#azhs

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(Photo by A.E. Araiza/ Arizona Daily Wildcat)

Zack Rosenblatt contributed to this article 

Saturday’s Special Olympics El Tour de Tucson presented by Casino Del Sol Resort hosted riders of all ages.

Take 91-year-old George Nicholls, for instance.

The Tucsonan rode in the 5-mile fun ride event on his three-wheeler. It was Nicholls’ first time riding in El Tour de Tucson and he said it was his first competition of any sort.

“I’ve been riding all my life,” Nicholls said. “The past 25 years I’ve been riding quite a bit.”

Nicholls rode Saturday accompanied by his son, Kent. The Nicholls men trained by riding around George Nicholls’ Civano neighborhood.

“I’ve watched the tour every year, and I read about the 5-mile, and I said, ‘I could do that,’ ” George said.

The younger Nicholls wanted his father to try the 11-mile fun ride course, but he never gave it much thought.

“I might think about it for next year,” George said. “Of course at my age you don’t buy green bananas.”

Dynamic duo

Paul Thomas and Noreen Cary have become something of a

dynasty at El Tour de Tucson

when it comes to the mixed-tandem race.

The good times kept rolling Saturday for the couple, married since 2006. Cary and Thomas won their fourth straight — and fifth overall — tandem title at El Tour.

“Shocking,” Noreen said. “I keep thinking I’m getting too old to do this, but every year it’s like we have to defend the championship.”

Added Paul: “It was good. This is our big event”

Paul and Noreen met in 2000 at a Rock ’N’ Roll Marathon, and something clicked. They rode their first El Tour together when Noreen was still a law student at the UA.

“There’s an athletic-based synergy that continues to go,” Paul said.

Saturday’s finish was particularly impressive since Noreen was only really able to start training for it six weeks ago mostly due to her job as an attorney.

Paul said he tallied it up, and Noren rode 1,300 miles for the entire preparation.

“I do all sorts of races, but this is the most satisfying,” Paul said. “I really gotta give her props. She has no athletic experience, but she’s in the race with all these top pros, going bar-to-bar, 3 inches away on each side, with people that have done the Tour de France.

“Noreen is probably the only person in this race that’s finished in the four-hour bracket, five-hour bracket, six-hour bracket, seven-hour bracket and the eight-hour bracket.”

Looking good

As the 104-mile race wrapped up, El Tour officials picked the winners in a kids competition for best-decorated bike.

Seth Villa, with his turkey bicycle, and Carmen Roe, with her bee-themed bike, both took home first-place trophies.

“First we bought this turkey hat — my grandma got it as a joke,” said Villa, 11. “But then I thought, ‘Hey, El Tour is coming up; why don’t we make a turkey bike?’ ”

For Villa and Roe, both Tucsonans, this was not their first time competing for best-decorated bike. The two have been battling it out for a few years now.

Roe collected her third first-place finish Saturday, and Villa got his second. But this is the first year they both won, together.

“I knew if we put lots of effort into it that it would pay off,” Roe said. “And I’m very happy I could share my prize.”

Next year is the final year Villa and Roe can compete in the best-decorated bike competition because of age limits, but that won’t stop them from at least trying to defend their tittles.

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(Photo by Mike Christy/ Arizona Daily Wildcat 2013)

The 32nd Special Olympics El Tour de Tucson presented by Casino del Sol Resort will be slightly smaller and shorter than usual.

What that means for Southern Arizona’s largest participatory sporting event, both today and in the future, remains up in the air.

Ridership for today’s race is down about 1,100 participants, and the 109-mile course has been cut to 104 miles because of construction in Oro Valley. There also is a smaller change to the course near the I-10 frontage road because of streetcar tracks, which riders can’t cross.

“This will be the shortest distance of El Tour probably in about 25 years,” said Richard DeBernardis, El Tour’s founder and executive director.

“Having fun and being safe is obviously very important. So if we have to cut down the course only 5 miles, it’s not a big problem.”

Dwindling registration numbers are a bigger problem, so much so that DeBernardis promised next year’s fees would be reduced — even though insurance for the race was increased from $20,000 to $100,000.

DeBernardis projects today’s race to be down 1,121 riders from last year’s total of 7,796. He blamed the decrease on last year’s rainy weather and the late registration start for this year’s race.

Registration begins in February, but El Tour’s website wasn’t functional until June.

About 500 Pima County residents who rode last year opted not to return. El Tour is also down 234 Arizona riders from outside Pima County, 348 riders from the rest of the country and 28 international competitors.

“And we think that’s because of weather,” DeBernardis said. “We think people were waiting for the last minute to register.

“Typically people at home register last-minute, so who knows? We could make up some.”

This year’s 104-mile race is the most popular of the four events (five if you count the 11-mile fun ride). A projected 3,200 riders will circle the perimeter of Tucson, about 100 fewer than last year.

At least 600 riders are expected to participate in the fun ride, which starts downtown and heads 5 miles west before turning around.

Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords plans to be one of them.

Despite the lower numbers, El Tour still expects to raise about $7 million — money that will benefit 46 charities. That’s at least $5 million more in donations than last year’s event, DeBernardis said.

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(Photo by Kelly Presnell/ Arizona Daily Star)

Walk down the hallway leading to Cienega’s locker room, and you’ll see pictures of former Bobcats who went on to play football at four-year colleges.

Hanging next to the pictures are several empty frames, one of which might as well have senior wide receiver and defensive back Terrence Johnson’s name on it.

That is, unless he decides to play college basketball instead.

“I want him to play football; he’s a great safety,” Cienega quarterback Adriell Alvarado said. “But if he loves basketball more, then he should obviously play basketball.”

Johnson is a 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver and defensive back who has received football offers from Arizona and San Diego State. As for basketball, Johnson has Weber State and Portland high on his offer sheet. He’s one of the best guards in Southern Arizona.

“It’s really crazy,” Johnson said. “Trying to figure it all out and decide is tough.”

High school sports — particularly the playoffs — are second-nature by now. As a freshman, Johnson was promoted to Cienega’s varsity, and watched as the Bobcats advanced to the state championship game. As a junior, Johnson helped lead Cienega’s basketball team to the state semifinals.

Now Johnson finds himself back in the state semifinals. The fourth-seeded Bobcats will play No. 1 Peoria Liberty tonight at Phoenix Paradise Valley with a trip to the Division II title game on the line.

“We’re back in the final four,” Johnson said. “I kind of have a chip on my shoulder from basketball, so pulling it out and making the championship game would make this final season a lot more sweet.”

Johnson played his final home football game last weekend, a 50-49 double-overtime win against Tempe Marcos de Niza. He said that, while reality is finally sinking in, this is no time for reminiscing.

“I’ve always tried to play with no regrets,” Johnson said. “I want to leave everything out there.”

Back inside the Bobcats’ locker room, painted on the walls are a couple of signs that say, “Nobody Outworks Cienega.”

On the football field, few outwork Johnson. He leads the team in catches (43) and yards (557), and also in interceptions (five). He also has 81 tackles, second on the team, behind linebacker Will Walker’s 100.

Johnson has improved a lot over the past year, Alvarado said, and has become a more physical player as a receiver. But Johnson’s future in football lies as defensive back.

Alvarado also said Johnson is a competitor, even when it comes to video games. But it’s that competitive fire that has helped him improve as an athlete.

In basketball, Johnson uses his lengthy size, broad shoulders and athleticism to his advantage. He’s deadly in transitions, and has the talent to be an all-around shooting guard.

Johnson doesn’t have to officially pick a sport — or a school — until February, but said he’ll likely make up his mind before then.

But even if he does take the basketball route, his presence on the football team has been felt — even if his photo never makes it on the locker-room wall.

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(Photo by Kelly Presnell/ Arizona Daily Star)

Every week, Cienega football coach Nemer Hassey hands out black practice jerseys to the three players who had the best hits in the previous game.

This year, senior running back/linebacker Francisco Dicochea became the first player in Hassey’s 13 years at Cienega to receive the black practice jersey every week.

It’s not just on defense that Dicochea comes up with big hits.

“When you watch film, he just explodes off the screen,” Hassey said. “He’s probably one of the best kids I’ve ever coached at getting extra yards after initially getting hit.

“He’s a physical football player that never comes off the field for us.”

Dicochea — or simply “Dico,” as his teammates and coaches call him — is having a one-of-a-kind season. Heading into No.  4 Cienega’s Division II quarterfinal playoff game against No. 12 Tempe Marcos de Niza tonight, Dicochea is the team’s leading rusher with 1,281 yards. But it doesn’t stop on offense: He’s third on the team in tackles.

“Just trying to leave it all on the field,” Dicochea said. “This is my last high school season so I’m just trying to give it all I got.”

Regardless if the Bobcats win or lose, it will be the final home game for Dicochea and the seniors. It’s another reason to leave it all on the field, he said.

It’s also a chance to forget last season. The Bobcats went just 5-5 a year ago and missed the state playoffs.

“It (stunk); we were better than that,” Dicochea said. “I mean we were close, but we want to have no regrets at the end of the year.”

Cienega is riding a 10-game winning streak that began against Mountain View in Week 2. The Bobcats lost their season opener to Ironwood Ridge.

After that game, “I told our guys going into the Mountain View game it was pivotal,” Hassey said. “I told them this is the fork in the road. You will decide what kind of team we are this week. And we won, and I think we’ve really progressed since.”

Dicochea rushed for 83 yards in the 27-24 win over Mountain View. But it was his tough 35-yard TD run with two minutes remaining that saved the Bobcats’ game — and season.

“He’s a beast,” quarterback Adriell Alverado said. “You know he plays like Marshawn Lynch or Demarco Murray. He’s got such a strong lower half. Always is running and hitting people his hardest.”

Dicochea’s hard-hitting playing style is not something he has coached, Hassey said; it’s all based on mentality.

So after Tuesday’s practice, Dicochea tucked his black jersey into his chest pad, looked at Alverado and told his quarterback he’s going play like “Dico.”

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(Photo by Ron Medvescek/ Arizona Daily Star)

Walking across the Arizona Dynamics gym Monday night, Natasha Trejo and Corinne Belkoff looked as if they had just been in a fight.

Bruises, scars and a lathering of chalk covered their small frames.

A fight would have been quicker — and probably easier — for the exhausted girls. They had completed a normal day of Level 10 training, the highest level in USA Gymnastics’ Junior Olympic program.

Persistent hard work has led to awards, accolades and — today — Division I college scholarships. Trejo will sign with BYU, and Belkoff with sign with Arizona State today, the first day high school athletes can sign national letters of intent.

“These girls work hard every day, 12 months a year,” said Arizona Dynamics gymnastic coach Regina Mueller-Martin. “We give them maybe 10 days off in the summer, but that’s what you have to give if you want to be at that level.”

Here’s all you need to know about the two standout gymnasts:

THE BRAINS

Despite their intense gymnastics schedule, the girls have found time to excel in their classrooms.

Belkoff, a Catalina Foothills High School senior, said she has always put school work over gymnastics.

“School has always been most important to me,” Belkoff said. “ASU’s Barrett Honors College is one of the reasons I chose to go there.”

Both plan on being pre-med majors, a challenging — and time-consuming — academic pursuit. However, Mueller-Martin isn’t worried: The girls’ longtime coach didn’t think they had ever received anything less than A’s.

Trejo, a Sahuaro senior, even said she expects some relief.

“I honestly think it will be easier,” said Trejo, a practicing Mormon who chose BYU for its location and faith-based education. “They practice less in college.”

THE ATTITUDES

Belkoff made a strong first impression on Trejo during their first encounter roughly eight years ago. In fact, Trejo says she can still recall the exact leotard her friend and fellow gymnast was wearing, and how intense Belkoff was.

“Sometimes she can be really intimidating,” Trejo said. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing, though, because it shows how much she cares.”

The 5-foot tall girls are anything but intimidating in person. However, they’re all business once they hit the mat.

“It’s what separates them,” said Mueller-Martin, a former UA gymnast. “It’s not just gymnastics, its in their academics as well. And when you get to that point of dedication it becomes you.”

THE COMEBACKS

Injuries are a part of gymnastics — and all sports. Trejo has overcome an especially rough one, though.

Two years ago Trejo suffered two stress fractures in her back, forcing her to miss an entire year of gymnastics. But she found a way to overcome it, even though her overall experience was far less than most Level 10 gymnasts.

The relentless dedication is the reason both girls are signing letters of intent today.

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(Photo by Patrick Brean/ The Arizona Republic)

MESA — Catalina Foothills won its second consecutive boys swimming and diving Division II boys championship Saturday with another dominating performance.

The Falcons scored 312 points and beat runner-up Scottsdale Notre Dame by 135 points to take home their 12th state crown in the last 14 years.

“It feels great to be back,” said Foothills coach Ed Walter. “The boys did a great job on individuals, and the 400 (freestyle) relay team also did an outstanding job.”

Out of the eight individual events, Foothills won four. Senior Matt Lujan, who was selected by coaches as the Division II boys swimmer of the year, won two championships. Sophomore Brooks Fail also won a pair of titles.

The boys 400-yard free relay team was the only relay race the Falcons won but it didn’t matter. In total, Foothills had nine top-five finishes in 11 events.

“Everyone did so great I couldn’t ask for a better way to close out my time here with this team,” said Lujan, who is verbally committed to the UA.

“It’s the icing on the cake,” he added about being named swimmer of the year.

Gilbert Campo Verde won the girls championship with 257 points, beating runner-up Salpointe Catholic by 47 points who just narrowly slipped past defending champion Foothills by three points thanks to the final event,.

“We just wanted to win that race so bad,” Salpointe sophomore Teagan McGinnis said. “Right before I dived in a thought to myself ‘Lets do it for the team’.”

Sitting in third and trailing the Falcons by just a couple points heading into the final event, the Lancers needed to beat Foothills in the 400-yard freestyle relay in order to leap frog them on the podium. And with a time of 3:41.03 Salpointe won the race and beat the Falcon girls by 1.45 seconds.

“It was a heck of a race unfortunately it likely pushed us out of second but after everything these girls lost from last season to come back and place in the top-three only a couple points behind is fantastic,” Walter said.

Before the diving scores were added the Lancers had only lost to Campo Verde by one point. Neither Salpointe nor Catalina Foothills had divers compete in the state tournament.

“It’s not first but I’m so happy we raced so hard there at the end to take second,” McGinnis said.

A program that could be standing on the podium next season is the Sabino girls’ team. Its coach, Lisa Sartori, was voted the state’s girls’ swimming coach of the year at Saturday’s meet.

“I’m shocked to be honest,” Sartori said. “It’s a honor and a surprise but I’m focused on these girls.”

Overall the Sabercats took fifth place with 138 points. If it wasn’t for a disqualification on their 200 medley relay, which they were the No. 1 seed, Sabino might have been the ones fighting for second place.

Taylor Nations, a junior, carried the team with a first place finish in the girls 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, which she also won last fall.

“It was an honest mistake,” Nations said. “And we have next year too. There were two freshmen on that relay as well as my self and a junior so we have a lot coming back.”

A couple of Southern Arizona schools competed at the Division I state championship, which took place later in the day.

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(Arizona Daily Star)

PHOENIX – The defending Division II state champion’s season came to an abrupt end Friday night.

In the first round of the Division II state playoffs, No. 11 Salpointe Catholic lost 42-7 at sixth-seeded Phoenix Sunnyslope.

“We had to come out and beat them quick,” said freshman receiver Jamarye Joiner. “We were the more athletic team.”

On Friday, though, turnovers killed any chance Salpointe had to come out quick.

The Lancers’ first drive was halted on a failed fourth down attempt inside the Vikings’ 30-yard line yard. In return Sunnyslope went 74-yards and scored the game’s opening touchdown.

The Vikings never looked back and, with constant good starting position, took a 28-7 lead into halftime.

“We still thought we were the more conditioned team and thought we could beat them with our quickness,” Joiner said about trailing at halftime.

Despite the deficit Salpointe Catholic showed some life to start the second half with a quicker tempo. But once again, a strong drive ended on a failed fourth down attempt inside Sunnyslope’s 30-yard line.

In total Salpointe Catholic had three fumbles and two interceptions to go along with a number of failed fourth down attempts.

Buried in a hole, the Lancers’ looked towards senior quarterback Sammy Muniz to dig them out. But a stout Sunnyslope defensive back shut down any big pass play attempt, forced turnovers and put pressure on Muniz to run with the ball. He was the only Lancer with more than nine rushing attempts.

“It was frustrating standing on the sideline and having any momentum killed,” said junior defensive lineman Justin Holt. “But we needed to put that in the past and keep working.”

Muniz completed just 48 percent of his 29 pass attempts. In his final game he had 198 passing yard and his longest pass was a 35-yard touchdown to sophomore D.J. Hinton in the first quarter.