EDITOR'S NOTE: This Athlete Q&A session appeared in the 2023 Sollenberger Az Prep Magazine. For full coverage, click here.

1. Where are you from?

“I was born in St. George, Utah. … We moved to Marana, Arizona, when I was young, like 3 or 4. Then we moved to Show Low.”

2. ‘Nash’ is a cool first name, do you know why your parents named you that?

“Steve Nash, my parents have been in Arizona a long time. Phoenix Suns. It’s not my first name, it’s my middle name. My first name is Arlee. But my family has always called me Nash.”

3. What’s it like living in Show Low and being quarterback of the Cougars?

“It gets boring, at times living in Show Low. You must have a big imagination if you want to live here. Sometimes, you do stupid things to have fun. Living in a small town there isn’t a lot to do. You can go to lots in the Valley, but you don’t have a lot here. We’re kind of known as ‘red necks’ up here because we do crazy stuff that most people don’t do.”

“Being the quarterback for the Cougars is something I’ve always wanted to be, something I’ve strived to be. Growing up here, everyone knows about the football team. It felt like the NFL as a young child. Being in that spot now, I’m making the younger generation feel that way. It makes me happy, and it’s exciting and a blast!”

4. You had a breakout season as a junior last fall when you completed nearly 60% of your passes for more than 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns…what would you attribute your success to?

“Definitely my team. My team was, especially last year, was a team full of talent and hard work. I couldn’t complete those passes without Colton [Tidwell] or Ryan [Kishbaugh]. Those boys were the reason why I completed those passes. You can’t be a quarterback or have passing stats without good receivers.”

5. You were also a dual threat on the field with your legs at quarterback, rushing for more than 800 yards and 16 touchdowns…how do you repeat, if not exceed last season’s performance this coming fall?

“Do the same hard work, speed training and weightlifting I’ve been doing. Our strength and conditioning coach pushes us to be above and beyond what we are. By showing up to spring, summer practices, putting in the work he gives us, going above and beyond, that’s what will keep me successful.”

6. What’s your favorite thing to do when not playing football?

“Either hang out with my girlfriend, or my friends. I do like to work though. This summer I’m with a landscaper and construction company. … Summertime, I love being outside and working in the sun.”

7. What are your dreams career wise? Are you thinking of playing at the next level, or do you have other plans?

“I’m still kind of in the debate factor. I’ve been talked to by many college coaches. But I’m LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), so I still want to do a mission. Those two run hand-in-hand, and are being discussed. I’m still deciding what to do with my life.”

8. The Cougars made it to the 3A state semifinals last season but ran into a good Thatcher club and lost…can Show Low win a championship this fall? And how will the team accomplish it?

“Honestly showing up and putting in the work. That has proved to me that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. This year … [Around Arizona], less and less kids come out because they don’t want to put in the work. They want to go through the motions when other kids are getting bigger, stronger and faster. For us as a team, we may not be the best talented, but we are definitely putting in the work this year. And we are developing a lot of kids who you may not think are the best athletes.”

9. Do you also play other sports for the Cougars?

“Last year I played basketball and baseball, but in baseball in the second game of the season I broke my thumb. So, I decided to use my talents elsewhere and ran track.”

10. What would you say is your favorite moment as a football player in high school so far?

“There’s a couple of them, but I would definitely say beating Valley Christian when they were No. 1 in preseason rankings [last season]. That was probably the most exciting for me as a team. If we would have lost that game, who knows what we would have done. When we beat them, we knew what we were made of. It was the most exciting thing for my team. … Also, Thatcher might be on top [of that], and seeing the Show Low people at the game in the Valley with their yellow growl towels and swinging them. That’s a moment you can’t beat.”

11. What is your favorite food?

“My favorite food is any type of barbeque, smoked or grilled.”

12. What is your favorite movie?

“My favorite movie is ‘Lone Survivor.’”

13. What is your favorite video game?

“My favorite video game is ‘Apex Legends.’”

14. What is your favorite social media to use?

“Definitely Instagram. You can do all of those on Instagram, you can see and watch everything on it.”

15. Do you have any brothers and sisters, if so how many?

“I have two brothers and two sisters. I am in the direct middle. I’m old enough to take care of myself so they don’t worry about me much. My brother is in college and my older sister got married. My younger brother is 14, and then my little sister is 11.”

16. Are your parent’s former athletes?

“Yes. My mom’s side of the family, all my uncles are around 6 feet, or taller. They all played sports; I came from an athletic family. My dad’s side, same thing. I get my size (5-11, 180) from my dad, though.”

17. Do you have any hobbies outside of football?

“I really like using my hands and different tools. I also like detailing cars. Any chance I get to build something, or fix something, I enjoy doing that. I can also weld.”