By Raymundo Frasquillo
GLENDALE — Four teams remained in contention for the 2005 state title following the quarterfinals on May 7. The Top four-ranked teams met for the semifinals in the Glendale Paseo Racquet Center on May 9.
Since a bracketed team tourney debuted for the 1A/2A Class during the 2006 season, three of the current four semifinalists have a combined 16 state titles between them. Thatcher has been a finalist 10 times (2008, 2011, 2023) with seven titles (2006-07, 2012, 2014-16, 2024); Phoenix Country Day nine times (2-2006-07, 2019,) with six titles (2008-10, 2021-23); and Pusch Ridge seven times (2013, 2-2014, 2-2017, 2-2024) with three titles (2011, 2013, 2018).
This season, it was the No. 2 Thatcher Eagles (13-1 seeding, 17.9836 rating) versus the No. 3 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (12-1, 17.7333) and the No. 1 Phoenix Country Day School Eagles (11-0, 20.6868) vs. the No. 4 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills Guardians (8-1, 16.9717).
By the next morning, two finalists remained: Phoenix Country Day and Pusch Ridge. Both advanced with identical 5-4 semifinal scores. The Eagles edged the Guardians, and the Lions did likewise to the Eagles.
Before the late afternoon, one team stood alone. Phoenix Country Day slipped past Pusch Ridge 5-3 for the title.
Earlier in the tourney, the No. 1 Jerry Keever-coached Phoenix Country Day Eagles dispatched No. 16 Tanque Verde (6-4, 6.0845) during the first round on April 30 and No. 8 Chandler Prep (12-2, 10.5457) during the quarterfinals on May 7, both with 5-0 losses, as well as No. 4 ALA – West Foothills 5-4 during the semifinals on May 9.
Meanwhile, the No. 3 Andy Fetsis-coached Pusch Ridge Lions defeated No. 14 Safford (9-5, 6.8063) 5-0, No. 6 Florence (12-1, 12.7391) 5-1, and No. 2 Thatcher 5-4.
Before May 9, the Chris Cook-coached No. 2 Thatcher Eagles eliminated No. 15 Anthem Prep (8-2, 6.4544) 5-0 and No. 10 Sabino (7-5, 7.8826) 5-1; and the No. 4 Kristina Gibson-coached ALA – West Foothills Guardians ousted No. 13 Phoenix Basis (8-1, 6.9402) 5-2 and No. 5 Tucson’s The Gregory School (10-1, 16.0932) 5-0.
Championship Results
Phoenix Country Day – 5, Pusch Ridge – 3
Individual scores – PCDS’s No. 1 senior Linus Gino-Griffiths def. freshman Dean Morthland 6-3, 6(3)-7, 10-7. Pusch Ridge’s No. 2 junior Lukas Herndon def. sophomore Dasch Gorcyca 6-3, 6-0.. Pusch Ridge’s No. 3 sophomore Nick Herndon def. sophomore Garrett Valdes 6-3, 6-2. PCDS’s No. 4 senior Dylan Grossman def. junior Aviel Arellano 7-6(1), 6-1. Pusch Ridge’s No. 5 junior Cody Urias def. sophomore Kongkasem Suchart 6-3, 6-1. PCDS’s No. 6 sophomore Ross Wheeler def. sophomore Christian Skinner 6-2, 7-6(1).
In doubles, PCDS’s Suchart and Gorcyca def. Morthland and Arellano 8-3. PCDS’s Avish Patel and Duncan Simpson def. Skinner and Urias 8-5. f
Semifinal Results
Phoenix Country Day – 5, ALA – West Foothills – 4
The split singles but the Phoenix Country Day advanced with two doubles wins, as senior Linus Gino-Griffths, senior Dylan Grossman, sophomore Konkasem Suchart, the Gino-Griffths – sophomore Garrett Valdes duo, and the freshmen Duncan Simpson – Avish Patel duo defeating junior Gian Marrero (6-3, 6-4), senior Bert Anzini (6-0, 6-2), junior Chase Nicholson (6-3, 3-6, 10-8), the Marrero – freshman Drake Mills duo 8-5, and the Nicholson – sophomore Brendon Kurzawski duo 8-5, respectively.
ALA – West Foothills had wins by Mills, junior Ryan Nicoll, Kurzawski, and the Nicoll – Anzini duo over sophomore Dasch Gorcyca (1-0), sophomore Garrett Valdes (6-4, 2-6, 10-4), sophomore Ross Wheeler (2-6, 7-5, 15-13), and Suchart – Gorcyca 8-4, respectively.
Pusch Ridge – 5, Thatcher – 4
Individual scores for each pairing were not entered.
The six singles pairings were Morthland versus senior Eli McNiel, Lukas Herndon vs. junior Braden Huish, Nick Herndon vs. junior Isaak Palmer, Arellano vs. senior Bryson Scorse, Urias vs. junior Topher Rubacalva, and Skinner vs. senior Luke Allen.
In doubles, it was Herndon – Herndon vs. Huish – Palmer, Mortland – Arrellano vs. McNiel – Scorse, and Urias – Skinner vs. Rubacalva – Allen.
The final result was an identical 5-4 score favoring the Lions during a regular-season pairing in Tucson on March 26.
Mortland and Lukas Herndon posted singles wins over McNiel (6-1, 6-0) and Huish (6-4, 6-3), along with all three doubles teams, Herndon—Herndon, Mortland—Arellano, and Urias—Skinner, over Huish—Palmer (8-3), McNiel—Scorse (8-6), and Rubacalva—Allen (8-6), respectively.
Thatcher won four singles with Palmer over Nick Herndon (7-5, 2-6, 10-4), Scorse ovetr Arellano (6-2, 6-0), Rubacalva over Skinner (3-6, 7-5, 10-7), and Allen over Urias (6-2, 7-5).
Division III State Tourney Quarterfinals
The Division III state tourney upper bracket quarterfinals had No. 1 Phoenix Country Day 5-0 over No. 8 Chandler Prep (12-2, 10.5457) and No. 4 ALA – West Foothills 5-3 over The Greggory School (10-1, 16.0932)
No. 3 Pusch Ridge 5-1 over No. 6 Florence (12-1, 12.7391) and No. 2 Thatcher 5-1 over No. 10 Sabino (7-5, 7.8826) in the lower bracket.
Quarterfinal Results
Phoenix Country Day – 5, Chandler Prep – 0
The Eagles won five singles to advance, with Gino-Griffths, Valdes, Grossman, Konkasem Suchart, and Wheeler over sophomore Tejesh Mahatre (6-0,6-1), freshman Kenzo De Mesa (6-0, 6-3), senior Vance Vidal (6-0, 6-2), senior Bjorn Watne (6-0, 6-2), and senior Alex Pham (6-1 twice), respectively.
ALA – West Foothills – 5, The Gregory School – 3
The Guardians won four singles and a doubles pairing, with Marrero, Mills, Nicoll, Nicholson, and the Marrero – Mills duo downing sophomore Thomas Escobedo (6-2, 6-1), junior John Samii (6-3, 6-4), junior Anthi Chrisoforidis (6-2, 6-3), senior Lucas Clements (6-3, 3-6, 1-0), and Escobedo – Chrisoforidis 8-4, respectively.
For the Hawks, sophomore Marcus Swenson, sophomore Matt Capaldi, and the Clements – sophomore Nikolas Larson duo defeated senior Bert Anzini (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Brendon Kurzawski (6-1, 1-6, 1-0), and Nicholson – Kurzawski 8-3, respectively.
Pusch Ridge – 5, Florence – 1
Five of the six singles pairings were triumphs for the Lions, as Morthland, Lukas Herndon, Nick Herndon, Arellano, and Skinner topped senior Evan Quick (6-2, 6-0), senior Jackson Potter (6-1, 6-0), senior Vincent Valdez (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Emanuel Suarez-Montoya (6-3, 4-6, 10-6), and freshman Jackson Thomas (6-1 twice).
The gophers had sophomore Joaquin Wilcox defeating Urias (6-4, 3-6, 10-7).
Thatcher – 5, Sabino – 1
Thatcher prevailed in five of six singles pairings, McNiel, Palmer, Scorse, Rubacalva, and Allen defeating sophomore Adam Olson (7-5, 2-6, 10-3), senior Ansel Emmons (6-1 twice), junior Brandon Lloyd (6-0 twice), junior Kaoru Amano (6-1, 6-4), and freshman Cade Haggert (6-1 twice).
The Sabercats had junior David Gonzalez downing Huish (6-2, 6-1).
Round 1 Results
Phoenix Country Day – 5, Tanque Verde – 0
The Eagles won four singles and a doubles to advance, as Gino-Griffths, Grossman, Suchart, Wheeler, and the freshmen Duncan Simpson – Avish Patel duo downed junior Karl Gajda (6-2,6-0), sophomore Tanner Larson (6-0, 6-1), sophomore Wyatt Fagergren (6-0 twice), sophomore Gordon Koessler (6-2, 6-3), and the sophomore Carter Portewig – Jude Donelson duo 8-2, respectively.
ALA – West Foothills – 5, Phoenix Basis – 2
The individual scores for each pairing were not entered.
The six singles pairings were Marrero versus freshman Sahishnu Iyyapillai, Mills vs. freshman Aarav Sehdev, Nicoll vs. junior Ishaan Suthar, Anzini vs. senior Marcos Vela, Nicholson vs. freshman Sarkis Shandi, and Kurzawski vs. junior Asher Reeve.
In doubles, it was Marrero – Mills vs. Iyyapillai – Sehdev, Nicoll – Anzini vs. Suthar – Vela, and Nicholson – Kurzawski vs. Shandi – Reeve.
Pusch Ridge – 5, Safford – 0
The Lions needed five singles matches to advance, with Morthland, Lukas Herndon, Nick Herndon, Urias, and Skinner defeating senior Camden Montierth (6-0 twice), senior Bo Bowman (6-0, 6-1), junior Owen Price (6-0 twice), senior Kyle Lines (6-1 twice), and sophomore John Archuleta (6-0, 6-1).
Thatcher – 5, Anthem Prep – 0
Thatcher prevailed in five of six singles pairings, Huish over freshman Ben Young (6-4, 7-5), Palmer over freshman Austin Simons (6-0 twice), Scorse over sophomore Josh Locarinas (6-0 twice), Rubacalva over senior Alksander Durickovic (6-0, 6-2), and Allen over junior Jared Kipp (6-1, 6-0).
The McNiel versus junior Nicholas Van Cleve pairing did not need to be completed.
Division III State Tourney Round 1
Eight teams advanced to the Division III state quarterfinals on May 6, via first round wins on April 29.
Upper bracket pairings winners were No. 1 Phoenix Country Day 5-0 over No. 16 Tucson Tanque Verde (6-4, 6.0845), No. 8 Chandler Prep (12-2, 10.5457) 5-2 over No. 9 Scottsdale Prep (10-3, 8.5053), No. 5 The Greggory School 8-1 over No. 12 Willcox (10-2, 6.9605), and No. 4 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills 5-2 over No. 13 Phoenix Basis (8-1, 6.9402).
The lower bracket had No. 3 Pusch Ridge 5-0 over No. 14 Safford (9-5, 6.8063), No. 6 Florence 5-1 over No. 11 Saint John Paul II (9-4, 7.8200), No. 10 Sabino (7-5, 7.8826) 5-4 over No. 7 Glendale Prep (12-2, 12.1515), and No. 2 Thatcher (13-1, 17.9836) 5-0 over No. 15 Anthem Prep (8-2, 6.4544).
Division III Final Rankings
The Division III final rankings on April 24 were Phoenix Country Day School (11-0 seeding, 20.6868 rating) No. 1, Thatcher (13-1, 17.9836) No. 2, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (12-1, 17.7333) No. 3, Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills Guardians (8-1, 16.9717) No. 4, Tucson’s The Greggory School (10-1, 16.0932), No. 5, Florence (12-1, 12.7391), No. 6, Glendale Prep (12-2, 12.1515), No. 7, and Chandler Prep (12-2, 10.5457), No. 8. Scottsdale Prep (10-3, 8.5053) was No. 9, Tucson Sabino (7-5, 7.8826), Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (9-4, 7.1031) No. 11, Willcox (10-2, 6.9605) No. 12, Phoenix Basis (8-1, 6.9402) No. 13, Safford (9-5, 6.8063) No. 14, Anthem Prep (8-2, 6.4544) No. 15, and Tucson Tanque Verde (6-4, 6.0845) No. 16.
The other Section I members were Pima (10-3, 3.0624) No. 20, Miami (6-5, minus 0.7326) No. 26, Duncan (5-8, minus 5.4320) No. 31, Benson (5-9, minus 6.4495) No. 33, Globe (2-10, minus 10.4232) No. 37, and Morenci (1-11, minus 15.2054) No. 45.
Division III – Individual State Tourneys
The individual state tourneys had 20 Section I student-athletes for the first round on May 2. The Glendale Paseo Racquet Center, 6268 West Thunderbird Road, was the site. The doubles teams numbered two from Pima and Thatcher, and one from Benson, Miami, Safford, and Willcox. In singles, entrants numbered one each from Duncan, Safford, Thatcher, and Willcox.
The Eagles went 1-1 in singles and 5-2 in doubles; the Wildkats 1-1 in singles; the Cowboys 0-1 in singles and 1-1 in doubles; the Bulldogs 2-1 in singles and 0-1 in doubles; the Roughriders 0-2 in doubles; and the Vandals 0-1 in doubles or a combined 4-4 in singles and a combined 6-8 in doubles for Section I participants.
In singles, Safford eighth ranked senior Camdem Montierth (2-1) eliminated Yuma Catholic junior Austin Obika in two first round sets (6-1, 6-3) and Glendale Prep sophomore Vasco Muro in two second round sets (6-1 twice), before falling in two quarterfinal round sets (0-6 twice) to eventual state champion Rancho Solano Prep junior Jaden Litt.
Thatcher junior Topher Rubalcava (1-1) defeated Florence senior Vincent Valdez in two first-round sets (6-3, 6-1) and fell in two second-round sets (0-6 twice) to Phoenix Basis freshman Sahishnu Iyyapillai.
Duncan freshman Jared Kempton (1-1) advanced by default over Chandler Prep sophomore Tejesh Mahatre and fell to ALA – West Foothills junior Gian Marrero in two sets (1-6 twice).
Willcox senior Elijah Bhasme (0-1) fell in two first-round sets (4-6, 2-6) to Glendale Prep junior Luciano Marcolini.
The Top 4 advanced to the semifinals with No. 1 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep junior Jaden Litt besting No. 2 Gilbert Classical freshman Aiden Thielsen 2-0 (6-2 twice).
In doubles, No. 3 Thatcher juniors Braden Huish – Isaac Palmer (3-1) defeated Gilbert Classical senior Ayan Bhatia freshman Even Tzeng 2-0 (6-0 twice) during the first round, Chandler Prep junior Tommy Richey freshman Kenzo De Mesa 2-0 (6-1, 6-0) during the second round, and Tanque Verde senior Jiang Lin – sophomore Jon Hetland 2-0 (6-4, 6-2) during the quarterfinals before falling to eventual Phoenix Country Day state runners-up senior Linus Gino-Griffths – sophomore Garrett Valdes by a tie-breaker (6-7 (2), 1-6) during the semifinals.
The Thatcher McNiel – Scorse duo (2-1) downed No. 4 Florence seniors Even Quick – Jackson Potter in an 11-9 tie-breaker (5-7, 6-4) during the first round and The Gregory School junior John Samii – sophomore Marcus Swenson 2-0 (6-2, 6-4) before falling to eventual state champion Sabino junior David Gonzalez – sophomore Adam Olson (1-6, 3-6).
Willcox seniors Nathaniel Aguilar – Andy Osorio (1-1) defeated Buckeye Odyssey Institute junior Angelo Alvina-Thomas – freshman Kai Black 2-0 (6-3, 6-4) during the first round before falling –n a 4-10 tie-breaker (6-4, 4-6) to Scottsdale Prep juniors Kellen Palmer – Jack Lundstrom during the second round.
Five other Section I entrants each succumbed in the first round. Benson seniors Matthew Volker – Roy Jones (0-1) to Phoenix Country Day Gino-Griffths – Valdes 0-2 (1-6 twice), Miami seniors Aiden Goss – Xavier Mancha (0-1) to Anthem Prep freshmen Ben Young – Austin Simons 0-2 (0-6, 1-6), Pima juniors Garth Lunt – Kyler Reed (0-1) to Gilbert Christian seniors J.P. Russo – Brady Albert 0-2 (1-6, 4-6), Pima sophomores Eli Rogers – Colt Lunt (0-1) to Yuma Catholic freshman Arthur Scarborough – senior Brandom Bojorquez 0-2 (3-6, 4-6), and Safford seniors Bo Bowman – Xavier Owens (1-1) to eventual Pusch Ridge semifinalists junior Lukas Herndon – sophomore Nick Herndon 0-2 (0-6 twice).
Three of the Top four met for the semifinals, with No. 2 Sabino junior David Gonzalez—sophomore Adam Olson topping No. 5 Phoenix Country Day senior Linus Gino-Griffths—sophomore Garrett Valdes by 6-4 and 7-6 (5).
Division III – Section I standings
The final Section I standings were Thatcher (13-1 seeding, 8-0 section) first, Safford (9-5, 7-1) second, Willcox (10-3, 6-2) third, Pima (10-3, 5-3) fourth, Miami (6-5, 4-4) fifth, Duncan (5-8-1, 3-5) sixth, Benson (5-9, 2-6) seventh, Globe (2-10, 1-7) eighth, and Morenci (2-11, 0-8) ninth.
