Richard ObertArizona Republic
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So many Arizona high school athletes stood out during the 2023-24 academic year that it's hard to keep it to 10. The Arizona Republic ranks the top 10 based on criteria ranging from the feat, the ability to lead, carry teams, and break through in major ways that will leave an impact for many years to come.
1. Vance Nilsson, Gilbert hurdler
Maybe the best is always saved for last. And after Gilbert senior Vance Nilsson shattered the national record in the 300-meter hurdles, becoming the first high school athlete to break 35 seconds (34.83), winning by nearly three seconds, the Arizona Interscholastic Association filled out eight pages of paperwork to make it official and turn it in to assure Nilsson's name goes down in the national high school record book. The MCC track was even striped by the same guy who does the University of Oregon's track for the U.S. Olympic Trials, AIA director David Hines said. That's being on top of it.
2. Audrey Jimenez, Tucson Sunnyside wrestler
She broke into the Arizona high school record books by becoming the first female to win a state wrestling title in the boys' state meet, capturing the Division I title in the 106-pound weight class at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. She helped Sunnyside win its seventh consecutive boys team championship. Her history-making feat wouldn't have happened if she hadn't won her appeal with the AIA in December in order to compete with the boys during the season.
3. Cam Caminiti, Scottsdale Saguaro baseball
The left-hander last summer reclassified to accelerate himself to graduate early from high school, in November he signed with college power LSU, and in the spring was the buzz among Major League Baseball scouts every time he took the mound. There was a magical moment on March 7 when he struck out the first 16 batters he faced in a six-inning, 10-0 win against Deer Valley. He walked the last batter he faced, but that inning ended with a runner being thrown at third trying to steal.
4. Neill sisters, Joseph City softball
In the 1A softball title game, Joseph City scored 26 runs and hit five home runs, a combined three by two of the four Neill sisters — junior April (who hit two out) and sophom*ore Audrey (who clobbered one out of the park). Senior Ava went 1-for-1 in the game, and sophom*ore Amber went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. The sisters combined to drive in 10 runs in the 26-4 win over Bagdad, which was the team's ninth straight game scoring in double-digits.
5. Navi Bruzon, Peoria Liberty football
Before heading over to Arizona State to compete for the starting job as a redshirt this spring, Bruzon led Liberty to its first Open state football championship with his uncanny ability to make big plays with his arm and legs. He won his second straight Gatorade Arizona high school football Player of the Year honor after passing for 3,287 yards and 32 TDs and running for 972 yards and 21 TDs in a 12-1 season, playing the most demanding schedule and not getting any major college offers. Makes you wonder if he's the next Brock Purdy?
6. Connor Oldani, Phoenix Brophy Prep volleyball
Brophy Prep capped the 6A boys volleyball championship with a win over Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, as fittingly, longtime coach Tony Oldani's son, Connor, had the last swing. It was Connor's last high school match, before starting his college career at Grand Canyon. It was the first time the father-son combo won a state title. Tony coached his other sons at Brophy, but Connor lived up to the promise that he would lead a championship for his father, Tony's first at Brophy since 2006 with his older brothers in attendance.
7. Koa Peat, Gilbert Perry basketball
What the 6-foot-8 junior is doing in his high school career is the stuff of legend and something that goes a long way in loyalty in an age of movement. He has stayed put his entire career at Perry, not strayed by the glitz of national prep academies, staying ground and humble and leading the Pumas to three state titles in his first three years in high school. The second of back-to-back Open titles was tougher, because he didn't have 6-8 Cody Williams to take some of the pressure off. But Peat, when he had to, put the team on his back to power its way to another Open title, this time taking down resilient and loaded Goodyear Millennium in a memorable final.
8. Demond Williams Jr., Chandler Basha football
He had a remarkable four-year career as the starting quarterback, and, even though his team came up short in the Open semifinals against Peoria Centennial, Williams was nothing short of brilliant. His accuracy was uncanny. His ability to take off and run for touchdowns was magical, especially in the red zone. Now at the University of Washington, he's got a chance to create more magic in college.
9. Zalaya Dupre, Glendale Copper Canyon, triple jump
She broke the state record in the girls' triple jump during the track and field state championships at 41 feet, 9.5 inches, which is more remarkable due to the fact she didn't start doing the triple jump until four weeks earlier. She came out late for track due to the basketball season overlap, but went on to rewrite the record book and also win the state title in the long jump at 19-3.
10. Katelyn Jewell, Waddell Canyon View, flag football
Mesa Mountain View (6A) and Gilbert Campo Verde (5A) emerged as the first two AIA state champions in flag football last fall, but a west-side quarterback, Waddell Canyon View junior Katelyn Jewell, might have become the face of Arizona flag football. She passed for 3,649 yards and 55 TDs, completing 76% of her passes, in just 12 games, getting her team to the 5A final.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
