling
Sahuarita/Jamestown
GPAC Freshman of the Year
GPAC First Team (2/21)
Rumur Rouille/Volleyball
Ironwood Ridge/Long Island
NEC Scholar Athlete (2/7)
NEC Academic Honor Roll (2/7)
Bryce Cotton/Basketball
Palo Verde/Perth
NBL Most Valuable Player (2/19)
Spencer Packard/Baseball
Canyon del Oro/Arkansas Travelers
MLB Prospect (2/7)
Devyn Netz/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
D-I Softball Preseason Top 100-94 (1/19)
Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Mariah Lopez/Softball
Cienega/Utah
D-I Softball Preseason Top 100-23 (1/19)
Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Allie Skaggs/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Arizona
D-I Softball Preseason Top 100-18 (1/19)
Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Carlie Scupin/Softball
Tucson/Arizona
D-I Softball Preseason Top 100-37 (1/19)
Pac-12 Preseason Team (2/1)
Aquarina Thomas/Volleyball
Tucson/Des Moines Area CC
Fall Academic All-Region (1/16)
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