Following a successful high school season by Desert Speed School athletes and their teams, 25 players received All-Star recognition at various levels – including seven Player of the Year awards. The list was highlighted by Salpointe’s Emma Veliz, who was named 4A State Defensive Player of the Year, Region Player of the Year, and Region Defensive Player of the Year. On the boys’ side, Mica Mountain’s Landon McKendrick was recognized as the 4A State Player of the Year after leading his Bolts’ team to the state finals in just the third year in existence.
The list includes recognitions from AllSportsTucson as well as AZPreps365. Players recognized include:
Emma Veliz, Salpointe – 4A State Defensive POY, Region POY, Region Defensive Player of the Year, 1st-team State, 1st-Team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona, 4A State Runner-Up
Landon McKendrick, Mica Mountain – 4A State POY, 1st-team State, 1st-team Southern Arizona, 4A State Runner-Up
Nico Soto, Salpointe – Region Defensive POY, 1st-team State, 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona, 4A State Champion
Kailyn O’Connell, Catalina Foothills – Region Offensive POY, 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona
Gracie Oxnam, Catalina Foothills – Region Defensive POY, 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona
Jamie Myer, Salpointe – 2nd-team State, 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona, 4A State Champion
Kegan Dorschner, Pusch Ridge – 2nd-team State, 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona, 3A State Champion
Emma Beach, Ironwood Ridge – 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona
Karina Tapia, Sabino – 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona
Grace Hughes, Catalina Foothills – 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona
Jackson Cosgrove, Catalina Foothills – 1st-team Region, 1st-team Southern Arizona
Evan Mayfield, Mica Mountain – 1st-team Southern Arizona, 4A State Runner-Up
EC Cazares, Salpointe – 2nd-team Region, 2nd-team Southern Arizona, 4A State Runner-Up
Adrian Moncrief, Catalina Foothills – 2nd-team Region, 2nd-team Southern Arizona
Seaton Epstein, Tanque Verde – 2nd-team Region, 2nd-team Southern Arizona
Nicholas Coryell, Tanque Verde – 2nd-team Region
Aiden Epstein, Tanque Verde – 2nd-team Region
Tinsley Walter, Empire – 2nd-team Region
Janessa Vergara, Empire – 2nd-team Region
Kamden Dorschner, Pusch Ridge – Region Honorable Mention, 3A State Champion
Gavin Gilbert, Tanque Verde – Region Honorable Mention
Kason White, Tanque Verde – Region Honorable Mention
Grayson Bradshaw, Tanque Verde – Region Honorable Mention
Parker Goodell, Tanque Verde – Region Honorable Mention
Hutton North, Tanque Verde – Region Honorable Mention
(Photo credits: Andy Morales, AllSportsTucson; Stephanie Von Latum, AllSportsTucson; Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star)
