Thatcher girls finish first in own meet
By Raymundo Frasquillo
BENSON – Fort Thomas, Morenci, Pima, Safford, San Carlos, Thatcher, and Willcox will be among the 14 teams joining Benson on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Bisbee, Saint David, Sierra Vista American Leadership, Tucson ASDB, Tucson Desert View, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic, and Vail Empire are the other teams entered.
The state qualifying Rio Rico-held sectional is on Nov. 4.
Remaining Meets
Prior to the Rio Rico-held sectional on Nov. 5, Fort Thomas has the Benson Invitational on Oct. 14; Globehas the Whiteriver Alchesay-held Falcon Invitational on Oct. 21; and Morenci is slated to attend the Benson Invitational on Oct. 14, and the Tucson-held John Gleeson Lancer Invitational on Oct. 17, before hosting its Copper Hills Classic at the Greenlee County Golf Course on Oct. 21.
Safford has the Tucson-held John Gleeson Lancer Invitational on Oct. 17 and the Morenci-held Copper Hills Invitational on Oct. 21 and San Carlos the Benson Invitational on Oct. 14, and the Verde Valley Invitational on Oct. 29.
Thatcher travels to the Benson Invitational on Oct. 14 and to the Morenci-held Copper Hills Classic on Oct. 21; and Willcox also travels to the Benson meet on Oct. 14 and to the Morenci meet on Oct. 21.
Eye of the Tiger Invitational (Oct. 10)
There were 15 schools represented in the Marana-held Eye of the Tiger Invitational, with Division I Sothern Region Tucson Salpointe Catholic Prep finishing first with 49 points. Division I Sothern Region Vail Mica Mountain was second with 59 points, Division I Southwest Region Marana third (60), Division I Northwest Region Goodyear Millennium fourth (109), Division III Southern Region Sahuarita fifth (118), Division I Southern Region Vail Cienega sixth (148), Division II Metro Region Glendale Deer Valley seventh (164), Division III Southern Region Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian eighth (182), Division IV South Region Tombstone ninth (214), and Division IV South Region Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic 10th (256).
Marana Mountain View (3), Morenci (4), Yuma (1), Florence (1), and Tucson Amphitheater (1) did not field full teams.
Individually, Sahuarita senior Naomi Taylor turned in a 19:03.8 clocking to top a field of 67, putting her 10th in the meet history and 23rd in the venue history, behind Tucson Rincon/University senior Amelia North’s 17:44.0 (Oct. 19, 2024) and Rio Rico junior Allie Schadler’s 16:47.7 (Oct. 31, 2015), respectively.
The rest of the Top 10 were Mica Mountain senior Hailey Burke second (19:42.8), Mica Mountain Isabelle Lefforge third (19:48.8), Marana sophomore Drew Firmage fourth (19:57.6), Salpointe Catholic senior Sophie Al Nassif fifth (20:14.6), Marana junior Paige Russell sixth (20:39.3), Salpointe Catholic junior Reilly Rinner seventh (20:48.2), Marana Mountain View senior Rori Divijak eighth (20:55.3), Marana senior Mackenzie Stumm ninth (21:01.7), and Millennium senior Azul Ortega 10th (21:09.2).
Meet winner Salpointe Catholic – 49 also had sophomore Finley Snyder 11th/10 pts. (21:13.4),sophomore Ariela Zuluaga 14th/13 pts. (21:27.5), and junior Isabella Armenta 15th/14 pts. (21:29.2), The sixth Lancer, junior Sophie Breault, was 23rd/22 pts. (22:31.9).
Runner-up Mica Mountain – 59 also had sophomore Liana Shimata 17th/16 pts. (21:51.0), senior Madison Vigil 19th/18 pts. (22:07.7), and sophomore Sarah Trickey 21st/20 pts. (22:11.6), The sixth and seventh Thunderbolt, junior Megan Hancock and freshman Sea Garcia Gomez, were 34th/33 pts. (23:41.5) and 37th/34 pts. (23:54.3), respectively.
Third place Marana – 60 also had senior Ember Thatcher 18th/17 pts. (21:58.1) and freshman Audrey Manning 26th/25 pts. (22:57.1).
Fourth place Millennium – 104 also had junior Sadie Smith 12th/11 pts. (21:17.9), sophomore Alisha Chapman 24th/23 pts. (22:44.7), senior Sophia Schell 28th/27 pts. (23:10.0), and senior Rebecca Butler 42nd/39 pts. (24:12.5).
Fifth place Sahuarita – 118 also had senior Kylie Gallego 20th/19 pts. (22:11.3), freshman Arianna Romero29th/28 pts. (23:13.8), freshman Lily Lugo 33rd/32 pts. (23:38.0), and junior Brianna Sizemore 41st/38 pts.(24:12.1). The sixth Mustang, sophomore Kaylyn Zach 57th/51 pts. (26:29.3).
Sixth place Cienega – 148 had senior Issa Borrego 13th/12 pts. (21:22.8), freshman Grey Schmidt 25th/24 pts. (22:48.9), junior Alana Valencia 27th/26 pts. (22:57.9), senior Anessia Rice 46th/42 pts. (24:39.8), andsophomore Daphnie Desmarais 49th/44 pts. (24:57.7). The sixth Bobcat, senior Kailee Asher 52nd/47 pts.(25:29.2).
Seventh place Deer Valley – 164 had freshman Tessa Theall 16th/15 pts. (21:36.0), senior Ilse Barrera 31st/30 pts. (23:22.7), junior Elizabeth Reynolds 32nd/31 pts. (23:23.8), senior Kate Barrera 48th/43 pts.(24:43.6), and junior Marina Alevizos 50th/45 pts. (25:08.3). The sixth Skyhawk, senior Alayna Ashley, was 58th/52 pts. (26:53.5).
Eighth place Pusch Ridge – 182 had Hope LeBaron 22nd/21 pts. (22:15.5), freshman Makena Koehn 30th/29 pts. (23:16.7), sophomore Madelyn Hime 40th/37 pts. (24:07.8), sophomore Eleanor Bailey 51st/46 pts.(25:23.1), and sophomore Sarah Kennett 55th/49 pts. (25:42.5). The sixth Lion, freshman Heidi Nemec, was 63rd/55 pts. (31:16.6).
Ninth place Tombstone – 214 had senior Kihanna Yocupicio 38th/35 pts. (23:56.2), sophomore Isabel Aguilar 43rd/40 pts. (24:18.8), sophomore Hailey Yocupicio 45th/41 pts. (24:25.4), sophomore Samantha Meza 53rd/48 pts. (25:32.5), and Taylor Murray 56th/50 pts. (26:28.5).
Tenth pace Saint Augustine Catholic – 256 had senior Natalia Giron 39th/36 pts. (24:04.5), junior Sevina Paz 59th/53 pts. (26:53.5), senior Evelyn Reyes 62nd/54 pts. (30:42.6), junior Mariana Giron 65th/56 pts.(33:40.3), and senior Adeline Fette 66th/57 pts. (37:25.0).
Non-placing (fewer than five entrants) teams, Marana Mountain View (3) had senior Rori Divijak eighth (20:55.3), senior Olivia Santiago 61st (27:48.6), and senior Kimra Sissener 67th (38:07.0); Morenci (4) had senior Hazel Salinas 35th (23:44.5), freshman Danielle Ellington 36th (23:45.5), freshman Raeligh Lucero 44th (24:24.1), and sophomore Arris Hooper 47th (24:42.2); Yuma (1) had senior Syriah Simpson 54th (25:42.4); Florence (1) had sophomore Solveig 60th (27:41.5); and Tucson Amphitheater (1) had junior Polina Gorgess 64th (31:42.7).
Mesa Dobson freshman Samantha Hamblin was first of 18 in the Freshmen Race with 24:24.9 and Mica Mountain freshman Morgan Bjerke was first of 50 in the Open Race with 22:38.6
2026 Thatcher Invitational (Oct. 7)
Thatcher edged out Whiteriver Alchesay 41-42 for first, San Carlos was third (60), Fort Thomas fourth (83), Show Low fifth (128), and Globe sixth (129).
Pima (4), Morenci (4), Benson (3), Sierra Vista American Leadership (3), Willox (2), and Safford (2) did not field full teams.
The Top 10 individual finishers were Benson freshman Brenna McFadden (1215) first in 20:46.12, Thatcher junior Brightyn Stevens (1268) in second/1 point with 21:24.51, Alchesay junior Peyton Parker (1205) third/2 pts. (21:44.12), Alchesay junior Cedella Stevens (1206) fourth/3 pts. (2:53.57), Thatcher senior Addison Williams (1269) fifth/4 pts. (23:10.77), Pima sophomore Jacey Tilley (1244) sixth (23:22.94), San Carlos senior Malia Antonio (1251) seventh/5 pts. (23:27.62), Morenci senior Hazel Salinas (1237) eighth (23:28.12), Alchesay junior Dolli Nachu (1204) ninth/6 pts. (23:31.32), and Benson sophomore Arden Tucker (1216) 10th (23:38.92).
Meet winner Thatcher – 41 also had junior Madi Lunt (1266) 11th/6 pts. (23:40.70), sophomore Lilie Aranda (1263) 18th/11 pts. (24:19.31), and freshman Kate Gibson (1264) 27th/18 pts. (25:31.43). The sixth Eagle, junior Macady Kartchner (1265), was 28th/19 pts. (25:40.16).
Runner-up Alchesay – 42 also had senior Tyrianna George (1061) 23rd/14 pts. (24:58.00 PR), and sophomore Kylie Yellow (1207) 26th/17 pts. (25:30.47). The sixth and seventh Ravens, junior Kylie Mansfield (1065) and freshman Jaylee Goklish (1203), were 29th/20 pts. (25:44.91) and 35th/25 pts. (27:17.21 PR), respectively.
Third place San Carlos – 80 also had sophomore Samirah Ailak (1250) 14th/8 pts. (23:55.90 PR), sophomore Olivia Haozous (1253) 20th/13 pts. (24:35.50), and freshman Kaydence Harney (1254) 38th/26 pts. (27:30.90 PR), and Deznae Nzeukou (1255) 41st/28 pts. (27:33.89 PR). The sixth Brave, senior Seanice Patten (1256), was 45th/31 pts. (28:28.98 SB).
Fourth place Fort Thomas – 83 had sophomore Alanah Harvey (1221) 16th/9 pts. (24:16.22), junior Leiynn Wesley (1225) 17th/10 pts. (24:18.32 PR), sophomore Maya Kessay (1223) 25th/16 pts. (25:18.87), senior Alycia Sanchez (1224) 44th/36 pts. (33:03.8), and senior Corey Cody (772) 31st/27 pts. (28:16.6). The sixth and seventh Apaches, senior Breanna Gambler (1220) and junior Tyrekia Harvey (1222), were 48th/34 pts. (29:29.03), and 51st/36 pts. (30:02.01), respectively.
Fifth place Show Low – 128 had sophomore Brylee Adams (1257) 19th/12 pts. (24:30.95),senior LaneyAdams (1258) 31st/22 pts. (26:29.85), junior Ashley Varian (1262) 42nd/29 pts. (27:41.88), freshman Hayden Brunette (1259) 46th/32 pts. (28:39.23), and sophomore Abby Kemp (1261) 47th/33 pts. (28:39.23). The sixth and seventh Cougars, freshman Autumn Cortelsen (1260) and sophomore Paulina Hoyt (1089), were 49th/32 pts. (29:57.87) and 55th/32 pts. (33:31.96), respectively.
Sixth place Globe – 129 had sophomore Laak’os Parsons (1231) 24th/15 pts. (25:13.04), freshman Danielle Hosay (1229) 33rd/23 pts. (26:54.56), freshman Nayeli Antonio (1226) 34th/24 pts. (27:05.26), senior Carina Garcia (1228) 44th/30 pts. (27:45.93), and senior Sage Parsons (1232) 53rd/37 pts. (32:03.11). The sixth and seventh Tigers, sophomores Alexis Garcia (803) and Pollen Nosie (803), were 56th/39 pts. (33:39.71) and 57th/40 pts. (34:40.91), respectively.
Non-placing (fewer than five entrants) teams, Pima (4) also had junior Kaylen Minor (1242) 12th (23:42.59), sophomore Ella Ashby (1238) 13th (23:52.36), and senior Page Ashby (1239) 39th (27:32.70); Morenci (4) also had freshmen Danielle Ellington (1233) 15th (24:02.98), sophomore Arris Hooper (1234) 22nd (24:44.96), and Raeleigh Lucero (1235) 32th (26:49.38);
Benson (3) also had freshman Sofie Marquez (1214) 52nd (31:05.78); Sierra Vista ALA (3) also had freshmen Clara Curtis (1208) 21st (24:38.64), Francesca Nash (1211) 37th (27:27.51), and Jaida-Marie De La Cruz (1209) 58th (38:05.24); Willcox (2) had junior Miriam Roger (1271) 36th (27:21.97) and sophomore Katelyn Millenaar (1270) 43rd (27:44.77); and Safford (2) had sophomore Charity Dalton (1247) 50th (30:02.31) and freshman Olivia Hernandez (1249) 54th (32:10.22).
In the Girls Open Run, Thatcher sophomore Zoe Ochoa (1094) finished first of 29 with 24:49.88.
Bisbee Invitational (Sept. 30)
Benson was first with 56 points, Fort Thomas second (59), Tombstone third (64), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic fourth (75), and Casa Grande Union fifth (85).
Morenci (4), Sierra Vista ALA (4), Safford (2), Willcox (2), and Casa Grande Vista Grande (2) did not field a full team,
The Top 10 individuals were Benson Brenna McFadden in first of 42 with 20:18.5, Sierra Vista ALA freshman Clara Curtis second (23:15.8), Benson sophomore Arden Tucker third/2 pts. (23:15.8), Vista Grande junior Ysabella Castro fourth (23:29.2), Fort Thomas sophomore Alanah Harvey fifth/3 pts. (23:33.3), Saint Augustine Catholic senior Natalia Giron sixth/4 pts. (23:37.5), Benson junior Sasha Canales seventh/5 pts.(24:07.8), Casa Grande senior Kameron Greco eighth/6 pts. (24:10.6), Morenci sophomore Arris Hooper ninth (24:18.5), and Casa Grande senior Aubrey Carter 10th/7 pts. (24:20.3).
Meet winner Benson – 56 also had freshmen Allyson Olsen 34th/22 pts. (30:15.8) and Monroe Barker 38th/26 pts. (32:22.2).
Second place Fort Thomas – 59 also had junior Leilynn Wesley 14th/ 9 pts. (24:45.9), senior Alycia Sanchez 19th/12 pts. (25:12.2), Corey Cody 26th/17 pts. (26:44.1), and junior Tyrekia Harvey 28th/18 pts. (28:03.4). The sixth and seventh Apaches, juniors Breanna Gambler and Jordyn Hinton, were 30th/19 pts. (28:48.8) and 31st/20 pts. (28:54.8), respectively.
Third place Tombstone – 64 had sophomore Isabella Aguilar 13th/ 8 pts. (24:35.9), sophomore Hailey Yocupicio 17th/11 pts. (24:51.9),
Fourth place Saint Augustine Catholic – 75 also had junior Sevina Paz15th/10 pts. (24:48.8), junior Natalie Reyna 20th/13 pts. (25:14.6), junior Marion Giron 35th/23 pts. (30:34.4), and senior Evelyn Reyes 37th/25 pts. (30:41.5). Sixth Wolf senior Adeline Fette was 42 nd/28 pts. (36:48.1).
Fifth place Casa Grande – 85 also had senior Katrina Silvestre 33rd/21 pts. (30:13.1), sophomore Alayna Roethle 36th/24 pts. (30:35.3), and junior Isabel Bustamante 40th/27 pts. (33:27.1).
Non-full teams, Morenci (4) also had freshman Raeligh Lucero 11th (24:24.0), freshman Danielle Ellington 12th (24:32.8), and senior Hazel Salinas 16th (24:49.3); Sierra Vista ALA (4) also had freshman Francesca Nash 21st (25:14.6), freshman Jaida-Marie De La Cruz 39th (32:39.5), and sophomore Shayla Mungarro 41st (33:12.7); Safford (2) had sophomore Charity Dalton 18th (25:05.8), and senior Alexis Abeyta 32nd (29:55.8);Willcox (2) had sophomore Katelyn Millenaar 22nd (25:45.5) and junior Miriam Rogers 29th (28:40.6); and Casa Grande Vista Grande (2) also had sophomore Layla Merrell 27th (26:49.2),
Douglas freshman Elisa Valvidia was first of 16 in the Girls Open Run with 26:56.7.
