Archive for September 2nd, 2010

New men’s basketball and baseball coaches hired

By James Sargent

Avid Pima Community College sports fans who enjoy men’s basketball and baseball will soon spot a couple of familiar faces.

Roderick Gary has been named the men’s head basketball coach and Jason Hisey is the new head baseball coach.

Roderick Gary

Gary was a Pima men’s basketball assistant coach in the 1980s and ‘90s and now works full-time as program manager of PCC’s Information Center and the college’s outreach team.

He replaces Karl Pieroway, who spent two seasons at the helm and led the Aztecs to 7th place at nationals. Pieroway resigned in April, was rehired, then resigned again in May.

Gary coached at Pima in 1989-1990 and 1998-99. From 1991-1997, he was an assistant boys’ coach at Sahuaro High School under Tucson coaching legend Dick McConnell.

He played basketball at Cochise College in 1976-1977 and has been an Arizona Interscholastic Association-certified referee. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Northern Arizona University in 1980.

“I appreciate the chance to contribute to one of the up-and-coming programs in the nation, and to make sure the young men succeed in the classroom as well as on the court,” Gary said in a press release.

Gary will continue in his full-time administrative job at Pima while also coaching basketball.

“Rick loves the game and understands the importance of upholding the college’s tradition of academic achievement by its student-athletes,” Executive Director of Athletics Edgar Soto said in a press release.

Soto, who stepped down as head baseball coach in May to concentrate on his athletics director duties, hired a former assistant coach to succeed him.

Hisey was the Aztecs’ pitching coach from 2006-2008. In 2006, Hisey coached USA Baseball’s 18-and-under team to a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Cuba. He is also president of the Southern Arizona Baseball Association.

“Jason’s record speaks for itself. He has been successful at every level,” Soto said in a press release. “He knows the college and appreciates the high scholastic standards we hold our student-athletes to.”

From 1995-2005, Hisey was the head baseball coach at Catalina Foothills High School, where he led the Falcons to three state championship games, eight regional titles and a 256-78 win-loss record.

Hisey pitched for the University of Arizona from 1987-1991 and then played in the minor leagues from 1991-1993 for the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization.

He has a master’s degree in sports administration from the UA and a bachelor’s degree from UA in exercise sport science.

Jason Hisey

During the Soto era, Pima won 105 games, making the playoffs in 2006 and 2007.

The 2006 Aztec pitching staff led the Arizona Community College Athletic Association with a 2.74 ERA.

The Aztecs missed the playoffs in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Pima Coaching Carousel Timeline
April 20: Men’s
basketball head coach Karl Pieroway resigns
May 4: Pieroway is
rehired. Edgar Soto steps down from baseball head coaching job
May 13: Pieroway
resigns again
July 16: Roderick Gary named men’s basketball head coach. Jason Hisey named baseball head coach
Aug. 11: PCC Board of Governors approve hires

Summer sports recap

Story and Photos by James Kelley

Pima sports ranked No. 16 nationally

The Pima Community College athletic department secured a top 20 finish in the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators Cup.

The Aztecs finished with the country’s 16th best athletic program in the scholarship division in the 2009-10 NATYCAA Cup.

Pima earned 69.5 points, led by the 41 points earned by Aztec women’s teams. The men scored 28.5, up from 9.5 the year before. For the 2008-09 season, Pima ended up in 24th place.

Softball team upset by Yavapai

The softball team’s postseason began on a sour note and ended a day later when arch rival Yavapai College upset them.

Jordan Trujillo

No. 4 ranked and top-seeded Pima (57-11, 26-6 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) lost 5-4 to second-seeded Yavapai on May 8 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region I Championship game, which ended the Aztecs’ national title quest.

Sophomore pitcher and Arizona Community College Athletic Conference player of the year Jordan Trujillo (31-6) earned a rare loss in consecutive days. When Pima opened Regionals, it lost to No. 4 seed Arizona Western College, 4-3.

Track & field teams both finish in top 17

The Aztecs had 10 top-eight finishes at the Nationals meet, as the women’s track and field team finished 13th and the men’s team took 17th place.

In Hutchinson, Kan., sophomore Sharissa Korn placed fourth in the javelin with a throw of 135 feet, 9 inches. Freshman Kat Howard finished fifth in the 10,000-meters, setting a school record, 38:18.8.

The men’s 4×400-meter relay team of sophomore Stephan Bullard, freshman Derick Coker, sophomore Chris Phillips and freshman Mathew Robertson finished fifth in 3:15.5. On his own, Bullard finished sixth in the 800-meter in 1:54.1.

Sophomore Jessica Davis took fifth in the shot put, by putting up a score of 40 feet, 2 inches.

Freshman Christian Tover achieved a personal record, 160 feet, in the hammer throw, good enough for a sixth place finish.

Freshman Chloe’ Nowell leaped her way to a seventh place finish in the triple jump, with a mark of 36 feet, 7 inches.

Freshman Magda Mankel earned seventh place in the 1,500-meter, in a time of 5:04.6.

Sophomore Kyle Bush was 8th in the 1,500-meter in 4:11.6. Freshman Anthony Johnson placed eighth in the high jump, with a best of 6 feet, 8.75 inches.

The Aztecs started the postseason by finishing third at Regionals. Pima qualified 24 athletes in 21 events for Nationals.

Region championship winners were Nowell in triple jump, freshman Mario Portillo in 5,000-meter and Tover in shot put.

The men’s 4×400 team finished in third place, running a 3:13.26. That result broke a school record they set earlier in the season.

Tennis teams finish 19th at Nationals

Both tennis teams finished 19th at Nationals, with the men competing in Plano, Texas, and the women in Tucson.

Freshman Andrew Barnett made it to the quarterfinals of the Flight 1 Singles consolation bracket. The sophomore doubles team of Raphael Sepulveda and David Tellez advanced to the quarterfinals of Flight 2.

On the women’s side, freshman Gabriela Rodriguez reached the semifinals of the singles No. 1 consolation bracket. Sophomore Lori Cinnamond made it to the finals of the singles No. 3 consolation bracket.

Cinnamond and sophomore Ana Gallardo advanced to the semifinals of the doubles No. 2 consolation bracket.

The women’s tournament was held at the Reffkin Tennis Center.

Men’s golf ranks 18th at Nationals

The men’s golf team finished in 18th place at Nationals, while the women’s team was unable to field a team due to illness.

The men shot a three-round total of 933 at the rain-shortened Nationals at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail River Course, in Owens Crossroads, Ala.

Freshman Anthony Grijalva led the way for the Aztecs with a 227 (74, 78, 75), good enough for 50th place overall.

Sophomore Nicole Gentry missed the Nationals with an illness, so the women were unable to compete as a team.

The women’s tournament, held at the LPGA International Course in Daytona Beach, Fla., was also shortened by rain. Sophomore Brianne Anderson finished in 39th place, shooting 257 (80, 90, 85).

Elizabeth Livingston

Freshman Jennifer Candanoza finished 42nd with 260 (83, 88, 89), while sophomore Elizabeth Livingston finished 66th with 276 (97, 86, 93).

Youthful women’s soccer ranked

By James Kelley
Photos by Ed Adams

After losing some of the top players in the country, the Pima Community College women’s soccer team hopes to live up to that old sports phrase: reload instead of rebuild.

The No. 14 Aztecs (1-1, 1-1 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) began the season Aug. 28 with a 2-1 loss to Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

Pima took an early lead on a goal by freshman midfielder Kelly Button that was assisted by sophomore forward Tamra James. The Coyotes won the match with two unanswered goals.

James said the players will recover from the loss. “We got a little ahead of ourselves, but I think we have lots of talent and skill on our team,” she said. “We just need to learn to work together because we have a huge freshman class.”

Head coach Kendra Veliz called the loss “disappointing” but said she still expects the Aztecs to be among the top teams in the nation.

“We were up at the half and were hoping we could maintain the lead but I think our inexperience showed,” she said. “It’s definitely something we can overcome. I have faith and belief in this team.”

Pima lost lots of talent from last year due to their eligibility expiring, including All-American forward Emily Shuta, who led the ACCAC in goals with 14.

Shuta is one of four All-ACCAC honorees the Aztecs must replace. The others are goalkeeper Adrianna Phininzy, a National Player of the Week who led the ACCAC in goals-against-average with 0.59, Letisha Merriex and Sofia Whigham.

Pima also lost Steph McCurry, who was ninth in the league in scoring.

Adriana Ortiz

“We lost two really great players, both forwards, but I think we definitely have the team to replace them,” James said. “We are just all new. We’ve never played together before. I think we are just finding our rhythm.”

Veliz likes the new Aztecs, even if they lack experience.

“I think that we really have some good talent coming in this year with the freshmen,” she said. “They’re young and inexperienced and have a little to learn.”

Veliz also likes PCC’s depth, with 22 players including 15 freshmen.

Last year, the Aztecs went 16-3 overall and 16-2 in ACCAC play. That record earned them the conference championship, but their national championship quest ended in an upset at home to bottom-seed Phoenix College. Pima lost 3-2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 1 playoffs.

Trinity Houk

Veliz thinks last year’s devastating end to the season will be motivation for this year’s squad.

“I think that the group of returners is a strong group that went through a lot last year,” she said. “We lost a difficult game, so they are coming back with a goal and a purpose.”

With Pima and Paradise Valley, the 15-team ACCAC has two teams in the rankings. Last year, the Paradise Valley Pumas finished third at Nationals.

Veliz said the ACCAC conference is always strong.
“I think we have one of the strongest leagues, so you can never take a day off.”

Pima last made it to Nationals in 2007, where it finished third.

The Aztecs rebounded by beating Mesa Community College 2-0 on Sept. 1. Freshman midfielder Dionae Avendano scored a goal and James scored the other off of an assist by freshman midfielder Cynthia Fierro.

On Sept. 25, Pima hosts Phoenix, which ended the Aztecs’ season last year. Their home date with Paradise Valley is Oct. 2.

All home matches are at the West Campus.

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Talented men’s soccer opens season with wins

By James Kelley
Photo by Ed Adams

Hoping to succeed in a competitive conference, the Pima Community College men’s soccer team brought in a talented freshman class to work in tandem with experienced sophomores.

The Aztecs (2-0, 2-0 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) began the season Aug. 28 with an exciting 2-1 overtime win over Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

Last year, 14 of Pima’s top 18 players were rookies. Despite depending heavily on freshmen, the Aztecs were ranked most of the year, rising to as high as No. 8. This year, that is expected to pay dividends as Pima also added a talented freshmen class.

“We are counting on experience and the fact that we brought in a really good freshman class,” head coach David Cosgrove said. “We have high expectations.”

The Aztecs likely will be led by sophomore forward Minh Vu, an All-American last year. Although the Aztecs are not ranked, they received votes in the Top 15 poll.

Freshman defender Eric Glad expects the team to do well. “We’ve got a great core of returning kids and a lot of freshmen that played a lot,” he said. “I think we have a huge chance this year to go pretty far.”

The Aug. 28 victory marked the second year in a row for the Aztecs to open the season with an overtime win at home. Last year Vu had a hat trick in the opener.

“I think clearly we are a lot better than the last time we stepped on the field,” Cosgrove said. “We look more organized, so I think we are in good shape. That’s a good win against a tough team early on.”

Sophomore defender Edward Betterton scored the match winner with 5:26 left in overtime off of a corner kick by Vu.

“I thought we played really well, especially in the first half,” Glad said. “The second half was a little rough but then in overtime we finished it, so that’s what counts.”

Kolby Jacobson

Freshman defender Kolby Jacobson scored the season’s first goal with 6.2 seconds left in the first half, off an assist by freshman midfielder Oscar Ortega.

“Kolby does very well for us,” Cosgrove said.

The Aztecs return Vu and sophomore Marco Carrillo from the All-ACCAC team. However, they lost all-stars Edgar Reyna and Sergio Carrillo as their eligibility ran out. Sergio Carrillo was fourth in the league in goals.
Last year, Vu was second in the conference with 17 goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Miko Gastelum was fifth in goals-against-average with 1.34 in 2009.

Headlining the freshman class is forward Donny Toia, arguably Pima’s best-ever men’s soccer recruit. Toia was last year’s Arizona Daily Star player of the year.

“He’s a big time player,” Cosgrove said.

Other freshmen of note include forward Yaya Kane, who is from Mauritania in western Africa, and defender Marc Darling, who transferred from Southern Methodist University.

The ACCAC boasts No. 5 Yavapai College and No. 13 Arizona Western College. Pima and Phoenix College received votes in the poll.

Yavapai figures to be the ACCAC favorite. The Roughriders have won seven national championships and 19 of the last 20 region championships.

Last year, the Roughriders knocked Pima out of the playoffs for the fifth year in a row.

Since 1990, Yavapai has led the ACCAC with a record of 349-19-8, followed by Pima with 214-127-23 and Mesa Community College with 185-152-20.

“This is my 11th or 12th year associated with Pima and I think this will be the best the league has been,” Cosgrove said. “One through seven or eight will all be really good. Even the couple of weak ones will be very difficult as well, so there will be a lot of surprising results and I think it will come right down to the end.”

On Sept. 1, the Aztecs won their first road match, 3-1 at Mesa Community College. Vu, Toia and Kane each scored a goal and had an assist to boot.

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Cross Country teams aim to finish in top 10

Pima Community College men’s and women’s cross country head coach Greg Wenneborg is almost sure this is the year for a momentous finish.

“I think this might be the year where we go top 10 for both the men and women,” he said.

Every season Wenneborg set out with that simple goal: for both teams to finish in the top 10 at nationals. However, he’s yet to see it take place, coming into his sixth season.

The men’s team has a group of returning runners along with some solid freshmen.

“When we came into the season we had a great recruiting year for the men and we had high hopes of a very strong finish at the national meet,” Wenneborg said.

Wenneborg remains optimistic but has minimized his expectations somewhat.

“Our preseason work hasn’t been as good as we’ve hoped,” he said. “We clearly have a shot at a top 10 finish but may struggle to be any better than that.”

Sophomores Jess Montour and Mario Portillo will play big roles in leading the team.

Two key freshmen are Andy Lacy from Catalina Foothills and Humberto Bravo out of Flowing Wells. Lacy does certain runs barefoot to strengthen his feet.

“I don’t have anything expected of myself except for me to go out in the first race that we have and more or less ripping it open to see what I can do,” Lacy said. “We are definitely set to go high in the national rankings.”

The Aztecs will travel to Flagstaff to open the season at the George Kyte Invitational on Sept. 4.

The women’s team surprised Wenneborg in a sense.

“We expected to have a little bit of a down year on the women’s side,” he said. “My recruiting didn’t go as well but then all of a sudden things fell into place.”

Magda Mankel, Julia Peerenboom and Annalisa Loevenguth are vital among the returning runners along with some “serious” freshmen.

Magda Mankel, Julia Peerenboom and Annalisa Loevenguth

“The ladies went out and did their homework over the summer and showed up in very good shape,” Wenneborg said.

Peerenboom agreed that they did their homework and got their summer miles in. She also thinks the team will be strong.

“We’re going to be a hard team to beat because we have a lot of talent,” she said. “I know last year we had some really good girls that were standouts but I feel like this year all of us are together, which is really good.”

The women impressed Wenneborg during a recent time trial.

“I believe the women could be as good as any team we’ve had in the last five years,” he said. “If I compare that time trial to the previous two years’ teams and scored it as a cross country race, this team would have won.”

Freshmen plentiful on volleyball squad

Story and Photo by James Kelley

The Pima Community College volleyball team is paying the price for enjoying extra sophomores last year. This year, the team only has three sophomores.

The Aztecs (0-3, 0-2 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) will rely on lots of freshmen, but head coach Dan Bithell still likes this team.

“We’ve got a lot of new players, we’ve got a pretty young team this year, but I really like our chemistry,” Bithell said.

There are four ranked teams in the ACCAC, No. 13 Eastern Arizona College and No. 24 Yavapai College in division I and No. 7 Scottsdale and No. 11 Glendale Community College in division II. The Aztecs are in division II.

“It’s going to be tough,” Bithell said.

Though the Aztecs only play one home match until the latter half of September, Bithell sees that as a blessing in disguise. Only one team gets to host Regionals, so the Aztecs will likely have to play on the road.

“Obviously it is always great to get a bunch of wins under your belt to start the season but ultimately I think it will help us, make us more mentally tough,” Bithell said.

Ashley Hamilton

Last year, Pima finished two matches out of a playoff spot.

All-American Liz Alford, who transferred to Northern Arizona University and All-ACCAC Kelsee Rupp are the Aztecs’ biggest losses.

Outside hitter Ashley Hamilton is Pima’s top returning player. Last year she averaged .720 blocks per game, 1.50 kills per game .050 assists per game, .350 aces per game and .500 digs per game.

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